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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...
Based on 6 episodes we listened to · September 2026
Focused interviews connect political claims and technology debates to the incentives, institutions, and decisions shaping their real-world consequences.
What Next | Daily News and Analysis turns large public controversies into focused interviews that keep asking what power looks like in practice.
A Roblox lawsuit becomes a question about safety spending; you get the follow-up your headline never gave you.
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Short reviews from the PlayNext desk, based on the episodes we processed.
Hockey becomes a test of masculinity, belonging, and who the sport is really for.
The episode treats hockey less as a game than as a public symbol, then follows that idea into politics and culture. It opens with the State of the Union showmanship around the Olympic men's hockey team and widens out to queer hockey storytelling, the NHL's audience problem, and…
A crowded Texas primary, with a newly redrawn map and high stakes for party control.
Texas primary day lands with an overloaded ballot: congressional races, a Senate seat, statewide offices, court contests, and the Board of Education all compete for attention on the same page.
A skeptical look at the SAVE Act, Senate theater, and the risk of Trump pushing beyond his party's comfort zone.
This episode frames the SAVE Act as a measure of how far Republicans are willing to go on voting rules as they head into a rough midterm stretch.
A skeptical look at Palantir's reach, with Karp's performance in the background.
What Next uses Alex Karp's frenetic DealBook appearance to get at a harder question: what Palantir actually does, who ends up using it, and why it still leaves people uneasy.
How a shutdown fight turns into airport security theater.
The episode treats the airport ICE idea less like a stunt and more like a real policy line, with travelers caught in the middle. It follows Trump as he ties a homeland security shutdown to slowed boarding and blames congressional Democrats for the mess, then reaches for…
A blunt, useful war-and-politics conversation that keeps asking what victory is supposed to mean.
Mary Harris sits down with Adam Kinzinger and presses on the logic behind Trump's Iran move. The conversation keeps returning to a blunt question: what does "we've already won" mean when the planning sounds so thin?
A blunt look at Roblox, child safety, and the gap between safety promises and company incentives.
This episode treats Roblox as a child-safety story, not a novelty item. It sticks to the numbers, too: about 150 million daily active users, roughly 40% under 13, and an App Store rating of 13 and up.
A clear, sober look at the opening hours of a fast-moving Iran crisis.
The episode opens with President Trump saying the United States and Israel had launched major combat operations in Iran, then steps back to show why the moment did not come out of nowhere.
One question beyond the headline.
Sam Harris interviews scientists and journalists on AI risk, religion, and US politics.
WSJ reporters unpack the Epstein files, surrogacy industry abuses, and true-crime court battles.
Kara Swisher and Scott Galloway argue through tech, media, and Trump-era politics twice weekly.
Dan Carlin's solo essays connecting executive power, historical collapse, and American democracy.
Sharp political debate with policy detail and real disagreement.
This episode analyzes the 2024 Texas primary elections, focusing on key races like the scandal-plagued House seat of Tony Gonzalez and the competitive Democratic Senate primary.
This episode investigates the erosion of legal immigration in the U.S.
This episode examines the Supreme Court case Watson v.
Twitch streamer Hasan Piker discusses his recent trip to Cuba, where he delivered aid and investigated the impact of U.S.
Host Lizzie O'Leary interviews Hank Green about his work in educational media, the challenges of navigating AI and misinformation online, and his decision to turn his company Complexly into a nonprofit.
Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilders discusses his lawsuit against Roblox, alleging the platform deceives parents about safety while exposing children to predators and inappropriate content.
A Fort Worth, Texas trial over a July 4 protest at the Prairieland ICE detention center has turned into a test of how far the DOJ can stretch domestic-terrorism law.
Justin Wolfers says the war with Iran could cost the U.S.
President Trump’s early Saturday video saying that the United States and Israel had launched major combat operations in Iran sets up a fast-moving national-security conversation.
This episode examines the role of AI and drones in modern warfare, focusing on the Iran conflict.
Host Lizzie O'Leary interviews Congresswoman Summer Lee about her efforts to regulate artificial intelligence, particularly focusing on facial recognition technology's racial biases and its use by government agencies like ICE.
This episode investigates the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie and how it has become a media spectacle, with internet sleuths, streamers, and alternative journalists flocking to her Arizona home.
Meta and YouTube were found liable in Los Angeles Superior Court in a social media addiction case brought by KGM, a 20-year-old woman who used YouTube from age 8 and Instagram from age 9.
This episode analyzes the deployment of ICE agents to U.S.
This episode analyzes the killing of Mexican cartel leader El Mencho, exploring his rise, the brutal retaliation by his Jalisco New Generation cartel, and the complex U.S.-Mexico collaboration under Trump.
Representative Veronica Escobar explains her boycott of President Trump's State of the Union address, citing his lies and rhetoric that incites violence.
Mary Harris and Tommy Vitor focus on the Trump administration's Iran messaging, with Vitor saying the communication is "disastrous" and using the Pentagon acronym "FUBAR." The episode returns repeatedly to the Strait of Hormuz, where a deleted Energy Secretary tweet about U.S.
Lizzie O’Leary and economist Justin Wolfers use financial markets to gauge the economic fallout from U.S.
Mia Sato of The Verge reports from the National Retail Federation’s annual conference, where a hologram named Mike in a clear tube and hot pink suit was built to lure shoppers into talking.
The episode opens with a blunt take on Republican midterm prospects.
Mary Harris talks with former GOP congressman and retired Air National Guard lieutenant colonel Adam Kinzinger about President Trump joining the war in Iran.
Lizzie O'Leary opens by setting up a conversation with journalist Jacob Silverman about Palantir CEO Alex Karp.
Mary Harris and Tim Dickinson connect the Iran war debate to Flashpoint, a YouTube-style show tied to the new apostolic reformation and Christian nationalism.
Mary Harris opens with Donald Trump bringing the U.S.
This episode analyzes Iran's new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, exploring his rise through shadow politics, lack of religious credentials, and apocalyptic worldview.
A daily news analysis show that examines a propaganda music video from Iran targeting Donald Trump.
A daily news analysis show that includes an interview with Ben McKenzie about his documentary on crypto.
This episode discusses Donald Trump's criticism of Pope Leo on Truth Social, analyzing the intersection of politics and religion.
Political commentator Asawin Soobsang discusses his theory about Vice President J.D.
This episode analyzes the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, featuring an interview with economist Greg Karlstrom.
This episode discusses the political and religious events of Holy Week, including President Trump's Easter lunch and a controversial prayer by his spiritual advisor.
A promo episode for a fitness resolution podcast, part of a daily news analysis show.
A daily news show that helps listeners make sense of overwhelming news by providing analysis and context on current events.
A story about fecal microbiota transplant as a DIY treatment for gut problems, highlighting failures of the traditional medical system.
This episode covers a story about the unregulated market for fecal microbiota transplants as a case study of the broken health care system, and promotes a podcast series on the unitary executive theory.