What Next

Zoe Schiffer, Director of Business and Industry at Wired Magazine, dives into Marc Andreessen's transformation into a significant political influencer in Silicon Valley. She discusses how Andreessen's role in pivotal group chats reshapes mainstream tech discourse and highlights the changing power dynamics in venture capitalism amid government scrutiny. The conversation also touches on the industry's ideological shift, contrasting figures like Andreessen and Elon Musk, and examines the interplay between innovation, ambition, and historical accountability.

Many of the policy changes in Trump’s first 100 days have come from the White House—but now, it’s Congress’s turn. Republicans have roughly a month to pass a multi-trillion-dollar bill to advance the president’s domestic agenda. But will the bill’s combination of tax cuts and increases in spending on defense and border security render it unpassable for GOP budget hawks?Guest: Jim Newell, senior politics writer at Slate.Want more What Next? Join Slate Plus to unlock full, ad-free access to What Next and all your  other favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the What Next show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Or, visit slate.com/whatnextplus to get access wherever you listen.Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme, Ethan Oberman, Isabel Angell, and Rob Gunther. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After Tufts student Rümeysa Öztürk was abducted off the streets of her district, Rep. Ayanna Pressley is not mincing words when it comes to the Trump administration: “These are the actions of a dictator.” Last week, Rep. Pressley traveled to Louisiana with a Congressional delegation to visit Öztürk and Mahmoud Khalil in the ICE detention facilities where they’re being held. Now, she’s speaking out about what she witnessed firsthand.Guest: Ayanna Pressley, US representative for Massachusetts’ 7th district and member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.Want more What Next? Join Slate Plus to unlock full, ad-free access to What Next and all your  other favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the What Next show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Or, visit slate.com/whatnextplus to get access wherever you listen.Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme, Ethan Oberman, and Rob Gunther. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At his first press conference as head of the Department of Health and Human Services, RFK Jr. gave a glimpse of what the department will look like under his leadership: a smaller overall budget, relitigating settled scientific questions.  Guest: Kiera Butler, senior editor and reporter at Mother Jones and author of Raise: What 4-H Teaches Seven Million Kids and How Its Lessons Could Change Food and Farming Forever.Want more What Next? Join Slate Plus to unlock full, ad-free access to What Next and all your  other favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the What Next show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Or, visit slate.com/whatnextplus to get access wherever you listen.Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme, Ethan Oberman, Isabel Angell, and Rob Gunther. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mark Joseph Stern, a senior writer for Slate, dives into the complex intersection of religion and education. He discusses two critical Supreme Court cases—one challenging LGBTQ-themed books in public schools and the other involving a Catholic charter school seeking state funding. Stern highlights the legal dilemmas these cases present, particularly regarding parental rights and the implications for diversity in school curricula. He also examines how these rulings could reshape the educational landscape amidst rising censorship debates.

Daniel Swain, a weather and climate scientist from the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, dives deep into the pressing issues facing weather forecasting. He discusses the alarming impact of budget cuts on NOAA and the National Weather Service, which threaten public safety amid increasingly severe storms. Swain highlights the essential role of federal agencies in storm prediction and warns of the dire consequences of diminished funding. He also emphasizes the need for public advocacy to safeguard crucial weather services against these challenges.

In this insightful discussion, WIRED reporter Vittoria Elliot delves into the intricate balance between government efficiency and individual privacy regarding data sharing. She highlights the risks of data centralization, especially its impact on vulnerable populations. The talk also explores alarming revelations about how immigrant data is managed and the ethical implications of surveillance in immigration enforcement. Elliot emphasizes the need for transparency and oversight to ensure that enhanced data access does not compromise justice.

Sara Nelson, the International President of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, advocates passionately for worker rights and a general strike. She discusses the urgent need for solidarity among labor unions in response to political challenges. Nelson shares her journey from flight attendant to prominent labor activist, emphasizing the power of grassroots organizing. The conversation highlights the impact of past struggles, like the 2019 government shutdown, and explores the potential for unions to unite against modern adversities, calling for clear demands to drive effective change.

Why Trump wants to ouster his own appointee, Jerome Powell, from the Fed chair—and why the rest of the world is rooting for Powell to stay put.Guest: Liz Hoffman, Semafor’s business and finance editor, host of Semafor’s World Economy Summit, and author of Crash Landing: The Inside Story of How the World’s Biggest Companies Survived an Economy on the Brink.Want more What Next? Join Slate Plus to unlock full, ad-free access to What Next and all your  other favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the What Next show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Or, visit slate.com/whatnextplus to get access wherever you listen.Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme, Ethan Oberman, and Rob Gunther. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Preaching for empathy and compassion, Pope Francis was at times seen as an agent of dramatic change in the Catholic Church. Did he succeed? Is that even an answerable question before the world knows his successor?Guest: David Gibson, director of the Center on Religion and Culture at Fordham UniversityWant more What Next? Join Slate Plus to unlock full, ad-free access to What Next and all your  other favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the What Next show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Or, visit slate.com/whatnextplus to get access wherever you listen.Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme, Ethan Oberman, Isabel Angell, and Rob Gunther.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.