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
1401
WTF, DOJ?
A recent history of Merrick Garland’s mystifying decisions.
23 min
1402
TBD | What Space Billionaires Cost Us
Jeff Bezos’ quick trip into outer space is about more than just publicity.
19 min
1403
Conor Lamb Is Losing His Patience
Why a moderate Democrat now wants to torch the filibuster.
30 min
1404
Does NYC Want a Cop for a Mayor?
Eric Adams didn’t plan to run as the public-safety candidate. But a crime surge made him refocus his campaign.
26 min
1405
Is Kamala Harris Being Set Up to Fail?
Her portfolio has become a repository of huge, intractable problems.
23 min
1406
The NFL’s Race-Norming Problem Is All Over Medi...
They used it because it’s standard.
21 min
1407
TBD | The App That Sparked a Manhunt
Two weeks ago, Citizen made its first foray into real-world crime solving. It didn’t go well.
23 min
1408
The Battle For Voting Rights In Texas Isn’t Over
Voting rights are under assault in Texas. Democrats might be out of options.
26 min
1409
How the Capitol Riot Commission Died
Republican leadership made a simple choice: bad headlines now over an investigation during the midterms.
20 min
1410
Will the Olympics Be a Fiasco?
We’re fighting a pandemic. Why are the games still happening?
26 min
1411
TBD | Apple and Epic’s Battle Royale
After three weeks of testimony, the future of mobile gaming is caught in limbo.
16 min
1412
Why the Skyjacking Succeeded
“Repression works.”
25 min
1413
Does Roe v. Wade Stand A Chance?
The fight over abortion access is far from settled.
28 min
1414
One Woman's Year Protecting George Floyd Square
Why activists are holding onto the block where George Floyd was killed.
31 min
1415
A Small but Momentous Shift on Israel
Progressive critics of Israel are still a tiny minority in Congress.
22 min
1416
TBD | The Hackers Who Took Down the Colonial Pi...
A voyage into the weird world of the ransomware industry.
22 min
1417
One Senator’s Decades-Long Fight for Universal ...
For years, Patty Murray was one of the few people in Congress talking about childcare. Now she has a lot of company.
21 min
1418
A Cuomo Accuser on Watching Him Stay Put
What it's like to see your old boss try to outlast his scandals.
27 min
1419
Our Very Weird Economic Recovery
Bouncing back from the pandemic is anything but simple.
24 min
1420
Mask Off?
The CDC’s new recommendation has sparked a lot of questions.
25 min
1421
TBD | How the World’s Great Vaccination Hope Cr...
The Serum Institute of India is the world’s largest vaccine producer. Somehow, its home country is running out of doses.
20 min
1422
The Palestinian Perspective
From the occupied territories to D.C.
26 min
1423
Why Liz Cheney Had to Go
Most House Republicans would like to move past Trump. Liz Cheney is making that hard.
20 min
1424
Arizona’s Bonkers Recount
More than two million ballots are being examined by hand.
26 min
1425
I Was a Teenager in a Syrian Prison
A Syrian man’s story -- from street protests, to prisons, to an American university.
33 min