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.
1601
U.S. Foreign Policy Is Officially Incoherent
How “America First” left America alone on the world stage.
17 min
1602
The Fight for Belarus
Authoritarian Alexander Lukashenko is courting Russian involvement to maintain his grip on power. Will he succeed?
17 min
1603
The U.S. Can Fix Its COVID Testing Failures
We need more rapid results tests and we need them now.
16 min
1604
Another Crackdown On the Border
The Trump administration is refusing entry to asylum seekers, citing the coronavirus.
16 min
1605
TBD | What Went Wrong With Contact Tracing Apps
They were supposed to help us keep the virus in check. Why don’t any of them seem to actually work?
19 min
1606
Can NY Take Down the NRA?
New York Attorney General Letitia James is seeking to dissolve the gun organization. Can she do that?
18 min
1607
The QAnon Candidate
With Trump’s blessing and many Republican leaders silent, a QAnon believer could be heading to Congress.
20 min
1608
The Battle for Wisconsin's Dairy Farmers
How the Democrats lost Wisconsin’s dairy farmers and why their discontent in 2020 could cost Trump the presidency.
16 min
1609
Wanted by China
Samuel Chu is a U.S. citizen protesting China’s crackdown on Hong Kong. And now, there’s a warrant for his arrest.
23 min
1610
TBD | How Google Search Sold Out
The search engine used to be a gateway to the rest of the internet. Now, it’s something else entirely.
18 min
1611
Kamala: Historic, Safe, and Complicated
She’ll help Biden project an image of competence.
27 min
1612
Our Pandemic Learning Curve
What we’ve learned, and unlearned, about this coronavirus.
18 min
1613
Left Out of the Census
More than a third of U.S. households still haven’t responded to the population survey.
19 min
1614
What’s Up With the Mail?
There’s something shady going on at the Postal Service.
24 min
1615
TBD | How One Block Got Through It
Chicago’s 75th Street seems like exactly the type of place that would have struggled to survive the pandemic. Instead, it’s thriving.
20 min
1616
Solving the Child Care Crisis
America has tackled a child care crisis before. Can COVID force the government to do something major again?
19 min
1617
A Teacher Weighs Her Options
And changes her mind about Trump.
22 min
1618
Republicans Are Freaking Out About Kansas
No Democrat has won a Senate seat in Kansas since the 1930s, but Tuesday's primary could help change that.
15 min
1619
The U.S. Takes On TikTok
During one of the tensest moments in history between the US and China, an app has become a lighting rod issue between the two countries.
19 min
1620
TBD | When America Can’t Pay the Rent
Is an eviction crisis around the corner?
23 min
1621
New York’s Mail-In Ballot Failure
Officials wanted to help New Yorkers vote safely. They created a mess.
20 min
1622
The Coronavirus Official Who Quit
How Arizona briefly became the state with the highest per capita coronavirus death rate in the country.
18 min
1623
How DHS Got This Way
The agency’s tactics have traveled from the border to the streets of American cities.
18 min
1624
Senate Republicans Are Stuck
GOP infighting is putting COVID-related unemployment benefits at risk for millions.
21 min
1625
TBD | New Orleans Without Music
The city’s music scene can’t work without visitors. What will become of its venues, musicians, and economy?
19 min