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.
1226
A Stalemate in Ukraine
An impasse doesn’t mean everyone goes home. It means the world witnesses a stupefying, deadly slog.
21 min
1227
What the Sackler Family Won
The people behind Purdue Pharma and the reckless marketing of OxyContin are about to pay out billions in return for civil immunity.
25 min
1228
TBD | The Startup Delivering Adderall
What happens when you pair the Silicon Valley playbook with prescription drugs?
15 min
1229
TBD | Hong Kong’s Covid Crisis
Why did the city fail to vaccinate its elderly population?
18 min
1230
What It Takes to Get an Abortion in Texas
Pro-choice advocates in the state are up against one of the most extreme abortion laws in the country.
22 min
1231
The Russian Media Crackdown
It’s getting harder for Russians to cut through the noise of state propaganda and censorship.
25 min
1232
What Banning Russian Oil Really Means
The U.S. ban of Russian oil wasn’t supposed to happen. So what led us here?
24 min
1233
The Persistence of Anti-Asian Violence
Faced with government inaction, community organizations are stepping up. But they say they shouldn’t have to.
23 min
1234
TBD | How Minnesota Spied On Protesters
Operation Safety Net was supposed to keep the peace during the Chauvin trial. Did it abuse its power?
17 min
1235
TBD | Putin's Internet Crackdown
The Kremlin is resorting to extreme measures to control the information landscape in Russia.
27 min
1236
On the Ground With a Ukrainian Journalist
“At the moment, I think I still can play an important role here… if I get drafted, I get drafted.”
21 min
1237
The January 6th Case Against Trump
Will the former president be held accountable for efforts to overturn the 2020 election?
23 min
1238
How Zelensky Met the Moment
Before the war, Ukraine’s president was regarded with tentative hope. Now, he’s a symbol of civic nationalism.
23 min
1239
The *New* New Phase of the Pandemic
With fresh guidelines from the CDC, the majority of Americans can now go mask free. Is it ok to stop worrying?
22 min
1240
TBD | When Your Retina Needs a Software Update
What do you do when your bionic eye becomes obsolete?
19 min
1241
TBD | Ukraine’s Information War
How the embattled country took control of the social media narrative.
18 min
1242
Europe’s Refugee Hypocrisy
It’s hard not to notice the stark difference between the treatment of Ukrainian refugees and non-European refugees.
26 min
1243
Putin Alone
A look at Putin’s shrinking inner circle.
23 min
1244
Texas’s Attack on Trans Kids
Goveror Greg Abbott has ordered Child Protective Services to begin investigating gender-affirming care as child abuse.
29 min
1245
President Biden’s First Supreme Court Pick
Why Judge Kentaji Brown Jackson was a strategic nomination.
23 min
1246
The Long View on Russia’s Invasion
When it comes to answering Putin’s aggression, looking back might show the way forward.
24 min
1247
TBD | Peter Thiel, Patron of the Populist Right
Why the enigmatic founder and investor is turning his attention to politics full-time.
20 min
1248
TBD | Russia's Other Battlefront
Vladimir Putin has spent years testing an arsenal of cyber weapons against Ukraine.
21 min
1249
The Anti-Government Blueprint in California
A takeover of local government in Shasta County, California could set a blueprint for far-right groups nationwide.
27 min
1250
Putin’s Obsession With Ukraine
The Russian narrative is that the former Soviet state is rightfully theirs.
27 min