What Next: TBD | Tech, power, and the...
Every Friday and Sunday, Slate’s popular daily news podcast What Next brings you TBD, a clear-eyed look into the future. From fake news to fake meat, algorithms to augmented reality, Lizzie O’Leary is your guide to the tech industry and the world it’s creating for us to live in.
176
Can California Save Journalism?
The Sunshine State considers making Google and Meta pony up—and making news outlets spend that revenue on their staff.
20 min
177
Bird Flu—It’s in Milk?
Scientists are observing, for the first time, the virus spreading cow-to-cow—is human-to-human next?
21 min
178
The Failures of ‘Organic’ Farming
Organic farms try to make their products better for people, but that doesn’t mean better animal welfare.
24 min
179
So ... Is TikTok Banned?
Or has the long journey to banning the short-video app just begun?
19 min
180
The Internet Archive Endangered
A non-profit site just digitized Aruba’s history. They could be sued out of existence.
19 min
181
What’s Driving Tesla’s Layoffs?
The EV maker may be demonstrating why other car makers don’t do it this way.
19 min
182
Is America Ready for Legal Psychedelics?
How the push for legal ‘shrooms can avoid the problems plaguing legal cannabis.
23 min
183
Does Google Suck Now?
Wither our once-best search engine?
23 min
184
America Needs More Power
How building our renewable energy future domestically is keeping old power plants running.
26 min
185
Truth Social’s Rocky Week
Trump Media’s IPO may not be the blockbuster Trump was hoping for.
23 min
186
The Psychological Toll of Mars
We know how to get to space. But what happens to our minds when we’re there?
21 min
187
Can Boeing Pull Out of This Tailspin?
What needs to change at the company to restore public trust?
27 min
188
The Next Round of the Union Fight
Post-pandemic labor movements were losing momentum, but wins in the auto and film industries have put wind back in the sails.
17 min
189
Reddit’s IPO Gamble
Will the public upvote it?
24 min
190
When Private Equity Gets in to Health Care
What’s something expensive that people have no choice but to buy?
26 min
191
Is TikTok Cooked This Time?
Why does this issue snap a dysfunctional Congress into bipartisan agreement?
22 min
192
Instagram’s Pedophile Problem
Pedophiles are flooding the accounts of child influencers on Instagram. Who is to blame — and who can make them stop?
30 min
193
Why TikTok Went Silent
As TikTok and UMG argue over whether TikTok is a music platform or not, artists are left in the dark.
19 min
194
Google’s Scam Obituary Problem
What happens when your loved one’s death becomes funeral clickbait?
25 min
195
The Supreme Court Takes on Content Moderation
Does the First Amendment prevent social media companies from moderating their content—or defend their right to?
25 min
196
Alabama’s IVF Mess
How legal personhood for embryos will make having children harder.
24 min
197
The Coasts are Sinking
As sea levels rise, the ground below us sinks.
16 min
198
Apple Vision Pro: The Ultimate Surveillance Dev...
When you look through these smart goggles, they look back—and can tell what you’re seeing.
25 min
199
Warfare Enters the A.I. Era
How an invasion became an innovation hub for private tech companies - and the future of war.
24 min
200
Breaking Up with Dating Apps
You can’t put a price on love—or your user base will swipe left on you.
22 min