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While the What Next team is having a holiday, take this journey with our colleagues over at Decoder Ring. What Next will be back in your feed on Monday.Adults have a long history of trying to find morals and lessons in children’s literature. But what happens when a seemingly innocent book about a boy and a hungry mouse becomes fodder for the culture wars? Over the last decade, Laura Joffe Numeroff’s If You Give a Mouse a Cookie has been adopted by some on the right as a cautionary tale about government welfare. In this episode, we explore the origins of If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, the history of adults extracting unintended meaning from children’s books, and try to figure out how this particular kid’s book became a Republican battle cry.This episode was written by Cheyna Roth. It was edited by Katie Shepherd and Evan Chung. It was produced by Sofie Kodner. Decoder Ring is produced by Willa Paskin, Evan Chung, Katie Shepherd and Max Freedman. Derek John is Executive Producer. Merritt Jacob is Senior Technical Director.In this episode, you’ll hear from author Laura Numeroff, book critic Bruce Handy, economist Rebecca Christie and former journalist Max Ehrenfreund.If you have any cultural mysteries you want us to decode, email us at DecoderRing@slate.comIf you haven’t please yet, subscribe and rate our feed in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. And even better, tell your friends.If you’re a fan of the show, we’d love for you to sign up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get to listen to Decoder Ring and every other Slate podcast without any ads. You also get unlimited access to Slate’s website. Member support is crucial to our work. So please go to slate.com/decoderplus to join Slate Plus today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Annie Lowrey, a Staff writer at The Atlantic with a keen eye on economics, joins for a lively discussion on Trump's threatened tariffs, unpacking their potential economic fallout and the complexities of corporate-political interactions. The conversation dives into the 'bro economy,' highlighting the risky world of sports betting and cryptocurrency, and how it exploits young men. They also explore the implications of FCC leadership changes and the ongoing debates around censorship and media dynamics in this contentious political landscape.

In this enlightening discussion, Marcia Brown, a food and agriculture reporter at POLITICO, dives into the rising cost of eggs due to avian flu. She explains how increasing cases affect food prices and the broader implications for supply chains. The conversation highlights the challenges federal agencies face in handling outbreaks amid public health risks. Brown shares insights on farmers' frustrations with federal responses and how factors like deportations complicate tracking the virus, ultimately intertwining public policy with food safety.

Join Linda Greenhouse, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and former Supreme Court reporter for the New York Times, as she discusses the complexities surrounding abortion rights in the U.S. She dives into recent Supreme Court actions on mifepristone and the intriguing arguments from states claiming population growth is at stake. Greenhouse also highlights the resurgence of anti-abortion rhetoric, pro-natalist trends, and their political implications. This vital conversation reveals the evolving landscape of reproductive health and rights in America.

In this Money Talks: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs are being targeted by “anti-woke” pundits. Emily Peck is joined by Simone Foxman of Bloomberg to explain why DEI is under fire from conservatives, and what these programs might look like under Trump’s second term – if they exist at all. 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jaden Edison, a public education reporter for the Texas Tribune, dives into the heated debate over Texas' new curriculum that integrates Bible stories into schools. He discusses the blurred lines between teaching and preaching, raising questions about First Amendment violations. The conversation explores the implications of religious content on inclusivity, historical accuracy, and political maneuvers behind the curriculum changes. Edison sheds light on how these educational reforms reflect and impact the diverse values across Texas.

Gina Kolata, a medical reporter for The New York Times, shares insights on sickle cell anemia's latest gene therapy developments. Deb Cromer discusses her son Kendrick's inspiring journey as the first to receive this treatment. They explore the emotional and logistical challenges families face, particularly regarding access to this groundbreaking therapy. The conversation highlights hopes for a potential cure while addressing systemic barriers and the importance of awareness in the journey to understanding this condition.

This week: Bluesky feels like the Twitter of old. Will that last? Emily Peck, Elizabeth Spiers, and Anna Szymanski discuss the new popularity of the social platform and whether or not it’s becoming a liberal bubble. Then, Indian billionaire Gautam Adani is being charged with fraud by federal prosecutors for bribing Indian officials for solar energy contracts. Also, there’s a rising trend of “anti-work” businesses. The hosts discuss what that means and if there is any real marketing juice behind a political label. In the Slate Plus episode: Should we quit cleaning?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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Senator Sheldon Whitehouse from Rhode Island, an expert on judicial issues and dark money, discusses the current chaos in U.S. politics post-Trump's transition. He delves into the Senate's crucial decisions regarding judicial confirmations amidst allegations of misconduct. Whitehouse emphasizes the impact of wealthy individuals on the judiciary and the need for public awareness to combat exploitation. He also critiques Democratic leaders for their inaction on pressing issues like dark money, judicial reform, and the importance of active citizen engagement.

The Department of Justice has released its recommendations for how Google’s monopoly on web search should be broken up. Top of their wishlist? Spinning off their web browser Chrome. But with a new administration coming to the White House, will Google have to comply?Guest: Leah Nylen, antitrust reporter for Bloomberg NewsWant 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.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.