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.
51
TBD | Crypto Keeps Criming
Even with a crypto president, these guys can’t stop doing shady stuff.
21 min
52
Who Killed the Penny? She Did.
Nickels, consider yourselves warned.
22 min
53
Sudan on the Brink
How an isolationist United States leaves more space for conflict, and less humanitarian aid.
26 min
54
Have the Epstein Files Broken MAGA?
Wait—Trump didn’t just wriggle out of this one?!
27 min
55
The National Guard Is Asking Questions
The crackdown is still searching for a crisis.
24 min
56
TBD | How Meta Profits Off Fraud
There’s a big financial incentive for Facebook and Instagram to tolerate scammers.
28 min
57
TBD | The Discourse: Youtube TV vs. Disney
What negotiations between the two giants says about the state of live tv in the streaming age.
15 min
58
TBD | Data Centers on the Ballot
A.I. companies are leading the data-center boom. Voters seem less enthused.
21 min
59
Wikipedia Enters the Culture Wars
A user base with a commitment to the truth is what makes Wikipedia work—and what makes it a target.
22 min
60
No, Women Didn't Ruin the Workplace
“Are workplaces too girly?” and other questions asked bravely by the New York Times.
28 min
61
How To Lose a Government Shutdown
Senate Democrats are letting the GOP off the hook in exchange for a promise for a future vote and a resolution that lasts until January?
23 min
62
Is Special Ed Getting Left Behind?
Federal funding that helps schools educate all children has stalled in the government shutdown—and it may never come back.
24 min
63
TBD | Why Tesla Is Paying Elon a Trillion Bucks
Post-DOGE, Musk’s empire is looking a little shaky, if still extremely lucrative for the man himself.
27 min
64
Bonus: SchadenFriday | Muslim, Millennial, Mr. ...
Islamophobia remains popular enough to try, but not enough to win.
23 min
65
TBD | The Nick Fuentes Problem
What’s the difference between being a party with Nazis and being in a Nazi party?
21 min
66
Trump’s Tariffs Have a Constitution Problem
It’s tough to carve out something that looks plausibly legal, even to this Supreme Court.
24 min
67
The Andrew Formerly Known as a Prince
Stripping the problematic royal of his title isn’t justice, but at least it’s something.
22 min
68
She Won the Election. The GOP Won’t Swear Her In.
Election Day only matters if you get to take office.
23 min
69
The Redistricting Arms Race Is On
Trump wants to hold the House, but do state-level GOP operatives have the stomach for unpopular, undemocratic new maps?
25 min
70
TBD | The Discourse: Atlas? Shrug.
OpenAI’s meh new browser.
11 min
71
TBD | Inside the Goonerverse
A very specific (NSFW) online world.
26 min
72
How Will We Feed Our Neighbors?
Why you should consider giving out mac n’ cheese along with candy this Halloween.
28 min
73
The Volunteers Taking on ICE
The Harbor Area Peace Patrol attempts to protect undocumented neighbors in southern California, one parking lot at a time.
24 min
74
Where Sports Betting Got Us
Just when you think it’s all apps, the Mafia pops back into the picture.
26 min
75
Shutting Down and Finding Out
The government shutdown now enters its fourth week. Will Democrats finally play hard ball?
24 min