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

It makes intuitive sense for companies that develop a technology to hold its intellectual property rights. But in the case of vaccines and medical treatments, IP laws slow down manufacturing and distribution and give private companies the power to make huge decisions that affect public health globally.Guest: Zain Rizvi, researcher for advocacy group Public Citizen, specializing in pharmaceutical innovation and access to medicine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The US has been in a housing shortage for decades. Can it ever be fixed?Guest: Conor DoughertyHost: Emily Peck Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Researchers have untangled a world of illicit trade that threatens ecosystems and endangers species.Guest: Dr. Alice Hughes, Richard StewartHost: Lizzie O'Leary Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In buying One Medical, Amazon is primed to be your doctor. Are they disrupting health care, or just collecting more data?Guest: Rebecca PiferHost: Lizzie O'Leary Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Toronto’s Quayside project is a telling example of how smart cities have failed. Could it also show how to make them better?Guest: Ben Green, Jennifer KeesmaatHost: Lizzie O'Leary Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The continent's deadly heat wave is only the tip of the melting iceberg.Guest: Henry GrabarHost: Lizzie O'Leary Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Thenmozhi Soundararajan was scheduled to give a talk at Google for Dalit History Month. It led to vicious attacks against her from some of its employees.Guest: Thenmozhi SoundararajanHost: Lizzie O'Leary Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dysfunction is nothing new to Twitter. But Elon Musk pulling his offer to buy the company adds a new layer of chaos.Guest: Alex KantrowitzHost: Lizzie O'Leary Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There's still a lot unknown about COVID's new wonder drug.Guest: Rachel Gutman-WeiHost: Lizzie O'Leary Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Climate change is causing unprecedented severe weather. Is the agency prepared for it to get worse?Guest: Craig Fugate and Ashley NerbovigHost: Lizzie O'Leary Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices