What Next | Daily News and Analysis

Lee Bollinger, President Emeritus of Columbia University and a noted First Amendment expert, dives into the pressures facing higher education today. He discusses the Trump administration's tactics of using federal funding threats to influence universities. Bollinger highlights the importance of academic freedom and the legal arguments that institutions can leverage. The conversation also touches on the challenges of navigating free speech, anti-Semitism, and affirmative action within the current political landscape, underscoring the critical need for collaboration among universities to protect these principles.

Dana Mattioli, a Wall Street Journal reporter and author of "The Everything War," dives into the intriguing evolution of Jeff Bezos's relationship with political power. He discusses how Bezos shifted from a rival of President Trump to a more conciliatory figure. The conversation highlights Bezos's growing influence in D.C. and the strategic moves Amazon has made to ingratiate itself with the Biden administration. The episode also touches on the broader implications of big tech policies and Bezos's changing role in the political landscape.

Katherine J. Wu, a staff writer for The Atlantic known for her insightful coverage of science, dives into the Trump administration's cuts to NIH funding. She discusses how these terminations hinder vital research on aging and vaccine hesitancy, causing real challenges for scientists. The conversation highlights the troubling intersection of politics and science, emphasizing the potential stifling of innovation and public health advancements. Wu also shares personal anecdotes reflecting the emotional toll on researchers navigating this turbulent landscape.

Stephanie Ruhle, NBC business analyst and host of The 11th Hour, sheds light on the tumultuous economic landscape during Trump's presidency. She discusses the initial optimism from business leaders about deregulation and tax cuts, contrasted with the reality of tariffs and their impact. Ruhle critiques the shift from cooperative trade to aggressive tariffs, and their consequences for domestic manufacturing. The conversation also touches on government inefficiencies, economic challenges, and the interplay between immigration and economic policies in shaping the current landscape.

Mass deportations were a big part of Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign and now in office, he’s making good on the wide-sweeping aspects of his policy, though the numbers aren’t yet massive. Most recently, he’s justified these actions through the 1798 Alien Enemies Act which only applies during wartime. When a judge attempted to halt the deportations to evaluate this use of the rarely-utilized law, Trump called for him to be impeached. Guest: Michelle Hackman, U.S. immigration policy reporter in The Wall Street Journal's Washington bureau. 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Educational, entertaining, and about as universally beloved as any part of American life, how did Sesame Street find itself cutting staff and searching for a new broadcasting home?Guest: David Kamp, author of Sunny Days: The Children's Television Revolution That Changed AmericaWant 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Last week, Democrats averted a government shutdown—by voting for a MAGA-friendly Continuing Resolution, which may have just handed even greater power to Trump. Why?Guest: Josh Marshall, editor-in-chief of Talking Points MemoWant 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With a Trump-friendly Supreme Court and a contentious relationship with the press, could Donald Trump follow through on his 2016 campaign goal of making it easier to sue media companies for libel—and imperil America’s free press?Guest: David Enrich, business investigations editor at the New York Times and author of “Murder The Truth.”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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From television, to a royal wedding…and back to TV, Meghan Markle is carving out her own niche.Guest: Candice Lim and Kate Lindsay, cohosts of Slate’s ICYMI.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 —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.Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The public’s anger towards Elon Musk and DOGE has found an outlet in the form of Musk’s car company Tesla. How long can the company put up with a sinking reputation and stock price? Guest: Pranshu Verma, tech reporter for the Washington Post. 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices