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
901
TBD | The Trap of Buy Now, Pay Later
They're billed as a safe alternative to credit cards. But only if you use it responsibly.
30 min
902
Ticketmaster's Swift Meltdown
The trouble with Ticketmaster began long before the Eras Tour, with a grunge band’s defiance and a controversial decision from the U.S. Department of Justice.
29 min
903
Why Outlawing Slavery Won't Outlaw Slavery—Yet
State ballot initiatives took aim at an exemption written right into the 13th Amendment.
22 min
904
The Real Danger of Fentanyl
The problem has little to do with illegal immigration.
25 min
905
TBD | The End of the Tech Boom
After decades of growth, tech companies are now focusing on profits.
27 min
906
TBD | The Case Against Climate Reparations
There’s a great moral argument. Practically, it falls apart.
29 min
907
The Shiny New Target for Political Spending
Whether it's allowed or not, partisan politics—and all the money that entails—have come to judicial races.
18 min
908
Will SCOTUS Take Native Children Away From Thei...
Brackeen v. Haaland could impact everything from child adoption to tribal land rights to native sovereignty.
25 min
909
How New York Democrats Blew It
The road to potentially losing the House of Representatives started with an overreaching redistricting map of the Empire State.
26 min
910
The Far Right’s Alarming Rise in Israel
Palestinians in Israel brace as Benjamin Netanyahu returns to lead a hard-right coalition government.
24 min
911
TBD | Is This The Cryptocalypse?
How will the demise of the second-largest crypto exchange affect the industry?
28 min
912
TBD | Senator Chris Murphy on Elon's Acquisitio...
Why he asked the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. to review Saudi Arabia's considerable stake in Twitter.
17 min
913
Did Trump Crash the Red Wave?
Republicans made gains in the midterms but fell well short of expectations. Why?
24 min
914
What Texas' Attacks on Trans Healthcare Did to ...
When Governor Abbott directed the state to investigate gender-affirming care as child abuse, trans kids and their families had to decide if Texas could still be home. Many left.
25 min
915
The Frightening Rise in Political Violence
What’s put Congress and their families in the crosshairs, and what can be done?
24 min
916
How the Dems Win Back the Rust Belt
In a state Trump won handily, Democrat Tim Ryan may have found a base.
23 min
917
TBD | Why Are So Many Little Kids Sick Right Now?
Those born under pandemic restrictions are getting their first “normal” autumn, replete with all the sniffles that entails.
21 min
918
TBD | So How’s It Going, Elon?
From canning executives to a plan to charge for blue checks, Twitter has entered the Musk Era.
25 min
919
The Stakes of Nevada’s Latino Vote
Brutal inflation, a transient population, and Vegas' powerful hospitality union may tilt the balance of power in Washington.
24 min
920
Can an Anti-Trump Republican Still Win?
Colorado may now be a deep blue state.
18 min
921
SCOTUS Reviews Affirmative Action…Again
With three Trump appointees on the court, the end might be near for race-conscious admissions.
25 min
922
Should You Panic Over America's Test Scores?
What lower test scores are telling us—and what they can’t.
27 min
923
TBD | Big Brother, Big Tech and China
COVID may be an inflection point in the relationship between the surveillance state and the surveilled.
38 min
924
TBD | Twitter Is Dead; Long Live Twitter
No matter what Elon Musk does, Twitter will never be the same
36 min
925
When Child Protective Services Gets It Wrong
How a lack of due process makes an already-stressful situation worse.
25 min