What Next | Daily News and Analysis

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.


Get more of What Next with Slate Plus! Join for exclusive bonus episodes of What Next and ad-free listening on all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe from the What Next show page on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, or visit slate.com/whatnextplus for access wherever you listen.

Daily News
News Commentary
Politics
301
TBD | The A.I. Will See You Now
Doctors are increasingly using artificial intelligence to help with appointments. But do the risks outweigh the benefits?
20 min
302
TBD Bonus: The Discourse | The Bro-ligarchs Tak...
Slate’s Nitish Pahwa joins us for a Slate Plus exclusive.
6 min
303
TBD | Department of Government Elon
To trim government, first you must add to government, apparently.
19 min
304
How Closed Is the Border?
Trump’s executive orders will narrow the legal paths to America. So does that mean more illegal immigration?
23 min
305
Can Trump Actually Do All That?
Sorting through how much of that was legal—and how little was legally binding.
25 min
306
Did Democracy Die in Darkness?
Is the media ready for Trump 2.0—especially with billionaires like Bezos at the helm?
21 min
307
Hello Trumpworld
New faces, names you remember—and those you tried to forget.
23 min
308
TBD | As Fires Approached LA, Angelenos Turned ...
A conversation with the app’s cofounder.
19 min
309
TBD | Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta-Morphosis
Is this a pivot? Or was the Meta CEO always this way?
23 min
310
What the Ceasefire Is and Isn’t
An end to the war? A win for Biden? For Trump? A map to peace?
22 min
311
Does Jack Smith’s Jan. 6 Report Matter?
The Special Counsel says Trump would have been convicted if he wasn’t elected President.
26 min
312
Can Trump End Birthright Citizenship?
As far as laws go, this one seems pretty settled. But it’s Trump we’re talking about here.
24 min
313
Who’s to Blame for the LA Fires?
How a global problem looks on a regional scale.
24 min
314
TBD | Why Tech Is Bending the Knee
Meet the man running Trump's FCC.
22 min
315
TBD | Will the Supreme Court Save TikTok?
The ban has now reached the highest court in the land.
25 min
316
Greenland’s a Distraction
Sen. Chris Murphy rewrites the opposition party playbook.
22 min
317
Blake Lively Vs. Hollywood
Sorting through the grievances and counter-suits.
25 min
318
Justin Trudeau Steps Down
The incumbent curse comes to Canada.
25 min
319
Is ISIS Back? Or Did It Never Leave?
The caliphate is gone – but the propaganda remains.
25 min
320
TBD | Bitcoin Takes the White House
Cryptocurrency folks see the future, and with Trump returning to office, it looks like a giant pool of money.
20 min
321
TBD | Musk vs. MAGA
Elon Musk and the base discovered their opinions on immigration are actually pretty far apart.
22 min
322
The Struggle to Get Aid to Gaza
In 2025, it’s about to get a lot more difficult to distribute humanitarian assistance.
27 min
323
How To Exorcise Your Fitness Demons
Danielle Friedman on building a workout plan around the things you love.
38 min
324
The Trump Restoration
The good news is this year is ending, but alas, another is on its way.
20 min
325
Jimmy Carter’s Legacy
White evangelicals are now a Republican constituency. But Carter—a Democrat—was the first one in the Oval office.
18 min