1,549 episodes

The problem with the news right now? It’s everywhere. And each day, it can feel like we’re all just mindlessly scrolling. It’s why we created What Next. This short daily show is here to help you make sense of things. When the news feels overwhelming, we’re here to help you answer: What next? Look for new episodes every weekday morning.

What Next | Daily News and Analysis Slate Podcasts

    • News
    • 4.3 • 2.2K Ratings

Listen on Apple Podcasts
Requires subscription and macOS 11.4 or higher

The problem with the news right now? It’s everywhere. And each day, it can feel like we’re all just mindlessly scrolling. It’s why we created What Next. This short daily show is here to help you make sense of things. When the news feels overwhelming, we’re here to help you answer: What next? Look for new episodes every weekday morning.

Listen on Apple Podcasts
Requires subscription and macOS 11.4 or higher

    Columbia Calls the Cops

    Columbia Calls the Cops

    Protests at Columbia University have become a talking point across national media, but does the situation on campus actually resemble the one in the press? 

    Guest: Aymann Ismail, Slate staff writer.


    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.
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    • 30 min
    Your Right to Protest? Not the Supreme Court’s Problem.

    Your Right to Protest? Not the Supreme Court’s Problem.

    The constitutional right to protest is right there in the First Amendment. So when the Fifth Circuit Court threatened this right across three states, why didn’t the Supreme Court take up the case?

    Guest: Ian Milhiser, senior correspondent for Vox.

    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.
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    • 23 min
    What the WNBA Salary Debate Misses

    What the WNBA Salary Debate Misses

    With all eyes on the WNBA as Caitlin Clark was drafted, many were surprised at the star player’s new salary, and how it paled in comparison to that of an NBA rookie. What would it take to address this disparity? 

    Guest: Lindsay Gibbs, author and founder of Power Plays, “a no-BS newsletter about women’s sports” and co-host of the Burn It All Down podcast.

    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.
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    • 28 min
    TBD | The Internet Archive Endangered

    TBD | The Internet Archive Endangered

    From the Wayback Machine to the mass-digitization of the history of Aruba, the Internet Archive is a non-profit doing valuable work. But some of its other projects—a pandemic-era lending library and the ongoing digitalization of 78 rpm records—have led to lawsuits now threatening the future of this repository of the past. 

    Guest: Kate Knibbs, senior writer at Wired.

    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.
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    • 23 min
    TBD | What’s Driving Tesla’s Layoffs?

    TBD | What’s Driving Tesla’s Layoffs?

    Tesla’s market cap has dropped. The company had its biggest round of layoffs ever. The Cybertruck doesn’t seem to be taking off. And Elon’s posting through it. Is Tesla in serious trouble?

    Guest: Dana Hull, Bloomberg reporter and contributor to the podcast Elon, Inc.  

    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.
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    • 23 min
    Is It Too Late to Escape “Forever Chemicals”?

    Is It Too Late to Escape “Forever Chemicals”?

    Man-made per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known as PFAS, are found in all sorts of industrial and consumer products, including carpets, rain jackets, and makeup. They’re also in our drinking water—and in our blood.

    The EPA has recently announced plans to regulate the amount of certain PFAS in our water supply. But will these rules do enough to control chemicals for which there is no safe level of exposure?

    Guest: Esmé E. Deprez, independent investigative journalist.

    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.
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    • 28 min

Customer Reviews

4.3 out of 5
2.2K Ratings

2.2K Ratings

Jill-lyn ,

Too many ads

I’m torn on this because I love the in depth content but the ads are long, far too frequent and so darn repetitive. Five stars if this problem is fixed!

K Bombers ,

Left Bias is too too much

I’m a very conservative voter and I’ve Been a listener for over 1 year so far. I like the moderate tone of this podcast even though I often disagree with its conclusions. This has been a go to for me to help understand the views of the Politcal Left. While I agree with the capitalist idea of charging what the market will bear, I need to inform the producers of this podcast that MY market about is about to move elsewhere. 2 ads per 30 mins is my limit. This one is pushing 6 or even more at times. Advice? Back it off and keep your standards high! Update: 28 July 2022; when one dances with the Devil, the Devil doesn’t change.
Update: these so called reporters are totally 💯 biased to the left. No way they are honest about the reality. Only their zero tolerance view of the world. Super sad 😞

Phototoaster lover ,

Find a new topic

Is there any other topic than bashing Trump? The ominous music you play in the background when talking about him is great too😎

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