What Next | Daily News and Analysis

Lauren Weber, a health and science accountability reporter at The Washington Post, discusses the recent shooting at the CDC that left the agency reeling. She highlights the emotional toll on employees amidst rising anti-public health sentiment, fueled by misinformation. The conversation dives into the fears of public health workers feeling neglected and the increasing threats they face, drawing parallels to other instances of violence against health officials. Weber emphasizes the urgent need for support and transparency in these challenging times.

Ankit Jain, a U.S. Senator for Washington, D.C. since 2024, champions D.C. statehood and highlights federal control's implications on local governance. He discusses how the federal takeover of policing during crises shows the need for statehood. Jain also critiques the federal response to rising crime and the disparities in empathy towards victims based on their background. He emphasizes the community's role in resisting federal oversight and stresses the importance of local solidarity in the fight for D.C.'s self-determination.

Rick Hasen, a UCLA law professor and director of the Safeguarding Democracy Project, dives into Trump's unfounded claims about mail-in voting and their potential to undermine democracy. He discusses the rise of a movement aiming to eliminate mail-in ballots and the challenges election officials face due to tightening regulations. The conversation highlights Trump's hypocrisy on mail-in voting, the urgency of preserving electoral integrity, and the critical role of public involvement in safeguarding democracy as tensions rise ahead of the 2026 elections.

Tim Mak, editor of the Kyiv-based publication The Counteroffensive, discusses the complex dynamics of Volodymyr Zelensky's recent visit to Washington amidst the Ukraine-Russia conflict. He highlights Ukrainians' rising concerns over American political shifts, especially after Trump’s meeting with Zelensky. The conversation dives into the geopolitical turmoil Ukraine faces, examining the implications of U.S. foreign policy inconsistencies and the critical nature of territorial integrity and security commitments in preserving Ukraine's sovereignty.

Jonathan Blitzer, a staff writer at The New Yorker specializing in immigration, dives into the controversial U.S.-Venezuela prisoner swap under Trump. He reveals how over 250 Venezuelans were traded for 10 Americans, including a convicted murderer. The discussion touches on the brutal realities of prison life, ethical implications of the swap, and internal dissent within the State Department. Blitzer highlights the complexities of negotiating with authoritarian regimes and the troubling impact of harsh immigration policies on human rights.

The scam du jour arrives via a text message, offering you a job. What happens when you accept?Guest: Alex Sammon, Slate features writer. Want more What Next TBD? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the whole What Next family and all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of our show page. Sign up now at slate.com/whatnextplus to get access wherever you listen. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The scam du jour arrives via a text message, offering you a job. What happens when you accept?Guest: Alex Sammon, Slate features writer. Want more What Next TBD? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the whole What Next family and all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of our show page. Sign up now at slate.com/whatnextplus to get access wherever you listen. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A patron and perhaps foremost practitioner of “anti-woke comedy,” Tony Hinchcliffe sits atop his own thriving comedy kingdom in Austin. And when you’re on top, you’ve got nowhere to punch but down.Guest: Luke Winkie, staff writer at Slate, author of “The Cult of Kill Tony”This episode is member-exclusive. Listen to it now by subscribing to Slate Plus. By joining, not only will you unlock exclusive episodes of What Next —you’ll also access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the What Next show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Or, visit slate.com/whatnextplus to get access wherever you listen.Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme, Ethan Oberman, and Rob Gunther. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Amrith Ramkumar, a tech and crypto policy reporter for The Wall Street Journal, joins the discussion on NVIDIA's dramatic journey from gaming to AI powerhouse. He highlights Jensen Huang's pivotal role in negotiating chip deals with both President Trump and China, marking a significant moment for global tech diplomacy. The conversation also tackles the U.S.-China tech rivalry, the implications of state capitalism in U.S. economic policy, and how these factors shape the future of technology and security.

Jodie Ginsberg, head of the Committee to Protect Journalists, highlights the grim reality for journalists in Gaza, where reporting can mean a death sentence. She discusses the recent airstrike that killed an Al-Jazeera team, reflecting on the targeting of journalists and the lack of accountability. Ginsberg addresses the emotional toll on reporters, the urgent need for international humanitarian law, and the growing trend of attacks on the press, emphasizing the critical role journalists play in revealing the truth in conflict zones.