What Next: TBD | Tech, power, and the future

The final episode of Season 1 features Ted Ross, Chief Information Officer for the City of Los Angeles. His role became more vital than ever during the pandemic, with L.A.’s 4 million residents and 50,000 employees relying on the city’s complex technological operation for support. Ted helped his city navigate the challenge with tech solutions built on principles designed to serve citizens and inspire employees: focus on people, improve lives, and lean into promising innovations. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Recently, China restricted video game playing to just three hours a week for its young people: 8pm to 9pm, Friday through Sunday.And that’s not the only change. Over the last few months, private tutors, diehard celebrity fans, and tech giants have all faced fresh restrictions from Beijing. What’s behind this new wave of crackdowns?Guest: Brenda Goh, technology correspondent for ReutersHost: Lizzie O’Leary Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Colorado River Basin is experiencing its 22nd year of drought. Its reservoirs are at their lowest-ever levels. The water stored in the system is at just 40 percent of its capacity. How did the situation on the Colorado become so dire? And what does the shortage mean for the 40 million people who rely on its waters?Guest: Abrahm Lustgarten, senior investigative reporter at ProPublicaHost: Lizzie O’Leary Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A medicine meant to treat parasites is the latest unproven COVID treatment craze. With warnings from the FDA, and prescribers clamping down, some are going to extreme lengths to get their hands on the drug. What’s behind Ivermectin’s sudden rise?Guest: Brandy Zadrozny, senior reporter for NBC News Host: Lizzie O’Leary Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Elizabeth Holmes convinced countless people that her company would change the world. Can she convince 12 jurors that she didn’t intend to deceive her company’s patients and investors?Guest: Rebecca Jarvis, host of “The Dropout” podcast and ABC News Chief Business, Technology & Economics Correspondent Host: Lizzie O’Leary Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Biden administration says a third dose of vaccines for all American adults will end the pandemic faster. And experts say there is evidence of waning vaccine effectiveness against mild-to-moderate disease. But globally, what’s the best use of the next available dose? Guest: Saad Omer, director of the Yale Institute for Global Health. Host: Lizzie O’LearyThis episode was produced by Alyssa Edes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Experts say that a “fully approved” designation for the vaccines could have sweeping effects. Broader vaccination mandates, inclusion for new age groups, and reassurance for those hesitant to take a vaccine without the designation. As calls for approval grow louder and more urgent, the Food and Drug Administration is yet to give its blessing. What’s happening inside the FDA as they work toward this milestone?Guest: Sarah Owermohle, health care reporter at Politico Host:Lizzie O’Leary Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

America used to be at the vanguard of railroad technology. What went wrong? And can the new infrastructure bill fix our broken system?Guests: Alon Levy and Eric Goldwyn of the Marron Institute at NYU HostHenry Grabar  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Whether it’s a phone screen or a coffee machine, why is it so hard to fix our own stuff? And what can we do to make it a bit easier?Guest: Jason Koebler, editor-in-chief of Motherboard and contributor to the CYBER podcastHostLizzie O’Leary Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Amnesty International and a French journalism nonprofit named Forbidden Stories revealed that technology from a spyware firm called NSO Group is being deployed on a massive scale. The spyware, called Pegasus, gives the user access to every part of a victim’s smartphone -- notes, messages, photos, and recordings. What’s it like for security researchers to see their worst fears about digital spying play out? And what are they worried about next?Guests:John Scott Railton, Senior Researcher at the Citizen Lab at the University of TorontoSiddharth Varadarajan, Founding Editor of the Wire Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.