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.
151
TBD | How Trump Is Trying to Kill Press Freedom
Inside the movement targeting free speech.
26 min
152
Bonus Main Character: Meghan Markle Could Use a...
The hosts of Slate’s ICYMI join Mary for a Slate Plus exclusive.
18 min
153
TBD | Will Tesla Survive Elon Musk?
From “Eco-Friendly” to “Swastiscar”
23 min
154
Could DOGE Really Gut Social Security?
Elon takes on the biggest, most trusted, and most essential program yet.
25 min
155
Will Student Protesters Be Deported?
Mahmoud Khalil’s detainment is part of Trump’s larger war on American universities.
26 min
156
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
157
Til Trump Do Us Part
How husbands’ votes for Donald Trump threw whole relationships into question.
23 min
158
TBD | Zuckerberg and the Post-Factcheck Era
Does Meta know what they’ve done?
26 min
159
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
160
TBD | From 4Chan to Charlottesville to DOGE
How the far right internet conquered American politics.
27 min
161
How Worried Are Ukrainians?
And where things stand after that meeting.
22 min
162
The True Cost of Slashing the Government
How drastic federal funding cuts are already being felt in America and beyond.
22 min
163
Why Trump Needs Congress
The president prepares to address the House and Senate with a government shutdown looming.
25 min
164
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
165
TBD | Cracking the Egg Crisis
An eggsplanation.
18 min
166
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
167
TBD | The DOGE Resistance
Lawsuits, protests and Elon Musk's Achilles Heel
24 min
168
Will Gaza’s Ceasefire Last?
Is the next step a negotiation for Gaza’s future—or a return to war?
25 min
169
The DOGE Backlash Begins
Even in deep-red districts, constituents were letting politicians know how they felt about DOGE’s cuts—and they were not happy.
24 min
170
Barron Mania
Who is Trump’s youngest son? Turns out, he’s whatever you want him to be.
21 min
171
What If America Went on Strike?
It’s happened before. It's worked in other countries. And what else can we do?
22 min
172
TBD | $Trump
Crypto poured money into the campaign, now the first family is cashing in.
21 min
173
TBD Bonus: The Discourse | Who's Afraid of Hasa...
He's popular. He's hot. He's controversial. Is he the lefts answer to Joe Rogan?
14 min
174
TBD | Elon's Endgame
He's slashing the federal workforce. He's gutting programs he doesn't like. But at the end of the day, what does he want?
30 min
175
Why This Trump Nominee Has Union Support
What kind of Secretary of Labor would Lori Chavez-DeRemer be?
24 min