

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

May 27, 2020 • 21min
How the US Can Dodge A Depression
At 14.7%, US unemployment is at its highest rate since the Great Depression. In the coming months, Washington has a narrow window to avert an even bigger economic disaster.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.

May 26, 2020 • 13min
When Coronavirus Came to Navajo Nation
No one was ready for this coronavirus. But what’s happening on native lands is the result of generations of neglect. Guest: Wahleah Johns, co-founder of Native Renewables. Read more from Wahleah here. Read about the history of underfunded health care in native communities here. Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 22, 2020 • 17min
TBD | What Is Elon Musk Thinking?
As the coronavirus shut down manufacturing across California in March and April, Elon Musk only wanted one thing: to start making cars again.So when local government officials in Alameda County got in his way, Musk took the fight public, and won.Guest: Kara Swisher, co-host of the Pivot podcast.HostLizzie O’Leary Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 22, 2020 • 17min
What Is Elon Musk Thinking?
As the coronavirus shut down manufacturing across California in March and April, Elon Musk only wanted one thing: to start making cars again.So when local government officials in Alameda County got in his way, Musk took the fight public, and won.Guest: Kara Swisher, co-host of the Pivot podcast.HostLizzie O’Leary Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 21, 2020 • 20min
A Summer Without Camp
In a normal year, the next couple of weeks would be when excited campers returned to summer camp. Now, because of the coronavirus, summer camps are having to make tough calls about how and if they’ll open this year.Guest: Lisa Handelman, camp director at Capital Camps. Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 20, 2020 • 25min
On A Wild Goose Chase for Masks
The global scarcity of masks has shown us the federal government’s desperate side. Procurement rules have been loosened. Prices have soared. And a shadowy market has emerged where deals fall through all the time -- leaving people without the gear they need to protect themselves and save lives. Guest: J. David McSwane, reporter for ProPublica. Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 19, 2020 • 23min
Can We Even Trust the Testing Data?
We closed down the country because we didn’t have enough COVID-19 tests. Now that testing capacity is improving, there’s another problem: figuring out what all this new data means, and who’s reporting accurate figures. Guest: Robinson Meyer, staff writer at the Atlantic, and part of the team working on the COVID Tracking Project. Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 18, 2020 • 20min
How Much Trouble Is Senator Richard Burr In?
A lot happened in February for Senator Ricard Burr (R-NC). He told his constituents that the country was “ready to face the coronavirus.” He told a members-only club that they should expect school closures, canceled travel, and overwhelmed hospitals. And he sold a bunch of his stock. Now, Burr is under a federal investigation for possible insider trading. Guest: Tim Mak, Washington investigative correspondent for NPR. Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 15, 2020 • 18min
TBD | Decoding the Flood of COVID Data
Every week, it feels like some new piece of coronavirus information dominates the headlines. Mysterious symptoms, changing government directives. This constant trickle of updates can quickly turn into a flood.How should normal people interpret this deluge of data?Guest: Emily Oster, professor of economics at Brown University and co-founder of COVID-Explained. HostLizzie O’Leary Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 15, 2020 • 18min
Decoding the Flood of COVID Data
Every week, it feels like some new piece of coronavirus information dominates the headlines. Mysterious symptoms, changing government directives. This constant trickle of updates can quickly turn into a flood.How should normal people interpret this deluge of data?Guest: Emily Oster, professor of economics at Brown University and co-founder of COVID-Explained. HostLizzie O’Leary Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.


