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For a very special holiday edition of What Next, Mary chats with Death Sex & Money host Anna Sale about the anthems they’ll be belting out the next time they do karaoke—and they take calls from colleagues and listeners about their own go-to barn-burners for this unsettled moment.You can find all these anthems (and more) on one Spotify playlist here https://tinyurl.com/whatnextkaraokeGuest: Anna Sale, host of Slate’s Death, Sex & MoneyTo hear the rest of this episode, subscribe to Slate Plus. You'll also 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 Madeline Ducharme. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Reports of flocks of drones, flying overhead nightly, are coming in from New Jersey down to Maryland. Are they UFOs? Nefarious foreign powers? Something even more pernicious? Something even more banal?Guest: Jon Ostrower, editor-in-chief of The Air Current.Ben Mathis-Lilly, Slate senior writerWant 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.

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the capitulation of American media and corporations to President-Elect Donald Trump; the government shutdown and surrender of House Republicans to Elon Musk; and the appeal of TikTok to the Supreme Court. For this week’s Slate Plus bonus episode, Emily, John, and David discuss the drones over New Jersey. In the latest Gabfest Reads, Emily talks with Stephanie Gorton about her new book, The Icon & the Idealist: Margaret Sanger, Mary Ware Dennett, and the Rivalry That Brought Birth Control to America.  Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth Research by Julie Huygen Want more Political Gabfest? Join Slate Plus to unlock weekly bonus episodes. Plus, you’ll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the Political Gabfest show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Or visit slate.com/gabfestplus to get access wherever you listen. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Molly Parker, an investigative reporter for Capitol News Illinois and a Local Reporting Network fellow at ProPublica, dives into the complex world of food deserts. She shares insights on how local grocery stores can thrive in low-income areas, especially against giants like Walmart. The discussion highlights the challenges independent stores face and the critical importance of community access to fresh produce. Parker also explores legislative efforts aimed at supporting these vital local markets and their role in enhancing food equity.

David Folkenflik, NPR's media correspondent, dives into the groundbreaking defamation settlement between ABC News and Donald Trump. He explores how this deal underscores the precarious state of media, particularly as Trump's second term looms. The conversation touches on the implications for press freedom, highlighting the network's decision to cover Trump's legal expenses and support his presidential library. Folkenflik critiques the blurring lines between media accountability and political influence in an increasingly polarized landscape.

Chris Molanphy, a renowned chart analyst and the voice behind the Hit Parade podcast, dives into the unexpected success of Shaboozey’s country hit "A Bar Song (Tipsy)." The discussion explores how this hip-hop-inflected track tied the record on the Billboard Hot 100, drawing parallels with Lil Nas X's "Old Town Road." Listeners will be intrigued by the cultural significance of Black artists in country music, the genre's evolving landscape, and Shaboozey's unique journey bridging hip-hop and country, all infused with humor and insightful commentary.

Barry Hertz, Deputy Arts Editor and Film Editor at The Globe and Mail, delves into the surprising success of the documentary 'Am I Racist?' and its implications for Hollywood. He discusses how conservative media, particularly the Daily Wire, is reshaping the film landscape with productions like 'Lady Ballers.' Hertz highlights the challenges creatives face as studios navigate political backlash while trying to maintain diverse representation. The conversation also critiques the oversimplification in modern blockbusters that often ignore significant social issues.

Ronan Farrow, an investigative reporter for The New Yorker known for his groundbreaking work on Harvey Weinstein, delves into the unsettling world of surveillance technology. He discusses how advanced spyware like the NSO Group’s Pegasus threatens personal privacy and democracy. Farrow highlights the unchecked power of governments using surveillance against activists and the potential overreach under new administrations. The conversation touches on the implications for civil liberties and the urgent need for regulation in an increasingly monitored society.

Mark Joseph Stern, a Slate senior writer specializing in legal affairs, analyzes the destabilizing effects of FBI Director Christopher Wray's resignation on the law and national integrity. Sam Sankar, from Earthjustice, discusses a Supreme Court case that could drastically alter environmental protections tied to a railroad project transporting hazardous materials through sensitive areas. Together, they unravel the complexities of legal challenges and the looming threats to both democracy and environmental advocacy.

This week: Crypto companies are being debanked but they’re not the only ones. Felix Salmon, Emily Peck, and Elizabeth Spiers break down the conspiracy theory that debanking is a government attack on crypto. Then, Netflix has pared down their extreme leave policy. What does that signal about the direction of the company? And Spotify is finally making a profit and is acting like it.  In the Slate Plus episode: Crumbl and rise of meme foods. Want to hear that discussion and hear more Slate Money? Join Slate Plus to unlock weekly bonus episodes. Plus, you’ll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the Slate Money show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Or, visit slate.com/moneyplus to get access wherever you listen.Podcast production by Jessamine Molli and Cheyna Roth.Disclosure in Podcast Description: A Bond Account is a self-directed brokerage account with Public Investing, member FINRA/SIPC. Deposits into this account are used to purchase 10 investment-grade and high-yield bonds. As of 9/26/24, the average, annualized yield to worst (YTW) across the Bond Account is greater than 6%. A bond’s yield is a function of its market price, which can fluctuate; therefore, a bond’s YTW is not “locked in” until the bond is purchased, and your yield at time of purchase may be different from the yield shown here. The “locked in” YTW is not guaranteed; you may receive less than the YTW of the bonds in the Bond Account if you sell any of the bonds before maturity or if the issuer defaults on the bond. Public Investing charges a markup on each bond trade. See our Fee Schedule. Bond Accounts are not recommendations of individual bonds or default allocations. The bonds in the Bond Account have not been selected based on your needs or risk profile. See https://public.com/disclosures/bond-account to learn more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.