

What Next | Daily News and Analysis
Slate Podcasts
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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Apr 27, 2021 • 19min
The Invasion of Lake Tahoe
Tech workers from the Bay Area happily left their expensive apartments for Lake Tahoe during the pandemic, hoping to get some fresh air and a change of scenery. Towns around the lake soon became "Zoom-towns" -- areas where remote workers moved in and never left, raising prices and driving out longtime residents. Now, locals are fighting back.Guest: Rachel Levin, San Francisco-based journalist.Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 26, 2021 • 22min
The Case for Going Maskless Outdoors
Masks are crucial to stopping the spread of COVID-19, especially indoors and during prolonged close contact. But after a year of the pandemic, evidence is growing that it’s time to rethink rules on wearing masks outdoors. Guest: Shannon Palus, senior editor at Slate.Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 23, 2021 • 19min
TBD | What's Causing the Tesla Crashes?
Last week, a Tesla Model S crashed into a tree in a neighborhood north of Houston. Both men inside the car were killed. But according to police, neither of them was in the driver’s seat. This is not the first crash in which Tesla’s “autopilot” feature has likely played a role. Should we really be trusting this technology?Guest: Missy Cummings, professor of electrical and computer engineering at Duke UniversityHostLizzie O’Leary Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 23, 2021 • 19min
What's Causing the Tesla Crashes?
Last week, a Tesla Model S crashed into a tree in a neighborhood north of Houston. Both men inside the car were killed. But according to police, neither of them was in the driver’s seat. This is not the first crash in which Tesla’s “autopilot” feature has likely played a role. Should we really be trusting this technology?Guest: Missy Cummings, professor of electrical and computer engineering at Duke UniversityHostLizzie O’Leary Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 22, 2021 • 28min
Patriot or Outcast?
The country remains divided over the January 6th Capitol riot. The division is reflected in voter surveys, news coverage, and millions of social media posts. But the tension is also on display in small, idiosyncratic communities who realized some of their own were at the Capitol attack and may have cheered it on. Guest: Matthew Rosenberg, reporter for the New York Times. Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 21, 2021 • 29min
The Chauvin Verdict
After just 10 hours of deliberation, jurors found former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin guilty in the murder of George Floyd. This is what happened inside the courtroom and out on the streets.Guests: Jon Collins, criminal justice reporter at MPR News.Aymann Ismail, staff writer at Slate.Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 20, 2021 • 23min
The Putin Problem
The Biden administration is under no illusions that Russia President Vladimir Putin can be a willing partner of the U.S. But what tools remain to check Putin’s ambitions?Guest: Josh Keating, senior editor at Slate and the author of Invisible Countries. Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 19, 2021 • 26min
Fear and Paranoia in American Policing
What makes a police officer shoot when a suspect’s hands are up? To understand this, it helps to examine police training, and the predominant lesson that many young officers receive: Any encounter could be your last. Guest: Michael Sierra-Arévalo, assistant professor at the University of Texas at Austin.Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 16, 2021 • 21min
TBD | Seduced by Substack
Like countless venture-funded start-ups before it, Substack is “disrupting” the media industry. The newsletter service is siphoning off high-profile talent with a promise of independence and bigger paychecks. But the platform’s influence might reach far beyond the media. Will Substack change the way we think about online creators and their audiences? Can it create a new kind of relationship between them?Guest: Charlie Warzel, writer of Galaxy Brain HostLizzie O’Leary Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 16, 2021 • 21min
Seduced by Substack
Like countless venture-funded start-ups before it, Substack is “disrupting” the media industry. The newsletter service is siphoning off high-profile talent with a promise of independence and bigger paychecks. But the platform’s influence might reach far beyond the media. Will Substack change the way we think about online creators and their audiences? Can it create a new kind of relationship between them?Guest: Charlie Warzel, writer of Galaxy Brain HostLizzie O’Leary Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.


