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.


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Daily News
News Commentary
Politics
101
Bonus Main Character: Meghan Markle Could Use a...
The hosts of Slate’s ICYMI join Mary for a Slate Plus exclusive.
3 min
102
TBD | Will Tesla Survive Elon Musk?
From “Eco-Friendly” to “Swastiscar”
23 min
103
Could DOGE Really Gut Social Security?
Elon takes on the biggest, most trusted, and most essential program yet.
25 min
104
Will Student Protesters Be Deported?
Mahmoud Khalil’s detainment is part of Trump’s larger war on American universities.
26 min
105
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
106
Til Trump Do Us Part
How husbands’ votes for Donald Trump threw whole relationships into question.
23 min
107
TBD | Zuckerberg and the Post-Factcheck Era
Does Meta know what they’ve done?
26 min
108
TBD | From 4Chan to Charlottesville to DOGE
How the far-right internet conquered American politics.
27 min
109
How Worried Are Ukrainians?
And where things stand after that meeting.
22 min
110
The True Cost of Slashing the Government
How drastic federal funding cuts are already being felt in America and beyond.
22 min
111
Why Trump Needs Congress
The president prepares to address the House and Senate with a government shutdown looming.
25 min
112
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
113
TBD | Cracking the Egg Crisis
An eggsplanation.
18 min
114
What Next TBD | The DOGE Resistance
Lawsuits, protests and Elon Musk's Achilles Heel
24 min
115
Will Gaza’s Ceasefire Last?
Is the next step a negotiation for Gaza’s future—or a return to war?
25 min
116
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
117
Barron Mania
Who is Trump’s youngest son? Turns out, he’s whatever you want him to be.
21 min
118
What If America Went on Strike?
It’s happened before. It's worked in other countries. And what else can we do?
22 min
119
TBD | $Trump
Crypto poured money into the campaign, now the first family is cashing in.
21 min
120
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
121
Why This Trump Nominee Has Union Support
What kind of Secretary of Labor would Lori Chavez-DeRemer be?
24 min
122
A Measles Outbreak and Wake-Up Call
How a disease that was considered “eliminated” in 2000 came roaring back.
24 min
123
How Eric Adams Got His Charges Dropped
Cooperation between the NYC mayor and the Trump administration has led to mass resignations in the Justice Department.
24 min
124
How To Rebuild Your Life After a Wildfire
Laurel Braitman on grief, hope, and finding meaning in the ashes.
53 min
125
TBD | Can You Pay Attention, Please?
Chris Hayes discusses his new book that calls attention “the world’s most endangered resource.”
23 min