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Choice seats for Donald Trump’s second inauguration were filled with tech founders and CEOs, signaling their importance to this presidential term. Then Elon Musk sent another signal of his own…Guest: Nitish Pahwa, staff writer for business and tech at Slate.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 TBD —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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Choice seats for Donald Trump’s second inauguration were filled with tech founders and CEOs, signaling their importance to this presidential term. Then Elon Musk sent another signal of his own…Guest: Nitish Pahwa, staff writer for business and tech at Slate.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 TBD —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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Teddy Schleifer, a New York Times reporter focusing on billionaires, delves into the quirky formation of the Department of Government Efficiency, known as 'Doge,' which draws inspiration from the viral meme. He raises eyebrows over how this initiative could clash with Elon Musk’s myriad government contracts. The discussion navigates the shifting dynamics between Musk and other tech leaders while questioning the ethical implications of mingling private sector ambitions with public governance, all against the backdrop of major political reforms.

The discussion dives into Trump's executive orders on immigration and workforce, along with his controversial pardons related to January 6. The moral implications of these actions are explored, questioning their impact on public trust in government. They also analyze the evolving nature of presidential inaugurations, contrasting unity with personalized celebrations. Additionally, themes of political symbolism and extremism's normalization within the GOP are addressed, providing a compelling glimpse into the current political landscape.

Jose Olivares, an investigative journalist specializing in immigration policies, shares insights on the current state of the U.S.-Mexico border. He discusses the dire conditions faced by 30,000 migrants seeking asylum. The conversation highlights the emotional toll on families, particularly on Inauguration Day, and examines the complications of recent changes in asylum regulations. Olivares also addresses the impact of Trump-era policies that categorize migrants as threats, and the ongoing debate around birthright citizenship amid tighter restrictions.

Deborah Pearlstein, a constitutional law expert and Director of the Program in Law and Public Policy at Princeton University, dives into Trump’s bold executive actions on his inauguration day. She critiques whether these moves were substantive governance changes or mere spectacles for his supporters. The discussion highlights the implications of Trump's executive orders on birthright citizenship and environmental policies, while also examining the evolving role of advocacy and the judiciary in shaping these controversial policies.

Some very clear themes are already emerging from President Donald Trump’s executive orders; cruel, chaotic, and fear-stoking - yes, but also - they’re rife with shoddy drafting (is that you, ChatGPT?), sloppy lawyering, and some are wildly unconstitutional. In an extra episode of Amicus for plus members, Dahlia Lithwick and Mark Joseph Stern begin the work of parsing a few of the many, many executive orders raining down on America in the hours since Trump assumed office for the second time. This episode is member-exclusive. Listen to it now by subscribing to Slate Plus. By joining, not only will you unlock weekly bonus episodes of Amicus—you’ll also access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the Amicus show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Or, visit slate.com/amicusplus to get access wherever you listen. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last October, Amazon CEO and billionaire owner of the Washington Post Jeff Bezos swooped in to halt the publication of a Kamala Harris endorsement from the editorial board. Yesterday, he appeared in the front row at Trump’s second inauguration. The paper’s hemorrhaging subscribers—and laying off dozens of staff members—but it seems like the internal unrest has just begun.Guest: Maxwell Tani, journalist covering media for Semafor.Want more What Next? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the whole What Next family and across 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.Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Harold Pollack, a Helen Ross professor at the University of Chicago and co-author of The Index Card, shares his personal journey of financial crisis after taking care of his intellectually disabled brother-in-law. He highlights the emotional and financial strains on caregivers, especially regarding gender roles and career sacrifices. Pollack discusses the hidden costs of caregiving, the complexities of navigating disability benefits, and the crucial role of social safety nets like Medicare. His insights advocate for better financial planning and systemic change to support families.

As Donald Trump and his coterie return to the White House, everyone seems confident they know what levers to pull to get Trump to do what they want. The only issue, then, is what other members of Trumpworld want. Guest: Ben Mathis-Lilly, senior writer at SlateWant more What Next? Join Slate Plus to unlock full, ad-free access to What Next and all your other 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 and Rob Gunther. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.