What Next: TBD | Tech, power, and the future
Slate Podcasts
Every Friday and Sunday, Slate’s popular daily news podcast What Next brings you TBD, a clear-eyed look into the future. From fake news to fake meat, algorithms to augmented reality, Lizzie O’Leary is your guide to the tech industry and the world it’s creating for us to live in.
Episodes
Mentioned books
May 15, 2022 • 21min
Inside Trump’s Twitter Clone
Trump's Truth Social network was supposed to be the right's answer to Twitter. What happens to the company if Elon takes over?Guest: Drew Harwell, reporter for the Washington PostHost: Lizzie O'Leary Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 13, 2022 • 19min
Can A.I. Know What You're Feeling?
Companies are developing and selling A.I. products intended to tell your boss or your teacher how you're feeling.Guest: Kate Kaye, reporter for ProtocolHost: Lizzie O'Leary Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 8, 2022 • 26min
Is Free Speech Online Just a Myth?
A conversation with one of the smartest First Amendment lawyers in the country.Guest: Jameel JafferHost: Lizzie O'LearyThanks Avast.com! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 6, 2022 • 19min
Can the Internet Rescue Abortion Access?
The pandemic changed the way abortion care could be provided online. So what happens now?Guest: Dr. Mai Fleming, family medicine physician and Fellow with Physicians for Reproductive Health.Host: Lizzie O'Leary Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 1, 2022 • 18min
The Fantasy of Internet for All
Can Starlink ever fulfill its promise of connecting the world, especially places left behind by traditional internet? Or will it be just another toy for the rich? Guest: Meaghan Tobin, reporter at Rest of WorldHost: Lizzie O'Leary Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 29, 2022 • 22min
What Elon Wants With Twitter
Twitter is the platform of choice for politicians, journalists, academics, and many other agenda-setters. Twitter influences conversations that take place in newsrooms and statehouses. What happens if the company’s placed in the hands of a pugnacious, provocative plutocrat like Elon Musk?Guest: Will Oremus, tech reporter for the Washington PostHost: Seth Stevenson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 24, 2022 • 21min
A New High-Tech Weapon in Ukraine
The conflict between Ukraine and Russia is uncovering new wartime applications for facial recognition technology.Guest: Aric Toler, director of research and training at BellingcatHost: Lizzie O'Leary Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 22, 2022 • 25min
The COVID Data Disaster
Are we facing down yet another COVID wave right now? Does it matter?Guest: Katherine Wu, staff writer for The AtlanticHost: Lizzie O'Leary Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 17, 2022 • 22min
How TurboTax Tricks Taxpayers
How did Intuit build its TurboTax empire?Guest: Justin Elliott, reporter for ProPublicaHost: Lizzie O'Leary Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 15, 2022 • 20min
Elonnnnnnnnnnnnn!
Is Musk's bid to take Twitter private a genuine attempt to mold the social network in his image? Or is he just going to have some fun, make some money, and walk away?Guest: Felix Salmon, host of Slate Money and chief financial correspondent for AxiosHost: Lizzie O'Leary Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
