What Next Plus
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.
101
GOP Bets It All on the Border
A partial government shutdown is just 10 days away.
15 min
102
TBD | Tesla's Cybertruck Problem
Is it safe for anyone?
21 min
103
TBD | Why the New York Times Sued OpenAI
Media are determined not to make the same mistake this time.
25 min
104
22 States Hiked the Minimum Wage. Now What?
Who is helped by a rising minimum wage—and who is left behind?
22 min
105
How Ukraine Loses The War
Far from the battlefield, the outcome could be determined by American voters.
20 min
106
The Murder of Wadee Alfayoumi
A Muslim-American family grapples with the aftermath of the unthinkable.
23 min
107
The Renewable Energy Shell Game
The cheap, easy, and likely counterproductive path to “going green” that the federal government is hooked on.
21 min
108
TBD | Who’s Afraid of A.I.? | 2023 In Review
Real harm from A.I. doesn’t have to look like Skynet—it’s already happening.
30 min
109
TBD | America’s Killer Car Problem | 2023 In Re...
U.S. infrastructure doesn't prioritize the lives of pedestrians. Why?
33 min
110
Does Steven Spielberg Have an Oscars Curse? | 2...
It’s hard to call the most commercially-successful director of all time “underappreciated” but Spielberg’s relationship with the Academy hasn’t been particularly rosy.
26 min
111
Congress Wants to Know: Do Aliens Exist? | 2023...
Three officials say UFOs aren’t just real; in the military, they’re an open secret.
27 min
112
Wait, China’s Taking Our Pandas Back? | 2023 In...
A story of soft (and cuddly) power.
28 min
113
The Plot Against Pope Francis | 2023 In Review
The 86-year-old knows there are people in the Vatican working to undo everything he’s done once he’s dead—but he has succession ideas of his own.
26 min
114
TBD | Stephen King Is Just as Confused About Bl...
A meltdown over its subscription service reveals Twitter’s wheels coming off.
31 min
115
FT News Briefing: Markets, Elections, and A.I. ...
A look at how the world might look next year.
14 min
116
TBD | Can Hybrid Cars Save Us?
Are hybrids a bridge to fully electric vehicles, or a dead end?
24 min
117
Marvel’s Disastrous Year
The commercially-declining MCU ends 2023 with its rising star found guilty of reckless assault and harassment.
20 min
118
When a Miscarriage Becomes a Crime
How an anti-abortion legal strategy turned a miscarriage into “abuse of a corpse.”
20 min
119
Oh the Humanities!
It’s been three months since West Virginia University cut more than two dozen programs. We go inside an academic culling.
23 min
120
Where Do Returned Gifts Go?
Sending something back has never been more convenient. But easy returns have hidden costs.
20 min
121
TBD | The Case Against CLEAR
What place does a private company have in a mandatory government service?
22 min
122
TBD | Shein’s Newest Offering? An IPO
Shein has already faced criticism over its labor practices and environmental impact. What will it mean if the company goes public?
24 min
123
What Texas Abortion Laws Leave Unsaid
The State Supreme Court decides what constitutes “life-threatening.”
25 min
124
Some Israeli Hostages Came Home. His Son Didn't.
The Gaza ceasefire came and went; his son is still held by Hamas.
26 min
125
Pilots' Hidden Mental Health Crisis
Under current regulations, seeking help for mental health can cost pilots their ability to work.
21 min