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.
301
Protecting Abortion, Electing Trump
Reproductive rights remain popular—even, it seems, among Trump voters. It was never clear what they meant to Trump.
23 min
302
How to Prepare for the Worst
Politicians, civil servants, and everyday Americans are getting ready for an authoritarian in the Oval Office.
26 min
303
TBD | The Polls Weren’t Wrong
The public just doesn’t understand what they mean.
22 min
304
Bonus: The Surge | Deeeep Breath
Jim Newell from Slate’s The Surge newsletter joins Mary for a post-election (post-elections?) Slate Plus exclusive.
26 min
305
TBD | Elon Wins
Banning Donald Trump from Twitter brought the world’s richest man to his side—and led him back to the White House.
24 min
306
Trump 2.0
How much does 2016 tell us about 2024?
20 min
307
America Can't Quit Trump
Democrats hoped Harris would maintain the Blue Wall. Trump nabbed Pennsylvania and might just win the popular vote too.
21 min
308
A Shocking and Predictable Election
Even with the assassination attempts and the candidate swapping, this electoral cycle felt very, very familiar.
24 min
309
What to Watch While Watching Election Results
Get comfortable; this is going to take a while.
26 min
310
TBD | u up? Go vote.
Why your text messages have gone all politics.
19 min
311
Bonus: The Surge | Closing Gaffes
Jim Newell from Slate’s The Surge newsletter joins Mary for a Slate Plus exclusive.
24 min
312
TBD | What Elon Wants From Trump
How he’s making Trump’s closing argument—and why.
26 min
313
Spoiler Alert: The People Policing Your Vote
How a group of sheriffs who believe the 2020 election was stolen from Trump are preparing for this election.
24 min
314
Spoiler Alert: Almighty Omaha
There is no place like Nebraska…
24 min
315
Spoiler Alert: Undecided Voters
An unpredictable, hugely important sliver of the electorate still hasn’t decided between Harris, Trump—and staying home.
25 min
316
Spoiler Alert: Jill Stein
What’s the Green Party candidate trying to do here—because “winning the presidency” doesn’t seem at all possible.
25 min
317
TBD | Facebook for the Dead
Inside the creative, caring and controversial website that memorializes the dead.
19 min
318
Bonus: The Surge | Two Terrifying Weeks Left
Jim Newell from Slate’s The Surge newsletter joins Mary for a Slate Plus exclusive.
21 min
319
TBD | Can TikTok Sway this Election?
Even politicians working to ban TikTok are not above using it to reach voters.
20 min
320
Abortion Is on the Ballot. Republicans Have a P...
After losing so many state votes, the GOP is now fighting direct democracy itself.
24 min
321
When It Comes to the Border, Has Trump Already ...
In a dramatic shift of opinion, Americans across the political spectrum have soured on immigration.
24 min
322
Why Killing Sinwar Won’t End the War
Does the death of Hamas’s leader make a ceasefire—and a return of the remaining hostages—more likely?
26 min
323
Should the Menendez Brothers Be Free?
Why their case is back in the news and your feeds after more than three decades.
24 min
324
TBD | How Secure Is Our Election?
Why you can be confident in America’s electoral integrity, even as confidence in American democracy is plummeting.
29 min
325
Bonus: The Surge | Kamala Harris Does All The I...
While Trump was dancing, what else happened in politics this week?
23 min