What Next

Michael Schulman, a staff writer at The New Yorker and author of 'Oscar Wars', dives into the chaotic world of Oscar contenders, focusing on the controversial film 'Emilia Perez'. He discusses its unique blend of a trans storyline and cartel narrative, sparking debate over creative risks versus negative stereotypes. The film’s surprising Oscar nominations raise questions about Hollywood's evolving identity politics. Schulman also highlights social media backlash against representation and the challenges facing films during this tumultuous award season.

Among his recent executive orders, Donald Trump moved to halt aid to South Africa over a land law and extended political asylum to South Africa’s white Afrikaner population.Where does Trump’s seemingly spotty understanding of South Africa come from? How could having close advisors who grew up in apartheid-era South Africa, like Elon Musk, influence him?Guest: Chris McGreal, writer for The Guardian US who reported from South Africa during the end of apartheid.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, Rob Gunther, and Ethan Oberman. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mark Joseph Stern, a senior writer at Slate specializing in legal issues, dives into the ongoing fallout from the 'Stop the Steal' movement. He discusses a North Carolina Republican's radical strategy to disqualify ballots in a tight Supreme Court race. Stern emphasizes the implications of challenging electoral results and the disturbing trend it could inspire. The conversation also touches on the complexities of voter registration accuracy and the potential disenfranchisement of voters, highlighting significant issues in today's elections.

Gábor Scheiring, a former Hungarian parliament member and assistant professor at Georgetown, discusses the striking parallels between Viktor Orbán’s regime and Donald Trump’s approach to governance. He dives into the erosion of democracy in Hungary and how this can inform resistance efforts in the U.S. Scheiring highlights economic discontent and the political landscape, stressing the need for meaningful connections with citizens to protect democratic values. His insights serve as a cautionary tale for American politics today.

Jason Koebler, cofounder of 404 Media, dives into the alarming consequences of government data purging under Trump’s directives. They discuss how executive orders reshape health and science data, erasing critical information pertaining to diversity and inclusion. Koebler highlights the threats to rare disease treatment and public health due to data manipulation. The episode also scrutinizes the ethical dilemmas faced by federal employees and the efforts of archivists to protect vital government data during political shifts.

Elon Musk is supposed to be running several companies and a new government department—so why is he also spending money to pretend to be good at video games?Guest: Drew Harwell, tech reporter for the Washington Post.This episode is member-exclusive. Listen to it now by subscribing to Slate Plus. By joining, not only will you unlock exclusive episodes of What Next TBD—you’ll also access ad-free listening across all your 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Elon Musk is supposed to be running several companies and a new government department—so why is he also spending money to pretend to be good at video games?Guest: Drew Harwell, tech reporter for the Washington Post.This episode is member-exclusive. Listen to it now by subscribing to Slate Plus. By joining, not only will you unlock exclusive episodes of What Next TBD—you’ll also access ad-free listening across all your 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You can’t doubt the enthusiasm of Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency. You can question the legality of some of their early moves. Guest: Makena Kelly, senior writer at WIRED. Want more What Next TBD? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the whole What Next family and all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of our show page. Sign up now at slate.com/whatnextplus to get access wherever you listen.Podcast production by Evan Campbell and Patrick Fort. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You can’t doubt the enthusiasm of Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency. You can question the legality of some of their early moves. Guest: Makena Kelly, senior writer at WIRED. Want more What Next TBD? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the whole What Next family and all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of our show page. Sign up now at slate.com/whatnextplus to get access wherever you listen.Podcast production by Evan Campbell, Patrick Fort, and Cheyna Roth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Andrea Pitzer, author of One Long Night: A Global History of Concentration Camps, dives into the alarming resurgence of Guantanamo Bay as a detention center for immigrants, challenging assumptions about its closure. She examines the complex immigration policies and the implications for human rights. With a historical perspective, Pitzer discusses the labeling of detainees and the troubling realities behind transparency in government operations. The conversation raises crucial questions about legal exceptions and the risks of repeating past injustices.