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.
201
Does Gavin Newsom Have It All Figured Out?
Why the California governor seems to be engineering a big pivot to the center.
26 min
202
What Would You Pay to Stay Alive?
A reporter investigates why his lifesaving medication costs nearly $1,000 a day.
25 min
203
The Glaring Problem with Headlights
Why car headlights have gotten so bright—and why they’re likely to stay that way.
40 min
204
TBD | Crypto's Big Win
Even if you've never touched crypto, you could be burned by the GENIUS Act.
26 min
205
Bonus: Main Character: The One Big Beautiful Bill
Slate’s Jim Newell stops by to remind us how reconciliation works.
24 min
206
TBD | Inside OpenAI's Empire
How the company convinced everyone that AGI is inevitable—and that they need to be the ones who control it.
34 min
207
Can A “Morality Coalition” Succeed Against Trump?
He brought “Moral Mondays” to the Capitol—and getting arrested isn’t going to stop him.
22 min
208
If Trump Guts FEMA, Are Tornado Victims On Thei...
It’s tempting to cut something that doesn’t seem essential…until it is.
26 min
209
Here’s How the GOP Cuts Medicaid
They’re getting the old “work requirements” argument down from the attic.
24 min
210
Is Immigration Still Trump’s Strongest Issue?
Voters may be getting what they voted for, but not what they want.
25 min
211
TBD | You’ve Been Deepfaked
How AI generated revenge porn is spreading across the internet.
24 min
212
TBD | The Discourse: Casey Means Loves Flackers
Trump’s surgeon general nominee has her kooky beliefs, and they’re only questionably healthy.”
12 min
213
TBD | The Newarkification of Flying
Can we avoid an air travel future that is nasty, brutish, and severely delayed?
26 min
214
The Qatari Plane Is Just The Start
If you give a mouse a jumbo jet…
22 min
215
Trump’s Middle East Diplomacy
Israel keeps getting surprised by the mercurial American president.
24 min
216
David Hogg Wants Democratic Politicians to Be A...
The call is coming from inside the party.
23 min
217
The War Over Pete Hegseth
How is the Secretary of Defense still hanging in there?
23 min
218
TBD | Online and Pregnant
A conversation with NYT's critic Amanda Hess about her new book.
30 min
219
Bonus | Main Character Syndrome: Your Mom
In honor of Mother’s Day, Dear Prudence’s Jenée Desmond-Harris (no relation) stops by to chat about being a mom—and the option to not be one.
17 min
220
TBD | Chatbots All The Way Down
Why AI companies are giving you the tech you want, but maybe not the tech you need.
22 min
221
Yes, Shelves Will Be Empty
The consequences of “Liberation Day” are about 5-7 weeks out. It’s going to get ugly.
26 min
222
The Arts of the Deal
How Trump is imposing his will on the arts, from the Kennedy Center outward.
26 min
223
A Marco Rubio for All Seasons
The journey from “Little Marco” to Trump’s do-everything cabinet member.
26 min
224
Trump v. the Judiciary
Time to find out how coequal these branches really are.
24 min
225
TBD | How Elon Wields Power
You can’t run the country like a company. Musk is learning that the hard way.
30 min