

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

Feb 5, 2021 • 17min
India Turns Off the Internet
Last week, in response to protests by farmers outside New Delhi, India, the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi restricted access to the mobile web in areas where the protests were unfolding. The move is the latest in the Indian government’s long history of throttling internet access and censoring speech online. Why is the Modi government increasingly shutting down the internet and stifling digital dissent? And what does the party’s history of internet shutdowns tell us about India’s future?Guest: Pranav Dixit, correspondent for Buzzfeed NewsHostLizzie O’Leary Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 4, 2021 • 23min
A Sexist Recession
The pandemic has hit many of us in different ways. But women in particular find themselves at the intersection of multiple crises. Across the economy, jobs in female-dominated industries are disappearing. Inside the home, moms are often shouldering the brunt of the extra childcare burden that comes with school closures. How are women getting by right now? And will the setbacks they’re experiencing be permanent?Guest: Jess Calarco, professor of sociology at Indiana University.Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 3, 2021 • 25min
Where Are the Checks?
This week, Senate Republicans offered President Biden a stimulus deal one-third the size of the administration’s plan. With a compromise looking less likely, Democrats might have to resort to reconciliation to get it passed - a process fraught with headaches. Guest: Jordan Weissmann, Slate’s senior business and economics correspondent. Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 2, 2021 • 21min
The Marjorie Taylor Greene Problem
Dubbed “the QAnon candidate,” Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene has her Republican colleagues doing some major handwringing. But does her presence on Capitol Hill actually represent a war within the GOP or more of a polite disagreement? Guest: Greg Bluestein, political reporter at the Atlanta Journal-ConstitutionSlate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 1, 2021 • 23min
Why is Everyone Mad at Gavin Newsom?
Thousands of people are signing a petition to recall California Governor Gavin Newsom. The Democrat was praised for his response to the coronavirus at the beginning of the pandemic, but he has started to lose his constituents’ trust. Now, it could take just one big endorsement to end his term. Guest: Angela Hart, correspondent at California Healthline. Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 29, 2021 • 20min
Inside the Subreddit That Blew Up GameStop
The story of how GameStop went from the verge of a bankruptcy to a $15 billion market value isn’t an easy one to wrap your head around. But it helps to go back to the beginning; almost three years ago, in a subreddit called r/wallstreetbets.Guests: Brandon Kochkodin, reporter at BloombergHostLizzie O’Leary Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 29, 2021 • 20min
TBD | Inside the Subreddit That Blew Up GameStop
The story of how GameStop went from the verge of a bankruptcy to a $15 billion market value isn’t an easy one to wrap your head around. But it helps to go back to the beginning; almost three years ago, in a subreddit called r/wallstreetbets.Guests: Brandon Kochkodin, reporter at BloombergHostLizzie O’Leary Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 28, 2021 • 23min
COVID’s Lasting Toll on Kids
Back in March, nobody knew how long kids would be learning from home and isolating from their peers. Now, with some kids returning to schools after 10 months away, one school counselor says getting kids back into physical classrooms is just the start to healing from the massive toll the pandemic has had on their mental health. Guest: Jan Desmarais-Morse, school counselor in Goshen, Indiana.Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 27, 2021 • 26min
A Republican With an Actual Climate Plan
Republicans used to lead the way on environmental legislation. Are they about to come back around on the urgency of climate change? Guest: Carlos Curbelo, former Republican congressman from Florida.Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 26, 2021 • 27min
The Biden-McConnell Relationship
There’s a lot riding on the working relationship of President Joe Biden and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. They are bonded by their service in the U.S. Senate, their ideological flexibility, and their respect for norms -- unless those norms stand in the way of their ambitions. Guest: Alex Thompson, White House reporter for Politico. Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.


