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
1801
Trump's Racist Tweets Have a Backstory
Here’s how the conflict between House Democrats made its way to the President Trump’s timeline.
21 min
1802
Should Everyone Quit Using Gendered Pronouns?
The case for trading “he” and “she” for “they.”
19 min
1803
This Bad Legal Argument Could Finally End the ACA
An appellate court in New Orleans appears ready to strike down Obamacare.
18 min
1804
The Ambassador Who Was Too Honest About Trump
How a diplomatic dust-up explains the current world order.
18 min
1805
The Cloud Over Joe Biden's Son
Addiction issues and bad business sense are pretty banal problems -- unless you’re the son of a man running for president.
22 min
1806
The Long, Ugly Road to Jeffrey Epstein’s Arrest
Vicky Ward had the scoop on him years ago. Why was it so hard to publish?
20 min
1807
A Rare Look Inside a Private Prison
Reporters found weapons, drugs, and rampant violence.
15 min
1808
Can New York Desegregate Its Schools?
New York City’s Public Advocate is a proud product of the City’s public education system. That’s not the case for many young black students today.
16 min
1809
The “Busing” Skeleton in the Democrats’ Closet
Racist school policies persisted in the north because some Democrats ensured they would.
20 min
1810
Can Nipsey Hussle’s Death Bring Peace to L.A.’s...
The late rapper’s murder inspired a summit in Compton where rival gangs discussed a path to peace.
15 min
1811
Supreme Court Hands Democrats Small Win and Big...
What do the two major rulings on gerrymandering and the census tell us about how this more conservative court intends to rule?
22 min
1812
Oregon Republicans Walked Out, Democrats Caved
Will we see more minority party walkouts as a way to prevent supermajorities from legislating?
19 min
1813
Mayor Pete’s Policing Problem
In South Bend, Indiana constituents are up in arms about Pete Buttigieg’s response to a police shooting of a black man.
22 min
1814
A Polluted Town Fights for Its Right to Breathe
St John the Baptist, Louisiana has by far the highest risk of cancer from air pollution in the nation. Why isn't anyone doing anything about it?
23 min
1815
An Iran Deal Architect Watches It Get Nuked
When it comes to Iran, everyone's a hard-liner.
16 min
1816
The Smugglers Getting Rich Off Trump’s Policies
Business is booming.
14 min
1817
He Got a Pardon. Now He’s Administering Them.
After getting his second chance, Brandon Flood is the face of clemency in Pennsylvania.
15 min
1818
How Pelosi Holds the Line on Impeachment
Understanding the House Speaker’s immense power.
22 min
1819
Strange Alliances on the Supreme Court
The justices defied partisan expectations this week.
21 min
1820
For Women’s Soccer, An Elusive Goal
U.S. women’s national soccer team wants to win -- on the field and in the courts.
21 min
1821
What Bernie Gets Wrong About Socialism
As it turns out, his big speech about democratic socialism focused on something that’s incorrect.
20 min
1822
How Facebook Made an Enemy of Nancy Pelosi
Facebook’s stance on the doctored Nancy Pelosi video says a lot about how the social media giant is approaching the 2020 elections.
18 min
1823
It’s Mitch McConnell’s Swamp. We Just Live in It.
How did the Senate Majority Leader and Elaine Chao pave a path for $78 million dollars worth of grants to find their way back to Kentucky?
18 min
1824
Elizabeth Warren Is Not Here to Charm You
She’s here to educate and empower you. Will it work?
22 min
1825
Why Gun Bills in Virginia Always Die
A delegate whose life was changed by gun violence talks about all the forces at work to stop new gun laws from going into effect.
22 min