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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Bonus: Main Character: The One Big Beautiful Bill
Slate’s Jim Newell stops by to remind us how reconciliation works.
5 min
202
TBD | Inside OpenAI's Empire
How the company convinced everyone that AGI is inevitable—and that they need to be the ones who control it.
34 min
203
Can A “Morality Coalition” Succeed Against Trump?
He brought “Moral Mondays” to the Capitol—and getting arrested isn’t going to stop him.
22 min
204
If Trump Guts FEMA, Are Tornado Victims On Thei...
It’s tempting to cut something that doesn’t seem essential…until it is.
26 min
205
Here’s How the GOP Cuts Medicaid
They’re getting the old “work requirements” argument down from the attic.
24 min
206
Is Immigration Still Trump’s Strongest Issue?
Voters may be getting what they voted for, but not what they want.
25 min
207
TBD | You’ve Been Deepfaked
How AI generated revenge porn is spreading across the internet.
24 min
208
TBD | The Newarkification of Flying
Can we avoid an air travel future that is nasty, brutish, and severely delayed?
26 min
209
The Qatari Plane Is Just The Start
If you give a mouse a jumbo jet…
22 min
210
Trump’s Middle East Diplomacy
Israel keeps getting surprised by the mercurial American president.
24 min
211
David Hogg Wants Democratic Politicians to Be A...
The call is coming from inside the party.
23 min
212
The War Over Pete Hegseth
How is the Secretary of Defense still hanging in there?
23 min
213
TBD | Online and Pregnant
A conversation with NYT's critic Amanda Hess about her new book.
30 min
214
Bonus Main Character Syndrome: Your Mom
In honor of Mother’s Day, Dear Prudence’s Jenée Desmond-Harris (no relation) stops by to chat about being a mom—and the option to not be one.
3 min
215
TBD | Chatbots All The Way Down
Why AI companies are giving you the tech you want, but maybe not the tech you need.
22 min
216
Yes, Shelves Will Be Empty
The consequences of “Liberation Day” are about 5-7 weeks out. It’s going to get ugly.
26 min
217
The Arts of the Deal
How Trump is imposing his will on the arts, from the Kennedy Center outward.
26 min
218
A Marco Rubio for All Seasons
The journey from “Little Marco” to Trump’s do-everything cabinet member.
26 min
219
Trump v. the Judiciary
Time to find out how coequal these branches really are.
24 min
220
TBD | How Elon Wields Power
You can’t run the country like a company. Musk is learning that the hard way.
30 min
221
TBD | Marc Andreessen’s New Deal
How the Silicon Valley kingmaker became a Washington mover and shaker.
22 min
222
Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’
Trumpism comes to Congress.
24 min
223
Inside the ICE Prison Holding Student Detainees
After visiting Rümeysa Öztürk in Louisiana, Rep. Ayanna Pressley has some recommendations for the Democrats.
25 min
224
Will HHS Survive RFK Jr?
100 days into this second Trump administration, RFK Jr.’s already spreading misinformation about autism—and failing to confront a deadly measles outbreak.
22 min
225
Are Public Schools the Supreme Court's Next Tar...
Two cases regarding religion in the classroom could upend public education as we have known it.
27 min