What Next | Daily News and Analysis

Slate Podcasts

The problem with the news right now? It’s everywhere. And each day, it can feel like we’re all just mindlessly scrolling. It’s why we created What Next. This short daily show is here to help you make sense of things. When the news feels overwhelming, we’re here to help you answer: What next? Look for new episodes every weekday morning. Get more of What Next with Slate Plus! Join for exclusive bonus episodes of What Next and ad-free listening on all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe from the What Next show page on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, or visit slate.com/whatnextplus for access wherever you listen.

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2,481 episodes
Updated Friday

Episodes2481

Newest first

April 30 · 24 min
The Death of the Voting Rights Act
Another guardrail against unfair election maps goes down before the court.
April 29 · 30 min
A ‘Michigan Mamdani’?
Running for the U.S. Senate, Abdul El-Sayed really wants to get you health care.
April 28 · 23 min
Why So Many Believe the WHCD Shooting Was Staged
Conspiracies are swirling after yet another attempt on President Trump’s life.
April 27 · 25 min
Michael Jackson: Too Big to Fail
The idea of Michael Jackson remains strong enough to overshadow the man himself.
April 26 · 22 min
How Mark Zuckerberg Finds Your Perfect Pair of Shoes
That’s advertising in the agentic age, baby.
April 24 · 6 min
SchadenFriday: Cabinet Crashouts
The president’s catchphrase, after all, was “You’re fired.”
April 24 · 25 min
MAGA's A.I. Schism
What would Jesus prompt?
April 23 · 28 min
Congress’s Purge Era
The close margins that kept representatives in their seats despite serious ethics questions has given other members of Congress the confidence to take matters into their own hands.
April 22 · 26 min
Where’s MY Tariff Refund?
The tariffs were a bad idea. Paying the money "back" isn’t great either.
April 21 · 26 min
Taking ICE to Court
As federal officers, ICE agents have a lot of legal leeway. Can state laws provide some form of justice?
April 20 · 25 min
Why International Law Can’t Stop Trump
Is Trump breaking the post-WWII world order, or just laying bare how it’s always worked?
April 19 · 26 min
Iran's Memes Are Winning
Chad Iran mocks Virgin Trump.
April 17 · 34 min
Everyone Is Lying to You For Money
You might know him from the OC, but Ben McKenzie wrote the book—and directed the documentary—on cryptocurrency’s core fraudulence.
April 16 · 27 min
You Come at the Pope, You Best Not Miss
Attacks Trump honed on fellow politicians and, uh, Bette Midler aren’t doing their usual damage against Leo XIV–but they are hurting his standing with American Catholics.
April 15 · 23 min
Does JD Vance Have the Juice?
The heir apparent of Trumpism had a globe-trotting weekend of extremely visible failure.
April 14 · 27 min
What If the US and Iran Are Both Losing?
Does another blockade end the stalemate–or end the ceasefire?
April 13 · 34 min
They Came For Ibram X Kendi. He’s Still Here.
The ironically transnational and elite-backed origins of the far-right’s favorite racist fairy tale.
April 12 · 31 min
Who is Sam Altman Anyway?
Is he cautiously shepherding in the A.I. age, or is that just another part of the pitch?
April 10 · 7 min
SchadenFriday: Washington Gets TMZ’d
What Lindsey Graham now has in common with Lindsay Lohan.
April 10 · 20 min
Why OpenAI Bought a Talk Show
Is it a PR strategy, or another business blunder?

What Next | Daily News and Analysis

The Death of the Voting Rights Act

A ‘Michigan Mamdani’?

Why So Many Believe the WHCD Shooting Was Staged

Michael Jackson: Too Big to Fail

How Mark Zuckerberg Finds Your Perfect Pair of Shoes

SchadenFriday: Cabinet Crashouts

MAGA's A.I. Schism

Congress’s Purge Era

Where’s MY Tariff Refund?

Taking ICE to Court

Why International Law Can’t Stop Trump

Iran's Memes Are Winning

Everyone Is Lying to You For Money

You Come at the Pope, You Best Not Miss

Does JD Vance Have the Juice?

What If the US and Iran Are Both Losing?

They Came For Ibram X Kendi. He’s Still Here.

Who is Sam Altman Anyway?

SchadenFriday: Washington Gets TMZ’d

Why OpenAI Bought a Talk Show