
What Next | Daily News and Analysis
The problem with the news right now? It’s everywhere. And each day, it can feel like we’re all just mindlessly scrolling. It’s why we created What Next. This short daily show is here to help you make sense of things. When the news feels overwhelming, we’re here to help you answer: What next? Look for new episodes every weekday morning.Get more of What Next with Slate Plus! Join for exclusive bonus episodes of What Next and ad-free listening on all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe from the What Next show page on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, or visit slate.com/whatnextplus for access wherever you listen.
Latest episodes

Feb 19, 2024 • 24min
Alexei Navalny Is Dead. Is His Movement Gone With Him?
Joshua Yaffa discusses the aftermath of Alexei Navalny's death in a Russian prison, analyzing the impact on the pro-democracy movement. They delve into Navalny's legacy, courage in returning to Russia, harsh prison conditions, and how he empowered Russians to challenge Putin.

Feb 18, 2024 • 29min
TBD | Apple Vision Pro: The Ultimate Surveillance Device?
Geoffrey Fowler, Washington Post tech columnist, discusses Apple Vision Pro goggles, highlighting privacy concerns with data collection on users and surroundings. Topics include detailed tracking capabilities, privacy issues, comparison to Google Glass, and ethical implications of consent.

Feb 16, 2024 • 28min
TBD | Warfare Enters the A.I. Era
Vera Bergengruen, senior correspondent at Time, discusses Ukraine's tech industry, which has shifted focus towards military tech. The podcast explores AI in warfare, collaboration between tech companies and Ukraine's government, and the implications of facial recognition technology in the country.

Feb 15, 2024 • 25min
The Attack on Rafah
Ahmed Fowad-Alpha-Tibb shares experiences of staying connected to Gaza. Life in Gaza, displacement, and constant fear. Muhammad's harrowing experiences during Israeli ground invasion. The impact of warning bombings on civilians in Gaza City. Skepticism towards Israeli government's plan for relocation. The role of international NGOs in aiding civilians in Gaza. The importance of a negotiated settlement and a long-term ceasefire.

Feb 14, 2024 • 27min
The American Oligarch Class
Guest Tim Murphy, senior reporter for Mother Jones, explores the concept of American oligarchy and its impact throughout history. He delves into the history and changing meaning of the term 'oligarch', highlighting the collaborations between Russian and American oligarchs to protect their wealth. The podcast also discusses the growing influence of the American oligarch class, particularly in the tech industry, and the need to reevaluate our understanding of wealth and its implications for societal change.

Feb 13, 2024 • 28min
The Fight for George Santos’s Seat
Mark Chiusano, writer and journalist, discusses the special election for George Santos's vacant House seat, exploring the candidates' backgrounds, campaign dynamics, and key issues in the race. The podcast also analyzes the recent debate and its significance in Long Island, serving as a trial run for messaging strategies in the upcoming November races.

Feb 12, 2024 • 27min
Is Biden Too Old?
Ben Mathis-Lilley, Slate senior writer, discusses the special prosecutor's report on Biden's memory and the implications for his presidential campaign. They analyze concerns about Biden's verbal miscues and memory lapses, exploring the impact on his political image. The podcast also delves into the age issue in the upcoming election, comparing and contrasting Trump and Biden, and discusses the expectations for their behavior and concerns about Biden's health.

Feb 11, 2024 • 26min
TBD | Breaking Up with Dating Apps
Katherine Lindsay and Rachael Stein discuss the decline of dating apps, frustrations with paid features and lack of transparency, evolution of dating apps including rebranding and niche apps, and challenges faced by dating apps including reputation management and monetization struggles.

Feb 9, 2024 • 30min
TBD | The NFL’s Concussion Settlement Farce
Will Hobson, sports reporter for the Washington Post, discusses the NFL's controversial concussion settlement. The podcast highlights the struggles of players denied help, differences between settlement and medical definitions of dementia, misleading promises, and proposed changes to improve fairness and expedite care.

5 snips
Feb 8, 2024 • 23min
How Trump Gets Kicked off the Ballot
Jamelle Bouie, New York Times opinion columnist, discusses the Supreme Court case on whether the 14th amendment keeps Donald Trump off the ballot. They explore the legal arguments, analyze Trump's potential disqualification, and debate if a former president can be removed from the ballot. They also discuss the aftermath of the Civil War, the issue of Confederate leaders in government, and question presidential immunity from prosecution.