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.
101
How Colleges Can Fight Back
Taking it from the quads to courts.
25 min
102
TBD | Bezos 2.0
How the Amazon founder went from Trump critic to Trump donor.
25 min
103
TBD | The Discourse: Can A.I. Write A Good Story?
We judge it!
18 min
104
TBD | Trump's War on Scientific Research
Cutting NIH grants–even temporarily–could have repercussions for years to come.
26 min
105
Trump’s Animal-Spirit Economy
Trying to make sense of Trumponomics.
25 min
106
A "Made for TV" Deportation Policy
Over the weekend, the Trump administration invoked an arcane law which was last used to justify Japanese internment. A judge tried to stop him—but he didn’t listen.
27 min
107
Is this the End of Sesame Street?
How the struggles of a once universally beloved children’s show are emblematic of a larger cultural shift.
25 min
108
Democrats Had a Rare Opportunity. They Blinked.
Chuck Schumer’s decision to keep the government open enraged a wide swath of Democrats, from Pelosi to AOC.
24 min
109
TBD | How Trump Is Trying to Kill Press Freedom
Inside the movement targeting free speech.
26 min
110
Bonus Main Character: Meghan Markle Could Use a...
The hosts of Slate’s ICYMI join Mary for a Slate Plus exclusive.
18 min
111
TBD | Will Tesla Survive Elon Musk?
From “Eco-Friendly” to “Swastiscar”
23 min
112
Could DOGE Really Gut Social Security?
Elon takes on the biggest, most trusted, and most essential program yet.
25 min
113
Will Student Protesters Be Deported?
Mahmoud Khalil’s detainment is part of Trump’s larger war on American universities.
26 min
114
Andrew Cuomo Wanted To Be President. He’ll Sett...
In 2021, he resigned from the governorship under the shadow of multiple scandals. In 2025, he’s leading the polls in New York City’s mayoral race.
23 min
115
Til Trump Do Us Part
How husbands’ votes for Donald Trump threw whole relationships into question.
23 min
116
TBD | Zuckerberg and the Post-Factcheck Era
Does Meta know what they’ve done?
26 min
117
TBD Bonus: The Discourse | Will the Tesla Boyco...
The company's reputation (and stock price) are in the toilet. Does this mean the boycotts are working - or is it just liberal cope?
13 min
118
TBD | From 4Chan to Charlottesville to DOGE
How the far right internet conquered American politics.
27 min
119
How Worried Are Ukrainians?
And where things stand after that meeting.
22 min
120
The True Cost of Slashing the Government
How drastic federal funding cuts are already being felt in America and beyond.
22 min
121
Why Trump Needs Congress
The president prepares to address the House and Senate with a government shutdown looming.
25 min
122
Why Women Kill
One commonality among women incarcerated for homicide raises the question, what is self-defense—and who’s entitled to it?
30 min
123
TBD | Cracking the Egg Crisis
An eggsplanation.
18 min
124
Bonus Main Character: Treasury Secretary Scott ...
On today’s What Next Plus exclusive, Mary asks why the treasury secretary would trash talk his own economy?
18 min
125
TBD | The DOGE Resistance
Lawsuits, protests and Elon Musk's Achilles Heel
24 min