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.
226
Legally Dead—And Pregnant
25 min
227
Does Gavin Newsom Have It All Figured Out?
Why the California governor seems to be engineering a big pivot to the center.
26 min
228
What Would You Pay to Stay Alive?
A reporter investigates why his lifesaving medication costs nearly $1,000 a day.
25 min
229
The Glaring Problem with Headlights
Why car headlights have gotten so bright—and why they’re likely to stay that way.
40 min
230
TBD | Crypto's Big Win
Even if you've never touched crypto, you could be burned by the GENIUS Act.
26 min
231
Bonus: Main Character: The One Big Beautiful Bill
Slate’s Jim Newell stops by to remind us how reconciliation works.
24 min
232
TBD | Inside OpenAI's Empire
How the company convinced everyone that AGI is inevitable—and that they need to be the ones who control it.
34 min
233
Can A “Morality Coalition” Succeed Against Trump?
He brought “Moral Mondays” to the Capitol—and getting arrested isn’t going to stop him.
22 min
234
If Trump Guts FEMA, Are Tornado Victims On Thei...
It’s tempting to cut something that doesn’t seem essential…until it is.
26 min
235
Here’s How the GOP Cuts Medicaid
They’re getting the old “work requirements” argument down from the attic.
24 min
236
Is Immigration Still Trump’s Strongest Issue?
Voters may be getting what they voted for, but not what they want.
25 min
237
TBD | You’ve Been Deepfaked
How AI generated revenge porn is spreading across the internet.
24 min
238
TBD | The Discourse: Casey Means Loves Flackers
Trump’s surgeon general nominee has her kooky beliefs, and they’re only questionably healthy.”
12 min
239
TBD | The Newarkification of Flying
Can we avoid an air travel future that is nasty, brutish, and severely delayed?
26 min
240
The Qatari Plane Is Just The Start
If you give a mouse a jumbo jet…
22 min
241
Trump’s Middle East Diplomacy
Israel keeps getting surprised by the mercurial American president.
24 min
242
David Hogg Wants Democratic Politicians to Be A...
The call is coming from inside the party.
23 min
243
The War Over Pete Hegseth
How is the Secretary of Defense still hanging in there?
23 min
244
TBD | Online and Pregnant
A conversation with NYT's critic Amanda Hess about her new book.
30 min
245
Bonus | Main Character Syndrome: Your Mom
In honor of Mother’s Day, Dear Prudence’s Jenée Desmond-Harris (no relation) stops by to chat about being a mom—and the option to not be one.
17 min
246
TBD | Chatbots All The Way Down
Why AI companies are giving you the tech you want, but maybe not the tech you need.
22 min
247
Yes, Shelves Will Be Empty
The consequences of “Liberation Day” are about 5-7 weeks out. It’s going to get ugly.
26 min
248
The Arts of the Deal
How Trump is imposing his will on the arts, from the Kennedy Center outward.
26 min
249
A Marco Rubio for All Seasons
The journey from “Little Marco” to Trump’s do-everything cabinet member.
26 min
250
Trump v. the Judiciary
Time to find out how coequal these branches really are.
24 min