Slate Daily Feed

Hosts Alex Kirshner, Ben Lindbergh, and Lindsay Gibbs speak to Fried Egg Golf’s Kevin Van Valkenburg about the American crowds, President, and golf lapses at the Ryder Cup. Ben previews the MLB playoffs, and the hosts discuss the purchase of Electronic Arts by Jared Kushner and a Saudi investment fund. For Afterballs, Ben dusts off a copy of Robert Redford’s oft-forgotten and underrated ski film, Downhill Racer. On the bonus episode available exclusively for Slate Plus members, Lindsay recounts the drama of the WNBA semifinals. Ryder Cup (6:18): American losers MLB (23:19): Mets gonna Mets E.A. Sports (42:33): It’s in the…sovereign wealth fund? Afterballs (54:18): Remembering Downhill Racer (Note: time codes are only accurate for Slate Plus members, who listen ad-free.) Get more Hang Up and Listen with Slate Plus! Join for weekly bonus episodes of Hang Up and Listen and ad-free listening on all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe from the Hang Up and Listen show page on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, or visit slate.com/hangupplus for access wherever you listen. You can email us at hangup@slate.com. Podcast production and editing by Kevin Bendis, with production assistance from Patrick Fort. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With Gaza cut off from food and aid, activists have taken matters into their own hands, and are attempting to circumvent Israel’s blockade themselves via the Mediterranean. Guest:  Zue Jernstedt, member of About Face: Veterans Against the War and participant on the Veterans Boat of the Global Sumud Flotilla. Want more What Next? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the whole What Next family and across 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 Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme, and Rob Gunther. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, award-winning journalist and podcaster Elise Hu joins the show to talk about her new podcast Raising Us, where she explores how parents can handle the trickiest questions kids throw their way. A mom of three, Elise shares her own experiences with curiosity, honesty, and the moments where parents don’t have a neat answer. She also helps Lucy and Elizabeth respond to a listener question about navigating conflicts with grandparents who may not share or respect your parenting choices. Join us on Facebook and email us at careandfeedingpod@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. You can also call our phone line: (646) 357-9318. If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get to hang out with us on the Plus Playground every week for a whole additional grab-bag of content — and you’ll get an ad-free experience across the network. And you’ll also be supporting the work we do here on Care and Feeding. Sign up now at slate.com/careplus – or try it out on Apple Podcasts. Listen to Opportunity Gap wherever you get your podcasts: ⁠⁠https://lnk.to/opportunitygapPS!careandfeeding⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dana Hull, a Senior reporter at Bloomberg who specializes in Tesla and EV safety, dives into the troubling safety issues surrounding Tesla's unique door handles. She discusses how these flush electronic handles can trap occupants during crashes, making escape challenging. Hull explains the dual battery systems complicating rescues and highlights a concerning lack of awareness among passengers. With a recent NHTSA investigation underway, she emphasizes the need for better safety standards and practical advice for Tesla owners.

Max Chafkin, a business journalist at Bloomberg/Businessweek, dives into the implications of NVIDIA's $100 billion investment in OpenAI, questioning if the AI surge is a bubble. He also discusses the chaotic rollout of Trump's $100,000 H-1B visa fee and its potential impact on innovation. Most intriguingly, Max recounts how a parody of Enron spiraled into a memecoin fiasco, illustrating the thin line between satire and financial reality, while reflecting on the broader meme culture that shapes today’s media landscape.

Kat Tenbarge, an Internet culture reporter for Spitfire News, dives into the heated debate surrounding free speech online, triggered by reactions to Charlie Kirk's death. She explores how influencers blur lines between politics and celebrity, shaping societal responses. Tenbarge highlights chilling effects of laws like FOSTA-SESTA on marginalized voices and discusses how online platforms wield censorship through biased algorithms. Finally, she offers strategies for counteracting these trends through civic engagement and media literacy.

Justin Driver, a Yale Law School professor and author, dives into the fallout from the Supreme Court's recent affirmative action ruling. He discusses how this decision has sharply decreased Black enrollment at elite colleges and opened doors for attacks on racial justice initiatives. Driver passionately argues that affirmative action has historically benefited social mobility for Black professionals. He also highlights the rising tensions surrounding anti-classification and anti-subordination approaches in legal debates, urging a serious reconsideration of liberal strategies.

Why would Donald Trump rush to announce that Tylenol is a potential cause of autism, a claim unsupported by the research? Guest: Dan Diamond, White House reporter for the Washington Post. 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the rarefied world of smash pop singles, there are No. 1s—and there are No. 1 debuts. Entering Billboard’s Hot 100 at the top is one of the hardest tricks in music. In fact, it wasn’t possible in the U.S. until 1995. That’s when the record labels hacked the Hot 100 and figured out how to send new singles straight into the chart penthouse.  But scoring a No. 1 in Week One doesn’t mean it’s built to last. For every enduring hit like “Fantasy,” “Shake It Off” or “Hello,” there are plenty of one-off oddities, coronation pabulum from American Idol finalists, and even a few missteps from chart luminaries. Within a couple of years these fast-breaking hits may be forgotten—never to be spun on the radio or streamed on Spotify. Join Chris Molanphy as he explores the chart calculus, superfan interventions, and fluky conditions that create a perfect storm of pop-chart insta-success. It’s a parade of pop bangers that scored a fast pass to the front of the line.Get more Hit Parade with Slate Plus! Join for monthly early-access episodes, bonus episodes of "The Bridge," and ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe directly from the Hit Parade show page on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Or, visit slate.com/hitparadeplus to get access wherever you listen. Podcast production by Kevin Bendis and Olivia Briley. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Beverly Gage, a Yale historian and author of the Pulitzer-winning biography on J. Edgar Hoover, joins the discussion to delve into the historical context of McCarthyism. She sheds light on the Red Scare's origins and its chilling effects on free speech and civic life. The panel debates how past political repressions echo in today's climate, emphasizing strategic responses to modern political bullying. From anti-communist blacklists to the power of media pushback against overreach, the conversation explores essential lessons for contemporary democracy.