What Next: TBD | Tech, power, and the future

The Iranian government cut off nearly all internet access on January 8 as part of a crackdown on protestors, an example of why authoritarians attempt internet blackouts—and why they don’t always work the way authoritarians want them to.Guest: Steve Feldstein, political scientist and senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in the Democracy, Conflict, and Governance Program.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.

Julia Angwin, investigative journalist and founder of Proof News, discusses citizen filming, digital forensics, and accountability. Jake Godin, Bellingcat researcher, explains syncing and analyzing multiple videos to reconstruct events. They explore how multiple phone angles can clarify shootings, the risks to people who film, legal limits on recording, and how platforms shape what footage gets seen.

Reeves Weidemann, features writer at New York Magazine who reported on David Ellison and Skydance. He traces Ellison’s rise from a failed film start to owning Paramount and aiming for Warner Bros. He explores family dynamics with Larry Ellison, David’s taste for big blockbusters, the business strategy behind studio buys, and the tech and AI ambitions tied to building a media empire.

In this discussion, Will Sommer, a senior reporter at The Bulwark, exposes how right-wing influencers manipulate narratives surrounding Minneapolis, particularly targeting Somali communities. He reveals a cycle of disinformation leading to real-world consequences, such as government prosecutions following viral outrage videos. Sommer highlights the troubling relationship between influencers and federal agencies, emphasizing the impact of their content on public perception and policy. He also predicts California as the next battleground for this model of outrage.

Brittany Trang, a health tech reporter for Stat News, dives into the evolving role of AI in healthcare. They explore how AI scribes are alleviating doctors' paperwork burdens and the emergence of health chatbots like ChatGPT Health. Brittany raises concerns about the reliability of these AI models, noting significant risks of misinformation. The discussion highlights the mixed feelings among doctors regarding AI tools, balancing patient access to information with the threat of harmful advice. Ultimately, they examine AI's potential beyond chatbots, emphasizing its practical uses in reducing clinician workloads.

Dr. Lauren Hughes, a board-certified pediatrician and science communicator, shares vital insights on vaccination amid shifting guidelines. She discusses the erosion of trust in the CDC's recommendations and highlights critical vaccines removed from the routine list. Lauren explains the importance of early vaccination for infants and warns against comparing U.S. schedules to European models. She also emphasizes the role of community in combating misinformation, urging listeners to help protect children with accurate information.

In this discussion, Jason Koebler, a journalist and co-founder of 404 Media, delves into the alarming rise of Grok on X, where users are prompting it to create explicit images, including underage content. He highlights how Grok’s integration with the platform amplifies these problematic outputs and critiques X’s ineffective moderation. Jason also tackles the misinformation around Grok's 'apologies' and discusses the legal challenges victims face. The conversation reveals how platform culture enables abuse while exposing the commercial pressures driving AI-generated adult content.

In this engaging discussion, Alex Kirshner, a contributing writer and expert on media and prediction markets, dives into the intriguing saga of betting on Venezuelan politics. He reveals how an anonymous trader made a staggering profit by anticipating Nicolás Maduro's ouster. The conversation explores the implications of prediction markets, including the blurred lines of insider trading, how these platforms shape political narratives, and the potential for corruption. Kirshner also advocates for necessary regulatory guardrails to address these challenges.

The Trump administration wants NASA to land astronauts on the moon by 2027. They also want them to do it with their budget slashed, a leadership carousel and competing views that Mars is more important. Guest: Joel Achenbach, freelance journalist and author of MoondoggleIf you want to support more of this reporting, in 2026 and beyond, consider signing up for Slate Plus. You’ll enjoy ad-free listening across the Slate network, early access to tickets for live events, and you’ll never hit the paywall on the site. Visit Slate.com/whatnextplus to sign up. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nitish Pahwa, a staff writer at Slate specializing in technology and business, delves into the increasingly dystopian landscape of AI tech. He discusses the unsettling implications of AI-enabled sunglasses, highlighting their hidden features that blend real-world interactions with digital intrusion. The conversation touches on the market's push for smarter wearables and the risks of parasocial relationships with AI chatbots. Nitish also raises ethical concerns about creating AI replicas of deceased loved ones and the growing skepticism among consumers regarding AI's real impact.