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.
401
TBD | The Post-Election Social Media Wars
Is this the end of having one, shared “digital public square”?
24 min
402
Decoder Ring | If You Give a Mouse a Cookie…Wil...
How a popular children’s book got caught up in the culture wars.
33 min
403
Which Came First, the Bird Flu or the Egg?
Bird flu has made the leap to mammals and the impact is already at the grocery store.
21 min
404
A New Strategy for Banning Abortion
The latest attempt to ban medication for abortions uses some old, ugly arguments in a new, ugly way.
20 min
405
When Jesus Is on the Curriculum
The Texas State Board of Education takes a particular—and potentially unconstitutional—point of view of religion and history.
22 min
406
TBD | Is Sickle Cell Anemia…Cured?
The new treatment is painful and expensive. It could also be life-saving.
28 min
407
Bonus: The Surge | A Fumble Right Out the Gaetz
Jim Newell from Slate’s The Surge newsletter joins Mary for a Slate Plus exclusive.
23 min
408
TBD | What's Google Without Chrome?
Does the search giant’s break-up begin with its browser?
20 min
409
Mass Deportation How?
It seems unimaginable, but it’s not without historical precedent.
23 min
410
Trump’s Shadow Cabinet
The unelected czars running the Trump administration — no Senate approval required.
25 min
411
Welcome to Trump City, USA
Why did Democrats lose so many urban voters in 2024?
24 min
412
Jamie Raskin: “We Can’t Let The Fear Paralyze Us”
He led Trump’s second impeachment effort. Now he’s preparing for Trump’s second term.
21 min
413
TBD | The X-odus
So long and thanks for all the clicks
22 min
414
Bonus: The Surge | Enter the Goon Squad
Jim Newell from Slate’s The Surge newsletter joins Mary for a Slate Plus exclusive.
22 min
415
TBD | The Manosphere That Delivered Trump Back ...
Deeply retrograde, reactionary politics find life in the new media landscape.
18 min
416
Can SNL Meet the Moment?
How do you parody someone who is both so cruel and ridiculous?
28 min
417
Trump Vs The World
Putin and Netanyahu will have their preferred candidate back in the White House.
22 min
418
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
419
How to Prepare for the Worst
Politicians, civil servants, and everyday Americans are getting ready for an authoritarian in the Oval Office.
26 min
420
TBD | The Polls Weren’t Wrong
The public just doesn’t understand what they mean.
22 min
421
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
422
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
423
Trump 2.0
How much does 2016 tell us about 2024?
20 min
424
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
425
A Shocking and Predictable Election
Even with the assassination attempts and the candidate swapping, this electoral cycle felt very, very familiar.
24 min