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.

News
1
Your Right to Protest? Not the Supreme Court’s ...
Looks like the highest court will let the wildly conservative Fifth Circuit judges violate the Constitution a bit, as a treat.
19 min
2
What the WNBA Salary Debate Misses
Caitlin Clark’s $76,000 pay is shocking—but the story is bigger than her.
24 min
3
TBD | The Internet Archive Endangered
A non-profit site just digitized Aruba’s history. They could be sued out of existence.
19 min
4
TBD | What’s Driving Tesla’s Layoffs?
The EV maker may be demonstrating why other car makers don’t do it this way.
19 min
5
Is It Too Late to Escape “Forever Chemicals”?
The EPA has known PFAS are dangerous for a long time—why are they finally ratcheting up regulations now?
25 min
6
Will Abortion in Florida and Arizona Decide the...
The ghost of Roe v. Wade haunts our voting booths.
24 min
7
What Israel Does Now
And how to interpret Iran’s checked-swing retaliation?
22 min
8
Trump In (Criminal) Court
What to expect when a former president facing jail time appears before a jury of his peers.
22 min
9
TBD | Is America Ready for Legal Psychedelics?
How the push for legal ‘shrooms can avoid the problems plaguing legal cannabis.
23 min
10
TBD | Does Google Suck Now?
Wither our once-best search engine?
23 min
11
The Judge Protecting Trump
Why the Mar-a-Lago classified documents case is going nowhere.
22 min
12
How the Government Botched Financial Aid
Congress, the Department of Education, and two presidential administrations, all trying to find who did this.
24 min
13
No Labels Is Out. But RFK Jr. Remains.
The spectre of a third-party spoiler still haunts the Democrats.
21 min
14
How Young Is Too Young to Work?
Child labor laws are changing—in different directions, in different states.
22 min
15
TBD | America Needs More Power
How building our renewable energy future domestically is keeping old power plants running.
26 min
16
TBD | Truth Social’s Rocky Week
Trump Media’s IPO may not be the blockbuster Trump was hoping for.
23 min
17
How Much Longer Can Netanyahu Hold On?
His coalition has held through the war, but a shortage of military manpower is exposing fissures.
22 min
18
How Gambling Took Over Sports
Betting on sports is becoming so popular even players are joining in on the fun. Oops.
23 min
19
How a Democrat Flipped a Seat in Alabama
What the DNC can learn from Marilyn Lands’ victory in a deep-red state.
21 min
20
The Group Behind Christian Conservatives’ Winni...
Alliance Defending Freedom returns to the Supreme Court.
24 min
21
TBD | The Psychological Toll of Mars
We know how to get to space. But what happens to our minds when we’re there?
21 min
22
TBD | Can Boeing Pull Out of This Tailspin?
What needs to change at the company to restore public trust?
27 min
23
Nickelodeon’s Legacy of Abuse
What “Quiet On Set” reveals about a beloved era of children’s television.
25 min
24
Will Islamophobia Sink This Judicial Nomination?
How Adeel Mangi’s appearance before the Senate went off the rails.
21 min
25
Has Trump Run Out the Clock?
How the Trump team pulled out all the stops to keep him out of criminal court.
21 min