What Next

Artificial intelligence is coming to a doctor’s office near you—if it isn’t already there, working in an administrative role. Are you ready for generative A.I. to help your doctor diagnose you? Is your doctor ready to listen—with the necessary mix of humility and skepticism?Guest: Geoffrey Fowler, Washington Post tech columnist.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.

Choice seats for Donald Trump’s second inauguration were filled with tech founders and CEOs, signaling their importance to this presidential term. Then Elon Musk sent another signal of his own…Guest: Nitish Pahwa, staff writer for business and tech at Slate.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.

Choice seats for Donald Trump’s second inauguration were filled with tech founders and CEOs, signaling their importance to this presidential term. Then Elon Musk sent another signal of his own…Guest: Nitish Pahwa, staff writer for business and tech at Slate.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.

Teddy Schleifer, a New York Times reporter specializing in billionaires and government efficiency, discusses the newly launched Department of Government Efficiency, affectionately nicknamed Doge. He explores how this quirky initiative, originally stemming from meme culture, aims to reform bureaucratic inefficiencies. Schleifer highlights the ethical questions surrounding Elon Musk’s influence, conflicts of interest, and regulatory changes. The conversation shines a light on the intersection of technology and governance, revealing the potential implications for both sectors.

In this engaging discussion, investigative journalist Jose Olivares unpacks the latest changes in U.S. immigration policy. He shares insights on how recent executive orders are impacting asylum seekers and fueling undocumented crossings. The emotional struggles migrants face, especially during political shifts, come to light as Olivares highlights stories from the border. The conversation also addresses the portrayal of immigrants and the implications of designating drug cartels as terrorists, revealing the complex interplay of security and human rights.

Deborah Pearlstein, a legal expert from Princeton University, dives into the spectacle of Donald Trump's executive orders on his inauguration day. She explores whether these actions were truly about governance or just performance. The conversation covers the legal intricacies surrounding issues like the TikTok ban and environmental policies under new leadership. Pearlstein also discusses the unpredictable relationship between Trump's administration and a conservative Supreme Court, raising questions about birthright citizenship and executive power.

In this discussion, journalist Maxwell Tani from Semafor sheds light on the internal strife at the Washington Post under Jeff Bezos's ownership. They explore how Bezos intervened in crucial editorial decisions, including a controversial endorsement. The conversation dives into the paper’s struggles with declining readership and the fallout from leadership choices amid political turbulence. Tani also discusses the implications of rebranding efforts as the Post aims to attract a diverse audience while grappling with its foundational mission of defending democracy.

As Donald Trump and his coterie return to the White House, everyone seems confident they know what levers to pull to get Trump to do what they want. The only issue, then, is what other members of Trumpworld want. Guest: Ben Mathis-Lilly, senior writer at SlateWant 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 and Rob Gunther. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

David Merritt, cofounder and CTO of Watch Duty, discusses his innovative app designed to provide real-time wildfire information to Los Angeles residents. He highlights how Watch Duty empowers users with location-specific updates, contrasting it with traditional and often sluggish government alerts. Merritt emphasizes the importance of human verification in emergency reporting and the app's collaborative, community-driven approach. The conversation reveals how technology can redefine crisis communication and improve local awareness during disasters.

Sheera Frenkel, a tech reporter for the New York Times and co-author of a book about Facebook, dives into the dramatic shift at Meta led by Mark Zuckerberg. They discuss Zuckerberg's embrace of a more masculine corporate culture while addressing the reduction of female representation. The conversation reveals Meta's controversial decisions, like dismantling the fact-checking program and rethinking content moderation amidst misinformation crises. Frenkel also highlights the challenges Zuckerberg faces from public scrutiny and internal dissent.