What Next | Daily News and Analysis podcast

What Next | Daily News and Analysis

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. Get more of What Next with Slate Plus! Join for exclusive bonus episodes of What Next and ad-free listening on all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe from the What Next show page on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, or visit slate.com/whatnextplus for access wherever you listen.

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. Get more of What Next with Slate Plus! Join for exclusive bonus episodes of What Next and ad-free listening on all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe from the What Next show page on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, or visit slate.com/whatnextplus for access wherever you listen.

 

#1987

TBD | Why Bands Are Leaving Spotify

Paying a fraction of a penny per stream and diminishing the value of music were bad enough... more

9 hrs Ago

21 MINS

21:02

9 hrs Ago


#1986

TBD | Inside the MAGA Content Mill

As Trump throws out journalists and outlets that report anything negative about him, he’s ... more

17 Oct 2025

27 MINS

27:00

17 Oct 2025


#1985

He Wrote About Anti-Fascism—Then Fled the Country

In an executive order, Donald Trump declared “Antifa” a terrorist organization. As it isn’... more

16 Oct 2025

35 MINS

35:17

16 Oct 2025


#1984

Time for a Blue-State “Soft Secession”?

The government shutdown isn’t hitting everywhere equally—infrastructure projects that rely... more

15 Oct 2025

26 MINS

26:29

15 Oct 2025


#1983

Everything’s Coming Up Bari

Bari Weiss has had a successful media career by any metric, save perhaps for broad appeal.... more

14 Oct 2025

28 MINS

28:33

14 Oct 2025


#1982

Amicus | Dear Justice Kavanaugh, “I’m American, Bro”

While the What Next team celebrates Indigenous Peoples’ Day, please enjoy this episode fro... more

13 Oct 2025

48 MINS

48:41

13 Oct 2025


#1981

TBD | A.I. for Cops

At this very moment, police departments can gather more data than they have time to actual... more

12 Oct 2025

27 MINS

27:59

12 Oct 2025


#1980

Bonus: SchadenFriday: Portland Puts A Frog On It

As troops continue to roll in, unwelcome, to American cities, you can be forgiven for call... more

10 Oct 2025

06 MINS

06:27

10 Oct 2025


#1979

TBD | The People Suing ICE

Though ICE, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid... more

10 Oct 2025

25 MINS

25:14

10 Oct 2025


#1978

The People Joining ICE

ICE needs more agents to meet Trump’s promised deportation numbers. But is loosening stand... more

09 Oct 2025

26 MINS

26:48

09 Oct 2025


#1977

Inside the Portland “War Zone”

It’s clear President Trump wants to send troops to Portland, Oregon. But it’s not clear wh... more

08 Oct 2025

30 MINS

30:05

08 Oct 2025


#1976

Is the Gaza Deal Real?

It’s been two years since Hamas attacked Israel and set off a devastating war. Since then,... more

07 Oct 2025

29 MINS

29:45

07 Oct 2025


#1975

When You’re A Justice They Let You Do It

The Supreme Court is back in session, and conservative controlled body again has a docket ... more

06 Oct 2025

30 MINS

30:36

06 Oct 2025


#1974

TBD | Saudi Arabia Gets into EA’s Games

How one of the largest video game companies was bought for $55 billion by a group that inc... more

05 Oct 2025

23 MINS

23:39

05 Oct 2025


#1973

TBD | Who Owns TikTok Now?

TikTok exploded to popularity not by giving users what they asked for—but by figuring out ... more

03 Oct 2025

28 MINS

28:40

03 Oct 2025


#1972

Actually the Government Shut Down Months Ago

Donald Trump’s theory of a government shutdown was that it would give him more power to fi... more

02 Oct 2025

33 MINS

33:50

02 Oct 2025


#1971

The Department of War…From Within

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth summoned the military’s top brass from all over the world f... more

01 Oct 2025

30 MINS

30:12

01 Oct 2025


#1970

Trump’s Revenge Tour Is Here

The president’s case against James Comey doesn’t look very strong to outside legal observe... more

30 Sep 2025

28 MINS

28:39

30 Sep 2025


#1969

The Gaza Flotilla That’s Under Attack

With Gaza cut off from food and aid, activists have taken matters into their own hands, an... more

29 Sep 2025

28 MINS

28:30

29 Sep 2025


#1968

TBD | Trapped in a Tesla

When you’re getting out of an Uber, Tesla’s unintuitive door handle can embarrass you. In ... more

28 Sep 2025

27 MINS

27:32

28 Sep 2025


#1967

Bonus: The Senator Calling Trump’s Bluff

The government runs out of money next Tuesday. Trump’s threatened “mass firings” if it shu... more

26 Sep 2025

04 MINS

04:08

26 Sep 2025


#1966

TBD | How Trump Got Obsessed with Autism

Why would Donald Trump rush to announce that Tylenol is a potential cause of autism, a cla... more

26 Sep 2025

32 MINS

32:22

26 Sep 2025


#1965

Jimmy Kimmel Got His Job Back. She Didn’t.

The First Amendment prohibits Congress from making laws that abridge freedom of speech or ... more

25 Sep 2025

27 MINS

27:01

25 Sep 2025


#1964

A Surgeon in Gaza’s “End Game”

Over three different trips during the war, this doctor saw the chaos of blast injuries in ... more

24 Sep 2025

33 MINS

33:10

24 Sep 2025


#1963

Trump’s Attack on Visas

American agriculture relies on foreign workers, and they rely on the H-2A visa program to ... more

23 Sep 2025

31 MINS

31:01

23 Sep 2025


#1962

How Big Media Obeys in Advance

Media giants like Paramount and Disney have been swift to capitulate to the Trump administ... more

22 Sep 2025

28 MINS

28:36

22 Sep 2025


#1961

TBD | Is A.I. Taking Your Job?

If you’re hunting for a job, the odds are increasingly likely you’ll have an interview wit... more

21 Sep 2025

31 MINS

31:03

21 Sep 2025