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
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
Apr 10, 2022 • 22min
Uber Makes Nice With Cabs
The rideshare company's founder once called taxis “evil.” Now, Uber might need them to survive.Guest: Preetika RanaHost: Lizzie O'Leary Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 8, 2022 • 22min
Elon Trolls the SEC
With 9.1% ownership of Twitter—and a board seat—Elon Musk is the new master of Twitter's future. Why did the wealthiest man in the world just take over the world's most influential platform?Guest: Ranjan Roy, writer of the Margins newsletterHost: Lizzie O'Leary Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 3, 2022 • 21min
A Conversation With Europe's Top Tech Cop
For nearly a decade, Margrethe Vestager has led Europe's efforts to rein in big tech. One newspaper article described Vestager as putting the fear of God into Silicon Valley. How is she thinking about fairness in tech in 2022?Guest: Margrethe Vestager, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for a Europe fit for the Digital Age Host: Lizzie O'Leary Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 1, 2022 • 23min
The White House's Favorite Tech Billionaire
Why did Ex-Google CEO Eric Schmidt spend over a decade building relationships with the most powerful Democrats in America?Guest: Alex Thompson, reporter at Politico Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 27, 2022 • 21min
The Cost of Going Off-Grid
Going off-grid can seem appealing in lots of ways. But are there consequences if everyone unplugs from the system? Are there costs we haven’t considered?Guest: Ivan Penn, renewable energy correspondent for the New York TimesHost: Seth Stevenson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 25, 2022 • 22min
Why the Zelensky Deepfake Failed
The FBI warned that Russia would use deepfakes to support its invasion of Ukraine. Are they missing the real threat?Guest: Noah Giansiracusa, professor of math and data science at Bentley University.Host: Seth Stevenson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 20, 2022 • 19min
The Startup Delivering Adderall
In just two years, the mental-health startup Cerebral has grown to operate in 50 states, registered more than 200,000 patients, and reached a $4.8 billion valuation. Has it prioritized growth over patient care?Guest: Caleb MelbyHost: Lizzie O'Leary Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
