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

Investigative reporter Zeke Faux discusses the rise and fall of Sam Bankman-Fried and the unraveling of Tether, a supposedly stable cryptocurrency. The podcast explores the legitimacy of the crypto industry and doubts about future pitches for new coins due to potential fraud.

After years of being a rare spot of universal, American-government-funded health care, this fall’s new COVID-19 vaccine is hitting the commercial market for the first time. So far, the rollout has been mired by hiccups and confusion. Guest: Jen Kates, senior vice president at KFFIf you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get benefits like zero ads on any Slate podcast, bonus episodes of shows like Slow Burn and Dear Prudence—and you’ll be supporting the work we do here on What Next TBD. Sign up now at slate.com/whatnextplus to help support our work.Podcast production by Evan Campbell and Anna Philips. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Amazon evolved from a place to get cheap used books to the “everything store”—one encompassing warehouses, logistics and shipping. But with the FTC now run by Lina Khan—who wrote the essay ‘Amazon’s Antitrust Paradox” while at Yale Law School—a new contender for “antitrust trial of the century” has begun. Guest: Leah Nylen, antitrust reporter for BloombergIf you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get benefits like zero ads on any Slate podcast, bonus episodes of shows like Slow Burn and Dear Prudence—and you’ll be supporting the work we do here on What Next TBD. Sign up now at slate.com/whatnextplus to help support our work. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As other tech companies that rode the pandemic to success started sinking, Instacart managed to stay above water—they turned a profit and even made it to an IPO. But a stubbornly static stock price has some asking if Instacart—and the whole gig economy—hasn’t already peaked.  Guest: Erin Griffith, who reports on tech startups and venture capital for the New York TimesIf you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get benefits like zero ads on any Slate podcast, bonus episodes of shows like Slow Burn and Dear Prudence—and you’ll be supporting the work we do here on What Next TBD. Sign up now at slate.com/whatnextplus to help support our work. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Guest Heather Tal Murphy, Slate writer covering tech and business, discusses the impact of new laws on short-term rentals in New York City, addressing housing availability and affordability. The podcast explores the consequences of Airbnb on long-term renters and communities, as well as the regulations and implications on short-term rentals in various cities. It also speculates on the future of Airbnb in New York City.

Richard Blumenthal, senior United States senator from Connecticut, discusses the controversial Kids Online Safety Act and its potential impact on social media platforms. They delve into algorithmic content recommendation, the accountability of social media companies, and the need for regulation to protect minors from harmful content.

A trial a decade in the making has started, as the U.S. Justice Department’s antitrust case against Google and its unrivaled position as the top search engine begins. Is this the beginning of the government “taking on Big Tech” and the end of Google as we know it?Guest: Leah Nylen, covering antitrust for Bloomberg.If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get benefits like zero ads on any Slate podcast, bonus episodes of shows like Slow Burn and Dear Prudence—and you’ll be supporting the work we do here on What Next TBD. Sign up now at slate.com/whatnextplus to help support our work. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

COVID’s still here but the public’s appetite for masking, social distancing, or remote learning is long gone. One palatable way to stop the spread: improving air circulation indoors. Guest: Apoorva Mandavilli, science and global health reporter for the New York TimesIf you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get benefits like zero ads on any Slate podcast, bonus episodes of shows like Slow Burn and Dear Prudence—and you’ll be supporting the work we do here on What Next TBD. Sign up now at slate.com/whatnextplus to help support our work. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Daniel Zawodny, transportation reporter, discusses the frustrations faced by Howard County parents dealing with bus delays and incorrect drop-offs. He explores the challenges of a high-tech bus contractor called Zoom, its connection to canceled routes, and the unexpected disruptions caused by tech companies in student transportation.

Tech reporter Will Oremus discusses the declining usefulness of social media as a source of news during natural disasters, focusing on the example of Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria. He explores the challenges of misinformation and hoaxes, as well as the changing responsibilities of big tech companies. The episode also highlights the potential benefits of the news industry distancing itself from social media platforms.