What Next | Daily News and Analysis - Slate Podcasts

TBD | u up? Go vote. Nov 03, 2024

Voters in swing states are being subjected to constant political messages—on billboards, commercials and, increasingly, via text messages. But are dozens of “make a plan to vote” texts you’re receiving going to make a difference?

Guest: Jacob Neiheisel, political science professor at the University at Buffalo

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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.

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TBD | What Elon Wants From Trump Nov 01, 2024

How did Elon Musk go from a poster to someone pumping millions of dollars towards Donald Trump? And what’s he hoping to get for doing so?

Guest: Max Chafkin, Bloomberg Businessweek columnist.

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Spoiler Alert: The People Policing Your Vote Oct 31, 2024

They believe they are the law. They believe the 2020 election was stolen from Donald Trump. They’re determined not to let it happen again. Meet the constitutional sheriffs.

Guest: David Gilbert, reports on disinformation, online extremism and election hucksters for WIRED.

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.

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Spoiler Alert: Almighty Omaha Oct 30, 2024

It’s gone to Trump once and Biden once. Now, there’s a slight but very real chance that the entire election will turn based on how Nebraska’s second congressional district—with its singular electoral college vote—goes.

Guest: Paul Kane, congressional reporter at the Washington Post.

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.

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Spoiler Alert: Undecided Voters Oct 29, 2024

The hardest-to-reach portion of the electorate remains “undecided” at this point of the election cycle, but the outcome depends on which campaign can convince them to join their side.

Guest: Michael Podhorzer, Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress (CAP) and author of the substack Weekend Reading.

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.

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Spoiler Alert: Jill Stein Oct 28, 2024

In a presidential race as tight as this one, a few thousand votes—in the right states—could be the difference. Is the Green Party candidate Jill Stein set up to be that difference, like so many Democrats believe she was in 2016?

Guest: Matt Flegenheimer, correspondent for the New York Times specializing in long-form profiles of political figures.

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.

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TBD | Facebook for the Dead Oct 27, 2024

He didn’t find his grandfather. But traveling to, photographing, and uploading his grandfather’s memorial stone gave him something else.

Guest: Tony Tran, senior tech editor at Slate and author of the feature “My Weekends with the Dead.”

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TBD | Can TikTok Sway this Election? Oct 25, 2024

This election cycle, TikTok has evolved into a news-and-politics delivery mechanism. Will it make a difference?

Guest: Sapna Maheshwari, reporting on TikTok and other tech for the New York Times.

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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.

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Abortion Is on the Ballot. Republicans Have a Plan. Oct 24, 2024

When put to the voters, abortion rights have been winning over stricter restrictions even in places like deeply red Kansas. But Florida Republicans are working hard to defeat a ballot measure that would roll back the state’s six-week abortion ban—and they might have found a formula to win.

Guest: Grace Panetta, political reporter at The 19th.

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.

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When It Comes to the Border, Has Trump Already Won? Oct 23, 2024

Donald Trump’s most consistent policy message has been anti-immigration, but according to surveys, more than a quarter of Kamala Harris supporters also support mass deportations. How did American opinions on immigration sour across the political spectrum so quickly?

Guest: Rogé Karma, staff writer at The Atlantic.

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.

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Why Killing Sinwar Won’t End the War Oct 22, 2024

Does the death of Yahya Sinwar finally make a ceasefire in Gaza possible?

Guests: Jonathan Dekel-Chen, professor of Soviet and East European Jewry at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and father of Sagui Dekel-Chen, one of the hostages held by Hamas.

Gregg Carlstrom, Middle East correspondent for the Economist.

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.

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.

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Should the Menendez Brothers Be Free? Oct 21, 2024

Why this closed case from 1989 is suddenly back in the news—and why the brothers may yet be freed.

Guest: Brian Buckmire, ABC Legal Contributor with a segment on GMA3, “Better Call Brian.”

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.

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TBD | How Secure Is Our Election? Oct 20, 2024

America’s head of cybersecurity isn’t worried about the election being hacked or the results being tampered with. But this election cycle does have her worried for our democracy.

Guest: Jen Easterly, Director of Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency

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TBD | The Elon-Trump Alliance Oct 18, 2024

Elon Musk went from voting for Hillary to supporting Trump so hard that he may have broken election laws. And with Musk influencing both on X and in campaign finance, Democrats are kicking themselves for letting him go. What will his political and financial support actually amount to this election season?

Guest: Teddy Schleifer, New York Times reporter covering campaign finance and billionaire influence on American politics.

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Podcast production by Evan Campbell, Patrick Fort, and Cheyna Roth.

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Kamala’s Bid for Black Men’s Votes Oct 17, 2024

Though Black voters remain a dependable bloc for the Democrats, the Trump campaign has been attempting to make in-roads with Black men. Can Kamala Harris shore up her coalition in this tight race?

Guest: Kadia Goba, political reporter at Semafor.

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.

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Overdose Deaths Are Going Down. Why? Oct 16, 2024

According to a new CDC report, the number of overdoses in America is finally dropping after rising for years. What’s behind this rare good news in the ongoing opioid crisis?

Guest: David Ovalle, reporter covering opioids and addiction at the Washington Post

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.

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Gambling on Elections, What Could Go Wrong? Oct 15, 2024

Forget polls—are gambling websites the real way to predict politics?

Guest: Nitish Pahwa, business and tech writer at Slate

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.

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An Extremely Online Hurricane Season Oct 14, 2024

Misinformation in the wake of disasters isn’t new, but the media environment today—rife with A.I. images, light on moderation, and eager to point fingers—seems more vulnerable to it than ever.

Guest: Will Oremus, technology writer for the Washington Post.

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.

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TBD | 23andMe...And a Looming Data Disaster Oct 13, 2024

How did 23andMe go from the peak of the double-helix to a death spiral? And if it goes under, is all of the genetic data it collected at risk?

Guest: Kristen V. Brown, staff writer covering health for The Atlantic.

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Podcast production by Evan Campbell, Patrick Fort, and Cheyna Roth.

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TBD | Trump’s Crypto Gurus Oct 11, 2024

The crypto project “World Liberty Financial,” which was announced on X by Donald Trump, isn’t a cryptocurrency, nor a crypto-exchange, nor is it actually run by any Trumps. The truth is even stranger.

Guest: David Yaffe-Bellany, New York Times reporter

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Getting Out Of Lebanon Oct 10, 2024

How the State Department is evacuating Americans from Beirut—and how the war is influencing Lebanese-American voters living in a swing state.

Guest:

Amy Fallas, PhD candidate studying history in Beirut for the last year.

Alabas Farhat, Michigan State Representative.

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.

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Diddy Was Indicted. Conspiracies Ran Wild. Oct 09, 2024

The accusations against Sean “Diddy” Combs have grown in both number and grimness. Is this the music industry’s moment of reckoning?

Guest: Nadira Goffe, associate culture writer at Slate.

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.

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The Supreme Court’s Back. Uh Oh. Oct 08, 2024

The Supreme Court term’s kicked off this week, and the cases in front of the nine justices could reshape American life in public, at home, and in the doctor’s office, for wide swaths of the country. The election, too, could be at the hands of the Court.

Guest: Mark Joseph Stern, Slate senior writer covering courts and the law.

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.

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October 7th, One Year Later Oct 07, 2024

A year after the initial Hamas attack on Israel, tens of thousands are dead, bombs are still falling, a regional war is expanding, and there’s no end in sight. Two writers reflect on the destruction, loss, and death.

Guests: Peter Beinart is the Editor-at-Large at Jewish Currents and the author of “The Beinart Notebook” on Substack.

Mohammed R. Mhawish is Palestinian journalist who was evacuated from Rafah to Egypt in May.

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.

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TBD | A.I. Goes Nuclear Oct 06, 2024

Decades ago, Three Mile Island was shut down after a near catastrophic nuclear meltdown. So why is Microsoft paying over a billion dollars to open it back up?

Guest: Matt Reynolds, senior writer at Wired

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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.

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TBD | Helene Proves Nowhere is Safe Oct 04, 2024

In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, the idea of a climate haven has been upended. And as the climate change gets worse every year, fewer places will be safe from its devastation.

Guest: Sarah Kaplan, Washington Post climate reporter covering humanity's response to a warming world.

Keith Campbell, managing editor at the Asheville Watchdog

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Experts Feared a Wider War. It's Finally Here Oct 03, 2024

With Israel sending airstrikes on Lebanon and deflecting missiles from Iran, the war has become what experts feared: a regional conflict. How much more will the fighting spread?

Guest: Shane Harris, intelligence and national security reporter for the Washington Post.

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.

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Vance and Walz Debate Oct 02, 2024

The second, and likely final, debate of this presidential election was between JD Vance and Tim Walz, two Midwestern men with two very different visions of what government should do—and perhaps what America is.

Guest: David Faris, politics professor at Roosevelt University and contributing writer for Slate.

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.

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How To Debate JD Vance, From His Last Opponent Oct 01, 2024

How Tim Ryan looks back on debating JD Vance in the 2022 Ohio Senate race—and how he would coach Tim Walz to win.

Guest: Tim Ryan, former representative from Ohio who lost a Senate race to JD Vance in 2022.

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.

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.

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Will Eric Adams Cost the Dems the House? Sep 30, 2024

The federal indictment of Eric Adams is just the latest in a long line of embarrassing blow-ups, scandals, and unforced errors by the New York Democrats. Can they pull themselves together and deliver for the national party this time?

Guest: Ross Barkan, journalist, essayist, and contributing writer to many places, including Slate, the Nation, and the New York Times Magazine.

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.

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TBD | American Life is a Highway Sep 29, 2024

America is caught in a vicious cycle of trying to alleviate traffic by expanding and building more highways, only for them to clog right up with more cars. How do you beat the traffic?

Guest: David Zipper, Senior Fellow at the MIT Mobility Initiative who writes about transportation policy.

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Public.com+Public Investing: All investing involves risk. Brokerage services for US listed securities, options and bonds in a self-directed brokerage account are offered by Public Investing, member FINRA & SIPC. Not investment advice. Public Investing offers a High-Yield Cash Account where funds from this account are automatically deposited into partner banks where they earn interest and are eligible for FDIC insurance; Public Investing is not a bank.Cryptocurrency trading services are offered by Bakkt Crypto Solutions, LLC (NMLS ID 1828849), which is licensed to engage in virtual currency business activity by the NYSDFS. Cryptocurrency is highly speculative, involves a high degree of risk, and has the potential for loss of the entire amount of an investment. Cryptocurrency holdings are not protected by the FDIC or SIPC. . See public.com/#disclosures-main for more information.

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Bonus: The Surge | Indicted for Swagger Sep 27, 2024

A throwback week in politics finds New York’s Boss Tweed of Swagger in trouble, a Republican bucking the party line for his constituents and a name Democrats thought they were done with.

Guest: Jim Newell, Slate’s senior politics writer, who writes the weekly newsletter The Surge.

This episode is member-exclusive. Listen to it now by subscribing to Slate Plus. By joining, not only will you unlock exclusive episodes of The Surge but you’ll also access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe now on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of our show page. Or, visit slate.com/whatnextplus to get access wherever you listen.

Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.

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TBD | Big Tech Fears Her Sep 27, 2024

Over the last decade, the European Union has been the vanguard regulating Big Tech, and the push has been led by Margrethe Vestager. As she steps down, Vestager is looking both back at the battles she’s fought, and how the fight will continue.

Guest: Margrethe Vestager, European Commissioner for Competition. the European Commission’s Executive Vice President on a Europe Fit for the Digital Age.

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Will North Carolina Pick The President? Sep 26, 2024

Winning North Carolina would make Kamala Harris’s path to the White House much easier. And to judge from the huge campaign push, Democrats think the state is in play. Can a strong ground game—and a major Republican scandal—sink Donald Trump’s re-election bid?

Guest: Michael Bitzer, professor of politics and history at Catawba College

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.

Public.com+Public Investing Disclosure: Public Investing offers a High-Yield Cash Account where funds from this account are automatically deposited into partner banks where they earn interest and are eligible for FDIC insurance; Public Investing is not a bank. See public.com/#disclosures-main for more information.

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Why More Democrats Are Buying Guns Sep 25, 2024

Why are more liberals taking up arms? And how could the trend change the conversation about guns in America?

Guest: Cameron McWhirter, national affairs reporter for The Wall Street Journal covering mass shootings, violent protests, and natural disasters across the South and co-author of American Gun: the True Story of the AR-15 with Zusha Elinson.

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.

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The New Rules of Campus Protest Sep 24, 2024

How universities and colleges are trying to keep student protests under control—or embracing a raucously political campus.

Guests:

Sophie Hurwitz, politics and social movements reporter at Mother Jones.

Michael S. Roth is the president of Wesleyan University.

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.

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What Was The Point of Israel’s Pager Attack? Sep 23, 2024

What message was Israel sending to Hezbollah, its backers, and the population of Lebanon, by blowing up pagers and walkie-talkies last week? And does the international community view this act as a violation of the laws of armed conflict?

Guest: Shane Harris, intelligence and national security reporter at the Washington Post.

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.

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TBD | Trump Called. Laura Loomer Answered. Sep 22, 2024

Given Laura Loomer’s history of saying outright offensive and often bewildering things, how did she get into the Trump campaign’s inner circle?

Guest: Ken Bensinger, New York Times politics reporter.

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Bonus: The Surge | 45 Days from Election Day Sep 20, 2024

It’s just 45 days until election day—and the polls are telling us…a little bit of everything. In our first Slate Plus exclusive crossover, Mary sits down with one of the nation’s foremost experts on political nonsense.

Guest: Jim Newell, Slate’s senior politics writer, who writes the weekly newsletter The Surge.

This episode is member-exclusive. Listen to it now by subscribing to Slate Plus. By joining, not only will you unlock exclusive episodes of The Surge but you’ll also access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe now on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of our show page. Or, visit slate.com/whatnextplus to get access wherever you listen.

Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.

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TBD | Can Instagram Really Keep Kids Safe? Sep 20, 2024

Instagram’s new default privacy settings for teenagers are designed to keep kids safe from strangers online. It’s a worthy endeavor, but are privacy settings enough? And what about all the other hazards teenagers face on social media?

Guest: Natasha Singer, New York Times tech reporter, focused on how technology is affecting childhood and schooling.

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.

Podcast production by Evan Campbell, Patrick Fort, and Cheyna Roth.

Public.com+Public Investing Disclosure: Public Investing offers a High-Yield Cash Account where funds from this account are automatically deposited into partner banks where they earn interest and are eligible for FDIC insurance; Public Investing is not a bank. See public.com/#disclosures-main for more information.

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Inside Israel’s October 7th Tourism Sep 19, 2024

Scores of Jews from around the world are visiting Israel to tour the grounds of the Nova music festival and burned out kibbutzim, bearing witness and reflecting on the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks. The trips are shoring up Israel’s tourism industry after the war brought it to an abrupt halt—but critics say the narrow focus on this tragedy pushes the suffering of Gazans to the periphery, even as bombs drop less than 10 miles away from the tourists.

Guest: Maya Rosen, Israel/Palestine Fellow at Jewish Currents

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.

Public.com+Public Investing: All investing involves risk. Brokerage services for US listed securities, options and bonds in a self-directed brokerage account are offered by Public Investing, member FINRA & SIPC. Not investment advice. Public Investing offers a High-Yield Cash Account where funds from this account are automatically deposited into partner banks where they earn interest and are eligible for FDIC insurance; Public Investing is not a bank.Cryptocurrency trading services are offered by Bakkt Crypto Solutions, LLC (NMLS ID 1828849), which is licensed to engage in virtual currency business activity by the NYSDFS. Cryptocurrency is highly speculative, involves a high degree of risk, and has the potential for loss of the entire amount of an investment. Cryptocurrency holdings are not protected by the FDIC or SIPC. . See public.com/#disclosures-main for more information.

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The View from Springfield, Ohio Sep 18, 2024

The story of Springfield, Ohio—as told by the people who live there—is nothing like the one heard from the debate stage.

Guest: Aymann Ismail, Slate staff writer.

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.

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When Cops Police Your Vote Sep 17, 2024

Law enforcement units looking to prevent voter fraud are popping up from Texas to Virginia—but are they trying to solve a problem that doesn’t exist—or simply targeting groups they’d prefer didn’t vote?

Guest: Ari Berman, national voting rights correspondent for Mother Jones, author of “Minority Rule: The Right Wing Attack on the Will of the People and the Fight to Resist It.”

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.

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The Kamala Endorsement (Taylor’s Version) Sep 16, 2024

When Taylor Swift stated she was voting for Kamala Harris, a large segment of Swifties breathed a sigh of relief. How did Swift’s politics become so important—and will her endorsement make a difference in November?

Guest: Brian Donovan, professor of sociology at the University of Kansas who teaches a college course called “The Sociology of Taylor Swift.”

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.

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TBD | Is Boeing Lost in Space? Sep 15, 2024

Boeing’s Starliner has now landed successfully—but Butch and Sunny weren’t on it. With a pair of astronauts still stuck on the ISS, when will NASA be ready to bring them back? And how?

Guest: Micah Maidenberg, space business reporter for the Wall Street Journal.

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.

Public.com+Public Investing: All investing involves risk. Brokerage services for US listed securities, options and bonds in a self-directed brokerage account are offered by Public Investing, member FINRA & SIPC. Not investment advice. Public Investing offers a High-Yield Cash Account where funds from this account are automatically deposited into partner banks where they earn interest and are eligible for FDIC insurance; Public Investing is not a bank.Cryptocurrency trading services are offered by Bakkt Crypto Solutions, LLC (NMLS ID 1828849), which is licensed to engage in virtual currency business activity by the NYSDFS. Cryptocurrency is highly speculative, involves a high degree of risk, and has the potential for loss of the entire amount of an investment. Cryptocurrency holdings are not protected by the FDIC or SIPC. . See public.com/#disclosures-main for more information.

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TBD | TikTok Goes to Court Sep 13, 2024

The law has been passed and signed by the president: TikTok’s parent company must sell or divest from the app. But that’s not happening without a legal fight.

Guest: Emily Baker-White, investigative reporter at Forbes.

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Podcast production by Evan Campbell, Patrick Fort, and Cheyna Roth.

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The Pandemic Lessons We’ve Forgotten Sep 12, 2024

Rather than coming out of the pandemic with a new toolkit of public health measures or even personal habits, the response to this summer’s long wave of COVID infections has mostly been to continue with business as usual. But business as usual seems inadequate with mpox and bird flu crises on the horizon.

Guest: Apoorva Mandavilli, science and global health reporter at the New York Times.

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.

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Trump and Harris, Head to Head Sep 11, 2024

How did the first debate—with these particular candidates—go? Were minds changed?

Guest: David Faris, politics professor at Roosevelt University and a contributing writer for Slate.

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.

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Her Sister Died in 9-11. She Almost Got Justice. Sep 10, 2024

After 12 years of “pretrial proceedings,” and 23 years after the crime in question, prosecutors announced that a plea deal had been reached with Khalid Shaikh Mohammed and two of his accomplices, who were accused of planning the Sept. 11 attacks. When Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin canceled the deal, some relatives of those who died on 9/11 were devastated.

Guest: Terry Kay Rockefeller, founding member of September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows.

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.

Public.com+Public Investing Disclosure: Public Investing offers a High-Yield Cash Account where funds from this account are automatically deposited into partner banks where they earn interest and are eligible for FDIC insurance; Public Investing is not a bank. See public.com/#disclosures-main for more information.

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Should Parents Face Charges for Kids’ Crimes? Sep 09, 2024

After the school shooting in Georgia last week, charges were brought against the 14-year-old alleged gunman—and also against his father. Who’s really responsible?

Guest: Josie Duffy Rice, journalist focused on prosecutors, prisons, and other criminal justice issues and host of What A Day.

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.

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TBD | The Misguided Buzz About Mosquitoes Sep 08, 2024

An outbreak of eastern equine encephalitis in the northeast made headlines, but as far as mosquito-borne illnesses go, EEE is serious but still rare. What’s getting way too common is the mosquito itself.

Guest: Amesh Adalja, doctor and senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security

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.

Podcast production by Evan Campbell, Patrick Fort, and Cheyna Roth.

Public.com+Public Investing Disclosure: Public Investing offers a High-Yield Cash Account where funds from this account are automatically deposited into partner banks where they earn interest and are eligible for FDIC insurance; Public Investing is not a bank. See public.com/#disclosures-main for more information.

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TBD | US v. Google… Again Sep 06, 2024

A month after a federal judge declared that Google was operating as a monopoly because of its search engine, the Justice Department has alleged that Google’s ad business was breaking antitrust law as well.

What if Google loses again?

Guest: Leah Nylen, Bloomberg antitrust reporter.

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.

Podcast production by Evan Campbell, Patrick Fort, and Cheyna Roth.

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Who—and Why—Israelis Are Protesting Sep 05, 2024

Will the deaths of six hostages mark a turning point in how Israelis view the war in Gaza—and how Netanyahu’s government is conducting it?

Guest: Yair Rosenberg, staff writer at The Atlantic and the author of its newsletter Deep Shtetl

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.

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Could Arlington Cost Trump Military Votes? Sep 04, 2024

How much do military voters and their families care about Trump attempting a campaign stop at Arlington National Cemetery?

Guest: Leo Shane III, deputy editor for the Military Times.

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.

Public.com+Public Investing: All investing involves risk. Brokerage services for US listed securities, options and bonds in a self-directed brokerage account are offered by Public Investing, member FINRA & SIPC. Not investment advice. Public Investing offers a High-Yield Cash Account where funds from this account are automatically deposited into partner banks where they earn interest and are eligible for FDIC insurance; Public Investing is not a bank.Cryptocurrency trading services are offered by Bakkt Crypto Solutions, LLC (NMLS ID 1828849), which is licensed to engage in virtual currency business activity by the NYSDFS. Cryptocurrency is highly speculative, involves a high degree of risk, and has the potential for loss of the entire amount of an investment. Cryptocurrency holdings are not protected by the FDIC or SIPC. . See public.com/#disclosures-main for more information.

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Why Shein and Temu Are At War Sep 03, 2024

Can fast-fashion giant Shein go public while fending off accusations of bad labor practices, the US government, and a back-and-forth war with newcomer Temu?

Guest: Mia Sato, platforms and communities reporter at the Verge.

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.

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How To Put a Toxic Job Behind You Sep 02, 2024

While the What Next team enjoys the holiday, we’re proud to feature this episode from our colleagues at How To.

When Elle started a new career as a therapist, she never imagined she would be the one in need of help. After just a few months, her position at a group practice became untenable amid a lack of support from colleagues. Now she’s looking for a new job and wants to avoid a similar scenario. On this episode of How To!, Carvell Wallace introduces Elle to leadership coach Rudhir Krishtel, who helps us rethink our relationships to co-workers—and work itself.

How To’s executive producer is Derek John. Joel Meyer is our senior editor/producer. The show is produced by Rosemary Belson, with Kevin Bendis and Sara McCrae.

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TBD | Telegram's CEO Just Got Arrested. Huh? Sep 01, 2024

Telegram was supposed to be the platform with the freest of free speech, which meant it was also rife with the worst the internet has to offer—"criminal activity” puts it lightly. But are French authorities setting a dangerous precedent with the arrest of Telegram CEO Pavel Durov?

Guest: Joseph Menn, tech reporter for the Washington Post covering privacy and security.

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.

Public.com+Public Investing: All investing involves risk. Brokerage services for US listed securities, options and bonds in a self-directed brokerage account are offered by Public Investing, member FINRA & SIPC. Not investment advice. Public Investing offers a High-Yield Cash Account where funds from this account are automatically deposited into partner banks where they earn interest and are eligible for FDIC insurance; Public Investing is not a bank.Cryptocurrency trading services are offered by Bakkt Crypto Solutions, LLC (NMLS ID 1828849), which is licensed to engage in virtual currency business activity by the NYSDFS. Cryptocurrency is highly speculative, involves a high degree of risk, and has the potential for loss of the entire amount of an investment. Cryptocurrency holdings are not protected by the FDIC or SIPC. . See public.com/#disclosures-main for more information.

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TBD | Back To School… Without Phones Aug 30, 2024

Since the pandemic, schools have been reporting that their students are more anxious and having trouble learning. How much does simply removing cell phones from the classroom address these problems?

Guests:

Laura Meckler, national education writer for the Washington Post

Russell Shaw, head of Georgetown Day School and author of “Why We’re Banning Phones at Our School” for the Atlantic.

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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JD Vance’s Anti-Rizz Aug 29, 2024

Say what you will about Donald Trump, the man can work a crowd. His running mate on the other hand…

Guest: Sam Adams, Slate writer and senior editor for Slate’s Culture department.

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.

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Venezuela’s Opposition Brought Receipts Aug 28, 2024

Why has this Venezuelan presidential election led to so much violence and controversy?

Guest: Ana Vanessa Herrero, Washington Post correspondent based in Venezuela, reporting on South America.

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.

Public.com+Public Investing Disclosure: Public Investing offers a High-Yield Cash Account where funds from this account are automatically deposited into partner banks where they earn interest and are eligible for FDIC insurance; Public Investing is not a bank. See public.com/#disclosures-main for more information.

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Is Kamala Harris Progressive? Aug 27, 2024

Since becoming the nominee, Kamala Harris has renounced some of her more progressive policy goals from her 2020 campaign, tacking closer to the Biden administration line and political center. So far, though, it hasn’t cost her progressive support.

Guest: Pramila Jayapal, U.S. representative for the 7th congressional district of Washington.

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.

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The Georgia Election Laboratory Aug 26, 2024

Do Georgia’s new “electoral integrity” laws create more faith in the voting process—or just make it more restrictive?

Guest: Sam Gringlas, politics reporter at WABE in Atlanta.

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.

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TBD | Who’s Going to Regulate AI? Aug 25, 2024

Why are national politicians like Nancy Pelosi lining up alongside artificial intelligence companies to oppose safety regulations on this new industry proposed in California’s state legislature?

Guest: Rachael Myrow, senior editor on KQED’s Silicon Valley news desk.

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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TBD | Crypto Courts the 2024 Vote Aug 23, 2024

The last crypto boom left the industry cash-rich and reputation-poor, so they’re doing what any beleaguered industry does—donating to politicians.

Guest: Zeke Faux, investigative reporter for Bloomberg and author of Number Go Up.

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.

Public.com+Public Investing Disclosure: Public Investing offers a High-Yield Cash Account where funds from this account are automatically deposited into partner banks where they earn interest and are eligible for FDIC insurance; Public Investing is not a bank. See public.com/#disclosures-main for more information.

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The DNC Is A Party. How Long Will It Last? Aug 22, 2024

They swapped candidates, are on the offensive, and almost all in accord. The Democrats are suddenly feeling good.

Guest: Jim Newell, senior politics writer at Slate.

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.

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Chicago's Mayor Takes on the Democrats' Toughest Issue Aug 21, 2024

What happened when a blue city inherited a red state problem.

Guests:

Brandon Johnson, mayor of the city of Chicago.

Dr. Kenneth D. Phelps, senior pastor at Concord Missionary Baptist Church (CMBC) in Chicago.

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.

Public.com+Public Investing: All investing involves risk. Brokerage services for US listed securities, options and bonds in a self-directed brokerage account are offered by Public Investing, member FINRA & SIPC. Not investment advice. Public Investing offers a High-Yield Cash Account where funds from this account are automatically deposited into partner banks where they earn interest and are eligible for FDIC insurance; Public Investing is not a bank.Cryptocurrency trading services are offered by Bakkt Crypto Solutions, LLC (NMLS ID 1828849), which is licensed to engage in virtual currency business activity by the NYSDFS. Cryptocurrency is highly speculative, involves a high degree of risk, and has the potential for loss of the entire amount of an investment. Cryptocurrency holdings are not protected by the FDIC or SIPC. . See public.com/#disclosures-main for more information.

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Can Kamala Harris Win “Uncommitted” Democrats? Aug 20, 2024

Democrats frustrated by Joe Biden’s policy towards Israel and Gaza voted for “uncommitted” in the primaries, notably in the crucial swing state of Michigan. Does Kamala Harris have an opportunity to reach those voters now?

Guest: Yazan “Yaz” Kader, uncommitted DNC delegate from the state of Washington and registered nurse.

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.

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The Gender War Election Aug 19, 2024

Voters, especially young voters, increasingly split parties along gender lines. Can an “all-disaffected-men” strategy propel the Republicans back to the White House, or is the Democrats’ “freedom” messaging broad enough to win the election?

Guest: Jill Filipovic, journalist, lawyer, and author of OK Boomer, Let’s Talk: How My Generation Got Left Behind and The H-Spot: The Feminist Pursuit of Happiness.

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.

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TBD | The Rise of Off-Brand Ozempic Aug 18, 2024

GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy are in high demand and short supply. The internet makes it easy for you to have a compounding pharmacy whip you up a batch—but should you?

Guest: Kate Knibbs, senior writer at Wired.

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TBD | Elon Musk’s Bully Pulpit Aug 16, 2024

Since Elon Musk took over Twitter - now X - in 2022, he’s increasingly used it to push his conservative views. A suit against a non-profit brand safety group of advertisers and an exclusive interview with former President Trump show that Elon was never interested in keeping Twitter as a town square, but rather, a soapbox for him to push his political agenda.

Guest: Nitish Pahwa, associate writer for business and tech at Slate

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Podcast production by Evan Campbell, Patrick Fort, and Cheyna Roth.

Public.com+Public Investing: All investing involves risk. Brokerage services for US listed securities, options and bonds in a self-directed brokerage account are offered by Public Investing, member FINRA & SIPC. Not investment advice. Public Investing offers a High-Yield Cash Account where funds from this account are automatically deposited into partner banks where they earn interest and are eligible for FDIC insurance; Public Investing is not a bank.Cryptocurrency trading services are offered by Bakkt Crypto Solutions, LLC (NMLS ID 1828849), which is licensed to engage in virtual currency business activity by the NYSDFS. Cryptocurrency is highly speculative, involves a high degree of risk, and has the potential for loss of the entire amount of an investment. Cryptocurrency holdings are not protected by the FDIC or SIPC. . See public.com/#disclosures-main for more information.

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Would You Die For MrBeast? Aug 15, 2024

MrBeast is known for videos that blend stunts and philanthropy, but his new team-up with Amazon and MGM is bringing some of his less savory aspects to light.

Guest: Madison Malone Kircher, reporter covering internet culture for The New York Times

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.

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Trump Seems Lost. But Can He Lose? Aug 14, 2024

Donald Trump’s presidential opponent has changed—can he? Should he?

Guest: Tom Nichols, staff writer at the Atlantic and professor emeritus at the U.S. Naval College.

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.

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How Boeing Stranded Two Astronauts Aug 13, 2024

It was supposed to be the triumphant rollout of Boeing’s new, reusable space taxi. Now NASA’s trying to find some other way to get two astronauts home.

Guest: Joey Roulette, space reporter at Reuters.

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.

Public.com+Public Investing Disclosure: Public Investing offers a High-Yield Cash Account where funds from this account are automatically deposited into partner banks where they earn interest and are eligible for FDIC insurance; Public Investing is not a bank. See public.com/#disclosures-main for more information.

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AIPAC Vs. The Squad Aug 12, 2024

A Republican-backed organization is spending millions to unseat progressive Democrats—and it’s succeeding.

Guest: Alexander Sammon, Slate politics writer.

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.

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TBD | Tesla’s Out of Juice. But Are EVs? Aug 11, 2024

The hype has slowed but electric vehicles aren’t going away—once the infrastructure is in place, they’ll go everywhere.

Guests:

Nitish Pahwa, associate writer for business and tech at Slate.

Paula Gardner, business reporter for Bridge Michigan

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Podcast production by Evan Campbell, Patrick Fort, and Cheyna Roth.

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TBD | Google’s a Monopoly. What About The Rest? Aug 09, 2024

Should the other Silicon Valley giants be worried following the Department of Justice’s decisive win against Google?

Guest: Leah Nylen, antitrust reporter at Bloomberg

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Podcast production by Evan Campbell, Patrick Fort, and Cheyna Roth.

Public.com+Public Investing Disclosure: Public Investing offers a High-Yield Cash Account where funds from this account are automatically deposited into partner banks where they earn interest and are eligible for FDIC insurance; Public Investing is not a bank. See public.com/#disclosures-main for more information.

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The Olympics Meet the Culture Wars Aug 08, 2024

How Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-Ting—two women boxers fighting in the gender category they were assigned at birth—became the targets of trans panic and subject to another round of “but is she woman enough?” at the Olympics.

Guest: Rose Eveleth, reporter and host of the podcast Tested, from NPR and CBC.

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.

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Why It Had to Be Walz Aug 07, 2024

How Minnesota Governor Tim Walz slipped past VP-favorite Josh Shapiro and joined Kamala Harris on the Democratic ticket.

Guest: Guest: David Faris, associate professor of political science at Roosevelt University and author of The Kids Are All Leftand It’s Time to Fight Dirty.

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.

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How Trump Got Ice Cube Aug 06, 2024

Once one of the most politically confrontational artists in music, Ice Cube has become a surprising asset to Donald Trump.

Guest: Joel Anderson, staff writer for Slate and the host of Seasons 3, 6, and 8 of Slow Burn.

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.

Public.com+Public Investing: All investing involves risk. Brokerage services for US listed securities, options and bonds in a self-directed brokerage account are offered by Public Investing, member FINRA & SIPC. Not investment advice. Public Investing offers a High-Yield Cash Account where funds from this account are automatically deposited into partner banks where they earn interest and are eligible for FDIC insurance; Public Investing is not a bank.Cryptocurrency trading services are offered by Bakkt Crypto Solutions, LLC (NMLS ID 1828849), which is licensed to engage in virtual currency business activity by the NYSDFS. Cryptocurrency is highly speculative, involves a high degree of risk, and has the potential for loss of the entire amount of an investment. Cryptocurrency holdings are not protected by the FDIC or SIPC. . See public.com/#disclosures-main for more information.

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Project 2025 Isn't Dead, It's Born Again Aug 05, 2024

The Trump campaign washed its hands of Project 2025. A second Trump term would almost certainly be guided by it.

Guest: Sam Adler-Bell, host of the Know Your Enemy podcast.

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.

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TBD | If They Can Get Sydney Sweeney They Can Get You Aug 04, 2024

Earlier this month, AT&T was hit by the largest telecom hack ever. Not long after, Sydney Sweeney’s phone number was stolen by criminals, who used it to hack her social media and promote a memecoin. With how much sensitive data telecom companies have on us, why is their security so bad? And how can we protect ourselves?

Guests: Joseph Cox, investigative reporter and cofounder of 404 media.

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A Word: “Momala” and “Papa Bear” Aug 02, 2024

Courtesy of our colleagues at A Word, enjoy this a special interview with America's first Second Gentleman, Doug Emhoff.

Many political spouses spend decades preparing for a White House run with their partners. But attorney Doug Emhoff had been married to then-Senator Kamala Harris for just five years when she first ran for the White House. Now, as the first Second Gentleman in history, he’s stepping into the spotlight, sprinting across the country for her whirlwind campaign. On today’s episode of A Word, Jason Johnson talks with Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff about his family, his work combating anti-Semitism and other forms of hate, and campaigning with Vice President Kamala Harris.

Guest: Second Gentleman of the United States Doug Emhoff

Podcast production by Ahyiana Angel

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TBD | Why Are More Young People Getting Cancer? Aug 02, 2024

The age when you need to start being screened for cancers may need to be updated, as rates among younger people are on the rise. New testing methods could make the process a lot easier than, say, a colonoscopy - but they’re not perfect.

Guest: Dylan Scott, senior correspondent and editor for Vox.

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Public.com+Public Investing: All investing involves risk. Brokerage services for US listed securities, options and bonds in a self-directed brokerage account are offered by Public Investing, member FINRA & SIPC. Not investment advice. Public Investing offers a High-Yield Cash Account where funds from this account are automatically deposited into partner banks where they earn interest and are eligible for FDIC insurance; Public Investing is not a bank.Cryptocurrency trading services are offered by Bakkt Crypto Solutions, LLC (NMLS ID 1828849), which is licensed to engage in virtual currency business activity by the NYSDFS. Cryptocurrency is highly speculative, involves a high degree of risk, and has the potential for loss of the entire amount of an investment. Cryptocurrency holdings are not protected by the FDIC or SIPC. . See public.com/#disclosures-main for more information.

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Israel Targets Hamas in Iran. Now What? Aug 01, 2024

As the rumored ceasefire slips further out of headlines, the Gaza war is threatening to boil over into a multiple-front war for Israel—while internal conflicts escalate inside the country.

Guest: Joshua Keating, senior correspondent covering foreign policy at Vox. His piece, "A very dangerous 24 hours in the Middle East," was published on Vox on July 31.

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.

Public.com+Public Investing Disclosure: Public Investing offers a High-Yield Cash Account where funds from this account are automatically deposited into partner banks where they earn interest and are eligible for FDIC insurance; Public Investing is not a bank. See public.com/#disclosures-main for more information.

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America’s Avocados; Mexico’s Problem. Jul 31, 2024

American consumption of avocados has exploded in the last two decades but keeping up with demand is exacting a toll on the local environment—and on local communities—in the Mexican state where most of the avocados are grown.

Guest: Alex Sammon, politics writer at Slate.

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.

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Olympic Gymnastics is Back. But Is It Better? Jul 30, 2024

How physical and emotional abuse from coaches still persists in American gymnastics.

Guest: Molly Henseley Clancy, sports writer for the Washington Post.

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.

Public.com+Public Investing: All investing involves risk. Brokerage services for US listed securities, options and bonds in a self-directed brokerage account are offered by Public Investing, member FINRA & SIPC. Not investment advice. Public Investing offers a High-Yield Cash Account where funds from this account are automatically deposited into partner banks where they earn interest and are eligible for FDIC insurance; Public Investing is not a bank.Cryptocurrency trading services are offered by Bakkt Crypto Solutions, LLC (NMLS ID 1828849), which is licensed to engage in virtual currency business activity by the NYSDFS. Cryptocurrency is highly speculative, involves a high degree of risk, and has the potential for loss of the entire amount of an investment. Cryptocurrency holdings are not protected by the FDIC or SIPC. . See public.com/#disclosures-main for more information.

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The DEI Smear Against Kamala Harris Jul 29, 2024

Calling Kamala Harris a “DEI hire” is both sexist and racist, and despite the GOP leadership’s pleading, it has quickly emerged as a favored line of attack from the right.

Guest: Dr. Brittney Cooper, professor of gender studies and Africana studies at Rutgers University

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.

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TBD | The Panopticon Olympics Jul 28, 2024

How France changed its own laws to have the safest, most pervasively surveilled Olympics ever—and why some are worried the new security system will stay in place long after the games end.

Guests:

Anne Toomey McKenna, professor, author, and expert in electronic surveillance.

Henry Grabar, covering the Olympics in Paris for Slate.

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TBD | Is Silicon Valley Trump-Vance Country? Jul 26, 2024

For years, Silicon Valley has felt like a liberal enclave.. This election, a handful of powerful voices like Elon Musk and Peter Thiel are expressing support for the Trump-Vance ticket. Is this a shift in ideologies in Silicon Valley, or just a few of the loudest voices?

Guest: Nitish Pahwa, associate writer for business and tech at Slate.

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Podcast production by Evan Campbell, Patrick Fort, and Cheyna Roth.

Public.com+Public Investing Disclosure: Public Investing offers a High-Yield Cash Account where funds from this account are automatically deposited into partner banks where they earn interest and are eligible for FDIC insurance; Public Investing is not a bank. See public.com/#disclosures-main for more information.

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Could Biden's Court Reforms Actually Work? Jul 25, 2024

Before announcing his exit, Joe Biden expressed interest in reforming the Supreme Court. But, in the spirit of re-balancing the three branches of government, isn’t that a job for Congress?

Guest: Stephen Vladeck, professor at the Georgetown University Law Center and an expert on the federal courts and constitutional law.

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.

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Why the Secret Service Director Resigned Jul 24, 2024

Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigned after the catastrophic security breakdown during a Trump rally in Butler, Penn. But the assassination attempt was only the latest Secret Service disaster, and the agency’s problems won’t be solved by a simple change in leadership.

Guest: Abdallah Fayyad, policy correspondent at Vox.

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.

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Kamala Harris: Meme Queen to Madame President? Jul 23, 2024

And just like that, it’s (almost definitely) Kamala. Her rise has fueled a whole species of internet memes—but the questions about her platform are serious.

Guest: Scaachi Koul, Slate senior writer

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.

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Joe Biden Passes the Baton Jul 22, 2024

Just over three weeks ago, Joe Biden was heading to the stage to debate Donald Trump. Now, he’s out.

Guest: David Faris, Slate contributor, associate professor of political science at Roosevelt University and author of It’s Time to Fight Dirty: How Democrats Can Build a Lasting Majority in American Politics.

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.

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TBD | The Conspiracy Theory Election Jul 21, 2024

In the hours after the assassination attempt on Donald Trump, conspiracy theories started circulating all over social media, often amplified by powerful voices on both sides of the aisle. It shows a complete breakdown of trust in institutions during a critical election.

Guest: Drew Harwell, technology reporter at the Washington Post.

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TBD | America’s Tech Trustbuster Jul 19, 2024

The biggest companies in the world are now tech companies, which is why the biggest antitrust, anti-monopoly fights in recent memory are centered around Silicon Valley.

Guest: Jonathan Kanter, Assistant Attorney General, Antitrust Division, U.S. Department of Justice

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.

Public.com+Public Investing: All investing involves risk. Brokerage services for US listed securities, options and bonds in a self-directed brokerage account are offered by Public Investing, member FINRA & SIPC. Not investment advice. Public Investing offers a High-Yield Cash Account where funds from this account are automatically deposited into partner banks where they earn interest and are eligible for FDIC insurance; Public Investing is not a bank.Cryptocurrency trading services are offered by Bakkt Crypto Solutions, LLC (NMLS ID 1828849), which is licensed to engage in virtual currency business activity by the NYSDFS. Cryptocurrency is highly speculative, involves a high degree of risk, and has the potential for loss of the entire amount of an investment. Cryptocurrency holdings are not protected by the FDIC or SIPC. . See public.com/#disclosures-main for more information.

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What Republicans Really Want Jul 18, 2024

With the presidential ticket set and the platform announced, the GOP of 2024 isn’t defined by fiscal conservatism and fighting to end abortion—although those issues are holding on, further down on the list.

So what are Republicans fighting for now?

Guest: Paul Farrow, county executive for Waukesha County, delegate at the RNC, former chair of the Wisconsin GOP.

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther, with help from Cheyna Roth.

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How to End One-Party Rule Jul 17, 2024

A perennial presidential battleground state, Wisconsin became a warning—or blueprint—for how one party can subvert democracy and keep power without winning more votes.

Does the Badger State hold any lessons about how to walk back a gerrymandered, minority rule?

Guest: Ari Berman, Mother Jones’ national voting rights correspondent and author of “Minority Rule: The Right-Wing Attack on the Will of the People―and the Fight to Resist It.”

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.

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J.D. Vance: You're Hired Jul 16, 2024

J.D. Vance, the Yale Law School graduate once hailed by the media as a white working class-whisperer, has been selected as Donald Trump’s running mate. But not too long ago, he was one of the former president’s critics. The former-Marine and San Francisco venture capitalist won over Trump with the hardline, America-first policies he championed in the Senate—and some serious groveling.

Guest: Jim Newell, Slate’s senior politics 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. Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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After the Trump Assassination Attempt Jul 15, 2024

Former president Donald Trump survived an assassination attempt Saturday during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania. While the gunman has been identified, law enforcement have not offered a potential motivation for the attack. The incident comes at a time of heightened political violence, when more Americans think such acts are justifiable.

Guests: Isaac Arnsdorf, national political reporter for The Washington Post, and David Graham, staff writer at The Atlantic.

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.

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TBD | The New World of DIY Medical Tests Jul 14, 2024

“Home diagnostics” are a $5 billion industry—and growing. Spurred by social media, people are buying into at-home health tests, without input from their doctors, and often, not even the FDA.

Guest: Elizabeth Dwoskin, reporter for the Washington Post

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TBD | Boeing Pleads Guilty Jul 12, 2024

Boeing just pled guilty to felony charges of defrauding the federal government, leading to millions of dollars in fines, and new, external oversight. Is this how the company finally turns it around?

Guest: Oriana Pawlyk, POLITICO’s aviation reporter.

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Public.com+Public Investing Disclosure: Public Investing offers a High-Yield Cash Account where funds from this account are automatically deposited into partner banks where they earn interest and are eligible for FDIC insurance; Public Investing is not a bank. See public.com/#disclosures-main for more information.

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How to Survive This Heat Jul 11, 2024

Air-conditioning can feel like the only way to get through increasingly hot summers, but it’s an expensive, power-hungry way to keep cool.

How necessary is it? And how necessary is it to raise our thermostats up from 72 degrees?

Guest: Adam Clark Estes, senior technology correspondent at Vox.

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.

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This Congressman Wants Biden to Drop Out Jul 10, 2024

Should Joe Biden still be the Democratic nominee in this presidential race? Elected Democrats have almost all said Biden is still the man. But Rep. Mike Quigley put his misgivings on the record.

Guest: Rep. Mike Quigley, Democratic representative for Illinois’ fifth district.

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.

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France Staves Off the Far Right—This Time Jul 09, 2024

France’s far-right looked ready to take control of the National Assembly after the first round of snap elections. But when the dust settled after the second round, the left and center had held.

Though French progressives are celebrating for now, the right-wing National Rally party still took more parliament seats than it’s ever held before.

Guest: Harrison Stetler, freelance journalist based in Paris.

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.

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Why Gay Rights Are Under Attack – Again Jul 08, 2024

What the fight against the “Briggs Initiative” in 1970s California tells us about the fight for gay rights—and the fight to keep those victories in place.

Guest: Christina Cauterucci, senior writer at Slate and host of Slow Burn Season 9: Gays Against Briggs.

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.

Public.com+Public Investing Disclosure: Public Investing offers a High-Yield Cash Account where funds from this account are automatically deposited into partner banks where they earn interest and are eligible for FDIC insurance; Public Investing is not a bank. See public.com/#disclosures-main for more information.

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TBD | The Blu-Ray-naissance Is Here. Sort of. Jul 07, 2024

The downsides of the streaming era are coming into focus for movie fans—uncontrollable, changing libraries; lower fidelity; lack of extras and features. Can all of these be solved with a return to physical media?

Guest: Ash Nelson, journalist and author of “The Lost Art of the DVD Extra” for Slate.

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Podcast production by Evan Campbell, Patrick Fort, and Cheyna Roth.

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TBD | Elon Says Have More Babies Jul 05, 2024

The world’s population has never been bigger, and it’s still growing. but there’s a movement of “pronatalists” who see the slowing birth rate in wealthy, educated populations as a doomsday scenario in the making—and they’ve found their spokesman in one Elon Musk.

Guest: Sophie Alexander, reporter for Bloomberg

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Public.com+Public Investing: All investing involves risk. Brokerage services for US listed securities, options and bonds in a self-directed brokerage account are offered by Public Investing, member FINRA & SIPC. Not investment advice. Public Investing offers a High-Yield Cash Account where funds from this account are automatically deposited into partner banks where they earn interest and are eligible for FDIC insurance; Public Investing is not a bank.Cryptocurrency trading services are offered by Bakkt Crypto Solutions, LLC (NMLS ID 1828849), which is licensed to engage in virtual currency business activity by the NYSDFS. Cryptocurrency is highly speculative, involves a high degree of risk, and has the potential for loss of the entire amount of an investment. Cryptocurrency holdings are not protected by the FDIC or SIPC. . See public.com/#disclosures-main for more information.

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A Mom's Fight for a Fair Opioid Settlement Jul 04, 2024

Last week the Supreme Court ruled a $6 billion settlement between Purdue Pharma and victims of the opioid crisis could not move forward, because it granted immunity to the Sackler family, the principal owners of Purdue. For one of the litigants, a mother who has lost two sons to overdoses, the decision felt like “a sucker punch.”

Guest: Cheryl Juaire, part of the bankruptcy settlement with Purdue Pharma and founder of the non-profit organization Team Sharing, a support group for parents who have lost kids to overdoses.

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.

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The Supreme Court’s Abortion Punt Jul 03, 2024

When Roe v. Wade was overturned, a near-total abortion ban was triggered in Idaho, allowing for health exceptions only when “necessary to prevent the death of the pregnant woman.” But a case that found the ban in conflict with a federal law known as “EMTALA” went all the way to the Supreme Court, before being sent back to lower courts—neither overturning nor upholding Idaho’s ban.

Guest: Dr. Stacy Seyb, a maternal-fetal medicine specialist in Boise, Idaho.

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.

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How Bad is the Trump Immunity Ruling? Jul 02, 2024

The Supreme Court has ruled that presidents enjoy “substantial immunity” from prosecution for crimes committed while in office, which includes absolute immunity for “core constitutional duties” and “presumptive immunity” for “official acts.”

All good news for one Donald J. Trump. How bad is it for the rest of us?

Guest: Richard Hasen, law professor at UCLA and director of UCLA Law’s Safeguarding Democracy Project.

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.

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If Not Biden, Then… Jul 01, 2024

If you’re questioning the choice of Joe Biden as the Democratic presidential nominee after his debate, uh, performance last week, you’re not alone. But how do you swap candidates this late in the calendar—and who do the Democrats even have as an option?

Guest: David Faris, associate professor of political science at Roosevelt University and author of The Kids Are All Leftand It’s Time to Fight Dirty.

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.

Public.com+Public Investing: All investing involves risk. Brokerage services for US listed securities, options and bonds in a self-directed brokerage account are offered by Public Investing, member FINRA & SIPC. Not investment advice. Public Investing offers a High-Yield Cash Account where funds from this account are automatically deposited into partner banks where they earn interest and are eligible for FDIC insurance; Public Investing is not a bank.Cryptocurrency trading services are offered by Bakkt Crypto Solutions, LLC (NMLS ID 1828849), which is licensed to engage in virtual currency business activity by the NYSDFS. Cryptocurrency is highly speculative, involves a high degree of risk, and has the potential for loss of the entire amount of an investment. Cryptocurrency holdings are not protected by the FDIC or SIPC. . See public.com/#disclosures-main for more information.

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TBD | Why Are IUDs Still a Mystery? Jun 30, 2024

The story of IUDs is a story of technology, reproductive rights, shortcomings in communication about women’s health, and politics.

Guest: Mia Armstrong-Lopez, managing editor at ASU Media Enterprise and author of a recent piece on IUDs for Slate.

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TBD | Why Extreme Weather Keeps Surprising You Jun 28, 2024

Saying any one storm or heat wave or weather in general was “caused by climate change” is tricky—summer is, after all, usually pretty hot, and storms happen. But researchers are working on a model that brings “climate change” from abstract into the particular.

Guest: Daniel Swain, climate scientist at the UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, studying how extreme events are changing on a warming Earth.

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Buckling Up for the Debate Jun 27, 2024

It’s Trump vs. Biden—again. But CNN promises, this time will be different.

Guest: Margaret Sullivan, columnist covering media, politics and culture for The Guardian

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.

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The OB-GYN Behind the Fight to Ban Mifepristone Jun 26, 2024

The Supreme Court’s unanimous decision to uphold access to mifepristone left the door open for another case to be brought to ban the abortion pill. This physician is eager for another chance.

Guest: Dr. Christina Francis, CEO of the American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists (AAPLOG), associate scholar with the Charlotte Lozier Institute, a board member of Indiana Right to Life, physician member of the Abortion Pill Reversal Network.

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.

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Is the Apprentice Movie Fired? Jun 25, 2024

The Apprentice, starring Captain America’s Sebastian Stan and Succession’s Jeremy Strong,was financed in part by the widely-loathed former-Washington Commanders owner Dan Snyder. But after the movie premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, Trump’s attorneys sent cease-and-desist letters to the filmmakers—and Snyder seems to be using veto power on an American sale of the rights. Will this controversial cut of the film ever play on the big screen in the States?

Guest: Jake Lahut, political reporter at the Daily Beast, covering Republican campaigns.

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.

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Lauren Boebert Will Not Go Away Jun 24, 2024

Lauren Boebert barely won re-election to the House in 2022. Now the gun-loving Freedom Caucus firebrand is running for Congress in a new Colorado district.. Even after a lewd theater scandal threatened to tank her career, how is Boebert still leading in the polls?

Guest: Paul Karolyi, Senior Executive Producer of City Cast Denver

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.

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TBD | Is Your Phone Tracking Your Driving? Jun 23, 2024

As cars get smarter, automakers - with the help of third-party apps - are leveraging the new data they’re able to collect on people's driving habits to influence drivers’ insurance prices. The problem? Most people aren’t aware their driving is being monitored.

Guest: Kashmir Hill, tech reporter for the New York Times.

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TBD | Amazon Wants Your Handprint Jun 21, 2024

Amazon has installed digital palm readers at Whole Foods. The reader scans your palm, collecting biometric data, and links it to your credit card to pay for your groceries. What does exchanging vein mapping for eggs and butter mean for the future of data security and in-person shopping.

Guest: Emily Moore, freelance tech and food journalist

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Podcast production by Evan Campbell, Patrick Fort, and Cheyna Roth.

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Homelessness Before the Supreme Court Jun 20, 2024

The Supreme Court is soon expected to decide Grants Pass v. Johnson, a case where a town’s efforts to remove unhoused people from its parks became “cruel and unusual,” according to lower courts.

Guest: Dr. Bruce Murray, chief medical officer for the Mobile Integrative Navigation Team (MINT) in Josephine County, Oregon.

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.

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Slow Burn: Defend Our Children Jun 19, 2024

Happy Juneteenth! What Next resumes regularly scheduled programming tomorrow, but for the holiday, check out this episode of Slow Burn Season 9: Gays Against Briggs.

In 1977, John Briggs was a small-time state senator with big dreams. But Briggs’ plan to ban gay and lesbian teachers from California schools changed the arc of his life and career. Suddenly, he was a right-wing hero, and a villain of the gay rights movement. And his message seemed to be catching on all over the country.

Subscribe to Slate Plus to immediately unlock the first five episodes of Slow Burn: Gays Against Briggs. Your subscription also gets you ad-free access to all your favorite Slate podcasts, plus other member exclusive content. Join now on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Subscribe” at the top of our show page. Or, visit slate.com/slowburnplus to get access wherever you listen.

Season 9 of Slow Burn was written and produced by Christina Cauterucci. Slow Burn is produced by Joel Meyer, Sophie Summergrad, and Kelly Jones.

Josh Levin is the editorial director of Slow Burn.

Derek John is Slate’s executive producer of narrative podcasts.

Susan Matthews is Slate’s executive editor.

Merritt Jacob is our senior technical director. We had engineering help from Patrick Fort and Madeline Ducharme.

Our theme music is composed by Alexis Cuadrado. Artwork by Ivylise Simones, based on an image of Silvana Nova and a poster designed by Larry Hermsen and the Too Much Graphics Collective.

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How IVF Became the GOP's Next Battle Jun 18, 2024

Now that Roe v. Wade has been overturned, the Christian right seems to be setting its sights on banning in-vitro fertilization. But even though the Southern Baptist Convention passed a resolution against IVF, it’s a very popular and widely accepted procedure, which is why Senate Republicans signed a statement in favor of access to IVF, the same day almost all voted against protecting it by law.

Guest: Megan Messerly, health policy reporter at Politico.

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.

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What's Eating the Economy? Jun 17, 2024

The American economy has gotten more consolidated and more reliant on algorithms—while also, according to most people, getting more expensive, slower, and worse. Is there some causality in this correlation?

Guest: Matt Stoller, Research Director for the American Economic Liberties Project and author of Goliath: The Hundred Year War Between Monopoly Power and Democracy.

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.

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TBD | The FBI Made a Phone Network. It Was A Trap. Jun 16, 2024

In 2021, one of the largest global law enforcement operations took place. It was all thanks to an encrypted phone service known as Anom, which was secretly run by the FBI.

The program was a wild success. But did the agency take it too far?

Guest: Joseph Cox, investigative reporter for 404 media and author of “Dark Wire, the Incredible True Story of the Largest Sting Operation Ever”

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TBD | Apple Goes Intelligent Jun 14, 2024

On Monday, Tim Cook announced Apple was getting into artificial intelligence. Is Apple about to do for A.I. what it did for personal computers and smartphones?

Guest: Gerrit De Vynck, tech reporter for the Washington Post.

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Podcast production by Evan Campbell, Patrick Fort, and Cheyna Roth.

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She Met the Alitos—and Got Them on Tape Jun 13, 2024

Furtively recorded conversations with Justices John Roberts, Samuel Alito, and Alito’s wife Martha-Ann provided a window into what these powerful figures are saying behind closed doors. But do the means of getting these recordings undermine their ultimate goal?

Guest: Lauren Windsor, journalist and executive producer for “The Undercurrent” and documentary filmmaker of “Gonzo for Democracy.”

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.

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Wait, Is JUUL Banned or Not? Jun 12, 2024

Two years ago, the FDA announced it was banning JUUL nicotine vapes from sale in the U.S.—and then quickly announced it was holding off on the ban to allow for review. How did regulating ecigarettes end up playing catch-up?

Guest: Jamie Ducharme, health correspondent at Time, author of Big Vape: The Incendiary Rise of Juul.

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.

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Hunter Biden’s Judgment Day Jun 11, 2024

Is Hunter Biden’s trial proof that the justice system doesn’t care about your last name? Or is the president’s son being targeted?

Guest: Ankush Khardori, attorney and a former federal prosecutor in the US Justice Department.

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.

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What’s Biden Doing with the Border? Jun 10, 2024

Joe Biden’s new executive order severely limits migrants from seeking asylum at the border. It’s a far cry from his campaign rhetoric and the New York Times called it the most restrictive immigration policy issued by any modern Democrat. What is he trying to accomplish?

Guest: Jonathan Blitzer, staff writer for the New Yorker and author of “Everyone Who Is Gone Is Here: The United States, Central America and the Making of a Crisis.”

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.

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TBD | Fee’d Up: A Musician’s Take on Ticketmaster Jun 09, 2024

It’s hard to imagine music fans mourning a break-up of Ticketmaster and its parent company Live Nation, as a Department of Justice lawsuit requests. But even with this monopolistic middleman out of the way, touring musicians still seem destined to struggle financially.

Guest: Laura Jane Grace, musician

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Podcast production by Evan Campbell, Patrick Fort, and Anna Phillips.

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TBD | The Secret Semiconductor War Jun 07, 2024

How well is the Biden administration coaxing semiconductor companies to build their chips in the United States? Compared to Taiwan, South Korea, Japan…or even mainland China, things are just okay.

Guest: Asa Fitch, reporter for the Wall Street Journal, covering the semiconductor industry.

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The Hollywood Strikes Are Over. No One's Back To Work. Jun 06, 2024

After waiting for two strikes to resolve, film and television crews across Hollywood were hungry to return to work. But the work has been slow to come back. As a number of crew union contracts expire at the end of July, how strong is their negotiating position?

Guests:

Diane Haithman, Senior Entertainment Business Reporter, TheWrap

Diego Mariscal, IATSE local 80 dolly grip

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.

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Rafah Under Fire Jun 05, 2024

Days after Israeli airstrikes hit Rafah, President Biden touted a potential ceasefire agreement. How far away is the end of the war? And how does Gaza rebuild after this?

Guest: Tariq Kenney-Shawa, U.S. policy fellow at Al-Shabaka and an editor and fact-checker for AJ+.

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It’s Supreme Court Blockbuster Season Jun 04, 2024

It will be another chaotic June at the Supreme Court, as the nine justices race to deliver decisions impacting gun rights, abortion, presidential immunity, and more—all before summer vacation.

Guest: Mark Joseph Stern, Slate senior writer covering law and the courts.

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.

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Election Workers in the Crosshairs Jun 03, 2024

She was a city clerk for Rochester Hills, Michigan. After Trump lost the state, the threats started coming.

Guest: Tina Barton, Senior Elections Expert, The Elections Group

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TBD | Would You Buy Poop On the Internet? Jun 02, 2024

“Fecal microbial transplants” treat someone’s unhealthy gut with poop from someone else’s healthy gut, and proponents of FMT claim it can help treat everything from IBS to autism. But if your doctor isn’t ready to fill you up with someone else’s poop, the internet will happily oblige.

Guest:

Luke Winkie, Slate staff writer who published “The Poop Broker.”

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TBD | He’s Suing Big Tech Over Uvalde May 31, 2024

His law firm won a $73 million dollar settlement against Remington on behalf of nine Sandy Hook families. Now he’s filing a lawsuit against the gunmaker Daniel Defense, the video game company Activision, and Instagram’s parent company, Meta, on behalf of families in Uvalde.

Guest: Josh Koskoff, attorney

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Podcast production by Evan Campbell, Patrick Fort, and Anna Phillips.

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Amicus: Trump Guilty on All 34 Counts May 31, 2024

In light of late-breaking news, we present this conversation from our colleagues at Amicus:

After six weeks of arguments and testimony and a little under 12 hours of deliberation, a Manhattan jury voted to convict former President Trump of 34 felony counts in his hush money trial. Dahlia Lithwick is joined by Slate’s jurisprudence editor Jeremy Stahl who was in court for the historic guilty verdict and has followed the case over the past six weeks.

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An “Apprentice” Producer’s Mea Culpa May 30, 2024

How one producer—now freed from his 20-year non-disclosure agreement—regrets his role shaping Donald Trump’s image on The Apprentice.

Guest: Bill Pruitt, producer for seasons 1 and 2 of The Apprentice.

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.

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The View from Israel May 29, 2024

What do Israelis think of the war in Gaza and how their leadership is conducting it?

Guest: Tamar Harrel-Santis, student and combat reservist living in Ramat Yishai, Israel.

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The Death of Bidenomics May 28, 2024

After inheriting a tricky, post-peak-pandemic economy, the Biden administration pulled off the double-feat of stalling inflation while also keeping unemployment low. Wages have risen, and so has purchasing power. But if you ask voters, they’ll tell you the economy is terrible.

Does Biden have a messaging problem or is an economy where the price of everything still seems too high simply impossible to run on?

Guest: Annie Lowery, staff writer at the Atlantic.

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.

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Slow Burn: A Hotbed of Homosexuality May 27, 2024

While the What Next team observes the holiday, enjoy the first episode of Slow Burn's new season.

In the 1970s, San Francisco became a welcoming home for tens of thousands of new gay residents—and a modern-day Sodom for the American right. With a moral panic sweeping across the United States, a Florida orange juice spokeswoman inspired an ambitious California politician to launch his own campaign against lesbians and gays—one that would change the course of U.S. history.

(If you—or anyone you know—are in crisis, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, anytime: Dial 988 or visit 988lifeline.org.)

Subscribe to Slate Plus to immediately unlock the first five episodes of Slow Burn: Gays Against Briggs. Your subscription also gets you ad-free access to all your favorite Slate podcasts, plus other member exclusive content. Join now on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Subscribe” at the top of our show page. Or, visit slate.com/slowburnplus to get access wherever you listen.

Season 9 of Slow Burn was written and produced by Christina Cauterucci. Slow Burn is produced by Kelly Jones, Joel Meyer, and Sophie Summergrad.

Josh Levin is the editorial director of Slow Burn.

Derek John is Slate’s executive producer of narrative podcasts.

Susan Matthews is Slate’s executive editor.

Merritt Jacob is our senior technical director. We had engineering help from Patrick Fort and Madeline Ducharme.

Our theme music is composed by Alexis Cuadrado. Artwork by Ivylise Simones, based on an image of Silvana Nova and a poster designed by Larry Hermsen and the Too Much Graphics Collective.

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TBD | Why Hospitals Keep Getting Hacked May 26, 2024

Last year saw a record number of healthcare hacks with more than 700 separate incidents. And with a subsidiary of United Healthcare forking over a $22 billion ransom this year, the problem isn’t going away. With so much sensitive personal information on file, why aren’t hospitals and their ilk better prepared?

Guest:

Dina Carlisle, president of the local nurses union, OPEIU 40 in Michigan.

Justin Sherman, CEO of Global Cyber Strategies.

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TBD | Scarlett Johansson vs OpenAI May 24, 2024

When OpenAI showed a demo for the latest version of ChatGPT —the one that you can chat with, you know, with your voice—one of the voices sounded eerily familiar. And instead of a victory lap, it was a reminder of all of the implications for intellectual property and one’s own basic human likeness that this technology carries with it.

Guest: Sigal Samuel, senior reporter for Vox's Future Perfect and co-host of the Future Perfect podcast.

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Diddy’s Reckoning May 23, 2024

Allegations about Sean “Diddy” Combs had been circulating, but it wasn’t until surveillance footage of the mogul assaulting his then-partner Cassie began circulating on social media, that his response changed from defensive to apologetic.

Guest: Sidney Madden, reporter for NPR Music and co-host of Louder Than a Riot.

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.

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Does Netanyahu Have an Exit Strategy? May 22, 2024

Seven months into the war in Gaza, both the international community and many Israelis are demanding to know what Benjamin Netanyahu’s “day after” plan is. Observers are also wondering whether charges from the International Criminal Court will influence Israel’s approach—and whether the death of Iran’s president and foreign minister will change how Hamas fights.

Guest: Yair Rosenberg, staff writer at The Atlantic and author of the newsletter Deep Shtetl, about the intersection of politics, culture, and religion.

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.

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Is Killing a Protester Still a Crime? May 21, 2024

Daniel Perry was sentenced to 25 years in prison for murdering Garrett Foster at a Black Lives Matter protest in 2020, but Texas Governor Greg Abbott just pardoned Perry and restored his rights, including the right to own and carry a gun.

Guest: Christopher Hooks, contributing editor at Texas Monthly.

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What Are Presidential Debates For? May 20, 2024

Though their influence on voters seems to be between negligible and nonexistent, presidential debates are still important. And even if their past performances were sometimes hard to watch, it’s good for democracy that Trump and Biden will meet on stage this election cycle. But these debates will be a little different this time…

Guest: Alan Schroeder, Professor Emeritus at the Northeastern University School of Journalism with a focus on presidential elections, author of Presidential Debates: Risky Business on the Campaign Trail.

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TBD | The Dark Side of GoFundMe May 19, 2024

In theory, crowdfunding sites offer an opportunity for anyone to give to any cause, including, say, strangers facing huge medical bills. In practice, crowdfunding suffers from many of the same inequities that led to someone needing to crowdfund to begin with.

Guest: Nora Kenworthy, author of Crowded Out: The True Costs of Crowdfunding Healthcare, associate professor at the University of Washington, Bothell.

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TBD | Too Stonks Too Furious May 17, 2024

The 2021 subreddit-coordinated effort to raise the price of Gamestop stock was, in some ways, a proof of concept: the little guy can get into the market and make some noise. Because even though that “meme stock” rose and fell, the idea of the meme stock went has changed the way our stock market works.

Guest: Alex Kirshner, contributing writer for Slate.

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Why Miss USA is Imploding May 16, 2024

When Miss USA abdicated her throne, people noticed that the first letters of each sentence of her resignation letter spell out “I am silenced.” Shortly thereafter, Miss Teen USA stepped down with a letter that opens with a quote from Nietzsche.

What’s going on at the Miss USA organization? Has the idea of a national pageant outlived its usefulness?

Guest: Constance Grady, senior Culture correspondent for Vox.

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Can Fox News Still Sway an Election? May 15, 2024

Hit with an $800 million lawsuit, missing Tucker Carlson and Rupert Murdoch, and facing competition from fanatical fringe-right media, Fox News might look to some viewers like it’s slipping. But election years are the network’s bread and butter, and the old “everything is terrible and the Democrats are why” song still resonates with voters.

Guest: Justin Peters, Slate correspondent and author of The Idealist: Aaron Swartz and the Rise of Free Culture on the Internet.

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.

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The Fight for Joe Manchin’s Seat May 14, 2024

What would it take for the Democrats to hold Joe Manchin’s crucial Senate seat in West Virginia?

Guest: Zach Shrewsbury, Democratic primary candidate for U.S. Senate in West Virginia.

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MAGA Eating Itself Alive May 13, 2024

They’re suspicious of the 2020 election results, their donors, and each other. Now, the MAGA wing of the Michigan GOP is in control—and has kneecapped the state Republican party’s ability to fundraise, appoint leaders, and perform its most basic institutional functions.

Guest: Ben Mathis-Lilley, Slate senior writer

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.

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TBD | Would You Choose Your Child’s Sex? May 12, 2024

The ability to choose the sex of your child through IVF is banned in most of the world. In America, however, parents can—and do—for a price.

Guest: Emi Nietfeld, writer and software engineer, author of “The Parents Who Want Daughters—and Daughters Only” for Slate.

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TBD | Meet the Trump Campaign’s A.I. Guy May 10, 2024

You might not know Brad Parscale by name, but you know his work: he was the digital campaign operative behind Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential victory. This election cycle, he’s back—and advising conservatives on how to utilize A.I. in their campaigns.

Guest: Garance Burke, global investigative journalist for the Associated Press.

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Podcast production by Evan Campbell, Patrick Fort, Cheyna Roth and Anna Phillips.

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Stormy Daniels Takes the Stand May 09, 2024

Spare a thought for the judge in Donald Trump’s hush-money trial. Justice Juan Merchan has gone from holding the former president in contempt of court… to telling Trump’s defense they probably should have objected more during Stormy Daniels’ testimony.

Guest: Jeremy Stahl, Slate’s jurisprudence editor.

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Conservative Candid Camera in the Darién Gap May 08, 2024

Crossing the Darién Gap, a 66-mile stretch of jungle in Panama, was hard enough before right-wing influencers began showing up with cameras, trying to bait would-be migrants into providing pro-Trump soundbites.

Guest: Ken Bensinger, New York Times political reporter covering right-wing media and national campaigns.

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Hamas Agreed to a Ceasefire. Now What? May 07, 2024

In a last minute twist, Hamas has agreed to a ceasefire with Israel. But targeted airstrikes are already underway in Rafah. With its infrastructure in shambles, Gaza is facing famine – and worse. What’s next for Gaza’s people?

Guest: Gregg Carlstrom, Middle East correspondent for the Economist.

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Why Democrats Will Save Mike Johnson’s Job May 06, 2024

Marjorie Taylor Greene is calling for Mike Johnson’s job—again. But unlike Kevin McCarthy before him, Johnson has support from a surprising place.

Guest: Jim Newell, Slate’s senior politics writer.

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.

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TBD | Can California Save Journalism? May 05, 2024

The California Journalism Preservation Act would make companies like Google and Meta pay publishers for the news content appearing in their feeds and search results—and force news organizations to spend that money on their journalists. How have similar laws worked in Canada and Australia? And could it solve journalism’s on-going revenue problem?

Guest: Matt Pearce, former LA Times journalist, the president of Media Guild of the West.

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TBD | Bird Flu—It’s in Milk? May 03, 2024

Bird flu isn’t new, you may even remember past outbreaks. But showing up in milk?

Is America ready if it leaps to spreading among humans?

Guest: Katelyn Jetelina, epidemiologist, senior advisor to the CDC

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Columbia Cracks Down May 02, 2024

Professor Joe Howley has been working with student protesters for almost a year. When they occupied his building, he got texts from the kids—and nothing from the administration. Now that Columbia’s called the cops, and nearly 100 demonstrators have been arrested, what does that mean for the future of the institution—and for free speech on campus nationwide?

Guest: Joe Howley, associate professor in the Columbia University Classics Department

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Biden’s Climate Report Card May 01, 2024

It’s not that we aren’t making progress slowing our carbon and greenhouse gas emissions; it’s just that we still may not be doing enough—fast enough—to avert catastrophe.

Guest: Umair Irfan, correspondent at Vox writing about climate change, Covid-19, and energy policy.

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The Man Who Wrote the Trump Playbook—30 Years Ago. Apr 30, 2024

In the ‘90s, Pat Buchanan was a fringe figure among Republicans whose positions on immigration and demographic change in the United States were considered too extreme for the party. Now, his ideas are what passes for Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign platform.

Guest: Ari Berman, Mother Jones’ national voting rights correspondent and author of “Minority Rule.”

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The Jewish Case for Protest Apr 29, 2024

As some members of Congress call for crackdowns, how do college administrators ensure the safety of their entire student body – while also respecting its right to free speech?

Guest: Peter Beinart, Editor-at-Large at Jewish Currents and the author of “The Beinart Notebook” on Substack.

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.

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TBD | The Failures of ‘Organic’ Farming Apr 28, 2024

There are regulations regarding how farm animals are transported, how they’re auctioned, how they’re slaughtered—but when they’re living on the farm? That’s where things get cloudy.

Guest: Annie Lowrey, journalist writing on politics and economic policy for The Atlantic.

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Podcast production by Evan Campbell, Patrick Fort, and Anna Phillips.

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TBD | So ... Is TikTok Banned? Apr 26, 2024

The TikTok ban that has been floating around Washington since the last administration has been signed into law. What does that mean for users, creators and the court battles ahead?

Guest:

Louise Matsakis, reporter covering tech and China.

Dillon White, TikToker under the handle @dadchats

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How Trump Found His Lawyer Apr 25, 2024

Who is Todd Blanche, Donald Trump’s attorney in the hush-money trial, and how did he end up representing the former president?

Guest: Andrew Rice, features writer for New York Magazine. He’s also the author of The Year That Broke America.

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Columbia Calls the Cops Apr 24, 2024

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.

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Your Right to Protest? Not the Supreme Court’s Problem. Apr 23, 2024

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.

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What the WNBA Salary Debate Misses Apr 22, 2024

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.

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TBD | The Internet Archive Endangered Apr 21, 2024

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.

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TBD | What’s Driving Tesla’s Layoffs? Apr 19, 2024

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.

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Is It Too Late to Escape “Forever Chemicals”? Apr 18, 2024

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.

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.

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Will Abortion in Florida and Arizona Decide the Election? Apr 17, 2024

How will impending abortion restrictions in Florida and Arizona impact votes this fall?

Guests:

Anna Hochkammer, executive director of the Florida Women’s Freedom Coalition.

Grace Panetta, political reporter for The 19th.

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What Israel Does Now Apr 16, 2024

Over the weekend Iran fired flocks of missiles and drones towards Israel, but the damage was minimal. What role did Israel’s new network of regional allies play in tamping down the attack? —and how committed to war was Iran to begin with?

Guest: Graeme Wood, staff writer at The Atlantic.

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Trump In (Criminal) Court Apr 15, 2024

Donald Trump is appearing in court today as a criminal defendant. Why did this case take so long to go to trial, and what’s at stake for the former president?

Guest: Jeremy Stahl, jurisprudence editor at Slate.

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TBD | Is America Ready for Legal Psychedelics? Apr 14, 2024

How the semi-legalization of marijuana has drawn a road map for legalizing psychedelics—and also provided a list of pitfalls to be avoided.

Guest: Jane C. Hu, science journalist and author of the newsletter The Microdose.

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TBD | Does Google Suck Now? Apr 12, 2024

Why lately our search engines just don’t seem to deliver results.

Guest: Jason Koebler, cofounder of 404 Media and co-host of the 404 Media Podcast.

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The Judge Protecting Trump Apr 11, 2024

How Florida Judge Aileen Cannon is delaying Donald Trump’s trial over classified documents taken to Mar-a-Lago—and what special prosecutor Jack Smith can do to get things moving.

Guest: Lee Kovarsky, professor of law at University of Texas, co-director of the UT Capital Punishment Center

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How the Government Botched Financial Aid Apr 10, 2024

How did an attempt to simplify a tedious student-aid form turn into a full-on debacle that has some high school seniors wondering if they will have to delay starting college?

Guest: Danielle Douglas-Gabriel, national higher education reporter for the Washington Post.

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No Labels Is Out. But RFK Jr. Remains. Apr 09, 2024

2024 is down to two historically unpopular candidates. That may leave the door open for third-party candidates to make some noise. But Democrats have been burned before – and aren’t going down without a fight.

Guest: Dave Weigel, reporter for Semafor.

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How Young Is Too Young to Work? Apr 08, 2024

In response to a spike in child labor violations, some states are strengthening their laws against the practice—while 16 states have weakened laws against child labor. What’s going on?

Guest: Lauren Kaori Gurley, labor reporter for the Washington Post.

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TBD | America Needs More Power Apr 07, 2024

The demand for electricity is surging in the U.S. With increasing amounts of power going towards artificial intelligence, manufacturing and electric vehicles, can the grid keep up?

Guest: Evan Halper, business reporter covering the energy transition for the Washington Post

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TBD | Truth Social’s Rocky Week Apr 05, 2024

Donald Trump got a huge financial boost when Truth Social went public last week—or did he?

Guest: Nitish Pahwa, associate writer on business and tech for Slate.

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How Much Longer Can Netanyahu Hold On? Apr 04, 2024

Benjamin Netanyahu has been able to count on the support from Israel’s ultra-Orthodox parties. But as the IDF needs additional manpower to continue a two-front war, the military exemption that the ultra-Orthodox enjoy is coming under scrutiny, and could fracture Netanyahu’s hold on power.

Guest: Yair Rosenberg, staff writer for The Atlantic.

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How Gambling Took Over Sports Apr 03, 2024

Sports betting is now mostly legal, and, if you watch sports, its advertisements are inescapable. Now, a series of scandals has rocked the professional leagues. When everyone bets, odds are – someone will cross a line.

Guest: Jay Caspian Kang, staff writer for “The New Yorker” and author of The Loneliest Americans.

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How a Democrat Flipped a Seat in Alabama Apr 02, 2024

Democrat Marilyn Lands will be sworn in to the Alabama House of Representatives this week, having won a special election in the deep-red state by 25 points. How did Lands do it—and what can the national Democrats learn from her victory?

Guest: Marilyn Lands, Alabama lawmaker who won a special election for the state’s House of Representatives.

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The Group Behind Christian Conservatives’ Winning Streak Apr 01, 2024

The group that brought the case that overturned Roe v. Wade is back before the Supreme Court arguing for more restrictions on mifepristone, the “abortion pill.” Who are Alliance Defending Freedom, and what are their goals?

Guest: David Kirkpatrick, staff writer for The New Yorker.

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TBD | The Psychological Toll of Mars Mar 31, 2024

From science fiction writers to American presidents to Elon Musk, everyone’s eager to send people to Mars. But, even if you could nail the physical aspects, are Earthlings cut out for life on Mars mentally?

Guest: Nathaniel Rich, contributing writer for New York Times magazine.

Kate Greene, author and poet

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TBD | Can Boeing Pull Out of This Tailspin? Mar 29, 2024

How supply chains, the pandemic, and a steady stream of Wall Street money led to a crisis at Boeing.

Guest: Jon Ostrower, editor-in-chief of the website the Air Current.

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Nickelodeon’s Legacy of Abuse Mar 28, 2024

A new documentary, “Quiet On Set,” looks back at Nickelodeon’s heyday, and the culture of abuse that many of its child stars were subjected to.

Guest: Kate Taylor, reporter for Business Insider and producer of “Quiet on Set.”

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Will Islamophobia Sink This Judicial Nomination? Mar 27, 2024

Nominated by Biden for the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, Adeel Mangi has a Harvard education and years as a prominent corporate litigator under his belt. But during his Senate confirmation hearing, the main thing Republican lawmakers wanted to talk about were Hamas’s October 7th attacks. Now, Democrats are weighing filling a seat in the federal judiciary against giving in to Islamophobia.

Guest: Nate Raymond, reporter covering the federal judiciary and litigation for Reuters.

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Has Trump Run Out the Clock? Mar 26, 2024

With four criminal cases against him, including one that was scheduled to begin this week, Donald Trump and his legal team have successfully muddied the waters in all four trials. With solid odds of winning the presidential election in the fall, has Donald Trump managed to once again wriggle his way out of this one?

Guest: Jeremy Stahl, Slate’s jurisprudence editor.

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Madeline Ducharme, Anna Phillips, Paige Osburn, and Rob Gunther.

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After the Moscow Concert Attack Mar 25, 2024

A concert outside of Moscow was interrupted by gunshot and a fire. Though ISIS claimed responsibility within hours, Putin isn’t letting this crisis go to waste.

Guest: Shane Harris, senior national security writer for the Washington Post.

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TBD | The Next Round of the Union Fight Mar 24, 2024

After organized-labor victories at Amazon, with automakers, and in Hollywood, big corporations are striking back by, among other things, suing the National Labor Relations Board.

Guest: Noam Scheiber, reporter for the New York Times covering working and workers.

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TBD | Reddit’s IPO Gamble Mar 22, 2024

Despite the blackouts, moderator revolts, and long string of controversies, Reddit remains an active, healthy website. As the site goes public this week, can it remain that way?

Guest: Priya Anand, Bloomberg News tech reporter.

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How Anti-Abortion Laws Trap Domestic Abuse Survivors Mar 21, 2024

Experts say domestic violence tends to start or intensify during pregnancy. But since the overturn of Roe v. Wade, terminating a pregnancy—or even advising or helping someone to terminate a pregnancy—has been criminalized in several states which can leave survivors of domestic violence unable to separate from an abusive partner.

Guest: Julianne McShane, writer at Mother Jones covering the intersection of gender and inequity.

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Why We Still Don’t Have a Cease-Fire Mar 20, 2024

When even Israel’s American allies like Biden and Chuck Schumer seem to be growing impatient waiting for a ceasefire in Gaza, what is standing in the way?

Guest: Fred Kaplan, Slate writer and author of The Bomb: Presidents, Generals, and the Secret History of Nuclear War.

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Madeline Ducharme, Anna Phillips, Paige Osburn, and Rob Gunther.

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The Trump Veepstakes Is On Mar 19, 2024

It’s hard to imagine anyone changing their opinion on Trump based on a new running mate. But there’s more at stake with this pick than just the 2024 election.

Guest: Benjy Sarlin, Washington Bureau Chief at Semafor

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Haiti’s Power Vacuum Mar 18, 2024

With gangs controlling much of the capital and the prime minister out of office, what is Haiti’s path to stability? What role should the international community play?

Guest: Harold Isaac, independent journalist in Haiti.

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Madeline Ducharme, Anna Phillips, Paige Osburn, and Rob Gunther.

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TBD | When Private Equity Gets in to Health Care Mar 17, 2024

Private equity firms have been buying up doctors’ offices and hospitals around the country. But if profits are the primary goal, what happens to the cost and quality of healthcare for patients?

Guest: Gretchen Morgenson, senior financial reporter for the NBC News Investigative Unit and co-author of “These Are the Plunderers: How Private Equity Runs—and Wrecks—America”

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Podcast production by Evan Campbell, Patrick Fort, and Anna Phillips.

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TBD | Is TikTok Cooked This Time? Mar 15, 2024

TikTok’s connection to the Chinese government has been a Washington talking point since the Trump administration, but earlier this month lawmakers in the House introduced a bill requiring the app’s parent company to either divest the company into American hands—or be banned.

Guest: Emily Baker-White, technology reporter and senior writer at Forbes.

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Mexico Is Full Of American Guns. So the Country’s Suing. Mar 14, 2024

How Mexico’s $10 billion lawsuit against American gun manufacturers and distributors could pave the way for new gun control tactics in the U.S. and abroad.

Guest: Champe Barton, reporter for The Trace.

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Where is Kate Middleton? Mar 13, 2024

Kate Middleton’s on-going absence has the internet tied in knots, and the heavily edited photo that the royal family released—and then rescinded—only made things worse. What do we know about the Princess of Wales’s whereabouts?

Guest: Imogen West-Knights, contributing writer for Slate based in London.

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Biden's War on Junk Fees Mar 12, 2024

Extra charges and fees for everything from booking a hotel to buying concert tickets have become an insidious part of daily life. President Biden is hoping that by outlawing so-called “junk fees,” he can win some goodwill with voters before the election. Will it work?

Guest: David Dayen, Executive Editor of The American Prospect, author of Monopolized: Life in the Age of Corporate Power.

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Podcast production by Paige Osburn, Elena Schwartz, Rob Gunther, Madeline Ducharme, and Anna Phillips.

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He Quoted Hitler. Now, He Could Be Governor. Mar 11, 2024

On Super Tuesday, Lieutenant Governor Mark Robinson secured the Republican nomination for governor in North Carolina. His history of anti-semitic, misogynistic, and outright absurd comments wasn’t a problem for MAGA supporters in the state—and it certainly wasn’t a problem for the national Grand Old Party either.

Guest: Jeffrey Billman, politics and law reporter at The Assembly.

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.

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TBD | Instagram’s Pedophile Problem Mar 10, 2024

As the debate around child safety online rages on, an investigation by The New York Times found a seedy world of pedophiles interacting with child influencer accounts, often run by their parents, on Instagram.

Guest: Jennifer Valentino-DeVries, investigative reporter at the New York Times.

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TBD | Why TikTok Went Silent Mar 08, 2024

Thousands of songs have disappeared from TikTok in recent months as music giant Universal Music Group, or UMG, has pulled its catalog from the app. UMG claims that TikTok is a music platform, and that TikTok needs to pay more to license its music. TikTok claims they're a marketing platform that helps labels promote their artists. But while the two sides argue over contract negotiations for licensing music on the video platform, many artists are left scrambling.

Guest: Ethan Millman, staff writer at Rolling Stone covering the music industry.

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Rep Jayapal Says the Biden Coalition is 'Fractured' Mar 07, 2024

With Biden trailing Trump in the polls and thousands of Democrats casting votes for “uncommitted” in the primaries, can the president make his case for a second term to frustrated progressives at the State of the Union?

Guest: Pramila Jayapal, U.S. representative from Washington's 7th congressional district and the chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

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Can Gaza Survive on Airdropped Aid? Mar 06, 2024

Airdropping aid, food, and supplies is expensive, inexact, and inefficient and usually only a last resort when your enemies have left you no other options. So why is the United States airdropping aid into Gaza, when the borders are controlled by America’s ally, Israel?

Guest: Jane Arraf, reporter for NPR based in the Middle East.

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Why Adam Schiff Is Running Ads for a Republican Mar 05, 2024

Nancy Pelosi is no longer in charge of the House Democrats, and Dianne Feinstein’s Senate seat is now up for grabs. Will a new generation of progressives step up in deep blue California? It’s not so simple…

Guest: Alexander Sammon, Slate politics writer.

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Florida's Anti-Vaxxers Won. Then the Measles Surged. Mar 04, 2024

Measles happens, but this outbreak in Florida is unfolding in a post-pandemic world where mistrust in public health officials and vaccinations is practically the party line.

Guest: Lauren Weber, Washington Post accountability reporter focused on scientific and medical disinformation.

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TBD | Google’s Scam Obituary Problem Mar 03, 2024

Why scam obituaries are edging out earnest ones, with the help of artificial intelligence and an adept Google game.

Guest: Mia Sato, reporter for The Verge.

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TBD | The Supreme Court Takes on Content Moderation Mar 01, 2024

Is it censorship for social media platforms to moderate their content, or is censorship when the state tells social media platforms how to moderate their content?

Guest: Mark Joseph Stern, Slate writer on courts and the law.

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TBD | The Supreme Court Takes on Content Moderation Mar 01, 2024

Is it censorship for social media platforms to moderate their content, or is censorship when the state tells social media platforms how to moderate their content?

Guest: Mark Joseph Stern, Slate writer on courts and the law.

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Biden’s Commitment Problem Feb 29, 2024

With Biden losing thousands of votes to “uncommitted” and Trump unable to pull incumbent numbers, the Michigan primaries seemed to show that the electorate isn’t exactly enthusiastic about either candidate. What options remain for two known quantities to win votes?

Guest: David Faris, political science professor and Slate politics writer.

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Madeline Ducharme, Anna Phillips, Paige Osburn, and Rob Gunther.

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What Happened to Nex Benedict? Feb 28, 2024

Sixteen-year-old Nex Benedict died one day after being beaten in an Oklahoma high school bathroom. His death has drawn attention to the more-than 50 bills that have been introduced in the state legislature targeting queer and trans people.

Guest: Jo Yurcaba, reporter for NBC Out.

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War in Ukraine, Two Years In Feb 27, 2024

The situation for Ukraine is slipping from a stalemate to again losing territory to the Russian invasion. After two years of combat, will American and EU allies support the Ukrainian cause for as long as it takes?

Guest: Fred Kaplan, Slate’s war stories correspondent.

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Will Trump Take Over the RNC? Feb 26, 2024

Is RNC chairperson Ronna McDaniel to blame for Republicans’ poor fundraising and recent underperformance in elections?

Guest: Shelby Talcott, reporter covering Trump and national Republicans for Semafor.

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TBD | Alabama’s IVF Mess Feb 25, 2024

Fertility doctors and their patients trying to conceive via in vitro fertilization (IVF) were stopped in their tracks this week, as the Alabama Supreme Court declared that embryos have the same rights as people. The decision has left doctors wondering if they can be sued for carrying out standard IVF procedures, and experts worry the ruling could have ramifications for IVF around the country.

Guest: Dr. Elizabeth Constance, reproductive endocrinology and infertility specialist in Omaha, Nebraska.

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TBD | The Coasts are Sinking Feb 23, 2024

Studies have found that, in tiny increments, America’s East Coast is sinking into the ground thanks to climate change. Can a new approach to urban planning mitigate the effect?

Guest: Matt Simon, senior staff writer at Wired.

You can read Matt’s reporting here.

If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get benefits like zero ads on any Slate podcast, bonus episodes of shows like Slow Burn and Dear Prudence—and you’ll be supporting the work we do here on What Next TBD. Sign up now at slate.com/whatnextplus to help support our work.

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The Basketball Phenom Shaking Up the NCAA Feb 22, 2024

Iowa’s Caitlin Clark has scored more points than any other NCAA women’s basketball player in history, but her impact extends even further than her substantial range on the court.

Guest: Hayley McGoldrick, associate editor at Sportsnet.

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Why a Hi-Tech Gun Safety Tool Isn’t Working Feb 21, 2024

Shotspotter lost a huge contract and some face when Chicago opted out of its partnership with the gunfire-identification tech company.

Why can’t new policing tech seem to break the old patterns and problems?

Guest: Jim Daley, investigations editor at South Side Weekly

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Who’s Left to Help Migrants? Feb 20, 2024

The migrant crisis has come to Denver. With no federal help on the way and temperatures dropping well below freezing, a local church tries to pick up the slack.

Guest: Keith Reeser, pastor at Denver Friends Church in Colorado.

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Alexei Navalny Is Dead. Is His Movement Gone With Him? Feb 19, 2024

Alexei Navalny died last week at age 47 in the prison where he was serving a 19-year sentence for extremism. With just one month left before a presidential election in which Putin is nearly guaranteed to win, the pro-democracy opposition movement in Russia is more beleaguered than ever.

Guest: Joshua Yaffa, contributing writer at The New Yorker and the author of Between Two Fires: Truth, Ambition, and Compromise in Putin’s Russia.

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.

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TBD | Apple Vision Pro: The Ultimate Surveillance Device? Feb 18, 2024

Apple Vision Pro goggles might be a crime against fashion but with the amount of data they can collect—both on the world around the user and on the users themselves—they have the potential to invade privacy right down to where you’re looking and for how long.

Guest: Geoffrey Fowler, Washington Post tech columnist

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TBD | Warfare Enters the A.I. Era Feb 16, 2024

The war in Ukraine reordered the priorities of the country’s growing tech sector, and has become a place for foreign companies to test out new tools with less regulation or scrutiny.

Guests: Vera Bergengruen, senior correspondent at Time

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The Attack on Rafah Feb 15, 2024

Israeli Defense Forces have extended their campaign to Rafah, the southern-most city in Gaza, and where many Gazans have been gathering to escape the war.

Guest: Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, Middle East political analyst, founder and executive director of Project Unified Assistance

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The American Oligarch Class Feb 14, 2024

How did America end up back in a Gilded Age of incredible wealth disparity, and how did a new generation of oligarchs bend society to their vision?

Guest: Tim Murphy, senior reporter for Mother Jones.

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The Fight for George Santos’s Seat Feb 13, 2024

The special election for George Santos’s vacated U.S. House seat has attracted tons of spending and a lot of attention—all to hold the position for less than a year. Who’s running, and what can this vote tell us about what to expect in November?

Guest: Mark Chiusano, writer, journalist, and author of The Fabulist: The Lying, Hustling, Grifting, Stealing, and Very American Legend of George Santos.

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Is Biden Too Old? Feb 12, 2024

The special prosecutor’s report into Biden’s classified documents case is out… and it says Joe Biden’s memory is too bad for a jury to convict him. Is the report a politically motivated hit job, or an honest assessment of one of the two very old men running for president?

Guest: Ben Mathis-Lilley, Slate senior writer.

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TBD | Breaking Up with Dating Apps Feb 11, 2024

For a while, it seemed like the only place to meet potential partners was through an app—Tinder, Hinge, Bumble, etc. But as the apps are trying to monetize their matchmaking—and some users now with a whole decade of striking out under their belts—old-fashioned meet-cutes-in-bars or, say, debutante balls look more and more appealing.

Guests:

Katherine Lindsay, culture writer and cofounder of Embedded

Rachael Stein, dating-app spelunker

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TBD | The NFL’s Concussion Settlement Farce Feb 09, 2024

The NFL's concussion settlement was meant to provide financial support and medical help for players who developed traumatic brain injuries from the sport. So why are so many players denied the help they need?

Guest: Will Hobson, sports reporter for the Washington Post.

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How Trump Gets Kicked off the Ballot Feb 08, 2024

The Supreme Court now has to decide if the 14th amendment’s provision to keep insurrectionists off the ballot applies to Donald Trump.

Guest: Jamelle Bouie, New York Times opinion columnist.

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A Mass Shooter’s Mom Found Guilty Feb 07, 2024

Yesterday, a jury found Jennifer Crumbley guilty of involuntary manslaughter for the mass-shooting carried out by her son Ethan at his high school in Oxford, Michigan.

How will this conviction change the way school shootings are prosecuted? Can future violence be prevented by holding the parents accountable?

Guest: Quinn Klinefelter, host and Senior News Editor for 101.9 WDET in Detroit.

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Inside a Gaza Hospital Feb 06, 2024

Pediatrician Dr. Seema Jilani’s work has taken her from Sudan to Afghanistan. Last month, she was in Gaza for two weeks, where she worked tending to the wounded in the besieged Al-Aqsa Hospital.

Guest: Dr. Seema Jilani, senior technical adviser at the International Rescue Committee

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The Media Is Missing the Trump Bump Feb 05, 2024

Donald Trump was, if nothing else, a boon for the news business. But this election cycle, even the “Trump bump” isn’t slowing the shrinking of the audience.

Guest: Max Tani, media reporter at Semafor.

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TBD | Streaming Is Cable Now Feb 04, 2024

The number of TV streaming services is going up—and so is the cost and so are the number of ads. Cordcutters are finding themselves back to cable prices and inconveniences. And these changes don’t just impact the TV viewing experience - they impact the types of shows that get made in the first place.

Guest: Alex Cranz, managing editor at the Verge.

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TBD | The Taylor Swift Deepfake Saga Feb 02, 2024

For all the promise of the technology, one use-case for artificial intelligence reared its ugly head last week: non-consensual pornographic images. As millions of users saw abusive A.I. generated images of Taylor Swift proliferate across X, the pitfalls of this technology became clear.

Guest: Emanuel Maiberg, journalist and co-founder of 404 Media

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Vince McMahon: Full-Time Heel Feb 01, 2024

Vince McMahon is walking away from professional wrestling, again. The WWE looks to continue without the man that built it into an institution—and shrouded it in scandal.

Guest: Dave Scherer, founder of the pro-wrestling news site, PWinsider.com.

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Has Trump Already Beaten Fani Willis? Jan 31, 2024

One of Donald Trump’s codefendants in the Georgia election subversion and racketeering case has filed a motion to dismiss his case due to an improper relationship between Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis and a prosecutor she has hired to work on the case. How can Willis address the allegations and what does it mean for the case?

Guest: Ankush Khardori, attorney and former federal prosecutor in the U.S. Justice Department.

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Madeline Ducharme, Anna Phillips, Paige Osburn, and Rob Gunther with help from Kathryn Fink.

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Inside America’s First Execution By Nitrogen Jan 30, 2024

With the execution of Kenneth Smith, Alabama became the first state to carry out the death penalty with nitrogen gas. According to Smith’s spiritual advisor, who witnessed the execution, this is not a “humane” future for capital punishment

Guest: Rev. Jeff Hood, pastor, theologian and activist living and working in Little Rock, Arkansas, and the Convener of Clergy United Against the Death Penalty

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Madeline Ducharme, Anna Phillips, Paige Osburn, and Rob Gunther with help from Kathryn Fink.

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Are Two States Still the Solution? Jan 29, 2024

Support for a “two-state solution” has been declining among both Israelis and Palestinians for years. If it’s time to give up on that plan, what’s the alternative?

Guest: Dov Waxman, professor of political science and the director of the UCLA Y&S Nazarian Center for Israel Studies.

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TBD | Why Is Everybody Sick? Jan 28, 2024

Are we still paying off our pandemic-induced “immunity debt,” or is there another reason that it feels like we’re all sniffling and coughing and just feeling sick?

Guest: Keren Landman, senior health reporter at Vox

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TBD | Are You Ready for the A.I. Election? Jan 26, 2024

In the days leading up to the New Hampshire primary, voters received a robocall purportedly from Joe Biden. Authorities have now determined the call was likely A.I.-generated.

In the era of A.I., how can voters tell what’s real and what’s not? And will the general election be thrown into chaos by artificial intelligence-created disinformation?

Guest: Makena Kelly, senior writer at Wired covering politics and technology

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Podcast production by Evan Campbell, Paige Osburn and Anna Phillips.

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Biden Needs Abortion Jan 25, 2024

Since the overturn of Roe v. Wade, Democrats have found wins after standing up for abortion. But can they ride this issue to a second Biden term, when the administration isn’t offering a clear plan for reproductive rights—and Joe Biden has a history of ambivalence about the issue?

Guest: Grace Panetta, political reporter at The 19th News.

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Trump’s Courtroom Campaign Jan 24, 2024

How has Donald Trump managed to turn multiple indictments into a nigh unassailable lead in the Republican primary—and what looks like a dead heat for the general election?

Guest: Isaac Arnsdorf, national political reporter for The Washington Post covering former-president Trump.

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Are We at War in the Middle East? Jan 23, 2024

Ships are avoiding the Suez Canal at great expense; Iran has launched attacks in Iraq and Pakistan; Israel is exchanging fire with Hezbollah as well as Hamas—has the regional conflict that leaders were worried about already begun?

Guest: Josh Keating, senior correspondent at Vox covering foreign policy and world news with a focus on the future of international conflict.

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The Fall of Ron DeSantis Jan 22, 2024

Once, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis was Trump’s biggest rival. Now, his campaign is over – and Trump seems to be sailing to the Republican presidential nomination. How did DeSantis squander his lead? And if Trump’s nomination is preordained – what does that mean for the general election?

Guest: Ben Mathis-Lilley, Slate senior writer

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TBD | Have Algorithms Ruined Our Culture? Jan 21, 2024

How much of our lives—our tastes, preferences and choices—have been fed to us through an interlocking, impersonal network of algorithms?

Guest: Kyle Chayka, staff writer at the New Yorker and author of Filterworld: How Algorithms Flattened Culture.

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TBD | The Great British Library Hack Jan 19, 2024

When a cyberattack knocked the British Library out of commission in October of last year, a nation's researchers, scholars, students, and bookworms were left high and dry. Months later, the library is starting to come back online in limited capacity, but the attack has laid bare just how fragile our digital systems are.

Guest: Sam Knight, staff writer at the New Yorker

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And God Gave Us Trump Jan 18, 2024

How American white evangelical Christianity has reshaped itself in the image of Donald Trump.

Guest: Rev. Angela Denker, Lutheran pastor and author of Red State Christians: A Journey into White Christian Nationalism and the Wreckage It Leaves Behind

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Is Israel Committing Genocide? Jan 17, 2024

South Africa has accused Israel of committing genocide before the International Court of Justice and is asking the United Nations to intervene and order the Israeli government to cease military operations in Gaza. The ICJ now must decide how to characterize an increasingly bloody campaign.

Guest: Adil Haque, professor of international law at Rutgers University and author of Law and Morality at War.

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Trump Just Won Iowa. Where’s Biden? Jan 16, 2024

Biden’s poll numbers have been bad pretty much his whole presidency, but going into an election year, he looks especially weak where his party is usually strongest: young voters, Black voters, and Latino voters. What messaging unlocks some—any—enthusiasm for voting for Joe Biden again?

Guest: Alexander Sammon, politics writer for Slate.

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One Year: 1990: Mandrake the Magician Jan 15, 2024

It’s a holiday weekend, so the What Next team is taking a little break from the news, and dropping you one of our favorite other Slate podcasts. This time around, we’re listening to One Year: 1990. We'll be back in your feed tomorrow.

A middle-aged single dad in Chicago was outraged by all the cigarette billboards popping up in Black communities. In 1990, he picked up a paint roller and became an anti-tobacco vigilante. And he did it all under a secret identity.

This episode was written by Josh Levin, One Year’s editorial director. One Year’s senior producer is Evan Chung.

This episode was produced by Kelly Jones, Olivia Briley, and Evan Chung. It was edited by Joel Meyer and Derek John, Slate’s executive producer of narrative podcasts.

Merritt Jacob is our senior technical director. We had mixing help from Kevin Bendis.

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TBD | Is Your Car Tracking You? Jan 14, 2024

Covered in cameras, full of microphones, and always eager to use location data, our vehicles are “smartphones on wheels”—and privacy nightmares.

Guest: Kashmir Hill, technology and privacy reporter for the New York Times.

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TBD | Boeing’s Max Mess Jan 12, 2024

Shortly after take off from Portland, OR, the plug exit on a Boeing 737 Max 9 jet blew out – causing an uncontrolled decompression of the plane. Now, accident investigators are hard at work, trying to determine what happened in what's the latest catastrophe for the respected commercial airplane provider.

Guest: Jon Ostrower, Editor-in-chief of The Air Current

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2024’s Primary Season is Already Chaos Jan 11, 2024

Primaries competing with caucuses; states going rogue; and parties totally out of sync with each other — the 2024 primary season has everything.

Guest: Ari Berman, voting-rights reporter for Mother Jones and author of “Give Us the Ballot: The Modern Struggle for Voting Rights in America.”

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The NRA’s Wayne’s World Era is Over Jan 10, 2024

Long-time CEO Wayne LaPierre is out and legal challenges and lawsuits are mounting—but does that mean the NRA is losing its influence over American politics?

Guest: Dr. Matthew Lacombe, the Alexander P. Lamis Associate Professor in American Politics at Case Western Reserve University, author of Firepower: How the NRA Turned Gun Owners into a Political Force

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The Anti-Defamation League at War Jan 09, 2024

How the ADL’s commitment to the state of Israel threatens and undermines its ability to fight antisemitism at home.

Guest: Mari Cohen, associate editor at Jewish Currents

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GOP Bets It All on the Border Jan 08, 2024

With not one but two spending cliffs on the near horizon—not to mention wars abroad and a crisis at the border—can one of the all-time least productive Congresses get anything done this session?

Guest: Marianna Sotomayor, congressional reporter for The Washington Post

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TBD | Tesla's Cybertruck Problem Jan 07, 2024

What the Cybertruck says about safety, regulation, and the degree to which Tesla is beholden to the whims of Elon Musk.

Guest: Edward Niedermeyer, author of Ludicrous: The Unvarnished Story of Tesla Motors

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TBD | Why the New York Times Sued OpenAI Jan 05, 2024

If A.I. and chatbots are the next wave of innovation, then the New York Times and other media organizations are determined to get paid this time.

Guest: Megan Morrone, a tech editor at Axios

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22 States Hiked the Minimum Wage. Now What? Jan 04, 2024

The federally mandated minimum wage hasn’t gone up since 2009, but across the country states, counties, and cities are raising their minimum wage. Is this long overdue help for America’s poor, or merely a low-risk political win?

Guest: David Neumark, labor economist and professor at University of California-Irvine

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How Ukraine Loses The War Jan 03, 2024

How much longer can Ukraine and Russia fight at a stalemate? And does the outcome of the war depend on Biden winning a second term?

Guest: Fred Kaplan, Slate’s “War Stories” correspondent and author of The Bomb.

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The Murder of Wadee Alfayoumi Jan 02, 2024

On Oct. 14, 2023, Wadee Alfayoumi, a six-year-old Arab-American boy, was stabbed to death by his landlord, Joseph Czuba. Months later, his parents are struggling to make sense of it.

Guest: Aymann Ismail, Slate staff writer.

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The Renewable Energy Shell Game Jan 01, 2024

Buying “renewable energy certificates” is a way for companies to claim to reach their renewable energy goals—instead of, say, putting solar panels on their roof. One of the most enthusiastic consumers of RECs is the federal government. But is this ostensibly environmentally-friendly system actually standing in the way of true sustainability?

Guest: Najib Aminy, producer for Reveal.

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TBD | Who’s Afraid of A.I.? | 2023 In Review Dec 31, 2023

While the What Next: TBD team spends some time with their families during the holidays, we revisit some of 2023’s biggest, strangest, and best stories. Regularly scheduled programming resumes in January.

Artificial intelligence—as it already exists today—is drawing from huge troves of surveillance data and is rife with the biases built into the algorithm, in service of the huge corporations that develop and maintain the systems. The fight for the future doesn’t look like war with Skynet; it’s happening right now on the lines of the Writer’s Guild strike.

Guests:

Meredith Whittaker, president of the Signal Foundation, co-founder of the AI Now Institute at NYU

Originally aired May 12th, 2023

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TBD | America’s Killer Car Problem | 2023 In Review Dec 29, 2023

While the What Next: TBD team spends some time with their families during the holidays, we revisit some of 2023’s biggest, strangest, and best stories. Regularly scheduled programming resumes in January.

Pedestrian deaths in America have been rising for the last decade, while dropping in Europe and Japan. What makes the U.S. so dangerous for pedestrians?

Guest: Jessie Singer, author of There Are No Accidents: The Deadly Rise of Injury and Disaster―Who Profits and Who Pays the Price.

Originally aired July 16th, 2023.

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Does Steven Spielberg Have an Oscars Curse? | 2023 In Review Dec 28, 2023

While the What Next team spends some time with their families this week, we revisit some of 2023’s biggest, strangest, and best stories. Regularly scheduled programming resumes Jan. 2.

For all of his success, Steven Spielberg has a spotty record at the Oscars. He’s been nominated 22 times, but he’s only won three. Is it a curse?

This Sunday could mark a shift for the King of Hollywood’s five decades in the industry. And with The Fabelmans this year, it’s personal.

Guest: Michael Schulman, New Yorker staff writer and the author of Oscar Wars: A History of Hollywood in Gold, Sweat, and Tears.

Originally aired on March 9.

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Congress Wants to Know: Do Aliens Exist? | 2023 In Review Dec 27, 2023

While the What Next team spends some time with their families this week, we revisit some of 2023’s biggest, strangest, and best stories. Regularly scheduled programming resumes Jan. 2.

In a recent public hearing, three government officials told Congress that not only are “unidentified anomalous phenomena” real, they’re a major national security concern. But one witness took his testimony even further, claiming the government possesses materials of “non-human origin.” How much do we really know about UAPs – or, as they’re more commonly known, UFOs? And now that Congress is involved, are we about to learn a whole lot more?

Guest: Garrett Graff, contributor at WIRED magazine; author of the forthcoming book, “UFO: The Inside Story of the US Government's Search for Alien Life Here—and Out There”

Originally aired July 7.

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Wait, China’s Taking Our Pandas Back? | 2023 In Review Dec 26, 2023

While the What Next team spends some time with their families this week, we revisit some of 2023’s biggest, strangest, and best stories. Regularly scheduled programming resumes Jan. 2.

Everybody loves pandas—and China knows it. As we say goodbye to the National Zoo’s pandas, we look back at 50 years of “panda diplomacy” and consider its uncertain future.

Guest: E. Elena Songster, author of Panda Nation: The Construction and Conservation of China’s Modern Iconand professor of environmental history of modern China at St. Mary’s College of California.

Originally aired Sept. 27.

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The Plot Against Pope Francis | 2023 In Review Dec 25, 2023

While the What Next team spends some time with their families this week, we revisit some of 2023’s biggest, strangest, and best stories. Regularly scheduled programming resumes Jan. 2.

Not all of the Cardinals who elected Pope Francis are pleased with the changes he’s made, or his vision for where the Catholic Church goes next. Both the 86-year-old Francis and his detractors are preparing for his successor. Who’ll prevail?

Guest: David Gibson, Director of Fordham's Center on Religion & Culture

Originally aired Feb. 2.

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Carmel Delshad, and Madeline Ducharme, with help from Anna Phillips, Jared Downing, and Laura Spencer.

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TBD | Stephen King Is Just as Confused About Blue Checks as You Are | 2023 In Review Dec 24, 2023

While the What Next: TBD team spends some time with their families during the holidays, we revisit some of 2023’s biggest, strangest, and best stories. Regularly scheduled programming resumes in January.

Twitter’s “blue check” verification went from something you applied for, to something you could pay for, to something you had to pay for…to something that many celebrities wouldn’t even accept for free. Master of horror Stephen King told us he wouldn’t pay for a blue check, but he’s not going to fight it either—he just doesn’t really understand what’s going on. Does anyone at Twitter understand?

Guests:

Alex Heath, deputy editor of The Verge

Jon Favreau, co-founder of Crooked Media, speechwriter for President Barack Obama

Stephen King, author

Originally aired April 28th, 2023.

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FT News Briefing: Markets, Elections, and A.I. in 2024 Dec 23, 2023

From our friends at Financial Times's FT News Briefing:

The FT’s Peter Spiegel, Katie Martin and Elaine Moore preview what could happen in geopolitics, markets and artificial intelligence in 2024.

Listen to the FT News Briefing podcast every Monday through Friday here:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ft-news-briefing/id1438449989

The FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson, Kasia Broussalian and Marc Filippino. Additional help by Sam Giovinco, Peter Barber, Michael Lello, David da Silva and Gavin Kallmann. Our engineer is Monica Lopez. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. The show’s theme song is by Metaphor Music.

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TBD | Can Hybrid Cars Save Us? Dec 22, 2023

Without infrastructure to support all-electric vehicles, consumers have increasingly embraced the hybrid. The lower emissions are good—but are they slowing down our transition into an electric future?

Guest: Patrick George, editor-in-chief of InsideEVs.com, contributor to The Atlantic and The Verge.

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Marvel’s Disastrous Year Dec 21, 2023

After his character, Kang the Conqueror, was set up to be the big villain of the next phase of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Jonathan Majors was dismissed from the franchise after being found guilty of reckless assault and harassment.

Guest: Michael Schulman, staff writer for the New Yorker.

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Madeline Ducharme, Anna Phillips, Paige Osburn, and Rob Gunther.

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When a Miscarriage Becomes a Crime Dec 20, 2023

In September, Brittany Watts had a miscarriage at her home in Ohio. Prosecutors are now charging her with “abuse of a corpse,” a felony that could result in up to a year in prison.

When does a miscarriage become a felony? And could the anti-abortion movement be using this case as a step towards achieving “fetal personhood”?

Guest: Mary Ziegler, law professor at UC Davis and author of Roe: The History of a National Obsession.

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Oh the Humanities! Dec 19, 2023

West Virginia University is wrapping up its first semester following dramatic cuts to undergraduate and graduate programs. Its president calls the “restructuring” an effort to better focus on majors like medicine, nursing, and business – degrees that will lead directly to lucrative jobs. But what is a degree really for? And how do you decide when a diploma is “worth it?”

Guest: Michael Powell, staff writer at The Atlantic.

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Where Do Returned Gifts Go? Dec 18, 2023

“Easy returns” are an essential part of the online shopping experience. But 20-30 percent of online purchases get sent “back,” which is to say, they then enter the labyrinth of third-party return facilities, destined for re-evaluation, restocking—or possibly, the garbage.

Guest: Amanda Mull, staff writer at The Atlantic.

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TBD | The Case Against CLEAR Dec 17, 2023

Going through airport security is a legal requirement. Is it fair for a private company to interject itself in that process—and cut to the front of the line?

Guest: David Zipper, visiting Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School, focused on mobility, cities and technology.

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TBD | Shein’s Newest Offering? An IPO Dec 15, 2023

Fast-fashion titan Shein is preparing for its initial public offering, even as questions of sustainability and labor practices linger.

Guest: Jordyn Holman, business reporter covering the retail industry and consumerism for The New York Times

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What Texas Abortion Laws Leave Unsaid Dec 14, 2023

Kate Cox’s fight to abort her pregnancy and save her fertility in Texas says a lot about America’s post-Roe, fractured approach to reproductive rights.

Guest: Selena Simmons-Duffin, health policy correspondent at NPR.

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Some Israeli Hostages Came Home. His Son Didn't. Dec 13, 2023

Over 100 hostages being held by Hamas were released during the temporary ceasefire last month. But Sagui Dekel-Chen, a resident of Kibbutz Nir Oz, was not among them. With Gaza under bombardment again, all his father can do is plead with the Israeli government, and wait.

Guest: Jonathan Dekel-Chen, professor at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, father of Sagui Dekel-Chen, who is presumed to be one of the hostages held by Hamas.

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Pilots' Hidden Mental Health Crisis Dec 12, 2023

For pilots facing mental health problems of almost any kind, the cost of getting help might be too much to bear. After a crisis on an Alaska Airlines flight, the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration are examining how to make the skies safer, while allowing pilots to get help.

Guest: Pete Muntean, pilot, flight instructor and CNN correspondent covering aviation and transportation.

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War in Gaza; Violence in the West Bank Dec 11, 2023

As war rages in Gaza, the Biden administration has begun imposing visa bans on people involved in violence in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, where assaults by Israeli settlers against Palestinians have been on the rise since October 7.

Guest: Dalia Hatuqa, multimedia journalist living in Ramallah, specializing in Israeli-Palestinian affairs.

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TBD | Musk's War on Free Speech Dec 10, 2023

Elon Musk is suing Media Matters for reporting that advertisers’ content was showing up right next to posts from newly reinstated Nazis on X, something X’s CEO said was impossible. Media Matters is based in D.C, and X is headquartered in California - so why did Musk choose to file the suit in Texas?

Guest: Liz Dye, columnist at Above the Law, Substacks as Law and Chaos Pod, co-hosts the podcast Opening Arguments.

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TBD | Spotify Unwrapped Dec 08, 2023

Is Spotify’s 2023—ending with layoffs and cancelling critically acclaimed original podcasts—a sign of trouble at the streaming giant, or an adjustment to expectations that’s setting them up for a brighter future?

Guest: Ashley Carman, Bloomberg reporter who covers Spotfiy

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Pickleball vs. Everybody Dec 07, 2023

Pickleball’s exploding popularity isn’t an organic grassroots rise. According to a reporter’s intrepid Freedom of Information Act inquiries, enthusiastic pickleball ambassadors are employing the “USA Pickleball tool kit” and harrying local park departments to elbow out their tennis-and-basketball-playing neighbors.

Guest: Jason Koebler, cofounder of 404 Media and host of the 404 Media Podcast, former editor-in-chief of Motherboard.

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The Supreme Court Takes On Opioids Dec 06, 2023

The Sacklers were set to pay $6 billion in exchange for immunity from any future lawsuits over their role in the opioid crisis. But the Supreme Court will now decide whether bankruptcy law can be wielded in this manner to protect the very wealthy—and trump the very-American right to sue for damages.

Guest: Brian Mann, reporter on addiction at NPR.

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Nikki Haley’s Surge to Second Dec 05, 2023

Last week, former UN ambassador and South Carolina governor Nikki Haley scored a coveted endorsement from Charles Koch’s political advocacy group. She’s passed Ron DeSantis in the polls—and now, she’s the top, non-Trump Republican candidate for president. But is there any hope of winning over Trump voters—or is this a race to be the candidate who steps in if the former president goes to jail?

Guest: Alexandra Ulmer, reporter at Reuters covering the 2024 U.S. presidential race, with a focus on Republicans, donors and AI.

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Madeline Ducharme, Anna Phillips, Paige Osburn, and Rob Gunther.

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Is Amazon Too Big To Regulate? Dec 04, 2023

Jeff Bezos said Amazon will be “Earth’s safest place to work.” But state and federal investigators are looking into the online retailer’s rates of on-the-job injuries. Is working in an Amazon warehouse inherently unsafe, or is the number of accidents unavoidable for the US’s second largest employer, as the company contends? Given OSHA’s limited powers, does the government have any options other than taking their word for it?

Guest: Caroline O'Donovan, Washington Post reporter covering Amazon

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TBD | They See You When You’re Shopping Dec 03, 2023

Though navigating the internet involves spraying your data pretty indiscriminately, you actually have more control over it than you think—it’s just a pain to rein it in.

Guest: Geoffrey Fowler, Washington Post tech columnist.

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TBD | A Moral War for A.I. Dec 01, 2023

Artificial intelligence seems predestined to become a bigger part of our lives. To what extent is the A.I. push being led by Sam Altman and the OpenAI team a cause for concern?

Guest: Karen Hao, journalist, data scientist and contributing writer for the Atlantic.

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Eric Adams May Not Get Out of This One Nov 30, 2023

Eric Adams’ political career has been heavy on soundbites and low-simmering scandals. But now, as mayor of New York, he might have finally risen far enough to fall.

Guest: David Freedlander, New York Magazine contributor and the author of The AOC Generation: How Millennials Are Seizing Power and Rewriting the Rules of American Politics.

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Mental Health Treatment—by Court Order Nov 29, 2023

California’s new “CARE courts” are designed to help people struggling with psychotic disorders to get the help they need. But is having judges mandate treatment a step in the right direction?

Guest: April Dembosky, health correspondent for KQED.

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The Cops Don’t Want You Listening In Nov 28, 2023

Citing the risks from criminals listening in and pranksters interfering in their channels, the NYPD is the latest and biggest police department moving to encrypt their radio communications. But what about the reporters who rely on the police scanner—and the public who rely on those reporters?

Guests:

Todd Maisel, contributing editor at AMNewYork and photojournalist

Adam Scott Wandt, associate professor of public policy at John Jay College of Criminal Justice.

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What Comes After the Ceasefire? Nov 27, 2023

A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas began this weekend in Gaza, as hostages and prisoners were freed by both sides. But any end to the immediate conflict still remains in doubt.

Guest: Peter Beinart, professor of journalism and political science at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at the City University of New York, editor-at-large at Jewish Currents, and author of The Beinart Notebook on Substack.

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.

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The Race (Back) to the Moon Nov 26, 2023

The first steps on the moon were in the name of “all mankind.” But with more countries—and the private sector—competing to not only return, but to tap into the moon’s resources, we’re going to need some ground rules.

Guest: Chris Davenport reports on NASA and the space industry at the Washington Post.

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TBD | Where Scams Are Born Nov 24, 2023

An app for open money laundering, a corridor of massive casinos in the middle of nowhere, and the global scamdemic.

Guest: Cezary Podkul, reporter for ProPublica

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Decoder Ring: The Forgotten Video Game About Slavery Nov 23, 2023

While the What Next team celebrates the holiday, enjoy this episode from our colleagues at Decoder Ring.

In 1992, a Minnesota-based software company known for its educational hit The Oregon Trail released another simulation-style game to school districts across the country. Freedom! took kids on a journey along the Underground Railroad, becoming the first American software program to use slavery as its subject matter.

Less than four months later, it was pulled from the market. In this episode, we revisit this well-intentioned, but flawed foray into historical trauma that serves as a reminder that teaching Black history in America has always been fraught.

This episode was written by Willa Paskin. Decoder Ring is produced by Willa Paskin and Katie Shepherd. This episode was also produced by Benjamin Frisch, and edited by Erica Morrison. Derek John is executive producer. Joel Meyer is senior editor-producer and Merritt Jacob is senior technical director.

We’re grateful to Julian Lucas for his expertise, reporting, and generosity, without which this episode would not have been possible. His New Yorker article, “Can Slavery Reenactments Set Us Free?,” revisits the Freedom! story as part of an exploration of the live Underground Railroad re-enactments that Kamau Kambui pioneered.

Thank you to Jesse Fuchs for suggesting this topic. Thanks also to Coventry Cowens, Brigitte Fielder, Bob Whitaker, Alan Whisman, Wayne Studer, Alicia Montgomery, Rebecca Onion, Luke Winkie, and Kamau Kambui’s children: Yamro Kambui Fields, Halim Fields, Mawusi Kambui Pierre, Nanyamka Salley, and Kamau Sababu Kambui Jr.

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How Israel-Hamas Has Divided Democrats Nov 22, 2023

The war in Gaza has laid bare some deep fault lines within the Democratic party when it comes to Israel policy. How might that impact next year’s elections?

Guest: Alex Sammon, Slate politics writer.

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TBD | Inside OpenAI's Implosion Nov 21, 2023

OpenAI was the hottest startup in Silicon Valley off the success of ChatGPT. Then, the board fired Sam Altman.

Guest: Mike Isaac, technology reporter at the New York Times.

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Moms for Liberty Tanked at the Polls. This Guy Called It. Nov 20, 2023

Over the past few years, ultra-conservative activists took aim at school boards, trying to shape curriculums to match their beliefs. But this year, from Pennsylvania to Iowa, “parental rights candidates” lost handily. What happened?

Guest: Adam Laats, Professor of Education and History at Binghamton University.

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TBD | Bedbugs Are Back, Baby! Nov 19, 2023

The bedbug break-out during Paris fashion week this fall was obviously horrifying, but the bad news doesn’t stop there. Bedbugs are on the rise—and on the move.

Guest: Benji Jones, senior environmental reporter at Vox.

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TBD | How Deepfake Porn Infected a School Nov 17, 2023

Girls at a New Jersey high school were early victims of a novel and growing problem: their images were taken from social media without consent to create “deep-fake pornography.”

Guest: Julie Jargon, Wall Street Journal family and tech columnist.

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What If Gaza Boils Over? Nov 16, 2023

As Palestinian allies like Hezbollah and Iran voice their support, is there a danger of more countries being pulled into the war in Gaza?

Guest: Gregory Gause, head of the Department of International Affairs at the Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University, specialist in Middle East politics.

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Trump’s Second Term Nov 15, 2023

If you want to imagine what Donald Trump’s second presidential term would look like, look at what he left unfinished from his first—and listen to his long list of personal grievances.

Guest: Susan Glasser, staff writer at The New Yorker, co-author of The Divider, a history of Donald Trump in the White House.

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How the Israel-Gaza War Rages in America Nov 14, 2023

A Jewish writer and Muslim journalist sit down to discuss the power dynamics, tribalism, and role of empathy in a far-away conflict that hits close to home in America.

Guests:

Aymann Ismail, Slate staff writer

Emily Tamkin, writer and author of The Influence of Soros and Bad Jews.

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The Rise of a Red State Democrat Nov 13, 2023

Andy Beshear, Kentucky’s Democratic governor, maintained a Biden-like moderate image and rode it to victory in this year’s election. His state knows him best as the “infrastructure governor”—but his support for abortion rights might be the biggest takeaway for other Democrats staring down challenging 2024 races.

Guest: John Nichols, national affairs correspondent for The Nation.

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TBD | Will A.I. Take My Job? Nov 12, 2023

Employees at Reviewed were surprised when they saw mysterious bylines behind poorly worded articles on the site. But information on their new contributors was hard to find—were they people at all, or was this the first clumsy incursion of A.I. into their newsroom?

Guest: Will Sommer, Washington Post media reporter

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TBD | Tesla vs. the Swedes Nov 10, 2023

In late October, Tesla mechanics in Sweden began to strike after the company refused to sign a collective agreement. This week, the country's other major unions joined in the fight as well.

Can Sweden’s robust labor culture force Tesla to make concessions?

Guest: Melissa Eddy, Berlin correspondent for the New York Times.

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The Real Goal of Trump's Indignant Testimony Nov 09, 2023

When Donald Trump took the stand in his civil trial in New York this week, maybe he wasn’t trying to convince the judge who will decide this case—maybe he was playing for the MAGA audience outside, who will be headed to the polls in a year.

Guest: Barbara McQuade, law professor at the University of Michigan and a former U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan.

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Israeli Life Will Never Be the Same Nov 08, 2023

A month after the October 7 attack by Hamas, how do Israelis view what happened, their country, neighbors, and the future?

Guest: Iris Zaki, Israeli filmmaker whose latest, ‘I Don’t Have That Empathy. It’s Not in Me Anymore.’ What Israeli Survivors Believe Now, was featured in the New York Times.

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Abortion on a Red-State Ballot Nov 07, 2023

Since the overturn of Roe v. Wade, reproductive rights have remained popular among voters—even in red states like Ohio. As the state votes today on whether to add the right to an abortion to the state constitution, the Ohio GOP has been trying to reframe the issue.

Guest: Carter Sherman, reproductive health and justice reporter at The Guardian.

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Mitt Romney Reflects, Regrets, and Retires Nov 06, 2023

As Mitt Romney heads into retirement, is the idea of a moderate Republican being retired as well?

Guest: McKay Coppins, staff writer at The Atlantic, author of Romney: A Reckoning

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TBD | Sam Bankman-Fraud Nov 04, 2023

Sam Bankman-Fried was found guilty on seven charges of wire fraud, conspiracy and money laundering and is facing a 110-year sentence.

Cryptocurrency, itself, has lost an ambassador, a lot of value, and quite a bit of credibility.

Guest: Nitish Pahwa, associate business and tech writer covering the trial for Slate.

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TBD | Biden Goes After AI Nov 03, 2023

Biden’s executive order on A.I. indicates his administration is taking it seriously. Does it go far enough?

Guest: Cecilia Kang, covering technology and policy for the New York Times.

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Can Hamas Actually Be Destroyed? Nov 02, 2023

What does the history of Hamas tell us about where the Israel-Palestine conflict could go from here?

Guest: Mohammed Hafez, professor who studies Islamist movements, political militancy, and violent radicalization at the Naval Postgraduate School and author of Why Muslims Rebel and Suicide Bombers in Iraq: The Strategy and Ideology of Martyrdom.

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How to Catch an Insurrectionist Nov 01, 2023

The FBI was overwhelmed trying to ID people who stormed the Capitol on January 6th. An online group picked up the slack and helped catch hundreds of rioters.

Guest: Ryan Reilly, Justice reporter at NBC News, and author of Sedition Hunters: How January 6th Broke the Justice System.

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Can Threat Assessment Stop Mass Shootings? Oct 31, 2023

After mass shootings, one refrain becomes, “We don’t need gun control to treat a mental health problem.” But in a case like the mass shooting in Lewiston, Maine, there were mental health interventions and red flags raised by the military and the shooter’s family. Why didn’t it work—and what’s a better way forward?

Guest: Mark Follman, national affairs editor at Mother Jonesand the author of Trigger Points: Inside the Mission to Stop Mass Shootings in America.

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What Survived in Lahaina, Maui Oct 30, 2023

In early August, wildfire tore across West Maui. Months later, the tourism economy is struggling to get back to speed, while residents remain displaced.

Guest: U’i Kahue, cultural practitioner and the co-owner of Maui Grown 808, LLP.

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TBD | SBF Takes the Stand Oct 28, 2023

The man at the center of it all takes the stand in his own defense—but what’s left to say?

Guest: Nitish Pahwa, associate business and tech writer covering the trial for Slate.

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TBD | Self-Driving Cars Crash Into Reality Oct 27, 2023

In August, California regulators voted to allow self-driving car companies like Cruise and Waymo to expand their operations and start offering robotaxi services. After a litany of questionable behaviors ranging from the annoying to terrifying, the California DMV has suspended Cruise’s permits, effective immediately.

Is this just a temporary setback, or is the driverless future further off than it looked just a few months ago?

Guest: David Zipper, visiting fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School

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How Extremists Won the Speaker Fight Oct 26, 2023

Is new House Speaker Mike Johnson a palatable face on the same hard-right politics?

Guest: Tim Miller, political consultant and writer.

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The State Dept. Official Who Quit Over Israel Oct 25, 2023

Why one State Department official who worked in weapons transfers quit over America’s policy towards Israel and Gaza—and what that says about U.S. policy in the Middle East.

Guest: Josh Paul, former State Department official working in arms transfers to foreign powers, who resigned on Oct. 18.

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Why We Still Don’t Have a Speaker of the House Oct 24, 2023

Weeks after Kevin McCarthy was ousted, Republicans are still scrambling to elect a new Speaker of the House. After failed runs by Steve Scalise and Jim Jordan, the candidate pool keeps growing. Who is in the running now, and will anyone be able to snag the 217 votes needed?

Guest: Joseph Zeballos-Roig, Congress reporter at Semafor.

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Abortion Providers in the Line of Fire Oct 23, 2023

Before the new abortion clinic even opened in Casper, Wyoming, it was set ablaze. But to the clinic’s founder, property damage and violence aren’t new.

Guest: Julie Burkhart, founder of Wellspring Health Access

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TBD | Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard Takeover Oct 21, 2023

Since Microsoft announced its bid to buy Activision Blizzard last year, regulators around the world sounded the alarm that the merger would suppress competition in the industry.

Now that the deal has officially gone through, should gamers be worried?

Guest: Jason Schreier, covering the video game industry for Bloomberg

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TBD | Inside Hamas' Social Media Strategy Oct 20, 2023

Since war broke out, Hamas has been efficient in getting its message out on social media - both in providing crucial information to refugees fleeing the area, and in waging psychological warfare. How can platforms meet the need for open lines of communication without spreading propaganda?

Guest: Sheera Frenkel, covering tech for the New York Times

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Biden to Israel; Bombs to Gaza Oct 19, 2023

With bombs falling in Gaza, President Biden traveled to Israel to make a show of support. But as meetings with allied government leadership around the region were canceled, is the president doing more harm than good?

Guest: Yousef Munayyer, Palestinian-American political analyst and writer and Senior Fellow at the Arab Center Washington DC.

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Bob Menendez: Secret Foreign Agent? Oct 18, 2023

New Jersey Senator Robert Menendez, who was the chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, was charged with conspiring to act as a foreign agent for the Egyptian government. This follows on the heels of an indictment for bribery and federal corruption. But Menendez says he isn’t stepping down.

Guest: Jessica Taylor, Senate-and-governors editor at The Cook Political Report.

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Does Trump’s Violent Rhetoric Matter? Oct 17, 2023

Donald Trump has been saying shocking—even violent—things for so long, it barely registers as news anymore. But after January 6, and with Trump again leading the field of Republican candidates for president, is there a real-world danger to what he’s saying?

Guest:Robert A. Pape, professor of political science and the director of the University of Chicago’s project on security and threats

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Israel’s New Wartime Government Oct 16, 2023

While mounting a military response to Hamas, the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been forced to unite his far-right wing with his political rival, centrist Benny Gantz, a former military Chief of Staff. The plans for retaliation that are emerging are unlike any of Israel’s past skirmishes with Hamas.

Guest: Dov Waxman, director of the UCLA Y&S Nazarian Center for Israel Studies.

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TBD | The $30,000 Zelle Scam Oct 14, 2023

Zelle has exploded in popularity as a fast, convenient way to send and receive money. But the story of a couple who was scammed out of a pool shows there are problems with safety on the platform.

Guest: Devin Friedman, journalist and senior correspondent for GQ magazine.

You can read Devin’s piece here.

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Check out Compiler here: https://link.chtbl.com/compiler?sid=podcast.whatnext.2023

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TBD | The Israel-Hamas War Instantly Broke X Oct 13, 2023

When the Arab Spring was unfolding, Twitter was hailed as a way for on-the-ground reporting to reach the public. But when fighting between Hamas and Israel broke out over the weekend, X became flooded with misinformation.

Guest: Casey Newton, founder and editor of the technology newsletter Platformer.

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Could Student Debt Relief Still Happen? Oct 12, 2023

After their first plan to forgive billions of dollars of student debt was thwarted by the Supreme Court, the Biden administration is quietly searching for other ways to help borrowers.

Guest: Jeremy Bauer-Wolf, senior higher education reporter for Higher Ed Dive.

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Madeline Ducharme, Anna Phillips, Paige Osburn, and Rob Gunther.

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A Bipartisan Border Wall? Oct 11, 2023

President Biden’s administration announced plans to resume construction of a wall on the southern border, contradicting a contrast then-candidate Joe Biden drew between himself and his opponent in 2020,

Guest: Muzaffar Chishti, senior fellow at the Migration Policy Institute at NYU’s School of Law

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Where Israel Vs Hamas Is Heading Oct 10, 2023

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is vowing a complete blockade of Gaza after Hamas militants killed more than 700 Israelis this weekend. The surprise attack caught Israeli intelligence completely off-guard, and has thrown the region into disarray, on the eve of landmark talks between Israel and Saudi Arabia.

What’s the next stage of this already-volatile conflict? And what’s next for civilians in the Gaza Strip?

Guest: Gregg Carlstrom, Middle East correspondent for The Economist

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One Year 1955: Siberia, USA Oct 09, 2023

While the What Next team enjoys today's holiday, we are proud to present this episode on viral misinformation in 1955 from our colleagues at Slate's One Year. What Next will be back tomorrow.

When Alaskans wanted their own mental-health facility, a rumor took hold all over America. This week, Evan Chung traces the origins of that far-right conspiracy theory: that the government was building a concentration camp where Americans would get imprisoned for their political beliefs. Get ready for a strange tale that involves a brainwashing manual, Scientology, and a vast network of Communist-hunting housewives.

Josh Levin is One Year’s editorial director. One Year’s senior producer is Evan Chung.

This episode was produced by Kelly Jones and Evan Chung, with additional production by Sophie Summergrad.

It was edited by Josh Levin, Joel Meyer, and Derek John, Slate’s executive producer of narrative podcasts.

Merritt Jacob is our senior technical director.

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TBD | The Man Who Turned You Into Data Oct 07, 2023

Hank Asher was a lot of things: a Florida condo maven, a drug runner, a DEA informant—and a tech visionary who created the mixed blessing of turning everyone’s online activity into an unshakable shadow profile.

Guest: McKenzie Funk, reporter for Pro Publica and the author of The Hank Show

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TBD | Sam Bankman-Fried—and Crypto—on Trial Oct 06, 2023

As the trial begins, SBF is making the case that what he did is typical in the world of crypto. But when the government paints a much bleaker picture of FTX—one riddled with fraud and deception—what does that say about the industry?

Guest: Nitish Pahwa, associate business and tech writer at Slate.

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Who Is Trump Without Trump Tower? Oct 05, 2023

For once, Donald Trump is going to court for things that have nothing to do with his presidency. As Trump defends himself and his businesses against charges of fraud, what does his conduct in New York tell us about how his other trials may go?

Guest: Zach Schonfeld, courts and legal reporter for The Hill.

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The Fall of Kevin McCarthy Oct 04, 2023

After an arduous series of votes to get the job, it only took one vote to remove Kevin McCarthy from his position as Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Guest: Todd Zwillich, deputy Washington bureau chief, VICE News

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Dianne Feinstein’s Replacement Is Here. Who Is She? Oct 03, 2023

California Democrats were already jockeying to run for Dianne Feinstein’s Senate seat next year and Governor Gavin Newsom sidestepped the contenders by announcing he would appoint Laphonza Butler to the seat.

While Newsom made good on his vow to appoint a Black woman to the Senate, does Butler’s job offer come with a poison pill?

Guest: Alex Sammon, Slate politics writer.

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Where the Supreme Court Can Do the Most Damage Oct 02, 2023

One case on the Supreme Court’s docket could upend federal regulatory bodies’ ability to regulate at all.

Guest: Jay Willis, editor-in-chief of Balls & Strikes

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TBD | Inside Crypto's House of Cards Oct 01, 2023

The trial of Sam Bankman-Fried marks the end of an era where crypto rose to dizzying, Super-Bowl-commercial heights. Where does the industry go from here?

Guest: Zeke Faux, investigative reporter for Bloomberg and author of Number Go Up: Inside Crypto’s Wild Rise and Staggering Fall.

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TBD | Who Will Pay For A COVID Vaccine? Sep 30, 2023

After years of being a rare spot of universal, American-government-funded health care, this fall’s new COVID-19 vaccine is hitting the commercial market for the first time. So far, the rollout has been mired by hiccups and confusion.

Guest: Jen Kates, senior vice president at KFF

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TBD | Is Amazon a Monopoly? Sep 29, 2023

Amazon evolved from a place to get cheap used books to the “everything store”—one encompassing warehouses, logistics and shipping.

But with the FTC now run by Lina Khan—who wrote the essay ‘Amazon’s Antitrust Paradox” while at Yale Law School—a new contender for “antitrust trial of the century” has begun.

Guest: Leah Nylen, antitrust reporter for Bloomberg

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Can Marriage Fix America? Sep 28, 2023

Why is everyone—on the left and the right—suddenly touting the benefits of a married two-parent family? And what is it about this institution that appeals to a certain class of politicians and pundits as means to address American poverty, even as it loses popularity?

We consider the public meltdown over lower marriage rates and the renewed interest in ending no-fault divorce.

Guest: Rebecca Traister, author of All the Single Ladies: Unmarried Women and the Rise of an Independent Nationand writer-at-large for New York magazine.

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Madeline Ducharme, Anna Phillips, Paige Osburn, and Rob Gunther.

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Wait, China’s Taking Our Pandas Back? Sep 27, 2023

Everybody loves pandas—and China knows it. As we say goodbye to the National Zoo’s pandas, we look back at 50 years of “panda diplomacy” and consider its uncertain future.

Guest: E. Elena Songster, author of Panda Nation: The Construction and Conservation of China’s Modern Iconand professor of environmental history of modern China at St. Mary’s College of California.

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Madeline Ducharme, Anna Phillips, Paige Osburn, and Rob Gunther.

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The Writer’s Strike Is Over: Who Won? Sep 26, 2023

After five long months, the WGA and major Hollywood studios have reached a tentative agreement to end the strike—well, that one anyway. Who won what and where do the actors stand?

Guest: Michael Schulman, staff writer at The New Yorker.

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Rupert Murdoch and the Future of Fox Sep 25, 2023

At 92, Rupert Murdoch is retiring and handing the reins over to his son. Will Lachlan Murdoch watch over a period of managed decline—or will he chase the audience Fox News has been losing to the even-more extreme right?

Guest: Nicole Hemmer, Director of the Roger Center for the American Presidency at Vanderbilt University.

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TBD | What Instacart’s IPO Means for Tech Sep 23, 2023

As other tech companies that rode the pandemic to success started sinking, Instacart managed to stay above water—they turned a profit and even made it to an IPO. But a stubbornly static stock price has some asking if Instacart—and the whole gig economy—hasn’t already peaked.

Guest: Erin Griffith, who reports on tech startups and venture capital for the New York Times

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TBD | Did AirBnB Need to Go? Sep 22, 2023

The sword of regulation, which has been swinging over New York AirBnBs for over a decade, is falling at last. But will new laws for short-term rentals have the effect housing advocates are hoping for? And after many failed efforts, can these laws actually be enforced?

Guest: Heather Tal Murphy, Slate writer covering tech and business.

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The Case For Harm Reduction—And Beyond Sep 21, 2023

Following “The Call,” our series on the opioid epidemic continues in Seattle.

Harm reduction focuses on meeting people where they are, including enabling them to use drugs safely when experiencing addiction. But some advocates are asking, what happens when you think bigger?

Guest: Lisa Daugaard, criminal justice reform activist and Co-Executive Director of the nonprofit organization Purpose. Dignity. Action.

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How Wisconsin is a “Laboratory for Destroying Democracy” Sep 20, 2023

Wisconsin has been something of a model for Republicans looking to entrench themselves in the state legislature, and one key move has always been to draw the electoral map as favorably as possible. But now, the state Supreme Court has swung to the left – for the first time in 15 years. The GOP is scrambling to keep this battleground state deeply gerrymandered—and keep power in their own hands.

Guest: Ari Berman, national voting rights correspondent for Mother Jones.

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The UAW Enters the Ring Sep 19, 2023

Thousands of members of the United Auto Workers walked off the line at Midwestern auto plants Friday, putting an exclamation mark on a summer where labor—from screenwriters to UPS drivers—flexed its muscles. But is this a true resurgence of the broader U.S. labor movement?

Guest: Barry Eidlin, associate professor of sociology at McGill University

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McCarthy’s Impeaching Biden to Keep His Job Sep 18, 2023

House speaker Kevin McCarthy announced the opening of an impeachment inquiry into President Biden, but members of the Freedom Caucus—a group of right-wing Republicans with a taste for dramatic, extreme actions—had already moved on to fighting the next spending bill, potentially steering the government to another shutdown.

Guest: Jim Newell, Slate’s senior politics writer.

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TBD | Can Politicians Keep Kids Safe Online? Sep 16, 2023

The bipartisan Kids Online Safety Act has noble-sounding intentions, but has been called one of the most dangerous bills in years by the digital rights group, the Electronic Frontier Foundation.

Guest: Richard Blumenthal, senior United States senator from Connecticut.

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TBD | Google Makes Its Case Sep 15, 2023

A trial a decade in the making has started, as the U.S. Justice Department’s antitrust case against Google and its unrivaled position as the top search engine begins. Is this the beginning of the government “taking on Big Tech” and the end of Google as we know it?

Guest: Leah Nylen, covering antitrust for Bloomberg.

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The Case Against Harm Reduction Sep 14, 2023

Following “The Call,” our series on the opioid epidemic continues in Harlem. Inside a safe-consumption site, addiction is destigmatized—outside, however, the neighbors feel differently.

Guest: Syderia Asberry-Chresfield, co-founder of the Greater Harlem Coalition and a former Vice President for JP Morgan Chase.

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Fighting “Disaster Fatigue” Sep 13, 2023

It feels like we live in a world of near constant environmental disasters. Whether it’s living through an emergency, or consuming coverage in the media, collective trauma takes a mental toll. What steps can we take to be ready—for ourselves, our communities, and to help the recovery?

Guest: Dr. Tara Powell, associate professor, School of Social Work, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

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How DeSantis Turned New College into a Circus Sep 12, 2023

Back in January, Ron DeSantis appointed six new trustees to the board of Florida’s New College, who swiftly set about remaking the school according to a much more conservative vision of what college should be. Now, as the new school year begins, we’re starting to see what that vision actually looks like.

Guest: Sam Greenspan, freelance journalist who attended New College of Florida from 2004 to 2008 and reported on the college for Reveal in June.

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Prison for the Proud Boys. Now What? Sep 11, 2023

Proud Boys leader Henry “Enrique” Tarrio was just sentenced to 22 years in prison for his role in the January 6th insurrection. With much of their leadership, and that of the Oath Keepers, now behind bars, has their movement hit a dead end? Or is this just more grist for the anti-government outrage mill?

Guest: Brandi Buchman, independent journalist covering the Oath Keepers and Proud Boys trials

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This American Life: The Call Sep 11, 2023

As the opioid overdose crisis continues, a group of volunteers started a hotline with one mission—not to encourage people to go to rehab, not even to discourage them from using—just to keep them alive for one more day.

A collaboration with This American Life.

Guests:

Stephen Murray, paramedic and overdose researcher at Boston Medical Center.

Jessie, a registered nurse who answers calls on the Never Use Alone hotline.

Kimber, a caller to the hotline.

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TBD | Bad Air, Worse Vibes Sep 09, 2023

COVID’s still here but the public’s appetite for masking, social distancing, or remote learning is long gone. One palatable way to stop the spread: improving air circulation indoors.

Guest: Apoorva Mandavilli, science and global health reporter for the New York Times

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TBD | Tech Disrupts the School Bus Sep 08, 2023

When Howard County signed a $27 million contract with the start-up Zum, the company promised to modernize the way schools provide transportation. But when the school year started, that’s not what happened.

Guest: Daniel Zawodny, covering transportation for the Baltimore Banner and corps member of Report For America.

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Can Kids Catch Up After the Pandemic? Sep 07, 2023

Math and reading scores plummeted during the year of virtual learning. Kids are now back in the classroom—but they aren’t back on track. What will it take to catch up a generation —and do schools have the will and resources to make it happen?

Guest: Alec MacGillis, reporter for ProPublica.

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Our Aging Congress Is a Problem Sep 06, 2023

The problem with a Congress that is statistically so much older than the country it represents is systemic and—like almost everything in Washington—much of the issue can be traced back to money in politics.

Guest: Walt Hickey, Deputy editor for data and analysis for Insider who worked on their “Red, White, and Gray” reporting project.

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Madeline Ducharme, Anna Phillips, Paige Osburn, and Rob Gunther.

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To Impeach a Republican In Texas Sep 05, 2023

The impeachment trial of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is slated to begin in the state Senate today. Though Paxton’s history of scandals is long and storied, this could be the first time he’s faced accountability—and all it took was leaving taxpayers on the hook for a $3.3 million bill.

Guest: Sergio Martinez-Beltran, political reporter with NPR’s The Texas Newsroom, a public radio collaborative.

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One Year: The Team Nobody Would Play Sep 04, 2023

In honor Labor Day, What Next proudly presents the opening salvo from our colleagues at One Year: 1955. We'll be back in your feed tomorrow.

The Cannon Street All-Stars dreamed of playing in the 1955 Little League World Series. Their biggest obstacle didn’t come on the field. In the year that Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a public bus, these Black 12-year-olds became unlikely civil rights pioneers—and faced the wrath of a white society that wasn’t ready to change.

Josh Levin is One Year’s editorial director. One Year’s senior producer is Evan Chung.

This episode was produced by Kelly Jones and Evan Chung, with additional production by Sophie Summergrad.

It was edited by Joel Meyer and Derek John, Slate’s executive producer of narrative podcasts.

Merritt Jacob is our senior technical director.

Join Slate Plus to get the first three episodes of One Year: 1955 right away—and a bonus 1955 story at the end of the season. Slate Plus members also get to listen to all Slate podcasts without any ads. Sign up now to support One Year.

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TBD | Social Media’s Pivot from News Sep 03, 2023

It wasn’t long ago when social media was a place to go for up-to-the-minute updates in an emergency. But even as internet access is more widespread than ever—and natural disasters more frequent—Twitter and Facebook are less useful than ever. As hubs for news, that era appears over.

Guest: Will Oremus, tech reporter for the Washington Post.

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TBD | Is LinkedIn...Cool Now? Sep 01, 2023

As Twitt—sorry, X—continues to go through tumult, an unlikely, long-time player is emerging as the last acceptable place to post.

Guest: Sarah Frier, tech editor at Bloomberg Businessweek.

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Podcast production by Evan Campbell.

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Best of 2023 | Fighting for the Right to Die Aug 31, 2023

As the What Next team catches its breath at the end of summer, we’re revisiting some of the biggest stories of the year. This story originally ran on April 27. What Next will resume regular programming next week.

A self-described activist had late-stage, fallopian tube cancer. She didn’t live in one of the 11 jurisdictions that allows terminally-ill patients the choice to medically end their own lives. But rather than relocating, she argued Vermont’s residency restrictions were unconstitutional.

Guest: Lynda Bluestein, a 75-year-old woman seeking to end her life on her terms, who successfully sued Vermont over their residency requirement in their “Patient Choice At End of Life” law.

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Best of 2023 | What Texas' Attacks on Trans Healthcare Did to One Family Aug 30, 2023

As the What Next team catches its breath at the end of summer, we’re revisiting some of the biggest stories of the year. This story originally ran on Nov. 9, 2022. What Next will resume regular programming next week.

As Texas laws have become more discriminatory against trans individuals and their families, many wonder if they can even stay in the Lone Star State, especially when parents could be investigated as child abusers for providing healthcare to their children. This family made the difficult decision to move to Colorado.

Guests:

Katie Laird, social justice blogger.

Noah Laird, high school student.

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Best of 2023 | He Couldn’t Teach ‘Slavery Was Wrong.’ So He Quit. Aug 29, 2023

As the What Next team catches its breath at the end of summer, we’re revisiting some of the biggest stories of the year. This story originally ran on April 17. What Next will resume regular programming next week.

Iowa was one of the first states in the country to pass legislation against teaching that the United States is systemically racist — an idea some equate with “critical race theory.” But when one social studies teacher asked how he could teach U.S. history without running afoul of the new law, he didn’t get any clarity — or help.

What happens when legislation targets teachers? And as America’s teacher shortage grows — what will this mean for the country’s kids?

Guest: Greg Wickenkamp, former eighth grade social studies teacher in Fairfield, Iowa.

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Best of 2023 | The Diagnosis Was Fatal. She Couldn't Get an Abortion. Aug 28, 2023

As the What Next team catches its breath at the end of summer, we’re revisiting some of the biggest stories of the year. This story originally ran on March 30. What Next will resume regular programming next week.

Two weeks after Roe v. Wade was overturned, Lauren Hall found out the baby she was carrying had a fatal condition: her head and skull weren’t properly developing. Texas’s three overlapping bans on abortion forced her to fly to Washington to terminate the unviable pregnancy. With the Center for Reproductive Rights, she became one of thirteen plaintiffs suing the state, so no one else will have to go through what she did.

Recently, a district court judge decided in their favor, but the state of Texas immediately appealed, leaving pregnant Texans in limbo until the appeals process finishes.

Guest: Lauren Hall, plaintiff suing the state of Texas over its abortion bans.

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TBD | The Cost of "Sustainable" Pet Food Aug 27, 2023

Most pet food is made from the byproducts of the meat that we, humans, eat. Recently, there’s been a rise in high-end pet food products - including things like lab-grown meat - that are touted as sustainable options for your furry friend. But a closer look raises questions about whether or not this food is actually better for the environment.

Guest: Chloe Sorvino, writer for Forbes and the author of the book Raw Deal: Hidden Corruption, Corporate Greed, and the Fight for the Future of Meat.

Special thanks to Patrick Fort and Garbanzo.

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TBD | TikTok's Shady Deal with the U.S. Aug 25, 2023

In the spring, it looked like TikTok was on the verge of being banned in America. Since then, it’s continued operating business as usual.

But this week, it was revealed that ByteDance and the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States came close to striking a deal that would allow TikTok to continue operating in the U.S. The negotiations give a glimpse into how social media—and by extension speech itself—could be regulated on the internet.

Guest:

Emily Baker-White, tech reporter and senior writer at Forbes

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From a Texas Bus to the New York Subway Aug 24, 2023

Over the past year, a growing number of women and children started appearing on New York City subway platforms and trains, selling candy. Their stories illuminate a country in turmoil a continent away—and an ongoing migrant crisis at home.

Guest: Jordan Salama, author of “The Candy Sellers: The lives and livelihoods of some of the city’s newest migrant children” for New York magazine.

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What’s Vivek Ramaswamy’s Deal? Aug 23, 2023

Polls show Vivek Ramaswamy pulling even with Ron DeSantis in the Republican presidential primary, trailing only Donald Trump (albeit substantially).

How did Ramaswamy go from anonymous multimillionaire to a potential Trump alternative in just six months? And what would a Ramaswamy administration look like?

Guest: Mini Racker, staff writer covering politics for TIME Magazine.

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Why The Blind Side's Narrative Fell Apart Aug 22, 2023

Last week, retired NFL lineman Michael Oher sued the Tuohy family and revealed a gulf between real life and how he and the family were portrayed in 2009’s The Blind Side.

Guest: Santul Nerkar, reporter on sports and business for the New York Times.

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Why Tuition’s So Damn High Aug 21, 2023

Over the last 20 years, the average college student at a public university has seen prices go up 64 percent, as schools spend more and more on amenities to attract students and raise their own rankings.

Guest: Melissa Korn, higher education reporter at the Wall Street Journal.

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TBD | Digital Life After Death Aug 20, 2023

Sorting through a loved one’s things after they’ve died can be an emotional, difficult chore. But now, added to that, people have to sort through the deceased’s password-protected online presence.

Guests:

Kate Lindsay, author of the internet culture newsletter Embedded and the article “My Mom Will Email Me After She Dies” in the Atlantic.

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TBD | How Crypto Fails Sex Workers Aug 18, 2023

At first, cryptocurrency seemed like the solution to the problems sex workers have had with traditional banks. But as the US moves to regulate the crypto industry, many are finding it hasn’t worked out like they hoped.

Guests:

Joel Khalili, reporter at Wired

Liara Roux, sex worker, organizer, and writer

You can check out Joel’s reporting in Wired here.

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Who Failed Hawaii? Aug 17, 2023

Hawaii is in flames, with the death toll from fires on Maui exceeding 100. Now, the search for where the failure—or multiple failures—occurred begins.

Guest: Brianna Sacks, reporter covering climate change and extreme weather for the Washington Post.

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Fani Willis Takes on Trump Aug 16, 2023

The fourth shoe dropped this week, when Fulton County DA Fani Willis announced Donald Trump’s latest indictment, charging the former president, along with 18 others, for engaging in a sprawling criminal conspiracy to disenfranchise Georgia voters. Trump has been responding by lashing out against Willis and voters in Atlanta, Philadelphia, and Milwaukee.

Guest: Rick Hasen, professor of law at UCLA and director of the Safeguarding Democracy Project.

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The Trials of Hunter Biden Aug 15, 2023

Earlier this summer, it looked like Hunter Biden’s legal team had reached a plea deal. But last week, the Justice Department announced a special counsel was being appointed to his case. What happened in between? Is the president's son getting singled out—or special treatment?

Guest: Ankush Khardori, attorney and a former federal prosecutor in the US Justice Department.

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Trump’s Spiraling Legal Fees Aug 14, 2023

With every indictment, Donald Trump’s legal fees grow—but so do his campaign donations. Money is leaving faster than its arriving—how long can he keep this up?

Guest: Ben Kamisar, deputy political editor for the NBC political unit.

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TBD | Tech's Mask Off Moment Aug 13, 2023

When conservative writer Richard Hanania’s old posts, originally published under a pseudonym, came to light, people were shocked at just how racist and reactionary they were. Perhaps less shocking were the tech moguls who were revealed to be supporting him.

Guest: Anil Dash, technologist and writer, and the head of Glitch

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TBD | Can Smart Guns Save Lives? Aug 11, 2023

A “smart gun” is designed to only work in the hands of the gun’s proper owner. With the first smart gun potentially coming to market later this year, can the tech deliver on its promise?

Guests:

Champe Barton, reporter at The Trace

Kai Kloepfer, founder and CEO of Biofire

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Justice for the Gilgo Beach Murder Victims Aug 10, 2023

In December of 2010, four bodies were discovered in Gilgo Beach, Long Island. Nearly 13 years later, police now say they’ve identified the killer.

Though the victims’ family members are relieved, they’re also left wondering what took so long.

Guest: Robert Kolker, author of Lost Girls.

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Haiti’s Kidnapping Crisis Aug 09, 2023

What’s behind a recent uptick in kidnappings and gang violence in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti, and how did Kenya end up being the country stepping up to help?

Guest: Jacqueline Charles, Caribbean correspondent at The Miami Herald.

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Judges on the Trump Trials Aug 08, 2023

Who are the judges presiding over Donald Trump’s trials and what can the prosecution—and defense—expect, based on what’s happened already?

Guest: Mark Joseph Stern, senior writer covering courts and the law for Slate Magazine

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Florida Public Schools' New Anti-Woke Partner Aug 07, 2023

In July, Florida approved the use of Prager U materials in its classrooms. The organization claims its videos offer an alternative to the prevailing left-wing ideology in the classroom. Its founder told a sympathetic audience that what they offer is indoctrination. What impact could these videos have in public schools? And where could they be heading next?

Guest: John Knefel, senior writer for Media Matters for America.

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TBD | Another Summer of COVID Aug 06, 2023

After a quiet spring, COVID is surging back for the fourth consecutive summer. So, is this just life now?

Guest: Katherine Wu, staff writer at the Atlantic

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TBD | Tesla's Big Lie Aug 04, 2023

Tesla sold a vision of how electric vehicles would work: just like gas-powered cars, but cleaner, better. But as a scandal about misrepresented battery life and driving range unfolds, and the price of their cars remains high, it increasingly looks like the transition will be anything but seamless—if it happens at all.

Guest: Edward Niedermeyer, author of Ludicrous: The Unvarnished Story of Tesla Motors.

You can check out Reuters reporting on Tesla’s range scandal here.

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It’s Hot as Hell. Why Are Pools Closed? Aug 03, 2023

The temperature is going up, but the number of open, public pools isn’t. It’s not just a summer bummer; it’s turning into a public health crisis.

Guest: Mara Gay, member of the New York Times editorial board, focused on New York State and local affairs.

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U.S. vs Trump Aug 02, 2023

We’re eight months into the year—and former president Donald Trump has now been indicted three times. On Tuesday, a federal grand jury charged Trump with three counts of conspiracy and one count of obstruction. But what exactly does that mean? And can someone really run for president…while juggling three different trials?

Guest: David Graham, staff writer for “The Atlantic”

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.

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After the Strike Aug 01, 2023

In December, University of California graduate students went on strike for six weeks. It was the largest higher education strike in U.S. history. But even after the new contract was signed and the strikers were back at work, they found the fight didn’t stop.

Guest: Peter Lucas, a writer covering labor and politics.

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Congress Wants to Know: Do Aliens Exist? Jul 31, 2023

In a recent public hearing, three government officials told Congress that not only are “unidentified anomalous phenomena” real, they’re a major national security concern. But one witness took his testimony even further, claiming the government possesses materials of “non-human origin.” How much do we really know about UAPs – or, as they’re more commonly known, UFOs? And now that Congress is involved, are we about to learn a whole lot more?

Guest: Garrett Graff, contributor at WIRED magazine; author of the forthcoming book, “UFO: The Inside Story of the US Government's Search for Alien Life Here—and Out There”

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.

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TBD | America’s Downtown Ghost Towns Jul 30, 2023

It’s 2023 – and less than half of all Americans have returned to the office full time. That means U.S. downtowns from San Francisco to New York are emptier than they’ve been in decades. Offices are actually trending away from policies that mandate returning five days a week. So, how can cities get creative – and develop some new ways to boost the local economy?

Guest: Henry Grabar, Slate staff writer

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TBD | Washington vs. A.I. Jul 28, 2023

At a White House summit late last week, some of the biggest names in tech - including Meta, Google and OpenAI - signed “voluntary” commitments to safeguard artificial intelligence. In Congress, Senate Leader Chuck Schumer recently introduced a “legislative framework” for A.I. law… but as they debate and deliberate, the A.I. train continues to move full steam ahead. It’s clear the government’s paying attention, but can they keep up with the technology?

Guest: Makena Kelly, politics reporter at The Verge

Don Beyer, U.S. representative for Virginia's 8th congressional district

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Jason Aldean’s “Dog-Whistle Anthem” Jul 27, 2023

Country music’s Jason Aldean has been around for years. But he didn’t crack the Billboard Top 5 until he released “Try That in a Small Town” – a controversial hit that portrays American city living as a gauntlet of violence and crime. CMT pulled down the song’s video, which featured Aldean singing at a former lynching site. But “Try That” is more popular than ever. Why? And what does its ubiquity say about modern country music?

Guest: Jason Lipshutz, senior director of music at Billboard

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.

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Has Netanyahu Lost Control? Jul 26, 2023

This week, Israel’s far-right coalition government voted to strip the Supreme Court of the power to overturn “unreasonable” government actions and appointments. Protesters and experts alike worry it's the first step in a broader push towards gutting the judiciary altogether. Is Israel on the brink of authoritarianism?

Guest: Yair Rosenberg, staff writer at The Atlantic, author of its “Deep Shtetl” newsletter

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.

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How Far Will Texas Go? Jul 25, 2023

The Justice Department just sued the state of Texas over a floating barrier in the Rio Grande. It’s also investigating accusations from a state trooper that agents were told to push a group of migrants - including children - back into the water. What is happening at the southern border? And how did it get so dire?

Guest: Ben Wermund, Washington correspondent for the Houston Chronicle and San Antonio Express-News

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.

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Climate Change Goes to Court Jul 24, 2023

Around the United States and around the world, people are suing their governments and governments are suing fossil fuel companies over the changing climate—revealing what they knew and when they knew it. But even if these lawsuits succeed, what difference can they make for a problem with a literal global scale?

Guest: Dharna Noor, fossil fuels and climate reporter at The Guardian.

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TBD | Why Tech Lays Women Off First Jul 23, 2023

When the tech industry started rounds of layoffs this year, almost half of the people let go were women—even though they make up a much smaller percentage of the workforce. What does this say about women in tech, and efforts to diversify the industry overall?

Guest: Emma Goldberg, a reporter who covers the future of work for the New York Times.

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TBD | America’s $5 Trillion Grid Problem Jul 21, 2023

To keep places like Phoenix habitable, we need to have air-conditioning. But to have air-conditioning, we need a functional, modern electrical grid. With America’s grid already aging—and more demand coming in the form of electric cars and more A/C for hotter weather—what will it take to keep it going as the weather gets more extreme?

Guest: Dr. Joshua Rhodes, research scientist at the University of Texas at Austin studying energy systems and how they interact with our environment, climate, and life.

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Judging the Supreme Court Jul 20, 2023

The Senate Judiciary Committee is considering a code of ethics for the Supreme Court—but Chief Justice John Roberts doesn’t believe they have the right to impose one.

But with the Court’s legitimacy in question - and its popularity down the tubes - who should hold the Justices accountable?

Guest: Judge Jeremy Fogel, executive director of the Berkeley Judicial Institute.

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The Indefensible Defense Bill Jul 19, 2023

Even with Congress famously gridlocked, it reliably passes the National Defense Authorization Act. But this year, hardline conservative Republicans in the House of Representatives added amendment after amendment that were less concerned with national defense and more in line with their own culture war grievances.

How can a government function when even the simple things become impossible?

Guest: Melanie Zanona, Capitol Hill reporter at CNN

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How Hollywood Shot Itself in the Foot Jul 18, 2023

Actor Lea DeLaria knew Orange is the New Black was a hit. But Netflix made sure their paychecks didn’t reflect it. Fast forward ten years and this business model is the norm for nearly all working American actors.

So now, the actors are joining the writers on strike, something that hasn’t happened in Hollywood since 1960, when television was the new, upstart technology. Today the double strike is about streaming services and artificial intelligence.

Guests:

Alissa Wilkinson, Vox senior correspondent covering film and television.

Lea DeLaria, comedian and an actor best known for playing Big Boo on Orange is the New Black.

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Thousand-Year Floods, Annually Jul 17, 2023

You can be forgiven for not thinking of Vermont as a place prone to catastrophic flooding. But as the climate changes, we have update our expectations—and our floodplain maps.

Guest: Anna Weber, senior policy analyst focused on the current and future effects of flooding and sea level rise at the NRDC.

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TBD | America’s Killer Car Problem Jul 16, 2023

Pedestrian deaths in America have been rising for the last decade, while dropping in Europe and Japan. What makes the U.S. so dangerous for pedestrians?

Guest: Jessie Singer, author of There Are No Accidents: The Deadly Rise of Injury and Disaster―Who Profits and Who Pays the Price.

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TBD | Will UPS Workers Join "Hot Strike Summer?" Jul 14, 2023

Contract negotiations between the Teamsters and UPS broke down last week and now a strike looms. With time running out, can both sides reach a deal?

Guest: Noam Scheiber, labor reporter for the New York Times.

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QAnon Goes to the Movies Jul 13, 2023

Beat it, Barbie; outta the way, Oppenheimer—this summer’s biggest box office surprise is “The Sound of Freedom,” a low-budget search-and-rescue thriller that Hollywood doesn’t want you to see—or so the implication goes.

Guests:

Sam Adams, Slate senior editor

Will Sommer, media reporter at the Washington Post and author of Trust the Plan The Rise of QAnon and the Conspiracy That Unhinged America.

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What Homelessness Is Really Like Jul 12, 2023

Despite holding only twelve percent of Americans, the state of California is home to nearly one-third of the nation’s people experiencing homelessness. A landmark study from UCSF—the California Statewide Study of People Experiencing Homelessness— produced an intimate look at who is living on the streets and in their cars in California, how they got there, and what actual aid would look like.

Guests:

Claudine Sipili, co-leader of UCSF’s Lived Expertise Advisory Board for the California Statewide Study of People Experiencing Homelessness.

Ethan Ward, founder of HEATDRAWN Media, and the host of Reputation, a podcast which challenges preconceived notions about the homelessness crisis.

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Can’t Stand the Heat Jul 11, 2023

The 4th of July was the hottest day yet—not just of the summer but of recorded human history. Between waves of Canadian wildfire smoke, malaria reappearing in the United States, and deaths from heat, this might be the year that we’re forced to reckon with what life will be like on our newly hotter planet.

Guest: Jeff Goodell, contributing writer at Rolling Stone and the author of the upcoming book The Heat Will Kill You First: Life and Death on a Scorched Planet.

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Can Moms for Liberty Swing an Election? Jul 10, 2023

Moms for Liberty call themselves a “parent’s rights group,” but the Southern Poverty Law Center calls them an “anti-government extremist” group. Even if they don’t all have kids, these “moms” do have goals for the future of education in America—and quite a bit of clout.

Guest: Kiera Butler, senior editor at Mother Jones reporting on how purveyors of disinformation target online communities of women.

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Madeline Ducharme, Anna Phillips, Paige Osburn, and Rob Gunther.

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TBD | Is Your Son Watching Andrew Tate? Jul 09, 2023

Andrew Tate’s gross mix of self-help, toxic masculinity and misogyny captured the minds of young boys on the internet. It also led to indictments in Romania on human trafficking and rape charges.

Guest: Lisa Miller, contributing editor at New York magazine.

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TBD | Threads vs. Twitter Jul 07, 2023

It seems like with each new Musk innovation, a new Twitter replacement appears in response. But Threads is backed by Meta and available in just a few clicks for an Instagram user. Could it be the one?

Guest: Mike Isaac, technology reporter for the New York Times.

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Is Biden To Blame for the Student Debt Mess? Jul 06, 2023

The Biden administration’s plan to forgive federal student loan debt has been stalled, perhaps indefinitely, by the Supreme Court’s decision in Biden v. Nebraska.

Was their plan to help borrowers always doomed, or was there another way? And after the Roberts court delivered such a broad-sweeping decision, what options does Biden have left?

Guest: Jed Shugerman, professor at Boston University School of Law.

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Beyond Biden vs. Trump Jul 05, 2023

America’s winner-take-all electoral system casts third-party candidates as spoilers—but what would it take to open the door to not just a third party, but a fourth or more?

Guest: Lee Drutman, senior fellow in the Political Reform program at New America, author of Breaking the Two-Party Doom Loop.

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Slow Burn: A National Disgrace Jul 04, 2023

In honor of the holiday, enjoy this episode from our colleagues at Slow Burn. What Next resumes regular programming tomorrow.

Anita Hill’s accusations launched urgent and heated conversations about racism and sexual harassment. They also stoked an anger in Clarence Thomas that’s never stopped raging.

Season 8 of Slow Burn is produced by Joel Anderson, Sophie Summergrad, Sam Kim, and Sofie Kodner.

Josh Levin is the editorial director of Slow Burn.

Derek John is Slate’s executive producer of narrative podcasts.

Susan Matthews is Slate’s executive editor.

This episode was edited by Josh Levin, Derek John, Sophie Summergrad, and Joel Meyer.

Merritt Jacob is our senior technical director.

Our theme music is composed by Alexis Cuadrado. Artwork by Ivylise Simones.

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Justice Roberts Takes Back the Court Jul 03, 2023

Unpopular decisions and multiple scandals involving lavish, undisclosed gifts from conservative megadonors have the Supreme Court handing down decisions under a cloud of public outcry and controversy—but that hasn’t stopped the conservative majority from acting just as hardline as its critics feared.

Guest: Mark Joseph Stern, court watcher and senior writer at Slate.

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TBD | Turning Your Face Into Your Ticket Jul 02, 2023

Even if you like the convenience of your phone unlocking after it reads your face, there are reasons to be wary of the TSA bringing facial recognition technology to the airport.

Guest: Geoffrey Fowler, technology columnist for the Washington Post.

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TBD | The Never-Ending Cancer Drug Shortage Jun 30, 2023

A shortage of basic chemotherapy drugs to treat cancer is jeopardizing the care of hundreds of thousands of patients. The drugs aren’t expensive, or patented—so where are they?

Guest: Ed Yong, science journalist at The Atlantic.

Host: Lizzie O'Leary

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Would You Join the Army for US Citizenship? Jun 29, 2023

To shore up sagging enrollment, the U.S. military is doing what American industry does—looking to immigrants to fill out their numbers. Once a faster way to citizenship, serving in the armed forces has become another place where being an immigrant can carry harsh penalties—and can instead be a step on the way to deportation.

Guest: Sofya Aptekar, associate professor of urban studies, school of labor and urban studies, CUNY. Author of Green Card Soldier: Between Model Immigrant and Security Threat

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Madeline Ducharme, Anna Phillips, Paige Osburn, and Rob Gunther with help from Laura Spencer.

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Why We Have to Take RFK Jr. Seriously Jun 28, 2023

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s politics, such as they can be parsed, are a mix of conspiracy theories and vibes. But in a post-Trump landscape, and with RFK polling at 20 percent among Democratic presidential candidates, cranky contrarians have to be taken seriously—right?

Guest: Vera Bergengruen, investigative correspondent at Time magazine.

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We Need to Talk About Kevin McCarthy Jun 27, 2023

Kevin McCarthy has always had his eyes on one job - Speaker of the House. But after Republicans won Congress’s lower chamber by a razor thin majority, the party’s right wing extracted major concessions before handing over the gavel. When the GOP accepted a deal with the Biden administration to raise the nation’s debt ceiling, House hardliners felt betrayed. Now McCarthy faces renewed attacks on his leadership from within his own party. With important legislation that still needs to be passed, and little wiggle room for dissent, how does McCarthy hang on?

Guest: Rachael Bade, POLITICO Senior Washington Correspondent

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.

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The Failed Coup in Russia Jun 26, 2023

For months, Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin has been railing against his own country’s military leadership. It all came to a head this weekend – when the mercenary leader gathered his troops, took over a Russian city, and started to march towards Moscow. Then – as suddenly as it began – it stopped. Russia says Prigozhin has fled to Belarus, and his troops will all be granted amnesty. But an independent Russian journalist in exile doubts the official narrative, and speculates on Vladimir Putin’s future..

Guest: Mikhail Zygar, Russian journalist and author of the upcoming book, “War and Punishment: Putin, Zelensky and the Path to Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine”

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.

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TBD | Can Ozempic Cure Addiction? Jun 25, 2023

Semaglutide, better known by its brand name Ozempic, has been making headlines as a weight loss drug – despite only having FDA approval to treat diabetes. Now, some say it doesn’t just quell cravings for food – it helps quiet cravings for alcohol, drugs, and other compulsive behaviors. For years, researchers have been studying semaglutide's effectiveness as an addiction cure in animals. What have they found? And – does it actually work?

Guest: Sarah Zhang covers health and medicine for The Atlantic

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TBD | The U.S. vs Amazon Prime Jun 23, 2023

On Wednesday, the Federal Trade Commission sued Amazon, accusing the online giant of “tricking and trapping people into recurring subscriptions.” The complaint says Amazon “knowingly duped millions of consumers into unknowingly enrolling in Amazon Prime."

With murmurs of a larger antitrust probe against Amazon just around the corner, how serious is this suit for the tech giant?

Guest: Leah Nylen, antitrust reporter at Bloomberg

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Is Planned Parenthood Stepping Up? Jun 22, 2023

Saturday marks the one-year anniversary of the end of Roe – a historic decision that’s led to long lines, clinic closures, and a flood of abortion bans across the country. Planned Parenthood has always been in the political crosshairs… but now, their role is arguably more important than ever. What does America’s largest abortion provider look like in the post-Roe era? We sit down with its CEO to find out.

Guest: Alexis McGill Johnson, CEO of Planned Parenthood

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.

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Why There’s a Cop at Your Kid’s School Jun 21, 2023

It’s been one year since the Uvalde school shooting – and while Texas hasn’t passed any gun control legislation, it has passed a measure aimed at “hardening schools.” Last week, Governor Greg Abbott signed HB-3 into law, requiring every public school to have an armed officer on campus. The legislation comes even as a former sheriff’s deputy is on trial in Florida for failing to protect students when a gunman opened fire at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in 2018.

Do school safety officers stop school shootings? And if they don’t – what do they do instead?

Guest: Anya Kamenetz, education reporter and author of "The Stolen Year: How Covid Changed Children’s Lives, And Where We Go Now."

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.

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They Pledged to Stop Sex Abuse. Instead, They Targeted Women. Jun 20, 2023

Last week, the Southern Baptist Convention held its annual meeting in New Orleans – and its main order of business was to tighten the reins on what women can, and can’t, do in the church. It’s the result of a years-long push from the SBC’s ultraconservative wing to reverse what it calls a “liberal drift.” As the nation’s largest Protestant denomination prepares to crack down on gender roles, what does that mean for American evangelicals – and for the rest of us?

Guest: Beth Allison Barr is a history professor at Baylor University. She’s also the author of “The Making of Biblical Womanhood.”

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.

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Slow Burn: America's Blackest Child Jun 19, 2023

In honor of the Juneteenth holiday, What Next presents the first episode of the new season of Slate's Slow Burn, "Becoming Justice Thomas." What Next will be back tomorrow.

Growing up in Georgia, Clarence Thomas wanted to make his mark. His dream was to become his hometown’s first Black Catholic priest. But after Martin Luther King’s assassination, he abandoned that plan. Instead, he embraced campus activism and the teachings of Malcolm X.

Season 8 of Slow Burn is produced by Joel Anderson, Sophie Summergrad, Sam Kim, and Sofie Kodner.

Josh Levin is the editorial director of Slow Burn.

Derek John is Slate’s executive producer of narrative podcasts.

Susan Matthews is Slate’s executive editor.

Editorial direction by Josh Levin, Derek John, and Joel Meyer.

Merritt Jacob is Slate’s senior technical director.

Our theme music is composed by Alexis Cuadrado. Artwork by Ivylise Simones.

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TBD | The George Soros Succession Jun 18, 2023

One son was preparing to take over George Soros’s multi-billion-dollar empire. Then, there was a falling out, and a new heir-apparent was chosen.

Who is Alex Soros? And, as he takes over for one of the most influential figures in American politics, what can we expect from him?

Guest: Gregory Zuckerman, special writer at the Wall Street Journal

Host: Emily Peck

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TBD | Reddit’s Rolling Blackouts Jun 16, 2023

Across Reddit, thousands of forums have gone “private” and effectively disappeared. Users are protesting the site’s plan to capitalize on its data, which has been enjoyed for free by people making third-party apps for Reddit, as well as some of the world’s biggest companies training their A.I.

Guest: Sarah Needleman, reporter for the Wall Street Journal who writes about interactive entertainment and social media

Host: Emily Peck

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After They Testified: The Rabbi Leading an Interfaith Fight for Trans Rights Jun 15, 2023

Red-state resident, religious, and proud of his trans son, a Missouri rabbi has testified more times than he can count in front of the state government over the years, and is both dispirited and confused by the changes he’s seeing in his state lawmakers—from attitudes towards anti-Semitism, to the disappearance of business-focused Republicans who care if anti-trans legislation is going to cost the state millions.

This is the third installment in What Next’s Pride Month series. “After They Testified” is about the Americans who’ve shown up in the last year to speak out against anti-queer legislation, how it felt to do so, and what came next.

Guest: Rabbi Daniel Bogard, from Central Reform Congregation in St. Louis, Missouri.

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Madeline Ducharme, Anna Phillips, Paige Osburn, and Rob Gunther.

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The Culture Wars Curriculum Jun 14, 2023

Homeschooling is more popular than ever — and for decades, it’s been seen as a haven by a movement of conservative Christians. But isolating children from the world doesn’t just mean tribalism and fear of “government schools” — the lack of regulation can also lead to abuse. We talk to one former home school student about the conservative Christian world that raised him, and how some of its tenets have now gone mainstream.

Guests:

Peter Jamison, enterprise reporter with the Washington Post.

Aaron Bealls, former homeschooler and public-school parent in Loudoun County, Virginia

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How This Trump Trial Is Different Jun 13, 2023

Donald Trump heads back to court, facing federal charges over the handling of sensitive documents after his presidential term ended. While the indictment looks bad for Trump, and he lost two lawyers from his team on Friday, there are silver linings for the ex-president.

Guest: Ankush Khardori, attorney and a former federal prosecutor in the U.S. Justice Department.

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The Liberal Case Against Affirmative Action Jun 12, 2023

If the Supreme Court rules against affirmative action for certain racial groups, as expected, how will colleges and other institutions create diverse student bodies and address racial disparities?

Guest: Richard Kahlenberg, non-resident scholar at Georgetown University's McCourt School of Public Policy

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TBD | Are You Ready For A.I. Generated Actors? Jun 11, 2023

As “deep fakes” have demonstrated, it’s getting easier and easier to swap an actor for a digital likeness—something that contributed to the Screen Actors Guild voting to authorize joining the writers on strike.

Guest: Heather Tal Murphy, Slate writer covering tech, business, and A.I.

Host: Lizzie O'Leary

If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get benefits like zero ads on any Slate podcast, bonus episodes of shows like Slow Burn and Dear Prudence—and you’ll be supporting the work we do here on What Next TBD. Sign up now at slate.com/whatnextplus to help support our work.

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Amicus: Did John Roberts Really Just Save Voting Rights? Jun 10, 2023

With a surprising decision on voting rights coming down this week from the Supreme Court, What Next is presenting this special bonus episode from our colleagues at Slate's Amicus.

This episode is a part of Opinionpalooza. Slate’s coverage of Supreme Court decisions. We consider this coverage so essential that we’re taking down the paywall for all of it. If you would like to help us continue to cover the courts aggressively, please consider joining Slate Plus. And sign up for the pop-up newsletter to see the latest every week in your inbox.

Dahlia Lithwick and Mark Joseph Stern join forces for this Opinionpalooza extra episode of Amicus discussing a seismic Supreme Court decision on voting rights. In his majority opinion in Allen v Milligan, Chief Justice John Roberts pushes back against his own long-standing stance on voting rights. Join Dahlia and Mark in this bonus episode to find out why.

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TBD | Is Crypto Toast? Jun 09, 2023

This week, the SEC sued Binance, the largest crypto exchange in the world, and Coinbase, the largest crypto exchange in the US. Is it a sign that the glory days of crypto are gone?

Guest: Stacy-Marie Ishmael, managing editor for crypto at Bloomberg News

Host: Lizzie O'Leary

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After They Testified: The Drag King Who Loves Performing for Kids Jun 08, 2023

Deep in the heart of Texas, they performed in drag, for kids and enthusiastic crowds. But as state legislation moved to ban drag performances, they stopped lip syncing and spoke for themself—and the queer people who depend on them at their day job.

This is the second installment in What Next’s Pride Month series. “After They Testified” is about the Americans who’ve shown up in the last year to speak out against anti-queer legislation, how it felt to do so, and what came next.

Guest: Jay Thomas, AKA Bobby Pudrido, an Austin, Texas-based drag king and care coordinator.

If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get benefits like zero ads on any Slate podcast, bonus episodes of shows like Slow Burn and Dear Prudence—and you’ll be supporting the work we do here on What Next. Sign up now at slate.com/whatnextplus to help support our work.

This Pride Month, make an impact by helping Macy’s and The Trevor Project on their mission to fund life-saving suicide prevention services for LGBTQ youth. Go to macys.com/purpose to learn more.

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How Putin’s Chef Became Putin’s Butcher Jun 07, 2023

How Yevgeny Prigozhin and his Wagner Group became essential to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine—and one of Russia’s most vocal critics.

Guest: Brian Taylor, political science professor at Syracuse University, with a focus on Russian politics.

If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get benefits like zero ads on any Slate podcast, bonus episodes of shows like Slow Burn and Dear Prudence—and you’ll be supporting the work we do here on What Next. Sign up now at slate.com/whatnextplus to help support our work.

This Pride Month, make an impact by helping Macy’s and The Trevor Project on their mission to fund life-saving suicide prevention services for LGBTQ youth. Go to macys.com/purpose to learn more.

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Can the Feds Lower Your Rent? Jun 06, 2023

Housing prices have skyrocketed, from the usual hot spots in New York and San Francisco, out to the until-recently-affordable places like Boise, Idaho and Charlotte, North Carolina.

Sen. Brian Schatz proposed an $85 million program to entice cities and suburbs to enact “fair housing policies,” but is that enough to address a nationwide problem?

Guest: Henry Grabar, Slate writer and author of Paved Paradise: How Parking Explains the World.

If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get benefits like zero ads on any Slate podcast, bonus episodes of shows like Slow Burn and Dear Prudence—and you’ll be supporting the work we do here on What Next. Sign up now at slate.com/whatnextplus to help support our work.

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Do Work Requirements Work? Jun 05, 2023

Last week, Congress finally passed a debt ceiling deal. Part of that deal included expanding the work requirements for government assistance programs like SNAP, specifically for people ages 50 to 54.

Where did the idea of work requirements come from? And do work requirements actually help keep people in the workforce?

Guest: Pamela Herd, professor of public policy at Georgetown University and co-author of Administrative Burden: Policymaking by Other Means.

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TBD | Tech’s Newest Trillion Dollar Company Jun 04, 2023

Until recently, Nvidia was a company known for graphics cards—a brand name among gamers but not necessarily the general public. But as part of the A.I. boom, Nvidia’s stock has skyrocketed, putting the company in Silicon Valley’s trillion-dollar valuation class with Apple, Meta, and Alphabet—briefly, at least.

Guest: Don Clark, freelance reporter specializing in chips and enterprise tech.

Host: Emily Peck

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TBD | When Your Childhood Was Their Content Jun 02, 2023

When someone posts a photo of you online without your consent, it should be easy to have it taken down or confront the person who posted it. But what if the poster is your parent, and it’s not just one photo, but your entire childhood that’s readily available online? And as social media algorithms evolve to push content in front of as many people as possible, what happens when a temper tantrum goes viral?

Guest: Kathryn Lindsay, technology and culture writer.

Host: Emily Peck

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After They Testified: The Trans Pharmacist Who Went Viral Jun 01, 2023

As the fight for trans rights, including gender-affirming medical care, heads through state legislation, activists and medical providers are stepping up to testify. While explaining her perspective as a medical professional, a Little Rock pharmacist, who is trans, was asked about her genitalia in the middle of the Arkansas general assembly.

This is the first installment in What Next’s Pride Month series. “After They Testified” is about the Americans who’ve shown up in the last year to speak out against anti-queer legislation, how it felt to do so, and what came next.

Guest: Gwen Herzig, owner and pharmacist at Park West Pharmacy in Little Rock, Arkansas, president and executive director of The Prism Foundation.

If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get benefits like zero ads on any Slate podcast, bonus episodes of shows like Slow Burn and Dear Prudence—and you’ll be supporting the work we do here on What Next. Sign up now at slate.com/whatnextplus to help support our work.

This Pride Month, make an impact by helping Macy’s and The Trevor Project on their mission to fund life-saving suicide prevention services for LGBTQ youth. Go to macys.com/purpose to learn more.

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New Sex Abuse Charges Roil the Catholic Church May 31, 2023

After a long-delayed five-year investigation, the Illinois attorney general Kwame Raoul released the report on sexual abuse in the Illinois Catholic church. Where does this case fit in in the long history of abuse in the Catholic Church? And over two decades after the infamous Boston Globe investigation into the Catholic Church, has anything changed?

Guest: Robert Herguth, investigative reporter at the Chicago Sun-Times, part of the Watchdogs team.

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Covering the Supreme Court May 30, 2023

Right-wing activists have been waiting for a Supreme Court like this one, willing to hand down unpopular, reactionary opinions on guns, abortion, and voting rights. Meanwhile, the general public’s opinion of the court is cratering, and this year’s docket doesn’t look like it will help.

Guest: Jay Willis, editor-in-chief of Balls and Strikes.

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Decoder Ring: Why You Can’t Find a Damn Parking Spot May 29, 2023

From our colleagues at Decoder Ring:

Parking is one of the great paradoxes of American life. On the one hand, we have paved an ungodly amount of land to park our cars. On the other, it seems like it’s never enough.

Slate’s Henry Grabar has spent the last few years investigating how our pathological need for car storage determines the look, feel, and function of the places we live. It turns out our quest for parking has made some of our biggest problems worse.

In this episode, we’re going to hunt for parking, from the mean streets of Brooklyn to the sandy lots of Florida. We’ll explore how parking has quietly damaged the American landscape—and see what might fix it.

This episode was written by Henry Grabar, author of Paved Paradise: How Parking Explains the World. It was edited by Willa Paskin, who produces Decoder Ring with Katie Shepherd. We had extra production from Patrick Fort and editing help from Joel Meyer.

Your regular What Next programming resumes Tuesday.

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TBD | The Trouble With TikTok Songs May 28, 2023

How the music streaming business opened the door to billions of dollars in fraud.

Guest: Ashley Carman, Bloomberg News reporter covering the podcasting, music, and audio beat.

If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get benefits like zero ads on any Slate podcast, bonus episodes of shows like Slow Burn and Dear Prudence—and you’ll be supporting the work we do here on What Next TBD. Sign up now at slate.com/whatnextplus to help support our work.

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TBD | Tweetering on the Glass Cliff May 26, 2023

How Twitter’s new CEO Linda Yaccarino finds herself on the edge of “the glass cliff”: when a woman is sent in to fix a big mess.

Guest: Vittoria Elliot, reporter for Wired, covering platforms and power

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DeSantis Makes It Official May 25, 2023

The Florida governor has finally officially entered the Republican presidential primary. With electoral wins and culture war conflicts under his belt, does Ron DeSantis actually have a chance at beating Donald Trump?

Guest: Molly Ball, Time magazine’s national political correspondent.

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Republicans' Stealth Plan to Ban Abortions May 24, 2023

A national ban on abortion remains so unpopular that even Republican presidential candidates won’t commit to one. However, a law from the 1870s, depending on how it's interpreted and enforced, could ban both abortion pills and the procedure across America.

Guest: Mary Ziegler, law professor at UC Davis and author of Roe: The History of a National Obsession.

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The Navajo Fight for Water May 23, 2023

The Supreme Court is currently hearing a case that will determine whether or not the government is obligated to ensure water access for Native American tribes. The arguments in the case, Arizona v. Navajo Nation, hinge upon whether or not the government has violated past treaties with the tribe by not providing adequate water.

Guest: Heather Tanana, assistant professor of law at the University of Utah and citizen of the Navajo Nation.

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How the Next Pandemic Starts May 22, 2023

Bats have been linked to a “greatest hits” list of infectious diseases—not just COVID-19, but SARS, Marburg, and even ebola. And now, 1.8 billion people are living in “jump zones” where the next viral spillover may occur.

Guest: Ryan McNeill, London-based deputy editor for the Reuters global data-journalism team.

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TBD | A Tipping Point for Digital Tipping May 21, 2023

From the coffee shop to the salon to the grocery store, Americans feel like they’re being prompted and prodded for tips more than ever—and they’re starting to resent it.

Guest: Kelly Phillips Erb, tax and law reporter for Forbes.

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TBD: Why Sports Are All in on Betting May 19, 2023

Out of the smoky backrooms, Vegas and clandestine dens, and straight to your phone—how did gambling on sports go from forbidden to inescapable seemingly overnight?

Guest: John Holden, associate professor at Oklahoma State’s Spears school of business

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North Carolina’s Rush to Restrict Abortion May 18, 2023

When a Democratic pro-choice representative defected from her party, North Carolina Republicans instantly secured a veto-proof supermajority in the state legislature. Then, they quickly sent a bill that restricts abortion to their Democratic governor’s desk, and overrode his veto, ending North Carolina’s time as an abortion destination in the southeastern United States.

Guest: Rebecca J. Kreitzer, associate professor of public policy at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and expert on abortion politics and policy.

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The Roots of Latino White Supremacy May 17, 2023

The shooter who killed 8 people at an Allen, Texas mall had Nazi tattoos and left behind an online diary filled with white supremacist beliefs. He also was Latino.

Guest: Tanya Katerí Hernández, professor of law at Fordham University School of Law and author of Racial Innocence: Unmasking Latino Anti-Black Bias and the Struggle for Equality

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How Erdogan Stays in Power May 16, 2023

Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has run Turkey in some capacity for 20 years. Even after his government’s slow, incompetent response to an earthquake and an ongoing economic crisis, the presidential election is heading to a run-off in two weeks. How does Erdogan keep hanging on? And could he finally be unseated?

Guest: Suzy Hansen, author of Notes on a Foreign Country: An American Abroad in a Post-American World

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Trump Is Back. Is the Media Ready? May 15, 2023

Much of the media world looked on with a sinking feeling as Donald Trump held forth in a primetime CNN event. More than most candidates, Trump seems to feed off media attention. Journalists have a responsibility to cover the leading Republican presidential candidate—so how can they do it responsibly?

Guest: David Folkenflik, NPR’s media correspondent.

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TBD | Space After NASA May 14, 2023

Space might seem to be heading from the domain of big government programs to a playground for billionaires. But just below the surface, a world of start-ups are getting ready to launch.

Guest:

Ashlee Vance, business columnist and author of When the Heavens Went on Sale: The Misfits and Geniuses Racing to Put Space Within Reach.

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TBD | Who’s Afraid of A.I.? May 12, 2023

Artificial intelligence—as it already exists today—is drawing from huge troves of surveillance data and is rife with the biases built into the algorithm, in service of the huge corporations that develop and maintain the systems. The fight for the future doesn’t look like war with Skynet; it’s happening right now on the lines of the Writer’s Guild strike.

Guests:

Meredith Whittaker, president of the Signal Foundation, co-founder of the AI Now Institute at NYU

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Debt Ceiling Dinner Theater May 11, 2023

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen announced that June 1 is the “drop dead date” by which the American government has to either raise the debt ceiling or run out of money to pay its obligations. Can President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy come to an agreement that will mollify their bases and keep the government working? And why does it feel like we have to go through this ritual every couple of years?

Guest: Jordan Weissmann, Washington editor at Semafor.

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The Border's New Normal May 10, 2023

Activated during the Trump administration in 2020, Title 42 is a controversial border policy that makes it easier to quickly expel asylum seekers. Even though Biden campaigned on moving away from Trump’s anti-immigration stance,, his administration has also leaned on Title 42 to control the border. . Now that the policy is being lifted this week, pressure is on the Biden administration to answer the practical question: “What does a fair and humane asylum system look like in America?”

Guest: Arelis Hernández, immigration reporter at the Washington Post

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Why Richard Glossip Has Escaped Execution Nine Times May 09, 2023

Richard Glossip has been on death row for 26 years and stared down nine execution dates. The 1997 killing that sent him to death row has been investigated numerous times and the actual killer—who brutally bludgeoned a motel owner with a baseball bat—has even sought to recant his testimony against Glossip. Over the decades, anti-death penalty activists and a growing number of lawmakers from both sides of the aisle have spoken out to save Richard Glossip. But now his case is in the Supreme Court’s hands.

Guests:

Liliana Segura, investigative journalist at The Intercept focused on prisons and harsh sentencing.

Mark Joseph Stern, Slate senior writer covering courts and the law.

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Can DeSantis Beat Disney? May 08, 2023

To hear Ron DeSantis tell it, “Disney” represents “wokeness.” To the state of Florida, though, the company represents tourist dollars and tax revenue. As the war between Mickey and the Florida governor heads to the courts, Disney CEO Bob Iger doesn’t seem worried. Is DeSantis?

Guest: Lori Rozsa, the Washington Post’s Florida correspondent.

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TBD | What's Going on at Meta? May 07, 2023

Meta’s reached a sort of mid-life crisis. Between the layoffs, the stagnant metaverse and Facebook’s dwindling profile, does Zuckerberg have a plan here?

Guests:

Naomi Nix, Washington Post reporter

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TBD | What the Writers' Strike Is Really About May 05, 2023

When television and screenwriters went on strike in 2007, Netflix had just started offering the option to stream content. This week, the Writer’s Guild of America went on strike to update pay structures for the streaming era—and to get ahead of A.I. and the changes it may bring.

Guests:

Michelle Dean, television writer and journalist

Anousha Sakoui, entertainment industry writer for the Los Angeles Times

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Charles In Charge May 04, 2023

It’s the first British coronation in 70 years and along with the celebration, questions abound: What kind of king will Charles be? Who is Charles anyway? And why even have a king?

Guest: Imogen West-Knights, writer and Slate contributor

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America’s Rich History of Gun Control May 03, 2023

It's been nearly a year since the Supreme Court set a precedent that gun control laws should be judged against “America's historical tradition.” That ruling has opened the door to more than 100 legal challenges — and dozens of gun control laws being overturned. But experts say when it comes to actual U.S. history... lax gun laws are the exception, not the rule. What's the truth behind America's history with firearms? And what can America's present learn from its past?

Guest: Robert J Spitzer, professor emeritus at SUNY Cortland, author of The Gun Dilemma.

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What E. Jean Carroll Is Fighting For May 02, 2023

Author E. Jean Carroll has accused Donald Trump of raping her in a dressing room in the mid-1990s—and she’s suing him for battery and for defamation in response to his claims that she’s lying and “mentally sick.” The trial began on Tuesday, April 25th, in federal court in Manhattan.

What’s at stake in this latest trial against the former president?

Guest: Christina Cauterucci, Slate senior writer and host of Outward.

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War in Ukraine: The View Behind Closed Doors May 01, 2023

What a slew of documents leaked via Discord reveal about Ukraine’s war against Russia—both from Ukraine’s and Washington’s perspectives.

Guest: Shane Harris, senior national security writer at the Washington Post

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TBD | Is Your Uber Drivers' Pay Rigged? Apr 30, 2023

Two gig workers standing side-by-side can be offered the very same job and get offered two different wages. Set by an algorithm and based on calculations that are never explained to the workers themselves, this unequal pay for equal work is already subject to lawsuits that call it a form of price fixing and wage discrimination, but the tech is being tested in other industries.

Guests: Veena Dubal, law professor at the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco

Sergio Avedian, senior contributor at The Rideshare Guy

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TBD | Stephen King Is Just as Confused About Blue Checks as You Are Apr 28, 2023

Twitter’s “blue check” verification went from something you applied for, to something you could pay for, to something you had to pay for…to something that many celebrities wouldn’t even accept for free. Master of horror Stephen King told us he wouldn’t pay for a blue check, but he’s not going to fight it either—he just doesn’t really understand what’s going on. Does anyone at Twitter understand?

Guests:

Alex Heath, deputy editor of The Verge

Jon Favreau, co-founder of Crooked Media, speechwriter for President Barack Obama

Stephen King, freelancer author

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Fighting for the Right to Die Apr 27, 2023

A self-described activist had late-stage, fallopian tube cancer. She didn’t live in one of the 11 jurisdictions that allows terminally-ill patients the choice to medically end their own lives. But rather than relocating, she argued Vermont’s residency restrictions were unconstitutional.

Guest: Lynda Bluestein, a 75-year-old woman seeking to end her life on her terms, who successfully sued Vermont over their residency requirement in their “Patient Choice At End of Life” law.

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The Ballad of Tucker Carlson Apr 26, 2023

Tucker Carlson has now completed the holy trinity of cable TV news: joining — and leaving — MSNBC, CNN, and now Fox News. Why did Fox oust him so abruptly? And how did he create a feedback loop that made Fox millions — and changed American politics forever?

Guest: Nicole Hemmer, Director of the Rogers Center for the Study of the Presidency at Vanderbilt University.

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Beyond Stand Your Ground Apr 25, 2023

“Stand Your Ground” laws have expanded across the country over the past 20 years, allowing people to use deadly force even when they could safely retreat from a perceived threat. But when someone shoots a person standing on their porch, or as they turn around in a driveway, or in a crowd, the claim that these laws exist for self-defense doesn’t seem to wash.

Guest: Tamara Lave, professor of criminal law at the University of Miami and a former public defender.

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Why Evan Gershkovich Went to Russia Apr 24, 2023

Evan Gershkovich is the first foreign journalist arrested in Russia as a spy since the Cold War. When the war in Ukraine began, Evan - like most journalists - left the country. But then, he went back. Why?

Guest: Drew Hinshaw, senior reporter at the Wall Street Journal

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TBD | "Crap Apps": Why Weather Apps Suck Apr 23, 2023

Weather apps can be frustrating. And with how much we rely on them to know if we should wear pants or shorts, they'll still leave you in the rain. But as the climate gets wilder, the questions of how to tell people what they need to know—and quickly—can be an issue of life or death.

Guest: Charlie Warzel, staff writer at the Atlantic

Daniel Swain, UCLA climate scientist

Host: Lizzie O'Leary

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TBD | Will A.I. Close Off the Internet? Apr 21, 2023

Reddit announced it will start charging companies to use its huge, ever-growing trove of text to train A.I. chatbots. It’s another expense for the fledgling tech and another knock against the “open internet” ideals that Reddit once embodied.

Guest: Mike Isaac, tech reporter for the New York Times.

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So Fox News, What Did We Learn? Apr 20, 2023

Just as the defamation trial was set to begin, Fox News settled with Dominion Voting Systems at a cost of $787.5 million. While not nearly as expensive as a Rupert Murdoch divorce, surely the settlement and the airing of their texts and emails has taught them something valuable—right?

Guest: Justin Peters, Slate correspondent.

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Dianne Feinstein's Last Stand Apr 19, 2023

The 89-year-old Dianne Feinstein has stated she plans to retire at the end of her term, but her health-related absences have stymied the Democrats’ ability to confirm judges—one of the few things the party can actually do in a divided government.

Guest: Joe Garofoli, senior political writer at the San Francisco Chronicle, covering national and state politics.

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Fox News Goes to Court Apr 18, 2023

The defamation trial between Dominion Voting Systems and Fox News is slated to start this week. Though Dominion uncovered a trove of texts and emails from people at Fox News who knew calling the 2020 election stolen was a lie, proving “defamation” is a high bar in the United States. Can Dominion win the case? And even if Fox News can win the legal case, is their reputation shot?

Guest: Erik Wemple, Washington Post media critic

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He Couldn’t Teach ‘Slavery Was Wrong.’ So He Quit. Apr 17, 2023

Iowa was one of the first states in the country to pass legislation against teaching that the United States is systemically racist — an idea some equate with “critical race theory.” But when one social studies teacher asked how he could teach U.S. history without running afoul of the new law, he didn’t get any clarity — or help.

What happens when legislation targets teachers? And as America’s teacher shortage grows — what will this mean for the country’s kids?

Guest: Greg Wickenkamp, former eighth grade social studies teacher in Fairfield, Iowa.

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TBD | Will Banning Social Media Help Kids? Apr 16, 2023

A new law in Utah that goes into effect next year states that anyone under 18 needs parental permission to use social media. Is it a necessary step to protect children from harms associated with social media, or are we blunting a tool of expression for the youth?

Guest: Dr. Mitch Prinstein, chief science officer at American Psychological Association

Host: Lizzie O’Leary

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TBD | How Gamers Leaked Classified Pentagon Docs Apr 14, 2023

Discord is a place to share a community online. Most often, it's for gaming. So why did classified intelligence from the Pentagon end up on a small server whose main interests seem to be video games, military equipment and memes? And how?

Guest: Shane Harris, national security reporter for the Washington Post.

Host: Lizzie O’Leary

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Do Abortion Pills Actually Need FDA Approval? Apr 13, 2023

Last week a federal judge in Texas refuted the FDA approval for mifepristone, a pill used for medication abortions, which would suspend that approval across the country.

But some experts say - plenty of drugs don’t have FDA approval, and are still widely distributed… from baby formula, to multivitamins.

Guest: Rachel Rebouché, dean and James E. Beasley professor of law at the Temple University Beasley School of Law and faculty fellow at the Center for Public Health Law Research.

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Narcan Over the Counter Apr 12, 2023

The FDA just approved a version of Narcan, the most commonly used version of the overdose prevention medicine naloxone, for over-the-counter sales. The move comes in response to overdose deaths steadily rising since the late ‘70s and around 100,000 Americans dying from overdose just last year. What took so long?

Guest: Nancy D. Campbell, department head at Rensselaer’s department of science and technology studies, author of OD: Naloxone and the Politics of Overdose.

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Tennessee’s House Divided Apr 11, 2023

The Tennessee House, which has a Republican supermajority, voted last week on motions to expel three Democratic members for “disorderly behavior” after they led protest chants from the floor of the chamber.

Two Black lawmakers, Rep. Justin Jones and Rep. Justin Pearson—both in their late 20s and new to the House this session—were ousted. The motion to boot the other Rep. Gloria Johnson, who’s white, failed by one vote.

Guest: Melissa Brown, state politics reporter for The Tennessean.

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Clarence Thomas’s Friends in High Places Apr 10, 2023

A ProPublica investigation revealed that Justice Clarence Thomas has been gifted luxury vacations by Republican donor and billionaire Harlan Crow. For over two decades, Justice Thomas has taken private jets, gone on yachts and stayed at private resorts alongside powerful Republican donors, all funded by Crow. For the most part, Justice Thomas did not disclose these vacations.

The investigation raises questions on the legality of these types of gifts, as well as the lack of oversight and ethics standards for the Supreme Court. Did these vacations break the law? To what extent could Justice Thomas’s court rulings have been influenced by Crow and other people on these trips? And even if some of these gifts may not have been illegal, why doesn’t the Supreme Court have more oversight and ethical guidelines to prevent potential conflicts of interest?

Guest: Justin Elliot, reporter at ProPublica.

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TBD | Why Flying Is So Bad Now Apr 09, 2023

U.S. air travel is being strained on all sides—travel demand is back to 2019 levels, but the number of pilots and planes and ground crew hasn’t caught back up, and a rash of close calls are raising safety concerns about America’s aging flying infrastructure.

Guest: Jon Ostrower, editor in chief of The Air Current.

Host: Lizzie O’Leary

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TBD | Wait, TikTok Has a Sister App? Apr 07, 2023

While TikTok’s parent company, Bytedance, is fighting to keep its flagship app from being banned in the United States, it’s also pushing a new app into the marketplace—Lemon8. One part Pinterest, one part Instagram and a dash of its sister app, Lemon8 is most likely saddled with the same security concerns that led lawmakers to consider banning TikTok.

Guest: Sapna Maheshwari, business reporter for the New York Times.

Host: Lizzie O’Leary

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How Scared Should Trump Be? Apr 06, 2023

Is the Manhattan DA’s case against Donald Trump something he can wriggle out of, or is the former president in real legal trouble this time? Some are already dismissing Alvin Bragg’s investigation as weak and small potatoes. But others are more optimistic. What’s the case for indicting - on these charges?

Guest: Norm Eisen, senior fellow at Brookings Governance, CNN legal analyst.

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Preventing Preventive Care Apr 05, 2023

A federal judge has struck down a provision in the Affordable Care Act requiring private insurers to provide preventive care—screenings and the like—at no cost to patients.

But preventive care is a good investment for insurance companies and for national health. It’s something Americans already don’t get enough of — but is anyone willing to step in and save it?

Guest: Julie Rovner, chief Washington correspondent Kaiser Health News, host of the “What the Health” podcast

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Wisconsin’s High-Stakes Supreme Court Race Apr 04, 2023

In Wisconsin, the state Supreme Court election is breaking records when it comes to campaign spending on a judicial race. With abortion rights for Wisconsinites, their state’s electoral geography, and potentially the fate of the 2024 presidential election on the line, that big ticket spending makes sense. But will it make a difference in who gets the seat?

Guest: Mark Joseph Stern, senior staff writer for Slate.

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Trump Heads to Court Apr 03, 2023

In a history-making move, a grand jury voted to indict a former president. We’ll have more answers about the details of the charges after Donald Trump’s Tuesday arraignment, but what this means for the GOP nomination, the 2024 race, and for future presidents in politically-hostile states is still up in the air.

Guest: Ankush Khardori, former federal prosecutor for the U.S. Department of Justice.

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TBD | Seeking Asylum Via App Apr 02, 2023

CBP One, U.S. Customs and Border Protection's app that is supposed to make crossing the border more efficient, is littered with bugs. But even a perfectly functional smartphone app would pose problems for people seeking asylum on the southern U.S. border.

Guest: Arelis Hernández, Washington Post reporter

Gia Del Pino, director of communications at the Kino Border Initiative

Felicia Rangel Samponaro, director of the Sidewalk School

Host: Lizzie O’Leary

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TBD | When A.I. Denies Your Health Care Mar 31, 2023

As Medicare Advantage plans have increased their reliance on software to determine what their customers require—and, therefore, receive—elderly patients are being denied coverage for care they need. What happens when an algorithm — not a doctor — decides how much care you need and it’s not enough?

Guest: Casey Ross, national technology correspondent at STAT

Host: Emily Peck

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Podcast production by Evan Campbell

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The Diagnosis Was Fatal. She Couldn't Get an Abortion. Mar 30, 2023

Two weeks after Roe v. Wade was overturned, Lauren Hall found out the baby she was carrying had a fatal condition: her head and skull weren’t properly developing. Texas’s three overlapping bans on abortion forced her to fly to Washington to terminate the unviable pregnancy. With the Center for Reproductive Rights, she’s now one of five plaintiffs suing the state, so no one else will have to go through what she did.

Guest: Lauren Hall, plaintiff suing the state of Texas over its abortion bans.

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March Madness Comes to Capitol Hill Mar 29, 2023

Two years ago, the NCAA changed their rules to allow college athletes to make money from their “name, image and likeness.” It was a stop-gap measure at best, and some folks even want to see athletes gain employee status. But, the NCAA has taken to Capitol Hill today to try to prevent just that.

Guest: Dan Murphy, staff writer at ESPN and author of Start By Believing.

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Why Israelis Are Protesting Mar 28, 2023

Israel ground to a halt on Monday after a series of massive protests against planned judicial reforms. Though Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the reforms will be delayed, getting them passed is a top priority for his far-right coalition government. How can the government—and country—move forward?

Guest: Dahlia Scheindlin, international political and strategic consultant and fellow at Century International in Tel Aviv.

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Will Crime Decide Chicago’s Mayoral Race? Mar 27, 2023

In Chicago, a city plagued by recent crime concerns from its citizens, a progressive former Teachers Union organizer faces an opponent who has described himself in the past as “more of a Republican than a Democrat.”

Guest: Gregory Pratt, Chicago Tribune reporter covering Mayor Lori Lightfoot and City Hall.

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TBD | Tesla’s Full Self-Driving Woes Mar 26, 2023

Elon Musk has been promising fully self-driving Teslas to the public for years and the beta version of Full Self-Driving is already in over 300,000 cars. But as a recent recall attests, the software still isn’t ready to take the wheel—and Musk himself may be a big reason why.

Guest: Faiz Siddiqui, tech reporter for the Washington Post

Host: Lizzie O’Leary

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TBD | The Case Against TikTok Mar 24, 2023

To most of its 150 million American consumers, TikTok is a fun app. To some creators, TikTok is a job and their platform. But to members of the US government, TikTok is a national security risk. As the fight over TikTok’s future comes to Capitol Hill this week, what’s next for the embattled social media platform?

Guest: Emily Baker-White, senior writer, tech reporter at Forbes

Host: Lizzie O’Leary

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Why Biden Broke his Promise on Drilling Mar 23, 2023

Despite his campaign promises, President Biden has signed off on the Willow Project, an $8 billion plan to extract 600 million barrels of oil from public lands in Alaska. But how useful might this 30-year project be with the country continually prioritizing electric energy?

Guest: Ben Lefebvre, energy reporter at Politico.

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Why Is Adderall So Hard to Find? Mar 22, 2023

Since last summer, it’s been difficult to fill an Adderall prescription. The shortage is driving some people to try other ADHD medications—causing shortages of those medications too—while others are sourcing their medication on the “gray market.”

Why is such a common drug nowhere to be found?And why has the FDA been so mum on the subject?

Guests:

Ike Swetlitz, health journalist for Bloomberg News

Sheila McClear, writer for Los Angeles magazine

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Atlanta's Battle Over "Cop City" Mar 21, 2023

The Atlanta Police Foundation’s $90 million police training facility, a mock-urban space with a nightclub, convenience store, and even homes, has drawn the ire of police reform activists, environmentalists, and even advocates for the homeless. The months-long effort by forest-dwelling protesters to prevent the construction of this facility has left an advocate dead, a state trooper shot, 35 individuals facing terrorism charges, and a community divided.

Guest: Madeline Thigpen, criminal justice reporter at Capital B Atlanta.

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Could Trump Be Arrested Over Stormy Daniels? Mar 20, 2023

This weekend, former President Trump warned supporters on Truth Social he could be arrested on Tuesday, and called for them to “TAKE OUR NATION BACK!” Although it’s unclear whether Trump is facing imminent arrest, many observers believe legal proceedings focused on Trump’s “hush money” payment to Stormy Daniels suggest an indictment is coming soon.

How strong is this case, and how likely is it that Trump will face real legal consequences?

Guests:

Dahlia Lithwick, host of Slate’s Amicus, and author of “Lady Justice: Women, the Law, and the Battle to Save America.”

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, and Madeline Ducharme, with help from Jared Downing and Laura Spencer.

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TBD | When A.I. Steals Your Voice Mar 19, 2023

Using just what you’ve posted to social media, generative A.I. can create a “puppet version” of your voice—one that’s close enough to scam your family into paying thousands in, say, bail money. And imitating public officials to create “deep fakes” who say whatever they’re told is even easier.

Guest: Pranshu Verma, tech reporter for the Washington Post.

Host: Lizzie O’Leary

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TBD: Where Is Silicon Valley Going to Bank Now? Mar 17, 2023

The economy is doing well almost every but in tech, where headlines about layoffs have been replaced with news about Silicon Valley Bank’s demise. The collapse of “the central artery for the tech industry” looks like the end of an era. Where do venture capitalists, start-ups—and the industry writ large—go now?

Guest: Priya Anand, reporter at Bloomberg covering venture capital and start-ups.

Host: Lizzie O’Leary

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Podcast production by Evan Campbell and Patrick Fort.

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Is the SAT Done For? Mar 16, 2023

Colleges are dropping the SAT as a requirement in their admissions process, citing studies that what the test measures best is simply how well you’ve prepared for the test. But the question at the heart of the matter remains: how do you create a fair and equitable college admissions process? And can a test-optional system help foster a more equal playing field when there’s still so much inequality built into our school systems?

Guest: Jeremy Bauer-Wolf, senior reporter at Higher Ed Dive.

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Why Silicon Valley Bank Collapsed Mar 15, 2023

The downfall of Silicon Valley Bank marks the second largest bank collapse in American history.

Why and how did SVBgo under? Where were the regulators? And how do we stop this from happening again?

Guest: Annie Lowery,staff writer at The Atlantic and the author of Give People Money.

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How Anti-Trans Legislation Cost Rural South Dakota a Doctor Mar 14, 2023

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem has made anti-trans legislation a trademark of her term, but singling out trans people—and those who provide them medical care—comes at a cost to the state and its residents. It left the tiny rural town of Webster with only one physician.

Guest: Mayson Bedient, a family medicine and gender-affirming care specialist in Fargo, North Dakota

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A Disability Rights Icon’s Long Legacy Mar 13, 2023

Judy Heumann devoted her life to advocating for Americans with disabilities and was a fixture at protests, sit-ins, and activist meetings, eventually becoming a presidential advisor. After passing away at 75, her work continues through her friends and those she fought for.

Guest: Sandy Ho, founder of Disability and Intersectionality Summit and disability policy researcher.

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TBD | Would You Let A.I. Date For You? Mar 12, 2023

The online dating world can be brutal and repetitive—just the kind of thing you might want to automate. But, in one tech writer’s experience, artificial intelligence isn’t ready to make real connections—at least, not without a lot of help.

Guest: Heather Tal Murphy, covers business and technology at Slate

Host: Lizzie O’Leary

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TBD | When Meta Tells Law Enforcement About Your Abortion Mar 10, 2023

Just weeks before the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, a Nebraska woman and her daughter were charged with performing an illegal abortion, thanks to information that law enforcement uncovered by going through their Facebook accounts.

Guest: Johana Bhuiyan, senior reporter on tech and surveillance for The Guardian

Host: Lizzie O’Leary

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Does Steven Spielberg Have an Oscars Curse? Mar 09, 2023

For all of his success, Steven Spielberg has a spotty record at the Oscars. He’s been nominated 22 times, but he’s only won three. Is it a curse?

This Sunday could mark a shift for the King of Hollywood’s five decades in the industry. And with The Fabelmans this year, it’s personal.

Guest: Michael Schulman, New Yorker staff writer and the author of Oscar Wars: A History of Hollywood in Gold, Sweat, and Tears.

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Why Child Labor is an Immigration Issue Mar 08, 2023

The New York Times published an exposé on immigrant children illegally employed to do dangerous jobs across the country. To one U.S. representative, it’s not just a labor issue; it’s symptomatic of the larger problems in the immigration system. Fixing it, then, will require once again taking up the fight to overhaul immigration.

Guest: Rep. Hillary Scholten, U.S. representative from Michigan’s 3rd congressional district.

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Food Stamps Face Their Biggest-Ever Cut Mar 07, 2023

The federal government ended the COVID-19 increase to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program this month. What does this mean for people who depend on SNAP to put food on the table?

Guests: Helena Bottemiller Evich, reporter and founder of Food Fix, a publication on food policy.

Jennifer Barnes, founder of Solidarity Sandy Springs in Georgia.

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The Fight To Return Native Remains to Their Tribes Mar 06, 2023

The “Native American Graves and Repatriation Act” passed more than 30 years ago, with the goal of returning human remains, which were taken from native burial sites, back to their tribes. But museums and universities still hold the remains of thousands of people—UC Berkeley alone has nearly 10,000.

Guest: Mary Hudetz, Propublica reporter focusing on tribal issues throughout the Southwest.

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TBD | The Hollywood Weight Loss Wonder Drug Mar 05, 2023

The diabetes medication Ozempic has exploded in popularity, particularly amongst those in Hollywood looking to lose a few extra pounds. But a silver bullet for weight loss leads to a number of questions: Is “buying weight loss” via injection somehow worse than diet and exercise? Are so many people buying and using this drug that people who need it for its intended purpose are missing out? What happened to body positivity?

Guest: Matthew Schneier, feature writer for New York Magazine.

Host: Lizzie O’Leary

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TBD | What Would Convince a Lab Leak Skeptic? Mar 03, 2023

It was reported this week that the U.S. Department of Energy now believes, “with low confidence,” that the COVID-19 virus came from a lab. But is there enough evidence for the “lab leak theory” to convince those who believe the virus emerged from animals in a wet market?

Guest: Angela Rasmussen, virologist at the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization at the University of Saskatchewan in Canada.

Host: Lizzie O’Leary

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Will SCOTUS Kill Student Loan Relief? Mar 02, 2023

President Biden’s student loan debt relief plan goes before the Supreme Court this week. Though the court’s conservative majority seems opposed to the program, debt-relief detractors are struggling to answer a major question: who does this program harm?

Guests:

Mark Joseph Stern, Slate senior writer covering the courts

Alice Turner, hospital pharmacist and compounder

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Why Insulin Prices Keep Rising Mar 01, 2023

It’s a rare bi-partisan point of agreement: the price of insulin is too high—and it’s still rising. With the stakes literally life-or-death for millions of Americans, what can be done?

Guest: Bram Sable-Smith, Midwest correspondent for Kaiser Health News.

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When Politicians Need Mental Healthcare Feb 28, 2023

When John Fetterman checked himself into a hospital for clinical depression in mid-February, he was praised by both parties and public health officials for his bravery. But not long ago, being diagnosed with depression or taking time for your mental health were seen as disqualifying for those seeking public office.

Guest: Jason Kander, President of National Expansion at Veterans Community Project, author of Invisible Storm: A Soldier's Memoir of Politics and PTSD, and co-host of Crooked Media’s podcast Majority 54.

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Beijing’s Crackdown on Hong Kong Dissidents Feb 27, 2023

When Beijing passed a new law that harshly penalized protests in Hong Kong, activists and dissident groups had to choose whether to shut down or get out. Now, 47 pro-democracy activists are facing charges and likely prison time, and a generation of dissent may be quelled.

Guest: Emily Feng, NPR’s Beijing correspondent.

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CORRECTION (March 2, 2023): A previous version of this episode misidentified this trial as a closed trial.

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TBD | Is a 25-Year-Old’s Brain Mature? Feb 26, 2023

New understandings of how our brains develop are changing how the law considers who is mature and who isn’t. But If our brains are still developing, when can the law treat us like adults?

Guest: Jane C. Hu, independent science journalist.

Host: Lizzie O’Leary

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TBD | Why A.I. Says the Darndest Things Feb 24, 2023

Microsoft has been testing out their new artificial intelligence on their long-ridiculed search engine Bing. The results? A chatbot that lies brazenly and confidently, and has a penchant for manipulation. What are the risks and rewards of letting bots loose on the world?

Guest: Drew Harwell, Washington Post tech reporter covering artificial intelligence

Host: Emily Peck

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Ukraine’s War Is Its New Normal Feb 23, 2023

The sound of air raid sirens in Kyiv are almost comforting to one Ukrainian journalist—it means the air defense system still works. But even with the Russians running low on weaponry, he doesn’t see how the war ends while Vladimir Putin is alive.

Guest: Romeo Kokriatski, managing editor of New Voice of Ukraine, and co-host of the podcast Ukraine Without Hype

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When an Earthquake Hits a Civil War Feb 22, 2023

How getting recovery aid and assistance to Turkey and northern Syria has been complicated by on-going aftershocks from the earthquake and the reverberations of the Syrian civil war.

Guests:

Louisa Loveluck, Baghdad bureau chief for the Washington Post.

Dr. Ahmad Dbais, Operations Director and Disaster Management Team Leader for UOSSM (Union of Medical Care and Relief Organizations).

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The Ohio Trainwreck Blame Game Feb 21, 2023

How a derailed train and the dark cloud of chemical burn off over East Palestine, Ohio, came to confirm everything you think is wrong with everything.

Guest: Ben Mathis-Lilley, Slate staff writer

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Amicus: The “Stop the Steal” Fight That Never Ended Feb 20, 2023

Enjoy this episode of Slate's Amicus, while the What Next team enjoys the holiday.

Wisconsin’s State Supreme Court heard one of the landmark cases of the 2020 presidential election. During oral arguments in Trump v Biden in December 2020, Justice Jill J Karofsky participated in proceedings via Zoom from her office inside the state capitol in Madison. Outside her office window, she could see armed protesters gathered in what she later viewed as a dry run for January 6th. In a 4-3 decision, with one Republican justice siding against Trump, the Wisconsin Supreme Court voted to uphold Biden’s victory in the state. On this week’s Amicus, Justice Karofsky speaks for the first time about the fallout from that case: Fallout in her personal life, for herself and loved ones. Fallout in her professional life, with an investigation and the threat of sanction for her line of questioning in oral argument. And beyond all that, the fallout for democracy—and for the role of jurists within that democracy.

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TBD | The Baby-Sleep Industrial Complex Feb 19, 2023

The tech-laden, luxury bassinet “Snoo” has been presented as preventing Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, helping babies sleep longer, and a totally reasonable way to spend $1,700. Is any of that true?

Guest: Kate Taylor, senior features correspondent for Business Insider

John Collins, Lizzie’s husband.

Host: Lizzie O’Leary

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TBD | What Made the Balloon Drama Pop Off? Feb 17, 2023

Come to think of it, a giant balloon seems like a pretty conspicuous way to spy on another country. So what was that Chinese spy balloon doing above the U.S.—and what have American planes been shooting down since?

Guest: Shane Harris, Washington Post reporter covering intelligence and national security.

Host: Lizzie O’Leary

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Will Abortion Pills Be Banned? Feb 16, 2023

A judge in north Texas is considering a lawsuit that could make access to abortion pills more difficult across the country. While anti-abortion activists can point to a string of recent successes, the existence of another, widely-used abortion medication would make medical abortions nearly impossible to ban outright.

Guest: Christina Cauterucci, Slate senior writer and host of Outward.

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Is Nikki Haley the GOP’s Future? Feb 15, 2023

Former South Carolina governor and UN ambassador Nikki Haley announced that she is running to be president in 2024—challenging Donald Trump for the Republican nomination. How will she define herself in contrast to the former president—her former boss—without losing his base?

Guest: Ed Kilgore, political columnist for New York magazine.

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Why the West Bank Is at a Boiling Point Feb 14, 2023

With hard-right, pro-settler representatives in the Israeli government, and the Palestinian Authority losing credibility with Palestinians, illegal settlements in the West Bank have become flashpoints in the ever-present yet still-escalating tension in the region.

Guest: Yair Rosenberg, staff writer at the Atlantic and the author of its newsletter, Deep Shtetl, about the intersection of politics, culture, and religion.

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The Mass Shooter Database Feb 13, 2023

Why does someone become a mass shooter? Researchers are interviewing perpetrators and their victims—and those who narrowly averted committing a mass shooting—and discovering a common thread of psychological despair. Can their work be applied to the prevention of future violence?

Guest: Jillian Peterson, forensic psychologist, violence researcher, and author of The Violence Project.

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TBD | Contraband Tech Behind Bars Feb 12, 2023

It’s hard to put a number on it but judging from the number of videos emerging online, there are more and more contraband cell phones finding their way into the hands of people in prison, who use them to record TikTok dances, take online courses, and alert the outside world to what’s happening on the inside.

Guest: Keri Blakinger, criminal justice reporter at the Los Angeles Times, author of Corrections in Ink.

Host: Lizzie O’Leary

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TBD | Why Ban TikTok? Feb 10, 2023

TikTok was banned on government agency devices in December; several schools and universities have banned it on their devices and wifi networks, and the governor of Texas unveiled a plan to ban it in the state. Can “Project Texas” stem the anti-TikTok tide? And would banning the app actually achieve…anything?

Guest: Louise Matsakis, reporter for Semafor covering tech and China

Host: Lizzie O’Leary

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How Florida’s School Censorship Spreads Feb 09, 2023

Governor Ron DeSantis canceling the rollout of AP African-American Studies course in Florida is more than just another salvo in the culture war. It has implications across public education, across the country—and its chilling effect is already evident.

Guests: Jeremy Young, historian and Senior Manager of Free Expression and Education at PEN America.

Chyna-Lee Hunter, a 12th grade student at Robert Morgan Educational Center in Miami, Fla.

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The Russian “Collaborators” Feb 08, 2023

For Ukrainians who remained behind when the war began, choices made in the fog of occupation come under scrutiny when the invading army leaves, and neighbors once divided by the Russians again must live side by side.

Guest: Joshua Yaffa, contributing writer at The New Yorker and the author of “Between Two Fires: Truth, Ambition, and Compromise in Putin's Russia.”

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His Son Died in Uvalde. He’s Still Fighting. Feb 07, 2023

Immediately following a mass shooting, public officials will say that “now is not the time” to discuss what changes—for example, making it more difficult to get an assault weapon—could have prevented the shooting, yet once the media cycle moves on, so does the momentum for change. But Brett Cross, whose son was killed in the Robb Elementary School shooting in Texas, won’t give up his fight for accountability and reform.

Guest: Brett Cross, father of Uziyah Garcia, who was killed at Robb Elementary School in May 2022.

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Update, Feb. 7, 2023, a 1:10 p.m.: Brett Cross will not be attending the State of the Union address.

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Georgia Takes on Trump Feb 06, 2023

A special grand jury in Georgia may soon announce whether Donald Trump will face criminal charges, including racketeering, for a phone call to Georgia secretary of state Brad Raffensperger following the 2020 election.

Guest: Tamar Hallerman, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's lead reporter covering the Fulton County special grand jury investigation.

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TBD | Did a Twentysomething Con America’s Biggest Bank? Feb 05, 2023

JP Morgan Chase is getting an education on FAFSA and financial aid–which would’ve been helpful before they acquired a now, quite dubious seeming start-up.

Guest: Ron Lieber, New York Times journalist, author of the “Your Money” column.

Host: Lizzie O’Leary

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TBD | How COVID Changes Our Immune Systems Feb 03, 2023

Last fall it seemed like everyone got sick—not just with COVID, but from a slew of respiratory diseases, from the mild to the severe. Researchers are trying to untangle how our immune systems have changed in the COVID era, and if we’re paying back an “immunity debt” or are victims of “immunity theft.”

Guest: Tim Requarth, contributing writer to Slate.

Host: Lizzie O’Leary

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The Plot Against Pope Francis Feb 02, 2023

Not all of the Cardinals who elected Pope Francis are pleased with the changes he’s made, or his vision for where the Catholic Church goes next. Both the 86-year-old Francis and his detractors are preparing for his successor. Who’ll prevail?

Guest: David Gibson, Director of Fordham's Center on Religion & Culture

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The Hysteria Over D.C.’s New Crime Bill Feb 01, 2023

The Revised Criminal Code Act is a major overhaul to D.C.’s criminal code that critics say will clog the courts with low-level crimes and fill the streets with criminals. Slate’s legal expert doesn’t see the data to support any of that.

Guest: Mark Joseph Stern, Slate senior writer covering courts and the law.

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From Rodney King to Tyre Nichols Jan 31, 2023

The video of Tyre Nichols being fatally beaten by Memphis police officers was made public on Friday. How does this latest high-profile incident of police brutality echo the killing of George Floyd or the beating of Rodney King? And 30 years after the latter, what’s still standing in the way of police reform?

Guest: Joel Anderson, staff writer at Slate, host of Seasons 3 and 6 of Slow Burn.

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Who Doesn’t Have Classified Documents? Jan 30, 2023

At this point, classified documents have been uncovered in the homes of former President Trump, former Vice President Mike Pence, and President Biden. But there are more practical issues with how the government treats classified documents than just whose garage they’re sitting in.

Guest: Elizabeth Goitein, co-director of the Liberty and National Security Program at the Brennan Center for Justice

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TBD | Did A.I. Write This Headline? Jan 29, 2023

The proliferation of chatbots and A.I.-generated art has consumers and tech companies alike convinced that artificial intelligence is ready to be integrated into consumer electronics, products, homes, and across industry. In fact, it’s already in progress. What’s the worst that can happen?

Guest: Will Oremus, technology reporter for the Washington Post

Host: Lizzie O’Leary

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TBD | Will Google Get Broken Up? Jan 27, 2023

The U.S. Department of Justice announced this week that it is suing Google over its ad technology. What do they contend Google has been doing? And does this mean Alphabet is headed for a Bell Telecom-style bust-up?

Guest: Leah Nylen, reporter covering antitrust for Bloomberg News

Host: Lizzie O’Leary

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Election Deniers Shot at Her Jan 26, 2023

A newfound commitment to never accepting election results you don’t like is taken to the extreme in New Mexico, where a string of shootings targeting elected officials led to 12 bullet holes in a state senator’s Albuquerque home.

Guest: Linda Lopez, state senator in New Mexico’s Bernalillo County.

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The "Other NRA" Fighting Restaurant Workers Jan 25, 2023

How COVID-stress, a tipped minimum wage locked in since 1991, and lobbying from the National Restaurant Association have pushed restaurant workers—and the industry as a whole—to the brink of crisis.

Guest: Saru Jayaraman, President of One Fair Wage and the Director of the UC Berkeley Food Labor Research Center.

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Will the Debt Ceiling Cave in This Time? Jan 24, 2023

The U.S. has hit the debt ceiling—again And with Congress divided, it’s unclear when or how the government will get approved to borrow more.Why is this perennial fight coming back around now? And what happens—locally and to the world economy—if the U.S. Treasury defaults?

Guest: Jordan Weissmann, Washington editor for Semafor.

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Cities’ Wetter, Wilder Future Jan 23, 2023

California going from drought-to-downpour this month was a vivid illustration of the future we’re facing: with more dramatic weather in a warmer, wetter climate. But how can cities—built for a world where hundred-year floods happened only once a century—adjust to a new reality?

Guest: Henry Grabar, staff writer for Slate, author of Paved Paradise: How Parking Explains the World.

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TBD | Does Meta Even Care When Its Users Get Hacked? Jan 22, 2023

It can feel very personal to have your Facebook or Instagram page hacked—they’re your pictures and your friends after all. But Meta, the social media parent company, handles hacks with anything but a personal touch.

Guest: Kirstin Grind, investigative reporter for the Wall Street Journal.

Host: Lizzie O’Leary

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TBD | An Antivax Dog Whistle Goes Viral Jan 20, 2023

The idea that COVID-19 vaccines are linked to sudden deaths among young people has no scientific support, but the theory nevertheless has a lot of traction on social media.

How can public health officials educate the public—especially on subject like vaccines, where their effectiveness renders them effectively invisible?

Guest: Katelyn Jetelina, epidemiologist and data scientist

Host: Lizzie O’Leary

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Latin America’s Lost Decade Jan 19, 2023

In the early 2000s, economic growth exploded in South America—and the citizens of Brazil, Peru, Chile and elsewhere enjoyed increasing prosperity. But over the last decade, the churn of the world economy has made it hard for leaders across the region to meet their people’s raised expectations.

Guest: Brian Winter, editor-in-chief of Americas Quarterly, former foreign correspondent for Reuters in Brazil, Argentina, and Mexico.

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The Spike at the End of “Zero COVID” Jan 18, 2023

In the wake of mass protests and a depressing effect on its economy, China has ended its “zero COVID” policy. But with cases now rising, is the country ready for the upcoming Spring Festival, a huge holiday for travel that could spread the virus to its remotest corners?

Guest: Dake Kang, reporter for the Associated Press Beijing bureau.

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Hospice for Profit Jan 17, 2023

Since the 1980s, hospice has been covered by Medicare, and it’s come to be an expected part of the healthcare that millions of Americans receive at the end of their lives. But beneath the pamphlets of patients living out their days in comfort lies an uglier reality: a cottage industry that frequently misappropriates taxpayer dollars in the name of profit.

Guest: Ava Kofman, investigative reporter for ProPublica.

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How To!: End Political Violence (From an Ex-Gang Leader) Jan 16, 2023

In the wake of the anniversary of the January 6th insurrection, and now similar riots in Brazil’s capital, we’re picking up our conversation about how to reduce political violence. In the first episode of our two-part series, we heard from Dr. Rachel Kleinfeld, senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. This week, we’re talking with Curtis Toler, director of outreach at Chicago CRED. After joining his first street organization at the age of 9, Curtis went from a gang leader to a violence interrupter. He talks about how to reach people entrenched in cycles of conflict, how to get to the peace table, and what Congress (and all of us) can learn from his success on the streets of Chicago.

Resources:

Chicago CRED

A Savage Order: How the World’s Deadliest Countries Can Forge a Path to Security by Rachel Kleinfeld

An Ex-Gang Leader’s Advice for Deescalating Violence in Politics by Amanda Ripley

If you liked this episode, check out: “How To Talk Politics With Your Dad (Without Yelling) Part 1 and Part 2.”

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TBD | Tesla’s No Good, Very Bad Year Jan 15, 2023

Elon Musk was promising an “epic” Q4 at Tesla last year. But 2022 ended closer to what might be considered an “epic fail,” with the stock price down 65 percent. In an uncertain economic environment like this one, how much blame goes to Musk for unloading $40 billion worth of stock and focusing on his shiny new social media network? Or are these just growing pains that every company goes through as they mature?

Guest: Dana Hull, automotive and technology reporter for Bloomberg News in San Francisco

Host: Lizzie O’Leary

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TBD | Why the Feds Want to Kill Noncompetes Jan 13, 2023

You might think of noncompete agreements as mostly limited to highly skilled, highly paid tech workers to protect trade secrets. But one-third of workers bound by noncompetes make $13/hour or less: fast-food workers, security guards, and the like.

Noncompete clauses not only give employers leverage over their employees—both during and after their employment—but studies have shown the agreements are a weight on the economy, which is why the FTC is angling for a federal ban.

Guest: Elizabeth Wilkins, director of the Office of Policy Planning, Federal Trade Commission

Host: Lizzie O’Leary

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How They Got El Chapo’s Son Jan 12, 2023

Ovidio Guzmán, the son of Sinaloa cartel head Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzmán, was arrested last week in a huge sting by the Mexican government. Who is Ovidio and how does his arrest affect the cartel?

Guest: Luis Chaparro, journalist and producer who moves between Texas and Mexico covering narcos, drugs and immigration.

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A Sex Crimes Lawyer's New Mission Jan 11, 2023

New York’s new Adult Survivor’s Act has opened a “lookback window”—a year-long suspension of the civil statute of limitations—to allow people who may have been assaulted a long time ago the chance to go to court and demand compensation. For those who choose to pursue legal action, what can they expect?

Guest: Carrie Goldberg, victim rights lawyer specializing in sex crimes and author of Nobody’s Victim: Fighting Psychos, Stalkers, Pervs, and Trolls.

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Mr. Santos Goes to Washington Jan 10, 2023

How far can you go on a lie? Looking at the career of George Santos, United States Representative, it can take you at least to the congressional floor. But now, firmly in the public eye, his resume unraveling, is Santos’ political career about to be derailed before it starts? And how did it get this far in the first place?

Guest: Azi Paybarah, national reporter covering campaigns and breaking politics news at the Washington Post.

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McCarthy’s Road to Speaker Jan 09, 2023

On Friday night, Representative Kevin McCarthy was elected Speaker of the House—but not before a far-right revolt kept Congress in a weeklong deadlock. As he begins his tenure as Speaker, will these sorts of standoffs be the rule, not the exception?

Guest: Jim Newell, Slate’s senior politics writer.

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TBD | How War in Taiwan Could Short-Circuit U.S. Tech Jan 08, 2023

Roughly 95 percent of advanced semiconductor chip manufacturing happens in Taiwan, leaving the U.S. vulnerable to supply chain shocks and national security threats. Is the Biden administration’s $280 billion bill, signed in August last year, enough to boost domestic chip manufacturing?

Guest: Don Clark, freelance reporter specializing on chips and enterprise tech.

Host: Emily Peck

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TBD | Will Southwest Be Held Accountable? Jan 06, 2023

Over the holidays, thousands of passengers were left stranded or delayed when Southwest Airline’s outdated re-booking software broke down. Who can be held accountable, and why don’t airlines invest more in their own infrastructure?

Guest: Heather Tal Murphy, business and technology reporter for Slate.

Host: Mary C. Curtis

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Trapped on the Streets of El Paso Jan 05, 2023

Enacted at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Title 42 allows border patrol to expel migrants from the U.S. before they have a chance to apply for asylum. Denied the opportunity to apply for asylum, and unable to travel, migrants are left to fend for themselves on the streets of El Paso in winter.

Guest: Bob Moore, founder and CEO of El Paso Matters

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The "Grooming" Panic's Real Origins Jan 04, 2023

For decades it felt like society was growing more accepting of the LGBTQ community, but in the past few years, hospitals have faced bomb threats, drag story hours have been beset by armed protestors, and queer spaces have been violently targeted. What happened?

Guest: David Mack, senior breaking news reporter for Buzzfeed News.

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Nancy Pelosi’s Legacy Jan 03, 2023

Villainized by the right, protested from the left, Nancy Pelosi led the Democrats through the Iraq War, the fight for Obamacare, and two impeachments. As Congress resumes, she will step down from leading the House Democrats, leaving behind a complicated legacy—and a list of hard-fought accomplishments.

Guest: Rachael Bade, political analyst for CNN and the co-author of Politico’s “Playbook” newsletter.

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One Year 1942: The Black-Japanese Axis Dec 29, 2022

As we catch our breath over the holidays, enjoy this episode of Slate's One Year podcast. What Next returns next week.

In 1942, federal officials targeted a group of Black Americans who were allegedly hoping for a Japanese invasion. They uncovered a plot that included stockpiles of weapons and secret passwords—but was any of it true? This week, Joel Anderson tells the story of a shadowy organization in East St. Louis, Illinois, the group’s mysterious leader, and an alleged conspiracy against America during World War II.

This episode of One Year was produced by Evan Chung, Sophie Summergrad, Sam Kim, Joel Anderson, Sol Werthan, and Josh Levin.

Derek John is executive producer of narrative podcasts and Merritt Jacob is senior technical director.

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One Year 1942: When Internment Came to Alaska Dec 28, 2022

As we catch our breath over the holidays, enjoy this episode of Slate's One Year podcast. What Next returns next week.

Six months after Pearl Harbor, Japan launched another attack on the United States. This time, Axis forces actually invaded, turning the Aleutian Islands into a battleground. What the country did next, in the name of “protecting” Alaska’s Indigenous people, is a shameful chapter of the war. And it’s one the nation has never fully reckoned with.

This episode of One Year was produced by Evan Chung, Sophie Summergrad, Sam Kim, Sol Werthan, and Josh Levin.

Derek John is senior supervising producer of narrative podcasts and Merritt Jacob is senior technical director.

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One Year 1942: The Info Wars of World War II Dec 27, 2022

As we catch our breath over the holidays, enjoy this episode of Slate's One Year podcast. What Next returns next week.

In March 1942, a new nightly radio show hit the American airwaves. The stated goal of Station Debunk was to correct all the lies getting tossed around about America’s involvement in the war. But the real story was a whole lot stranger and more devious than it appeared.

One Year is produced by Evan Chung, Sophie Summergrad, Sam Kim, and Josh Levin.

Derek John is senior supervising producer of narrative podcasts and Merritt Jacob is senior technical director.

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One Year 1942: The Year Everyone Got Married Dec 26, 2022

As we catch our breath over the holidays, enjoy this episode of Slate's One Year podcast. What Next returns next week.

There were 1.8 million weddings in 1942, the most that had ever been recorded in a single year in American history. But how many of them would last? 98-year-old Millie Summergrad tells the story of one that did: her own. And a pair of brothers explain what it was like to grow up inside the busiest chapel in Yuma, Arizona—the wedding capital of the United States.

One Year is produced by Evan Chung, Sophie Summergrad, Sam Kim, and Josh Levin.

Derek John is senior supervising producer of narrative podcasts and Merritt Jacob is senior technical director.

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TBD | One Year - 1942: The Most Hated Man in America Dec 23, 2022

At the beginning of World War II, the greatest threat to the American war effort wasn’t the Nazis or the Japanese—it was runaway inflation. The man in charge of stopping it was the country’s “price czar,” Leon Henderson. In 1942, he controlled how much coffee ordinary people could drink and how many tires they could buy. Those rules made him a nationwide villain. But would they save the country?

One Year is produced by Evan Chung, Sophie Summergrad, Sam Kim, and Josh Levin.

Derek John is senior supervising producer of narrative podcasts and Merritt Jacob is senior technical director.

Slate Plus members get to hear more about the making of One Year. Get access to extra episodes, listen to the show without any ads, and support One Year by signing up for Slate Plus for just $15 for your first three months.

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2022 Retrospective | Dua Lipa’s Copyright Problem Dec 22, 2022

This week we look back on some of our favorite stories from a year that had us asking—sometimes with excitement and sometimes with exasperation—"What Next”? This episode originally aired March 29.

After more than 70 weeks on the Billboard U.S. Hot 100, Dua Lipa and her song “Levitating” have run into trouble: two separate copyright complaints claiming the pop star ripped off other artists in writing her hit. These aren’t the first lawsuits to test the boundaries of what counts as plagiarism in the musical realm; and if either suit succeeds, it will have far-reaching consequences for creativity in the industry.

Guest: Jeremy Orosz, associate professor of music theory at the University of Memphis.

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2022 Retrospective | How Soccer's Best Women Finally Got Paid Dec 21, 2022

This week we look back on some of our favorite stories from a year that had us asking—sometimes with excitement and sometimes with exasperation—"What Next”? This episode originally aired June 1.

If you want to understand the way inequality is baked into the systems and structures all around us, examining the pay equity issue in U.S. soccer is a pretty good place to start. But after a six-year battle, the U.S. Women’s National Team struck an agreement with U.S. Soccer, ensuring equal pay for equal work for the men’s and women’s teams — another victory for a team that doesn’t take no for an answer.

Guest: Christina Cauterucci, senior writer at Slate and a former middle school soccer star.

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2022 Retrospective | Amazon Gets Its First Union Dec 20, 2022

This week we look back on some of our favorite stories from a year that had us asking—sometimes with excitement and sometimes with exasperation—"What Next”? This episode originally aired March 21.

Few were betting that a group of workers on Staten Island could win union recognition at their Amazon warehouse. Now that they’ve done it, can they replicate this win at other shops across the country? And what will the nation’s largest unions do to help Amazon workers join the labor movement?

Guest: Steven Greenhouse, senior fellow at the Century Foundation and author of Beaten Down, Worked Up: The Past, Present, and Future of American Labor.

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2022 Retrospective | What the Sackler Family Won Dec 19, 2022

This week we look back on some of our favorite stories from a year that had us asking—sometimes with excitement and sometimes with exasperation—"What Next?" This episode originally aired March 21.

A very strange bankruptcy case is coming to a close. Its settlement hinges not on payments rendered or bills neglected, but on the pain of millions of American families who slid into the jaws of the opioid crisis. Now, the people who set off the crisis are about to settle their debts.

Guest: Brian Mann, reporter on addiction for NPR.

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TBD | Are You Ready For Lab-Grown Meat? Dec 18, 2022

The Food and Drug Administration gave an important thumbs up to lab-grown chicken, which means we could start seeing it in stores as soon as next year. While billions of dollars have been spent developing lab-grown meat, important questions remain: Is the production of it actually greener than raising livestock? Can it be made affordably? Is it healthy? And will anyone eat it?

Guest: Chloe Sorvino, staff writer on food and agriculture at Forbes, and the author of Raw Deal: Hidden Corruption, Corporate Greed and the Fight for the Future of Meat.

Host: Lizzie O’Leary

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TBD | SBF's Worst Week Yet Dec 16, 2022

Even in a crazy year for crypto, Sam Bankman-Fried’s story is undeniably the most bananas. And even in the context of the implosion of FTX, getting arrested has got to make this week his worst yet. What charges does SBF face?

Guest: Stacy-Marie Ishmael, managing editor on crypto for Bloomberg News

Host: Lizzie O’Leary

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Germany Cribs From the QAnon Playbook Dec 15, 2022

The Reichsbürger movement is the group behind the plot to overthrow the German government that was disrupted last week. Their grievances are both specific to their country—that the German government is illegitimate and the Reich needs to be reestablished—and familiar to right-wing extremist watchers in the U.S.. They have been radicalized by lockdowns, vaccine requirements, and Qanon. How is this American conspiracy exporting itself?

Guest: Josh Keating, global security reporter at Grid focused on conflict, diplomacy, and foreign policy.

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Inside the Right-Wing Judicial Machine Dec 14, 2022

Since its founding in the 1980s, the Federalist Society has been advancing right-wing judges through the American judicial system. One of their most ardent critics called up a member to talk about how.

Guest: Mark Joseph Stern, Slate senior writer.

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The Magic of Messi Dec 13, 2022

Argentina and Croatia face off in the World Cup semifinals today, and all eyes are on Lionel Messi. At 35, Messi is trying to put a cap on a legendary career and bring a World Cup championship to his home country.

How did he get to the top of the soccer world? And what will be his legacy if Argentina loses?

Guest: Jasmine Garsd Garcia, host of NPR’s soccer podcast “The Last Cup.”

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The Last Time NYC Tried to Hospitalize the Homeless Dec 12, 2022

In an effort to address New York’s growing problem of unhoused people living on the streets, Mayor Eric Adams announced that the city would start involuntarily hospitalizing people. It’s a strategy the city tried back in the ‘80s as well. Why didn’t it work then?

Guest: Sam Tsemberis, founder and executive director of Pathways to Housing, and associate clinical professor of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences at UCLA.

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TBD | San Francisco’s Self-Driving Mess Dec 11, 2022

Self-driving cars and robotaxis are starting to appear on the streets of San Francisco. While we have a whole regulatory system in place for drivers, who’s making sure these new cars are safe?

Guest: David Zipper, Visiting Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School's Taubman Center for State and Local Government

Host: Lizzie O’Leary

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TBD | Let’s Talk, Chatbots Dec 09, 2022

Artificial intelligence is growing in leaps and bounds, and everywhere from Big Tech companies like Google to small teams like OpenAI are developing more and more convincing chatbots. Is the world ready for convincing, talking computers?

Guest: Alex Kantrowitz, host of the Big Technology podcast.

Host: Emily Peck

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Can Iran's Protest Movement Survive? Dec 08, 2022

Toomaj Salehi, an Iranian rapper known for criticizing the regime with his music, has been arrested by the Iranian government. His friends and family now worry he could face the death penalty.

Guest: Nahayat Tizhoosh, Producer at the CBC.

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What It Took for a Red State to Pause Executions Dec 07, 2022

Three botched lethal injections in Alabama have once again highlighted the practical complexity and possible illegality of the death penalty. Even states that are adamantly in favor of capital punishment are being stalled on a purely pragmatic level.

Guest: Elizabeth Bruenig, staff writer at The Atlantic

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The Last Senate Race Dec 06, 2022

Even after a campaign awash in scandals, gaffes, and the occasional speculation on werewolves vs. vampires, Herschel Walker still can’t be counted out in the run-off election to represent Georgia in the U.S. Senate. What can the parties take away from the last race of the 2022 midterms?

Guest: Jim Newell, Senior Politics Writer for Slate.

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Out of Afghanistan Dec 05, 2022

The U.S. has welcomed thousands Afghan refugees since pulling out of Afghanistan in 2021. Safe from the Taliban, but without social security numbers,credit ratings, or even sometimes basic English, they have to make a new life relying on a patchwork of volunteers and their wits.

Guests:

Elena MacFarlane, volunteer with the Immigrant and Refugee Outreach Center and assistant Professor in the Johns Hopkins Department of Genetic Medicine.

Lila and Basheer, Afghan refugees living in Maryland.

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TBD | Big Tech’s Boogeymen In Washington Dec 04, 2022

The Biden administration’s Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission are both staffed with accomplished progressives who are proving more aggressive than their predecessors in either the Trump or Obama eras. But can Big Tech be tamed?

Guest: Leah Nylen, reporter for Bloomberg News

Host: Lizzie O’Leary

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TBD | Twitter's Vulnerabilities, Exposed Dec 02, 2022

Dating back to the Arab Spring, Twitter’s potential for real-time organizing has been a selling point. But trying to find information on China’s “Zero COVID” protests reveals just how vulnerable the now-understaffed platform is to manipulation.

Guest: Joseph Menn, cybersecurity reporter for the Washington Post.

Host: Lizzie O’Leary

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China’s Revolt Against “Zero COVID” Dec 01, 2022

For nearly three years, people in China have endured their government’s “Zero COVID” policies to prevent cases from overwhelming their hospital system. But after a fire in Urumqi broke out and videos spread of fire rescue having trouble reaching the building, people have taken to the streets in defiance of orders and even gone as far as demanding President Xi Jinping’s resignation.

Guest: Matthew Brazil, co-author of Chinese Communist Espionage: An Intelligence Primer and a fellow at the Jamestown Foundation.

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It Isn't Time to Negotiate in Ukraine...Yet Nov 30, 2022

With no clear path to advance and winter settling in, what would it take for Russia to negotiate an exit from Ukraine?

Guest: Fred Kaplan. Slate’s war stories correspondent

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Is This the End of College Rankings? Nov 29, 2022

With Yale and Harvard law schools withdrawing from U.S. News & World Report’s annual law school rankings, others have followed suit. With the rating system for all colleges taking criticism, being “gamed,” and beset by scandal, is this the beginning of the end of the influential college-ranking system?

Guest: Colin Diver, the Charles A. Heimbold, Jr., Professor of Law and Economics Emeritus at the University of Pennsylvania, former Dean of Penn Law School and president of Reed College, 2002 through 2012.

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Hakeem Jeffries’ House Nov 28, 2022

Hakeem Jeffries appears set to take over as Nancy Pelosi steps down as the head of the House Democrats. As a member of the Progressive Caucus who has often sided against progressives with party leadership, what will the House Democrats look like with Jefferies at the helm?

Guest: Alex Sammon, politics writer at Slate.

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TBD | The Trap of Buy Now, Pay Later Nov 27, 2022

The option to “buy now and pay later” over installments exploded over the past two years, thanks to people being flush with stimulus cash and shopping online during the pandemic. But is this new, underregulated industry a useful line of credit or another path into debt?

Guest: Paulina Cachero, personal finance reporter for Bloomberg.

Host: Lizzie O’Leary

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Ticketmaster's Swift Meltdown Nov 23, 2022

When presale tickets for Taylor Swift’s upcoming tour effectively broke the internet last week, Ticketmaster emerged as the villain…again. The media behemoth has been reviled since the ‘90s, but it has continued to grow, through a merger with Live Nation. What can a Department of Justice antitrust investigation, buoyed by Swifties, actually do?

Guest: Jason Koebler, editor-in-chief of Motherboard at Vice.

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Why Outlawing Slavery Won't Outlaw Slavery—Yet Nov 22, 2022

During the 2022 midterms, four states voted to ban slavery, which is still legal—and practiced—in the form of forced prison labor. The ballot initiatives are designed to keep people from having to work against their will and could provide prisoners with the opportunity to sue for higher wages, and better working conditions, including medical exemptions for those who are pregnant and postpartum.

Guest: Candace Bond-Theriault Esq., Director of Racial Justice Policy & Strategy at Columbia Law School’s Center for Gender & Sexuality Law.

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The Real Danger of Fentanyl Nov 21, 2022

Fentanyl has been a right-wing boogeyman and ostensible reason for Republicans to rail for more security at the U.S.-Mexico border. As the opioid crisis continues, the danger fentanyl poses has become vividly clear. While stopping overdoses is important, resurfacing nasty drug war tropes isn’t helping.

Guest: Brian Mann, NPR correspondent covering addiction

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TBD | The End of the Tech Boom Nov 20, 2022

After decades as America’s booming industry, tens of thousands of tech workers have been laid off in November alone. Is the venture-capital, low-interest-rate wind leaving the sails temporary or is this the end of the hunt for “the next big thing?”

Guest: Timothy B. Lee, reporter for Full Stack Economics covering labor markets, technology, and housing.

Host: Lizzie O’Leary

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TBD | The Case Against Climate Reparations Nov 18, 2022

At this year’s annual UN conference on climate change, they are discussing “climate reparations,” wherein the rich countries that grew their wealth burning fossil fuels pay money to poorer and more vulnerable countries. It sounds sensible, but is the UN capable of administering something like this? And how much money are we talking here?

Guest: Vijay Vaitheeswaran, global energy and climate innovation editor at The Economist.

Host: Lizzie O’Leary

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The Shiny New Target for Political Spending Nov 17, 2022

State supreme court elections, for a long time, were an afterthought; filler for the ballot’s second page. But with questions of abortion rights on the line, this year both parties started pouring money and attention on the races across the country. Even where the races are explicitly “non-partisan,” the partisan political machine has arrived.

Guest: Erik Ortiz, staff writer for NBC News focusing on racial injustice and social inequality.

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Will SCOTUS Take Native Children Away From Their Families? Nov 16, 2022

The Supreme Court case Brackeen v. Haaland concerns how adoption placement currently works under the Indian Child Welfare Act. The law prioritizes placing Native children with Native families. But depending on how the court rules, striking down or changing ICWA could affect not only adoption but Indian tribes’ entire status as sovereign nations.

Guest: Elizabeth Hidalgo Reese, Stanford law professor and scholar of American Indian tribal law, federal Indian law, and constitutional law.

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How New York Democrats Blew It Nov 15, 2022

After bracing themselves for a “red wave,” the Democrats will keep their Senate majority after the midterms. However, the Republicans will likely, narrowly take the House, thanks in part to gains made in deep blue New York State. How did the party bungle this so badly? And why do some Democrats say it’s Andrew Cuomo’s fault?

Guest: Jimmy Vielkind, reporter for the Wall Street Journal covering New York State politics and government.

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The Far Right’s Alarming Rise in Israel Nov 14, 2022

Though just last year he was ousted from office amidst corruption charges, Benjamin Netanyahu has returned to power, leading a coalition of three hard right-wing parties. Palestinians inside Israel are concerned that some of their leaders are now emboldened in their goal of expelling Arabs from the country.

Guest: Peter Beinart, professor of journalism and political science at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at the City University of New York and an editor-at-large at Jewish Currents.

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TBD | Is This The Cryptocalypse? Nov 13, 2022

The (once) second-largest cryptocurrency exchange, FTX, collapsed in stunning fashion this week, highlighting why consumers really do want regulation, and why old financial institutions remain wary of crypto.

Guest: Felix Salmon, host of Slate Money, chief financial correspondent for Axios.

Host: Lizzie O’Leary

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TBD | Senator Chris Murphy on Elon's Acquisition of Twitter Nov 11, 2022

The second largest investor in Twitter, after Elon Musk, is the Saudis, which raises questions about what kinds of “free speech” Musk is really committed to. But it also raises questions around national security in the U.S.

Guest: Chris Murphy, U.S. Senator from Connecticut

Host: Lizzie O’Leary

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Did Trump Crash the Red Wave? Nov 10, 2022

The dust still hasn’t settled from the midterm elections. But some themes have begun emerging: the GOP underperformed; the right to abortion won on state-level votes; Florida has gone red, but Democrats won gubernatorial races across the old “blue wall.” And it may be time for Republicans to consider who they are, apart from the party of Trump.

Guest: Jamelle Bouie, columnist at the New York Times.

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What Texas' Attacks on Trans Healthcare Did to One Family Nov 09, 2022

As Texas laws have become more discriminatory against trans individuals and their families, many wonder if they can even stay in the Lone Star State, especially when parents could be investigated as child abusers for providing healthcare to their children. This family made the difficult decision to move to Colorado.

Guests:

Katie Laird, social justice blogger.

Noah Laird, high school junior.

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The Frightening Rise in Political Violence Nov 08, 2022

Paul Pelosi joined a growing list of Congress members and their families who have been targets of violent political attacks. What can be done about the growing safety risk of being in the public eye? And what does living under threat do to the people charged with running the government?

Guest: Liz Goodwin, Congress reporter at the Washington Post.

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How the Dems Win Back the Rust Belt Nov 07, 2022

Trump won Ohio handily, and it’s been expected that JD Vance would cruise into a Senate seat this fall. But Democratic candidate Tim Ryan seems to have struck a chord with the very demographics that have been drifting away from his party. Does he have what it takes to win in Trump country? And could his success be replicated across the Midwest?

Guest: Alec MacGillis, politics and government reporter at ProPublica.

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TBD | Why Are So Many Little Kids Sick Right Now? Nov 06, 2022

It’s been a rough autumn for parents of little kids, as non-COVID respiratory diseases are taking advantage of the first fall since 2019 where schools and daycares are full again, and America’s strained pediatric health care system is once again put to the test.

Guest: Katherine Wu, science writer for The Atlantic.

Host: Lizzie O’Leary.

Podcast production by Madeline Ducharme.

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TBD | So How’s It Going, Elon? Nov 04, 2022

One week in as head honcho of Twitter and Elon Musk is in a tight spot: how do you balance the desires of advertisers with your ostensible zeal for free speech? How do you make something for which you’ve already overpaid turn a profit? How do you convince Stephen King to pony up for a blue check?

Guest: Alex Kirshner, contributing writer at Slate.

Host: Lizzie O’Leary

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Podcast production by Madeline Ducharme.

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The Stakes of Nevada’s Latino Vote Nov 03, 2022

Democrats have been winning reliably in Nevada, but between the lack of enthusiasm for Joe Biden among Latino voters, and a lackluster voter-turnout effort from Vegas’s hospitality union, it’s very possible that the face of Nevada’s “Stop the Steal” effort may win a Senate seat.

Guest: Jon Ralston, CEO and Editor in Chief of The Nevada Independent.

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Can an Anti-Trump Republican Still Win? Nov 02, 2022

Joe Biden won Colorado by 13 points, which is why Jim O’Dea is running for the Senate as a moderate Republican—one who will stand up to Donald Trump. It’s a message that isn’t winning support from Democratic voters, and may well be undermining his appeal to Republicans.

Guest: Jim Newell, senior politics writer at Slate.

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SCOTUS Reviews Affirmative Action…Again Nov 01, 2022

Yesterday, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in two cases challenging race-conscious admissions programs. If the justices decide that affirmative action is unconstitutional—as they seem poised to do—how can universities still create diverse student bodies?

Guest: Mark Joseph Stern, senior writer at Slate covering the Supreme Court.

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Should You Panic Over America's Test Scores? Oct 31, 2022

According to the recently released results of the National Assessment of Educational Progress, American students across the country are scoring lower on math and reading. But before we panic, it’s important to put those results in context, and consider what evaluations can actually tell us.

Guest: Jack Schneider, associate professor of education at the University of Massachusetts Lowell and co-host of the education policy podcast “Have You Heard.”

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TBD | Big Brother, Big Tech and China Oct 30, 2022

There are some 400 million surveillance cameras installed in China, one for every three to four civilians. Built with the help of American tech companies, the surveillance state was pitched to the public as a way to make society safer and more efficient. But after severe lockdowns during COVID, the public has been objecting out of the eye of the camera lens. Protests are being written on bathroom walls.

Guest: Josh Chin, deputy bureau chief, China, for the Wall Street Journal

Host: Lizzie O’Leary

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TBD | Twitter Is Dead; Long Live Twitter Oct 28, 2022

Twitter has been a lot of things—where you posted your lunch, where you met your people, where you were subjected to a harassment campaign. Now, as Elon Musk prepares to take the reins, where is it headed?

Guest: Will Oremus, technology reporter for the Washington Post.

Host: Lizzie O’Leary

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When Child Protective Services Gets It Wrong Oct 27, 2022

An investigation into child welfare agencies around the country uncovered that the vast majority of searches of home environments happen without anything like a warrant, increasing the stress for parents as well as the children whose welfare is supposed to be being protected.

Guest: Eli Hager, ProPublica reporter covering issues affecting children and teens in the Southwest.

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The True Origins of the U.K.’s Political Mess Oct 26, 2022

The truth is, no one ever had a workable plan for Brexit. And as Liz Truss becomes the fourth Prime Minister to resign since the referendum and Rishi Sunak steps in as tribute, it’s an important lesson for voters on any side of the Atlantic: You can’t stake your party—or your country’s future—on a lie.

Guest: Felix Salmon, host of Slate Money, chief financial correspondent at Axios.

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Is Fetterman's Disability Anyone’s Business? Oct 25, 2022

Reporters have questioned whether Pennsylvania Lieutenant Governor John Fetterman, who had a stroke in May, is competent to serve in the U.S. Senate. The attention on his apparent aphasia – or ability to process conversation and speak clearly – reveals the biases that keep many disabled people from disclosing their conditions or even running for office in the first place.

Guest: Sara Luterman, caregiving reporter for The 19th News.

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How DeSantis Redrew Florida’s Map Oct 24, 2022

Ron DeSantis broke with tradition when he rejected the Florida legislature’s redistricting map and presented his own. But by splitting a majority Black district in northern Florida into four other districts, he may have violated both Florida and federal laws against gerrymandering.

Guest: Joshua Kaplan, reporter at ProPublica.

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TBD | Can We Make an Alzheimer’s Drug That Works? Oct 23, 2022

Alzheimer’s treatment hasn’t changed much in the past two decades, and the way researchers have been thinking about and approaching the disease may be to blame.

Guest: Damian Garde, reporter for Stat covering the biotech industry.

Host: Lizzie O’Leary

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TBD | When An Algorithm Raises Your Rent Oct 21, 2022

One company’s software is helping set prices for apartments across the country. But when does an algorithm telling landlords how much to charge—by drawing on property data—cross the line from “handy tool” to “illegal price-fixing”?

Guest: Heather Vogell, reporter with ProPublica

Host: Lizzie O'Leary

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What Happened to Kanye West? Oct 20, 2022

You can divide the career of the artist formerly known as Kanye West into chapters using off-script televised moments—announcing “George W. Bush doesn’t care about Black people” during a Hurricane Katrina telethon; interrupting Taylor Swift on stage at the VMAs; calling 400 years of slavery a choice in the TMZ offices. Now his Tucker Carlson appearance and subsequent bans from social media for antisemitic posts have Ye entering the “buying Parler phase” of his career. Fans of the “old Kanye” are missing more than just his choice samples.

Guest: Nitish Pahwa, staff writer and web editor at Slate.

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GOP to Cities: Drop Dead Oct 19, 2022

Republican rhetoric paints America’s cities as cesspools of crime, homeless and, uh, out-of-touch elites, and the party has largely given up courting urban voters. The GOP may be able to hold on to power thanks to voting systems that favor rural areas, but legislating as though their responsibilities stop at the city lines is a growing concern for the Americans who actually live there.

Guest: Henry Grabar, staff writer at Slate.

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Five Years of #MeToo Oct 18, 2022

Five years after exposés in the New Yorker and New York Times, Harvey Weinstein is in jail—but a major rallying point of #MeToo was just how widespread this sexual harassment, abuse, and violence really is in workplaces across industries. Looking back, from the top of media to blue- and pink-collar work, how much has the #MeToo movement changed?

Guest: Christina Cauterucci, senior writer at Slate.

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An American Surgeon in Wartime Ukraine Oct 17, 2022

As a Syrian American surgeon living in Chicago, Dr. Samer Attar felt compelled to be of service during the Syrian civil war, when doctors were being driven underground by Syria’s Russia-backed military. When Russian bombs began raining down in Ukraine this year, Dr. Attar once more raised his hand to cross the border and treat the war-wounded.

Guest: Dr. Samer Attar, associate professor of surgery at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.

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TBD | Are You Ready to Be Composted When You Die? Oct 16, 2022

The idea of composting a human body may seem unsettling—or even gross—and it runs counter to the normal American funeral rites of embalming and internment, which preserve the body. But advocates say it’s a greener and more peaceful way to return our bodies to the Earth.

Guest: Eleanor Cummins, science journalist

Host: Lizzie O’Leary

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TBD | The Next Amazon Union Fight Oct 14, 2022

Following their victory in Staten Island, the Amazon Labor Union is still facing an uphill battle. Both the company and the union are closely watching the organizing vote at a warehouse outside of Albany, NY.

Guest: Noam Scheiber, labor reporter for the New York Times.

Host: Lizzie O'Leary

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How Bad Is the Economy Going to Get? Oct 13, 2022

With inflation up and unemployment down, the Federal Reserve is raising interest rates and signaling that they’re willing to risk a lot to stall the rising price of everything. But is Jerome Powell doing too much—or is he already too late to avoid a painful recession?

Guest: Jordan Weissmann, senior editor at Slate reporting on economics, politics, and public policy.

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How Is Herschel Walker Still in This? Oct 12, 2022

Herschel Walker’s campaign for the U.S. Senate has been rocky to say the least, with revelations of heretofore-unmentioned children, accusations of domestic abuse, and multiple abortions paid for by the aggressively pro-life candidate. Yet the race remains close with Reverend Raphael Warnock—and the outcome could determine which party controls the Senate.

Guest: Greg Bluestein, political reporter at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

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Roger Stone’s January 6th Oct 11, 2022

When the January 6 committee reconvenes, one their first orders of business will likely concern longtime GOP operative and Trump ally Roger Stone. What have lawmakers discovered in the raw footage from a Danish documentary team, and Stone’s personal text messages? And what does it reveal about January 6?

Guest: Josh Meyer, USA Today’s domestic security correspondent.

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Amicus: Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson Gives SCOTUS a History Lesson Oct 10, 2022

What Next is still enjoying the three-day weekend, so we proudly present this special episode of Amicus.

Dahlia Lithwick is joined by two key players from this week’s consequential voting rights cases at the US Supreme Court. The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund’s senior counsel Deuel Ross argued part of Merrill v Milligan at the High Court on Tuesday, and Evan Milligan of Alabama Forward is the named plaintiff in one of a pair of cases that argued that Alabama’s congressional maps are racially gerrymandered in violation of Section II of the Voting Rights Act. They take listeners inside the arguments, and provide vital context for the challenges faced by residents of Alabama’s Black Belt in accessing healthcare, infrastructure and not coincidentally, political representation.

Next, Dahlia is joined by Sam Sankar, Senior Vice President of Programs at Earth Justice to discuss what went down in Sackett v EPA, a case argued Monday that could have wide-ranging effects on the waters and wetlands of the United States.

In this week’s Amicus Plus segment, Dahlia is joined by Mark Joseph Stern to talk about the new dynamics of arguments with Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson taking her seat at the High Court, the conservative reaction to their favorite text and history rubric being applied by the first African American woman on the court (huh, they don’t love it?), and what to expect from a new filing in the Mar A Lago investigation that’s on its way to 1, First Street. Sign up for Slate Plus now to listen and support our show.

Dahlia’s new book Lady Justice: Women, the Law and the Battle to Save America, is also available as an audiobook, and Amicus listeners can get a 25% discount by entering the code “AMICUS” at checkout.

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TBD | When Your Church Surveils Your Phone Oct 09, 2022

Churches are using accountability apps to keep tabs on their members' behavior. But if your pastor wants to monitor your phone, can you truly consent?

Guest: Dhruv Mehrotra

Host: Lizzie O'Leary

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TBD | Could the Supreme Court Kill the Internet As We Know It? Oct 07, 2022

Twenty-six words defined the internet as we know it today. What happens if they’re deleted?

Guest: Jeff Kosseff

Host: Lizzie O'Leary

The Twenty-Six Words That Created the Internet

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Putin Is in a Dangerous Spot Oct 06, 2022

With the war turning towards Ukraine’s favor, Vladimir Putin is becoming more isolated and more dangerous. Can Ukrainians expel the Russians—or the Russians expel Putin—while avoiding the worst-case scenario?

Guest: Bryan Bender, senior national correspondent for POLITICO.

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Congress Can't Quit the Stock Market Oct 05, 2022

A bipartisan effort to prevent members of Congress from trading stock while in office is wildly popular. But so far, no such bill has gained much traction on Capitol Hill. Why?

Guest: Sam Brodey, congressional reporter for The Daily Beast.

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The Baby Formula Crisis Is Still Happening Oct 04, 2022

The drastic shortage of infant formula this spring revealed how flaws in food regulation and the supply chain can threaten this most vulnerable part of our population—and everyone else.

Guest: Helena Bottemiller Evich, founder of Food Fix, a publication about food policy.

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What Venezuelan Migrants Are Fleeing Oct 03, 2022

Venezuela has lost about a fifth of its population since its economic collapse in 2014. Roughly 6.8 million people have fled the country, creating one of the largest refugee crises in the world. Why does Venezuela’s free-fall continue? And how is the U.S. government responding to increasing numbers of Venezuelan refugees?

Guest: Cindy Arnson, a distinguished fellow at The Wilson Center and former director of its Latin American Program.

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TBD | The Philosopher With Silicon Valley's Ear Oct 02, 2022

Longtermism, the idea that positively influencing the future is a key moral priority of our time, is hot in Silicon Valley. But does it miss the bigger picture?

Guests: William MacAskill, Robert Wright

Host: Lizzie O'Leary

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TBD | When Climate Change Makes You Sell Your House Sep 30, 2022

With disaster relief funds from Hurricane Harvey, Houston's Harris County instituted a mandatory buyout program for residents in flood-prone areas. But some residents didn't want to leave.

Guest: Amal Ahmed, Dolores Mendoza

Host: Mary C. Curtis

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Does the NBA Have a Bully Problem? Sep 29, 2022

Last week, Robert Sarver, the owner of the NBA’s Phoenix Suns and the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury, announced he would be selling both teams. The decision came after ESPN revealed nearly two decades of harassing behavior by Sarver, and after the NBA slapped him with a one-year suspension and $10 million fine. How was Sarver’s bullying able to go unchecked for so long? Does his departure signal a positive step forward for professional U.S. basketball, or a continuation of the status quo?

Guest: Amira Rose Davis, assistant professor of Black studies at the University of Texas at Austin, and co-host of the feminist sports podcast, Burn It All Down.

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What Iranian Protesters Need Now Sep 28, 2022

What began as a revolt in the wake of an overstep by Iran’s morality police has evolved into a mass movement calling for “death to the dictator.” Protests in Iran are nothing new, but these demonstrations strike at the heart of the Islamic Republic’s repressive regime. Could the nascent movement change a sclerotic regime?

Guest: Gissou Nia, Director of the Atlantic Council’s Strategic Litigation Project.

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Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Elena Schwartz, Carmel Delshad, and Madeline Ducharme, with help from Anna Phillips and Jared Downing.

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What’s Up With the Midterms? Sep 27, 2022

For decades, the conventional wisdom surrounding the midterm elections has been that the party in the White House will lose the seats in the House, Senate, or both. Earlier this year, skyrocketing gas prices and Biden’s sinking approval rating portended misfortune for Democrats, particularly those in swing districts. But now, the fall of Roe and some snappy social media campaigns have shaken up most politicos’ predictions.

Guest: Amy Walter, publisher and editor-in-chief of the Cook Political Report.

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Election Fraud Evangelists Coming to a Town Near You Sep 26, 2022

The 2022 midterms are about to happen, but many Republicans still cling to the big lies that Donald Trump won the 2020 presidential election, or that Joe Biden could have only won through massive fraud. How do you hold an election when a large number of voters, officials, and even candidates are convinced the whole thing is rigged? How do you fight misinformation when it rolls into town like a circus?

Guests:

Annie Gowen, Midwest correspondent for the Washington Post.

Robyn Holmes, county clerk, Otero County, New Mexico

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TBD | Can Nuclear Power Be Green? Sep 25, 2022

Nuclear technology has become more important than ever, thanks to a global energy crisis and climate change. But it also has a complicated history.

Guest: Joshua Keating

Host: Lizzie O'Leary

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TBD | The Fight Over Online Speech Headed to the Supreme Court Sep 23, 2022

Conservative lawmakers in Florida and Texas are taking aim at content moderation on social media, with implications that go far beyond just the platforms.

Guest: Mark Joseph Stern

Host: Lizzie O'Leary

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Puerto Rico Without Power, Again Sep 22, 2022

When Hurricane Maria hit in 2017, it destroyed Puerto Rico’s power grid, leaving vast swathes of the island in the dark and claiming almost 3,000 lives. $9.5 billion was set aside to rejuvenate the island’s power grid and the government-run utility company was taken over by a private one. But five years later, before Hurricane Fiona even hit, the island lost electricity. How could this happen—again?

Guest: Gloria Gonzalez is the Deputy Energy Editor at POLITICO

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A Student Ran For School Board … and Won Sep 21, 2022

Public schools have become hotly debated—what’s on the curriculum and what isn’t; which books are allowed and which aren’t. But one voice frequently missing from these debates is that of the people most affected: students.

One high school senior in Idaho decided to speak up by running for school board, and he won by unseating an incumbent who had been endorsed by right-wing extremists.

Guest: Shiva Rajbandari, senior at Boise High School and recently elected member to the Boise School District Board of Trustees

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Is Hunter Biden’s Laptop Actually a Big Deal? Sep 20, 2022

An obsession with Hunter Biden’s laptop has been written off as the byproduct of a right-wing media bubble—but the reality is that what you don’t know can hurt you. It’s past time for Democrats and their supporters to confront some uncomfortable facts.

Guest: Olivia Nuzzi, Washington Correspondent for New York magazine.

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Abortion Can’t Be Settled by the States Sep 19, 2022

For years anti-abortion activists have argued that Roe v. Wade wasn’t just immoral, it was federal overreach, and abortion laws should be written on the state level. Only months after Roe’s overturn, district courts are hearing cases that demonstrate why that won’t work—and Republican senators are proposing a national ban on abortions after 15 weeks.

Guest: Mark Joseph Stern, senior writer covering courts and the law for Slate.

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TBD | The Hidden Abuse Behind Those Spam Texts You're Getting Sep 18, 2022

Victims of a new and high tech kind of human trafficking are forced to scam people all around the world.

Guest: Cezary Podkul

Host: Lizzie O'Leary

Human Trafficking’s Newest Abuse: Forcing Victims Into Cyberscamming

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TBD | How Big Internet Keeps Small Communities Disconnected Sep 16, 2022

A small parish in Louisiana tried to get affordable, fast internet. An incumbent ISP stopped them.

Guest: Issie Lapowsky, Wanda Manning

Host: Lizzie O'Leary

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The Master of Monkeypox Messaging Sep 15, 2022

One of the many things laid bare by COVID-19 was the importance of public health messaging—and the many ways it can fail. So when monkeypox began spreading in the U.S., the White House found someone who understands just how important it is to know your audience.

Guest: Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, White House National Monkeypox Response Deputy Coordinator and former director of the CDC Division of HIV Prevention.

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If Russia Loses the War Sep 14, 2022

A Ukrainian counteroffensive has pushed Russian forces back to the east surprisingly quickly and effectively. Military experts are now wondering if Ukraine will win the war outright and avoid the stalemate that seemed likely only a few weeks ago. But if Vladamir Putin starts to feel the heat both in the field and from citizens at home, what is he capable of? And lacking a mechanism to remove their leader from office, what can Russians do?

Guest: Fred Kaplan is Slate’s war stories correspondent and author of The Bomb: Presidents, Generals, and the Secret History of Nuclear War.

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The U.K.’s Actual Leadership Crisis Sep 13, 2022

The United Kingdom is saddled with an energy crisis, a pandemic-weary national health service, and continued economic fallout from Brexit. For now, the country is observing an official mourning period, after losing its longest-serving monarch. But soon it will be time for King Charles and newly-installed Prime Minister Liz Truss to show what they’ll do to lead the U.K. through what’s expected to be a grim winter.

Guest: Charlotte Ivers, political correspondent for Times Radio, and columnist for the Sunday Times.

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The Starbucks Unions' Next Fight Sep 12, 2022

Unions have won more elections in 2022 than they have in nearly 20 years, and they’re making in-roads in high-turnover, retail and service jobs like Starbucks, Chipotle and Amazon. As corporate leaders close down stores, fire union stalwarts, and stall bargaining, unionized workers fear they may never get a contract.

Guest: Rani Molla, senior correspondent at Recode covering business, technology, and the future of work.

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TBD | The Chaos That Made YouTube a Juggernaut Sep 11, 2022

An inside look at the rise of YouTube into a social media behemoth.

Guests: Mark Bergen and Claire Stapleton

Host: Lizzie O'Leary

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TBD | Can A.I. Make Great Art? Sep 09, 2022

Technology is transforming the creative economy and ideas about what "art" even is.

Guest: Drew Harwell

Host: Lizzie O'Leary

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The DeSantis Ally on the School Board Sep 08, 2022

Under Governor Ron DeSantis, the Parental Rights in Education Act—what critics call the “Don’t Say Gay” bill—and “curriculum transparency” laws are going into effect in Florida schools. Supporters say the laws are there to protect students and keep them from being “indoctrinated.” But the state now faces a “critical teacher shortage” and teachers are pointing to state intervention as a reason for low morale.

Guest: Bridget Ziegler, Sarasota County school board member and co-founder of Moms for Liberty.

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An Out Teen in the “Don’t Say Gay” State Sep 07, 2022

Today’s high schoolers have lived in an America with legally recognized gay marriage for nearly half of their lives, but this fall, Florida students are starting the first school year under the “Parental Rights in Education” law, a.k.a. “Don’t Say Gay,” and LGBTQ students are bracing for a very different classroom experience.

Guest: Will Larkins, a 17-year-old senior at Winter Park High School, Florida and cofounder of the school’s Queer Student Union.

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The Christian College Upending Florida's Schools Sep 06, 2022

In Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis has encouraged a small Christian college to exert an unusual amount of influence over education policy. Hillsdale College is an institution growing in notoriety among conservative luminaries. Now, Hillsdale is using Florida public schools as a laboratory for its plans to reshape public education across the country.

Guest: Anita Carson, a former sixth-grade teacher in Florida, and Sommer Brugal, education reporter for the Miami Herald.

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One Year - 1986: The Ultimate Field Trip Sep 05, 2022

We’ve got something special for you this Labor Day: an episode from the new season of Slate’s narrative history podcast One Year. Evan Chung tells the story of the American teachers who competed for an unprecedented prize: a spot on the January 1986 launch of the Space Shuttle Challenger. Three of the finalists describe the grueling selection process and the tragedy that killed one of their own.

One Year is produced by Evan Chung, Sophie Summergrad, Sam Kim, Madeline Ducharme, and Josh Levin.

Derek John is Sr. Supervising Producer of Narrative Podcasts and Merritt Jacob is Sr. Technical Director.

Slate Plus members get to hear more about the making of One Year. Get access to extra episodes, listen to the show without any ads, and support One Year by signing up for Slate Plus for just $15 for your first three months.

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TBD | The Summer Vaccine of the Future Sep 04, 2022

LYMErix, the first vaccine against Lyme, was pulled from the market amid poor sales and pressure from the public. Now, over 20 years later, a new vaccine is in late-stage trials.

Guest: Cassandra Willyard

Host: Lizzie O'Leary

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TBD | A.I. Made to Fight Child Porn Ensnared an Innocent Dad Sep 02, 2022

A father took a photo of his son for their doctor. He wound up being investigated by the police.

Guest: Kashmir Hill

Host: Lizzie O'Leary

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Best Of 2022 | The Michigan Democrat Who Said “Enough” Sep 01, 2022

Michigan state Senator Mallory McMorrow went viral in April for striking back at an extreme characterization made by a Republican colleague. The video of McMorrow’s speech—viewed over 14 million times—tells a bigger story about how national political rhetoric is affecting local political debates. But is the senator really demonstrating how to reset the terms of debate? Or is she just one more person who went viral for speaking to her echo chamber?

As summer winds down, we're replaying some of our favorite episodes from this year. This episode originally aired on May 3, 2022.

Guest: Mallory McMorrow, Michigan state senator representing Grand Oak and the suburbs north of Detroit.

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Best Of 2022 | When Your Book Gets Banned By the School Board Aug 31, 2022

Banning books in schools is on the rise. Around the country, parents are lobbying to banish from libraries and curriculums any work they deem to be “graphic” or “offensive,” often sweeping up books centered on queer or POC experiences in the process. Some authors say that’s no coincidence - nor is it surprising that this is happening just as the publishing industry is remaking itself to tell more diverse stories. The question is, what’s the best way to respond to the outrage?

This week as we wind down the summer, we're replaying some of our favorite episodes of this year. This episode originally aired on February 13, 2022.

Guest: Ashley Hope Pérez, author of three YA novels, including Out of Darkness, and professor of literature at Ohio State University.

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Best Of 2022 | The NFL’s Race Problem Aug 30, 2022

Until last month, Brian Flores was the head coach of the Miami Dolphins, and one of only three Black head coaches among the NFL’s 32 teams. That number has since dropped to one.

On Tuesday, Flores announced he was suing the NFL, alleging that the league's hiring practices are racist. His suit comes almost 20 years after the creation of the Rooney Rule, which requires teams to interview ethnic-minority candidates for senior positions, and eight years after Colin Kaepernick was black-balled from the sport for kneeling during the national anthem—begging the question of how much has really changed in that time.

This week as we ease out of summer, we are replaying some of our favorite episodes from the last year. This episode originally aired February 7, 2022.

Guest: LZ Granderson, columnist for the Los Angeles Times and host of ABC News’ “Life Out Loud with LZ Granderson.”

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Best Of 2022 | Ginni Thomas Wanted a Revolution Aug 29, 2022

Virginia “Ginni” Thomas, the wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, is a fervent right-wing activist. She was also a supporter of the attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results, as evidenced by a batch of texts shared with the congressional committee investigating January 6th.

The Ginni Thomas texts create a conflict of interest for Justice Clarence Thomas as he hears cases pertaining to the insurrection. But the Supreme Court is not expected to do much to dispel notions of bias. Why?

Guest: Mark Joseph Stern, senior writer covering courts and the law for Slate.

This week as we ease out of summer, we are replaying some of our favorite episodes from the last year. This episode originally aired March 30, 2022.

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TBD | The Streaming TV Bloodbath Aug 28, 2022

Shows are disappearing. Staff are getting axed. Is It greed, or necessary for the networks' survival?

Guest: Julia Alexander

Host: Lizzie O'Leary

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TBD | The Hacker Blowing the Whistle on Twitter Aug 26, 2022

Legendary hacker Peiter "Mudge" Zatko’s reputation in the cybersecurity world is unmatched. His allegations against Twitter’s security are all the more damning because of it.

Guest: Joseph Menn

Host: Lizzie O'Leary

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How Serena Transcended Tennis Aug 25, 2022

After winning 23 Grand Slam singles titles, four Olympic gold medals, and over $100 million in prize money, this month Serena Williams announced the end of her professional tennis career. While her on-court accomplishments and longevity put her in the sporting pantheon, her cultural impact is just as remarkable.

Guest: Amira Rose Davis, assistant professor of Black studies at the University of Texas Austin and co-host of the feminist sports podcast Burn It All Down.

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Abuse in the Southern Baptist Convention Aug 24, 2022

The Department of Justice announced this month that they were investigating allegations that leaders of the Southern Baptist Convention mishandled sexual abuse accusations for decades. How have abusers exploited the church’s decentralized structure and notions of forgiveness to avoid accountability, and how have church teachings about sexuality and “purity culture” allowed the abuse to continue?

Guest: Robert Downen, reporter at the Houston Chronicle.

Jules Woodson, co-Founder & COO of Help;Hear;Heal, a nonprofit providing therapy funding for survivors of sexual abuse.

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Oklahoma's Upcoming Execution Spree Aug 23, 2022

Despite its fraught history of botched executions, the state of Oklahoma is preparing to begin a 29 month execution spree this week. 25 dates have been set for men with severe mental illness, personal histories of childhood abuse, inadequate legal representation, or claims of innocence. Though these inmates have been deemed "the worst of the worst," activist nun Sister Helen Prejean implores the world to look at fuller pictures of their lives, and seek out an alternative to the death penalty.

Guest: Sister Helen Prejean, anti-death penalty activist and author of Dead Man Walking, The Death of Innocents, and River of Fire.

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The Migrants Texas Sent to New York City Aug 22, 2022

As part of a stunt to protest the Biden administration’s immigration policies, the governors of Texas and Arizona have been sending bus-loads of migrants to DC and New York without any support. Immigrant advocate groups are scrambling to take care of these people, who were vulnerable well before being used as political props.

Guest: Murad Awawdeh, Executive Director at New York Immigration Coalition & NYIC Action

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TBD | We're Expecting the Wrong Things From the CDC Aug 21, 2022

There's no way to remove politics from public health.

Guest: Tim Requarth

Host: Lizzie O'Leary

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TBD | What All That Money for Green Tech in the Climate Bill Is Buying Aug 19, 2022

The Inflation Reduction Act is spurring progress towards new climate technology that, at times, sounds like something out of a science fiction movie. Will it make a dent in the fight against climate change?

Guest: Pranshu Verma

Host: Lizzie O'Leary

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The Red States Punishing Green Businesses Aug 18, 2022

State treasurers in red states have been banding together to punish companies that are trying to divest themselves from the fossil fuel industry. But it isn’t clear if, say, BlackRock needs West Virginia more than West Virginia needs BlackRock. And this new front in the culture war may come with a bill that taxpayers have to pay.

Guest: David Gelles, correspondent on the Climate desk at The New York Times, covering the intersection of public policy and the private sector.

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Will Kentucky Fail Breonna Taylor Again? Aug 17, 2022

When Kentucky attorney general Daniel Cameron investigated the night Breonna Taylor was killed, his office concluded that the two officers who shot Taylor acted in good faith while executing the warrant provided. The Department of Justice’s investigation, however, suggests the warrant itself had false information, without which officers would never have been at Taylor’s home in the first place. Now a candidate for governor, will Cameron pay for his inattention in this high-profile case?

Guest: Tessa Duvall, Frankfort bureau chief for the Lexington Herald-Leader.

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What the DOJ Should Do About Trump Aug 16, 2022

After an FBI search of Mar-a-lago last week, it was revealed that Donald Trump is being investigated for federal crimes including violating the Espionage Act, obstruction of justice, and criminal handling of government records. How can the Justice Department do its job with the former president calling the investigation a hoax and his supporters demonstrating a willingness to respond violently? Who should be worried here?

Guest: Ankush Khardori, contributing writer for New York Magazine's Intelligencer, and contributing editor at POLITICO Magazine.

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Who Influences the Influencers? Aug 15, 2022

During his presidency, Donald Trump demonstrated the power that social media can have in politics. Now, influencers are taking money to spread messages from across the spectrum. Unlike political ads in older media, though, influencers don’t have to disclose who is paying them—or even that they’re being paid at all.

Guest: Ben Wofford, writer based at Stanford Law School, contributor to Wired.

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TBD | Big Pharma’s Bet on Psychedelics Aug 14, 2022

The psychedelic renaissance is here. But not everyone’s on board.

Guest: John Semley

Host: Sonari Glinton

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TBD | Crypto Could Leave Texas in the Dark Aug 12, 2022

Crypto mining is booming in Texas. Will the power grid be able to handle it?

Guest: Russell Gold

Host: Sonari Glinton

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The Crisis of Trust That Dobbs Created Aug 11, 2022

New abortion restrictions following the repeal of Roe v. Wade have turned some reproductive care into a criminal liability. After a traumatic ectopic pregnancy, one Texas woman is wondering whether state laws delayed her diagnosis and treatment, ultimately leaving her with a ruptured fallopian tube.

Guest: Fatima Abdelwahab of Houston, Texas.

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Is This Climate Bill Worth the Wait? Aug 10, 2022

After decades of dragging their feet on action to slow climate change, the Senate passed what is modeled to be the most impactful climate policy yet. What’s in the Inflation Reduction Act, and how did Democrats finally get the mercurial Joe Manchin on board?

Guest: Robinson Meyer, staff writer at The Atlantic and author of the newsletter The Weekly Planet.

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The Taliban vs. the Press Aug 09, 2022

Afghan women and LGBTQ+ people immediately felt the impact of the Taliban’s return to power last year. But journalists trying to tell their stories could face intense and even violent backlash from the extremist group—like what happened to Lynne O’Donnell.

Guest: Lynne O’Donnell, columnist at Foreign Policy and former Afghanistan bureau chief for Agence France-Presse and the Associated Press.

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The New Era of Child Labor Aug 08, 2022

With an ongoing labor shortage, companies turn to third-party labor brokers to fill jobs. But with little oversight and a surge of immigrants, the line between “ recruiter” and “ trafficker” gets blurred as vulnerable children are sent to work in dangerous conditions.

Guest: Mica Rosenberg, national immigration reporter for Reuters.

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TBD | The Monkeypox Vaccine Monopoly Aug 07, 2022

It makes intuitive sense for companies that develop a technology to hold its intellectual property rights. But in the case of vaccines and medical treatments, IP laws slow down manufacturing and distribution and give private companies the power to make huge decisions that affect public health globally.

Guest: Zain Rizvi, researcher for advocacy group Public Citizen, specializing in pharmaceutical innovation and access to medicine.

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TBD | The Homes We Forgot to Build a Decade Ago Aug 05, 2022

The US has been in a housing shortage for decades. Can it ever be fixed?

Guest: Conor Dougherty

Host: Emily Peck

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The Democrats’ MAGA Gambit Aug 04, 2022

In the primaries of purple states like Michigan, Arizona, and Pennsylvania, Trump-backed, far-right candidates have been getting a boost from a surprising source: the Democrats. Calculating that it will give their party the edge in general elections, local and national Dems have spent thousands elevating extremists. But will the strategy pay off?

Guest: Jim Newell, senior politics writer for Slate

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Is It Time to Free the “Merchant of Death”? Aug 03, 2022

Known as the “Merchant of Death,” Viktor Bout illegally ferried weapons, diamonds, and even UN peacekeepers around the world. The man who wrote the book on Bout thinks it’s time to send him home, if it can free Brittney Griner.

Guest: Douglas Farah, co-author ofMerchant of Death: Money, Guns, Planes and the Man Who Makes War Possible.

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Kansas's Sketchy Abortion Vote Aug 02, 2022

Following a 2017 state supreme court decision, the right to an abortion is recognized by Kansas’s state constitution. But with some suspect scheduling and seemingly deliberately confusing language, citizens of Kansas are voting today on whether to return control over reproductive healthcare to the state’s deeply Republican legislature.

Guest: Stephen R. McAllister, former U.S. district attorney and University of Kansas law professor.

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The Jan. 6 Rioter Whose Son Turned Him In Aug 01, 2022

Like many families during the Trump years, the Reffitts fought about politics. But not many families had a son calling the FBI on his father. Now Guy Reffitt is facing a 15-year sentence for domestic terrorism for his actions on Jan. 6 while his loved ones pick up the pieces.

Guest: Ilya Marritz, senior reporter at WNYC, co-host of the Wondery podcast “Will be Wild”.

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TBD | The Dark Web of Online Spider Sales Jul 31, 2022

Researchers have untangled a world of illicit trade that threatens ecosystems and endangers species.

Guest: Dr. Alice Hughes, Richard Stewart

Host: Lizzie O'Leary

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TBD | Paging Dr. Bezos Jul 29, 2022

In buying One Medical, Amazon is primed to be your doctor. Are they disrupting health care, or just collecting more data?

Guest: Rebecca Pifer

Host: Lizzie O'Leary

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Why Adoption Isn’t Enough Jul 28, 2022

Adoption is often invoked as an alternative to abortion. But looking back at how adoption worked before Roe v. Wade—and looking at how it works now—the option is cold comfort for many people facing unintended pregnancies.

Guest: Ann Fessler, author of The Girls Who Went Away: The Hidden History of Women Who Surrendered Children for Adoption in the Decades Before Roe v. Wade.

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The Fight to Defend Gay Marriage Jul 27, 2022

The “Respect for Marriage Act” protects same-sex marriages nationwide and already has bipartisan support. If put to a vote in the Senate, it seems likely to pass. So why aren’t Democrats making it a priority?

Guest: Mark Joseph Stern, senior writer at Slate.

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The Worst Drought in 1,200 Years Jul 26, 2022

The American southwest is in a megadrought. Water levels in lakes are dropping, threatening the local environment as well as agriculture, hydroelectric power, and the people living there. As global temperatures rise, it could be a preview of worse things to come.

Guest: Dr. Jason Smerdon, ocean and climate physicist, and Lamont research professor at the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University and co-director at the Earth Institute Faculty.

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The Price Liz Cheney Will Pay Jul 25, 2022

Liz Cheney rose through Republican leadership based on her conservative bona fides, but thanks to her prominent role in the Jan 6th committee, she’s gained donors and admirers from across the aisle. Her constituents back in Wyoming aren’t so enthusiastic though, throwing her future in Congress into doubt.

Guest: Bob Beck, news director of Wyoming Public Radio.

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TBD | Smart City: Dumb Idea? Jul 24, 2022

Toronto’s Quayside project is a telling example of how smart cities have failed. Could it also show how to make them better?

Guest: Ben Green, Jennifer Keesmaat

Host: Lizzie O'Leary

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TBD | Europe Is Burning Jul 22, 2022

The continent's deadly heat wave is only the tip of the melting iceberg.

Guest: Henry Grabar

Host: Lizzie O'Leary

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Three Theories on Joe Manchin Jul 21, 2022

Is there any climate-saving legislation that could win the vote of U.S. Senator Joe Manchin?

Guest: Jim Newell, senior politics writer at Slate.

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A Different Kind of Pollution Jul 20, 2022

Animals navigate the world using echolocation, ultraviolet vision, and a sensitivity to sounds and scents that humans can only imagine. That means things like light pollution or the noise of a highway can impact them in ways we might not readily consider. But with an empathic ear—and eye, and nose—we can make small changes to be much better neighbors to our fellow species.

Guest: Ed Yong, science writer at the Atlantic and author of An Immense World: How Animal Senses Reveal the Hidden Realms Around Us.

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The Prosecutors Stuck With Abortion Bans Jul 19, 2022

Abortion is now illegal in eight states, and more trigger laws banning the procedure are expected. The new state policies usher in an era of criminalized abortion. In Missouri, one liberal prosecutor is still struggling to predict how strictly these laws will be enforced.

Guest: Jean Peters Baker, elected prosecutor of Jackson County, Missouri.

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The Biden Problem Jul 18, 2022

Joe Biden broke through the Democratic primaries as the safe choice, the one to beat Trump and get stuff done by reaching across the aisle. But two years into his presidency, his approval rating has plunged, his own party has stymied most of his agenda, and the most effective political body in Washington is the conservative-majority Supreme Court. What’s Biden’s plan here?

Guest: Perry Bacon Jr., columnist for the Washington Post.

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TBD | Silicon Valley's Hidden Discrimination Jul 17, 2022

Thenmozhi Soundararajan was scheduled to give a talk at Google for Dalit History Month. It led to vicious attacks against her from some of its employees.

Guest: Thenmozhi Soundararajan

Host: Lizzie O'Leary

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TBD | Can Twitter Sue Elon Musk Into Submission? Jul 15, 2022

Dysfunction is nothing new to Twitter. But Elon Musk pulling his offer to buy the company adds a new layer of chaos.

Guest: Alex Kantrowitz

Host: Lizzie O'Leary

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The Proud Boys' New Plan for Power Jul 14, 2022

The Proud Boys started as a loose coalition of men who filtered misogyny and racism through an ironic, “just joking” veneer. But once Donald Trump told them to “stand back and stand by” from the debate stage, it became clear that something more serious was happening. After taking part in the Jan. 6 insurrection, the Proud Boys have become even more active in GOP politics, choosing candidates, and even running candidates from their own ranks.

Guest: Andy Campbell, Senior Editor at HuffPost and author of upcoming book We Are Proud Boys.

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The Real Risks of Monkeypox Jul 13, 2022

Doctors feel confident they can deal with the ongoing monkeypox outbreak. But, once again, our public health agencies have been stumbling to get a hold of this virus before it spreads widely.

Guests: Matt Ford and Shannon Palus, Slate senior editor.

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The Russians Invaded. The Opera Played On. Jul 12, 2022

Persistent Russian missile strikes since February and an ongoing blockade have silenced Odesa’s normally busy port—but not its 19th century opera house. Performances now end with a singing of the Ukrainian national anthem.

Guest: Ekaterina Tsymbalyuk, a soloist at the Odesa Opera.

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The War on LGBTQ+ Rights Jul 11, 2022

As anti-gay and anti-trans politics become more mainstream, the Trevor Project has a unique perspective. They run a hotline where queer kids are talking about how Republican rhetoric is meeting reality. Bullying once thought to be confined to high schools has made its way to mainstream politics.

Guest: Sam Ames, civil rights lawyer and director of advocacy and governmental affairs at The Trevor Project.

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TBD | Paxlovid's Mysteries Jul 10, 2022

There's still a lot unknown about COVID's new wonder drug.

Guest: Rachel Gutman-Wei

Host: Lizzie O'Leary

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TBD | Can FEMA Keep Up With Climate Change? Jul 08, 2022

Climate change is causing unprecedented severe weather. Is the agency prepared for it to get worse?

Guest: Craig Fugate and Ashley Nerbovig

Host: Lizzie O'Leary

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How to Fix the Economy Jul 07, 2022

Last month, inflation hit a new 40-year high. Americans are feeling it in their grocery bills, at the gas pump, in airline tickets, electrical bills, and rental costs. What can be done to combat rising prices in the current economy – and at what price?

Guest: Jordan Weissmann, senior editor and writer at Slate focused on economics, politics, and public policy.

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The Supreme Court Needs an Upgrade Jul 06, 2022

The Supreme Court treated its most recent term like the opening salvo in a conservative revolution, approving prayer in schools, establishing a constitutional right to conceal and carry a firearm, and eliminating the constitutional right to abortion. What options do President Biden and Congress have to check the power of this co-equal branch of government?

Guest: Mark Joseph Stern, Slate senior writer.

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A Fight to Put Abortion on Arizona’s Ballot Jul 05, 2022

After the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, the question of abortion rights became a state issue. Although Arizona was one of 26 states with so-called “zombie laws” that banned abortion when Roe was struck down, it’s also one of three states that lets its citizens write l amend the state’s constitution. Now, abortion rights activists are racing to collect more than 350,000 signatures by July 7 to put the question of abortion rights in the hands of Arizona voters.

Guest: Shasta McManus, activist and treasurer of Arizonans For Reproductive Freedom.

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Slow Burn - Roe v. Wade: Roe Against Wade Jul 04, 2022

Harry Blackmun wasn’t Richard Nixon’s first choice to fill a vacancy on the Supreme Court. But after Blackmun was confirmed, he got the assignment of a lifetime: writing the majority opinion in Roe v. Wade. His approach to that case would have consequences he never imagined.

Season 7 of Slow Burn is produced by Susan Matthews, Samira Tazari, Sophie Summergrad, and Sol Werthan.

Derek John is Sr. Supervising Producer of Narrative Podcasts.

Editorial direction by Josh Levin, Derek John, and Johanna Zorn. Merritt Jacob is our Technical Director.

Our theme music is composed by Alexis Cuadrado. Artwork by Derreck Johnson based on a photo provided by Robert Wheeler.

The season’s reporting was supported by a grant from the International Women’s Media Foundation’s Howard G. Buffett Fund for Women Journalists.

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TBD | The Good Hackers Jul 03, 2022

According to the Justice Department, there’s a right way — and a wrong way — to be a hacker.

Guest: Josephine Wolff

Host: Lizzie O'Leary

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TBD | TikTok’s Mental Health Influencers Jul 01, 2022

Social media makes mental health information accessible. But it's not a perfect solution.

Guest: Lindsay Lee Wallace

Host: Mary C. Curtis

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The Shocking Jan. 6 Hearing Was Not a Slam Dunk Jun 30, 2022

A surprise session of the House’s Jan. 6 committee featured testimony from Cassidy Hutchinson, the former executive assistant to White House chief of staff Mark Meadows. Hutchinson was inside the White House as the Jan. 6 riot happened, and she testified that Trump knew an armed crowd was chanting “hang Mike Pence”—the thing that upset him most was not being able to join them.

Hutchinson’s testimony was the bombshell the committee had been waiting for. Is it enough to actually hold Donald Trump accountable?

Guest: Ben Mathis-Lilley, senior writer at Slate.

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What Texas Can’t Forget Jun 29, 2022

One tragedy replaces another in the headlines—that’s just how things go.

The Texas state legislature isn’t scheduled to convene until January 2023, when the shooting at Robb Elementary in Uvalde will no longer be fresh in people’s minds, and the momentum for changing Texas’s gun laws will be long gone. One state senator, however, won’t accept that.

Guest: Roland Gutierrez, Democratic Texas State Senator for District 19, which includes Uvalde.

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The State That Brought Down Roe Jun 28, 2022

How did Mississippi go from resoundingly voting down a “fetal personhood” amendment in 2011 to being the state that brought down Roe v. Wade? Outsiders have long viewed the state as a potential fulcrum to overturn abortion laws in America, to the point where three different legislators introduced three identical bills to ban abortion 15 weeks after fertilization in 2018.

Guest: Ashton Pittman, senior reporter for the Mississippi Free Press.

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Your Body, Their Choice Jun 27, 2022

For years the conservative justices slow rolled abortion restrictions, limiting how the procedure is done and who can perform an abortion, making accessing reproductive health care harder and harder. Now, with a majority of justices agreeing to completely overturn Roe v. Wade, the slow roll is over.

Guest: Susan Matthews, Slate’s news director and host of Slow Burn Season 7: Roe v. Wade.

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TBD | Does Crypto Investment Need to Be Regulated? Jun 26, 2022

Fidelity made headlines when they announced you could invest your retirement savings in Bitcoin. Then the crypto market crashed.

Guest: Anthony Lee Zhang

Host: Sonari Glinton

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TBD | Can the Law Keep Up With the Internet? Jun 24, 2022

The openness of the internet is its greatest strength. Or a glaring weakness, depending on who you ask. Does something need to change?

Guest: Jared Schroeder

Host: Sonari Glinton

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The Poll Workers Targeted by Trump Jun 23, 2022

The third week of the House of Representatives investigation into the Jan. 6 riot is focusing on the weeks-long pressure campaign waged by Trump and his allies. Individuals around the country were harassed by Trump loyalists in order to change the election outcome. Trump’s “stochastic terrorism” campaign set the stage for what would happen at the capitol come January.

Guest: Ben Mathis-Lilley, Slate senior writer

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Why Biden Can’t Ice Out Saudi Arabia Jun 22, 2022

On the campaign trail, Joe Biden called Saudi Arabia a “pariah” and said its ruling regime should be held accountable for the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. But now, rising oil prices have caused President Biden to soften his tone and plan a visit to Saudi Arabia next month. How much can the U.S. really demand of its allies?

Guest:Gregory Gause, head of the Department of International Affairs at the Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University.

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An Overlooked Tool to Stop School Shootings Jun 21, 2022

A school with armed teachers and every door locked sounds a lot more like a prison than a nourishing educational environment. How does the discussion around school shootings change when you change your starting point from “how can we stop this?” to “what kind of world do we want to live in?”

Guest: Ron Avi Astor, professor of public affairs, social work, and education at UCLA.

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Slow Burn - Roe v. Wade: Women vs. Connecticut Jun 20, 2022

Soon after Ann Hill arrived at Yale Law School in 1968, she realized she was pregnant. Her options were limited: she could give birth—or get an illegal abortion. The decision she faced inspired her to take on Connecticut’s abortion ban. The legal battle that followed would set the stage for Roe v. Wade.

Season 7 of Slow Burn is produced by Susan Matthews, Samira Tazari, Sophie Summergrad, and Sol Werthan.

Derek John is Sr. Supervising Producer of Narrative Podcasts.

Editorial direction by Josh Levin, Derek John, and Johanna Zorn. Merritt Jacob is our Technical Director.

Our theme music is composed by Alexis Cuadrado. Artwork by Derreck Johnson based on a photo provided by Robert Wheeler.

The season’s reporting was supported by a grant from the International Women’s Media Foundation’s Howard G. Buffett Fund for Women Journalists.

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TBD | From the Vault: It's Hot. It's Flooding. Is This the New Normal? Jun 19, 2022

This episode originally aired in July 2021.

Last year, North Americans saw record-breaking heat, droughts, wildfires, and floods. The science is clear: we are living through the effects of climate change. Now scientists are trying to answer: is this the new normal?

Guest: Daniel Swain, climate scientist at UCLA

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TBD | The Culture War Over Electric Cars Jun 17, 2022

One state wants to stop people from buying one. But can electric vehicles be stopped?

Guest: Ryan Cornell

Host: Sonari Glinton

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Bill Barr Calls B.S. on Trump Jun 16, 2022

The hearings have started for the House select committee investigating the January 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol. The televised hearings have already circled in on a major, and possibly criminal theme: Donald Trump would not accept that he lost the election and was willing to listen to any theory or allegation—no matter how little evidence there was to support it—that would let him stay in office. Why are former Trump officials finally willing speak out against the former president?

Guest: Jeremy Stahl, Slate senior editor.

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The Real Lesson of San Francisco's D.A. Recall Jun 15, 2022

San Francisco is all but short-hand for “liberal American city,” but their progressive district attorney Chesa Boudin just got booted from office in a not-so-close recall. Elected as part of a wave of progressive prosecutors, why is Boudin now out, while his reformer-minded peers remain popular? And what does it mean for criminal justice reform in America?

Guest: Jessica Brand, founder and co-director of the Wren Collective, a consulting service focused on transforming the criminal justice system.

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The Killing of Shireen Abu Akleh Jun 14, 2022

Last month, Palestinian American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh was shot and killed while reporting on an Israeli military raid of a Palestinian refugee camp in the occupied West Bank. Multiple media investigations say the evidence suggests Abu Akleh was killed by targeted Israeli fire, not stray bullets from a chaotic skirmish. Meanwhile, the U.S. has called for an impartial investigation into Abu Akleh’s death, but has stopped short of leading such a probe.

Guest: Dalia Hatuqa, a journalist specializing in Israeli/Palestinian affairs and regional Middle East issues.

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Does Gun Violence Need an Emmett Till Moment? Jun 13, 2022

To the people who deal with the reality of bullet wounds, the aftermath of shootings aren’t so abstract. If politicians and the public had to see what military weaponry actually does to the body, would that change the conversation around gun control?

Guest: Dr. Amy Goldberg, interim dean of the Lewis Katz School of Medicine and surgeon-in-chief at the Temple University Health System.

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TBD | Sheryl Sandberg’s Complicated Legacy Jun 12, 2022

She wanted to be an icon for working women. What went wrong?

Guest: Sheera Frenkel

Host: Lizzie O'Leary

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TBD | Bots! What Are They Good For? Jun 10, 2022

Elon Musk isn't wrong that Twitter has a bot problem. But he's kind of missing the point.

Guest: Samuel Woolley

Host: Lizzie O'Leary

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What The Jan. 6 Hearings Are Really About Jun 09, 2022

The House hearings to examine the events of Jan. 6, 2021, begin this week and the party lines are drawn. Republicans are calling the hearings a distraction from issues that voters care about—inflation, rising prices of gas and food. Democrats are trying to remind voters which party tried to override American democracy. Will it be enough to stem the “red tide” projected for fall midterms?

Guest: Jim Newell, senior politics writer at Slate.

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Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Elena Schwartz, Carmel Delshad, Anna Rubanova and Sam Kim.

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Can 20 Years of Oversight Reform a Police Department? Jun 08, 2022

In the early 2000s, following a civil lawsuit with over 100 plaintiffs against a group of Oakland police officers known as “the Riders,” the Oakland PD was put under federal oversight. Now after nearly two decades of reforms, backslides into scandals, and close watch from activists and the feds, Oakland can enter a probationary period. But has the culture of the department really changed?

Guest: Darwin BondGraham, News Editor of the Oaklandside and co-author of a forthcoming book about the Oakland police department. He and his partner Ali Winston have been covering the OPD for almost two decades.

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The Right’s Poll-Watcher Army Jun 07, 2022

Republicans who still haven’t accepted that Joe Biden beat Donald Trump in 2020 are recruiting “a volunteer army” of poll watchers and poll workers for upcoming elections. For those who want transparent and fair elections, an influx of enthusiasm is theoretically a good thing. But if new poll workers and poll watchers have an agenda— chasing after fraud that didn’t happen—can they hurt more than they help?

Guest: Alexandra Berzon, investigative reporter for the New York Times.

Guest hosted by Mary C. Curtis, columnist at Roll Call and host of its Equal Time podcast.

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Does Proof Matter at the Supreme Court? Jun 06, 2022

The Sixth Amendment is supposed to guarantee the right to a fair trial—including a lawyer, even if the defendant can’t afford one. But Indigent Defense is woefully underfunded and, sometimes, State-appointed lawyers are nowhere near as competent as Federal attorneys. A new Supreme Court ruling makes it more difficult to use exonerating evidence discovered on a federal level to prove innocence, even if state counsel didn’t look for it.

Guest: Leah Litman, law professor at University of Michigan, specializing in constitutional law and federal courts, and co-host of the podcast Strict Scrutiny

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TBD | Is Elon Musk Any Good at Business? Jun 05, 2022

Some call him revolutionary. Others call him a hack. Is his success warranted?

Guest: Ashlee Vance

Host: Lizzie O'Leary

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TBD | Can an Algorithm Spot a Shooter? Jun 03, 2022

Schools have spent millions to detect threats online. It mostly doesn’t work.

Guest: Arijit Sen

Host: Lizzie O'Leary

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How Gun-Makers Are Arming the Culture War Jun 02, 2022

After a mass shooting, gun manufacturers follow a set playbook—they offer “thoughts and prayers,” go quiet, and wait for the bump in sales driven by fear of new gun restrictions. The company Daniel Defense’s products were used in Uvalde and in the 2017 mass shooting in Las Vegas. Do they have a responsibility for how they market their rifles—or how their weapons are used?

Guest: Todd C. Frankel is an enterprise reporter on the Washington Post's Financial desk, covering people and policy.

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How Soccer's Best Women Finally Got Paid Jun 01, 2022

If you want to understand the way inequality is baked into the systems and structures all around us, examining the pay equity issue in U.S. soccer is a pretty good place to start. But after a six-year battle, the U.S. Women’s National Team struck an agreement with U.S. Soccer, ensuring equal pay for equal work for the men’s and women’s teams — another victory for a team that doesn’t take no for an answer.

Guest: Christina Cauterucci, senior writer at Slate and a former middle school soccer star.

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Reporting on Guns from Texas May 31, 2022

Following the shooting in Uvalde, we talked to a Texas reporter who has covered mass shootings for five years. The Lone Star state remains a GOP strong-hold, which means Texas Republicans tailor their messaging and legislation to avoid being primaried from the right. This impacts how gun laws are written and how mental health is instead elevated, leaving both underserved.

Guest: Lauren McGaughy, investigative reporter, the Dallas Morning News.

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TBD | Online Privacy in a Post-Roe World May 29, 2022

What can current surveillance infrastructure tell us about online privacy after the fall of Roe?

Guest: Lily Hay Newman

Host: Lizzie O'Leary

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TBD | Will Bitcoin Ruin El Salvador? May 27, 2022

Is El Salvador heading for default after going all in on crypto?

Guest: Anna-Cat Brigida

Host: Lizzie O'Leary

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A Sandy Hook Parent Speaks May 26, 2022

The school shooting in Uvalde, Texas was the deadliest since the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut nearly a decade ago. Today, we’re re-airing an interview with a parent who lost her child at Sandy Hook and went on to channel her grief into activism. In February, she and a group of other Sandy Hook families announced a $73 million settlement with Remington Arms, forcing the gunmaker to accept responsibility for marketing its weapons to disaffected young men.

Guest: Nicole Hockley, co-founder and CEO of the Sandy Hook Promise Foundation.

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The End of Ending the Pandemic May 25, 2022

More than a million people have died of COVID in America, and infection rates across the country are climbing again. But public officials seem reluctant to enact mask mandates or lockdowns this time around.

Doctors and scientists who work in public health are hoping that “harm reduction” techniques, which were developed to treat addiction and chronic illnesses, can tamp down this latest wave.

Guest: Dr. Deepika Slawek, assistant professor of medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine and an attending physician at Montefiore Comprehensive Family Care.

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New York State’s Redistricting Mess May 24, 2022

An effort to counterweight GOP-friendly maps in Ohio and Florida in New York state has backfired on the Democrats.

How did Democratic state politicians bungle their redistricting process? Will the error cost the party nationally?

Guest: Dave Wasserman, U.S. House editor of the nonpartisan @CookPolitical Report.

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Biden’s Student Loan Ambivalence May 23, 2022

President Biden ran on a promise to forgive $10,000 in student loans back in 2020—but so far, there hasn’t been much movement on that front. Between the pros, the cons, and the politics, one thing is clear: fixing higher education will take more than an executive order.

Guest: Jordan Weissmann, writer and editor focused on economics, public policy, and politics at Slate.

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TBD | North Korea's Hacking Army May 22, 2022

They’ve stolen billions of dollars. Is the U.S. ready to crack down?

Guest: Jason Bartlett, research associate in the Energy, Economics, and Security Program at the Center for a New American Security

Host: Lizzie O'Leary

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TBD | How Buffalo Could Transform Social Media May 20, 2022

The shooting in Buffalo raises questions about the effectiveness of content moderation. Is the Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism the answer to how social media can moderate extremist content?

Guest: Emma Llansó, director of the Free Expression Project at the Center for Democracy and Technology

Host: Ray Suarez

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China’s Zero-COVID Policy May 19, 2022

When China first instituted its zero-COVID policy, it was a success: as other countries struggled with soaring infection rates and overburdened hospitals, life for many Chinese citizens began to look normal again within months—so long as they weren’t infected. But the omicron variant changed the game. Now, people are speaking out against draconian lockdown measures they say are inappropriate to face the current level of threat.

How did zero-COVID evolve from being the most effective virus prevention strategy in the world to a disproportionate and punitive system? And how has that evolution expanded state control?

Guest: Dake Kang, journalist in the Beijing bureau of the Associated Press.

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No Lone Wolves May 18, 2022

A shooting Saturday at a supermarket in a predominantly-Black neighborhood in Buffalo left at least 10 people dead and three more injured. The suspected shooter left a manifesto riddled with racist ideology, laying out plans to specifically target Black people and citing the so-called “great replacement theory” as his motivation.

How much will white supremacist violence be a part of the everyday lives of Americans — and what’s being done to stop it?

Guest: Wesley Lowery, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist covering race in America.

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How Corporations Are Taking Advantage of Inflation May 17, 2022

Consumers are paying higher prices almost everywhere as inflation continues to rise. But corporate earnings calls have revealed that many companies are using inflation as a cover to jack up prices and increase profits — all on the backs of customers.

Guest: Lindsay Owens, executive director of the Groundwork Collaborative.

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The Evolution of Pro-Choice Messaging May 16, 2022

The likely end of Roe v. Wade marks a bitter setback for the pro-choice movement. But the success of abortion legalization campaigns in Ireland and Argentina may be models for a way forward.

What are the ingredients for effective public messaging? What can American activists learn from the examples of international movements?

Guest: Anat Shenker-Osorio, communications researcher and campaign advisor, host of the podcast “Words To Win By.”

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TBD | Inside Trump’s Twitter Clone May 15, 2022

Trump's Truth Social network was supposed to be the right's answer to Twitter. What happens to the company if Elon takes over?

Guest: Drew Harwell, reporter for the Washington Post

Host: Lizzie O'Leary

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TBD | Can A.I. Know What You're Feeling? May 13, 2022

Companies are developing and selling A.I. products intended to tell your boss or your teacher how you're feeling.

Guest: Kate Kaye, reporter for Protocol

Host: Lizzie O'Leary

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The Future of IVF Post-Roe May 12, 2022

As the country awaits a final decision on whether the Supreme Court will overturn Roe. v Wade, fertility doctors are sounding the alarm about what that could mean for the future procedures like IVF.

Guests: Dr. Natalie Crawford, OBGYN and reproductive endocrinologist at Fora Fertility in Austin, Texas.

Emily, an IVF patient in West Virginia. Emily asked Slate to withhold her last name so she could speak freely about her fertility treatments.

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Russia’s Next Target? May 11, 2022

Curious explosions in a Russian stronghold of Moldova have the world wondering if Putin is making his next play. Why is a tiny country on Ukraine’s western border of such strategic importance?

Guest: Monika Pronczuk, Brussels-based reporter for the New York Times.

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Ukrainian War, American Intelligence May 10, 2022

It’s not unusual for the U.S. to lend intelligence to another country. It’s a little more unusual for the U.S. to talk about it.

Why is the American military confirming reports that it’s helping Ukraine vanquish Russian targets? Could that candidness lead to an expansion of the war? Or will it be the deciding factor in finishing the conflict?

Guest: Shane Harris, reporter covering intelligence and national security for the Washington Post.

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How Connecticut Became An Abortion Safe Haven May 09, 2022

In the wake of a leaked Supreme Court draft opinion indicating that Roe v. Wade will soon be a thing of the past, some states are rushing to fortify the right to an abortion within their borders. Nowhere has gone as far as Connecticut, though, which has expanded the field of people permitted to perform abortions and created legal protections for anyone who aids in the procedure. But will it make a difference when abortion will likely soon be outlawed in half the country?

Guest: Matt Blumenthal, State Representative for Connecticut’s 147th District.

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TBD | Is Free Speech Online Just a Myth? May 08, 2022

A conversation with one of the smartest First Amendment lawyers in the country.

Guest: Jameel Jaffer

Host: Lizzie O'Leary

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TBD | Can the Internet Rescue Abortion Access? May 06, 2022

The pandemic changed the way abortion care could be provided online. So what happens now?

Guest: Dr. Mai Fleming, family medicine physician and Fellow with Physicians for Reproductive Health.

Host: Lizzie O'Leary

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Depp v. Heard May 05, 2022

Johnny Depp’s defamation case against ex-wife Amber Heard is making headlines—not just for the spectacle taking place within the courtroom, but for its implications for victims of domestic violence.

In a case of domestic ugliness, is it possible to know the truth? And does trying to uncover it through legal action serve anyone’s best interests?

Guest: John Culhane, professor at the Delaware Law School.

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The Supreme Court Tips Its Hand May 04, 2022

This week, Politico published a shocking leak from within the Supreme Court, indicating that a majority of the judges have voted to overturn Roe v. Wade. Beyond who leaked the draft opinion, questions remain about what the rollback of the landmark constitutional law will mean for abortion rights in America.

Guest: Dahlia Lithwick, Slate courts and law writer and host of the podcast Amicus.

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The Michigan Democrat Who Said “Enough” May 03, 2022

Michigan state Senator Mallory McMorrow went viral in April for striking back at an extreme characterization made by a Republican colleague. The video of McMorrow’s speech—viewed over 14 million times—tells a bigger story about how national political rhetoric is affecting local political debates. But is the senator really demonstrating how to reset the terms of debate? Or is she just one more person who went viral for speaking to her echo chamber?

Guest: Mallory McMorrow, Michigan state senator representing Grand Oak and the suburbs north of Detroit.

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Mexico’s Disappearing Women May 02, 2022

The body of 18-year-old Debanhi Escobar was discovered in late April, inside a water tank in a motel on the outskirts of Monterrey, Mexico—weeks after she went missing. The identity of her killer is still unknown.

The case has prompted a national outcry over the Mexican government’s consistent failure to deliver justice for missing women. But femicide in Mexico isn’t new, and past protests haven’t yielded meaningful change. Will this time be any different?

Guest: Oscar Lopez, reporter for the New York Times based in Mexico City.

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TBD | The Fantasy of Internet for All May 01, 2022

Today on the show: Can Starlink ever fulfill its promise of connecting the world, especially places left behind by traditional internet? Or will it be just another toy for the rich?

Guest: Meaghan Tobin, reporter at Rest of World

Host: Lizzie O'Leary

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TBD | What Elon Wants With Twitter Apr 29, 2022

Twitter is the platform of choice for politicians, journalists, academics, and many other agenda-setters. Twitter influences conversations that take place in newsrooms and statehouses. What happens if the company’s placed in the hands of a pugnacious, provocative plutocrat like Elon Musk?

Guest: Will Oremus, tech reporter for the Washington Post

Host: Seth Stevenson

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L.A.’s Alarming Latino Mortality Rate Apr 28, 2022

People may want to throw their masks in the trash, but in communities with the highest COVID-19 mortality rates, the pandemic is not over.

Guest: Dr. Don Garcia, medical director at Clínica Romero in Los Angeles.

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The Crisis in Special Education Apr 27, 2022

Federal law guarantees that students with disabilities have access to special educators. But widespread teacher shortages mean that these students are often being taught by people without the mandated qualifications – or by no one at all.

Guest: Dylan Peers McCoy is an investigative reporter on WFYI’s education team.

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Florida’s Most Powerful Flack Apr 26, 2022

How one spokesperson with an itchy Twitter-finger is sparking a moral panic.

Guest: Ben Mathis-Lilley, a senior writer at Slate.

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The Librarians Fighting Book Bans Apr 25, 2022

Carolyn Foote was furious when Republican lawmakers in Texas singled out hundreds of books about race or sexuality for removal from school libraries. So she and a group of other librarians stepped into the fray to push back against what they see as harmful censorship.

Guest: Carolyn Foote, former librarian for schools outside Austin, Texas.

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TBD | A New High-Tech Weapon in Ukraine Apr 24, 2022

The conflict between Ukraine and Russia is uncovering new wartime applications for facial recognition technology.

Guest: Aric Toler, director of research and training at Bellingcat

Host: Lizzie O'Leary

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TBD | The COVID Data Disaster Apr 22, 2022

Are we facing down yet another COVID wave right now? Does it matter?

Guest: Katherine Wu, staff writer for The Atlantic

Host: Lizzie O'Leary

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Putin’s Hunger for Money Apr 21, 2022

Bill Browder has been sounding the alarm about Vladimir Putin for decades. Formerly one of Russia’s largest foreign investors, Browder has made it his life's work to expose corruption in the country. Unsurprisingly, he’s one of Putin's personal targets. Browder believes that money is what's really driving the war in Ukraine.

Guest: Bill Browder, founder and CEO of Hermitage Capital Management. Browder ran the largest foreign investment firm in Russia until 2005, when he was kicked out of the country. His new book is Freezing Order: A True Story of Money Laundering, Murder, and Surviving Vladimir Putin's Wrath.

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Biden's Immigration Mess Apr 20, 2022

Pro-immigration advocates had high hopes when the Biden administration came to office that some of the harsher policies imposed by Trump would ease. Instead, immigration policy has been a mess inside the White House. The move to rescind Title 42 – a health policy that the Trump administration used to restrict migration at the U.S.-Mexico border is now further dividing Democrats.

Guest: Tyler Moran, former deputy assistant to President Biden and senior advisor for migration. Moran co-founded the Immigration Hub and has 20 years of experience developing and implementing immigration policy.

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A Caseworker Quits Over Texas’ Trans Kids Policy Apr 19, 2022

Morgan Davis saw his job as an investigator in the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services as a calling. As a transgender man, he joined the child welfare agency to be the advocate he never had while growing up. But Davis eventually quit, following Governor Greg Abbott’s order to investigate the families of transgender children. While Abbott’s order is currently paused due to an injunction, many families are still left in limbo due to open cases – and other child welfare workers are handing in their notices.

Guest: Morgan Davis, investigator at theTravis County office of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.

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Cracking Down on Ghost Guns Apr 18, 2022

The Biden Administration recently announced a new policy aimed at cracking down on ghost guns—homemade weapons without serial numbers, making them harder to trace. But with gun violence on the rise, will this particular move make a meaningful difference?

Guest: David Chipman, senior policy advisor at Giffords, a gun violence prevention organization.

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TBD | How TurboTax Tricks Taxpayers Apr 17, 2022

How did Intuit build its TurboTax empire?

Guest: Justin Elliott, reporter for ProPublica

Host: Lizzie O'Leary

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TBD | Elonnnnnnnnnnnnn! Apr 15, 2022

Is Musk's bid to take Twitter private a genuine attempt to mold the social network in his image? Or is he just going to have some fun, make some money, and walk away?

Guest: Felix Salmon, host of Slate Money and chief financial correspondent for Axios

Host: Lizzie O'Leary

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Is France About to Elect a Far-Right President? Apr 14, 2022

In the French presidential election five years ago, Marine Le Pen lost badly to Emmanuel Macron. Now, Le Pen is back for a rematch—and this time, polls are pretty tight.

Guest: Henry Grabar, staff writer at Slate.

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Disney vs. DeSantis Apr 13, 2022

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and the Walt Disney Company are at odds over a controversial Florida law dubbed “don’t say gay,” which would limit instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in public schools. While DeSantis is a big supporter of the legislation, Disney’s CEO Bob Chapek eventually came out against it, vowing to work to repeal the law and setting up a showdown between the governor and the entertainment giant.

Guest: Mary Ellen Klas, Capitol bureau chief for the Miami Herald in Tallahassee, Florida.

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Pennsylvania’s Nutty Senate Race Apr 12, 2022

Pennsylvania’s got a U.S. Senate seat up for grabs, and the primary is shaping up to be a showdown between moderate, establishment candidates and those on the fringes of each party.

Guest: Jonathan Tamari, national political writer for the Philadelphia Inquirer.

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From Homeless to Housing Reporter Apr 11, 2022

How the experience of living in his car years ago helped reporter Ethan Ward focus his coverage of homelessness and housing in Los Angeles.

Guest: Ethan Ward, unhoused communities reporter for KPCC and LAist.

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TBD | Uber Makes Nice With Cabs Apr 10, 2022

The rideshare company's founder once called taxis “evil.” Now, Uber might need them to survive.

Guest: Preetika Rana

Host: Lizzie O'Leary

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TBD | Elon Trolls the SEC Apr 08, 2022

With 9.1% ownership of Twitter—and a board seat—Elon Musk is the new master of Twitter's future. Why did the wealthiest man in the world just take over the world's most influential platform?

Guest: Ranjan Roy, writer of the Margins newsletter

Host: Lizzie O'Leary

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Who Can Hold Russia Accountable? Apr 07, 2022

In a speech before the United Nations, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of the worst war crimes since World War II. But whether there will be accountability on the international stage is a separate question—especially with Russia sitting permanently on the UN Security Council.

How difficult would it be to prove war crimes have in fact been committed in Ukraine? And even if they were, would Putin ever actually be punished?

Guest: Stephen Rapp, former United States Ambassador-at-Large for War Crimes Issues in the Office of Global Criminal Justice under President Obama.

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Amazon Gets Its First Union Apr 06, 2022

Few were betting that a group of workers on Staten Island could win union recognition at their Amazon warehouse. Now that they’ve done it, can they replicate this win at other shops across the country? And what will the nation’s largest unions do to help Amazon workers join the labor movement?

Guest: Steven Greenhouse, senior fellow at the Century Foundation and author of Beaten Down, Worked Up: The Past, Present, and Future of American Labor.

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The Fight Over Free Lunch Apr 05, 2022

At the beginning of the pandemic, Congress loosened the rules around school lunch programs, and approved additional funding to help schools provide more meals to more kids. But those allowances are set to expire on June 30th, leaving schools desperate for help as they anticipate a future of less funding and less flexibility.

Guest: Helena Bottemiller Evich, senior food and agriculture reporter at POLITICO.

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Marjorie Taylor Greene vs. Everyone Apr 04, 2022

Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene has become an avatar of the Republican far-right. But that has its downsides. It makes you a target. But Greene isn’t running scared.

Guest: Charles Bethea, staff writer at the New Yorker.

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TBD | A Conversation With Europe's Top Tech Cop Apr 03, 2022

For nearly a decade, Margrethe Vestager has led Europe's efforts to rein in big tech. One newspaper article described Vestager as putting the fear of God into Silicon Valley. How is she thinking about fairness in tech in 2022?

Guest: Margrethe Vestager, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for a Europe fit for the Digital Age

Host: Lizzie O'Leary

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TBD | The White House's Favorite Tech Billionaire Apr 01, 2022

Why did Ex-Google CEO Eric Schmidt spend over a decade building relationships with the most powerful Democrats in America?

Guest: Alex Thompson, reporter at Politico

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NATO, Back From the Brink Mar 31, 2022

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization is having a moment. The alliance dates back to the early years of the Cold War, and ever since, it has seesawed in and out of favor with Western leaders. But now, as Russia continues to wage its attack on Ukraine, NATO has assumed some of its old relevance.

Guest: Mary Elise Sarotte, professor of Historical Studies at the Henry A. Kissinger Center for Global Affairs at Johns Hopkins University. She’s also a research associate at Harvard University's Center for European Studies. Her most recent book is Not One Inch: America, Russia, and the Making of Post-Cold War Stalemate.

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Ginni Thomas Wanted a Revolution Mar 30, 2022

Virginia “Ginni” Thomas, the wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, is a fervent right-wing activist. She was also a supporter of the attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results, as evidenced by a batch of texts shared with the congressional committee investigating January 6th.

The Ginni Thomas texts create a conflict of interest for Justice Clarence Thomas as he hears cases pertaining to the insurrection. But the Supreme Court is not expected to do much to dispel notions of bias. Why?

Guest: Mark Joseph Stern, senior writer covering courts and the law for Slate.

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Dua Lipa’s Copyright Problem Mar 29, 2022

After more than 70 weeks on the Billboard U.S. Hot 100, Dua Lipa and her song “Levitating” have run into trouble: two separate copyright complaints claiming the pop star ripped off other artists in writing her hit. These aren’t the first lawsuits to test the boundaries of what counts as plagiarism in the musical realm; and if either suit succeeds, it will have far-reaching consequences for creativity in the industry.

Guest: Jeremy Orosz, associate professor of music theory at the University of Memphis.

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Where is Brittney Griner? Mar 28, 2022

In February, WNBA star Brittney Griner was arrested at an airport near Moscow for allegedly possessing hash oil in her carry-on luggage. She’s been held in a Russian prison ever since — and a court recently extended her detention until May 19.

Why is Russia pursuing charges so vigorously against an American basketball player with a large Russian fanbase? And how long could it be until Griner gets to go home?

Guest: Meredith Cash, sports reporter for Insider.

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TBD | The Cost of Going Off-Grid Mar 27, 2022

Going off-grid can seem appealing in lots of ways. But are there consequences if everyone unplugs from the system? Are there costs we haven’t considered?

Guest: Ivan Penn, renewable energy correspondent for the New York Times

Host: Seth Stevenson

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TBD | Why the Zelensky Deepfake Failed Mar 25, 2022

The FBI warned that Russia would use deepfakes to support its invasion of Ukraine. Are they missing the real threat?

Guest: Noah Giansiracusa, professor of math and data science at Bentley University.

Host: Seth Stevenson

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Syria Was Putin’s Testing Ground Mar 24, 2022

Russia’s indiscriminate shelling of civilian targets in Ukraine is eerily reminiscent of its involvement in the war in Syria, where the goal was to crush civilian morale amid an uprising against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. How did top global powers allow Russian President Vladimir Putin to be successful in Syria? Are there signs that he’ll enjoy similar success now, in Ukraine?

Guest: William Wechsler, senior director of the Rafik Hariri Center and Middle East Programs at the Atlantic Council.

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Congress Is In Denial About COVID Mar 23, 2022

The White House and Senate Republicans are at an impasse when it comes to passing a $15 billion pandemic relief package. And there are growing concerns about money running out for COVID-19 response essentials like tests, therapeutic treatments and vaccines.

This week, some of those pandemic relief federal funds will start drying up. What does that mean for America's state of pandemic readiness – especially if another wave is on the horizon?

Guest: Dan Diamond, national health and policy reporter at The Washington Post.

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A Stalemate in Ukraine Mar 22, 2022

It’s been more than three weeks since Russia declared war on Ukraine. Here’s how each country is preparing for the next brutal stage of this conflict.

Guest: Fred Kaplan covers national security for Slate and is the author of The Bomb: Presidents, Generals, and the Secret History of Nuclear War.

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What the Sackler Family Won Mar 21, 2022

A very strange bankruptcy case is coming to a close. Its settlement hinges not on payments rendered or bills neglected, but on the pain of millions of American families who slid into the jaws of the opioid crisis. Now, the people who set off the crisis are about to settle their debts.

Guest: Brian Mann, reporter on addiction for NPR.

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TBD | The Startup Delivering Adderall Mar 20, 2022

In just two years, the mental-health startup Cerebral has grown to operate in 50 states, registered more than 200,000 patients, and reached a $4.8 billion valuation. Has it prioritized growth over patient care?

Guest: Caleb Melby

Host: Lizzie O'Leary

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TBD | Hong Kong’s Covid Crisis Mar 18, 2022

Hong Kong's zero-COVID policy got enviable results, but inadvertently set the stage for disaster. What will it take to change course?

Guest: Dr. Karen Grépin, Associate Professor at the School of Public Health at the University of Hong Kong

Host: Lizzie O'Leary

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What It Takes to Get an Abortion in Texas Mar 17, 2022

Last week, the Texas Supreme Court handed down a decision: Abortion providers can no longer sue state medical licensing offiicials to challenge Texas’ six-week abortion ban. Senate Bill 8, as it’s known, went into effect six months ago with ongoing legal battles in local, state and federal courtrooms. As abortion access is further restricted in the state, abortion rights advocates are doing everything they can to continue their work – including flying women out of state to get care – while navigating geographic constraints at the southern border.

Guest: Cathy Torres, organizing manager for Frontera Fund, an abortion fund for the Rio Grande Valley in South Texas.

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The Russian Media Crackdown Mar 16, 2022

Russian state propaganda has kicked into overdrive as its war on Ukraine continues. State news depicts Ukrainians as the aggressors and the Kremlin’s military as a heroic force. In times like these, how can Russians get accurate information?

Guest: Kevin Rothrock, managing editor of the English side of Meduza and host of the podcast “The Russia Guy.”

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What Banning Russian Oil Really Means Mar 15, 2022

While the U.S. ban on Russian oil correlates with rising prices in the U.S., it’s still subject to a global market that was on the upswing anyway. In the long run, could the rising prices, whether the result of the ban or not, actually help accelerate decarbonization efforts and move the U.S. to more sustainable forms of energy?

Guest: Robinson Meyer, staff writer at The Atlantic. He is the author of the newsletter The Weekly Planet, and a co-founder of the COVID Tracking Project at The Atlantic.

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The Persistence of Anti-Asian Violence Mar 14, 2022

In early 2020, reports of violence against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders began to go up. More alarming is that two years later, the attacks don’t seem to be going anywhere. Why, after so much time passed, hasn’t the story changed?

Guest: Jo-Ann Yoo, Executive Director of the Asian American Federation.

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TBD | How Minnesota Spied On Protesters Mar 13, 2022

When Minnesota's Operation Safety Net, a coordinated effort among nine Minnesota law enforcement agencies, was announced in February 2021, its mission was to ensure the trial of Derek Chauvin would proceed peacefully. It also promised to protect people's right to gather and demonstrate peacefully.

Did Operation Safety Net keep its promise?

Guest: Tate Ryan-Mosley, reporter for MIT Tech review

Host: Lizzie O'Leary

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TBD | Putin's Internet Crackdown Mar 11, 2022

Vladimir Putin has always regarded the internet with suspicion. Now, with western tech companies pulling out of Russia and control of the war narrative slipping, he sees an opening. Will Putin wall off Russia from the rest of the digital world?

Guests:

Yana Pashaeva, Moscow-based journalist

Justin Sherman, fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Cyber Statecraft Initiative

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On the Ground With a Ukrainian Journalist Mar 10, 2022

What it’s been like for one Ukrainian-American journalist to cover the Russian attack on his homeland: “The first couple of days of the war, I threw myself into work, and then after that, I couldn't function for a day or two. And I quickly figured out that if I keep working, then I have to abstract it on some level.”

Guest: Romeo Kokriatski, managing editor of The New Voice of Ukraine and co-host of the podcast Ukraine Without Hype.

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The January 6th Case Against Trump Mar 09, 2022

The congressional committee investigating January 6th has outlined potential criminal charges against former President Trump. Why did the Department of Justice let someone else beat them to it?

Guest: Ankush Khardori is a DC-based lawyer and a former federal prosecutor who specialized in financial fraud and white-collar crime. He’s a contributing writer for Intelligencer and a contributing editor at Politico.

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How Zelensky Met the Moment Mar 08, 2022

How Volodymyr Zelensky went from being one of Ukraine’s most successful entertainment moguls to its much-heralded wartime president.

Guest: Franklin Foer, staff writer at the Atlantic.

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The *New* New Phase of the Pandemic Mar 07, 2022

The Biden administration’s new pandemic rules and countermeasures intend to bring us into a “new phase of the pandemic.” The CDC also released new guidelines for masking, and now about 70% of Americans can go mask free. What do these new guidelines actually say about what stage of the pandemic we’re in?

Guest: Megan Ranney, emergency room doctor at Brown Emergency Medicine.

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TBD | When Your Retina Needs a Software Update Mar 06, 2022

Second Sight restored partial vision to hundreds of patients around the world through retinal implants. Then, on the verge of bankruptcy, they abandoned the project. Now, over 300 patients with Second Sight technology in their bodies are asking: what will happen to us?

Guest: Eliza Strickland, senior editor at IEEE Spectrum

Host: Lizzie O'Leary

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TBD | Ukraine’s Information War Mar 04, 2022

Up against one of the world's most effective propaganda operations, Ukraine has taken control of the online narrative. With Russian troops closing in, how important is winning the information war?

Guest: Casey Newton, writer at Platformer

Host: Lizzie O'Leary

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Europe’s Refugee Hypocrisy Mar 03, 2022

As hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians flee to safety in neighboring countries and beyond, the UN says this may become Europe’s largest refugee crisis this century. But it’s hard not to notice the stark difference between how the EU is welcoming Ukrainian refugees versus the non-European refugees who came before them.

Guest: Serena Parekh, professor at Northeastern University in Boston and the director of its politics, philosophy and economics program.

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Putin Alone Mar 02, 2022

No one knows what’s going on in Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s head – and while that’s a worrisome idea during the best of times, it’s an especially grim one during a war of his own creation. Putin is increasingly isolated, away from his inner circle and the oligarchs who once had some influence with him.

Guest: Ben Judah is a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council and the author of This Is London and Fragile Empire: How Russia Fell In and Out of Love With Vladimir Putin.

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Texas’s Attack on Trans Kids Mar 01, 2022

Texas’s Republican governor and attorney general are pursuing a new crackdown on trans kids and their families. Their directive compelling Child Protective Services to treat gender-affirming care as child abuse is raising alarms among trans rights advocates, who say the order, if enforced, will prove dangerous for a vulnerable population.

Why did Republican leaders pick this moment to trumpet an anti-trans effort? How does it fit into a wider culture war—or perhaps a larger effort to drive trans people from public life?

Guest: Katelyn Burns, columnist at MSNBC and co-host of the podcast Cancel Me, Daddy.

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President Biden’s First Supreme Court Pick Feb 28, 2022

President Biden has nominated Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to fill Justice Breyer’s seat on the Supreme Court. If confirmed, she would be the first Black woman to hold a seat on the court. What does her backstory say about her as a jurist?

Guest: Mark Joseph Stern, senior writer for Slate.

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The Long View on Russia’s Invasion Feb 27, 2022

Russia went all in last week, sending troops across the border with Ukraine and raining shells on the country. Experts are saying Putin’s brash invasion of his neighbor is shifting the world order in significant ways. In the face of this aggression, how should NATO respond? Can history serve as a guide?

Guest: Fred Kaplan, Slate’s War Stories correspondent.

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TBD | Peter Thiel, Patron of the Populist Right Feb 27, 2022

Peter Thiel spent the better part of two decades molding the tech industry in his image. Now, he's leaving Facebook behind and turning his attention to politics. Is Thiel the next kingmaker for the populist right?

Max Chafkin, writer for Bloomberg and is the author of The Contrarian: Peter Thiel and Silicon Valley's Pursuit of Power

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TBD | Russia's Other Battlefront Feb 25, 2022

For seven years, Ukraine has served as a virtual testing ground for a generation of cyber weaponry capable of taking down power grids, networks, and supply chains. With an invasion of Ukraine underway, will these weapons come into play?

Guest: Andy Greenberg, senior writer at WIRED and the author of the book Sandworm: A New Era of Cyberwar and the Hunt for the Kremlin's Most Dangerous Hackers

Host: Lizzie O'Leary

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The Anti-Government Blueprint in California Feb 24, 2022

Earlier this month in Northern California, a militia-backed anti-government group won a recall vote that will effectively give it control over a county’s local government. The recall ousted a Republican politician from his supervisor seat and was preceded by two years of threats and contentious county meetings stemming from pandemic precautions. Could this style of government takeover become a blueprint for other far-right groups nationwide?

Guest: Doni Chamberlain is a former newspaper reporter and the founder of A News Cafe, a website covering Shasta County in Northern California..

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Putin’s Obsession With Ukraine Feb 23, 2022

President Vladimir Putin has begun sending Russian soldiers into Ukraine after spending months massing troops on the country’s borders. Why is Putin risking so much to take the Donbas region? And does this latest incursion signal a failure of the west’s foreign policy approach to Russia?

Guest: Josh Keating, global security reporter at Grid.

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The Path to the Sandy Hook Settlement Feb 22, 2022

Last week, the Remington Arms Company reached a $73 million dollar settlement with the families of nine victims killed in the 2012 Sandy Hook massacre—the largest payout by a gun manufacturer in a mass shooting case.

Federal law protects manufacturers from a broad swath of liability in civilian shootings, so the families’ legal team took an interesting tack: they sued under Connecticut’s consumer protection laws and exposed the reckless way Remington marketed their weapons.

Guest: @NicoleHockley is co-founder and CEO of Sandy Hook Promise Foundation.

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TBD | The COVAX Fantasy Feb 20, 2022

Over two years into the pandemic, much of the world remains either unvaccinated, partially vaccinated, or lacking access to mRNA vaccines entirely. How did the leading effort to vaccinate the world go so wrong?

Guest: Achal Prabhala, coordinator of the AccessIBSA project and a fellow of the Shuttleworth Foundation, in Bangalore.

Host: Lizzie O'Leary

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TBD | "Rampant Racism" at Tesla Feb 18, 2022

Last week, California's Department of Fair Employment and Housing sued Tesla. It accuses the electric vehicle maker of fostering a workplace rife with racism and discrimination.

What's happening inside Tesla's Fremont plant?

Guest: Dana Hull, reporter for Bloomberg

Host: Lizzie O'Leary

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The Olympics’ Latest Doping Scandal Feb 17, 2022

Olympic athletes and commentators were stunned this week to learn that 15-year-old Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva will be allowed to compete in Beijing’s Winter Games, despite testing positive in December for a banned substance. The controversy has kicked up raw feelings about Russia’s history of doping and the fecklessness of Olympics officials to apply rules evenly across countries.

Guest: Justin Peters, Slate correspondent and the author of The Idealist: Aaron Swartz and the Rise of Free Culture on the Internet.

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A Trump Protege Auditions for 2024 Feb 16, 2022

Florida governor, Ron DeSantis has been on a tear promoting hyper-conservative policies – from his “Stop Woke Act” to gerrymandering, he’s shocking even fellow Republicans. Is this his way of preparing for a 2024 presidential run?

Guest: Mary Ellen Klas is the Miami Herald Capitol Bureau Chief.

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Sarah Palin v. the New York Times Feb 15, 2022

For decades, the press has enjoyed a wide latitude when writing about public figures. But the high legal standard for defamation may be coming in for some scrutiny in the libel suit of Sarah Palin versus the New York Times.

Guest: Slate contributor Seth Stevenson. Read his latest coverage of the trial of Sarah Palin v. New York Times.

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Where Does Minneapolis Go Now? Feb 14, 2022

Old wounds are open again in Minneapolis. The city is struggling to investigate a police shooting from earlier this month, when officers carried out a “no-knock” search warrant and fatally shot a 22-year-old Black man in bed. The victim, Amir Locke, was not a suspect in the crime police were investigating. The shooting comes months after city voters rejected a plan to defund the police, and some city officials are struggling to figure out a path forward with a police force that’s been difficult to reform and an electorate that has little appetite for radical change.

Guest: Jeremiah Ellison, member of the Minneapolis City Council.

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TBD | The Rise of a Fast Fashion Juggernaut Feb 13, 2022

In just a few short years, the Chinese fast fashion company Shein upended the way countless young women shop online. It’s approach could soon shape the way everyone else shops, too.

Guest: Louise Matsakis, freelance technology reporter

Host: Lizzie O’Leary

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TBD | How Safe is the Metaverse? Feb 11, 2022

Facebook’s first crack at the metaverse has a problem: kids. Underage users seem to be flooding Horizon Worlds, potentially putting themselves at risk.

Is Meta doomed to repeat Facebook’s mistakes?

Guest: Will Oremus, technology news analysis writer for the Washington Post.

Host: Lizzie O’Leary

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What You Don’t See At The Olympics Feb 10, 2022

As the Winter Olympics unfold in Beijing, a darker reality remains: China’s abuses against the Uyghurs, an ethnic minority in the country’s Xinjiang region. While much of the world remains glued to the sports coverage, Uyghurs in the diaspora are calling on people to pay attention to China's treatment of their family members back home.

Guest: Gulchehra Hoja, a Uyghur journalist with Radio Free Asia.

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The Canadian Trucker Revolt Feb 09, 2022

The Ottawa truckers protest is neither exclusive to Ottawa nor strictly composed of truckers. And its supporters are hoping to head to a city near you.

Guest: Jesse Brown, editor-in-chief of Canadaland.

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When Planned Parenthood Burns Down Feb 08, 2022

With Roe v. Wade on the chopping block, abortion access is under fire in states around the country. At Planned Parenthood’s Knoxville location, the clinic faced that literally when an arson attack burned the building to the ground. How will providers rebuild when the things they stand for are so threatened?

Guest: Tory Mills, director of community engagement for Planned Parenthood’s Knoxville Health Center.

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The NFL’s Race Problem Feb 07, 2022

Until last month, Brian Flores was the head coach of the Miami Dolphins, and one of only three Black head coaches among the NFL’s 32 teams. That number has since dropped to one.

On Tuesday, Flores announced he was suing the NFL, alleging that the league's hiring practices are racist. His suit comes almost 20 years after the creation of the Rooney Rule, which requires teams to interview ethnic-minority candidates for senior positions, and eight years after Colin Kaepernick was black-balled from the sport for kneeling during the national anthem—begging the question of how much has really changed in that time.

Guest: LZ Granderson, columnist for the Los Angeles Times and host of ABC News’ “Life Out Loud with LZ Granderson.”

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TBD | The Code That Runs Your Life Feb 06, 2022

Banks, healthcare providers, and retailers around the world still rely on COBOL, a programming language originally developed in the 1960s. By all accounts the code is powerful, practical, and very rarely problematic. But the small group of people who still know the language are aging out of the workforce.

What happens when there are no more COBOL coders left?

Guest: Clive Thompson, journalist and author of "Coders: The Making of a New Tribe and the Remaking of the World."

Host: Lizzie O’Leary

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TBD | Spotify’s Joe Rogan Mess Feb 04, 2022

For Spotify, the last month has seen a cascade of controversies around its exclusive podcast, The Joe Rogan Experience. Is it time for the streaming service to rethink its role as a podcast publisher? And is it even possible to moderate podcast misinformation?

Guest: Evelyn Douek, lecturer at Harvard Law School, and Affiliate at the Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society

Host: Lizzie O’Leary

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A New Kind of Gun Control Feb 03, 2022

A popular, outgoing liberal mayor in Silicon Valley is taking on gun rights groups with a splashy municipal ordinance fashioned to curb gun violence—and be the first of its kind. Gun rights groups are foretelling doom for the new law, and the NRA called it a “ridiculous publicity stunt.”

Does this city’s initiative have the hallmarks of a breakthrough on gun violence prevention? Will lawsuits tank it before anyone has the chance to find out?

Guest: Sam Liccardo, mayor of San Jose, California.

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The Mineral The Future Is Built On Feb 02, 2022

Cobalt is the most important mineral of the future. It’s a key part of lithium-ion batteries, which power cell phones and laptops, not to mention electric cars. That demand is giving rise to a mining industry in Idaho, which sits atop a giant cobalt deposit. But the environmental costs of extraction raise questions about what “clean energy” really means.

Guest: Michael Holtz, freelance journalist and author of “Idaho Is Sitting on One of the Most Important Elements on Earth.”

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The Life and Death of the Expanded Child Tax Credit Feb 01, 2022

The expanded Child Tax Credit slashed childhood poverty in the U.S. by an estimated 30%. Why won’t congress revive it?

Guest: Jordan Weissmann, writer and editor at Slate focused on economics, politics, and public policy.

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How China Is Spinning the Olympics Jan 31, 2022

No one is happy with the way this year’s Winter Olympics are unfolding. Athletes are frustrated with China’s excessive pandemic precautions. Diplomatic tensions are rising. Are the second COVID games on thin ice?

Guest: Henry Bushnell, features writer for Yahoo Sports.

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TBD | The Downfall of One of the World's Biggest Brains Jan 28, 2022

Ten years ago, IBM made a gamble. Through a monumental advertising and PR campaign, it promised that its AI technology–Watson–would transform the health care industry as we know it. A decade and billions of dollars later, Watson Health is being sold for parts.

What went wrong with IBM’s “moonshot?” And what does Watson’s failure tell us about the promise of AI for health care?

Guest: Casey Ross, national technology correspondent for STAT

Host: Lizzie O’Leary

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Bye Bye, Breyer Jan 27, 2022

This week, Justice Stephen G. Breyer is expected to announce his plan to retire from the Supreme Court at the end of its term this summer. Breyer’s signal comes after a year-long pressure campaign from the political left and others anxious to ensure that Democrats control who replaces the court’s most senior liberal justice.

Guest: Mark Joseph Stern, who covers courts and the law for Slate.

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Putin’s Plan Jan 26, 2022

The odds of a Russian invasion of Ukraine are increasing, with thousands of Russian troops stationed near the two countries' border. Vladimir Putin is set on ensuring Ukraine gives up its ambitions to join NATO and the European Union, and it’s unclear how much he’s willing to risk to meet that objective.

How far will the Russian leader go to get what he wants? Is there any way to end the standoff without violence?

Guest: Amy Mackinnon, national security and intelligence reporter at Foreign Policy.

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Policing-for-Profit Jan 25, 2022

Over the last few years, a sleepy southern town has seen its arrest rate grow more than 1100%. It’s not because of a spike in crime in Brookside, Alabama; instead, the town’s law enforcement has adopted a policing-for-profit model that treats citizens as revenue generators and cracks down on them accordingly. In turn, some residents enter debt spirals as the town’s police force rakes in more cash, with no signs of stopping anytime soon.

Guest: John Archibald, columnist for AL.com and the Birmingham News.

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Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Danielle Hewitt, Elena Schwartz, and Carmel Delshad.

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How the Texas Synagogue Survived Jan 24, 2022

Stuart Frisch gave security training to the members of Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, Texas, less than six months before they found themselves under siege and held hostage—a training the rabbi cited when explaining how they managed to escape.

How does Frisch approach protecting spaces that aren’t meant to be fortresses? Can faith and security coexist?

Guest: Stuart Frisch, advisor for the Secure Community Network.

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TBD | Why Does Matt Damon Want Me to Buy Crypto? Jan 21, 2022

A recent advertisement for crypto.com, featuring Matt Damon, was met with widespread mockery online. But Damon’s ad is only the most visible example of a much broader—and more insidious—trend of celebrity cryptocurrency endorsements. Is the partnership between crypto and Hollywood really dangerous? And what separates the trend from run-of-the-mill salesmanship?

Guests: Jacob Silverman, staff writer for the New Republic and Ben McKenzie, actor, writer, and director.

Host: Lizzie O’Leary

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Is Biden Flunking COVID? Jan 20, 2022

President Biden, unlike his predecessor, was able to spend some time planning his COVID-19 response. One year in, is the plan working?

Guest: Dan Diamond, national health reporter for the Washington Post.

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The Supreme Court, Unmasked Jan 19, 2022

The Supreme Court heard two challenges to the Biden administration’s COVID-19 vaccination mandates this month. It blocked one mandate and upheld another, giving some observers whiplash.

How did the court come to such different rulings on similar workplace mandates, and what do the rulings say about how the court views the federal government as a whole?

Guest: Mark Joseph Stern, staff writer covering courts and the law for Slate.

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The New King of Conservative Media Jan 18, 2022

Conservative talk radio host Dan Bongino sits atop a media ecosystem that is fueling the fervor behind Trump and his big lie.

Guest: Evan Osnos is staff writer at The New Yorker and a fellow at the Brookings Institute. He’s also the author of Wildland: The Making of America’s Fury.

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TBD | Where Are The Little Kids' Vaccines? Jan 14, 2022

Today on What Next TBD: What is going on with little kids' vaccines? Why don’t they seem to be a priority for the government or the pharmaceutical companies, while parents are stressed to a breaking point? We discuss with Meg Tirrell, health and science correspondent for CNBC, and co-host of the Readout Loud podcast.

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Should Democrats Compromise on Election Reform? Jan 13, 2022

For the past year, Democrats have been touting the importance of passing two huge federal voting protections bills. If those plans can’t pass, should the party tackle straight-up election subversion?

Guest: Rick Hasen, professor of law and political science at the University of California–Irvine School of Law and author of Election Meltdown: Dirty Tricks, Distrust, and the Threat to American Democracy.

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Greg Abbott’s PR Play at the Border Jan 12, 2022

Back in March, Texas Governor Greg Abbott sent a couple hundred members of the Texas National Guard to the U.S.-Mexico border to counteract what he called President Biden’s “open border policies.” Almost a year later, around 10,000 troops are stationed there at Abbott’s command. Many guardsmen have had to upend their lives for a mission that seems to have little purpose.

Guest: Davis Winkie, staff reporter for Army Times.

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Chicago’s Public School Meltdown Jan 11, 2022

Chicago Public Schools canceled classes for three consecutive days this year, following a vote by the teachers union to defy in-person teaching orders amid a rise in COVID-19 cases. The union wants additional safety measures in place as teachers and students return to school. Meanwhile, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot said the union’s actions are “illegal,” and the public schools system said the refusal to teach in-person amounted to a strike.

How will the showdown end? And when will students get back into the classroom?

Guest: Sarah Karp, education reporter at WBEZ in Chicago.

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J.D. Vance’s Long Game Jan 10, 2022

J.D. Vance became a sought-after cultural translator when he published Hillbilly Elegy. Now, he’s a rhetorical bomb-thrower running for the Republican nomination for Senate in Ohio. But underneath Vance’s transformation is a relatively consistent appreciation for a new strain of conservatism still in the process of defining itself. Could Vance’s candidacy advance this intellectual movement on the political right?

Guest: Simon van Zuylen-Wood, who wrote about J.D. Vance for the Washington Post Magazine.

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TBD | The Aftermath of Elizabeth Holmes Jan 07, 2022

Elizabeth Holmes was found guilty of defrauding investors this week in federal court. The former CEO, wunderkind, and blood mogul has been the subject of intense legal interest and public fascination ever since her company, Theranos, was beset by scandal in 2015. Today on What Next: TBD we follow-up with Rebecca Jarvis, host of “The Dropout” podcast and ABC News Chief Business, Technology & Economics Correspondent. We dig into the verdict and ask if Silicon Valley will finally confront the elements of its culture that allowed Elizabeth Holmes and Theranos to run wild with investor’s money, and patient’s health. You can listen to “The Dropout: Elizabeth Holmes on Trial” now wherever you get your podcasts.

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Rapid Test Blues Jan 06, 2022

Back in March of 2020, a scientist working at MIT developed a rapid test for the novel coronavirus. It wasn’t quite as accurate as a PCR, but would have gone a long way in detecting infectious cases during the emerging pandemic. But her test was never approved—and today, the U.S. is still behind other developed countries in our mass testing scheme.

Guest: Lydia Depillis, reporter for ProPublica.

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Is the Pandemic Getting Better... Or Worse? Jan 05, 2022

It's easy to look at the latest pandemic-related disruptions and assume we're careening into another full-blown COVID crisis. But in many ways, we’re getting better at combating this coronavirus.

Guest: Dan Diamond, national health reporter for the Washington Post.

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The Coup Next Time Jan 04, 2022

Months before the attack on the Capitol, Bart Gellman predicted that the 2020 election would usher in a make-or-break year for American democracy. He was correct. Now, he’s trying to sound the alarm again. This time he says American democratic institutions and systems are being broken before our eyes, and the people in power aren’t doing enough to stop it.

Guest: Barton Gellman, staff writer at The Atlantic.

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The Capitol Rioters, A Year Later Jan 03, 2022

The Justice Department’s criminal investigation into the January 6th insurrection is unprecedented. More than 700 rioters face charges, and federal prosecutors are still adding names to the pile. As cases work their way through the courts, judges are sparring over the proper approach to sentencing rioters. How do you hold an individual responsible for a collective event?

Guest: Zoe Tillman, senior legal reporter with BuzzFeed News.

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TBD | Best of 2021: It’s Time to Talk About U.F.O.s Dec 31, 2021

This episode originally aired in July 2021

Last week, the U.S. government released a new report that attempts to categorize 144 verified sightings of unidentified aerial phenomena, or U.A.P. They could only definitively explain one of them.

The new report signals a shift in the way we think about U.A.P. As technology has advanced and evidence of these encounters have increased, the question has become more urgent: what exactly is happening in our skies?

Guest: Shane Harris, intelligence and national security reporter for the Washington Post

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Best of 2021 | When Your Town Burns Down Dec 30, 2021

We’re re-running some of our favorite episodes from the past year. This episode originally aired in August 2021.

Last week, the northern California mountain town of Greenville was wiped out by the Dixie Fire, which lasted for two months and is now the second largest wildfire in California history. As Greenville residents assess the damage to their homes and businesses, is it safe to rebuild? Is it even ethical, when wildfires are expected to only get worse?

Guest: Margaret Garcia, also known as Meg Upton, reporter at Plumas News.

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Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Danielle Hewitt, Elena Schwartz, Davis Land, and Carmel Delshad.

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Best of 2021 | Will the NFL Finally Support Gay Players? Dec 29, 2021

We’re re-running some of our favorite episodes from the past year. This episode originally aired in June 2021.

The Las Vegas Raiders’ defensive end, Carl Nassib, came out in an Instagram post back in June, making him the first openly gay active player in NFL histroy. The league immediately posted in celebration of Nassib’s announcement. But given the NFL’s sorry history of standing by players on the vanguard, will the league really put its money where its mouth is this time?

Guest: LZ Granderson, LA Times opinion columnist and host of ABC News’ “Life Out Loud with LZ Granderson.”

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Best of 2021 | How Should We Remember Colin Powell? Dec 28, 2021

We’re re-running some of our favorite episodes from the past year. This episode originally aired in October 2021.

Colin Powell, known as a “trailblazer” and “pathbreaker” in his military career, leaves behind a complicated legacy. The four-star general became a household name during the first Gulf War as the first Black chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and later the first Black secretary of state.

Thirty years after his rise to national prominence, Powell’s death has prompted reflections on the Iraq War and his role in using false intelligence to justify the U.S. invasion.

Guest: Fred Kaplan, Slate’s War Stories columnist.

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Best of 2021 | God Doesn’t Want Me Vaccinated Dec 27, 2021

We’re re-running some of our favorite episodes from the past year. This episode originally aired in September 2021.

Who are the people seeking a religious exemption to the Biden administration’s vaccine mandate? What are their religious claims? And how do workplaces decide who has a real claim to belief versus a convenient letter from a pastor-for-hire?

Guest: Ruth Graham, reporter for The New York Times.

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TBD | Best of 2021: Are We Getting COVID Testing All Wrong? Dec 24, 2021

This episode originally aired in September.

In the U.S., the PCR test is the gold standard for COVID testing. Common knowledge would have it that the test is more accurate—and therefore more effective at containing the spread of the disease—than the rapid antigen test.

What if that isn’t quite true?

Guest: Michael Mina, assistant professor of epidemiology at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

Host: Lizzie O’Leary

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Best of 2021 | When the Culture War Comes For Your Job Dec 23, 2021

We’re re-running some of our favorite episodes from the past year. This episode originally aired in July 2021.

Brittany Hogan worked in diversity and inclusion for the Rockwood School District for eight years. As public debate intensified over the way race is discussed in schools and threats were made against her, Hogan eventually was pushed to resign.

Guest: Brittany Hogan, former director of educational equity and diversity for the Rockwood School District in St. Louis County.

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Best of 2021 | One Woman’s Year Protecting George Floyd Square Dec 22, 2021

We’re re-running some of our favorite episodes from the past year. This episode originally aired in May 2021.

A year after the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis, residents near the intersection of 38th Street and Chicago Avenue—now dubbed George Floyd Square—continue to keep the area closed off. The city wants to reopen the intersection, but activists say they aren’t giving in until the community’s demands for justice are met.

Guest: Marcia Howard, security volunteer and organizer in George Floyd Square.

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Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Danielle Hewitt, Elena Schwartz, Davis Land, and Carmel Delshad.

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Best of 2021 | The Plight of the Delivery Worker Dec 21, 2021

In the last few years, New York City’s delivery workers have become a key part of the food industry’s infrastructure, allowing restaurants to do business with customers who are too stressed to leave their desks, or too cautious to leave their homes. But a spate of violent attacks and bike thefts has shown that the people delivering your Grubhub and Seamless orders are deeply vulnerable. Why are these essential workers being exploited by apps and abandoned by the police, forced to band together just to get by?

Guest: Josh Dzieza, an investigations editor and feature writer at The Verge covering technology, business, and climate change.

We’re re-running some of our favorite episodes from the past year. This episode originally aired in September of 2021.

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Joe Biden's Putin Problem Dec 20, 2021

What does a massing of Russian troops on the Ukrainian border mean? And could this conflict be defused yet by diplomacy?

Guest: Slate’s Fred Kaplan, author of The Bomb: Presidents, Generals, and the Secret History of Nuclear War.

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TBD | The Carbon Capture Fantasy Dec 17, 2021

Using experimental technology to pull gigatons of carbon out of the air and bury it deep beneath the Earth sounds like a bad sci-fi plot point. If things don’t change soon, it also might be one of our only options.

Guest: Clive Thompson, journalist and author of Coders: The Making of a New Tribe and the Remaking of the World

Host: Lizzie O’Leary

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What Mark Meadows Knew Dec 16, 2021

After initially cooperating with the select committee investigating the events of January 6, former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows reversed course, deciding instead to assert executive privilege. But Meadows had already handed over documents and text messages relating to that day—painting a picture of how Trump’s inner circle reacted as the Capitol was under siege.

What happens to Meadows now that he’s been held in contempt of Congress? And could possible criminal charges for defying the committee spur other witnesses to speak?

Guest: Nicholas Wu, congressional reporter for Politico.

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Why Didn’t Maryland Democrats Go For the Jugular? Dec 15, 2021

Maryland Democrats had a shot at an 8-0 gerrymander this redistricting cycle. To the frustration of the national Democratic party, they stopped just shy of that number. Should Maryland Democrats have just taken the total low road on partisan gerrymandering?

Guest: Jim Newell, senior politics reporter for Slate. Sign up for his weekly newsletter, The Surge.

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Abrams vs. Kemp vs. Perdue Dec 14, 2021

When Georgia Governor Brian Kemp announced his intent to run for reelection, he knew he was facing down a rematch with voting rights activist and former state lawmaker Stacey Abrams. What he likely didn’t expect was a challenge from the right in the form of David Perdue, a local businessman, former senator, and good friend who was encouraged to run against him by Donald Trump. Now, the question is whether Trumpism can be a winning argument in Georgia—or whether Democrats might be able to exploit Republicans’ division to score a win in the deeply purple state.

Guest: Greg Bluestein, reporter covering state politics for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

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When Your Book Gets Banned By the School Board Dec 13, 2021

Banning books in schools is on the rise. Around the country, parents are lobbying to banish from libraries and curriculums any work they deem to be “graphic” or “offensive,” often sweeping up books centered on queer or POC experiences in the process. Some authors say that’s no coincidence - nor is it surprising that this is happening just as the publishing industry is remaking itself to tell more diverse stories. The question is, what’s the best way to respond to the outrage?

Guest: Ashley Hope Pérez, author of three YA novels, including Out of Darkness, and professor of literature at Ohio State University.

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TBD | Who Online Justice Leaves Behind Dec 10, 2021

The U.S. civil court system doesn’t get as much attention as the criminal courts, but it would be hard to overstate its importance. In 2018, for example, 47 percent of respondents to a Pew survey said they had dealt with the system in one way or another; from eviction proceedings, to debt collection, to child-support modifications.

What happened when the pandemic upended such an important pillar of the justice system? Did new technologies fix existing problems—or just create new ones?

Guest: Qudsiya Naqui, officer at the Pew Charitable Trust

Host: Lizzie O’Leary

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The School Shooting Down the Street Dec 09, 2021

Michigan state Senator Rosemary Bayer has been fighting for years to get safe storage laws on the books in her home state. In the wake of the shooting at Oxford High School, a school that sits in her district, her mission has become that much more urgent.

Guest: Rosemary Bayer is a state senator in Michigan. She represents the northern suburbs of Detroit.

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What Peng Shuai Started Dec 08, 2021

When Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai accused a former Chinese Vice Premier of rape, what came next was darkly predictable: the athlete disappeared from public view while the government scrubbed all mentions of her allegations and censored searches for her name. But few expected the Women’s Tennis Association to strike back, suspending all future tournaments in China and Hong Kong.

As the WTA stands up to China - leaving millions of dollars on the table - will other sports organizations follow suit and hold the government to account over its human rights abuses?

Guest: Ben Rothenberg, senior editor of Racquet Magazine and host of the tennis podcast No Challenges Remaining.

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House Democrats’ Long-Shot Plan to Dodge Disaster Dec 07, 2021

All signs point to rough congressional elections next year. What are House Democrats doing to hold their majority?

Guest: Rep. Sean Maloney (D-N.Y.), chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

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The 30-Year Plan to End Roe Dec 06, 2021

After oral arguments last week, the Supreme Court looks ready to overturn Roe v. Wade. How did conservatives get to this moment when the majority of Americans favor legalized abortion? And do liberals have the patience to keep the fight alive?

Guest: Mark Joseph Stern, staff writer at Slate covering the Supreme Court.

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TBD | Did @jack Ruin Twitter? Dec 03, 2021

On Monday, Jack Dorsey stepped down as CEO of Twitter. It’s not the first time he’s left the job.

Is this really the end for the man who guided Twitter through the Trump era? And how will the platform change without him at the helm?

Guest: Nick Bilton, special correspondent at Vanity Fair

Host: Lizzie O’Leary

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Why No One Told Chris Cuomo No Dec 02, 2021

CNN anchor Chris Cuomo was recently placed on indefinite leave by the network for his involvement in the damage control operations of his brother, former NY governor Andrew Cuomo, over the last year. A trove of documents revealed that Chris had overstepped ethical lines to help protect Andrew while he was under fire for allegations of sexual harassment.

Why did the younger Cuomo wade into the political muck, putting his job at risk? And will CNN hold him accountable?

Guest: Erik Wemple, media critic for the Washington Post.

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Everything We (Don’t) Know About Omicron Dec 01, 2021

In November, South Africa alerted the world to Omicron, a new strain of COVID-19. Then, as cases began to pop up worldwide, the World Health Organization labeled it a “variant of concern.” What do we know about Omicron, and just how worried should we be?

Guest: Dr. Katelyn Jetelina, assistant professor with the School of Public Health at UTHealth and author of Your Local Epidemiologist on Substack.

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Are the Democrats Making Child Care Even Worse? Nov 30, 2021

Child care has long been a “textbook example of a broken market,” as Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said this fall. How have government efforts so thoroughly failed to fix this industry? And does Biden’s infrastructure bill threaten to hamper child care businesses even more?

Guest: Claire Suddath, writer for Bloomberg Businessweek.

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RIP to the SAT Nov 29, 2021

If you had to take the SAT for your college admissions process, you largely have the University of California System to thank for that. When the university adopted the test in 1968, hundreds of other colleges followed suit. But now, U.C. has decided not to use standardized tests in admissions anymore. Could the decision spur a retooling of the college admissions process more broadly?

Guest: Teresa Watanabe, education reporter for the Los Angeles Times.

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TBD | Best of 2021: Inside the Subreddit That Blew Up GameStop Nov 26, 2021

This episode originally aired in January 2021

The story of how GameStop went from the verge of a bankruptcy to a $15 billion market value isn’t an easy one to wrap your head around. But it helps to go back to the beginning; almost three years ago, in a subreddit called r/wallstreetbets.

Guests:

Brandon Kochkodin, reporter at Bloomberg

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Whose Second Amendment Is It? Nov 24, 2021

The Supreme Court is considering a case that may strike down New York state’s strict restrictions on carrying a gun in public. Some public defenders think that might be a win for criminal justice reform.

Guest: Sharone Mitchell Jr., Chief Defender for the Cook County Public Defenders.

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Was the Kyle Rittenhouse Verdict Inevitable? Nov 23, 2021

Last August, then-17-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse and fatally shot two people and wounded another with a semi-automatic rifle during a protest in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Rittenhouse’s lawyers leaned heavily on the teenager’s right to defend himself. In Wisconsin, that means the prosecution had to disprove self-defense beyond a reasonable doubt. Was it inevitable that Rittenhouse would walk free? And how did the community react when he did?

Guest: Stacy St. Clair, reporter for the Chicago Tribune.

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Inflategate Nov 22, 2021

How many times a day do you hear the word “inflation” now? Many items are getting more expensive, but what’s actually driving those price increases? And are we heading towards a repeat of the 1970s wage-price spiral, or is this a temporary blip?

Guest: Jordan Weissmann, senior editor at Slate.

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TBD | Space Junk! (And Space Wars?) Nov 19, 2021

Over the weekend, Russia tested a new weapon—a type of missile that can fly into space and destroy a satellite in orbit.

The test created thousands of pieces of debris, which will hurtle around the Earth’s orbit for years to come. What’s the real risk of the rapid increase in space junk? And is there anything to be done about it?

Guest:

Laura Grego, Stanton Nuclear Security Fellow at MIT

Host: Seth Stevenson

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Can Beto O’Rourke Fail Up? Nov 18, 2021

Beto O’Rourke is running to replace Greg Abbott as governor of Texas. Though it’s his first time in this particular race, you’d be forgiven for thinking, “again?”

Where does this habitually-losing smooth-talking Irish-guy-with-a-bordertown-nickname fit into a state with changing demographics and an incumbent governor under assault from both the right and left? Is Beto building a coalition, or heading for a third and final defeat?

Guest: Patrick Svitek, political correspondent for the Texas Tribune.

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The Battle Over San Francisco’s Schools Nov 17, 2021

After dragging its feet on reopening schools this winter, the San Francisco Unified School District school board is under fire. Their every decision is being scrutinized by angry parents and three of its members are facing recall elections. What happens when the school board debate comes to the Bay?

Guest: Jill Tucker, education writer for the San Francisco Chronicle.

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Is the FBI’s Surveillance of Muslims Really a State Secret? Nov 16, 2021

Members of an Orange County mosque noticed a new convert was asking some strange questions. He turned out to be an FBI informant. Will the Supreme Court allow the bureau to be held accountable?

Guest: Rowaida Abdelaziz, national reporter covering Islamophobia & immigration for HuffPost.

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“I Quit My Job Today” Nov 15, 2021

You’ve likely heard about the great resignation -- this moment when millions of workers across the country have handed in their notice. Sometimes, people left because they were overworked. Sometimes, it’s because they wanted to change paths, or make more money elsewhere. But for every employee quitting, there’s an employer being quit on. These are stories from the great resignation: Who’s quitting, who’s hiring, and how long this moment is likely to last.

Guests:

Betsey Stevenson, professor of public policy and economics at the University of Michigan.

Rachel, a recently resigned employee from Massachusetts.

Julia James, co-owner of Radish and Rye Food Hub in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

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TBD | The Kid-Vaccine Holdouts Nov 12, 2021

A recent poll showed that about a third of parents of younger children would get their kids vaccinated, a third would not, and the final third said they wanted to wait and see how the vaccines worked.

Public health officials are asking: what will it take to convince that third group that now is the time to vaccinate?

Guests:

Julie Hamill

Dr. Aaron Carroll, pediatrician and professor of pediatrics at Indiana University School of Medicine

Host: Lizzie O’Leary

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The Astroworld Tragedy Nov 11, 2021

Last Friday, a surging crowd killed at least eight people and left hundreds injured at Travis Scott’s music festival Astroworld in Houston. Public uproar over the needless deaths has placed responsibility at the rapper’s feet - and at those of police officers who failed to intervene and shut the show down.

How did Scott’s signature “raging” spill over into a mass casualty event? And how do we tease out blame between Scott himself, and the way music festivals are run?

Guest: Tom Breihan, senior editor at Stereogum.

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A Controversial New Plan to Fight Homelessness Nov 10, 2021

The Los Angeles City Council has passed a new policy giving Council members the power to target specific encampments for cleanup. While the effort might eventually result in less visible homelessness in some parts of the city, critics say it might be more in service of political gain than anything else.

Guest: Benjamin Oreskes, reporter at the LA Times.

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Has Minneapolis Given Up on Police Reform? Nov 09, 2021

Minneapolis voters have rejected a referendum to dissolve and replace their police department by a dramatic 12-point margin. The election result reflects a different mood from what the city saw a year ago, when protesters booed the mayor for resisting the movement to defund the police.

Why were the planned police reforms so unpopular in the city where George Floyd’s murder sparked an international movement for justice? And what lessons should activists for and against the measure take from this moment?

Guest: Jon Collins, senior reporter for MPR News.

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Do Vaccine Mandates Work? Nov 08, 2021

In mid-October, Mayor Bill DeBlasio announced that New York City municipal workers would have just nine days to get the COVID vaccine or risk being put on unpaid leave. Thousands of workers showed up the next week to protest the mandate. A week after the hammer came down, did Mayor DeBlasio correctly call their bluff?

Guest: Eric Lach, staff writer for The New Yorker.

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TBD | How Schools Surveil Your Kids Nov 05, 2021

In schools across the country, tighter digital controls were put in place to keep kids on task during the pandemic. Are they here to stay?

Guests: Priya Anand, reporter at Bloomberg

Host: Lizzie O’Leary

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Is It Time for Democrats to Panic? Nov 04, 2021

Democrats suffered major losses in local and state elections this week. Are the results a harbinger for the party’s fate heading into the 2022 midterms?

Guest: Jim Newell, Slate’s senior politics writer.

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White Supremacy on Trial in Charlottesville Nov 03, 2021

It’s been over four years since white supremacists gathered in a violent and deadly demonstration in Charlottesville, Virginia. Now, nine people are suing the organizers and groups involved with the Unite the Right rally as they try to prove the protest was a conspiracy to commit racially-motivated violence. This isn’t the first time white supremacists have been taken to court -- but could this trial spell real consequences?

Guest: Kathleen Belew, a historian at the University of Chicago, and the author of Bring the War Home: The White Power Movement and Paramilitary America and A Field Guide to White Supremacy.

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A Rust-Belt City Might Elect a Socialist Nov 02, 2021

India Walton won the Democratic primary for Mayor of Buffalo, New York, in June. Her victory put her on track to become the first socialist mayor in the city’s history, and the first nationwide in more than half a century. The only problem is, her opponent - current mayor Byron Brown - refuses to bow out, and is waging a well-funded write-in campaign in the hopes of keeping his post.

How has a self-styled socialist gotten so close to running Buffalo? And why are some Democrats standing in her way?

Guest: Ross Barkan, a contributing writer to The Nation and the author of The Prince: Andrew Cuomo, Coronavirus, and the Fall of New York.

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How Long Can Mark Zuckerberg Be King? Nov 01, 2021

The public scrutiny applied to Facebook has been building for years, as the company grows its user base faster than its ability to regulate its content. But distrust among Facebook employees is also building, as evidenced by the remarkable disclosure of internal Facebook documents by whistleblower Frances Haugen. A crisis of trust could be what undoes Mark Zuckerberg’s plans to dominate the internet of the future.

Guest: Steven Levy is editor-at-large at WIRED and author of numerous books, including, most recently,Facebook: The Inside Story.

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TBD | Why Are Bots Buying Sneakers? Oct 29, 2021

The bots aren’t just buying cool sneakers. They’re buying concert tickets. Tickets to basketball games and Broadway shows. At the beginning of the pandemic, they were buying hand sanitizer and face masks. And later, they were booking vaccine reservation spots.

Why are bots taking over certain markets? And is there anything we can do to slow them down?

Guests:

Derreck Johnson, designer at Slate

Eric Budish, economics professor at the University of Chicago

Host: Seth Stevenson

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Why I Quit Advising Kyrsten Sinema Oct 28, 2021

Last week, five members of Senator Kyrsten Sinema’s Veterans Advisory Council publicly stepped down. In their resignation letter, they claimed that they were just “window dressing for her image” and called her “one of the principal obstacles to progress.” One of those veterans explains why she finally said enough.

Guest: Sylvia González Andersh, former member of Senator Kyrsten Sinema’s Veterans Advisory Council.

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Is Bill Gates to Blame for Lagging Vaccinations? Oct 27, 2021

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation funds many, if not most, of the world’s global health initiatives, so much so that the Foundation has become one of the most influential deciders of global health policy. With the distribution of vaccines to developing countries all but completely failing, how do we assess the Gates’ culpability? And is it time to imagine another model for global health cooperation?

Guest: Tim Schwab, investigative reporter.

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The Afghans Who Got Out Oct 26, 2021

Sharifa Abbasi knows exactly what it’s like to board a plane to a new country. She immigrated from Afghanistan to the U.S. with her family in 1993. Now, she’s helping other Afghans navigate the complicated red tape of American immigration law after the Taliban takeover. For these immigrants, coming to America wasn’t easy -- being able to stay here might prove even harder.

Guest: Sharifa Abbasi, immigration lawyer at The HMA Law Firm.

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A Brazen Kidnapping in Haiti Oct 25, 2021

Last weekend, 17 foreign missionaries living in Haiti were taken hostage by a criminal gang demanding million-dollar ransom payments. Kidnappings have become routine in Haiti over the past two years, as the national government has weakened in the wake of years of foreign influence, corruption, persistent poverty, natural disasters, and political upheaval. But the latest mass abduction of so many Americans is a provocation that could prompt an international intervention, in spite of the long history of botched foreign meddling in Haiti.

Guest: Jacqueline Charles, Caribbean correspondent for the Miami Herald.

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TBD | Honey, I Sold the House to Zillow Oct 22, 2021

Between April and June of this year, Zillow bought nearly 4,000 homes. And they had no intention of holding onto them. The plan was to flip houses, often and at scale, joining the ranks of companies like Opendoor and Offerpad, also known as iBuyers.

So, why did Zillow put their plans on pause last weekend? Can online middlemen really change the way we buy and sell houses?

Guests:

Tony Santos, homeowner

Patrick Clark, reporter at Bloomberg

Host: Henry Grabar

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How Immunity for Cops Ends Oct 21, 2021

Once an obscure legal doctrine, the practice of qualified immunity for police has drawn widespread public scrutiny in the past year. But as mainstream support for ending qualified immunity grows, police unions are amping up their opposition.

Guest: Kimberly Kindy, national investigative reporter for The Washington Post.

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Is Trump Still On Virginia’s Ballot? Oct 20, 2021

Virginia’s gubernatorial election is just weeks away, with former Virginia governor, Democrat Terry McAuliffe, vying against newcomer Republican Glenn Youngkin. Many polls show a slim margin between the two candidates, as they spar over issues like critical race theory and Trump’s legacy in an election seen as a bellwether for the upcoming midterm elections.

Guest: Ben Paviour, state politics reporter at VPM.

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How Should We Remember Colin Powell? Oct 19, 2021

Colin Powell, known as a “trailblazer” and “pathbreaker” in his military career, leaves behind a complicated legacy. The four-star general became a household name during the first Gulf War as the first Black chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and later the first Black secretary of state. Thirty years after his rise to national prominence, Powell’s death has prompted reflections on the Iraq War and his role in using false intelligence to justify the U.S. invasion.

Guest: Fred Kaplan, Slate’s War Stories columnist.

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No One's Got Mail Oct 18, 2021

Democrats spent months fretting last year about the Postal Service and the fate of democracy. Now the Democrats are in charge. So why is the mail slowing down? And could planned changes fix what ails the Postal Service?

Guest: Jacob Bogage, business reporter for the Washington Post.

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TBD | The Return of Hacktivism Oct 15, 2021

Over the last month, the domain company Epik and the streaming service Twitch have fallen prey to massive-scale hacks. The hackers revealed not just email addresses, but detailed personal information too. For Twitch, it was the entire source code for their site.

But the attackers aren’t holding this data for ransom. In fact, they don’t seem to want much of anything. What’s motivating this new wave of activist hacks? And who suffers?

Guest: Drew Harwell, tech reporter at the Washington Post

Host: Lizzie O’Leary

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The Strike That Could Paralyze Hollywood Oct 14, 2021

For as glamorous as Hollywood often seems, the workers behind the scenes rarely experience the star treatment. They do everything from sound design and makeup to cinematography and lighting, and they’ve had enough with the industry’s dizzying production pace and long hours that stretch into the early morning. Motivated by shifts in the industry due to the pandemic, workers from the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees union are gearing up for a strike that could halt movie and show productions alike.

Guest: Anousha Sakoui, entertainment industry writer for the Los Angeles Times.

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Is Someone Brain-Zapping American Operatives? Oct 13, 2021

The Havana Syndrome sounds like something straight out of a spy novel: microwaves are being directed towards U.S. embassies, causing hearing loss, headaches, and in some cases, permanent brain damage. The Biden administration is taking these “anomalous health incidents” very seriously. Should we?

Guest: Michael Wilner, a Senior National Security and White House Correspondent for McClatchy.

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When Airbnb Takes Over Your Neighborhood Oct 12, 2021

Galveston is a small island off the south east coast of Texas. It’s become a hot spot for short term rentals through start-ups like Airbnb but what the city has gained in tourism dollars, they’ve lost in actual residents.

Guest: Peter Holley is a senior editor at Texas Monthly.

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TBD | Will the Facebook Whistleblower Make a Difference? Oct 08, 2021

The last month has seen a steady drip of leaked documents from inside Facebook, each seemingly more damning than the next. This week, the whistleblower behind the leaks revealed her identity.

What motivates Frances Haugen? And can she do real damage to the social media giant?

Guest: Jeff Horwitz, tech reporter at the Wall Street Journal.

Host: Lizzie O’Leary

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Congress Plays Chicken Oct 07, 2021

Congressional Republicans are forcing Democrats into a game of chicken over the debt ceiling where the stakes are the well-being of the global economy. It’s a showdown that has played out time and again since 2011, but it doesn’t have to be this way.

Guest: Jordan Weissmann, senior editor for Slate

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Are We Ready for the Next Pandemic? Oct 06, 2021

You might think that the wreckage caused by COVID-19 would be enough to make the U.S. take pandemic planning seriously. But a close look at current pandemic preparedness efforts reveals that’s far from the truth. It’s not too late, though, to get ready for the next Big One - if we’re willing to make serious investments beyond fighting germs.

Guest: Ed Yong, a staff writer at The Atlantic covering science.

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Democrats’ Gerrymandering Dilemma Oct 05, 2021

With the results of the 2020 census in hand, all 50 states have begun the process of redistricting. Extremely thin margins in the House of Representatives mean that this hyper-local process has big implications on the balance of power at a national scale.

After aggressive Republican gerrymandering in the 2011 redistricting cycle, many Democrats came out in favor of creating non-partisan commissions to draw new voting maps. But how much of a moderating force are they really? And what happens if either side decides not to play by the commissions’ rules?

Guest: Nick Riccardi, a western political writer for AP.

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The Supreme Court Confronts Its Critics Oct 04, 2021

As the U.S. Supreme Court begins a new session, several justices are trying to reassure the public of the court’s nonpartisanship. But, as Slate’s Dahlia Lithwick argues, when you dig into the recent decisions of the court, you’ll see it becoming steadily more political.

Guest: Dahlia Lithwick writes about the courts and the law for Slate and hosts the podcast Amicus.

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TBD | What Instagram Does to Teens Oct 01, 2021

Since 2018, internal research teams at Facebook have been studying the effect on Instagram on mental health. Their results couldn’t be more clear: Instagram is causing problems, especially for teen girls.

Why has it taken so long for their research to surface? And what can be done to improve the relationship between kids and the platform?

Guest: Georgia Wells, tech reporter at the Wall Street Journal.

Host: Lizzie O’Leary

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The Vaccine Holdouts in the NBA Sep 30, 2021

The 2021-2022 NBA season will be underway in less than a month. The league has set strict testing and distancing rules for unvaccinated players. Largely, that strategy has worked but there are some vocal holdouts.

Guest: Bomani Jones is an ESPN commentator and the host of the Right Time with Bomani Jones podcast.

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Why a Hollywood #MeToo Organization Imploded Sep 29, 2021

Time’s Up was founded in 2018 in the wake of the #MeToo movement to fight sexual harassment and gender discrimination in the workplace. How, then, was the organization felled by accusations of a toxic work environment and close associations with abusers?

Guest: Lili Loofbourow, staff writer at Slate.

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A Doctor’s Hardest Call Sep 28, 2021

It’s hard to imagine, but many states had a plan for how they would make tough calls about the distribution of scarce medical resources during a pandemic. As our present crisis has dragged on, and hospitals have become overwhelmed, those plans are beginning to go into effect -- with some interesting caveats.

Guest: Sheri Fink, correspondent at The New York Times.

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Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Davis Land, Danielle Hewitt, Elena Schwartz, and Carmel Delshad.

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Death and Desperation at Rikers Island Sep 27, 2021

In the past year, twelve inmates on Rikers Island have died and it’s corrections staff has started refusing to come to work. The jail is slated for closure in 2027, but what can be done now to alleviate its problems?

Guest: Jan Ransom is a metro investigative reporter focused on criminal justice for the New York Times.

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TBD | Are We Getting COVID Testing All Wrong? Sep 24, 2021

In the U.S., the PCR test is the gold standard for COVID testing. Common knowledge would have it that the test is more accurate—and therefore more effective at containing the spread of the dease—than the rapid antigen test.

What if that isn’t quite true?

Guest: Michael Mina, assistant professor of epidemiology at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

Host: Lizzie O’Leary

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How Biden’s Agenda Could Fall Apart Sep 23, 2021

Congressional Democrats are struggling to bring together their moderate and progressive factions to pass an infrastructure bill and its gigantic sidecar, a budget plan filled with tax hikes, climate-related legislation, and social spending. With the party divided, is Biden’s agenda about to hit the skids?

Guest: Jim Newell, Slate’s senior politics writer and author of the weekly newsletter, The Surge.

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The Haitian Refugees Blocked at the Border Sep 22, 2021

By last weekend, nearly 14,000 migrants primarily from Haiti had amassed along the border in Texas. Then the Biden administration began a massive deportation effort.

Now, Haitians facing violence and instability at home are caught at the intersection of multiple disasters and an American president whose immigration goals remain murky, with many migrants saying they were never given the chance to make an asylum claim in the first place.

Guest: Jacqueline Charles, Caribbean correspondent for the Miami Herald.

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Did Gen. Milley Go Too Far? Sep 21, 2021

General Mark Milley, the nation’s top military officer, is making sure the press knows about the role he played in safeguarding democracy under President Trump. How singular were his efforts? And what do they reveal about our governmental institutions?

Guest: Fred Kaplan, Slate’s War Stories correspondent and author of the book, The Bomb.

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God Doesn’t Want Me Vaccinated Sep 20, 2021

Who are the people seeking a religious exemption to the Biden administration’s vaccine mandate? What are their religious claims? And how do workplaces decide who has a real claim to belief versus a convenient letter from a pastor-for-hire?

Guest: Ruth Graham, reporter for the New York Times.

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TBD | China vs. Video Games Sep 17, 2021

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 Reuters

Host: Lizzie O’Leary

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The Plight of the Delivery Worker Sep 16, 2021

In the last few years and particularly during the pandemic, New York City’s delivery workers have become a key part of the food industry’s infrastructure, allowing restaurants to do business with customers too stressed to leave their desks or too afraid of catching a dangerous virus to show up themselves. But a growing incidence of violent attacks and bike thefts has laid bare just how vulnerable the people who bring you your takeout are. Why is it that such essential workers have been exploited by the apps that rely on them, abandoned by the police and the city, and forced to band together just to get by?

Guest: Josh Dzieza, an investigations editor and feature writer at The Verge covering technology, business, and climate change.

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Steve Bannon’s “War Room” is Mobilizing Sep 15, 2021

Listeners of Steve Bannon’s “War Room” podcast have mobilized to take over the GOP from the ground up. Convinced the 2020 election was stolen, many far-right Republicans are moving to run elections themselves as precinct officers.

Guest: Isaac Arnsdorf, national politics reporter for ProPublica.

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Why College Professors Have Had It Sep 14, 2021

As the fall semester begins at U.S. universities, faculty and staff and institutions of higher education are at a breaking point. Widespread feelings of burnout were laid bare by the coronavirus pandemic, but the conditions leading to them were present long before.

Guest: Lindsay Ellis, senior reporter at The Chronicle of Higher Education.

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Empty Shelves Everywhere Sep 13, 2021

The coronavirus pandemic has left no part of the world untouched, including global manufacturing supply chains. The complex system that keeps goods moving throughout the world has struggled to catch up ever since it was disrupted in early 2020. Now, 18 months later, product delays aren’t going anywhere.

Guest: Austen Hufford, U.S. manufacturing reporter for The Wall Street Journal.

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TBD | Can This River Be Saved? Sep 10, 2021

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 ProPublica

Host: Lizzie O’Leary

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What 9/11 Did to My Life Sep 09, 2021

For Muslim Americans, the 20th anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks marks a full generation of routine Islamophobia. In the years that followed, the war on terror wounded the nation’s Muslim communities in ways that still feel fresh today.

Guest: Aymann Ismail, staff writer at Slate.

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Dying of COVID to Own The Libs Sep 08, 2021

Four conservative talk radio hosts have died of COVID-19 this summer, further revealing the consequences of a politicized pandemic. Why aren’t prominent right-wing figures doing more to embrace the coronavirus vaccine?

Guest: Brian Rosenwald, fellow at the University of Pennsylvania and author of Talk Radio’s America.

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The Texans Fighting for Abortion Access Sep 07, 2021

Texas has passed a new law banning abortions after six weeks of pregnancy, enforced by citizens launching lawsuits against anyone suspected of “aiding and abetting” the procedures. And the Supreme Court has declined to stop it - effectively ending the precedent set by Roe v. Wade. How are Texas organizations supporting reproductive rights adapting?

Guest: Anna Rupani, Co-Executive Director of Fund Texas Choice.

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TBD | The Rush for Ivermectin Sep 03, 2021

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

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The Last-Ditch Effort to Get Afghans Out Sep 02, 2021

U.S. officials announced the end of the American military presence in Afghanistan this week, but thousands of people desperate to leave — American citizens and Afghans alike — remain in the country. A loose collection of volunteers is working to get them out.

Guest: Matt Pelak, soldier in the Army National Guard and veteran of the war in Iraq.

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Why Paid Family Leave Might Finally Happen Sep 01, 2021

The United States is the only rich industrialized nation without a universal paid family leave policy. But as child and home care costs balloon, and the pandemic continues to leave families in precarious work situations, many caretakers have hit a wall. Congress might finally be ready to do something about it.

Guest: Chabeli Carrazana, economy reporter for the 19th.

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Why Flying Sucks Lately Aug 31, 2021

Flying has been a drag for years now. But there’s an extra level of stress on commercial flights this summer. Why is flying so terrible at this moment? And what’s a traveler to do?

Guest: Scott McCartney, the Middle Seat columnist for the Wall Street Journal.

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Afghanistan’s Power Vacuum Aug 30, 2021

On Friday, in the midst of the effort to evacuate thousands of people from Kabul, two suicide bombers attacked the Kabul airport, killing about 160 people. A jihadi group ISIS Khorasan, or ISIS-K, claimed responsibility. Who are these extremists? And how do they impact the Taliban’s plans to govern after the U.S. completely pulls out of Afghanistan?

Guest: Colin Clarke, a Senior Research Fellow at the Soufan Center and the author of After the Caliphate: The Islamic State & the Future Terrorist Diaspora.

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TBD | Elizabeth Holmes on Trial Aug 27, 2021

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

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The OnlyFans Debacle Aug 26, 2021

OnlyFans, a website famous for empowering sex workers, decided to ban -- and then unban-- sexual content. According to Charlotte Shane, sex workers find this story all too familiar.

Guest: Charlotte Shane, co-founder of the TigerBee Press. Author of the memoir, Prostitute Laundry.

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What Does Haiti Actually Need? Aug 25, 2021

The compounding crises in Haiti aren’t a product of bad luck. They are the result of hundreds of years of international interference and poorly-designed aid programs.

Guest: Jonathan M. Katz, author of the forthcoming book, Gangsters of Capitalism: Smedley Butler, the Marines, and the Making and Breaking of America’s Empire. Check out his Substack newsletter, The Long Version.

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Will R. Kelly Survivors Finally Get Justice? Aug 24, 2021

Celebrated R&B star R. Kelly is accused of using his music empire to sexually exploit women and minors for decades. Currently on trial in New York, the singer also faces federal charges in Illinois, and state charges in both Illinois and Minnesota. But will Kelly finally be brought to justice? And if he is, what took so long?

Guest: Jim DeRogatis, co-host of Sound Opinions and the author of Soulless: The Case Against R. Kelly.

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California's Recall Nightmare Aug 23, 2021

With just a month left, the California recall election is looking a little too close for comfort for Democrats. Governor Gavin Newsom’s approval rating is doing alright at the moment, but because of the way California conducts its recalls, if more than 50% of voters vote to oust Newsom, he loses his office, and whichever candidate garners even a small plurality of votes becomes his replacement.

How likely is it that California swears in a new executive next month? And how would the state fare under potential new leadership?

Guest: Guy Marzorati, politics and government reporter for KQED.

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TBD | Will Booster Shots Make a Difference? Aug 20, 2021

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’Leary

This episode was produced by Alyssa Edes.

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The Afghans Who Couldn’t Get Out Aug 19, 2021

The rapid collapse of the Afghan government has left tens of thousands of people struggling to leave their country. Afghans who helped U.S. forces were promised a life in the states, but many of them have been mired in paperwork as they try to obtain their visas. What hope do they have now that they’ll be able to leave before an expected Taliban crackdown?

Guest: Ahmadullah Sediqi of No One Left Behind, a group trying to secure visas for Afghan and Iraqi interpreters who worked for the U.S.

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A Texas Standoff Aug 18, 2021

The Texas state legislature is at a standstill. A month ago, House Democrats fled to DC to prevent the passage of a restrictive voting law but as time ticks by it’s becoming clear that they might have to go back to the drawing board -- and back to Texas.

Guest: Ashley Lopez, Senior Reporter at KUT

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How Afghanistan Ended Like This Aug 17, 2021

American forces are leaving Afghanistan after 20 years of fighting the country’s longest war. Following a hasty withdrawal of U.S. forces, the Taliban now controls most of the country, including the capital of Kabul. The U.S.-backed government has fled, leaving many civilians desperate to find a way out. How did things get so bad so quickly?

Guest: Fred Kaplan, Slate’s War Stories columnist. Kaplan is the author of The Bomb: Presidents, Generals, and the Secret History of Nuclear War.

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Mask Wars and the Start of School in the South Aug 16, 2021

Masks were uncontroversial for many state leaders at the onset of the pandemic last year. But now, masks have become politicized, and in Mississippi, Governor Tate Reeves has reversed his previous stance, refusing to order a mask mandate and leaving local school districts to fend for themselves during a massive surge in COVID cases.

Guest: Nick Judin, reporter for the Mississippi Free Press.

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TBD | What's Taking the FDA So Long? Aug 13, 2021

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

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When Your Town Burns Down Aug 12, 2021

Last week, the northern California mountain town of Greenville was wiped out by the Dixie Fire, which has lasted for nearly a month and is now the largest wildfire in California history. Greenville residents have just begun to assess the damage to their homes and businesses. Is it safe to rebuild? Is it even ethical, when wildfires are only expected to get worse?

Guest: Margaret Garcia, also known as Meg Upton, reporter at Plumas News.

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A DOJ Lawyer’s Attempt to Overthrow the Election Aug 11, 2021

We’re still learning the details about how Donald Trump and his supporters tried to get the 2020 presidential election results overturned. One scheme involved attorneys general across several states, and lawyers deep in the Department of Justice. This is the story of one of those lawyers, Jeffrey Bossert Clark, and his desperate attempts to keep Trump in power.

Guest: Mark Joseph Stern, staff writer for Slate on the courts and law.

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The Latest Blow to American Workers Aug 10, 2021

For decades, Richard Trumka was the head of the country’s largest labor federation. Widely considered to be the face of the American labor movement while workers faced a surge in union busting campaigns, Trumka presided over an organization that was diverse and fractious. Last week, he passed away.

What is the state of the labor movement without its longtime leader? And how can his successor steer workers to safer waters?

Guest: Erik Loomis, a labor historian at the University of Rhode Island and the author of A History of America in Ten Strikes.

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A Doctor in the Middle of the Florida Surge Aug 09, 2021

The delta variant is making its way through the country, becoming the leading strain of the coronavirus and increasing case counts as it goes. In few places is the crisis more severe than in Florida, where new daily case counts are hitting all-time highs and vaccination rates have leveled out around 50%. Gov. Ron DeSantis has refused to instate a mask mandate and insists that the spike is just a “seasonal wave” -- even as healthcare workers are pushed to the brink trying to care for ill patients.

Guest: Bernard Ashby, a vascular cardiologist in Miami and the Florida director of the Committee to Protect Healthcare.

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TBD | Can America Fix Its Trains? Aug 06, 2021

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

Host

Henry Grabar

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Washington’s Most Broken Institution? Aug 05, 2021

The Federal Election Commission can barely get anything done. With its commissioners stuck in partisan gridlock, one is finding new ways to make sure election law is upheld.

Guest: Ellen Weintraub, commissioner at the FEC.

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Cuomo vs. Everyone Aug 04, 2021

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is back on his heels again, following the release of the state attorney general’s extensive report on his pattern of sexually harassing women working around him. Now, even former allies of the governor are calling for him to resign or face impeachment. How long can Cuomo hang onto his office?

Guest: Brigid Bergin, political reporter for WNYC.

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Why Republicans Compromised Aug 03, 2021

After months of negotiation, an infrastructure bill is finally on its way to the Senate floor. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are touting their one big successful bipartisan move, but what’s actually in the legislation? And why are Republicans willing to sign off on a win for Joe Biden?

Guest: Jordan Weissmann, Slate’s senior business and economics correspondent.

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Take This Job, Please! Aug 02, 2021

Why aren’t people returning to jobs they lost during the pandemic? The answer is more complicated than generous unemployment checks.

Guest: Bram Sable-Smith, investigative reporter at Wisconsin Watch.

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TBD | I Bought It. Why Can't I Fix It? Jul 30, 2021

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 theCYBER podcast

Host

Lizzie O’Leary

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Will the Jan. 6 Hearings Accomplish Anything? Jul 29, 2021

This week, four officers from the U.S. Capitol Police and D.C.’s Metropolitan Police Department testified in front of a bipartisan House select committee investigating the events of January 6. They each gave powerful and emotional statements, describing the harrowing moments the Capitol was attacked. But what can the committee actually do about it?

Guest: Jeremy Stahl, senior editor at Slate.

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What Happened to Simone Biles? Jul 28, 2021

On Tuesday morning, Simone Biles, the most decorated gymnast of all time, withdrew from the team all-around competition at the Tokyo Olympics citing mental health concerns. Biles’ move shocked most watchers but may reveal a deeper cultural shift happening within USA Gymnastics.

Guest: Rebecca Schuman, former gymnast and the author of Schadenfreude, A Love Story.

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So... What Is COVID Now? Jul 27, 2021

The delta variant is now the most-prevalent strain of COVID-19, causing a handful of so-called “breakthrough” infections in fully-vaccinated people. Unvaccinated people account for 97% of severe cases of the virus. How worried should you be about infections as the delta variant continues to dominate? And is it time to mask up again?

Guest: Susan Matthews, Slate’s news director.

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On the Front Lines of California’s Wildfires Jul 26, 2021

The fires raging across the American West are like the climate crisis itself: Too big and too extreme to understand all at once. So today, we’re zooming in on some of the people fighting those fires: crews of incarcerated women. In California, they risk their lives for abysmal pay, and officials are just starting to realize how essential they are to the state’s fire response.

Guest: Jaime Lowe, author of Breathing Fire.

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TBD | How Spyware Mercenaries Hack Your Phone Jul 23, 2021

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 Toronto

Siddharth Varadarajan, Founding Editor of the Wire

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The Rise of Kristi Noem Jul 22, 2021

South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem has a problem. She’s ready to get beamed up to national political stardom, but she’s polling near the bottom among 2024 GOP presidential hopefuls. What issues can she use to raise her political profile? The answer came swiftly this year: anything and everything.

Guest: Joe Sneve, political reporter for the Argus Leader in South Dakota.

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Punishing the Capitol Rioters Jul 21, 2021

Six months after the Capitol riot, plea deals from cases against the rioters have begun to trickle in. Will the courts be able to do what Congress couldn’t, and insist on a shared version of events on January 6th?

Guest: Zoe Tillman, senior legal reporter at BuzzFeed News.

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The Right Wing War on Vaccines Jul 20, 2021

It’s becoming harder to get all Americans vaccinated. While millions of people still get the shots each week, some conservatives are becoming more difficult to convince, and some politicians are increasingly hostile towards the public health departments tasked with helping fight COVID-19.

Guests: Michelle Fiscus, former medical director for vaccine-preventable diseases and immunization programs at the Tennessee Department of Health, and Dan Diamond, health policy and politics reporter at The Washington Post.

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The Unhoused Don’t Want to “Go Back to Normal” Jul 19, 2021

At the height of the pandemic, New York city put up some of its homeless population in the city’s empty hotels. Now, as the city comes back to life, the program is ending -- but the city’s unhoused population doesn’t want to go “back to normal”

Guest: Jacquelyn Simone, Senior Policy Analyst for the Coalition for the Homeless.

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TBD | It's Hot. It's Flooding. Is This the New Normal? Jul 16, 2021

Over the last month, North Americans have seen record-breaking heat, droughts, wildfires, and floods. The science is clear: we are living through the effects of climate change. Now scientists are trying to answer: is this the new normal?

Guest: Daniel Swain, climate scientist at UCLA

Host

Lizzie O’Leary

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When the Culture War Comes for Your Job Jul 15, 2021

Brittany Hogan worked in diversity and inclusion for the Rockwood School District for eight years. As public debate intensified over the way race is discussed in schools, and threats were made against her, Hogan eventually was pushed to resign.

Guest: Brittany Hogan, former director of educational equity and diversity for the Rockwood School District in St. Louis County.

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Texas Democrats' Last Stand? Jul 14, 2021

Texas Dems are on the lam. After walking out of their regularly scheduled legislative session to block an extremely restrictive election security bill, they’ve decided to go bigger. At the start of the special session called by Governor Greg Abbott to get that bill passed, 51 of 67 House Democrats broke quorum and fled to DC in a last-ditch effort to thwart the bill and spur national Democrats into action. Will it make any difference?

Guest: Jessica Huseman, Editorial Director of Vote Beat.

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How Exxon Gets Its Way Jul 13, 2021

Oil-giant Exxon says publicly that it supports initiatives to fight climate change. But a new undercover investigation reveals the company’s quiet lobbying effort to stymie environmental protection legislation.

Guest: Lawrence Carter, Senior Reporter & Special Projects Editor at Unearthed, a journalism project from Greenpeace U.K.

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Drugs and the Olympics Jul 12, 2021

Olympics officials have created an anti-doping system to crack down on cheaters. We have no idea if it’s working. And it’s ensnaring athletes for seemingly bizarre infractions.

Guest: Lindsay Crouse, writer and producer for the New York Times Opinion section.

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Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Davis Land, Danielle Hewitt, Elena Schwartz, and Carmel Delshad.

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TBD | So, What Happens to WFH Now? Jul 09, 2021

For many white-collar workers, the full-time work from home era is coming to an end. Some are going back into offices five days a week. Many others will be expected to split the week between home and the office.

As the new rules are laid down, office workers are asking themselves: do we want work to go back to the way it was? Or is it time, finally, to try something different?

Guest: Brigid Schulte, director of the Better Life Lab at New America

Host

Henry Grabar

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It Didn’t Start With Nikole Hannah-Jones Jul 08, 2021

Last year, UNC Chapel Hill began courting Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones to come teach at the Hussman School of Journalism. But when her tenure recommendation landed in front of the school’s board of trustees, they refused to take a vote, leaving her application in limbo. After months of public pressure and lobbying by students and faculty, Hannah-Jones was offered tenure - but not before she’d decided to teach at Howard University instead.

How did UNC’s board of trustees cost the school such a coveted appointment? And how deep did the political divisions over Hannah-Jones’ hiring get?

Guest: Joe Killian, investigative reporter at NC Policy Watch.

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SCOTUS Lurches to the Right Jul 07, 2021

The Supreme Court just completed its first term with new justice Amy Coney Barrett. With a conservative supermajority now seated, what does this term spell for the future of America’s legal landscape?

Guest: Mark Joseph Stern, reporter on courts and the law for Slate.

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The War Over Critical Race Theory Jul 06, 2021

Critical Race Theory was created in the 1970s by a Harvard Professor seeking to describe the way racism is baked into the legal system. Half a century later, CRT is now the weapon of choice for right-wing pundits looking to silence conversations about race.

From an academic discipline to a conservative scare tactic, how did critical race theory become the dominant culture war in American politics? And what does CRT actually stand for?

Guest: Adam Harris, staff writer at The Atlantic.

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TBD | It’s Time to Talk About UFOs Jul 02, 2021

Last week, the U.S. government released a new report that attempts to categorize 144 verified sightings of unidentified aerial phenomena, or UAP. They could only definitively explain one of them.

The new report signals a shift in the way we think about UAP. As technology has advanced and evidence of these encounters has increased, the question has become more urgent: What exactly is happening in our skies?

Guest: Shane Harris, intelligence and national security reporter for the Washington Post

Host

Lizzie O’Leary

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What’s Kyrsten Sinema’s Deal? Jul 01, 2021

Arizona Senator Kyrsten Sinema has become a constant source of consternation for the left wing of the Democratic party. But early in her career, she was a vocal proponent of progressive ideals. How did she turn into one of the party’s staunchest defenders of bipartisan compromise?

Guest: Amanda Becker, Washington Correspondent for the 19th.

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What Really Happened in the Miami Tower Collapse Jun 30, 2021

The Champlain Tower South building in Surfside Florida collapsed early last Thursday morning, seemingly out of the blue. But reporting shows that the condo board members were aware the building was structurally unsound for years.

Right now the death toll stands at 12, with 149 people still unaccounted for. How did such a preventable tragedy take place?

Guest: Daniel Rivero, reporter for WLRN in Miami.

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#FreeBritney Is Just the Beginning Jun 29, 2021

Pop star Britney Spears spoke out in court last week about the conservatorship she’s been under for 13 years, shedding light on all the restrictions she’s lived under. In doing so, Spears opened up a world rarely-seen outside of courtrooms and the reality for an estimated 1.3 million people living under a court-ordered guardianship.

Guest: Sara Luterman, freelance journalist covering disability policy, politics and culture.

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Will the NFL Finally Support Gay Players? Jun 28, 2021

Last week, Las Vegas Raiders defensive end, Carl Nassib, came out in an Instagram post, making him the first openly gay active player in NFL histroy. The league immediately posted in in celebration of Nassib’s announcement. But given the NFL’s sorry history of standing by players on the vanguard, will the league really put its money where its mouth is this time?

Guest: LZ Granderson, LA Times opinion columnist and host of ABC News’ “Life Out Loud with LZ Granderson.”

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TBD | Welcome to Bitcoin Beach Jun 25, 2021

For nearly two years, an unprecedented experiment has been taking place in the town of El Zonte in El Salvador. Funded by a mysterious donor, the town’s residents built a Bitcoin economy, using the cryptocurrency to purchase just about anything.

Now, El Slavador has passed a new law making it the first country to adopt Bitcoin as legal tender. Can they replicate El Zonte’s success at a national scale?

Guest: Ezra Fieser, reporter at Bloomberg

Host

Lizzie O’Leary

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Delta Variant: BFD or NBD? Jun 24, 2021

COVID’s Delta variant is on the rise in the U.S. The data suggest we have room for optimism -- so why are we seeing dire messages from public health experts?

Guest: Dr. Monica Gandhi, infectious diseases and HIV doctor at UCSF/San Francisco General Hospital.

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Are the Democrats Blowing It on Voting Rights? Jun 23, 2021

Senate Democrats tried to open up debate on sweeping voting rights legislation Tuesday but were stopped by a lack of support from their Republican counterparts. Would a more incremental approach have succeeded?

Guest: Rick Hasen, professor of law and political science at the University of California–Irvine School of Law and the author of Election Meltdown: Dirty Tricks, Distrust, and the Threat to American Democracy.

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Can Lina Khan Really Take On Monopolies? Jun 22, 2021

America has gone soft on monopolies. A small number of businesses control an ever-increasing market share with only muted protests from the Federal Trade Commission, the supposed antitrust watchdog of the U.S. government. But that all might be about to change with Lina Khan’s appointment as FTC chair.

Guest: Matt Stoller, director of research at the American Economic Liberties Project and the author of Goliath: The Hundred Year War Between Monopoly Power and Democracy. Stoller also writes the Substack newsletter, BIG.

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The Fight Over Evangelicals’ Future Jun 21, 2021

Fears that an ultra-conservative faction would take control of the country’s largest organization of evangelicals did not come to fruition at the Southern Baptist Convention’s annual meeting this year. But it was only a narrow loss, and, like conservatives around the country, the group remains sharply divided.

Guest: Bob Smietana, national reporter for Religion News Service.

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TBD | What Cops Are Doing With Your DNA Jun 18, 2021

Ever since police used a DNA platform called GEDmatch to crack the Golden State Killer case in 2018, police departments around the country have rushed to use genetic genealogy to crack their own cold cases. The result? Hundreds of violent cases solved.

So--why are some states passing new laws to limit this new technology?

Guest: Nila Bala, senior staff attorney at the Policing Project at NYU Law.

Host

Lizzie O’Leary

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Whom the Vaccines Leave Behind Jun 17, 2021

Around the country, states are casting off pandemic restrictions. But for millions of immunocompromised people, the pandemic isn’t nearly over.

Guest: Dr. Lindsay Ryan, internist at San Francisco General Hospital and San Francisco VA Medical Center in California.

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The Looming Eviction Crisis Jun 16, 2021

The clock is winding down on the CDC’s eviction moratorium. The moratorium will lift in less than two weeks, marking an end to the pandemic-era protection. What happens to vulnerable tenants when the clock runs out?

Guest: Henry Granville Widener, rent strike organizer in Maryland

Alieza Durana, reporter for Princeton’s Eviction Lab

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The Fight Over Rising Prices Jun 15, 2021

Turn on your favorite business news channel, and it seems like all anyone can talk about is inflation. Prices are rising, but is it anything to worry about in the long term?

Guest: Jordan Weissmann, Slate’s senior business and economics correspondent.

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WTF, DOJ? Jun 14, 2021

As U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland approaches 100 days of leading the Department of Justice, the department’s recent legal positions in support of former President Trump have mystified onlookers. Is the department lost at sea, and can Garland right the ship?

Guest: Ankush Khardori, attorney and former federal prosecutor.

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TBD | What Space Billionaires Cost Us Jun 11, 2021

Over the last decade, billionaires like Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk, and Richard Branson have come to embody the future of space travel and exploration. What does it mean when the ideas and ambitions of a few powerful men come to dominate the conversation so thoroughly?

Guest: Lucianne Walkowicz, astronomer at the Adler Planetarium and founder of the Just Space Alliance

Host

Lizzie O’Leary

This episode is sponsored by Teamistry. You can listen here

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Conor Lamb Is Losing His Patience Jun 10, 2021

Conor Lamb has been one of the most reliable moderates and institutionalists among the House Democrats. The Capitol breach on January 6th changed that. Now, the Pennsylvania congressman says his focus is shifting to “not allowing things like respect and bipartisanship to be something that hides the truth.”

Guest: Congressman Conor Lamb, Democrat from Pennsylvania.

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Does NYC Want a Cop for a Mayor? Jun 09, 2021

In the last year, New York City has experienced a surge in violent crime, reflecting a trend across major cities nationwide. In a heated race to be the city’s next mayor, one candidate, former New York police captain Eric Adams, is using the issue of public safety to his advantage.

Guest: Eric Lach, staff writer at The New Yorker.

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Is Kamala Harris Being Set Up to Fail? Jun 08, 2021

Vice President Kamala Harris reportedly urged the Biden administration to give her a portfolio -- a clear way to contribute to the work of the White House while also building her political reputation. But now that she’s been tasked with the immigration crisis and the protection of voting rights, is she getting more than a vice president alone can handle?

Guest: Edward-Isaac Dovere, reporter for The Atlantic.

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The NFL’s Race-Norming Problem Is All Over Medicine Jun 07, 2021

The NFL recently announced it would stop using “race norming” when assessing who would receive a share of their recent $1 billing settlement for former players. The practice, which assumed Black players started with lower cognitive function and made it harder to collect their share, is standard in many areas of medicine.

Guest: Darshali Vyas, Physician at Massachusetts General Hospital

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TBD | The App That Sparked a Manhunt Jun 04, 2021

Two weeks ago, as wildfires burned north of Los Angeles, the crime app Citizen offered $30,000 for information that would lead to the arrest of a suspected arsonist. They had the wrong guy.

Why is Citizen offering bounties in the first place? And what does this bounty debacle say about the app’s aspirations for the future?

Guest: Joseph Cox, reporter at Motherboard

Host

Henry Grabar

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The Battle For Voting Rights In Texas Isn’t Over Jun 03, 2021

Texas Republicans, sensing the state’s slow, leftward drift, barreled ahead with legislation to make voting more cumbersome this week. Democratic lawmakers did the one thing they could to resist it: They refused to show up for a vote. But the fight over voting rules isn’t over in Texas, and Republicans maintain the upper hand.

Guest: Alexa Ura, reporter for the Texas Tribune.

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How the Capitol Riot Commission Died Jun 02, 2021

After the Capitol riot on January 6th, Republicans proposed a bipartisan commission to investigate what took place as an alternative to impeaching then-President Trump. But last Friday, Senate Republicans led by Mitch McConnell killed the bill to establish that commission.

Why was the bipartisan commission dead on arrival? And is there a way for an investigation to move forward without one?

Guest: Jim Newell, senior politics writer at Slate.

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Will the Olympics Be a Fiasco? Jun 01, 2021

Despite the pandemic, the Tokyo Olympics are set to kick off in late July. Many Japanese citizens are worried that such a large-scale event might worsen the pandemic in their country but the International Olympic Committee insists on pushing forward. Will the Olympics this year be a disaster?

Guest: Henry Bushnell, features writer for Yahoo Sports.

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TBD | Apple and Epic’s Battle Royale May 28, 2021

After years of careful planning and public spats, Apple and Epic—the maker of Fortnite—have spent the last three weeks in court, fighting over the future of mobile gaming. What happens if, for once, Apple loses?

Guest: Elizabeth Lopatto, deputy editor at the Verge

Host

Lizzie O’Leary

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Why the Skyjacking Succeeded May 27, 2021

On Sunday, authorities in Belarus took a prominent opposition journalist into custody by flagging down a commercial flight with a fighter jet and a false bomb threat. Since then, the small country has garnered international condemnation - though it’s evoked little contrition from President Alexander Lukashenko. What does this hijacking signal about the steadfastness of authoritarianism in Belarus and around the world?

Guest: Julia Ioffe, correspondent for GQ

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Does Roe v. Wade Stand A Chance? May 26, 2021

Abortion bills are making their way through the statehouses of the U.S. Last Wednesday, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed into law a ban on abortions after six weeks of pregnancy. Before that, Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson instituted a ban on abortions from fertilization. And in the midst of these fights at the state level, the Supreme Court has announced it will take up a case challenging Roe v. Wade out of Mississippi.

With a conservative supermajority on the court, how imperiled is abortion access? Is it time to prepare for a world without Roe v. Wade?

Guest: Mark Joseph Stern, reporter on courts and the law for Slate.

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One Woman's Year Protecting George Floyd Square May 25, 2021

A year after the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis, residents near the intersection of 38th Street and Chicago Avenue - now dubbed George Floyd Square - continue to keep the area closed off. The city wants to reopen the intersection, but activists say they aren’t giving in until the community’s demands for justice are met.

Guest: Marcia Howard, security volunteer and organizer in George Floyd Square.

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A Small but Momentous Shift on Israel May 24, 2021

U.S. support for Palestinians seems to have swelled this past month, especially among progressive Democrats. With fighting between Israel and Hamas on hold, what will it take to shift U.S. policy?

Guest: Peter Beinart, editor-at-large at Jewish Currents.

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TBD | The Hackers Who Took Down the Colonial Pipeline May 21, 2021

Last week, a hacker group called DarkSide shut down the Colonial Pipeline, which supplies 45 percent of the fuel consumed on the East Coast. Gas prices skyrocketed, people started hoarding gas, and DarkSide walked away with over $4 million in Bitcoin. How did they do it? And what makes this hack different from those we’ve seen before?

Guest: David Uberti, cybersecurity reporter at the Wall Street Journal

Host

Lizzie O’Leary

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One Senator’s Decades-Long Fight for Universal Childcare May 20, 2021

Patty Murray began her career in the Senate pushing for a landmark piece of legislation: the Family and Medical Leave Act. Now, nearly 30 years later, she’s putting her weight behind a plan to grant universal access to affordable childcare.

Guest: U.S. Senator Patty Murray of Washington state.

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A Cuomo Accuser on Watching Him Stay Put May 19, 2021

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo faces two investigations regarding accusations of sexual harassment and a culture of bullying in his office. Despite multiple calls to resign, the governor has clung to his office, hoping to ride out the scandals.

Guest: Karen Hinton, former press secretary and adviser to Andrew Cuomo.

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Our Very Weird Economic Recovery May 18, 2021

After the passage of Joe Biden’s big coronavirus stimulus package, economists expected to see a huge jobs report in May. In the end, only a quarter of the expected 1 million new jobs materialized. Why is that? And what are the chances that $1.9 trillion in stimulus funding is backfiring?

Guest: Jordan Weissmann, Slate’s senior business and economics correspondent

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Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Davis Land, Danielle Hewitt, Elena Schwartz and Carmel Delshad.

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Mask Off? May 17, 2021

On Thursday, the CDC announced that unvaccinated people can go unmasked in most situations. The decision was followed with many private companies dropping their mask requirements but not everyone is ready to go barefaced just yet.

Guest: Megan Ranney, ER Doctor at Brown Emergency Medicine

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TBD | How the World’s Great Vaccination Hope Crashed May 14, 2021

The Serum Institute of India was supposed to supply vaccines not just to India, but to the entire Global South. Now, with cases surging, there aren’t nearly enough vaccines for India’s population, not to mention the many countries that are relying on it. How did such a successful institution come up so short? And what are the costs of that failure?

Guest: Samanth Subramanian, senior reporter at Quartz

Host

Lizzie O’Leary

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The Palestinian Perspective May 13, 2021

This week’s violence across Israel and the occupied territories points to a new era in Israeli-Palestinian relations. Palestinian observers find themselves wondering: Is it a changing diplomatic paradigm, thanks to a growing movement to acknowledge the human rights of Palestinians and find lasting peace? Or is it something more frightening, more deafening -- is it the beginning of unbridled war?

Guests: Yousef Munayyer, a fellow at the Arab Center Washington, and Mariam Barghouti, a writer based in Ramallah.

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Why Liz Cheney Had to Go May 12, 2021

Does the looming ouster of a devoted Trump critic from House GOP leadership mean the party remains in thrall to the former president? Or does it just mean that Republican political leaders don’t want to keep talking about him?

Guest: Eliana Johnson, Editor-in-chief at the Washington Free Beacon.

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Arizona’s Bonkers Recount May 11, 2021

A complete recount of ballots from the 2020 election is underway in Maricopa County, where Arizona Senate Republicans still question the results of the general election. There’s no timeline or budget for the manual audit, and election experts say this effort is highly prone to errors.

Guest: Andrew Oxford, reporter for the Arizona Republic.

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Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Davis Land, Danielle Hewitt, Elena Schwartz, and Carmel Delshad.

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I Was a Teenager in a Syrian Prison May 10, 2021

Omar Alshogre survived years of detainment in Syria when he was just a teenager. Now, he’s in the U.S. and is telling his story of survival so you don’t look away.

Guest: Omar Alshogre, a Georgetown Student and the Director of Detainee Affairs at the Syrian Emergency Task Force.

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Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Davis Land, Danielle Hewitt, Elena Schwartz, and Carmel Delshad.

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TBD | Oversight Board to Facebook: Nice Try May 07, 2021

The question of Donald Trump’s banned account--to keep it blocked, or reinstate it--is one of the toughest that Facebook has ever faced. But the social network had a plan: punt the decision to its newly minted Oversight Board, a semi-independent “Supreme Court” tasked with making hard decisions about what content stays up, and what comes down.

Did that plan just backfire?

Guest: Kate Klonick, professor at St. John’s University School of Law

Host

Lizzie O’Leary

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The Gates Divorce May 06, 2021

Divorces aren’t usually major news events. But in the case of Bill and Melinda Gates, the state of their union is in the public interest. For the last 20 years, the two have led one of the most influential philanthropic organizations in the world.

What happens to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation once its founders are broken up? And what does it say about society’s dependence on billionaires that we even have to ask?

Guest: Teddy Schleifer, reporter on money and influence for Recode at Vox.

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Going After the Opioid Middlemen May 05, 2021

West Virginia was - and still is - decimated by the opioid addiction crisis. Now, one county is fighting to hold drug distributors accountable and get treatment for its residents.

Guest: Eric Eyer, senior investigative reporter at Mountain State Spotlight.

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What Sex Workers Want May 04, 2021

Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance recently announced the end to prosecuting some charges related to sex work, following decisions in other New York City boroughs. But is this policy shift something sex workers actually want? And does it go far enough?

Guest: Melissa Gira Grant, staff writer at The New Republic and the author of Playing the Whore: The Work of Sex Work.

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How Will the Recall of Gavin Newsom End? May 03, 2021

California Governor Gavin Newsom faces a newly-qualified recall petition, with 1.6 million people saying they want to see an election held over whether the governor should be replaced. But the anger that motivated so many of those signatures now seems to be fading away. Is it enough to save Newsom’s political career?

Guest: Guy Marzorati, reporter and producer on KQED’s Politics and Government desk.

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TBD | Tim Apple vs. Mark Facebook Apr 30, 2021

There was a time—back when Steve Jobs ran Apple and Mark Zuckerberg was in his early days as Facebook’s CEO— that Apple and Facebook were friends.. Or, at worst, frenemies. But as the companies grew, so did two competing views of how the internet should work.

What led to the rift between Mark Zuckerberg and Tim Cook? And will Apple’s new privacy rules undercut Facebook’s vision for the internet?

Guest:

Mike Isaac, tech reporter at the New York Times

Host

Lizzie O’Leary

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Inside India’s COVID Wards Apr 29, 2021

India started 2021 with government officials repeatedly declaring victory over COVID-19. But the virus has overrun hospitals and crematoriums, in part due to massive gatherings and a slow vaccination rollout.

Guest: Chahat Rana, health reporting fellow at The Caravan magazine.

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A Better Way to Talk About Gun Violence Apr 28, 2021

The national conversation about gun violence in America almost always focuses on mass shootings -- but these events tend to overshadow the more day-to-day violence that makes up the bulk of gun deaths in the U.S. What would our policy conversation look like if more attention was paid to the kind of gun violence that’s most prevalent?

Guest: Abené Clayton, reporter for Guns and Lies at the Guardian.

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The Invasion of Lake Tahoe Apr 27, 2021

Tech workers from the Bay Area happily left their expensive apartments for Lake Tahoe during the pandemic, hoping to get some fresh air and a change of scenery. Towns around the lake soon became "Zoom-towns" -- areas where remote workers moved in and never left, raising prices and driving out longtime residents. Now, locals are fighting back.

Guest: Rachel Levin, San Francisco-based journalist.

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The Case for Going Maskless Outdoors Apr 26, 2021

Masks are crucial to stopping the spread of COVID-19, especially indoors and during prolonged close contact. But after a year of the pandemic, evidence is growing that it’s time to rethink rules on wearing masks outdoors.

Guest: Shannon Palus, senior editor at Slate.

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TBD | What's Causing the Tesla Crashes? Apr 23, 2021

Last week, a Tesla Model S crashed into a tree in a neighborhood north of Houston. Both men inside the car were killed. But according to police, neither of them was in the driver’s seat.

This is not the first crash in which Tesla’s “autopilot” feature has likely played a role. Should we really be trusting this technology?

Guest:

Missy Cummings, professor of electrical and computer engineering at Duke University

Host

Lizzie O’Leary

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Patriot or Outcast? Apr 22, 2021

The country remains divided over the January 6th Capitol riot. The division is reflected in voter surveys, news coverage, and millions of social media posts. But the tension is also on display in small, idiosyncratic communities who realized some of their own were at the Capitol attack and may have cheered it on.

Guest: Matthew Rosenberg, reporter for the New York Times.

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The Chauvin Verdict Apr 21, 2021

After just 10 hours of deliberation, jurors found former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin guilty in the murder of George Floyd. This is what happened inside the courtroom and out on the streets.

Guests: Jon Collins, criminal justice reporter at MPR News.

Aymann Ismail, staff writer at Slate.

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The Putin Problem Apr 20, 2021

The Biden administration is under no illusions that Russia President Vladimir Putin can be a willing partner of the U.S. But what tools remain to check Putin’s ambitions?

Guest: Josh Keating, senior editor at Slate and the author of Invisible Countries.

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Fear and Paranoia in American Policing Apr 19, 2021

What makes a police officer shoot when a suspect’s hands are up? To understand this, it helps to examine police training, and the predominant lesson that many young officers receive: Any encounter could be your last.

Guest: Michael Sierra-Arévalo, assistant professor at the University of Texas at Austin.

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TBD | Seduced by Substack Apr 16, 2021

Like countless venture-funded start-ups before it, Substack is “disrupting” the media industry. The newsletter service is siphoning off high-profile talent with a promise of independence and bigger paychecks. But the platform’s influence might reach far beyond the media. Will Substack change the way we think about online creators and their audiences? Can it create a new kind of relationship between them?

Guest:

Charlie Warzel, writer of Galaxy Brain

Host

Lizzie O’Leary

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The Confusion Over Johnson & Johnson Apr 15, 2021

Federal officials have recommended halting distribution of the Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine, citing rare but potentially severe blood clots. Now, health officials are trying to find out whether or not the clots are connected to the vaccine, creating confusion and sometimes panic for recipients. While the process may seem backwards for some, others say it’s science working the way it’s supposed to.

Guest: Tara Haelle, science journalist and author.

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How Republicans Weaponized Cancel Culture Apr 14, 2021

Republicans are smart to lean in on “cancel culture” as a campaign issue to unite voters. Dan Pfeiffer of Pod Save America says Democrats have the power to make that a losing strategy for the GOP.

Guest: Dan Pfeiffer, co-host of Pod Save America.

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The Lab Leak Theory Apr 13, 2021

How one theory about COVID-19’s origins went from the fringes to the mainstream -- and why it just might be plausible.

Guest: Alina Chan, postdoctoral fellow at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard.

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What's Different About the Chauvin Trial Apr 12, 2021

As Derek Chauvin stands trial for the murder of George Floyd, prosecutors are determined to show the justice system is going to work in this case. Beyond the courtroom, the future of Minneapolis’s relationship with its police department is an open question.

Guest: Jon Collins, class and criminal justice reporter at Minnesota Public Radio.

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TBD | The Rise of the Therapy Apps Apr 09, 2021

Since the start of the pandemic, usage of apps like BetterHelp and Talkspace has skyrocketed. These apps might make mental health care more accessible, but are the products they sell really the same as therapy?

Guest:

Molly Fischer, features writer for the Cut at New York Magazine

Host

Lizzie O’Leary

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One Man’s Mission to Protect Chinatown Apr 08, 2021

In February 2020, Karlin Chan began a group called the Chinatown Block Watch to patrol his New York City neighborhood and act as a “visual deterrent” to anti-Asian attacks. One year and one pandemic later, Chan’s Block Watch is still patrolling the streets, and taking an expansive view of what it means to keep the community safe.

Guest: Karlin Chan, founder of the Chinatown Block Watch.

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How Worried to Be About Michigan Apr 07, 2021

Michigan is currently home to 13 of the worst performing metro areas when it comes to the coronavirus. They recently surpassed 10,000 new cases and their curve has “gone vertical”. With vaccine distribution ramping up across the country, is the Michigan surge a warning for the rest of the country?

Guest: Abdul El-Sayed, host of America Dissected

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Biden’s Big Swing Apr 06, 2021

Last week, President Biden rolled out an ambitious infrastructure plan that relies on increased taxes on corporations to fund big changes to America’s infrastructure. His plan goes beyond putting pavement on the ground, and lays out a different vision for what "infrastructure" really means.

Guest: Jordan Weissmann, Slate’s senior business and economics correspondent.

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The Bizarre Origin Story of the Gaetz Scandal Apr 05, 2021

Last week, The New York Times reported that Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz was under investigation by the Justice Department over his relationships with women recruited online for sex, and whether he had sex with a 17-year-old girl. Gaetz gained national attention for his trollish, Trumpian antics and fiery loyalty to the then-president. What happens if the Trump playbook doesn’t work for the 38-year-old congressman?

Guest: Jeff Weiner, Criminal Justice and Public Safety Editor for the Orlando Sentinel

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TBD | The Fight Over Vaccine Passports Apr 02, 2021

There are at least 17 different “vaccine passport” initiatives underway in the United States. And leaked documents reveal that the Biden administration fears that “a chaotic and ineffective vaccine credential approach could hamper our pandemic response by undercutting health safety measures, slowing economic recovery, and undermining public trust and confidence.”

Without coordination, a chaotic and ineffective approach seems likely. So, what can, and what should, the Biden administration do to avoid this outcome? And what are the risks and rewards of coordinating an effort that divides Americans along the lines of vaccination status?

Guest:

Dan Diamond, health policy and politics reporter for the Washington Post

Host

Lizzie O’Leary

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LA’s Housing Crisis Hits A Boiling Point Apr 01, 2021

Los Angeles’s Echo Park Lake is home to swan boats, running trails and space for members of it’s rapidly gentrifying community to gather during the pandemic. Up until last week, it was also home to over 100 people living in tents on the west side of the park. The encampment became the focal point of LA’s housing affordability crisis when the housed members of the Echo Park neighborhood called for it to be cleared.

Guest: Benjamin Oreskes, metro report for the Los Angeles Times.

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The Wedge Issue of Republicans’ Dreams Mar 31, 2021

Most kids in the country aren’t back to school in any way we’d recognize as normal. Republicans have noticed. Now, they’re launching a few trial balloons this year to see if “reopen the schools” can become their next winning campaign slogan.

Guest: Edward-Isaac Dovere, staff writer at the Atlantic. Read his story, “Democrats Are Failing the Schools Test.”

Dovere is the author of the forthcoming book, Battle for the Soul: Inside the Democrats’ Campaigns to Defeat Trump.

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Can a Highway Be Racist? Mar 30, 2021

Houston residents and elected officials are trying to stop the largest urban highway project of their lifetimes -- one that would clear out more than 1,000 homes in primarily Black and Latin neighborhoods and, they say, introduce additional flooding and health risks. Now, residents have a powerful new ally in Washington: the Biden administration. The fate of I-45 may tell us something about what 21st-century infrastructure will look like.

Guests: Tomaro Bell, Houston resident and community leader, and Oni Blair, executive director of LINK Houston.

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Should Florida Cancel Spring Break? Mar 29, 2021

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has become a Republican celebrity for his notably lax coronavirus policies, keeping the state mostly open during the pandemic. But in Miami Beach, tourists are using the lack of restrictions to their advantage, exposing the difficulty of managing a world that isn’t quite done with COVID-19, but desperately wants to be.

Guest: Verónica Zaragovia, healthcare reporter at WLRN.

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TBD | The AstraZeneca Saga Mar 26, 2021

Back in April 2020, AstraZeneca was hailed as a frontrunner in the race to get an effective vaccine to market. A year later, after a series of trial pauses, communication blunders, and PR problems, the vaccine is on the cusp of FDA approval.

By all accounts, the company succeeded in making a safe, effective vaccine. So why has there been so much confusion about its rollout?

Guest:

Peter Aldhous, science reporter at Buzzfeed News

Host

Lizzie O’Leary

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One Colorado Man’s Crusade Against Gun Violence Mar 25, 2021

Colorado Rep. Tom Sullivan counts the number of Fridays since his son was killed in the Aurora theater shooting in 2012. The latest mass shooting in Boulder, which left 10 people dead, was yet another reason Sullivan says he’s continuing his quest to curb gun violence in the state.

Guest: Colorado State Rep. Tom Sullivan.

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Migrant Families Are Still Being Separated Mar 24, 2021

After four years of President Trump’s harsh immigration policies, many advocates for Central American migrants welcomed a change in administration. But after two months in office, President Biden has given a clear message to people arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border: “don’t come.” Still, thousands of people, including an increasing number of unaccompanied children, are making the trek and forcing Biden to face his first big immigration test.

Guest: Adolfo Flores, national security for immigration correspondent at Buzzfeed.

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One Month Without Water Mar 23, 2021

Residents of Jackson, Mississippi, were left without water for weeks after a deep freeze hit the south, bursting pipes and forcing people to rely on bottled or collected rain water. But even though the water is back on, Jackson’s next water crisis might not be so far off.

Guest: Nick Judin is a reporter at the Mississippi Free Press.

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Why Don’t We Know More About the Atlanta Victims? Mar 22, 2021

On March 16, a white gunman killed eight people - six of them Asian-American women - during shootings at three different spas in Georgia. The shooter claims he was driven by a “sex addiction,” but his actions fall into a complicated legacy where race, sex, and the fetishization of Asian women all intersect. That legacy is now in full view as the nation grapples with this latest tragedy and a rise in anti-Asian violence. .

Guest: Lisa Hagen is a reporter for WABE in Atlanta and the co-host of No Compromise, a podcast about a grassroots movement for gun rights.

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TBD | Hate, Lies, and AI Mar 19, 2021

Facebook’s failure to contain the spread of dangerous misinformation is no secret. For years, the company has pledged publicly to fix the problem. But in the wake of the Capitol riots, it’s clear that there’s more work to be done. So, why isn’t the social media giant using its powerful AI to contain hate and lies?

Guest:

Karen Hao, senior AI reporter at MIT Technology Review

Host

Lizzie O’Leary

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Why Cuomo Won’t Resign Mar 18, 2021

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo faces calls to resign over accusations of sexual harassment and allowing a toxic workplace culture to persist. But to the people who know him best, it’s unlikely the governor will ever bow to those demands.

Guests: Jimmy Vielkind, Wall Street Journal reporter covering New York politics & government.

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Our Year: Emergency Mode Can’t Last Forever Mar 17, 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed crucial gaps in the public health system, including the government’s inability to gather data quickly and accurately. After a year of lockdowns and isolation, a return to life resembling normalcy is in sight, but how will we know when we get there?

Guests: Alexis Madrigal, co-founder of The COVID Tracking Project, and staff writer at The Atlantic.

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Our Year: 1 Out of 530,000 Mar 16, 2021

When it comes to the past year, we’ve all lost something -- or someone. Time with friends and family. A job. A loved one. But when we think about the 530,000 people in the U.S. who died because of COVID-19, the magnitude makes it hard to see the individuals. Today, we remember one loss, out of many.

Guests: Alicia Montgomery, executive producer of podcasts at Slate, and her cousin, Yvonne Tilghman.

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Our Year: Who's “Essential” Now? Mar 15, 2021

When the coronavirus pandemic shut down cities across the U.S. and forced many people to work from home, others deemed “essential” still had to show up for their jobs. A year later, the gap between the need for essential workers and the way they’re treated is all too apparent.

Guests: Henry Grabar, staff writer at Slate.

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TBD | Does Google Actually Want to Hire Black Engineers? Mar 12, 2021

Back in 2014, Google released in-depth diversity data for its workforce for the first time. 1.1 percent of its tech team identified as Black. Six years later, after millions of dollars spent and a much-hyped partnership program with historically Black colleges and universities across the country, that number is up to 2.4 percent.

How did such a promising effort yield such incremental change?

Guest: Nitasha Tiku, tech culture reporter at the Washington Post

Host

Lizzie O’Leary

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The Fight to Reopen Schools in Memphis Mar 11, 2021

Why did schools stay closed for so long in Memphis? And why weren’t parents clamoring for them to reopen? To answer those questions, you have to tell a longer story about the relationship between a majority-Black, Democratically-controlled city and a largely white, Republican-controlled state.

Guest: Laura Faith Kebede, reporter for Chalkbeat Tennessee.

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White, Republican, and Vaccine Skeptical Mar 10, 2021

Nearly a third of republican voters say they’re not interested in getting a COVID-19 vaccine. What does that mean for the spread of the virus?

Guest: Dan Diamond, national health reporter for the Washington Post.

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Who Gets to Work on Capitol Hill? Mar 09, 2021

The 117th U.S. Congress is the most diverse ever. But that distinction does not extend to senior staff on the Hill. How does the makeup of Congressional staff influence legislation?

Guest: Maya King, author of Politico’s Recast newsletter on how race and identity shape politics, policy, and power.

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Derek Chauvin on Trial Mar 08, 2021

George Floyd’s death at the hands of Minneapolis police last year sparked an international protest movement and amplified calls for police accountability. Now, as the former police officer Derek Chauvin goes on trial, Minneapolis is preparing for another public reckoning.

Guest: Jon Collins, senior reporter for Minnesota Public Radio.

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TBD | The Failing Lifeline for Low-Income Americans Mar 05, 2021

The federal Lifeline program was intended to bridge the gap between Americans who could comfortably pay for phone and internet service, and those who couldn’t. But in the midst of the pandemic, Lifeline is falling woefully short.

How did a program meant to help connect low-income Americans with phone and internet service ended up making them second-class digital citizens at the worst possible moment?

Guest:

Tony Romm, senior tech policy reporter at the Washington Post, author of

“How the Federal Lifeline Program Failed Amid the Coronavirus Pandemic”

Host

Lizzie O’Leary

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Good Luck Voting in Georgia Next Election Mar 04, 2021

After Joe Biden’s surprising win in Georgia, Republicans in the state started in on legislation to limit voting access in the state. Their efforts mirror what’s happening in state houses across the country. Is there any way to slow down these efforts to limit access to the ballot?

Guest: Ari Berman, writer for Mother Jones and the author of Give Us the Ballot: The Modern Struggle for Voting Rights in America.

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A National Wave of Anti-Trans Bills Mar 03, 2021

As legislative sessions begin across the country, a rash of anti-trans bills have been brought to the floor by Republican legislators. Many of the proposals target trans youth -- both in sports, and access to medical care. If any of these bills become law, what will it mean for trans rights across the country?

Guest: Kate Sosin, Reporter for the 19th

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Biden’s First Foreign Policy Test Mar 02, 2021

President Joe Biden has said he wants to focus his foreign policy on rebuilding international alliances and standing up to China and Russia. But just five weeks into the new administration, the Middle East has already started to demand Biden’s attention.

Guest: Josh Keating, senior editor at Slate.

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Texans Can't Catch a Break Mar 01, 2021

The power’s back on in Texas, but many residents are still struggling to clean up after a disastrous winter storm. The cold snap knocked out electricity for several days and froze water lines. Some Texans are still without water; others are bailing out flooded homes. But this storm was just the latest in a series of catastrophes to hit Texas in the past several years, leaving the state’s most vulnerable residents in ever more precarious positions.

Guest: Amal Ahmed, reporter at the Texas Observer.

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TBD | Australia’s Kinda-Sorta Win Over Big Tech Feb 26, 2021

Over the last year, the Australian government has been waging a quiet war against Facebook and Google. Through a new law, it plans to force the big tech companies to pay news outlets in exchange for linking to their sites.

Will this new law have the intended effect? Or will it set a dangerous precedent that cedes even more power over to the tech giants?

Guest:

JR Hennessy, editor at Business Insider Australia

Host

Lizzie O’Leary

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A Biden Pick in Trouble Feb 25, 2021

After years of policy work in Washington, Neera Tanden is more than qualified to serve as Biden’s Director of the Office of Management and Budget. But her open scorn for conservatives and progressives alike, often expressed through aggressive Twitter barbs, has made her confirmation the most tenuous of the new president’s picks.

Guest: Jim Newell, Slate’s senior politics writer.

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The Marines’ Sexual Assault Problem Feb 24, 2021

The U.S. military has long had a sexual assault problem. And the Marine Corps - the final service branch to gender-integrate - is no exception. Though multiple scandals have rocked the Marines, continued abuses make it clear that deeper changes are needed to make all service people safe.

Guest: Erin Kirk-Cuomo, founder of #NotInMyMarineCorps.

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Should Student Debt Be Canceled? Feb 23, 2021

Democrats are divided over student debt forgiveness. President Joe Biden is trying to get $10,000-per-borrower canceled, while more progressive members of the party want $50,000 wiped out. So whom would these proposals help? And what can be done to keep the student debt crisis from happening all over again?

Guest: Jordan Weissmann, Slate's senior business and economics correspondent.

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Will Andrew Cuomo Say Sorry? Feb 22, 2021

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has attracted national praise for his buck-stops-here leadership throughout the pandemic. But he's made some major missteps in his coronavirus response - the lack of transparency around COVID-related deaths in nursing homes is only the latest example. And his efforts to evade scrutiny have drawn fire from critics and constituents.

Guest: Jimmy Vielkind, reporter for the Wall Street Journal covering New York politics and government.

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TBD | Why Texas Went Dark Feb 19, 2021

Over the last week, millions of Texans have been forced to live without power or heat. At least 16 have died since Monday. In a state that’s no stranger to extreme weather and high power demand, how did it all go so wrong?

Guest:

Josh Rhodes, research associate at the Webber Energy Group at the University of Texas at Austin

Host

Lizzie O’Leary

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What Rush Limbaugh Left Behind Feb 18, 2021

Rush Limbaugh’s radio show provided a roadmap that the Republican Party has been following, more or less faithfully, for decades.

Guest: Nicole Hemmer, author of Messengers of the Right and co-host of This Day in Esoteric Political History.

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A Year of Anti-Asian Violence Feb 17, 2021

In the year since the pandemic began, the number of attacks against Asian Americans has skyrocketed. The most recent wave of assaults left a number of victims injured and one man dead. Many Asian American activists say the attacks reflect a pattern of violence “as old as America itself.”

Guest: Kim Tran, an anti-oppression consultant and the author of the forthcoming book, The End of Allyship: A New Era of Solidarity.

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When the Vaccine Skeptic Is Your Dad Feb 16, 2021

Gustavo Arellano’s father is what he would call a ‘pandejo’ - someone who doesn't take COVID safety seriously. Since the beginning of the pandemic, Gustavo has been fighting the uphill battle to dissuade him of his skepticism. And two weeks ago, his father finally got vaccinated.

We all know a ‘pandejo.’ What can we learn from Gustavo’s relationship with his father?

Guest: Gustavo Arellano, columnist for the LA Times

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TBD | How Clubhouse Cracked China’s Firewall Feb 12, 2021

For most of the last year, Clubhouse—the audio-only social media app—has been dominated by conversations about business, branding, and Elon Musk. But as users picked up the app around the globe, something extraordinary happened.

Censors in mainland China overlooked it. And for two weeks in February, it hosted a series of unusual, unfiltered conversations. Han Chinese, Hong Kongers, Taiwanese, and Uighurs all flooded to the app to speak freely about authoritarianism, democracy, and propaganda.

Here’s what happened when the censors looked the other way.

Guest:

Melissa Chan, journalist with the Global Reporting Centre

Host

Lizzie O’Leary

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The Fight to Unionize an Amazon Warehouse Feb 11, 2021

On Tuesday, workers in an Amazon warehouse in Bessemer, Alabama started voting on whether or not to form a union. Amazon has been fighting the vote on multiple fronts. A “yes” vote could possibly spark unionization drives in warehouses all across the country.

Guests: Jay Greene, tech reporter for the Washington Post

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The Most Powerful Man in Washington? Feb 10, 2021

As soon as the Democrats won a slim 50-50 majority in the senate, the jokes about President Joe Manchin started flying. The Senate's self described “conservative Democrat” from West Virginia is in a key position to influence legislation during the Biden administration. How will he wield that power?

Guests: Jim Newell, senior politics reporter for Slate

Ken Ward Jr., co-founder of Mountain State Spotlight and distinguished reporting fellow for Pro-Publica

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Trump on Trial — Again Feb 09, 2021

After the insurrection at the nation's capitol on January 6th, the House of Representatives impeached Donald Trump for a second time. The only article charges him with high crimes and misdemeanors for inciting a riot. There's no shortage of evidence backing up that claim, but the politics make it an open question if the senate will convict.

Guest: Dahlia Lithwick, host of Slate’s Amicus podcast

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Philly’s Vaccine Distribution Mess Feb 08, 2021

The COVID-19 vaccine roll-out has been a mess across the country, but the failure has been particularly egregious in Philadelphia. The city entrusted a large part of its vaccine distribution to a start-up company run by a 22-year-old with zero medical experience. It wound up with a shuttered clinic and stolen vaccine doses.

Guest: Nina Feldman, health reporter for WHYY.

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TBD | India Turns Off the Internet Feb 05, 2021

Last week, in response to protests by farmers outside New Delhi, India, the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi restricted access to the mobile web in areas where the protests were unfolding. The move is the latest in the Indian government’s long history of throttling internet access and censoring speech online.

Why is the Modi government increasingly shutting down the internet and stifling digital dissent? And what does the party’s history of internet shutdowns tell us about India’s future?

Guest:

Pranav Dixit, correspondent for Buzzfeed News

Host

Lizzie O’Leary

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A Sexist Recession Feb 04, 2021

The pandemic has hit many of us in different ways. But women in particular find themselves at the intersection of multiple crises. Across the economy, jobs in female-dominated industries are disappearing. Inside the home, moms are often shouldering the brunt of the extra childcare burden that comes with school closures.

How are women getting by right now? And will the setbacks they’re experiencing be permanent?

Guest: Jess Calarco, professor of sociology at Indiana University.

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Where Are the Checks? Feb 03, 2021

This week, Senate Republicans offered President Biden a stimulus deal one-third the size of the administration’s plan. With a compromise looking less likely, Democrats might have to resort to reconciliation to get it passed - a process fraught with headaches.

Guest: Jordan Weissmann, Slate’s senior business and economics correspondent.

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The Marjorie Taylor Greene Problem Feb 02, 2021

Dubbed “the QAnon candidate,” Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene has her Republican colleagues doing some major handwringing. But does her presence on Capitol Hill actually represent a war within the GOP or more of a polite disagreement?

Guest: Greg Bluestein, political reporter at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution

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Why is Everyone Mad at Gavin Newsom? Feb 01, 2021

Thousands of people are signing a petition to recall California Governor Gavin Newsom. The Democrat was praised for his response to the coronavirus at the beginning of the pandemic, but he has started to lose his constituents’ trust. Now, it could take just one big endorsement to end his term.

Guest: Angela Hart, correspondent at California Healthline.

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TBD | Inside the Subreddit That Blew Up GameStop Jan 29, 2021

The story of how GameStop went from the verge of a bankruptcy to a $15 billion market value isn’t an easy one to wrap your head around. But it helps to go back to the beginning; almost three years ago, in a subreddit called r/wallstreetbets.

Guests:

Brandon Kochkodin, reporter at Bloomberg

Host

Lizzie O’Leary

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COVID’s Lasting Toll on Kids Jan 28, 2021

Back in March, nobody knew how long kids would be learning from home and isolating from their peers. Now, with some kids returning to schools after 10 months away, one school counselor says getting kids back into physical classrooms is just the start to healing from the massive toll the pandemic has had on their mental health.

Guest: Jan Desmarais-Morse, school counselor in Goshen, Indiana.

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A Republican With an Actual Climate Plan Jan 27, 2021

Republicans used to lead the way on environmental legislation. Are they about to come back around on the urgency of climate change?

Guest: Carlos Curbelo, former Republican congressman from Florida.

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The Biden-McConnell Relationship Jan 26, 2021

There’s a lot riding on the working relationship of President Joe Biden and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. They are bonded by their service in the U.S. Senate, their ideological flexibility, and their respect for norms -- unless those norms stand in the way of their ambitions.

Guest: Alex Thompson, White House reporter for Politico.

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Did the Media Fail the Trump Years? Jan 25, 2021

Back in 2015, Farai Chideya was a senior writer covering politics at FiveThirtyEight. Her time there was instructive in understanding how the media failed to take Trump’s presidential candidacy seriously. Now that she has her own show, she’s speaking up about how journalists -- and the news outlets that employ them -- could better serve the public.

Guest: Farai Chideya, host of Our Body Politic.

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TBD | Why the Vaccine Websites Suck Jan 22, 2021

Most people thought developing the vaccine in record time would be the hard part. That, or shipping millions of doses at subzero temperatures to every corner of the country. But nobody--or, almost nobody--guessed that the biggest barrier between U.S. citizens and vaccination would be … online scheduling.

What went wrong with the vaccine websites? And what will it take to get them right?

Guests:

Raphael Lee, director of USDR’s Health Program

Hana Schank, director of Strategy for Public Interest Technology at New America

Jessica Allen

Host

Lizzie O’Leary

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What Biden Can Get Done Jan 21, 2021

At his inauguration, President Joe Biden argued that “unity is the path forward.” But it’s still an open question whether he’ll be able to get anything done.

Guest: Jim Newell, Slate’s senior politics writer.

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What It Will Take to Remake America Great Jan 20, 2021

A new presidential administration begins today. In pivotal moments like this, it’s hard to know what to say. But eight years ago, Richard Blanco was called upon to say something anyway - in front of a million people at Barack Obama’s second inauguration. And eight years later, he has some thoughts about the crossroads we’re at now.

Guest: Richard Blanco, author of How to Love a Country and the Inaugural Poet for Barack Obama’s 2012 Inauguration.

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Congressman Tim Ryan is Pissed Jan 19, 2021

Almost two weeks after the siege on the Capitol, Rep. Tim Ryan still has questions about why Congress was left with such meager defenses. How is Congress dealing with the fallout from the attack? And with one day left before Joe Biden’s inauguration, is the nation’s capital safe?

Guest: Congressman Tim Ryan (D-OH 13).

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TBD | Where the Far Right Is Meeting Now Jan 15, 2021

After Facebook and Twitter banned thousands of accounts in the wake of the Capitol riots, fringe groups are flocking to platforms like Signal and Telegram. With the inauguration just days away, and government officials warning of violence, QAnon believers and Stop the Steal protesters are now communicating in encrypted spaces. What, if anything, is being planned?

Guest:

Will Sommer, politics reporter at the Daily Beast

Host

Lizzie O’Leary

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Don’t Forget Georgia Jan 14, 2021

After the storming of the Capitol, Democrats’ victories in Georgia’s runoff Senate races sort of got lost in the shuffle. But Georgia going blue for the first time in nearly two decades is a big deal. And the state's Democratic activists say the moment is still worth recognizing.

Guest: Tiffany Roberts, civil rights attorney at the Southern Center for Human Rights, Cliff Albright, co-founder of Black Voters Matter, and Renee Montgomery, activist and player on the Atlanta Dream.

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Working Through L.A.’s COVID Nightmare Jan 13, 2021

The coronavirus crisis has risen to new levels in California. Even as vaccines get distributed, hospitals are maxing out their ICU capacity, and sick people in ambulances wait outside for a bed to open up. Amidst the nightmare, one first responder explains how he’s making it through.

Guest: Dr. Clayton Kazan, an emergency physician in Torrance, CA, and the medical director at the L.A. County Fire Department.

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The Best Way to Punish Trump Jan 12, 2021

With just over a week left in the Trump presidency, Congressional Democrats are asking Vice President Mike Pence to invoke the 25th Amendment and strip President Trump of his power. Is that the right way to hold the president accountable?

Guest: Brian Kalt, law professor at Michigan State University. His latest book is Unable: The Law, Politics, and Limits of Section 4 of the Twenty-Fifth Amendment.

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He Saw the Storm Coming Jan 11, 2021

In 2009, Department of Homeland Security official, Daryl Johnson, warned the government that right-wing extremists were building power. After his report leaked to conservative media outlets, the agency sidelined Johnson and his investigations. In the meantime, right-wing extremists have only grown their ranks.

Guest: Daryl Johnson, former senior analyst for domestic terrorism at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

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TBD | Deplatforming the President Jan 08, 2021

This week, in the wake of violent protests at the Capitol, the social media platforms took unprecedented steps to rein in the president. Facebook banned his account at least through Inauguration Day. Twitter removed tweets and locked his account for 12 hours. Will these measures really make a difference? And how is it that two CEOs came to have so much power over the president’s reach?

Guest:

Danielle Citron, professor at UVA Law School and vice president of the Cyber Civil Rights Initiative

Host

Lizzie O’Leary

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Inside the Capitol Under Siege Jan 07, 2021

On Wednesday, as Democrats celebrated wins in Georgia that gave them control of the Senate and as U.S. lawmakers convened to certify Joe Biden’s election win, President Trump addressed supporters gathered outside the White House. He told them to walk to the Capitol and tell Republicans to “take back our country.”

Two Slate correspondents were there -- one walking with the violent mob as it stormed the Capitol, and another in the building as it went on lockdown.

Guests: Aymann Ismail, staff writer for Slate, and Jim Newell, Slate’s senior politics writer.

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One Last Absurd Attempt to Overturn the Election Jan 06, 2021

Today, Congress will meet in a joint session to confirm Joe Biden’s election as the 46th president of the United States. Even though the process is ceremonial, some Republicans are using it as a last-ditch effort to vindicate President Trump and burnish their own Trumpist bona fides.

Guest: Jim Newell, Slate’s senior politics reporter.

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The Vaccine Rollout Hits Some Bumps Jan 05, 2021

So far, the vaccine roll out in the United States has been underwhelming. States are scrambling to get doses out to patients before they expire. We won’t be behind schedule on vaccine distribution forever, but to make matters worse, a more infectious variant of COVID-19 has increased the urgency.

Guest: Apoorva Mandavilli is a health and science reporter with the New York Times.

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All Eyes on Georgia Jan 04, 2021

On Tuesday, Georgia voters will decide which party holds the majority in the United States senate. Activists like Nse Ufot have been criss crossing the state trying to rally new voters to the polls. Will this flurry of activity flip Georgia blue again?

Guest: Nse Ufot, CEO of the New Georgia Project

Cleve Wootson, National Political Reporter for the Washington Post

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Larry Kramer Wouldn't Be Quiet Dec 31, 2020

Larry Kramer always made sure you heard him loud and clear. He was a playwright, a novelist, but he was perhaps best known for his work as an AIDS activist. In the 1980s and 1990s, Kramer sought to wake up the world to the plague that was killing millions of people through provocative demonstrations, fiery essays, and righteous anger. A world class troublemaker, Kramer died last week leaving a body of work that could serve as a lesson for this moment in American history.

Guest: Mark Harris, a journalist and writer at New York Magazine.

For a closer look at the history of ACT UP check out: United in Anger: A History of ACT UP.

This episode originally aired June 2020.

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Remembering RBG Dec 30, 2020

On Friday, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg passed away at the age of 87. Her work as a lawyer and a judge forever changed how women are viewed under United States law. As the nation mourns, her absence sparks a fight in the senate about who is going to choose the next Supreme Court Justice.

Guest: Dahlia Lithwick, host of Slate’s Amicus podcast.

This episode originally aired September, 2020.

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Grief, Comedy, and COVID Dec 29, 2020

Over the summer, comedian Laurie Kilmartin took to Twitter to joke about something that wasn’t funny: Her mom was dying. JoAnn Kilmartin, Laurie’s mother, had contracted the coronavirus in her nursing home and was on her deathbed only a few miles from Laurie’s home in southern California.

Guest: Laurie Kilmartin, comedian and author of Dead People Suck: A Guide for Survivors of the Newly Departed.

We’re re-running some of our favorite episodes from the past year. This episode originally aired in June, 2020.

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Teaching Is Hell Right Now Dec 28, 2020

Hybrid learning is a massive educational experiment playing out in schools across the country. No two classrooms are alike. We took a look at one teacher’s experience.

Guest: Christopher Pinto, a high school math and statistics teacher outside Houston, Texas.

This episode originally aired in September, 2020.

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A History of Violent Protest Dec 24, 2020

The images are familiar now. The police in their face shields, armed with batons and cans of pepper spray. The protestors, sporting bruises, pouring milk on each others’ faces. What happened in the spring might make you feel uncomfortable and angry. Kellie Carter-Jackson says: that’s the point. And she says that a nice, peaceful protest may not accomplish the structural change America needs.

Guest: Kellie Carter-Jackson, PhD, a professor at Wellesley College and the author of Force & Freedom: Black Abolitionists the Politics of Violence.

This episode originally aired in June, 2020.

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He Saw the Coronavirus Coming Dec 23, 2020

The coronavirus that gave rise to our present pandemic started in China as a bat virus that eventually made contact with humans. Researchers say this leap between species was highly predictable – so why were communities and governments caught flat-footed?

Guest: Peter Daszak, president of EcoHealth Alliance.

This episode originally aired in March, 2020.

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Finally, a Deal Dec 22, 2020

Congress has agreed on another stimulus package, but to do so both Republicans and Democrats had to give up on high-priority demands. Why did this bill take so long, and why isn’t anyone all that excited about it?

Guest: Jordan Weissmann, Slate's senior business and economics correspondent

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Could the U.S. Have Stopped Russia’s Hack? Dec 21, 2020

The United States is contending with a computer hack unprecedented in scope, and it could take months or even years to understand exactly what happened. But the hack has roots in vulnerabilities understood since the beginning of the internet, so why and how did this happen?

Guest: Fred Kaplan, Slate’s "War Stories" columnist

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A Republican in Georgia on the Party's Civil War Dec 18, 2020

Since the presidential election, local Republicans in states that Joe Biden flipped blue have been arguing about what went wrong. The difference in Georgia is, the election isn’t totally over - and the upcoming runoff election will decide which party controls the Senate.

So with all eyes on Georgia, why do the state's Republicans seem just as intent on tearing into each other as holding onto their seats?

Guest: Rusty Paul, Mayor of Sandy Springs, Georgia.

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What Is ICE After Trump? Dec 17, 2020

Immigration and Customs Enforcement played an outsized role in manifesting Trump’s hard-line immigration policies. How might ICE change under Biden?

Guest: Hamed Aleaziz, immigration reporter at BuzzFeed News.

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Florida’s Fight for COVID Data Dec 16, 2020

All year, we’ve seen how COVID-19 surges can persuade state officials to take the pandemic seriously. But the resistance in Florida is something special: There, Governor Ron DeSantis has been particularly opposed to sharing case data or imposing measures to minimize viral spread.

Guest: Mary Ellen Klas, reporter for the Miami Herald.

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TBD | Was This Google Ethicist Fired for Doing Her Job? Dec 15, 2020

Recently, one of the world’s leading AI ethics researchers, Timnit Gebru, left Google. Google says she resigned. Timnit says she was fired. In the days since, Timnit’s departure has turned into a public relations crisis for the search giant, prompting its CEO to issue a public apology.

What happened behind the scenes at Google that led to Timnit’s dismissal?

Guest: Timnit Gebru, AI ethics researcher, and the co-founder of Black in AI.

Host

Lizzie O’Leary

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Who Gets the Vaccine First? Dec 14, 2020

After months of anticipation, the first FDA-authorized coronavirus vaccine has begun distribution. But even with an effective vaccine in hand, big questions remain. How are vaccines being distributed? And with so many lives on the line, who gets it first?

Guest: Sarah Owermohle, reporter for Politico and the Prescription Pulse newsletter.

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TBD | Everybody Sues Facebook Dec 11, 2020

This week, the FTC and more than 40 state attorneys general brought antitrust lawsuits against Facebook. And they’re not pulling their punches. They are calling for Facebook to spin off Instagram and WhatsApp into independent companies. In other words, breakup.

The lawsuits represent some of the most significant antitrust action in the United States in the last 40 years. Will they get results?

Guest:

Tony Romm, tech policy reporter at the Washington Post

Host

Lizzie O’Leary

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What if the U.S. Just Didn’t? Dec 10, 2020

As Joe Biden assembles his cabinet, he has an opportunity to remake America’s image on the global stage. What if the US was seen as a cooperative partner rather than a big-footed global leader?

Guest: Peter Beinart, contributing opinion writer to the New York Times and editor-at-large for Jewish Currents.

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What Does the Teachers Union Want? Dec 09, 2020

Teachers unions are catching flack for obstructing a return to in-person school. The president of the American Federation of Teachers, Randi Weingarten, says teachers want to be in school. The question still is, can it be done safely?

Guest: Randi Weingarten, President of the American Federation of Teachers.

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How Cherokee Nation Is Beating Back COVID Dec 08, 2020

As COVID ravages the American plains, the Cherokee nation stands alone – an example of how government might work to contain the virus. The tribe long ago gave up waiting for the federal government to come through on its promise of fully-funded health care, and invested in state-of-the-art healthcare infrastructure, just in time. But as winter sets in, Chief Chuck Hoskin, Jr. worries his community can’t remain an island forever.

Guest: Chuck Hoskin, Jr. is the Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation.

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The NFL vs. COVID-19 Dec 07, 2020

Since the beginning of the pandemic, the NFL has asserted that they would continue with their regular season this fall. They’ve kept their word. They’ve also had significant outbreaks -- and the virus keeps interrupting the season. What explains the NFL’s determination to white-knuckle it through the year?

Guest: Bomani Jones, host of The Right Time with Bomani Jones podcast, from ESPN.

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TBD | How Hackers Hold Schools for Ransom Dec 04, 2020

Ransomware attacks--when hackers break into digital systems, encrypt files, and demand payment to unlock them, isn’t new. But 2020 has seen an explosion in the frequency of these hacks, which are often targeted at schools and hospitals. Who is behind this recent spate of attacks? And is there anything schools and hospitals can do to protect themselves?

Guests:

Jessica Beyer, teacher at Baltimore County Public Schools

Dave Uberti, cyber security reporter at the Wall Street Journal

Host

Lizzie O’Leary

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Making a Vaccine Go Viral Dec 03, 2020

In the last month, multiple drug companies have announced highly effective vaccines for the coronavirus. But getting everyone vaccinated will be a challenge - not just logistically, but also from a PR standpoint. With distribution on the horizon, how can we build vaccine trust?

Guest: Heidi Larson, director of the Vaccine Confidence Project and author of Stuck: How Vaccine Rumors Start -- and Why They Don't Go Away.

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Biden’s Window of Opportunity With Iran Dec 02, 2020

The assasination of a top Iranian nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh has made a difficult situation even harder for the incoming Biden administration. Re-entering the Iran nuclear agreement was already going to be an uphill battle. Now, as tensions mount, only a big swing might save the day.

Guest: Trita Parsi, co-founder and Executive Vice president of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft and author of Losing an Enemy & Treacherous Alliance.

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Can Janet Yellen Save the Economy? Dec 01, 2020

Janet Yellen’s is a name most Americans will recognize, even if they’re not quite sure why. She’s the former chair of the Federal Reserve and the former chair of the Council of Economic Advisers, and now, she’s been nominated to serve as Joe Biden’s Treasury Secretary.

If confirmed, Yellen will assume her new role during one of the greatest economic crises in a century. How would she guide Biden through the storm?

Guest: Jordan Weissman, Slate’s senior business and economics correspondent.

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A Contract Tracer on Her Overwhelming Job Nov 30, 2020

North Dakota has the highest COVID-19 case rate in the country. As infections spiked, contact tracers struggled to keep up. Eventually, their bosses told them to stop trying.

Guest: Kailee Leingang, a nursing student and contact tracer in Grand Forks, North Dakota.

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A Small Business Finds Opportunity In Crisis Nov 25, 2020

A Hyde Park store owner supported his neighborhood through a pandemic this spring. The favor was returned during a summer of protests. But this winter will be tough.

Guest: Eric Williams, owner of The Silver Room.

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Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Danielle Hewitt, and Elena Schwartz, with help from Frannie Kelley.

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A House Democrat Reflects on Her Defeat Nov 24, 2020

The 2020 election has a lot of Democrats asking: What happened? As it turns out, it’s a question one outgoing member of Congress has been asking herself, too.

Guest: U.S. Representative Donna Shalala, Democrat from Florida.

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Georgia Runoffs Put Each Party to the Test Nov 23, 2020

The last bout of the fight for the U.S. Senate runs through Georgia. And this time, no one has any reason to pull punches.

Guest: Greg Bluestein, reporter for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

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TBD | Inside Biden’s COVID Team Nov 20, 2020

When Joe Biden takes office in two months, the federal government will take on a new stance in its fight to contain the coronavirus. The broad strokes of that strategy have been outlined in debates and on campaign websites, but now the real work begins.

Two weeks ago, the president-elect appointed a team of 13 advisers to answer some key questions. How can the new government win the trust of the 73 million Americans who voted for Donald Trump? What would a national mask mandate look like? How will the different vaccines be distributed?

A member of President-elect Biden’s COVID-19 council takes us behind the scenes.

Guest: Celine Gounder, member of the Joe Biden’s COVID-19 Advisory Board, and host of the American Diagnosis and Epidemic podcasts.

Host

Lizzie O’Leary

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The Perils of Prosecuting Trump Nov 19, 2020

There are two basic camps of thought when it comes to upholding the norms and laws that the Trump administration has broken. On the one hand: How will these norms and laws ever be respected again, if President Trump and the people around him are not investigated, and possibly charged, for any abuses? One the other hand: Could additional investigations into Trump tear the country apart?

Guest: Dahlia Lithwick, host of the Amicus podcast.

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What Biden Learned From the Last Crash Nov 18, 2020

Joe Biden and his chief of staff have negotiated a massive fiscal stimulus package before. How should the incoming administration regard the 2009 Recovery Act -- as a blueprint, or a cautionary tale?

Guest: Mike Grunwald, senior writer for Politico Magazine and author of The New New Deal: The Hidden Story of Change in the Obama Era.

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El Paso’s COVID Spike Didn’t Have To Happen Nov 17, 2020

Bob Moore has covered all kinds of crises as a journalist in El Paso, Texas. But the COVID-19 surge is enough to make him crack. There’s a time for dispassionate journalism. This isn’t it.

Guest: Bob Moore, founder of El Paso Matters.

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Worst. Transition. Ever. Nov 16, 2020

In the summer of 2020, a group of people tried to imagine the most likely outcomes of the presidential election. They nailed it. But what may come next is harder to fathom.

Guest: Rosa Brooks, co-founder of the Transition Integrity Project.

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TBD | How Tough Will Biden Really Be on Big Tech? Nov 13, 2020

When Barack Obama first won the White House, back in 2008, with Joe Biden as his vice president, the executive branch’s stance towards tech and tech companies was seen as cooperative, progressive, and forward-thinking. This time around, the tech giants can expect a very different relationship.

Will Biden be the president to finally rein in big tech?

Guest: Cecilia Kang, technology reporter at The New York Times

Host

Lizzie O’Leary

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Not All of the Polls Were Wrong Nov 12, 2020

In the lead-up to the 2020 election, Iowa polls had Biden and Trump running neck and neck to win the state’s 6 electoral votes. However, one poll in late October showed that Trump had taken a seven-point lead over Biden. Many political observers and Democrats dismissed it as an outlier, insisting that Iowa was up for grabs. On election night? Trump won Iowa by just over eight points.

How did Ann Selzer see this coming? And what does the “Outlier Queen” have to say about the state of her industry?

Guest: Ann Selzer, public opinion pollster and President of Selzer and Company.

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Republicans’ Down Ballot Power Grab Nov 11, 2020

Even though the 2020 presidential race has been called for Joe Biden, President Trump is still baselessly asserting that he is the true winner. His accusations of voter fraud may give republican held legislatures all the ammo they need to further infringe on voting rights.

Guest: Ari Berman, senior writer for Mother Jones

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How Democrats Took Latino Voters for Granted Nov 10, 2020

Some early exit polls showed Joe Biden winning a strong majority of Latino voters but if you look closely there’s a more complicated story. In some key areas, Biden and Democrats more broadly underperformed with Latino voters compared to Hillary Clinton in 2016. How did the Biden campaign miss the mark?

Guest: Chuck Rocha, head of Nuestro PAC.

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Biden Won. What Now? Nov 09, 2020

On Saturday, the US presidential race was called for Joe Biden, making Donald Trump a one-term president. However, the outcome of the down ballot races may spell trouble for an incoming Biden administration.

Guest: Jordan Weissmann, Slate’s Senior Business and Economics Correspondent

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TBD | How the Gig Economy Won in California Nov 06, 2020

Companies like Uber, Lyft, and DoorDash have always argued that their workers are independent contractors, not employees. This distinction has been crucial in their rise from startups to multi-billion-dollar companies.

On Tuesday, Californians sided with these companies by approving Prop 22, a ballot measure that enshrines workers’ non-employee status. Why did progressive Californians side with Big Tech? And will the rest of the country follow California’s lead?

Guest: Sam Harnett, Tech and Labor reporter at KQED

Host

Lizzie O’Leary

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What We Know So Far Nov 05, 2020

There’s still a lot that’s unclear about one of the most contentious elections in recent history. Here’s what we do know: that many pollsters overestimated the depth of Biden support. That Trump held onto the white working class more than many pundits predicted. And that if Biden does become our next president, he’ll likely have to make good on his promise to be the great compromiser.

Guest: Will Saletan, Slate’s national correspondent.

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And Now We Wait Nov 04, 2020

We still don’t have a winner for the 2020 presidential election. It’s all coming down to states where vote-counting is happening slowly, amid a flurry of lawsuits.

Guest: Jim Newell, Slate’s senior politics writer.

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First-Timers: An NBA Player's First Time Voting Nov 03, 2020

Larry Nance Jr. is an NBA player for the Cleveland Cavaliers. He’s also a first-time voter. After the NBA players’ ranks exploded with activism this summer, Nance and his teammates realized that they could change their states, themselves. They were the political activists they had been waiting for.

Guest: Larry Nance Jr., player for the Cleveland Cavaliers.

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First-Timers: A True Independent Voter Nov 03, 2020

Jeffrey Yaw lives in the Fingerlakes region of upstate New York. He’s a recent convert to Catholicism who attended the March for Life back in January. He’s anti-abortion but pro-Medicare for All and has very little faith in the two-party system. So, with his first presidential ballot ever, he’s voting for a third-party candidate, but that doesn’t mean he’s given up on democracy.

Guest: Jeffrey Yaw, a student at SUNY Geneseo and a first-time voter.

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A Giant Test for Election Law Nov 02, 2020

With just one day to go and several hundred lawsuits around the election still swirling about, which legal cases are raising major red flags? And how could they impact not just the 2020 election, but elections going forward?

Guest: Rick Hasen, an election law expert at UC–Irvine and the author of Election Meltdown: Dirty Tricks, Distrust, and the Threat to American Democracy.

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TBD | The Fight Against Election Day Falsehoods Oct 30, 2020

The 2016 general election changed the way we think about information online and its power to sway results. Four years later, Americans will vote amid a surge of misinformation, collected and distorted to fit political narratives.

What can people and platforms do to protect the truth in this most consequential election?

Guests:

Renee DiResta, Research manager at the Stanford Internet Observatory

Justin Hendrix, founder of Tech Policy Press

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Our Pandemic Winter Oct 29, 2020

There’s actually good news about this virus. Unfortunately, that doesn’t mean you’re safe.

Guest: Ed Yong, staff writer for The Atlantic.

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Still Fighting for Breonna Taylor Oct 28, 2020

Attica Scott is the only black woman in Kentucky’s state legislature. It turns out, that doesn’t make advocating for Breonna Taylor much easier.

Guest: Kentucky state Representative Attica Scott.

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Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, Danielle Hewitt, and Elena Schwartz.

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First-Timers: A New Citizen Votes Oct 27, 2020

Rafa Lombardino wasn’t planning on becoming a citizen. Originally from Brazil, Rafa has spent nearly two decades in America content with her green card. After Trump's election in 2016, though, she watched increasingly draconian immigration policies go into effect. And this year, she finally set out to make her voice heard.

Guest: Rafa Lombardino, first-time voter, translator, and co-host of Translation Confessional.

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What Happens to the Pro-Choice Movement Now? Oct 26, 2020

The pro-choice movement is in the wilderness. For activists serving women on the margins, that’s been clear for years.

Guest: Laurie Bertram Roberts, executive director of the Yellowhammer Fund.

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TBD | A Historic Case Against Google Oct 23, 2020

It’s been 22 years since the federal government last brought a meaningful legal challenge to a big tech company. Back then, when the Justice Department sued Microsoft, the outcome changed the direction of the company for years to come. Now, the Department of Justice is coming for Google. Can the search giant resist this challenge to its role as the gatekeeper of the internet?

Guest: Tony Romm, technology reporter at the Washington Post

Host

Lizzie O’Leary

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Is an Upset Brewing in Iowa? Oct 22, 2020

Iowa is home to less than 1% of the U.S. population. So why is this year’s Senate race the 2nd most expensive in U.S. history? Democrats hope to use all that cash to unseat a Republican star in a state that President Trump won handily in 2016.

Guest: Andrew Batt, senior producer at Iowa PBS

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It’s Still Worth Panicking About the Election Oct 21, 2020

With less than two weeks to go until Election Day, maybe you’re feeling a little uneasy. Jim Newell says, despite Biden’s consistent lead in the polls, you should still totally be sweating it.

Guest: Jim Newell, Slate’s senior politics writer.

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First-Timers: Out of Prison and Finally Able to Vote Oct 20, 2020

Winning November’s presidential election will likely mean turning out a whole host of people who have never voted before. In our new series, First-Timers, we speak with voters from around the country and across the political spectrum to ask them what’s bringing them to the ballot box for the first time.

Guest: Dewayne Comer, a formerly incarcerated first-time voter from Syracuse, New York.

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Conflict Over COVID Restrictions in Orthodox Brooklyn Oct 19, 2020

A spike in COVID cases this fall led to new restrictions in several parts of New York. Many of these locations were home to Orthodox Jewish communities which were hard hit early on in the pandemic.

Feeling singled out by these new rules, Orthodox communities across the city rebelled and began protesting by burning masks and flouting social distancing guidelines. That anger has given rise to a new political figure whose openly squaring off with the mayor, the governor, and the media.

Guest: Jacob Kornbluh, national reporter at Jewish Insider.

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TBD | Facebook Flips on Holocaust Denial Oct 16, 2020

Two years ago, Mark Zuckerberg held up Holocaust denial as an example of the type of speech that would be protected on Facebook. The company wouldn’t take down content simply because it was incorrect. This week, Facebook reversed that stance. Is this decision the first step toward a new way of policing speech on the social network?

Guest: Evelyn Douek, Lecturer at Harvard Law School and affiliate at the Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society

Host

Lizzie O’Leary

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A Former Coronavirus Task Force Member Speaks Oct 15, 2020

Olivia Troye spent nearly two years in Trump’s White House. In that time, she sat in on meetings about natural disasters, border security - and the coronavirus task force.

In July, she announced she had resigned. The White House says she was fired. One way or another, she’s speaking out about what she saw, why she stayed, and what ultimately pushed her out the door.

Guest: Olivia Troye, former Homeland Security, Counterterrorism, and Coronavirus Task Force advisor to Vice President Mike Pence.

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Democrats, Take The Stimulus Deal Already Oct 14, 2020

The White House, Senate Republicans and the House Democrats are all on completely separate pages about another coronavirus relief package. With the election just three weeks away, is now the best time to strike a deal? And what would it look like?

Guest: Jordan Weissmann, Slate senior economic and business correspondent.

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Kelly Loeffler Picked the Wrong Fight Oct 13, 2020

Earlier this summer, Senator Kelly Loeffler leaned into a war of words with the WNBA. She may have underestimated her opponents.

Guest: Amira Rose Davis, assistant professor at Penn State and cohost of the Burn It All Down podcast.

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TBD | What Landlords Have on You Oct 09, 2020

Over the last decade, born from the chaos of the 2008 financial crisis, automated tenant screening has grown into a billion-dollar industry. Now, nine out of 10 landlords rely on automated tenant-screening reports, scraped from eviction history, criminal background records, and terror watchlists, to decide if they can trust potential renters. The problem? Often, the reports contain major errors, mistaken identities, and criminal records that are supposed to be expunged. Can these reports really be trusted?

Guest: Lauren Kirchner, investigative reporter at The Markup

Original reporting with Matthew Goldstein, reporter at The New York Times

Host

Celeste Headlee

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The Fight Over Voting Access in Texas Oct 08, 2020

Who will be able to cast a vote in Texas? And will Texans be able to figure that out before election day -- or after?

Guest: Emma Platoff, justice and politics reporter for the Texas Tribune.

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How Much Is Mike Pence to Blame? Oct 07, 2020

If Vice President Mike Pence does agree to show up at the debate on Wednesday in Salt Lake City, he’ll have plenty to answer for -- in particular, why the White House’s coronavirus task force wasn’t able to do more to fight the pandemic here in the U.S.

Guest: Dan Diamond, reporter for Politico and author of the Politico Pulse newsletter.

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Scandal and COVID Strike a Tight Senate Race Oct 06, 2020

We have a sitting senator with a COVID-19 positive test. We have his opponent, admitting to an extramarital affair. And we have a surge in mail-in ballots, even as absentee rules change before voters’ eyes.

Guest: Michael Bitzer, professor of politics and history at Catawba College.

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The Superspreader In Chief Oct 05, 2020

The president has tested positive for COVID. Does he realize what that means for the rest of us?

Guest: Slate’s Will Saletan, author of Bearing Right.

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TBD | The Attack on Florida’s Latino Voters Oct 02, 2020

Since the beginning of the pandemic, Spanish-speaking voters in Florida have been exposed to a steady uptick in falsities and conspiracy theories. This misinformation is shared in WhatsApp groups, Facebook groups, and YouTube channels, then amplified by enormously popular local radio stations. Now there are signs that the flood of misinformation is having an effect. Groups that voted Democrat in 2016 seem to be leaning to the right.

Will this onslaught of misinformation tilt the Latino vote in Florida? And if so, what does that mean for Florida’s 29 electoral votes?

Guest: Eduardo Gamarra, professor of politics and international relations at Florida International University.

Host

Celeste Headlee

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This Devastating School Year Oct 01, 2020

There have been instances in the past when kids did not go to school for long periods of time. The history and research show that it’s devastating for kids. Will this period of remote learning have lasting effects on the most vulnerable students?

Guest: Alec MacGillis, reporter at ProPublica. Read his story The Students Left Behind By Remote Learning in the New Yorker.

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The Bottom Line on Trump’s Taxes Sep 30, 2020

Donald Trump has spent the last four years refusing to release his tax returns. When the New York Times published 20 years worth of them, it revealed a possible reason why. The president’s balance sheet listed huge losses, which he used to dramatically cut down what he owed in taxes.

Were these the dealings of a savvy businessman, or an unscrupulous swindler? And what does it mean for the election to have a candidate who still has a stake in their business and an alarming amount of debt?

Guest: Andrea Bernstein, co-host of the Trump, Inc. podcast and the author of “American Oligarchs: the Kushners, the Trumps and the Marriage of Money and Power.”

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Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, Danielle Hewitt, and Elena Schwartz.

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The Most Important Question in Tonight's Debate Sep 29, 2020

When you settle in to watch the Presidential debate tonight, maybe you’ll be listening to hear how Trump talks about the New York Times story regarding his tax returns. Maybe you’ll want to hear what Joe Biden has to say about the Supreme Court.

But Rick Hasen, an election law expert at UC-Irvine, says he’ll be listening for something else: how the two candidates talk about the integrity of this election.

Guest: Rick Hasen, an election law expert at UC-Irvine and the author of “Election Meltdown: Dirty Tricks, Distrust, and the Threat to American Democracy.”

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Who Is Amy Coney Barrett? Sep 28, 2020

Over the weekend, President Trump announced that Amy Coney Barrett would be his pick to replace Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the Supreme Court. What can we glean from her biography and past rulings about what kind of Justice she would be?

Guest: Mark Joseph Stern, covers the courts and the law for Slate.

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TBD | A Vaccine Won’t Be the End Sep 25, 2020

As of Sept. 24, there are 42 vaccines in clinical trials on humans. At least 92 others are being developed but have not yet gone to trial. For months, the world has tracked the progression of these vaccines closely, with the expectation that once one arrives on the market, we can finally start to go back to normal. But, is that true? Does the world really look much different with an effective vaccine?

Guest: Dr. Paul Offit, professor of pediatrics at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

Host

Celeste Headlee

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Could Lindsey Graham Really Lose? Sep 24, 2020

As Lindsey Graham gears up to push the President Trump's nominee through to the Supreme Court, he’s fighting another battle back home in South Carolina -- for his senate seat. The polls have him neck and neck with Democrat Jaime Harrison, but will deep red South Carolina really go blue?

Guest: Megan Kinnard, national political report for Associated Press

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Democrats Can Still Play Hardball Sep 23, 2020

Senate Republicans are almost certainly going to fill Justice Ginsburg’s vacant Supreme Court seat ahead of the election. It may look like Democrats are backed into a corner but they have ways to check a SCOTUS supermajority.

Guest: Jamelle Bouie, New York Times opinion columnist

We want to know how you are preparing for the election. Leave us a voicemail at 202-888-2588. We might use your message on the show.

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When Everything Around You Is Burning Sep 22, 2020

Megan Brown’s family has worked their land in Northern California for 170 years. Fire was always a normal part of the ecosystem but Megan says, in recent years, “it’s become a monster.”

Guest: Megan Brown, rancher from Northern California

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Remembering RBG Sep 21, 2020

On Friday, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg passed away at the age of 87. Her work as a lawyer and a judge forever changed how women are viewed under United States law. As the nation mourns, her absence sparks a fight in the senate about who is going to choose the next Supreme Court Justice.

Guest: Dahlia Lithwick, host of Slate’s Amicus podcast.

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TBD | Did the Internet Doom a Pregnancy? Sep 18, 2020

For pregnant women in the U.S., there are plenty of reasons to mistrust the medical establishment. Mortality rates are high compared to other western countries, and one-third of women in the U.S. give birth by C-section. It’s no wonder that many women turn to the internet for alternatives.

This week, the story of one woman who was drawn into a network of private Facebook groups dedicated to the idea of ‘freebirth,’ or unassisted birth. And what happens when the misinformation shared in these private groups has real-life consequences.

Guest: Brandy Zadrozny, reporter for NBC News. You can read her reporting on ‘freebirth’ here.

This episode originally aired in March 2020

Host

Lizzie O’Leary

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Are Democrats Blowing It With Latino Voters? Sep 17, 2020

Democratic operatives who specialize in Latino voter outreach are sounding the alarm: The Biden campaign assumes Latino support at its own peril.

Guest: Chuck Rocha, head of Nuestro PAC.

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Teaching Is Hell Right Now Sep 16, 2020

Hybrid learning is a massive educational experiment playing out in schools across the country. No two classrooms are alike. We took a look at one teacher’s experience.

Guest: Christopher Pinto, a high school math and statistics teacher at the Lamar Consolidated Independent School District outside Houston, Texas.

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What Ever Happened to More Stimulus? Sep 15, 2020

This is what coronavirus purgatory looks like: Our present economic doldrums are brutal for service workers and tolerable for white-collar workers. Congress is deadlocked over a second coronavirus relief bill. And the market is performing as if help is on the way.

Guest: Jordan Weissmann, Slate’s senior business and economics correspondent.

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Another Whistleblower Comes Forward Sep 14, 2020

A new whistleblower complaint alleges that the Trump administration is trying to manipulate national security agencies for political ends. With two months to go until the presidential election, what can Congress do to respond?

Guest: Shane Harris, reporter at the Washington Post.

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TBD | The Great Climate Migration Begins Sep 11, 2020

As the planet warms in the coming decades, many parts of the planet that millions now call home will become uninhabitable. At first, people in these areas will move to the cities, then across international borders. This mass migration is already underway in the hottest parts of the world, and it is likely to accelerate in coming years.

Just how many people will be forced to move? And where will they go?

Guest: Abrahm Lustgarten, senior reporter at ProPublica

Host

Celeste Headlee

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This Fire Season Is Different Sep 10, 2020

The American West is undergoing one of the most extreme fire seasons on record. With megafires creating apocalyptic scenes across large swaths of California, Oregon, and Washington, and a pandemic still in full effect, how are residents and firefighters responding? Are wildfires like the ones seen these past few weeks an anomaly? Or is a burning horizon something people out West will have to learn to live with?

Guest: Julie Cart, reports about climate change and environmental issues for CalMatters.

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Can We Trust the Polls This Time? Sep 09, 2020

For months after Donald Trump’s 2016 victory, pundits labored over how the polls, and the reports surrounding them, had badly misjudged and mischaracterized the election. Since then, pollsters have made significant changes in hopes of painting a more accurate picture of the 2020 race.

How much trust should voters put in the numbers this time? And what does the data say about Joe Biden’s perceived lead in the 2020 presidential race?

Guest: Jim Newell, Slate’s senior politics writer

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A Post Office Insider On What We're Getting Wrong Sep 08, 2020

John Nolan worked at the United States Postal Service for a total of 24 years. He retired in 2005. The last couple of months have been a frustrating time for someone with intimate knowledge of the institution. What are we getting wrong about the Postal Service?

Guest: John Nolan, former Deputy Postmaster General

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TBD | The Limits of Filming Police Brutality Sep 04, 2020

In the wake of the killing of Michael Brown in 2014, and the national protests that followed, many believed that video shared on social media, along with footage from body cameras, would reshape the relationship between police and citizens. Six years later, one thing is clear: It didn’t work. Can viral videos really hold power to account?

And why do we so often put our faith in technological solutions to solve societal problems?

Guests:

Bijan Stephen, reporter at the Verge

Ethan Zuckerman, former director, the Center for Civic Media, MIT

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Trump's Legal Troubles Are Just Getting Started Sep 03, 2020

President Donald Trump’s business dealings have been shrouded in secrecy, but new legal scrutiny on the Trump Organization might turn up some answers about how the president makes and keeps his money.

Guest: David Fahrenthold, Washington Post reporter covering the Trump family and its business interests.

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Will “Law and Order” Save Trump? Sep 02, 2020

Nine weeks out from the presidential election, the Trump campaign is trying to make the election about “law and order.” Is that a winning strategy when the violence they’re pointing to is happening under Trump’s watch?

Guest: Will Saletan, Slate’s national correspondent

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A Democratic Mud-Fight in Massachusetts Sep 01, 2020

The Democratic primary for a Massachusetts Senate seat is becoming a test of progressive bona fides and the strength of the Kennedy family name. So perhaps it’s not surprising to learn that, when it comes to their voting records, the two candidates are extremely similar.

Guest: Victoria McGrane, political correspondent for the Boston Globe.

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Seven Days of Unrest in Kenosha Aug 31, 2020

One week ago, a police officer in Kenosha, Wisconsin shot Jacob Blake in the back seven times, paralyzing him from the waist down. In the immediate aftermath, citizens of Kenosha took to the streets in protest. Those protests later turned into more tragedy when 17-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse shot three protestors, killing two. How is the city of Kenosha handling the turmoil?

Guest: Gina Barton, investigative reporter for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and host of the Unsolved podcast

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TBD | QAnon Goes Mainstream Aug 28, 2020

Not long ago, the QAnon conspiracy theory seemed to have lost momentum. Social media mentions had decreased. 8chan had gone offline. But since March, fueled by the pandemic and social media giants, the conspiracy has taken on new life.

What’s responsible for the rapid uptake of the movement? And now that QAnon has spilled over to the mainstream, how far can it go?

Guest:

Ali Breland, reporter at Mother Jones

Host

Celeste Headlee

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U.S. Foreign Policy Is Officially Incoherent Aug 27, 2020

Last week, the Trump administration used shaky reasoning to pursue additional sanctions against Iran. The proposal was rejected by nearly the entire U.N. Security Council, including close allies like the U.K and France. It was just the latest example of how “America First,” and the rejection of multilateralism under Trump, has turned the U.S. into a loner state on the world stage.

Guest: Fred Kaplan, Slate’s War Stories columnist. Fred is the author of The Bomb: Presidents, Generals, and the Secret History of Nuclear War.

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The Fight for Belarus Aug 26, 2020

For the past two weeks, Belarus has been gripped by political protest. The country’s longtime authoritarian president, Alexander Lukashenko, is courting Russian intervention as a worried European Union looks on.

Guest: Julia Ioffe, GQ correspondent. Read her latest column on Belarus.

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The U.S. Can Fix Its COVID Testing Failures Aug 25, 2020

Getting tested for the coronavirus has never been as easy as it should be in the U.S. We’ve seen equipment shortages, long delays for test results, and even mixed messages about who should be getting tested.

But there is a way to fix America’s inadequate testing. And experts say it could return some normalcy even before we have a reliable vaccine.

Guest: Robinson Meyer, a staff writer at The Atlantic. Read his latest story, The Plan That Could Give Us Our Lives Back.

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Another Crackdown On the Border Aug 24, 2020

The pandemic hasn’t stopped the flow of migrants to the U.S.-Mexico border. But it has prompted an emergency crackdown on asylum seekers, and critics of the Trump administration say the policy is violating U.S. law.

Guest: Adolfo Flores, reporter for BuzzFeed News.

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TBD | What Went Wrong With Contact Tracing Apps Aug 21, 2020

In the early days of the pandemic, countries around the world invested heavily in new technologies that would help track the movement of the virus. Now, six months later, contact tracing apps are all but an afterthought in the fight to contain COVID-19. What happened? The U.K. provides some answers. The country put its faith in technology to contain the virus, and paid the price.

Guest:

Gus Hosein, executive director at Privacy International

Host

Celeste Headlee

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Can NY Take Down the NRA? Aug 20, 2020

New York Attorney General Letitia James surprised many when she announced plans to dissolve the National Rifle Association. James accused the gun lobby, which is headquartered in New York, of mismanaging their finances – claiming top executives “looted” NRA assets. With the organization’s finances in trouble, and the State AG investigating them for financial misconduct, could this be the end of the National Rifle Association?

Guest: Tim Mak, investigative reporter at NPR.

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The QAnon Candidate Aug 19, 2020

Last week in Georgia’s 14th congressional district runoff, a Republican candidate who believes in the dangerous and baseless QAnon conspiracy theory came out on top. Marjorie Taylor Greene is now a shoo-in to win a seat in Congress. How did her candidacy get this far? And what does it mean for the Republican party?

Guest: Greg Bluestein, political reporter at the Atlanta Journal Constitution

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The Battle for Wisconsin's Dairy Farmers Aug 18, 2020

Having the Democratic National Convention in Wisconsin was supposed to be a way for the Democrats to atone for 2016. Hillary Clinton was the first presidential candidate from either party to not campaign in the state since Richard Nixon in 1972.

Wisconsin flipped from blue to red in the last presidential election as rural voters voiced their disaffection with the Democratic Party and supported Donald Trump for president. Now, four years later, the Democrats are hoping they can use Trump’s record in office to win them back.

Guest: Dan Kaufman is Contributing Writer at The New Yorker and author of The Fall of Wisconsin

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Wanted by China Aug 17, 2020

One day last month, Samuel Chu woke up to the news that the Chinese government wanted him in jail. Chu doesn’t think he’s in danger -- he’s a U.S. citizen, living in Los Angeles. So how did he wind up on the wrong side of Chinese authorities? Simple: He’s lobbying Congress to support democracy in Hong Kong.

Guest: Samuel Chu, founder of the Hong Kong Democracy Council.

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TBD | How Google Search Sold Out Aug 14, 2020

In the early days of internet search engines, Google set itself apart by providing a simple service. A list of links, inviting you to explore the websites that best matched your query. It was a portal to the rest of the internet. But over the last two decades, that mission has changed.

Does Google search still take you to the best result for your query? Or does it point users back to its own suite of products?

Guest:

Adrianne Jeffries, investigative journalist at The Markup.

Host

Celeste Headlee

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Kamala: Historic, Safe, and Complicated Aug 13, 2020

Kamala Harris is having an historic moment. What does it mean?

Guest: Jason Johnson, political science professor at Morgan State University.

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Our Pandemic Learning Curve Aug 12, 2020

The pandemic moves quickly. The scientific consensus changes slowly. Did we waste time waiting for data when we could have adopted low-cost safety measures?

Guest: New York Times reporter Apoorva Mandavilli.

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Left Out of the Census Aug 11, 2020

The U.S. Census Bureau has faced setback after setback. And, this year, who makes it into the official population count is going to be a lot more complicated.

Guest: Hansi Lo Wang covers the 2020 Census for NPR.

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What’s Up With the Mail? Aug 10, 2020

This year, the election runs through the Post Office. And we have reasons to be concerned.

Guest: Jordan Weissmann, Slate’s senior business and economics correspondent.

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TBD | How One Block Got Through It Aug 07, 2020

Over the past five months, city blocks have been slipping away. Bars are closed; restaurants are half-empty; retail is shuttered. As the country returns to varying states of lockdown, how long can these blocks hold on?

This week: how one commercial strip on Chicago’s South Side is weathering the pandemic.

Guests:

Nedra Sims Fears, executive director of the Greater Chatham Initiative

Brian d'Antignac, The Woodshop

Jaidah Wilson-Turnbow, Frances Cocktail Lounge

Zoie Reams, Brown Sugar Bakery

Host

Henry Grabar

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Solving the Child Care Crisis Aug 06, 2020

Even before the pandemic child care was a long, simmering crisis. With the fall approaching and school reopenings in flux, many parents are asking themselves the same question: what am I going to do with my kid? America has solved a child care crisis before, the question is whether the country can muster up the energy (and money) to do so again.

Guest: Betsey Stevenson is a Professor of Public Policy and Economics at the University of Michigan.

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A Teacher Weighs Her Options Aug 05, 2020

Schools in Oklahoma are preparing to reopen, but special education teacher Nancy Shively won’t be among the teachers going back to school. Shively, who has pre-existing medical conditions, has been forced to choose between her own health and the education of her students. She says President Trump’s response to the coronavirus has led her to question her support for him and the Republican Party.

Guest: Nancy Shively, a teacher from Skiatook, Oklahoma

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Republicans Are Freaking Out About Kansas Aug 04, 2020

Tuesday’s Kansas Senate primary has Republican party leadership concerned. Polls show that Barbara Bollier, a former Republican turned Democrat, stands a chance in the general election against one of the leading Republicans in the primary, Kris Kobach. So much so in fact that a pro-Democrat super PAC has been running ads in favor of Kobach, hoping to face off against him in November. How would a Kobach win on Tuesday upend the battle for control of the Senate? And what are Republicans doing to stop him?

Guest: Dave Weigel covers politics for the Washington Post.

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The U.S. Takes On TikTok Aug 03, 2020

The past couple of weeks have seen some alarming developments in the U.S.-China relationship. Among them is how the United States plans to deal with the wildly popular Chinese social media app TikTok. The debate over the social giant has reached the White House and discussions of what to do about it have ranged from an outright ban to Microsoft acquiring U.S. operations of the app.

What makes TikTok a threat to national security? And what does this whole episode say about where U.S.-China relations are heading?

Guest: Bethany Allen-Ebrahimian, reporter for Axios and author of the Axios China newsletter.

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TBD | When America Can’t Pay the Rent Jul 31, 2020

For the last four months, federal and state eviction moratoria have kept Americans in their apartments, even if they couldn’t pay rent. Now, with financial relief in question, and moratoria set to expire, the first of the month might look very different for millions of Americans.

Guests:

Emily, a resident of Chicago’s Northwest Side

Mark Durakovic, principal at Kass Management

Peter Hepburn, analyst at Princeton’s Eviction Lab

Host

Henry Grabar

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New York’s Mail-In Ballot Failure Jul 30, 2020

At the height of New York City’s “hot-spot” status during the coronavirus pandemic, Governor Andrew Cuomo made absentee ballots available to a wider array of voters than ever before. But state and federal agencies weren’t remotely ready for the deluge of ballots that would be mailed in.

Guest: Washington Post reporter Jada Yuan.

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The Coronavirus Official Who Quit Jul 29, 2020

Arizona largely avoided the coronavirus when it first reached the U.S., but after a rapid reopening of the state by Governor Doug Ducey, new cases in the state exploded. Arizona now has well over 165,000 COVID cases and more than three thousand deaths. It was briefly the state with the highest coronavirus death rate in the country. Wendy Smith-Reeve left her role as Director of Arizona’s Division for Emergency Management in late March, accusing Governor Ducey of mismanaging the crisis. She says Arizona’s summer surge could have been avoided.

Guest: Wendy Smith-Reeve, former Director of Arizona’s Division for Emergency Management

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How DHS Got This Way Jul 28, 2020

The Department of Homeland Security was built to protect the country from terrorists. But its mission was always expansive. After the bizarre detainments in Portland, we’re seeing a reckoning with what this super-agency does.

Guest: Jonathan Blitzer, staff writer for the New Yorker.

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Senate Republicans Are Stuck Jul 27, 2020

Back in May, when House Democrats were teeing up additional coronavirus relief legislation, the Senate majority made a bet. Republicans waited to see if viral spread would diminish, making additional federal aid unnecessary. Instead, U.S. COVID-19 cases spiked. And economic problems mounted. Now, Senate Republicans are far from a consensus on a relief bill, even as coronavirus-related unemployment benefits run out.

Guest: Jim Newell, Slate’s senior politics writer. Sign up for his excellent newsletter, The Surge.

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TBD | New Orleans Without Music Jul 24, 2020

More than any other U.S. city, New Orleans banks on its culture. From music to restaurants to parades, the city relies on a steady stream of tourists to support its many artists and institutions. In March, those tourists stopped visiting. And without them, the fragile infrastructure of clubs, venues, and performances is starting to collapse. Can New Orleans survive the coronavirus?

Guests:

Patrick Williams, harmonica player

Jesse Paige, owner of the Blue Nile

Asali DeVan Ecclesiastes, Executive Director of the Ashé Cultural Arts Center

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Will There Ever Be Justice For Breonna Taylor? Jul 23, 2020

Twenty-six-year-old Breonna Taylor was shot and killed by a Louisville Metro Police officer in March. Four months later, and in the wake of mass protests against police brutality, her case is still being investigated. What will justice look like for Breonna Taylor?

Guest: Tessa Duvall, reporter for the Courier-Journal

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Inside the NBA Bubble Jul 22, 2020

The NBA has announced an ambitious plan to restart the season more than 4 months after it was abruptly halted due to the coronavirus. 22 teams have entered the COVID-free “bubble” at Disney’s Wide World of Sports in Orlando, Florida — a state with some of the highest cases of coronavirus in the country. As long as players and staff remain in the bubble, they will undergo regular coronavirus tests and face strict campus rules. So what’s life like inside the NBA bubble? And what does this experiment say about who gets access to coronavirus testing and results?

Guest: Ben Golliver covers the NBA for the Washington Post.

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One on One With Dr. Fauci Jul 21, 2020

Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the NIAID and member of the Trump administration’s coronavirus task force, talks about the surge in cases, reopening schools and the White House’s recent attempts to discredit him.

Guest: Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

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What Is Going On in Portland? Jul 20, 2020

This weekend, disturbing video of unmarked federal agents detaining a protestor in Portland circulated on Twitter. Even the state government of Oregon was unable to identify the agents. Now, the state is suing the federal government. Oregon is seeking a restraining order to stop the unlawful detention of its citizens. Why is this happening in Portland?

Guest: Jonathan Levinson, producer for Oregon Public Broadcasting

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TBD | Cities Are Running Out of Money Jul 17, 2020

After months of coronavirus lockdowns, cities are taking stock of their finances. The situation is bleak. With plummeting sales and property tax revenue, American cities of all sizes may be facing a budget crisis. What happens when local governments have to cut their budgets by double-digit percentages? Will the federal government learn from the Great Recession and intervene?

Guests:

Minh Nguyen, owner of Cafe TH in Houston

Chris Brown, Houston City Controller

Mildred Warner, professor of urban planning at Cornell.

Host: Henry Grabar

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The First Federal Execution in 17 Years Jul 16, 2020

In the early hours of Tuesday morning, the Supreme Court authorized the federal government to carry out its first execution in 17 years. Daniel Lee was convicted back in the 1990s of murdering an Arkansas family in a white supremacist plot. Attorney General William Barr pushed for his execution to take place starting last year. Why have federal executions resumed under his administration and what does it mean for the future of the death penalty?

Guest: Mark Joseph Stern, covers the courts and the law for Slate.

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What To Do About the Schools Jul 15, 2020

As fall approaches, the Trump administration is calling for a full reopening of schools. Now, districts across the country are scrambling to figure out if it’s even possible to safely bring students back in the classroom at all.

Guest: Laura Meckler, national education writer for the Washington Post

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Sweden Screwed Up Jul 14, 2020

Swedish officials eschewed sweeping shutdowns when the pandemic hit. Some reasoned that Sweden could still power down if COVID-19 cases spiked. But the spike arrived, along with a high death rate, and still there’s been no policy change.

Guest: Lena Einhorn, author, filmmaker, and former medical researcher.

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John Roberts’ Long Game Jul 13, 2020

The most recent Supreme Court term saw huge progressive wins for DACA recipients, LGBTQ rights and abortion access. However, upon further inspection it’s clear that Chief Justice John Roberts is playing the long game when it comes to conservative issues on the court.

Guest: Dahlia Lithwick, writes about the courts for Slate and hosts the Amicus podcast

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TBD | Is “Covid Flight” a Thing? Jul 10, 2020

Tens of thousands of people leave American cities every year. Normally, they’re replaced by new arrivals seeking jobs, education, and opportunity. But in a world transformed by the coronavirus, what happens if nobody arrives to replace them?

Guests:

Emily Badger, reporter at the New York Times

Natalie Moore, reporter at WBEZ

Amanda Kolson Hurley, editor at Bloomberg Businessweek

Host: Henry Grabar

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Mary Trump’s Truth Jul 09, 2020

It is impossible to write a surprising book about Donald Trump, but you can’t fault people for trying. Mary Trump writes that her uncle lived an “institutionalized” life, but was plainly never loved by his parents. John Bolton writes that the president is incapable of grasping what’s best for the national interest. Both authors reach familiar conclusions with (somewhat juicy) new details. We’ll take it.

Guest: Washington Post reporter Shane Harris.

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How Activists Brought Down a Massive Gas Pipeline Jul 08, 2020

Local activists never expected the Atlantic Coast Pipeline to go bust. Now they’re asking each other: How did that victory happen? And can it be replicated?

Guest: Lyndsey Gilpin, founder and editor-in-chief of Southerly.

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How California Created Its Newest COVID Hotspot Jul 07, 2020

At the end of May, California’s oldest prison, San Quentin, had zero reported cases of COVID-19. Now, the facility has more than 1,300. Guards are falling ill. Some inmates are refusing tests, making it difficult to track the severity of the outbreak. One federal judge says the only way to save lives at this point is for the governor to approve a widespread release of inmates.

Guest: Megan Cassidy, reporter for the San Francisco Chronicle.

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The Economy Still Has the Virus Jul 06, 2020

Republicans have begun embracing masks. It’s a welcome change -- but it’s also an economic indicator.

Guest: Slate’s Jordan Weissmann.

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TBD | What's a City Without the Office? Jul 03, 2020

Since March, white-collar offices in major cities across the United States have stood empty. Now, with growing evidence that the workforce is equally effective at home, companies and designers are starting to rethink the office—what it looks like, what it’s used for, and if it’s really needed at all.

But this wholesale reimagining of office life comes at a cost. How will the severe reduction of commuters transform American cities?

Guests:

John Capobianco, principal at IA Interior Architects

Hannah Hackathorn, principal at Unispace

Ellen Baer, BID president, Hudson Square

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The Godfather of the Anti-Immigration Movement Jul 02, 2020

How did a small-town eye doctor mastermind an anti-immigration movement premised on racism?

Guest: Hassan Ahmad, founder of the HMA Law Firm in Virginia. He is suing the University of Michigan to unseal the complete archives of the late John Tanton.

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This episode originally aired in July 2019.

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The Toxic Combo Behind Colorado’s Police Shootings Jul 01, 2020

Colorado has one of the highest rates of officer involved shootings in the country. After looking at the data, reporters from Colorado Public Radio found that the problem is exacerbated by a complex mix of meth addiction, illegal firearms, and car theft.

Guest: Allison Sherry, Reporter for Colorado Public Radio

This episode originally aired in February 2020.

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Sick for 90 Days and Counting Jun 30, 2020

After a long stretch of travel back in March, Matthew Long-Middle fell suddenly ill. He started to suspect he’d contracted COVID-19. Now, in June, Matthew is still feeling symptoms and has yet to get any clear answers from a physician.

Guest: Matthew Long Middleton, Media Training Manager for KCUR

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What Went Wrong in Texas Jun 29, 2020

Texas is dealing with a surge of COVID-19 cases, just weeks after it had begun reopening its businesses and considering plans to bring school back in the fall. The state’s governor defanged his own orders and invited Texans to reach their own conclusions about the necessity of masks and social distancing.

Guest: Ross Ramsey, executive editor of the Texas Tribune.

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TBD | A Hidden Side of Police Abuse Jun 26, 2020

Responding to protests around the country, the New York City Council passed the POST Act: Public Oversight of Surveillance Technology last week. The bill will require the NYPD to reveal the extent of their surveillance technology deployed within the city. For the first time, New Yorkers will get a clear picture of the technology being employed to watch and trace them. Experts say to expect the worst.

Guest: Ángel S. Díaz, counsel at the Brennan Center for Justice.

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How the NYPD Gets Away With It Jun 25, 2020

It was Halloween night when Eric Umansky’s wife asked him to go see what was happening around the corner from their home. She had just seen an unmarked NYPD patrol car strike a black teenager and officers had pinned another group of black kids against the wall of the local theatre. Eric arrived on the scene just as three of those kids were being arrested – ages 15, 14, and 12.

Eric didn’t intend to step out of his home and into a months long reporting project, but that’s precisely what happened as he began to investigate what happened that Halloween night in Brooklyn. The story he surfaced puts in stark display the system that protestors all over the country are rallying to fix.

Guest: Eric Umansky, Deputy Managing Editor at ProPublica.

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Grief, Comedy, and COVID Jun 24, 2020

Last week, comedian Laurie Kilmartin took to Twitter to talk jokingly about something that wasn’t funny –– her mom was dying. JoAnn Kilmartin, Laurie’s mother, had contracted the coronavirus in her nursing home and was on her deathbed only a few miles from Laurie’s home in southern California. The experience put in striking display her grief and anger, but also her wits and charm.

With the death toll in the United States passing 120,000 people this week, Laurie’s experience is resonating with those who have lost loved ones to the virus.

Guest: Laurie Kilmartin, comedian and author of Dead People Suck: A Guide for Survivors of the Newly Departed.

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Is Bill Barr Winning? Jun 23, 2020

This past weekend, Geoffrey Berman was suddenly removed from his office as the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York. The removal itself began with Barr announcing on Friday night that Berman was resigning. That was a lie. Berman issued his own statement saying as much. This whole confusing two-day episode ultimately came to a close with Berman stepping down after ensuring his successor. So what do the events of this weekend tell us about Bill Barr’s justice department? And what could this mean for cases the SDNY was investigating that reached into Trump’s inner circle?

Guest: Jeremy Stahl, senior editor at Slate.

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TBD | Why Remote Learning Failed Jun 19, 2020

In March, when schools across the country shut down, few people could have guessed that students wouldn’t return until the fall. Schools weren’t equipped to deploy remote-learning curricula, technology was in short supply, and most parents weren’t free to guide their children through lessons during the day.

Three months later, little has changed. And all that time out of the classroom has taken a toll on students. Can they recover in time for the fall?

Guest: Dana Goldstein, national correspondent at the New York Times

Host

Lizzie O’Leary

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The Belated National Embrace of Juneteenth Jun 18, 2020

Companies from Nike to the New York Times have announced that Juneteenth will be a paid day off this year. What does wider observance of the holiday say about the progress we’re making as a country?

Guest: Adam Serwer, staff writer for The Atlantic

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A Politician's Brush with NYPD Abuse Jun 17, 2020

Police reform is not a new cause in New York. The same proposals have been discussed for years. But when people took to the streets in late May, they handed politicians a mandate. This is the story of how the protesters got their first big win.

Guest: Zellnor Myrie, New York state senator serving in Brooklyn.

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A Victory for LGBTQ Americans Jun 16, 2020

On Monday, the conservative Supreme Court extended civil rights protections to transgender and gay Americans. The ruling is not controversial -- supermajorities of polled citizens say discrimination against LGBTQ people should be illegal. But Monday’s decision comes ahead of a flurry of rulings on other closely-watched cases involving the president’s financial records, the DACA program, abortion rights, and more. Does this win for the left clear a path for the court to hand down some bitter pills in the next few weeks?

Guest: Slate’s Mark Joseph Stern.

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Is the Military Turning Its Back on Trump? Jun 15, 2020

In the past couple of weeks, multiple high ranking military members, active and retired, have spoken out against the Trump administration's use of force in Lafayette Square. Usually, military officers prefer to stay silent on political matters. Does this mark a sea change in the way the military deals with President Trump?

Guest: Fred Kaplan, Slate’s War Stories Correspondent and the author of The Bomb.

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TBD | Is This the End of Facial Recognition? Jun 12, 2020

This week, three of the leading developers of facial-recognition technology announced they would stop, or at least pause, selling this technology to police. The decision stems from evidence of racial bias inherent in these tools. For the researchers who first uncovered the deep-seated issues with these tools, it’s a watershed moment. Will facial-recognition technology continue to grow unchecked? Or will this week’s announcements result in lasting change?

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Guest: Deb Raji, technology fellow at the AI Now Institute.

Host

Lizzie O’Leary

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The Antifa Myth Jun 11, 2020

To hear the president tell it, you would think that antifa activists are blanketing the country -- bringing their campaign of vandalism and looting and lawlessness to your town. These fears are sown and circulated through digital whisper networks that can be hard for outsiders to penetrate. But the online rumors are having real-life consequences.

Guest: Brandy Zadrozny, NBC News correspondent. Read her latest.

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A Momentous Vote in Minneapolis Jun 10, 2020

This week, nine members of the Minneapolis City Council announced their intention to dissolve the Minneapolis Police Department. And while this moment may belong to the protesters of Minneapolis, it has just as much to do with the conduct of the city’s police, and how they’ve met even small reforms with utter contempt.

Guest: Steve Fletcher, a member of the Minneapolis City Council.

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Ferguson Revisited: The Worst Night Jun 09, 2020

Looking at the images that have come out over the last few weeks: images of police violence and protest, it’s impossible not to think how similar they are to pictures we saw just a few years back in Ferguson, Missouri. Michael Brown's death at the hands of a police officer sparked protests across the country and cemented the Black Lives Matter movement into the American consciousness. Today on the show, we revisit the worst night of clashes between protestors and police in Ferguson.

This episode originally aired in August 2019 and is part of Ferguson Revisited, a series from What Next looking back at Michael Brown’s death, the protests that followed, and their legacy five years later.

Guest: Joel Anderson, writer at Slate, co-host of Hang Up and Listen, and the host of season 3 of Slow Burn.

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Pandemic & Protest Jun 08, 2020

It is entirely possible to support the protests while feeling intense anxiety that they will result in additional cases of COVID-19.

Guest: Dr. Howard Markel, professor at the University of Michigan School of Public Health, and author of When Germs Travel, among other books.

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TBD | Your Delivery Habit Isn't Helping Jun 05, 2020

In the midst of the pandemic, protests and police lockdowns, restaurants are turning increasingly to delivery apps like DoorDash and Grubhub to stay afloat. But with shady tactics, soaring fees, and deep-seated flaws with the business model of the entire industry, delivery startups may do more harm than good.

Guest: Ranjan Roy, CEO at the Edge Group and writer of Margins newsletter

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Host

Lizzie O’Leary

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Larry Kramer Wouldn't Be Quiet Jun 04, 2020

Larry Kramer always made sure you heard him loud and clear. He was a playwright, a novelist, but he was perhaps best known for his work as an AIDS activist. In the 1980s and 1990s, Kramer sought to wake up the world to the plague that was killing millions of people through provocative demonstrations, fiery essays, and righteous anger. A world class troublemaker, Kramer died last week leaving a body of work that could serve as a lesson for this moment in American history.

Guest: Mark Harris, a journalist and writer at New York Magazine.

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A History of Violent Protest Jun 03, 2020

The images are familiar now. The police in their face shields, armed with batons and cans of pepper spray. The protestors, sporting bruises, pouring milk on each others’ faces. What’s happening right now might make you feel uncomfortable and angry. Kellie Carter-Jackson says: that’s the point. Today on the show, why a nice, peaceful protest may not accomplish the structural change America needs.

Guest: Kellie Carter-Jackson, PhD, a professor at Wellesley College and the author of Force & Freedom: Black Abolitionists the Politics of Violence.

Other books mentioned in this episode: The Deacons of Defense: Armed Resistence and the Civil Rights Movement by Lance Hill. And This Nonviolent Stuff’ll Get You Killed: How Guns Made the Civil Rights Movement Possible by Charles E. Cobb Jr.

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Caught Between COVID and DACA Jun 02, 2020

Supreme Court decision days are when Dalia Larios is most nervous. Now a doctor in residency at a hospital in Boston, she spends her time largely thinking about her work, reading the endless amounts of research being published about COVID-19 and studying how her hospital is responding to the pandemic. But it’s those decision days where she finds herself checking her phone a bit more, adding more tabs to her browser. Dr. Larios is a DACA recipient whose future as a doctor in America currently hangs in the balance at the Supreme Court.

Guest: Dr. Dalia Larios, a doctor doing her residency in Boston.

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Minneapolis Was a Powder Keg Jun 01, 2020

The Minneapolis police lost the faith of their community long before the death of George Floyd. How did things get so bad?

Guest: Jon Collins, reporter for Minnesota Public Radio and host of 74 Seconds.

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TBD | Trump and Twitter Go to War May 29, 2020

On Tuesday, after years of inaction, Twitter fact checked President Trump’s tweets for the first time. Six words were added below the original text, directing readers to outside articles refuting his claims.

Two days later, the president signed an executive order that aims to change the nature of online speech, and the platforms that host it.

Guest: Casey Newton, Silicon Valley editor at the Verge

Host

Lizzie O’Leary

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Are We Headed for a Cold War With China? May 28, 2020

On Wednesday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced that Hong Kong was no longer considered autonomous from China by the US government. Tensions were already high between the two global superpowers but with this new escalation, where do they go from here?

Guest: Joshua Keating, staff writer at Slate

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How the US Can Dodge A Depression May 27, 2020

At 14.7%, US unemployment is at its highest rate since the Great Depression. In the coming months, Washington has a narrow window to avert an even bigger economic disaster.

Guest: Jordan Weissmann, Slate’s senior business and economics correspondent.

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When Coronavirus Came to Navajo Nation May 26, 2020

No one was ready for this coronavirus. But what’s happening on native lands is the result of generations of neglect.

Guest: Wahleah Johns, co-founder of Native Renewables. Read more from Wahleah here. Read about the history of underfunded health care in native communities here.

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TBD | What Is Elon Musk Thinking? May 22, 2020

As the coronavirus shut down manufacturing across California in March and April, Elon Musk only wanted one thing: to start making cars again.

So when local government officials in Alameda County got in his way, Musk took the fight public, and won.

Guest: Kara Swisher, co-host of the Pivot podcast.

Host

Lizzie O’Leary

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A Summer Without Camp May 21, 2020

In a normal year, the next couple of weeks would be when excited campers returned to summer camp. Now, because of the coronavirus, summer camps are having to make tough calls about how and if they’ll open this year.

Guest: Lisa Handelman, camp director at Capital Camps.

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On A Wild Goose Chase for Masks May 20, 2020

The global scarcity of masks has shown us the federal government’s desperate side. Procurement rules have been loosened. Prices have soared. And a shadowy market has emerged where deals fall through all the time -- leaving people without the gear they need to protect themselves and save lives.

Guest: J. David McSwane, reporter for ProPublica.

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Can We Even Trust the Testing Data? May 19, 2020

We closed down the country because we didn’t have enough COVID-19 tests. Now that testing capacity is improving, there’s another problem: figuring out what all this new data means, and who’s reporting accurate figures.

Guest: Robinson Meyer, staff writer at the Atlantic, and part of the team working on the COVID Tracking Project.

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How Much Trouble Is Senator Richard Burr In? May 18, 2020

A lot happened in February for Senator Ricard Burr (R-NC). He told his constituents that the country was “ready to face the coronavirus.” He told a members-only club that they should expect school closures, canceled travel, and overwhelmed hospitals. And he sold a bunch of his stock. Now, Burr is under a federal investigation for possible insider trading.

Guest: Tim Mak, Washington investigative correspondent for NPR.

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TBD | Decoding the Flood of COVID Data May 15, 2020

Every week, it feels like some new piece of coronavirus information dominates the headlines. Mysterious symptoms, changing government directives. This constant trickle of updates can quickly turn into a flood.

How should normal people interpret this deluge of data?

Guest: Emily Oster, professor of economics at Brown University and co-founder of COVID-Explained.

Host

Lizzie O’Leary

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Inside a COVID-19 Vaccine Trial May 14, 2020

All around the world, scientific research has been put on hold to concentrate resources on one thing: a vaccine for COVID-19. The usual red tape that slows down these experiments has been removed. And at a lab in Baltimore, researchers are working around the clock to recruit trial participants, prepare vaccine doses, and study results.

Guest: Dr. Kirsten Lyke, lead investigator on COVID-19 vaccine trials at the University of Maryland’s Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health.

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Will Michael Flynn Get Away With It? May 13, 2020

The criminal case against former Trump adviser Michael Flynn has been full of plot-twists. But the biggest about-face came last week, when the Department of Justice moved to drop the case entirely. Lawyers who had worked on the investigation registered their disgust by refusing to sign the motion. U.S. Attorney General William Barr says he hopes history will look kindly on his decision. Critics say the move undermines any future attempt to hold the Trump administration accountable.

Guest: Dahlia Lithwick, legal correspondent for Slate and host of the podcast Amicus.

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Italy Emerges From Lockdown. Slowly. May 12, 2020

We spoke to Greta Privitera back in mid-March, a few weeks after she and her family isolated themselves at home in northern Italy. Now, with Italy taking baby steps toward normalcy, Greta says she’s enjoying her walks outside, she still worries about another surge in COVID-19 cases. And by the look of things, she's not alone.

Guest: Greta Privitera, a journalist living in Milan. Read her latest dispatch for Slate.

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The Shooting of Ahmaud Arbery May 11, 2020

Ahmaud Arbery was shot dead on a Sunday afternoon in southern Georgia. He had been jogging a few miles from his home. The shooting happened on February 23. It took more than two months for officials to make any arrests. Why?

Guest: Christian Boone, public safety reporter for the AJC.

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TBD | Should You Get an Antibody Test? May 08, 2020

Yesterday, New York City announced that it would provide 140,000 free antibody tests to residents who want to know if they have been exposed to the coronavirus. And New York isn’t alone: large-scale antibody testing is ramping up around the country.

But with faulty tests flooding the market and questions about whether a positive test really confers immunity are antibody tests really worth the bother?

Guests: Shannon Palus, staff writer for Slate, and Dr. Natalie E. Dean, assistant professor of biostatistics at the University of Florida.

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Will the Post Office Go Bust? May 07, 2020

For years, the Postal Service has faced financial turmoil. Now, facing a pandemic, mail volume has dropped off and the question has resurfaced: Can the post office survive? Devin Leonard wrote the book on the Postal Service and says how it got to this latest crisis is more complicated than it seems. With the post master general saying that the service could be financially insolvent by the fall, is this the government’s last chance to right the ship?

Guest: Devin Leonard, writer for Bloomberg and Bloomberg Businessweek. He’s also the author of Neither Snow Nor Rain: A History of the United States Postal Service.

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Orange County vs. Gavin Newsom May 06, 2020

It all started when the weather took a turn for the better. Surfers and beachgoers flocked to Orange County shores, only to find them cordoned off, at the behest of Governor Gavin Newsom. Protestors took to the streets in Huntington Beach, demanding an end to the shutdowns. The demonstrations weren't huge. But, in the world of Republican politics, you ignore Orange County at your own peril.

Guest: Gustavo Arellano, writer at the Los Angeles Times and host of L.A. Times podcast Coronavirus in California. He’s also the author of Orange County: A Personal History.

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A Biden Accuser on the Latest Biden Allegation May 05, 2020

Last spring, Lucy Flores wrote in The Cut that Joe Biden invaded her personal space and sniffed her hair at a campaign event in 2014. She says Biden never reached out to her after she went public. Now, as Joe Biden faces even more serious allegations from a former staffer, what action does Lucy expect from the former Vice President?

Guest: Lucy Flores, Former Nevada Assemblywoman and CEO Luz Collective.

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How Extremists Capitalized on the Pandemic May 04, 2020

As the coronavirus continues to leave people sick and out of work, alone and under stress, there’s one particular group of people taking special notice, extremists. It's not just the virus that is spreading. Extreme and violent rhetoric is too.

Guest: Hannah Allam, covers extremism for NPR.

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Introducing: Code Switch May 02, 2020

Today we're introducing you to one of our favorite podcasts, Code Switch!

Hosted by Gene Demby and Shereen Marisol Meraji, Code Switch offers some of the best stories and conversations about race you'll find anywhere.

On today's bonus episode you'll hear a fascinating story about what happened when Puerto Ricans were asked for the first time on their census form: "What is your race?"

The answer reveals a lot about the island's relationship with the US and, of course, our identities.

Don't forget to subscribe to Code Switch wherever you listen to podcasts.

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TBD | How the Crisis Could Embolden Big Tech May 01, 2020

This week, the world’s largest tech companies posted their quarterly earnings. And—unlike most other companies in the world—things aren’t looking so bad. With the global economy reeling, and people sheltering indoors, the tech giants have an opportunity to reshape the way we live. Don’t expect them to wait on the sidelines.

Guest: Elizabeth Dwoskin, Silicon Valley correspondent at the Washington Post

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The Basketball Coach Who Won’t Hire Men Apr 30, 2020

This episode originally aired June 2019.

Notre Dame basketball coach Muffet McGraw wasn’t planning on making a speech about feminism and gender equality. But at a press conference before the Final Four tournament, that’s just what she did, launching into a screed about the dearth of women in government, politics, corporate C-suites, and sports. “We don’t have enough female role models,” McGraw said. “Men run the world!” The viral moment was a lifetime in the making.

Guest: Muffet McGraw, head coach of the Notre Dame women’s basketball team.

Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, and Ethan Brooks.

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What Seattle Got Right Apr 29, 2020

When the first known case of coronavirus in the United States was detected in a suburb of Seattle, the region quickly became the epicenter of the pandemic in the country. Now, almost two months later, Seattle has suffered only 500 COVID-19 deaths while New York has over 22,000. What choices led to such disparate outcomes?

Guest: Charles Duhigg, Host of Slate’s How To Podcast

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A Small Business Owner's Dilemma Apr 28, 2020

Georgia has confirmed more than 24,000 cases of COVID-19 and tallied close to 1,000 deaths from the disease. However, Governor Brian Kemp is still allowing a number of the state’s businesses to reopen this week, citing an increased capacity for testing and hospitalizations. Employers, for their part, have been left in a lurch. How do small business owners reopen? Should they? And, if an owner chooses to remain shuttered, can it count on the government for help?

Guest: Christopher Escobar, owner of the Plaza Theatre in Atlanta.

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We’re Gonna Need a Bigger Stimulus Apr 27, 2020

With 26 million Americans filing for unemployment in the last five weeks, it’s obvious that the economy is still broken. However, Congress hasn’t been sitting on its heels—trillions of dollars of aid have been approved with billions more signed into law this week. The problem? It just hasn’t been enough. Now, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office forecasts unemployment could reach 16 percent later this year. So, what else can Congress do to resuscitate the economy?

Guest: Jordan Weissmann, Slate’s senior business and economics correspondent.

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TBD | Can We Really Make a Safe Vaccine in 18 Months? Apr 24, 2020

There are over 60 vaccines for the coronavirus currently in development. Four of them are already being tested in humans. As researchers move at breakneck speed to find a vaccine, they’re debating breaking (or at least bending) the rules that ensure the end product is safe.

How do we balance speed with safety in the rush to develop a vaccine?

Guest: Dr. Timothy Lahey, an infectious diseases doctor, ethicist, and vaccine researcher at the University of Vermont Medical Center.

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What Happened on the Cruise Ships Apr 23, 2020

In the early days of the coronavirus pandemic, cruises were the poster-child of viral spread. For the world’s largest cruise company, Carnival Cruise Line, the problems began in February and quickly escalated, as more passengers and crew fell ill, and Carnival struggled to dock its cruise liners. As ships went from floating cities to floating quarantines, what did the bosses know, and when did they know it?

Guest: Austin Carr, reporter for Bloomberg Businessweek. Read his story.

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How Sioux Falls Became a Hot Spot Apr 22, 2020

More than 700 cases of COVID-19 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota can be traced back to the city’s Smithfield pork packaging plant. Weeks before the coronavirus outbreak was confirmed, employees were asking for protective measures that didn’t materialize until it was too late. And Smithfield isn’t unique: Meatpacking facilities across the country are also struggling to minimize the spread of the virus.

Guest: Kooper Caraway, president of the Sioux Falls AFL-CIO.

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Democrats’ Plan to Win the Senate Apr 21, 2020

No one thought 2020 was going to be a boring election year. Several key Senate seats are in play, presenting Democrats with a real shot at winning back the chamber. However, with an unstable economy and a critical phase of the campaign cycle going virtual, candidates are facing new challenges.

Guest: Jim Newell, Slate’s senior politics writer

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Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, Danielle Hewitt, and Mara Silvers.

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What’s Happening in Florida’s Nursing Homes? Apr 20, 2020

Ever since COVID-19 surfaced in Florida, local journalists began wondering how the virus was going to impact nursing home residents and employees. For weeks the facilities and the state's health department were reluctant to release data on the more than 600 assisted care centers. On Saturday, Governor Ron DeSantis finally released a list of nursing homes with confirmed cases, but only after pressure from news outlets and the public.

Guest: Mary Ellen Klas, capital bureau chief for the Miami Herald.

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Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, Danielle Hewitt, and Mara Silvers.

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TBD | Can the U.S. Really Track the Coronavirus? Apr 17, 2020

Before the U.S. can start opening back up, states will need to put systems in place for “contact tracing,” or meticulous tracking of the disease within communities. South Korea’s extensive tracing program has all but eliminated the spread of the virus within its borders. What will it take for the U.S. to do the same?

Guests: Raphael Rashid, a freelance journalist, and Dr. Mike Reid, professor at University of California, San Francisco

Host

Henry Grabar

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What Will Summer Be Like? Apr 16, 2020

The summer is going to be marked by the slow process of learning to live with coronavirus looming. The United States is going to have to rethink what “normal” means.

Guest: Ed Yong, Science writer for The Atlantic

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20 Years of Failing to Prepare Apr 15, 2020

Back in January, the Trump administration was caught flat footed in its response to the coronavirus pandemic. Politico’s Dan Diamond took a look back at the past 20 years of pandemic preparedness in the United States and found that former administrations weren’t exactly proactive either.

Guest: Dan Diamond, Health Reporter for POLITICO

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Where’s My Check? Apr 14, 2020

Washington is still struggling to put the U.S. economy on ice while we wait out the coronavirus. Maybe you’re expecting your government check this week. Maybe you’re a small business owner looking for a loan. Is help on the way? And, if not, what’s the hold-up?

Guest: Jordan Weissmann, Slate’s senior business and economics correspondent.

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What America's Biggest Nursing Union Wants Apr 13, 2020

At hospitals throughout the country another fight is beginning to spill into the public eye. This one between hospital administrators and their workers who have been put in harm's way. As nurses push for better working conditions, COVID-19 is laying bare a tension that has existed in hospitals and the health care system for many, many years.

Guest: Zenei Cortez, RN at Kaiser Permanente South San Francisco Medical Center and co-president of National Nurses United

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TBD | The Limits of Coronavirus Predictions Apr 10, 2020

As governments around the world try to predict the toll and duration of the coronavirus, they’re turning increasingly to a handful of forecasting models for answers. But many of the leading models differ drastically in their approach and methods. What do we need to know about these forecasts? And what are their limitations?

Guest: Jordan Ellenberg, mathematics professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Host: Lizzie O’Leary

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Seasick: How the Coronavirus Upended the Navy Apr 09, 2020

The Navy prides itself on being ready for just about anything. Sailors are even trained to fight fires, if need be. But when the coronavirus started rapidly spreading aboard the USS Roosevelt in early March, the ship’s captain sent out an SOS. Instead of a calm and collected response, the Navy’s top leadership imploded.

Guest: Adam Weinstein, national security editor at The New Republic.

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Why COVID-19 Hits Black America Hardest Apr 08, 2020

By now, Americans are getting used to the patterns of the coronavirus. It largely preys on the elderly and people with certain underlying health conditions. But as cities and towns start compiling the racial data of COVID-19 patients, new trends are making public health officials sound another alarm. Black people are getting sick and dying at shocking rates—and the virus is only part of the reason why.

Guest: Akilah Johnson, narrative healthcare reporter at ProPublica

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The Fight Over Wisconsin’s Election Apr 07, 2020

Concerns over the coronavirus outbreak are colliding with partisan trench warfare in Wisconsin. Voters are stuck in the crosshairs.

Guest: Mark Joseph Stern, Slate’s courts and law correspondent.

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Where Social Distancing Is Impossible Apr 06, 2020

Rikers Island was not built to slow a pandemic. Buildings are decrepit, and the churn of guards and new inmates makes infectious diseases incredibly hard to contain. Over the past several weeks, Rikers has released more than 600 inmates in an attempt to lessen the public health threat posed by a Covid-19 outbreak in the jail complex. But it’s not clear that will be enough.

Guest: Rachael Bedard, senior director of geriatrics and complex care services at New York City’s jail complex on Rikers Island.

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TBD | Risking Your Life for $8.71 Apr 03, 2020

This week, workers at Amazon, Whole Foods, and Instacart have announced mass strikes across the country. Though demand for these services is high, pay and protection is low.

What exactly do we owe to the delivery workers at the front lines of the pandemic? And with these companies hiring in record numbers, can the strikes succeed?

Guests: Heidi Carrico, founding member of the Gig Workers Collective, and Johana Bhuiyan, tech accountability reporter at the Los Angeles Times.

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Jerry Falwell Jr. vs. the Coronavirus Apr 02, 2020

“Politically incorrect since 1971.” That’s the unofficial motto of Liberty University, an evangelical college located in Lynchburg, Virginia headed by Jerry Falwell Jr. The school and its president take pride in bucking conventional wisdom, so when Jerry Falwell Jr. began to downplay concerns over COVID-19, echoing the rhetoric of the White House in early March, students and staff took notice. Ruth Graham says institutions like this one, institutions that take their cues from the president, have been a beat behind when it comes to responding to our current public health crisis.

Guest: Ruth Graham, staff writer at Slate.

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Should You Be Wearing a Mask? Apr 01, 2020

The CDC could soon be changing its guidelines on whether the American public should be wearing masks to combat the spread of COVID-19. What does the data say about mask usage? And how do we calculate the answer for ourselves?

Guest: Aaron E. Carroll, professor of pediatrics at Indiana University School of Medicine. He blogs at a website called The Incidental Economist. He’ll also answer your coronavirus questions on YouTube. His channel is Healthcare Triage.

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“It’s Every Man for Himself” Mar 31, 2020

As COVID-19 cases continue to mount across the country, many states are still preparing for the virus to hit their populations with full force. In Florida, state officials have voiced concerns about shutting down the economy, while local officials have noted surging hospitalizations in their cities. Now, some mayors are no longer waiting for the governor to order a lockdown.

Guest: Jane Castor, Mayor of Tampa, Florida.

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What New York City Did Wrong Mar 30, 2020

Just a few weeks ago, officials were saying the coronavirus outbreak posed a relatively low risk for people living in New York City. How did health experts and government officials misread the threat so completely? And what can the rest of the country learn from what’s happening in New York now?

Guest: Elizabeth Kim, senior editor for Gothamist and WNYC.

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TBD | Where Are All the Tests? Mar 27, 2020

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The United States failed to roll out widespread testing in the early days of the pandemic. Now it faces critical shortages of supplies as it scrambles to track the disease around the country.

Until testing is available at scale, Americans won’t be able to return to their normal lives. So: what will it take to solve the country’s testing shortage?

Guest: Robert P. Baird, contributor to the New Yorker

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When Your Doctor Gets COVID-19 Mar 26, 2020

What happens when the people on the frontlines get sick? An ER doctor shares her experience with coronavirus as doctor and patient.

Guest: Dara Kass, Emergency medicine physician at New York-Presbyterian Hospital and Columbia University Medical Center

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Does 1918 Even Apply Here? Mar 25, 2020

There’s plenty to be learned from past pandemics. They tend to follow a dramatic arc: denial, blame, and mass mobilization. So far, the coronavirus tracks with some contagions of the past—but can history tell anything about where we’re headed?

Guest: David S. Jones, professor of the culture of medicine at Harvard University.

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How to Hold an Election During a Pandemic Mar 24, 2020

As the COVID-19 pandemic worsens, the United States might have to figure out how to hold an election in a time of social distancing. Will local, state and federal officials be able coordinate in time to transform our election infrastructure?

Guest: Nate Persily, Stanford University Law Professor

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Can Congress Save the Economy? Mar 23, 2020

To understand where the country is right now in battling this pandemic you have to confront some pretty grim statistics. Roughly one in three Americans are under some kind of orders to stay at home. The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases surpassed 33,000. And a nearly $2 trillion dollar coronavirus rescue package is hanging in the Senate’s balance. With many Americans and health care workers needing immediate assistance, will lawmakers respond?

Guest: Jim Newell, Slate’s senior politics writer.

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WN TBD: Big Tech Eyes the Pandemic Mar 20, 2020

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Google has spent the last decade trying to find a foothold in the health care industry. Now they’re partnering with the federal government to build a website that will seek to address the crisis.

Can Google be trusted with our medical data?

Guest: Mason Marks, law professor at Gonzaga University School of Law and an affiliated fellow at Yale Law School's Information Society Project.

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Italy's Message From the Future Mar 19, 2020

Many Americans still can’t imagine how the coronavirus pandemic will upend their lives. In northern Italy, no imagination is needed. Coffins pile up in churches and cemeteries as funeral gatherings remain banned. Hospitals are overwhelmed. And those who die from COVID-19 die alone.

Guest: Greta Privitera, an Italian journalist on her fourth week of lockdown in Milan.

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How Long This Could Last Mar 18, 2020

As the novel coronavirus spreads sickness and anxiety around the U.S., it’s tempting to point fingers at government agencies that seemed wholly unequipped for the crisis. And, to be clear, Washington was not prepared. But here’s what decision makers can be doing right now to figure out what comes next.

Guest: Beth Cameron, vice president for global biological policy and programs at the Nuclear Threat Initiative.

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We Still Have to Talk About Elizabeth Warren Mar 17, 2020

When Senator Elizabeth Warren announced the end of her presidential campaign, she was asked about the role of sexism in the race. Warren didn’t venture an answer, promising she’d have more to say later. In the meantime, we have some thoughts.

Guest: Rebecca Traister, writer for New York Magazine and author of Good and Mad: The Revolutionary Power of Women’s Anger.

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Can Our Economy Handle This? Mar 17, 2020

In the face of the coronavirus outbreak, U.S. political leaders are moving faster than they have in years. But it still might not be fast enough.

Guest: Jordan Weissmann, Slate’s senior business and economics correspondent.

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An ER Doctor Prepares for the Worst Mar 16, 2020

Open or closed? Across the country, state governors and mayors are asking themselves that question: Are we safer staying open, or are we safer closing down?

Over the weekend, more cities and states ordered shutdowns to temper the spread of COVID-19. But we’re dealing with a threat we haven’t seen before. How are we supposed to make decisions when we’re lacking basic information about how this coronavirus works?

Guest: Jeremy Faust, an emergency medicine physician at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.

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WN TBD: What If They Close All the Schools? Mar 13, 2020

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Last week, the superintendent of the Northshore school district near Seattle made a difficult decision. With the coronavirus spreading rapidly in the area, she closed all 34 schools in her district and moved all classes online. But for many schools, remote learning at this scale simply isn’t an option.

With new cases appearing around the country, how will schools respond? And what happens when you send millions of students home for weeks on end?

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If Prisoners Could Vote Mar 12, 2020

We talk about polls a lot on this podcast. State polls, national polls, polls that make you shrug and vote for the other guy. Today, we’re talking about one of the most unusual polls we’ve ever seen: Slate teamed up with The Marshall Project to conduct a survey of incarcerated people across the country. We received 8,000 responses about political awakenings, party affiliations, and the biggest problems facing the country.

Guests: Nicole Lewis, a reporter at The Marshall Project, and Lawrence Bartley, director of “News Inside” for The Marshall Project.

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What the World Left Behind in Syria Mar 11, 2020

Even though Kareem Shaheen left Syria a few years back, the reminders of his time there are everywhere. For nine years a brutal conflict has left millions seeking refuge with millions more still stuck in limbo. This past December, the Assad regime launched its latest attempt to seize back control of the largest rebel-held territory in Syria, Idlib.

Today on the show, Kareem tells us about Idlib, its importance in the war, his experience covering the region, and what the world turning their backs on this conflict tells us about the international order today.

Guest: Kareem Shaheen, journalist and columnist covering Syria.

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Will the Coronavirus Tank the Economy? Mar 10, 2020

On Monday morning, the Dow saw its biggest one day drop since 2008. This time, the cause was a combination of a volatile oil market and heightened fears of a pandemic. The usual economic tools may not be enough to reassure markets.

Guest: Jordan Weissmann,Slate’s Senior Business and Economics Correspondent

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Donald Trump Wants Your Digits Mar 09, 2020

The Trump 2016 campaign had unprecedented success on Facebook. Ever since, Trump's reelection campaign has been pumping out ads and collecting data on a massive scale. Democrats are only just beginning to catch up.

Guest: Andrew Marantz, staff writer at the New Yorker and author of Antisocial: Online Extremists, Techno-Utopians, and the Hijacking of the American Conversation

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WN TBD: Did the Internet Doom a Pregnancy? Mar 06, 2020

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For pregnant women in the U.S., there are plenty of reasons to mistrust the medical establishment. Mortality rates are high compared to other western countries, and one-third of women in the U.S. give birth by C-section. It’s no wonder that many women turn to the internet for alternatives.

This week, the story of one woman who was drawn into a network of private Facebook groups dedicated to the idea of ‘freebirth,’ or unassisted birth. And what happens when the misinformation shared in these private groups has real-life consequences.

Guest: Brandy Zadrozny, reporter for NBC News. You can read her reporting on ‘freebirth’ here.

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How Biden Made His Comeback Mar 05, 2020

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Super Tuesday gave Joe Biden a blowout, in part because of a surge from black voters. While white voters tended to split their votes more evenly between Biden and Bernie Sanders, black voters overwhelmingly chose the former Vice President. So, what does Biden’s base see in him as a candidate? And what would they expect from him as president?

Guest: Errin Haines, editor-at-large for The 19th, a news outlet launching this summer.

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He Saw the Coronavirus Coming Mar 04, 2020

The coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, started in China as a bat virus that eventually made contact with humans. Researchers say this leap between species was highly predictable – so why were communities and governments caught flat-footed? And what does the virus’s transmission from animals to humans say about how we interact with the greater ecosystem?

Guest: Peter Daszak, president of EcoHealth Alliance.

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Who’s Left Standing for Super Tuesday? Mar 03, 2020

The Democratic primary field has been dramatically re-shuffled since Saturday. After Joe Biden swept up votes and delegates in South Carolina, moderate candidates dropped out to strengthen his challenge against front-runner Bernie Sanders. So, with over a thousand delegates on the table across a slew of states, are Democrats inevitably headed for a contested convention?

Guest: Jim Newell, Slate’s senior politics reporter

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Is The Border Patrol Accountable to Anyone? Mar 02, 2020

Lower courts have consistently ruled against the Trump administration’s hardline immigration policies. But at the Supreme Court, the conservative majority almost always reverses lower court opinions, even in the most shocking cases. Last week, justices ruled that a Customs and Border Protection agent cannot be sued for shooting and killing a Mexican teenager in 2010, presenting the grim prospect that federal agents are free to act with impunity.

Guest: Mark Joseph Stern covers the courts and the law for Slate.

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WN TBD: Did Money Corrupt an A.I. Utopia? Feb 28, 2020

OpenAI was founded in 2015 with a billion dollars and an idealistic mission: Create artificial intelligence that could address humanity’s biggest problems, and do it out in the open. Then came the money problems.

Guest: Karen Hao, senior A.I. reporter at MIT Tech Review

Host

Lizzie O’Leary

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Can Bernie Beat Trump? Feb 27, 2020

As Bernie Sanders becomes the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination, pundits have started wringing their hands about Bernie’s chances of winning in a general election. Are any of these fears grounded in reality?

Guest: Steve Kornacki, National Correspondent for NBC News and MSNBC

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The Toxic Combo Behind Colorado’s Police Shootings Feb 26, 2020

Colorado has one of the highest rates of officer involved shootings in the country. After looking at the data, reporters from Colorado Public Radio found that the problem is exacerbated by a complex mix of meth addiction, illegal firearms, and car theft.

Guest: Allison Sherry, Reporter for Colorado Public Radio

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Did Bill Barr Break the Justice Department? Feb 25, 2020

Attorney General William Barr has lost the confidence of more than 2,600 former Department of Justice employees. We talked to one of them.

Guest: Donald Ayer, who served in the Department of Justice under George H. W. Bush. Read his piece in the Atlantic, “Bill Barr Must Resign.”

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Why Republicans Always Win Feb 24, 2020

Republicans have relied on one organization in particular to help pass conservative laws in states across the country: The American Legislative Exchange Council, or ALEC. The kicker is that ALEC learned its tricks from public-sector unions.

Guest: Alex Hertel-Fernandez, Assistant Professor of Political Affairs at Columbia University.

Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, Danielle Hewitt, and Mara Silvers.

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WN TBD: Inside Facebook’s Supreme Court Feb 21, 2020

After years of controversial content moderation decisions, from deepfakes to deplatforming, Facebook is trying something new. In January, the social network announced that its new Oversight Board, which will act as a sort of supreme court for controversial content, will begin hearing cases this summer.

Could this independent board change the way we govern speech online?

Guest: Kate Klonick, assistant professor at St. John’s University School of Law, and fellow at the Information Society Project at Yale.

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Will a Union Spoil Bernie’s Chances in Nevada? Feb 20, 2020

The Culinary Workers Union Local 226 has dominated Nevada politics for years. Last week, leaders announced that the union would not endorse any of the Democratic primary candidates before the caucuses this Saturday. Did union leaders make that call because of the tricky politics of Medicare for All? Are they just trying to preserve the union’s reputation as a political kingmaker? Or is the non-endorsement an indication of a deeply divided left?

Guest: Steven Greenhouse, author of “Beaten Down, Worked Up: The Past, Present & Future of American Labor.”

Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, Danielle Hewitt, and Mara Silvers.

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How ICE Is Weaponizing Therapy Feb 19, 2020

Unaccompanied minors at the border are required to speak to a therapist on a weekly basis. Now, officials with Immigration and Customs Enforcement are able to use what was once confidential against these young migrants in court.

Guest: Hannah Dreier, national reporter for the Washington Post

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Is Michael Bloomberg Sorry? Feb 18, 2020

Since he launched his bid for the Democratic nomination, Michael Bloomberg has been trying to distance himself from the legacy of ‘stop and frisk.’ He says stops went down 95 percent by the end of his time as mayor. Darius Charney, one of the lawyers that helped bring down the policy, doesn’t buy it. As he tells it, there’s little evidence that Mayor Bloomberg means it when he says “I’m sorry.”

Guest: Darius Charney, Senior Staff Attorney for the Center for Constitutional Rights

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Introducing: The United States of Anxiety Feb 14, 2020

Every so often, the What Next team wants to share another great podcast with our listeners. This time, it's The United States of Anxiety from WNYC. In its fourth season, host Kai Wright is figuring out how the intense debates happening during the 2020 election can be traced back to a key point in American history.

To listen to the rest of the episodes, subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

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WN TBD: Coronavirus Tests China's Surveillance State Feb 14, 2020

Over the last month, as coronavirus spread across China, Xi Jinping’s vast surveillance and censorship infrastructure went into high gear. But with outrage growing over the death of a beloved doctor, and surveillance technology under strain, the virus is exposing the limits of the Chinese Communist Party’s techno-authoritarian network.

Guest: Josh Chin, Wall Street Journal reporter covering Chinese politics and tech

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The Trump Appointee on a Mission to Gut Medicaid Feb 13, 2020

A few weeks back the Trump administration made an announcement. They rolled out a new health care policy called the Healthy Adult Opportunity. It’s a policy that would give states the option of reducing benefits for millions of Medicaid patients.

This is only the latest in a line of attempts to scale back the Medicaid program by Seema Verma. Why is this such a priority for the Trump administration and Verma herself? And how are Republicans trying to square cuts to such a popular program in an election year?

Guest: Dan Diamond, host of Pulse Check and writes the POLITICO Pulse — a morning briefing on health care politics and policy.

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Inside The Base, a Secret Neo-Nazi Group Feb 12, 2020

This past summer, while Ryan Thorpe was doing his day job as a reporter at the Winnipeg Free Press, some frightening posters started appearing around town. They were recruitment posters for a white nationalist organization known as The Base. Over the course of several weeks, Ryan went undercover. Joined the organization, met with a recruiter. What he didn’t know is that the person he met would become a target of law enforcement in two countries. Someone who prosecutors say was planning attacks here in the US. What does his story reveal about an international group of white supremacists obsessed with violence?

Plus, producer Mary Wilson checks-in with Slate’s Senior Politics Writer, Jim Newell, about the results of the New Hampshire primary.

Guest: Ryan Thorpe, reporter at the Winnipeg Free Press. Check out his story about infiltrating The Base, Homegrown Hate.

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The Border Patrol’s After School Program Feb 11, 2020

In border towns across the country, high school students are participating in an after school program run by the U.S. Border Patrol. When journalist Morley Musick first encountered the Border Patrol Explorers, he saw it as another example of the contradictions of life on the border.

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Los Angeles Confronts Its Housing Crisis Feb 10, 2020

Homelessness in Los Angeles isn’t a new problem. But it has become a bigger problem. And it’s gotten really easy to see.

Guests: Theo Henderson, host of the We the Unhoused podcast. Emily Alpert Reyes, City Hall reporter for the Los Angeles Times.

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WN TBD: Iowa’s App-ocalypse Feb 07, 2020

On Monday, the Iowa caucuses went off the rails. As the hours stretched into days, and still the results remained unclear, a new piece of election technology was identified as a central cause of the delay.

An app designed to make the election process speedier and more secure had the opposite effect. And its failure is symptomatic of deep-rooted issues in the way the Democratic Party develops and deploys election technology.

So, what exactly went wrong on Monday? And what does it say about the party’s effort to regain its digital edge in 2020?

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Michael Bloomberg’s Shot Feb 06, 2020

Michael Bloomberg has toyed with running for president many times. He has the money and the political clout, but 2020 is the first time he’s thrown all his weight behind a White House bid. It might also be the only year where his abnormal approach to politics could actually pay off.

Guest: Edward-Isaac Dovere, reporter for The Atlantic.

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A Wake-Up Call From Iowa Feb 05, 2020

The Iowa caucuses on Monday were a mess. Only 71 percent of precincts were reporting by late Tuesday night. Rick Hasen says, we’re just lucky this disaster happened early on. That means that election officials in other states have time to get it right.

Guest: Rick Hasen, author of “Election Meltdown”

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Why Don’t D.C. Residents Count? Feb 04, 2020

This episode originally aired in October 2019.

Growing up in D.C. during the civil rights era made the fight for D.C. statehood deeply personal for civil rights advocate Wade Henderson. He’s said that being unable to secure a voting representative in Congress is one of his greatest disappointments. Christina Cauterucci speaks with Henderson about the fight for statehood and why he still has hope for the movement.

This episode is a part of Slate’s Who Counts initiative. In the run-up to the 2020 election, Slate will be investigating who counts in the voting booth, who counts as an American, whose money counts in the democratic process, and whose doesn’t. And we need your help. Your support will let us assign more stories, travel to overlooked places, commission special podcast projects, and pay for reporting we otherwise would not be able to do. To learn more about this project and how to support our work, please go to slate.com/whocounts.

Guest: Wade Henderson, former head of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights

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This Week In Impeachment: A ‘Bullet Proof’ President Feb 03, 2020

On Friday, Senate Republicans blocked efforts to hear new witnesses and evidence in the impeachment trial of President Trump. The decision signals an unwillingness to challenge the executive branch, despite several Republican lawmakers conceding that Trump was wrong to launch a pressure campaign against Ukraine. And even though the Senate trial is drawing to a close, we may be headed for unending impeachment-related investigations.

Guest: Dahlia Lithwick writes about law and the courts for Slate and hosts the podcast Amicus.

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WN TBD: Why Is the U.S. Scared of Huawei? Jan 31, 2020

Recently a special delegation of senior Trump administration officials arrived in the U.K. Their mission? To convince prime minister Boris Johnson to bar Huawei from their new 5G network.

Why is the U.S. so keen to influence Britain’s decision on 5G? And now that the U.K is officially withdrawing from the European Union, how will they manage competing pressures from the U.S. and China?

Guest: Dan Sabbagh, defense and security editor at the Guardian.

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Who's Excited About Joe Biden? Jan 30, 2020

Joe Biden’s presidential campaign is making two arguments in the last few days before the Iowa caucuses. One is all about the heart—you know Joe, you love Joe. The other argument is all in the head—Democrats need to vote for a candidate who can beat Trump. But how does that argument fare when you look up close at voters in Iowa?

Guests: Slate’s senior politics writer Jim Newell and What Next producer Mary Wilson.

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A Threat to the Separation of Church and State Jan 29, 2020

Republican lawmakers in Montana came up with a plan to help taxpayers fund scholarships for private schools, including religious ones. But Montana’s constitution makes it clear that public funding for parochial schools is not allowed. Now, religious school parents have appealed their case to the Supreme Court. The resulting decision could undermine the separation of church and state.

Guest: Mark Joseph Stern covers courts and the law for Slate.

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A Radical Voter Suppression Tactic Jan 28, 2020

Back in July, President Trump addressed the nation from the Rose Garden. The Supreme Court had just ruled that the 2020 census could not ask the citizenship question and the president was there to acknowledge that fact. However, he was also there to issue an executive order. One that would try to count the number of citizens in the country by other means. “Trump Dropping Citizenship Question” was the headline that came out of the press conference, but Ari Berman saw a completely different story. One that could change political representation in America.

Guest: Ari Berman, a senior reporter at Mother Jones, covering voting rights.

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This Week in Impeachment: Finally, Some Answers Jan 27, 2020

The House impeachment managers have wrapped up their oral arguments. The president's legal team is getting started. The only question now, will key witnesses be able to testify?

Guests: Dahlia Lithwick, covers the law and Washington for Slate. Jeremy Stahl, senior legal editor at Slate.

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WN TBD: Which Tech Companies Are Doing the Most Harm? Jan 24, 2020

Last week, Slate published The Evil List, an expansive attempt to document the most concerning tech companies around the world, according to the experts. Some you’ve heard of, some you probably haven’t, and some you almost certainly use every day. Which of these deserve our attention? And why?

Guests:

Mutale Nkonde, public interest technologist and fellow at the Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society

Felix Salmon, chief financial correspondent at Axios and host of Slate Money

Lindsey Barrett, staff attorney and teaching fellow at the Institute for Public Representation Communications & Technology Clinic.

Host

Lizzie O’Leary

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How Virginia’s Gun Rally Dodged a Bullet Jan 23, 2020

Earlier this week, gun rights activists arrived outside the capitol building in Richmond, Virginia to rally against proposed gun control laws. Some people worried the event would turn into another Charlottesville. But even though thousands of people hoisted their guns and made threats against the government, there was no violence. What happened to bring tensions down?

Guest: Lois Beckett, senior reporter for the Guardian. Read her coverage of gun politics and gun violence.

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The Rules of This Impeachment Jan 22, 2020

On Tuesday, the impeachment trial against President Donald Trump began in earnest in the Senate. The debate over the rules of engagement lasted into the early hours of Wednesday morning and gave a first look at how both sides are going to approach the trial.

Guests: Dahlia Lithwick and Jim Newell.

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Why Trump’s Anti-Refugee Policy Could Backfire Jan 21, 2020

A new executive order from the Trump administration was meant to curb refugee resettlement and further polarize the country. But most Republican governors have snubbed the policy. How did this particular anti-immigrant scheme backfire?

Guest: Jonathan Blitzer, staff writer for The New Yorker.

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WN TBD: The Silicon Valley Dream Was Always a Fantasy Jan 17, 2020

In 2013, Anna Wiener moved from New York to San Francisco to join the city’s booming tech scene. Over the course of four years, she worked at three companies: an e-book startup, a data analytics company, and an open-source software platform. Then, her infatuation with the tech industry took a turn.

On this week’s show, an insider’s perspective on the intoxicating promise and disappointment of Silicon Valley during the mid-decade boom.

Guest: Anna Wiener: author of Uncanny Valley and contributing writer for the New Yorker.

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The Trouble With the Warren-Sanders Beef Jan 16, 2020

After Tuesday’s Democratic debate, the beef between Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders spilled over onto national television. Derecka Purnell has been following the primary — she says the way this fight ends depends on how we think about identity politics.

Guest: Derecka Purnell, lawyer and writer.

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Australia’s Fires and the Upside of Anger Jan 15, 2020

Australia and the United States have a lot in common: politicians who still deny climate change, a supremely powerful energy industry, and a growing sense of dread about climate catastrophes.

Guest: Journalist Emily Atkin. Check out her newsletter, HEATED.

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What Mike Pompeo Does For Trump Jan 14, 2020

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has had some serious staying power in the Trump administration. Now with the impeachment trial on the horizon, he’s become even closer to the president. How has he managed to keep his position in President Donald Trump’s inner circle for so long?

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What Happened to Lindsey Graham? Jan 13, 2020

Before President Donald Trump took office, Lindsey Graham was willing to reach across the aisle to work on big issues like immigration reform and climate change. Now, his total loyalty to the Trump administration is baffling close friends and political observers alike. Look a little deeper, and you'll see that this is just one more step in Graham's fight for relevance.

Guest: Mark Binelli writes for Rolling Stone and New York Times Magazine.

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WN TBD: How Targeted Ads Started Watching Us All Jan 10, 2020

In 2019, for the first time, more advertising money went toward targeted digital ads in the U.S. than on radio, television, cable, magazine, and newspaper ads combined. The moment was the culmination of a decadeslong journey that has completely transformed media, politics, and privacy.

How did the targeted ad come to hold so much power? And what did we lose along the way?

Guest: Siva Vaidhyanathan, professor of media studies at the University of Virginia.

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Will Voter Suppression Backfire in Florida? Jan 09, 2020

Over a year ago, Florida residents approved the restoration of voting rights for approximately 1.4 million ex-felons in the state. But in the months since, lawmakers have tried to implement new hurdles for former convicts trying to access the ballot box. Now, advocates in some counties are trying to find a solution to register voters anyway.

Guest: Mark Joseph Stern, Justice reporter for Slate

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Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, Danielle Hewitt, and Mara Silvers.

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Why It’s So Easy To Start A War Jan 08, 2020

Presidents have always skirted the rules when it comes to gaining authorization from Congress to use military force. President Donald Trump’s direction to kill Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani takes it to a whole new level and exposes just how weak the War Powers Act has become.

Guest: Oona Hathaway, Author of The Internationalists: How a Radical Plan to Outlaw War Remade the World.

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Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, Danielle Hewitt, and Mara Silvers.

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Bernie Could Win This Thing Jan 07, 2020

Right now, when it comes to fundraising, it certainly looks like Bernie Sanders is winning. In the last three months, his campaign has raised more money than any other Democrat in the field. And with just a few weeks left before the Iowa caucuses, Sanders is in a three-way tie for the lead alongside Joe Biden and Pete Buttigieg. How is he pulling this off?

Guest: Ryan Grim, D.C. bureau chief at the Intercept. Read his latest story is about the Sanders campaign.

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Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, Danielle Hewitt, and Mara Silvers.

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Trump Chooses War Jan 06, 2020

In a little over a week, tensions in the Middle East have gone from high to fever pitch. What started with one American civilian contractor in Iraq being killed escalated to airstrikes on militia-controlled sites in Iraq and Syria, killing 24 people and wounding dozens more. Then, a siege at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad by pro-Iranian militia and a response by the Trump administration that killed Iran’s top military commander.

What went into the decision to assassinate Gen. Qassem Soleimani? And is the United States prepared for what comes next?

Guest: Fred Kaplan, Slate’s War Stories correspondent and author of The Bomb: Presidents, Generals, and the Secret History of Nuclear War, out later this month.

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Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, Danielle Hewitt, and Mara Silvers.

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This Week in Impeachment: A Senate Trial in Limbo Jan 04, 2020

President Donald Trump was impeached in the House of Representatives just over two weeks ago. There’s just one hitch: The articles of impeachment that were passed haven’t made it to the Senate … yet. It’s part of a tactical hold by the Democrats seeking to ensure that the majority-Republican Senate holds a fair trial. What does that mean? And is Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ready to do that?

Guest: Jim Newell, senior politics writer for Slate.

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WN TBD: Do Algorithms Make Sentencing Fairer? Jan 03, 2020

Around the country, states are employing algorithms to help reduce prison populations and predict recidivism. This week, we hear from a Wisconsin judge with serious reservations about the algorithm used in his state. Also: a deep dive into Virginia's risk-assessment algorithm and the surprising results of its implementation.

Guests:

Nicholas McNamara, judge on the circuit court of Dane County, Wisconsin.

Jennifer Doleac, associate professor of economics at Texas A&M and director of the Justice Tech Lab.

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Billionaires’ Favorite Tax Reform Jan 02, 2020

When President Trump passed his tax overhaul in 2017, Democrats and Republicans were excited about the prospect of one specific provision. ‘Opportunity zones’ were meant to spur investment in low-income communities. Two years later, it’s unclear if that has actually happened. Billionaires, on the other hand, are benefitting from the program left and right.

Guest: Justin Elliott, reporter at ProPublica.

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Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, Danielle Hewitt, and Mara Silvers.

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Three Stories We Can't Stop Thinking About Dec 30, 2019

As 2019 comes to a close, What Next is checking back in on three stories we did this year. From a power struggle in Venezuela to a border wall dispute in Arizona and back to Washington for an impeachment update. Here’s what happened…next!

Guests: Ana Vanessa Herrero, reporter for the New York Times, Mayor of Nogales Arturo Garino, and Noah Feldman Harvard Law School professor and host of Deep Background, available on Luminary.

Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, Danielle Hewitt, and Mara Silvers.

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WN TBD: A Landmark Privacy Law Takes Effect. Now What? Dec 27, 2019

On January 1st, a new law will grant Californians the right to see, delete, and stop the sale of personal information collected by tech companies. But the impact of the bill may reach far beyond California. How does this landmark law affect the rest of the country? And will it set the stage for national privacy legislation?

Guest: Hayley Tsukayama, Legislative Activist at the Electronic Frontier Foundation

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WN TBD | Ring: Your Doorbell Is Watching Dec 20, 2019

Back in 2013, an entrepreneur named Jamie Siminoff appeared on Shark Tank. He was seeking an investment in a new product he was calling Doorbot, a smart doorbell that would make answering the door more convenient and users’ lives “more connected.”

Six years later, Doorbot is now Ring, an Amazon-owned home-security system that partners with more than 600 police departments around the country. How did Doorbot become Ring? And what are the consequences of placing surveillance cameras on front doors around the country?

Guest: Caroline Haskins, technology reporter at Buzzfeed.

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A Year of “Remain in Mexico” Dec 19, 2019

The “Remain in Mexico” policy was sold as a humane way to throttle the flow of migrant families seeking asylum in the U.S. But the immigration courts remain overwhelmed, and migrants who do make the trip to the southern border have been left to wait for months -- sometimes upwards of a year -- in squalid, makeshift refugee camps in Mexico.

Guest: Adolfo Flores, immigration reporter for BuzzFeed.

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Are Active Shooter Drills Traumatizing Kids? Dec 18, 2019

Preparing for an active shooter is becoming a disturbingly normal part of the school experience. And while companies are developing new methods for how to keep students and teachers safe, it’s unclear if they’re becoming more effective.

Guest: Tali Woodward, deputy editor at The Trace.

Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, Danielle Hewitt and Mara Silvers.

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Black Voters Fight to Count in Georgia Dec 17, 2019

It’s hard to keep track of all the things that have happened in Georgia to tweak voter rights and poll access over the past several years. But a new investigation highlighted two overarching themes to recent changes: diminishing federal oversight and structural racism.

Guest: Mark Niesse, reporter for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Read his story, co-reported with Nick Thieme.

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How McKinsey Became a Villain Dec 16, 2019

Public sector consulting is under a new kind of scrutiny. Mayor Pete Buttigieg’s presidential campaign has thrust his former employer, McKinsey, into the spotlight. What’s been brought to the surface has challenged their stated values of “doing the most good”.

Guest: Ian McDougall, Reporter for ProPublica

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WN TBD: Inside The Influence Economy Dec 13, 2019

Over the past decade, the world of influencers has grown from a fringe marketing movement to a multibillion-dollar industry. Now, tactics and strategies originally developed by influencers can be found across industries, from health care to politics to higher ed.

What’s behind this meteoric rise? And why do we misunderstand a movement that Taylor Lorenz calls “a fundamental shift in society”?

Guest: Taylor Lorenz, internet culture reporter for the New York Times

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The Ugly Truth About America’s Longest War Dec 12, 2019

On Monday, the Washington Post published a damning account of America’s war in Afghanistan. Titled “The Afghanistan Papers,” the report features dozens of interviews with people directly involved in the war, detailing the lies, deception, and misleading of the public that kept the war going. At once shocking and completely unsurprising, the papers are a secret history of America’s longest war.

Guest: Fred Kaplan writes for Slate and is the author of the forthcoming book The Bomb: Presidents, Generals, and the Secret History of Nuclear War, due out in January 2020.

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HIV’s Threat to Rural America Dec 11, 2019

Two maps can help tell the story of a looming public health problem in rural America. One, published by the CDC, shows 220 of the most vulnerable counties in America either experiencing or at risk of an HIV outbreak. The other, published by the Washington Post, shows where pharmaceutical companies sent most of their pain pills at the height of the opioid crisis. These maps almost perfectly matchup. And in Cabell County, West Virginia, a place acutely affected by the opioid crisis, 80 new cases of HIV have been diagnosed since last year. Today on the show, what’s going on in West Virginia and what can be done to help?

Guests: A. Toni Young, AIDS activist and founder of the Community Education Group. Dr. Steven W. Thrasher, professor of journalism and LGBTQ health at Northwestern University. He recently wrote an op-ed in the New York Times.

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Inside Trump’s Impeachment Bunker Dec 10, 2019

Underneath the Oval Office there’s this room. It’s a windowless place with terrible cell phone reception but, right now, it’s home to a team crafting President Donald Trump’s impeachment defense strategy. Former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi and former Treasury aide Tony Sayegh started the effort to protect the president only in the past few weeks, but they’re already seeing results. How has this team circled the wagons for the president? And why is one senator in particular pleased to see the White House mount a proper defense?

Guest: Sarah Ellison, reporter covering media and politics for the Washington Post.

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Harry Reid's Impeachment Prediction Dec 09, 2019

Former U.S. Senator Harry Reid thinks the expected impeachment trial in the Senate will fail to convict. And Reid should know -- he was in the Senate during the last impeachment trial.

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WN TBD: What Is Google After Larry and Sergey? Dec 06, 2019

On Tuesday, Google founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page announced that they are stepping down from their respective roles as president and CEO of Alphabet, Google’s parent company. The move will leave Sundar Pichai in charge of both Google and Alphabet.

With pressure mounting from unhappy employees, antitrust regulators in Europe, and the Trump administration, Pichai takes the helm at a crucial moment in the company’s history. Will he be up to the task?

Guest: Mark Bergen, technology reporter at Bloomberg

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A Toxic Mess Reaches The Supreme Court Dec 05, 2019

Residents of Opportunity, Montana have a problem: their town is infected with a century’s worth of toxins from copper mining. The responsible company, Arco, and the E.P.A. have come up with a plan to fix that, but the community members say it’s woefully inadequate and doesn’t guarantee “a clean and healthful environment.” Now, the case has escalated all the way to the Supreme Court.

Guest: Kathleen McLaughlin, reporter based in Montana

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Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, Danielle Hewitt and Mara Silvers.

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Will Republicans Derail Jerry Nadler? Dec 04, 2019

The next impeachment hearing will be in the House Judiciary Committee, where Corey Lewandowski made a mockery of Democrats in September. So perhaps it’s by design that the testimony planned for Wednesday seems rather low-stakes: Four professors will speak about the constitutional grounds for presidential impeachment.

Guest: Jim Newell, Slate’s senior politics writer.

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Why Not Cory Booker? Dec 03, 2019

Senator Cory Booker still hasn’t made the cut for the next Democratic debate, despite having all the moderate bona fides that a suburban voter could want. Why has Booker failed to pop up in the polls?

Guest: Slate’s Jordan Weissmann. Read his piece, “Dear Moderates: Please Give Cory Booker a Chance.”

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The Woman Who Turned on Stephen Miller Dec 02, 2019

When she was a staff writer at Breitbart News, Katie McHugh exchanged hundreds of emails with Stephen Miller, who is currently one of President Trump’s senior advisors. Then, McHugh was a champion of the alt-right and a supporter of white nationalist ideology. Now, she wants the world to know that those same ideas are what motivate Miller to craft hard-line anti-immigration policies. And she has the receipts to prove it.

Guest: Katie McHugh, former Breitbart staff writer

Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, Danielle Hewitt, and Mara Silvers.

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This Week In Impeachment: “Presidents Are Not Kings” Nov 27, 2019

For months, White House lawyers have argued that many of the president’s aides can sidestep congressional subpoenas because of their proximity to Trump. This week, a judge rejected that claim, setting the stage for another installment in the House of Representatives’s impeachment inquiry.

Guest: Jeremy Stahl, Slate senior editor

Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, Danielle Hewitt, and Mara Silvers.

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How Vaping Escaped Stiff Regulation Nov 26, 2019

This summer, the explosion of vaping-related illnesses sent medical researchers on an urgent quest to figure out why teenagers were showing up at the hospital unable to breathe. Years before this became a public health crisis, federal regulators had the power to crack down on e-cigarettes. Why didn’t they do it?

Guest: Desmond Jenson, an attorney with the Public Health Law Center at the Mitchell Hamline School of Law.

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The Anxiety of Being Muslim in India Nov 25, 2019

In India, Muslims are watching the secular democratic principles of their country crumble. What is it like when your country rejects your family and shakes your faith in multiculturalism?

Guest: Rana Ayyub, a contributor to the Washington Post Opinion section and author of Gujarat Files: Anatomy of a Cover Up.

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This Week in Impeachment: Are We There Yet? Nov 23, 2019

With two weeks of public impeachment hearings in the books, how will the next phase of the inquiry take shape?

Guest: Jim Newell, senior politics writer at Slate. Dahlia Lithwick, writes about the courts and the law for Slate.

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WN TBD: Is TikTok Really a National Security Threat? Nov 22, 2019

TikTok now has over 1.5 billion downloads, putting it in the company of social media giants like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. While all of these companies have faced scrutiny from lawmakers in one form or another, TikTok is getting attention for its Chinese ownership as some fear that Beijing could use data uploaded to the platform for counterintelligence purposes. Is there a real reason to be concerned? Or is this just fearmongering about a geopolitical rival?

Guest: Drew Harwell, technology reporter for the Washington Post.

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America’s Top Elections Official Isn’t Happy Nov 21, 2019

The Federal Election Commission was designed to prevent the parties from going rogue with overly punitive campaign finance regulations. But what’s paralyzed FEC is something less partisan, and more principled: Democrats think the government should enforce campaign spending laws. Republicans don’t.

Guest: Ellen Weintraub, Federal Election Commission chair.

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This episode originally aired in October 2019.

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Pete Buttigieg Surges Nov 20, 2019

Pete Buttigieg will take the stage at the fifth presidential democratic debate as the front-runner in the Iowa polls. His rise, while surprising for some, can’t simply be explained as luck. So, how did Buttigieg go from being the mayor of South Bend with a name nobody could pronounce to the Democratic front-runner for president in Iowa? Plus, how might competitors try to knock Mayor Pete off his game at the debate?

Guest: Adam Wren, contributing editor at Politico Magazine and Indianapolis Monthly.

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The Backstory to Bolivia’s Coup Nov 19, 2019

Bolivia’s first indigenous president, Evo Morales, was pushed out of office this month after attempting to secure an unprecedented fourth term. Now, the country is consumed by a power vacuum and the economy is facing challenges. How did Bolivia get here, and how can it rebound?

Guest: Brian Winter, editor-in-chief of Americas Quarterly.

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What Is Devin Nunes Thinking? Nov 18, 2019

Rep. Devin Nunes has been in Congress for over a decade. In those years he built up a lot of political capital in the Republican party–Nunes is currently a member of the Gang of Eight, a bi-partisan set of eight leaders in Congress who are briefed on classified intelligence matters by the executive branch. How has the congressman from California and former Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee changed over the years? And, why has Nunes’ approach to defend the president in the impeachment inquiry irked those in his own party?

Guest: Shane Harris, covers intelligence and national security for the Washington Post.

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This Week in Impeachment: New Evidence Nov 15, 2019

Testimony of a phone call between President Donald Trump and EU Ambassador Gordon Sondland has set the stage for a dramatic Week 2 in the inquiry. What does the revelation of that call tell us about how House Republicans are mounting a defense of the president? Plus, what should you be looking for in Gordon Sondland’s testimony next week?

Guest: Jim Newell, senior politics writer at Slate.

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WN TBD: How WhatsApp Got Hacked Nov 15, 2019

Recently, Facebook filed a lawsuit against a little-known Israeli spyware firm called NSO Group. Facebook is accusing NSO of supplying technology that enabled a hack of 1,400 WhatsApp accounts.

But NSO’s reach goes far beyond a few thousand phones. Governments around the world purchase its powerful technology. Some use it to “lawfully hack” the devices of criminals and terrorists. But others use it more broadly, tracking the communications of activists, journalists, lawyers, and dissidents.

What does the WhatsApp lawsuit mean for the spyware industry? And why are governments lining up to buy these products?

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Virginia Democrats’ Chance to Gerrymander Nov 14, 2019

The latest round of elections in Virginia brought in a new Democratic majority to the state Legislature. It’s the first time Virginia’s government has been fully Democratic in 26 years. The question now is: What will the Democrats do with all that power? Entrench their newfound majority through partisan gerrymanders or seek a bipartisan solution to redistricting?

Guest: David Daley, authort of Ratf**ked: Why Your Vote Doesn’t Count and the forthcoming Unrigged: How Americans Are Battling Back to Save Democracy.

This episode is a part of Slate’s Who Counts? initiative. In the run-up to the 2020 election, Slate will be investigating who counts in the voting booth, who counts as an American, whose money counts in the democratic process, and whose doesn’t. And we need your help. Your support will let us assign more stories, travel to overlooked places, commission special podcast projects, and pay for reporting we otherwise would not be able to do. To learn more about this project and how to support our work, please go to slate.com/whocounts.

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Impeachment Goes Public Nov 13, 2019

Today, when the House Intelligence Committee comes to order to host the first public impeachment hearings against President Donald Trump, Michael McFaul knows better than most what will happen next. Not only did he serve at the State Department with several of the individuals publicly testifying this week, but he himself testified to the Adam Schiff–chaired committee just a few months ago.

How is the former ambassador to Russia seeing this Ukraine scandal play out? And what does he have to say about the veteran diplomats taking center stage this week at the public impeachment hearings?

Guest: Michael McFaul, former U.S. ambassador to Russia and author of From Cold War to Hot Peace: An American Ambassador in Putin’s Russia.

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DACA's Day in Court Nov 12, 2019

Today, the Supreme Court will hear arguments in a case that could have an enormous effect on the lives of hundreds of thousands of young people known as Dreamers. Back in 2017, the Trump administration ended DACA, a program created by the Obama administration to protect Dreamers, by saying it was unlawful and unconstitutional, and that it could not be successfully defended in court. Now, with DACA getting its day in court, who are the key players on both sides of the case? And what is the actual issue justices will be weighing?

Guest: Mark Joseph Stern, who covers the courts and the law for Slate.

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Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, Danielle Hewitt and Mara Silvers.

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The Televangelist Inside the White House Nov 11, 2019

Many past presidents have had a spiritual advisor. President Trump’s party faithful are an extension of his brand — white, evangelical. And his most trusted preacher is a wealthy televangelist who’s been investigated by Congress. Meet Paula White, the Mississippi girl who rose to prominence preaching piety, prosperity, and Vote Trump 2020.

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Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, Danielle Hewitt and Mara Silvers.

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What Next Impeachment: The Tortoise and the Hare Nov 08, 2019

This week, in impeachment inquiry news: Gordon Sondland revised his memory, Lev Parnas said he’d cooperate with inquisitors, and Donald Trump, Jr. insisted that we focus on the whistleblower.

Guests: Dahlia Lithwick, Slate’s courts correspondent, and Jim Newell, Slate’s senior politics writer.

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WN TBD: The Uber Drivers Who Don’t Want to Be Employees Nov 08, 2019

California recently passed a law that would classify rideshare drivers across the state as employees, rather than contractors. Among many other benefits, they’d be allowed to unionize, collect overtime pay, and take sick leave.

So why are so many drivers against it?

Guest: Harry Campbell, former Uber driver and founder of The Rideshare Guy

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8chan, the Hate Site That's Hard to Kill Nov 07, 2019

The 8chan message board has become synonymous with hate speech. It’s been a go-to forum for mass shooters’ manifestos. It courts devotees of the cultish QAnon conspiracy theory. In August, 8chan was booted from the internet, but now the forum is making a comeback, in spite of the dogged group of activists and journalists trying to take it offline permanently.

Guest: Robert Evans, investigative journalist for Bellingcat and host of the podcast, Behind the Bastards.

Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, Danielle Hewitt, and Mara Silvers.

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What Is Tulsi Gabbard’s Deal? Nov 06, 2019

Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, a Democrat from Hawaii, has always had a maverick streak. But since launching a presidential campaign, her tactics have only become more perplexing.

Guest: Lisa Lerer, political reporter for the New York Times.

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Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, Danielle Hewitt, and Mara Silvers.

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Does Warren’s Medicare Plan Add Up? Nov 05, 2019

At the last Democratic primary debate, Elizabeth Warren refused to say that her plan for Medicare for All would require raising taxes on the middle class. Critics accused her of dishonesty. But on Friday, Warren released a plan pledging to do exactly what she promised. The problem is, the other sources of funding would require a fundamental shift of priorities in Washington.

Guest: Jordan Weissmann, Slate’s senior business and economics correspondent.

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California’s Wildfire Problem Goes Beyond PG&E Nov 04, 2019

In California, thousands of people have evacuated their homes in yet another season of dangerous wildfires. Thousands of other residents have had their power shut off in an effort to help prevent incidents along power lines that could trigger yet more wildfires across the state. How has Gov. Gavin Newsom’s tone changed when it comes to talking about PG&E, the utility company responsible for many past fires and current power outages. Plus, how does California’s affordability problem factor into the state’s wildfire problem?

Guest: Taryn Luna, reporter at the Los Angeles Times

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This Week In Impeachment: Let's Make It Official, Again Nov 01, 2019

This week, Alexander Vindman testified with firsthand knowledge of the Ukraine call and the House voted to formalize the impeachment inquiry. Plus, who’s the person you should be keeping your eye on heading into next week?

Guest: Dahlia Lithwick and Jim Newell.

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WN TBD: The Price of Automating Aviation Nov 01, 2019

This week, Boeing’s CEO Dennis Muilenburg appeared in front of Congress. He was there to answer questions about what his company knew, and when, before two 737 Max airplanes crashed and claimed the lives of 346 people.

But beyond the planes’ technological failures is another key issue: the way pilots react when automated systems go wrong.

Guest: Jon Ostrower, Editor in Chief of The Air Current

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Partisan Gerrymandering Is Over in North Carolina Oct 31, 2019

State court rulings have ended partisan gerrymandering in North Carolina on both the state and congressional levels. The rulings could lead the way for progressive activists who’ve been shut out at the Supreme Court.

This episode is a part of Slate’s Who Counts? initiative. In the run-up to the 2020 election, Slate will be investigating who counts in the voting booth, who counts as an American, whose money counts in the democratic process, and whose doesn’t. And we need your help. Your support will let us assign more stories, travel to overlooked places, commission special podcast projects, and pay for reporting we otherwise would not be able to do. To learn more about this project and how to support our work, please go to slate.com/whocounts.

Guest: Slate’s Mark Joseph Stern

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Jailed Over Medical Debt Oct 30, 2019

There’s a story unfolding in the courtroom of a small town in Kansas. It’s a story about runaway medical costs, aggressive debt collectors, and jail.

Guest: Lizzie Presser, reporter for ProPublica

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What It Took To Close Rikers Oct 29, 2019

This month, the New York City Council approved a plan to close Rikers Island in 2026. The jail has become a potent symbol for those fighting to reform the criminal justice system. Where do reformers go from here?

Guest: Aaron Morrison, senior reporter for The Appeal

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Can Trump Save Kentucky’s Republican Governor? Oct 28, 2019

Kentucky’s Republican Gov, Matt Bevin won a decisive victory in 2015 and has tethered himself to President Donald Trump ever since. But now, he’s up for reelection and his popularity has taken a nosedive—it doesn’t help that thousands of public school teachers have been aggressively protesting against his plan for pension reform. Can the Republican Party boost him through to a second term?

Guest: Ryland Barton, statehouse reporter at Kentucky Public Radio.

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This Week in Impeachment: Storming the SCIF Oct 25, 2019

We survey this week’s developments: the testimony from Ambassador Bill Taylor, a stunt at the SCIF, and what the founding fathers might have thought of our reticence to impeach.

Guests: Dahlia Lithwick and Jim Newell.

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WN TBD: Inside Facebook's Political Ad Mess Oct 25, 2019

Over the last week, Facebook and Mark Zuckerberg have been under fire for declining to fact-check political ads. But a former insider says this is the wrong debate to be having—and it misses a more fundamental problem: Facebook’s business model itself.

Guests: Yael Eisenstat, former head of global elections integrity operations at Facebook and Charlie Warzel, an opinion writer at the New York Times.

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Russia’s Play for the Middle East Oct 24, 2019

Syria is in the midst of a civil war, a refugee crisis, a war on terror, and a massive demographic shift. Why does Russia want a piece of it?

Guest: Deb Amos, international correspondent for NPR.

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The “Detective” Behind the Wealth Tax Oct 23, 2019

Gabriel Zucman and his co-authors have become known for releasing these charts that go megaviral. In a new book, Zucman claims to have found that the 400 richest Americans now pay a lower tax rate than the bottom 50 percent of the country. This finding sparked outrage among the public, disagreement within the economics community, and debate among the democratic candidates for president last week.

What do you need to know about Gabriel Zucman? And how does he envision fixing taxes in America?

Guest: Jordan Weissmann is Slate’s senior business and economics correspondent.

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How El Chapo’s Son Got Away Oct 22, 2019

Last Thursday, in the city of Culiacán, a massive gun battle between Mexican government forces and the Sinaloa cartel erupted in broad daylight. It was captured on cameras by residents across the city. For hours, residents took shelter as the Mexican forces detained the son of El Chapo, Ovidio Guzman Lopez, and tried to hold off the cartel. When it ended, El Chapo’s son was released. So why did the Mexican government give into the Sinaloa cartel’s demands? And what can be done on both sides of the border to stop such brutal violence?

Guest: León Krauze, journalist at Univision and Slate columnist

Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, Danielle Hewitt, and Mara Silvers.

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Warren and Obama: It Got Messy Oct 21, 2019

Guest: Alex Thompson, covers the Elizabeth Warren campaign for Politico.

Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, Danielle Hewitt, and Mara Silvers.

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This Week in Impeachment: Testifying Anyway Oct 18, 2019

One week ago, the White House released a letter effectively stating to House Democrats: no more witnesses, no more documents. This week, witnesses in the impeachment inquiry lined up to testify on Capitol Hill, and a cascade of revelations ensued. How much damage did they do to the president? And how will the White House counterpunch?

Guest: Jeremy Stahl, senior editor at Slate

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Meanwhile At Fox News Oct 17, 2019

There have been indications of discord at Fox News -- tension between the news division and the more opinion-driven shows on the network. Shepard Smith and Tucker Carlson hashed out their differences on air. And then, Smith submitted his resignation to the network. Is the impeachment inquiry changing the message coming from Fox News?

Guest: Justin Peters, writer for Slate

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What the Kurds Are Fighting For Oct 16, 2019

When the US abandoned its Kurdish allies, it not only left the Kurds vulnerable to devastating attacks from Turkey, but it also abandoned Rojava, the Kurdish autonomous region that lies in the northeast of Syria. Right now, the Kurds are fighting to preserve what they can of this unique political arrangement, but it might already be too late. And, maybe, it was always destined to fall.

Guest: Jenna Krajeski, reporter at the Fuller Project

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Impeachment Froze the Democratic Primary Oct 15, 2019

The impeachment inquiry has crowded out all but the most urgent news about the 2020 presidential election. In doing so, it’s frozen the Democratic primary in ways that have helped Sen. Elizabeth Warren at the expense of almost every other candidate. How long will the freeze-frame last?

Guest: Amy Walter, National Editor of the Cook Political Report and Friday host of WNYC’s The Takeaway.

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This Week in Impeachment: Obstruct and Distract Oct 11, 2019

As the impeachment inquiry rolls on, it’s easy to get lost in the paperwork and characters surfacing each week. We’re here to help sort through it all and tell you what you really need to know. Today: the White House’s letter to Congress and what it says about the fight that’s only going to heat up on Capitol Hill.

Guests: Dahlia Lithwick, who covers the courts and the law at Slate. And Jim Newell, a politics writer at Slate.

Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, Danielle Hewitt, and Mara Silvers.

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Why Don’t DC Residents Count? Oct 10, 2019

Growing up in D.C. during the civil rights era made the fight for D.C. statehood deeply personal for civil rights advocate Wade Henderson. He’s said that being unable to secure a voting representative in Congress is one of his greatest disappointments. Christina Cauterucci speaks with Henderson about the fight for statehood and why he still has hope for the movement.

This episode is a part of Slate’s Who Counts initiative. In the run-up to the 2020 election, Slate will be investigating who counts in the voting booth, who counts as an American, whose money counts in the democratic process, and whose doesn’t. And we need your help. Your support will let us assign more stories, travel to overlooked places, commission special podcast projects, and pay for reporting we otherwise would not be able to do. To learn more about this project and how to support our work, please go to slate.com/whocounts.

Guest: Wade Henderson, former head of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights

Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, Danielle Hewitt, and Mara Silvers.

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America's Top Elections Official Isn't Happy Oct 09, 2019

The Federal Election Commission was designed to prevent the parties from going rogue with overly punitive campaign finance regulations. But what’s paralyzed FEC is something less partisan, and more principled: Democrats think the government should enforce campaign spending laws. Republicans don’t.

Guest: Ellen Weintraub, Federal Election Commission Chair.

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A Dream Supreme Court Term for Conservatives Oct 08, 2019

The Supreme Court embarks on its new term with a solidly conservative majority and a sense of urgency when it comes to settling legal questions that keep cropping up. Will Chief Justice John Roberts continue to strike centrist compromises in the interest of preserving the court’s legitimacy? Or will the country feel the court’s rightward shift?

Guest: Mark Joseph Stern, legal reporter for Slate.

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How Long Will Affirmative Action Last? Oct 07, 2019

Last week, a contentious affirmative action case came to a temporary resolution. In a lawsuit filed against Harvard by Asian American students and conservative opponents of affirmative action, a judge ruled in favor of the university’s race-conscious admissions process. The selection process, she says, helps create a diverse student body and does not discriminate against Asian American applicants. But here’s the catch: there are examples of bias in the application process. And this case is probably far from over.

Guest: Elie Mystal, executive editor of Above The Law and contributing writer at The Nation.

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Between Trump and the Snake Moat Oct 04, 2019

How independent can a Trump cabinet official be? Acting DHS chief Kevin McAleenan is testing the limits.

Guest: Nick Miroff, Washington Post reporter covering immigration enforcement and the Department of Homeland Security.

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Adam Schiff's Inquiry Oct 03, 2019

Adam Schiff was elected to Congress as part of the blowback against House Republicans after the Clinton impeachment saga in the late 1990s. Now he’s at the forefront of another spectacular political scandal enveloping Washington. Schiff, who chairs the House Intelligence Committee, has been a leading critic of the Trump administration. But that doesn’t mean he’s losing his cool now that the impeachment inquiry is officially underway. Schiff remains composed, pragmatic, and understated—which might be the best tactic for squaring off against the president.

Guest: Todd Purdum, staff writer at the Atlantic.

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The Ukraine Scandal Was in Plain Sight Oct 02, 2019

In the late spring and early summer of 2019 there were these stories. Stories that ran in the New York Times and BuzzFeed News about Rudy Giuliani and his backchannel campaign to get Ukraine’s help securing Donald Trump’s re-election. Though not easy reads these articles are undoubtedly the first draft of what Washington can’t stop talking about now, the Ukraine Scandal. So, what made the whistleblower’s version of the story stick?

Guest: Eric Umansky, Deputy Managing Editor at ProPublica and Editor of the Trump, Inc. podcast.

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How Green is Amazon’s Future? Oct 01, 2019

A growing contingent of Amazon employees has been pushing the company to be a leader in the fight against climate change. Recently, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos promised to reduce carbon emissions and add thousands of electric trucks to the company’s fleet. Activist employees hope that’s just a beginning.

Guest: Louise Matsakis, staff writer for Wired.

Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, Danielle Hewitt, and Mara Silvers.

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Jeff Flake Talks Impeachment and More Sep 30, 2019

In a week that saw the talks of impeachment boil over into Congressional action, a former Republican Senator says Speaker Nancy Pelosi was right to hold off on an impeachment inquiry until now. Once a reliable critic of the Trump administration, Jeff Flake joins Mary Harris to discuss a week that could change the presidency, how he’s reflecting on the Kavanaugh hearings one year later, and why there’s no room for him in today’s Republican party.

This conversation was recorded live at the Texas Tribune Festival in Austin, TX.

Guest: Former Senator of Arizona, Jeff Flake

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In the Words of the Whistleblower Sep 27, 2019

On Thursday morning, the House Intelligence Committee publicly released a whistleblower complaint providing evidence of President Trump’s alleged abuse of presidential power. The complaint came just before the Acting Director of National Intelligence was due to testify before the committee. Slate's Dahlia Lithwick and Jeremy Stahl take stock of the rapid changes in Washington since House Democrats announced their impeachment inquiry.

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The Struggle for School Integration Sep 26, 2019

Parents in Howard County, Maryland, are pushing back against a school redistricting plan that would address overcrowding and a lack of diversity. Opponents say the changes will disrupt communities and strap kids with longer commutes. They say it’s not fair for their families and their kids. How are educators supposed to make the case that something that upsets individuals is better for the public good?

Guest: Joshua Starr, CEO of PDK International

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So, This Is Impeachment Sep 25, 2019

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced an official impeachment inquiry into President Trump on Tuesday evening. After a year of Democratic leadership holding off, what makes this time different for Speaker Pelosi? And what happens now?

Guests: Dahlia Lithwick, covers the courts and the law for Slate. Jim Newell, political reporter for Slate.

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Will Canada Dump Trudeau? Sep 24, 2019

Last week, Time Magazine released photos of a 29-year-old Justin Trudeau in blackface. In the days following, the Canadian Prime Minister admitted to two more instances of using blackface. The Canadian election is a month away. How will Trudeau’s latest scandal effect it?

Guest: Jesse Brown, host of Canadaland podcast.

Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, Danielle Hewitt and Mara Silvers

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The White House vs. The Whistleblower Sep 23, 2019

Somewhere in Washington right now there is a whistleblower. We don’t know who they are, what their job is, or if they’re a man or a woman. The only thing we do know is that they are in the middle of a political firestorm. So, how did this all come about? And will it be enough to push Congress to act?

Guest: Shane Harris, covers intelligence and national security for the Washington Post.

To learn more about the Hunter Biden story, check out our episode from earlier this summer: "The Cloud Over Joe Biden's Son."

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Trump and Modi’s Rodeo Sep 20, 2019

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held his first rally in the U.S. when he was elected in 2014. Now, he’s coming back to appear in front of 50,000 people in Houston, Texas. The other person expected to take the stage is President Trump. So, what do the leaders of the world’s two largest democracies plan to gain from the visit?

Guest: Milan Vaishnav, director of the South Asia Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

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The Price of a Peanut Allergy Sep 19, 2019

A buzzy new drug to help treat people with a peanut allergy was recommended for approval by an FDA advisory board this week. It would be the first government-approved method intended to combat these kinds of allergic reactions. The story behind that drug helps explain how the cost of many prescription drugs ends up being so high.

Guest: James Hamblin, staff writer at The Atlantic.

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Are College Athletes About to Get Paid? Sep 18, 2019

A star college athlete can help rake in millions for the schools they attend but never see a cent for themselves because of existing NCAA rules. California lawmakers just passed a bill that would allow collegiate athletes to profit off of their name, likeness and image in a step to rectify the discrepancy. The Fair Pay for Play Act is just a piece of the larger conversation about paying college athletes. Is the NCAA being pulled closer to paying its athletes?

Guest: Bomani Jones, Co-Host of ESPN’s High Noon and host of The Right Time with Bomani Jones

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What Does It Mean to Be "for Impeachment”? Sep 17, 2019

Last week the House Judiciary Committee voted along party lines on new investigative procedures the panel will use as they inch closer and closer to possibly writing articles of impeachment. So, has the impeachment conversation changed on Capitol Hill? And is today’s hearing with Corey Lewandowski the first test?

Guest: Rachael Bade, Congressional reporter for the Washington Post

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Is Texas Moving on Guns? Sep 16, 2019

Last week the lieutenant governor of Texas, Dan Patrick, came out in support of modest background checks for gun sales. In the past, even the mere suggestion of tighter gun laws was a career ender for Texas Republicans. Are the political winds shifting on guns in Texas?

Guest: Ross Ramsey, executive editor of the Texas Tribune

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Trump Takes On the Auto Industry Sep 13, 2019

There’s a fight brewing between four auto makers and the Trump administration. This fight is largely about environmental regulations -- but it’s also about what kind of governance is required to have a thriving national economy. And the U.S. might be losing its edge.

Guest: Tim Puko, reporter covering energy policy for the Wall Street Journal.

Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, Danielle Hewitt, and Mara Silvers.

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Chasing Joe Biden Sep 12, 2019

Vice President Joe Biden still holds a wide lead in Democratic primary polls. Candidates who want to attack him at tonight’s primary debate do so at their own risk.

Guest: Slate’s Jim Newell.

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Bolton Exits, But It’s Still Trump’s Show Sep 11, 2019

President Donald Trump and his now former national security adviser, John Bolton, have had their differences. From North Korea to Iran, the two have been at odds with one another on some of the most important foreign policy decisions. That tension boiled over with the president tweeting, "I disagreed strongly with many of his suggestions, as did others in the Administration, and therefore I asked John for his resignation, which was given to me this morning." Bolton responded quickly saying, "I offered to resign last night and President Trump said, ‘Let’s talk about it tomorrow.’ "

Whatever the case, again there’s a hole waiting to be filled on Trump’s national security team. What happened that pushed Trump’s fight with Bolton over the edge? And what does it mean that Trump is now 0–3 on national security advisers?

Guest: Shane Harris, intelligence and national security reporter for the Washington Post

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Coal Country Has Been Burned Before Sep 10, 2019

A group of unpaid miners has blockaded a railway in Harlan County, Kentucky. The goal? Stop a train car full of their former employer’s coal from going to market until they get what they’re owed. It’s a straightforward protest that has been going on for more than six weeks now. One thing that isn’t so straightforward, however? How to help coal mining communities, like the ones in Harlan County, confront a future with less and less coal.

Guests: Gary Lewis, Harlan County miner, and Ken Ward Jr., reporter at the Charleston Gazette-Mail.

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How the Electoral College Will Crumble Sep 09, 2019

Twice in two decades, the Electoral College has created great, big questions about presidential legitimacy. Is it time for a tune-up?

Guest: Slate’s Mark Joseph Stern.

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When Is It Okay to Out Political Donors? Sep 06, 2019

Last month, Representative Joaquin Castro tweeted out a list of Trump donors living in his district in San Antonio. Actress Debra Messing asked for an attendance list at a Trump fundraiser in Beverly Hills. Both efforts were likened to doxxing or blacklisting. Should political donors be named if they might also be targeted?

Guest: Dahlia Lithwick, legal correspondent and host of the Amicus podcast.

Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, and Danielle Hewitt.

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Anarchy in the U.K. Sep 05, 2019

Just weeks into his role as prime minister, Boris Johnson has kicked the U.K.’s Brexit drama into high gear. It culminated yesterday in a vote that would force him to delay Britain’s EU exit until Jan. 31, 2020, unless Parliament (in an unlikely scenario) votes to approve a new deal or support a no-deal Brexit by Oct. 19. Johnson has responded by threatening to call a general election in hopes of regaining a governing majority.

Is a general election the answer to this Brexit mess?

Guest: Josh Keating, international editor at Slate.

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There's Something in the Water Sep 04, 2019

When Christopher Werth saw some paint chips falling off a radiator in his daughter’s New York City classroom, he picked one up and sent it to get tested. The results spurred him to launch a larger investigation into lead exposure in New York City classrooms.

Just across the river in Newark, New Jersey, another city is dealing with its own lead troubles. Elevated levels of the metal have been found in the city’s drinking water.

What do these two cases tell us about the legacy of lead in America? And what can be done about it?

Guest: Christopher Werth, Senior Editor at WNYC

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Scrapping the Senate Filibuster Sep 03, 2019

What would it look like if the U.S. Senate ditched its filibuster rule, allowing legislation to pass with just a simple majority?

Guest: Slate staff writer Jim Newell.

Podcast production by Mary Wilson and Jayson De Leon.

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Mexico’s About-Face on Immigration Aug 30, 2019

How has Mexico President Andrés Manuel López Obrador changed his country’s approach to migrants heading north?

Guest: León Krauze, Slate columnist, Trumpcast co-host, and Univision news anchor.

This episode originally aired in April 2019.

Podcast production by Mary Wilson and Jayson De Leon.

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Listening to Ilhan Omar Aug 29, 2019

Back in March, Rep. Ilhan Omar spoke passionately about pro-Israel political forces that “push for allegiance to a foreign country.” She later apologized for unwittingly deploying an anti-Semitic trope. Why were Omar’s words so triggering? And is she making a fair point?

Guest: Slate economics & policy writer Jordan Weissmann.

This episode originally aired in March 2019.

Podcast production by Mary Wilson and Jayson De Leon.

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The Recycling Crisis Aug 28, 2019

Henry Grabar explains why the global market for your trash collapsed, and how American recyclers are course-correcting.

Guest: Meleesa Johnson, president of the Associated Recyclers of Wisconsin.

This show originally aired in April 2019.

Podcast production by Mary Wilson and Jayson De Leon.

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Court-Packing Is Not That Extreme Aug 27, 2019

Some of your favorite presidents have tried to pack the Supreme Court. So why does it sound like such an extreme tactic? And how did some of the top Democrats running for president come to embrace it?

Guest: Mark Joseph Stern, Slate’s legal correspondent.

This episode originally aired in March 2019.

Podcast production by Mary Wilson and Jayson De Leon.

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Reconsidering Joe Biden’s Record Aug 26, 2019

Joe Biden might be the favorite to defeat President Trump, but that doesn’t mean Biden would defeat Trumpism.

Guest: Jamelle Bouie, New York Times Columnist.

This episode was first posted on March 12, 2019.

Podcast production by Mary Wilson and Jayson De Leon.

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The Dangerous Idea Behind the World’s Unrest Aug 23, 2019

Over the past several months, tensions have escalated in Hong Kong, Kashmir, and the United States. Each for their own reasons. But what if all these headlines are connected?

Guest: Josh Keating, international editor at Slate

For more information about this episode please read:

• “The Next Jimmy Aldaoud” by Chris Gelardi

• “India’s Great Disenfranchisement” by Namrata Kolachalam

• “Crossing a Line in Kashmir” by Nitish Pahwa

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The Next Housing Crisis Aug 22, 2019

Henry Grabar fills in as host, surveying how the Democratic presidential candidates would try to fix the housing affordability crisis. What kinds of local policies have given rise to the crisis in the first place?

Guest: Jenny Schuetz, a fellow at Brookings.

Podcast production by Sam Lee with help from Danielle Hewitt.

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The Danger Around the Corner Aug 21, 2019

When it comes to pedestrian deaths, the Sun Belt is the most dangerous area in the country. Six of the 10 most dangerous metro areas for pedestrians are located in Florida. Nineteen of the top 20 are in the Sun Belt. How is the way we build our cities and suburbs contributing to the problem? And what can be done to try to reduce traffic deaths across the country?

Guest: Angie Schmitt, writer Streetsblog USA

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Writing the New Playbook for Political Women Aug 20, 2019

Activists invigorated by the Women’s March and the Me Too movement are expanding the definition of what it means to be a female political leader. Meet one woman who’s coaching them along the way.

Guest: Chris Jahnke, speech coach to women working in politics.

Podcast production by Samantha Lee with help from Danielle Hewitt.

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Delaware Could Elect the Nation’s First Trans State Senator Aug 19, 2019

Sarah McBride made waves at the Democratic National Convention in 2016 as the first transgender person to speak at a major party convention. Three years and many political successes later, McBride is trying to add another win to her résumé. One that would make her the first elected openly transgender state senator in America’s history.

Guest: Sarah McBride, candidate for Senate District 1 in Delaware.

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How to Avoid a Recession Aug 16, 2019

Did your heart skip a beat reading and hearing about all the economic news this week? Today on the show we explain just what’s happening in the markets and try to pin down why things are happening the way they are. Plus, we offer a few possible ways to stave off the worst of an economic downturn.

Guest: Jordan Weissmann, Slate’s senior business and economics correspondent

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Hong Kong’s Protesters Have No Good Options Aug 15, 2019

This week the pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong escalated, as activists effectively shut down an airport and beat up suspected imposters. Activists show no sign of letting up, even though the local government has withdrawn the extradition bill that initially sparked outcry. How could this possibly end?

Guest: Yvonne Chiu, professor at the U.S. Naval War College.

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The Iowa State Fair Will Never Make Sense Aug 14, 2019

Another presidential primary means another trip to the Iowa State Fair. But the Democratic Party’s new rules for thinning down the field of candidates means a photo-op with a turkey leg isn’t all it used to be.

Guest: Slate’s politics writer Jim Newell.

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The Gangs and Corruption Fueling the Border Crisis Aug 13, 2019

The demographics of migrants crossing the southern border of the United States have changed over the last several decades. What used to be young Mexican men seeking economic opportunity has turned into families seeking refuge from broken Central American governments. Sonia Nazario has spent decades reporting from Honduras, a country where corruption runs rampant and gangs have become the de facto government. She says that the foreign aid that the Trump administration has cut off to Central America is the very aid that could help solve the crisis at the southern border.

Guest: Sonia Nazario, journalist and author of Enrique's Journey: The Story of a Boy's Dangerous Odyssey to Reunite with His Mother.

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Can Any School Be Massacre-Proof? Aug 12, 2019

In the absence of new federal laws to address mass shootings, school safety has become a design problem. Guest host Henry Grabar asks: How are architects responding to an era of active shooter drills and bulletproof backpacks?

Guest: Jenine Kotob, architectural designer at Hord Coplan Macht.

Podcast production by Mary Wilson and Jayson De Leon.

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Ferguson Revisited: A Prosecutor’s Power Aug 09, 2019

Five years ago Wesley Bell watched as protests erupted across Ferguson in the wake of Michael Brown’s death. Bell, the son of a police officer, stood between the protestors and the police as he watched Ferguson descend into chaos. In an effort to make lasting change in the community he decided to run for public office. Seven months ago, he won.

In our third and final episode revisiting Ferguson, we talk to Wesley Bell about his new role as St. Louis County’s top prosecutor and how he has decided to use his power.

Guest: Wesley Bell, prosecuting attorney, St. Louis County

Listen to Parts 1 and 2 of our series, “The Worst Night” and “Questioning the Legend.”

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Ferguson Revisited: Questioning the Legend Aug 08, 2019

There are two stories of what happened in Ferguson, Missouri, the day Michael Brown was shot and killed by police officer Darren Wilson: the story we heard immediately after, and the story we came to know months later.

In the second part of our three-part series, we ask: If we misremember Michael Brown’s death, does that change Ferguson’s legacy?

Guest: John McWhorter, writer, professor, and host of Lexicon Valley.

Listen to Part 1 of our series, “The Worst Night”

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Ferguson Revisited: The Worst Night Aug 07, 2019

Its been five years since Michael Brown was shot and killed by officer Darren Wilson in the middle of Ferguson’s Canfield Drive. His death at the hands of a police officer sparked protests across the country and cemented the Black Lives Matter movement into the American consciousness.

In the first of our three-part series, we ask: "On the worst night of clashes between protestors and police in Ferguson, what didn't we see?"

Guest: Joel Anderson, Host of Slow Burn.

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The Last Time We Passed Gun Control Aug 06, 2019

In 1993, a mass shooting in downtown San Francisco prompted a familiar debate about restricting access to guns and assault weapons. But something unusual happened. Two major gun control bills passed Congress and were signed into law. How did it happen?

Guest: Harry Cheadle, senior editor at Vice. Read his piece on the 101 California Street shooting.

Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, and Ethan Brooks.

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You’ve Probably Been Hacked Aug 05, 2019

Capital One is only the latest victim of a massive data breach. Equifax announced millions of users were affected by its data breach back in 2017. The fallout from Equifax’s episode is still playing out today.

Why is the United States so bad at defending against cyberattacks? And once the damage is done, why can’t we manage the fallout?

Guest: Josephine Wolff, assistant professor of cybersecurity policy at Tufts. She’s the author of You’ll See This Message When It Is Too Late: The Legal and Economic Aftermath of Cybersecurity Breaches.

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Clemency for Cyntoia Brown Aug 02, 2019

Advocate Mariame Kaba explains why the Cyntoia Brown story is compelling, complicated, and deeply frustrating -- why it's wrong to portray Cyntoia Brown as a child, why Brown’s story is deeply familiar to black women in America, and why Kaba considers Brown’s crime a radical act of “self-love.”

This episode originally aired January 9th, 2019.

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Red State Democrats Walk the Tightrope Aug 01, 2019

In just over a month, North Carolina’s 9th Congressional District will hold a special election. The Democratic candidate has been running for over two years and following the red state Democrat playbook to the letter. The new Republican candidate is running as the sensible conservative who will defend the president. Which strategy will prevail? What can that tell us about voters heading into 2020?

Guest: Dave Weigel covers politics for the Washington Post.

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A Big Sign of a Slowing Economy Jul 31, 2019

The Fed will cut interest rates Wednesday for the first time since the Great Recession. Why are they cutting the rate now, and what does that mean for the underlying strength of the economy?

Guest: Jordan Weissmann, Senior Economic Correspondent at Slate

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How YouTube's Left is Converting the Far Right Jul 30, 2019

Here's how a leftist, transgender, PhD dropout is winning over white supremacists and more on YouTube.

Guest: Micah Loewinger, producer at WNYC's On The Media.

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The Godfather of the Anti-Immigration Movement Jul 29, 2019

How did a small-town eye doctor mastermind an anti-immigration movement premised on racism?

Guest: Hassan Ahmad, founder of the HMA Law Firm in Virginia. He is suing the University of Michigan to unseal the complete archives of the late John Tanton.

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Meet the EPA’s Ghost-Writer Jul 26, 2019

A scientist on the outer fringes of his field has been patiently making the case that the U.S. government applies far too conservative controls on toxins in the environment. Now, he’s trying to implement his ideas at the EPA -- by writing a sweeping new rule that could make the agency unable to regulate pollution & other contaminants.

Guest: Susanne Rust, reporter for the Los Angeles Times.

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Mueller Speaks Jul 25, 2019

Special Counsel Robert Mueller appeared determined to do two things in his House testimony on Wednesday: carry no water for partisans, and communicate the national security threat of Russia’s interference in U.S. elections.

Guest: Slate’s Dahlia Lithwick, who predicted the Mueller testimony would be a “game of chicken between chickens.”

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Puerto Ricans Are Fed Up Jul 24, 2019

The protests in Puerto Rico are about so much more than nasty messages endorsed by the governor. The island’s political grievances were decades in the making -- and even if protesters get the governor to resign, there are more complicated power struggles ahead.

Guest: Natalia Rodríguez Medina, who has been covering Puerto Rico’s protests for Latino Rebels.

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How to Stop a Racist Politician Jul 23, 2019

In 1990, David Duke ran for Senate in Louisiana, appalling the Republican establishment and freaking out the Democratic consultant-class. Duke didn’t win -- but he did well enough to feel emboldened, and a year later he launched a campaign for Louisiana governor. The coalition that formed to defeat Duke has some advice for anyone trying to squelch racist policies and rhetoric today.

Guest: Tim J. Wise, author of the books White Like Me: Reflections on Race From a Privileged Son and Dear White America: Letter to a New Minority.

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The Border Patrol's Secretive Culture Jul 22, 2019

“I’m 10-15.” That’s the border patrol code for “alien in custody.” It's also the name of a secret Facebook group where a number of Customs and Border Protection agents posted racist and sexist memes. What about this agency allows such rampant misconduct?

Guest: A.C. Thompson, reporter at ProPublica. Read his story on the secret Border Patrol Facebook group.

Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, and Ethan Brooks.

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Deutsche Bank Is Trying to Wash Its Hands of Trump Jul 19, 2019

Deutsche Bank was the one lender that couldn’t quit Donald Trump. Now the bank holds the key to understanding President Trump’s finances.

Guest: David Enrich, finance editor for the New York Times.

Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, and Ethan Brooks

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How Trump Is Trying to Outsource His Border Crisis Jul 18, 2019

It was all lined up just how President Trump wanted. A "safe-third-country" agreement with Guatemala was nearly complete, but over the weekend it fell apart. This is the second time the administration has tried to negotiate a safe-third-country agreement with a Central American country. Why is this the thing the Trump administration wants? And where does it leave those who are desperate and seeking asylum in America?

Guest: Jonathan Blitzer, staff writer at the New Yorker. Read his story on how the negotiations between the Trump administration and Guatemala fell apart.

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The Plan to Take Down Mitch McConnell Jul 17, 2019

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is the most unpopular senator in the country. Yet, he has represented the state of Kentucky for over 25 years, defeating an array of opponents along the way. Will his challenger in 2020 suffer the same fate as the rest?

Guest: Ryland Barton, Capitol Bureau Chief at Kentucky Public Radio.

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Trump's Racist Tweets Have a Backstory Jul 16, 2019

Over the weekend President Trump's timeline filled with racist comments directed at members of the so-called "Squad." This includes Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib, and Ayanna Pressley. In a press conference on Monday, the president defended his racist rant while at the same time trying to deepen divisions between House Democrats -- divisions that are very real and have become very public. How did the conflict between House Democrats make its way to the President Trump’s timeline?

Guest: Ryan Grim, DC Bureau Chief at The Intercept and author of We’ve Got People: From Jesse Jackson to AOC, the End of Big Money and the Rise of a Movement.

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Should Everyone Quit Using Gendered Pronouns? Jul 15, 2019

Why not go by they/them? Would a gender-neutral world be better? And what would it look like?

Guest: Farhad Manjoo, New York Times op-ed columnist. Read their latest, “Call Me ‘They.’”

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This Bad Legal Argument Could Finally End the ACA Jul 12, 2019

This week, an appellate court in New Orleans heard oral arguments on the constitutionality of the ACA. The argument? That Obamacare is more coercive without a tax penalty.

This position - one that has lawyers on both sides of the isle scratching their heads - may end up at the Supreme Court. Could this bad legal argument spell the end of the line for Obamacare?

Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, and Ethan Brooks.

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The Ambassador Who Was Too Honest About Trump Jul 11, 2019

The intriguing story of a British ambassador’s hasty resignation, and why it perfectly encapsulates our current geopolitical moment. This story has everything: leaked confidential reports, world trade implications, and a reference to the movie The Terminator.

Guest: Slate’s Josh Keating, international editor.

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The Cloud Over Joe Biden's Son Jul 10, 2019

Is there something fishy about the way Hunter Biden made money while his father was serving as vice president? One reporter looked into it. But he didn’t find corruption. He found something far more complicated -- and commonplace.

Guest: Adam Entous, staff writer for the New Yorker. Read his piece on Hunter Biden.

Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, and Ethan Brooks.

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The Long, Ugly Road to Jeffrey Epstein’s Arrest Jul 09, 2019

Over the weekend, multimillionaire Jeffrey Epstein was arrested on charges of sex trafficking. But back in 2003, journalist Vicky Ward had the inside scoop on Epstein: She interviewed two of his victims and wrote up the story for Vanity Fair. And then, her editor spiked the allegations from the story. This is the story of how Epstein used his connections to evade scrutiny... again and again.

Guest: Journalist Vicky Ward. Her latest book is Kushner, Inc.

Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, and Ethan Brooks.

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A Rare Look Inside a Private Prison Jul 08, 2019

At a prison in southern Mississippi, guards can’t do basic population counts. They can’t keep cellphones, drugs, and weapons out of the building. They are at the mercy of gang leaders to control the inmates. Is this just what happens when you try to do corrections on the cheap?

Guests: Joseph Neff and Alysia Santo, staff writers for the Marshall Project. Read their story on Wilkinson County Correctional Facility.

Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, and Ethan Brooks.

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Can New York Desegregate Its Schools? Jul 03, 2019

Jumaane Williams has been an activist, a city councilman, and is currently New York City’s public advocate. However, before that, he was a student in New York City’s public education system. As a product of the system, Williams is thinking about ways to address the segregation that exists among public schools in New York City today.

This show was recorded live at Slate Day 2019.

Guest: Jumaane Williams, public advocate for New York City.

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The “Busing” Skeleton in the Democrats’ Closet Jul 02, 2019

Last week, Kamala Harris challenged Joe Biden on his record with respect to busing. Most Americans understand busing in the context of the segregated south, but for Kamala Harris, the story is different. What does her experience as a child in the Berkley school system tell us about busing? And why could this issue be a tricky one for some Democrats going into 2020?

Guest: Matt Delmont, Professor of History at Dartmouth College

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Can Nipsey Hussle’s Death Bring Peace to L.A.’s Gangs? Jul 01, 2019

In the days after rapper Nipsey Hussle was killed, members of rival gangs across Los Angeles came together to mourn his death. In the months since, that mourning has turned into action as gang leaders attempt to broker peace within their warring factions. Now that some have reached a tentative cease-fire, the question now is: Will it last?

Guest: Cindy Chang, a reporter covering L.A. police for the Los Angeles Times.

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Supreme Court Hands Democrats Small Win and Big Loss Jun 28, 2019

On Thursday, the Supreme Court blocked the addition of a citizenship question to the 2020 census and delivered a staggering win for the Republican party in the case of partisan gerrymandering. Is this just another case of a small win for progressives and a huge win for conservatives? And what do the decisions tell us about the roles of Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Kavanaugh on the court moving forward?

Guest: Mark Joseph Stern, covers courts and the law for Slate

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Oregon Republicans Walked Out, Democrats Caved Jun 27, 2019

Republican state senators in Oregon are refusing to go to work. In a state legislature where Democrats hold a supermajority, the walkout is one way Republicans can put a halt to their rivals progressive agenda. With several statehouses throughout the nation being held by a supermajority, is walking out going to become more common?

Guest: Jason Wilson, journalist and columnist at The Guardian

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Mayor Pete’s Policing Problem Jun 26, 2019

Eric Logan, a black resident in South Bend, Indiana, was shot and killed by a police officer in the early morning hours on Father’s Day. Mayor Pete Buttigieg returned to the city, putting a halt to his presidential campaign, to deal with the fallout. The return home hasn’t been so welcoming.

Guest: Adam Wren, contributing editor at POLITICO and Indianapolis Monthly

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A Polluted Town Fights for Its Right to Breathe Jun 25, 2019

For years the residents of St. John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana thought their town was simply the victim of bad luck. Suffering more than their share of illnesses. Almost everyone in the town knows someone that has died of cancer. It was only in July 2016 that the EPA informed the people of St. John that the local neoprene plant was emitting carcinogens leaving the small town with the highest risk of cancer from air pollution in the whole nation. With the residents in a fight for their very lives, what could the way politicians reacted to another town’s poisonous air pollution tell us about why nobody has acted to save St. John, Louisiana?

Guest: Sharon Lerner, environmental reporter at The Intercept

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An Iran Deal Architect Watches It Get Nuked Jun 24, 2019

Last week, a series of escalations brought the US to the brink of a strike on Iran. But only a few short years ago, the leaders of both countries were celebrating a landmark nuclear agreement. What changed? One of the architects of the Iran Nuclear Deal takes us through the journey, and lays out the Trump Administration’s limited options in the coming weeks.

Guest: Ambassador Wendy Sherman, former Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs

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The Smugglers Getting Rich Off Trump’s Policies Jun 21, 2019

Mexico has agreed to crack down on immigration in response to threats from President Trump. But that isn’t stopping the flow of migrants -- it’s pushing it further underground.

Guest: Emily Green, freelance reporter. You can read her latest story on VICE News.

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He Got a Pardon. Now He’s Administering Them. Jun 20, 2019

For a long time, Brandon Flood kept his criminal history quiet - he worked in the Pennsylvania state government, and didn’t want his former convictions to detract from his career success. But now, that history makes him uniquely suited for his new job as secretary of the state’s Board of Pardons. How did he go from submitting his own pardon application - to one year later, leading the body that helps make those clemency decisions? This episode was originally posted in April.

Guest: Brandon Flood, Secretary of the Pennsylvania state Board of Pardons.

Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, and Ethan Brooks

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How Pelosi Holds the Line on Impeachment Jun 19, 2019

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s political philosophy is an elegant one: If you want to do something bold, you must follow public sentiment, not lead it. Now why can’t House Democrats seem to shape public sentiment? And what makes them so afraid to cross their caucus leader?

Guest: Rachael Bade, Congress reporter for the Washington Post.

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Strange Alliances on the Supreme Court Jun 18, 2019

It’s June, which means it’s the season of highly anticipated Supreme Court rulings. We’re taking a look at two cases that shook up the typical partisan fault line on the bench. How did conservative and liberal justices find themselves making unusual alliances on double jeopardy and racial gerrymandering?

Guest: Mark Joseph Stern, Slate’s courts correspondent.

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For Women’s Soccer, An Elusive Goal Jun 17, 2019

At the Women’s World Cup this year, the U.S. players talk about living in a “bubble” -- thinking of nothing but the game, eschewing any distractions. What looms outside that bubble is their lawsuit against their federation for gender discrimination, and it’s already shading the reactions to their games.

Guest: Nancy Armour, sports columnist for USA TODAY.

Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, and Ethan Brooks.

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What Bernie Gets Wrong About Socialism Jun 14, 2019

The Bernie Sanders campaign billed his speech on Wednesday as a “major address on how democratic socialism is the only way to defeat oligarchy and authoritarianism.” Besides being a mouthful, the speech was an attempt for Bernie to explain why he calls himself a socialist. However, he gets a key element of the pitch wrong. Was it an accident or is Bernie intentionally trying to change what being a socialist in America means?

Guest: Jordan Weissmann, economics and policy writer at Slate.

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How Facebook Made an Enemy of Nancy Pelosi Jun 13, 2019

Mark Zuckerberg used to avoid traveling to Washington, D.C., leaving a lot of the political outreach Facebook needed to do to COO Sheryl Sandberg. Now? He’s personally putting in phone calls to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (who won’t return his calls). What does the incident concerning the distorted video of Pelosi that went viral show us about how the social media giant’s relationship with policymakers is changing? And what does it mean for the 2020 elections?

Guest: Elizabeth Dwoskin, Silicon Valley correspondent for the Washington Post

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It’s Mitch McConnell’s Swamp. We Just Live in It. Jun 12, 2019

If you walk to the Ohio riverfront from Owensboro’s City Hall, past the Courthouse, and the Museum of Science and History, you’ll get to McConnell Plaza. Mitch McConnell Plaza. For years, this town has been courting the Senate majority leader and, recently, its paid off. What does the relationship between his office and his wife, Elaine Chao’s, office have to do with the grants this small city is receiving? Are ethics being violated?

Guest: Tanya Snyder, transportation reporter at POLITICO. Read her latest story on Mitch McConnell and Elaine Chao.

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Elizabeth Warren Is Not Here to Charm You Jun 11, 2019

Elizabeth Warren might be a different kind of presidential candidate. Is America ready for that?

Guest: Dahlia Lithwick, Slate writer and host of the Amicus podcast.

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Why Gun Bills in Virginia Always Die Jun 10, 2019

Before Chris Hurst was a legislator in Virginia’s House of Delegates, he was a local news anchor. Working out of the same newsroom as his then-girlfriend, Alison Parker. Alison was tragically shot and killed on live TV alongside her colleague Adam Ward nearly four years ago. In the years that followed Chris has been a proponent of gun control in a state that is reluctant to change its gun laws. In the wake of the mass shooting at Virginia Beach on May 31, Virginia’s democratic governor called for a special legislative session to consider new gun laws in the state, but will the Republican Legislature rise to the occasion?

Guest: Chris Hurst, delegate in the Virginia House of Delegates for the state's 12th District.

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Who Wants to Tax a Millionaire? Jun 07, 2019

As Democrats try to find an economic message that can win in 2020, a group of like-minded millionaires is making the rounds, telling any politicians who will listen, “We want to pay more in taxes.” Why, though?

Guest: Morris Pearl, chair of Patriotic Millionaires.

Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, and Ethan Brooks.

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A Health Care Tale of Two States Jun 06, 2019

Washington and Connecticut set out to change health care in their own states using “public option” legislation. With the 2020 candidates discussing Medicare for All, these two states may serve as an example on the kinds of resistance the idea will meet in practice.

Guest: Jordan Weissmann, writer at Slate.

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The Crowd-Funded Border Wall Is Not a Joke Jun 05, 2019

The strange tale of how a group of Trump supporters started building the border wall themselves, and why the southern border has become a proving ground and businesses and politicians who want to catch the president’s eye.

Guest: Politico reporter Ben Schreckinger. Read his latest story from the Southern border.

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The GOP Operative Haunting Republicans From the Grave Jun 04, 2019

Tom Hofeller was a dedicated Republican operative, committed to achieving GOP political dominance and doing it with utmost discretion. Now, his political legacy is in the hands of the U.S. Supreme Court—and all because his daughter shared his old computer archives with the wrong group of lawyers.

Guests: Bob Phillips, executive director of Common Cause North Carolina. David Daley, author of Ratf**ked: The True Story Behind the Secret Plan to Steal America’s Democracy.

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The Basketball Coach Who Won’t Hire Men Jun 03, 2019

Notre Dame basketball coach Muffet McGraw wasn’t planning on making a speech about feminism and gender equality. But at a press conference before the Final Four tournament, that’s just what she did, launching into a screed about the dearth of women in government, politics, corporate C-suites, and sports. “We don’t have enough female role models,” McGraw said. “Men run the world!” The viral moment was a lifetime in the making.

Guest: Muffet McGraw, head coach of the Notre Dame women’s basketball team.

Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, and Ethan Brooks.

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Why Can’t California Fix Its Housing Crisis? May 31, 2019

“California is full.” That’s effectively what some residents and lawmakers in the state said when they chose to punt on a bill that would build more financially sane housing across its biggest metropolitan areas. What does the story of that bill tell us about policymaking for housing and transportation in America? And in a state where homelessness is increasing at an alarming rate, how long will it take California to build the housing it desperately needs?

Guest: Farhad Manjoo, a New York Times opinion columnist, who covers technology, global affairs, and culture.

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Mueller Would Like You to Read His Report, Please May 30, 2019

Special Counsel Robert Mueller breaks his silence to reiterate the conclusions of his investigation’s report -- and remind the American people to read it.

Guest: Slate’s Dahlia Lithwick, host of the Amicus podcast.

Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, and Ethan Brooks.

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Brexiteers Receive Milkshakes and Results May 29, 2019

It was the election that was never supposed to happen in the UK in the first place. Several delays, a few milkshakes, and a resignation later the British found themselves voting over the weekend for European Parliament. How did Brexiteers and Remainers fare in this past weekend’s vote? And what does it mean for the UK and Europe writ large?

Guest: Josh Keating, International Editor at Slate

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Why Trump Keeps Losing in Court May 28, 2019

Everywhere President Trump turns, he’s finding himself hemmed in by the courts. But could upcoming rulings from the Supreme Court make lower court judges take a more expansive view of the president’s executive powers?

Guest: Slate writer Mark Joseph Stern.

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The "American Taliban" Goes Free May 24, 2019

In the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, U.S. forces scoured Afghanistan for Taliban fighters. They weren’t expecting to find John Walker Lindh, a young man from California who had converted to Islam and moved abroad to study the Quran. Lindh was dubbed the “American Taliban,” but his case ended in a plea deal, leaving his treatment while in custody a secret. At the time, Lindh’s story seemed uncomplicated: He was associating with extremists. Now, years later, his case feels like a missed opportunity. How did it happen that he went through our criminal justice system, but we learned so little about extremism and the nation’s treatment of detainees?

Guest: Karen Greenberg, director of the Center on National Security at Fordham University School of Law. Her book is Rogue Justice: The Making of the Security State.

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Losing the Abortion Fight in Georgia May 23, 2019

Last week, Georgia joined the wave of states passing stringent anti-abortion laws in a bid to topple Roe v. Wade. One Democratic state senator says she hasn’t lost her resolve to fight for women’s bodily autonomy.

Guest: Georgia state Sen. Jen Jordan, representing parts of Atlanta and its northwestern suburbs

Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, and Ethan Brooks.

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Smile! You're on Amazon's Camera May 22, 2019

Sheriff’s offices across the country are signing up to beta-test a facial recognition tool made by Amazon. Law enforcement proponents say the technology helps find perpetrators who otherwise may go free. But civil liberties advocates have questions about the accuracy —and the constitutionality—of these tools.

Guest: Reporter Drew Harwell. Read his latest in the Washington Post.

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Billionaire Gifts Can’t Fix College Debt May 21, 2019

Over the weekend, billionaire Robert F. Smith ended his commencement address to the Morehouse Class of 2019 with an extraordinary pledge: He would pay off the entire class’s student debt. Smith’s pledge will undoubtedly transform the lives of those students, but what about everyone else? What does student debt relief look like on a national scale? And what can we learn from studying the Morehouse Class of 2019?

Guest: Jordan Weissmann, Slate’s senior business and economics correspondent.

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Why No One Takes Bill de Blasio Seriously May 20, 2019

When New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced he would run for president, the mockery was swift. City tabloids were typically disdainful (New York Post: “Everyone Hates Bill!”). New York’s attorney general quipped, “Why?” Even de Blasio’s former staffers have declined to voice support for their old boss’s presidential bid. Here, now, an explanation for why New Yorkers are so sure their mayor would be a bad fit for the White House.

Guest: Henry Grabar, Slate staff writer.

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Who Got Hacked in Florida? May 17, 2019

For the past couple years, politicians in Florida have been raising concerns about election security and making vague allusions to Russian hackers gaining access to voter databases. With the Mueller report, we finally got confirmation—but that’s about all we got. Are voters ever going to get the full picture of how Florida election information networks might have been compromised in 2016? And, if we want our systems to remain secure … should we want the full picture to be available, even to our enemies?

Guests: Politico reporter Gary Fineout, and Leon County Elections Supervisor Mark Earley.

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Harvard's Harvey Weinstein Mess May 16, 2019

Ronald Sullivan joined Harvey Weinstein’s defense team in January. This set off a wave of protests and sit-ins across the Harvard campus asking for the removal of Sullivan as faculty dean at the university. And those student protests worked. On Saturday, Harvard University announced that it was declining to renew the appointments of Ronald Sullivan and his wife, Stephanie Robinson, as faculty deans of Winthrop House. What precedent does this decision set? And is it fair for the university to strip them of their positions?

Guest: Lara Bazelon, an associate professor at the University of San Francisco School of Law.

Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, and Ethan Brooks.

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John Bolton’s One-Man Show May 15, 2019

If the U.S. stumbles into a war with Iran, it’ll be largely one of John Bolton’s making. The national security adviser appears to be running the foreign policy show at the White House and has a taste for regime change in several countries, including Iran. Who’s the surprising person inside the administration reining him in? And can the U.S. recover from four years of antagonizing our allies and expanding our enemies list?

Guest: Dexter Filkins, staff writer at the New Yorker

Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, and Ethan Brooks

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The Trade War Escalates May 14, 2019

Monday marked another escalation in the trade war with China. And yes, even by the academic definition, our guest says this is a full-blown trade war. Who’s feeling the effect most, and how is the administration handling the fight it began with the world’s second biggest economy? Plus, how are the politics of tariffs playing out for Trump?

Guest: Jordan Weissmann, senior writer at Slate

Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, and Ethan Brooks.

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A Battle Over Abortion in Alabama May 13, 2019

Anti-abortion activists in Alabama are rushing to topple Roe v. Wade. But have they crafted an abortion ban that’s too extreme, even for Alabama’s Republicans?

Guest: Brian Lyman, reporter for the Montgomery Advertiser.

Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, and Anna Martin.

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The Progressive Critic Inside the Church May 10, 2019

Last weekend, Slate published an obituary for Rachel Held Evans, the blogger who championed liberal values and challenged evangelicals on their politics. She was known to her devoted readers as RHE, and she represented something new in evangelical Christian communities, as some began to shift toward a progressive ideology nevertheless rooted in faith. That movement is now expanding beyond churches and into the political sphere, where Christians are no longer assumed to be conservative.

Guest: Slate staff writer Ruth Graham.

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The Mayoral Scandal Gripping Baltimore May 09, 2019

On May 2nd, Catherine Pugh resigned as mayor of Baltimore - making her the second mayor in less than ten years to leave office amid corruption allegations. The scandal forcing her to step down involved a children’s book, an FBI raid, and a host of ethically dubious business relationships at the highest levels of city government. What happens next for Charm City?

Guest: Luke Broadwater, reporter at the Baltimore Sun.

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The Constitutional Tug-of-War Is Just Getting Started May 08, 2019

The House Judiciary Committee is set to vote on holding Attorney General William Barr in contempt of Congress, for failing to provide a full and unredacted copy of the Mueller report. It’s the latest in a series of clashes between the legislative and executive branches—clashes that don’t show any signs of letting up. Was our 230-year-old Constitution designed for this highly partisan, highly confrontational moment?

Guest: Noah Feldman, Harvard Law School professor and host of Deep Background, available on Luminary.

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(Fixed) An ERA Advocate On Why She’s Optimistic May 07, 2019

We got our files mixed up this morning! This is the corrected show for Tuesday, May 7.

The proposed Equal Rights Amendment is simple: It would prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex. To become part of the U.S. Constitution, the ERA has to be passed not just in Congress, but in 38 state legislatures. In 2017, Nevada became the 36th state to pass it. Last year, Illinois became the 37th. And last week, Congress held a hearing on the plan.

Guest: Carol Jenkins, co-president and CEO of the ERA Coalition and the Fund for Women’s Equality.

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Why Don’t Democrats Want to Run for Senate? May 06, 2019

With all the breathless enthusiasm for the presidential race, no one seems very interested in the U.S. Senate. Why not?

Guest: Slate writer Jim Newell.

Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, and Anna Martin, with help from Samantha Lee.

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The Bank That Holds Trump’s Financial Secrets May 03, 2019

Deutsche Bank was the one lender that couldn’t quit Donald Trump. Now the bank holds the key to understanding President Trump’s finances.

Guest: David Enrich, finance editor for the New York Times.

Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, and Anna Martin, with help from Samantha Lee.

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The Battle Over the Mueller Report May 02, 2019

Attorney General William Barr showed up to the Senate Judiciary Committee to testify, but the spotlight was also on his colleague, Special Counsel Robert Mueller. What will it take to resolve the growing divide between these two men and their views of the Mueller investigation?

Guest: Jeremy Stahl, senior editor at Slate.

Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, and Anna Martin, with help from Samantha Lee.

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What Does Joe Biden Owe to Anita Hill? May 01, 2019

Back in 1991, when a 35-year-old law professor named Anita Hill accused Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas of sexual harassment, it was Joe Biden who got to decide how to handle the allegation. Why does Hill think Biden failed her and all subsequent women who would bring a harassment allegation before the Senate? And what does Biden owe those women now, as he seeks the Democratic nomination for president?

Guest: Dahlia Lithwick, writer for Slate and host of the Amicus podcast.

Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, and Anna Martin, with help from Samantha Lee.

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An Uprising at Brigham Young Apr 30, 2019

At Brigham Young University, students and alumni are forcing a conversation about the severe enforcement of the school’s strict Honor Code. How did BYU’s high standards lead to some students feeling less safe?

Guest: Erin Alberty, reporter for the Salt Lake Tribune.

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Inside the Crisis at the NRA Apr 29, 2019

The NRA is in a financial mess of its own doing. A number of executives, vendors, and contractors have used their positions to enrich themselves, extracting hundreds of millions of dollars from the organization in the process. How did secrecy, poor judgement, and sweetheart deals toss the NRA into an existential crisis?

Guest: Mike Spies, reporter at The Trace.

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How Black Feminists Exposed the Alt-Right Online Apr 26, 2019

Back in 2014, a mysterious hashtag started trending on Twitter: #EndFathersDay. The accounts tweeting the extremist sentiments appeared to be the accounts of black women. But black feminists on Twitter knew something was amiss. So they got to the bottom of the hashtag—and used their own to fight back.

Guest: Rachelle Hampton, Slate writer.

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This Immigration Judge Has a Fix for Immigration Courts Apr 25, 2019

Immigration judges walk into work everyday knowing that the system they operate in is broken. It has been for decades, through multiple administrations. So what’s the fix? The answer isn’t as radical as you might think.

Guest: Judge A. Ashley Tabaddor, immigration judge in Los Angeles and president of the National Association of Immigration Judges.

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How to Break the Census Apr 24, 2019

The Trump administration wants to add a citizenship question to the U.S. Census, and the proposal has former Census directors up in arms. If the Supreme Court votes to allow the citizenship question, what could happen to the nation’s decennial headcount?

Guest: NPR correspondent Hansi Lo Wang.

Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, and Anna Martin.

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He Got a Pardon. Now He’s Administering Them. Apr 23, 2019

For a long time, Brandon Flood kept his criminal history quiet: He worked in the Pennsylvania state government and didn’t want his former convictions to detract from his career success. But now, that history makes him uniquely suited for his new job as secretary of the state’s Board of Pardons. How did he go from submitting his own pardon application to, one year later, leading the body that helps make those clemency decisions?

Guest: Brandon Flood, secretary of the Pennsylvania Board of Pardons.

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The Case for Impeachment Apr 22, 2019

You’ve heard the legal argument for starting impeachment proceedings against President Donald Trump. Maybe you’ve heard the moral argument supporting impeachment. But what is the political case for impeachment? What could House impeachment proceedings possibly achieve, given that the Senate is controlled by the President’s party?

Guest: Jamelle Bouie, New York Times opinion columnist.

Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, and Anna Martin.

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Are You There, Congress? It’s Me, Mueller. Apr 19, 2019

What is Washington to do with a report that is damning, but doesn’t condemn? Slate’s legal team takes a look at the case made by Special Counsel Robert Mueller.

Guests: Dahlia Lithwick, Jeremy Stahl, and Mark Joseph Stern.

Tell us what you think by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or sending an email to whatnext@slate.com. Follow us on Instagram for updates on the show.

Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, and Anna Martin.

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A Fox Guarding the Henhouse at the Interior Department? Apr 18, 2019

The new head of the Department of the Interior has close ties to industry and a penchant for relaxing environmental regulations. He’s also the subject of an ethics investigation. Interior Secretary David Bernhardt represents a new phase in the Trump administration: the shift from a cabinet of flashy, venal outsiders to savvy, ideological insiders.

Guest: Lance Williams, senior reporter for Reveal and the Center for Investigative Reporting.

Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, and Anna Martin.

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What Ilhan Omar Gets Right Apr 17, 2019

How did a March speech by Rep. Ilhan Omar get shrunk down to a single phrase and turned into an attack on her character?

Guest: Aymann Ismail, Slate writer and host of the upcoming podcast, Man Up.

Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, and Anna Martin.

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Trump’s Plan to Politicize the Fed Apr 16, 2019

President Donald Trump has floated the idea of nominating former presidential candidate Herman Cain and conservative pundit Stephen Moore to policy seats on the Federal Reserve’s board. Would Cain and Moore alone swing interest rates? Probably not. But their appointments could erode non-partisan standards that make the Fed one of the most important economic institutions in the world.

Guest: Jordan Weissmann, Slate’s senior business and economics correspondent.

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Democrats Could Lose Wisconsin Forever Apr 15, 2019

Last week’s Wisconsin Supreme Court race got ugly, fast. The Republican favorite, Judge Brian Hagedorn, eked out a win by about 6,000 votes. Our guest today says it’s hard to overstate the political fallout from this result. It could mean that conservatives dominate Wisconsin for years to come.

Guest: Mark Joseph Stern, covers the courts and the law for Slate.

Tell us what you think by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or sending an email to whatnext@slate.com. Follow us on Instagram for updates on the show.

Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, and Anna Martin

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Mexico Fuels the Humanitarian Crisis on the Border Apr 12, 2019

To understand what’s happening on the border, you have to look at the policies and leaders on both sides of it. So, how has Mexico, under its new president, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, changed its approach to refugees and migrants fleeing north? And how has the Mexican president changed, himself?

Guest: León Krauze, columnist for Slate, co-host of Trumpcast, and news anchor for Univision.

Tell us what you think by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or sending an email to whatnext@slate.com. Follow us on Instagram for updates on the show.

Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, and Anna Martin.

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The Trash Crash Apr 11, 2019

Here’s something you may not know. You (listener) are a member of the global trash trade. Every time you recycle a Coke bottle or throw a banana peel away, you’re entering a market of buyers, sellers, and fierce competition. Today on the show, why the market for your trash crashed and how American recyclers are course correcting.

Guest: Meleesa Johnson, president of the Associated Recyclers of Wisconsin and Marathon County’s director of solid waste disposal.

Tell us what you think by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or sending an email to whatnext@slate.com. Follow us on Instagram for updates on the show.

Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, and Anna Martin

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Bernie Hasn’t Really Changed Apr 10, 2019

Bernie went from virtual unknown in the 2016 election to front-runner with the highest campaign contributions in the first quarter of the 2020 race. And while some things have changed since he last ran four years ago, a lot about his campaign looks pretty much the same. Do voters appreciate someone who sticks to the issues? Or will Bernie’s resistance to getting personal hurt him this time around?

Guest: Slate politics writer, Jim Newell

Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, and Anna Martin.

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When A Border Wall Isn't Enough Apr 09, 2019

Nogales is the biggest port in Arizona, and has been a focal point of Trump’s increasingly aggressive tactics on the border. How do the president’s efforts to shut down the border change a place like Nogales?

Note: We first aired this episode on February 2, 2019.

Guest: Mayor of Nogales, Arturo Garino.

Tell us what you think by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or sending an email to whatnext@slate.com.

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Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, and Anna Martin.

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California Weighs When Police Can Use Deadly Force Apr 08, 2019

Stephon Clark was shot and killed by police officers in his grandmother’s backyard on March 18th, 2018. He was black. He was unarmed. Last month, the Sacramento DA decided not to press charges against the two officers who fatally shot Clark citing an honest and “reasonable” threat to the police officers' safety. In California, and across much of America, the word “reasonable” is enough to get officers off the hook when deadly force is used. Will the California state Legislature change that?

Guest: Laurel Rosenhall, reporter at CALmatters and host of Force of Law, a narrative podcast series following the debate in California on the use of deadly police force.

Tell us what you think by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or sending an email to whatnext@slate.com. Follow us on Instagram for updates on the show.

Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, and Anna Martin.

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Brexit Isn’t Over and Everything Hurts Apr 05, 2019

This week, we learned something: A messy, “no-deal” Brexit is likely off the table. This means that Britons can look forward to a slightly less messy, negotiated Brexit – provided that government officials can agree on what that looks like. With Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn in charge of negotiations, reaching that consensus will be tough.

Guest: Anne McElvoy, senior editor at the Economist, head of Economist Radio, and host of the chat show, The Economist Asks.

Tell us what you think by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or sending an email to whatnext@slate.com. Follow us on Instagram for updates on the show.

Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, and Anna Martin.

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Liberals Treat Puerto Ricans Like Second-Class Citizens, Too. Apr 04, 2019

President Trump’s naked disdain for Puerto Rico’s struggles might be rhetorically jarring. But it reflects long-standing U.S. policies toward the territory.

Guest: Yarimar Bonilla, political anthropologist and author of the book, Aftershocks of Disaster: Puerto Rico Before and After the Storm.

Tell us what you think by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or sending an email to whatnext@slate.com. Follow us on Instagram for updates on the show.

Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, and Anna Martin.

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Security Clearances Were Hard to Get. Then Trump Won. Apr 03, 2019

Late last month, someone paid a call to Congress. She wanted to talk about the Trump administration’s disregard for established national security protocols. The call was coming from inside the house -- inside the White House, that is.

Guest: Ned Price, Director of Policy and Communications at National Security Action.

Tell us what you think by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or sending an email to whatnext@slate.com. Follow us on Instagram for updates on the show.

Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, and Anna Martin.

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Mick Mulvaney Is Trump’s Chief Enabler Apr 02, 2019

Mick Mulvaney is not here to rein in the president. How Trump’s new acting chief of staff has the White House pursuing a Freedom Caucus agenda.

Guest: Jordan Weissmann, Slate’s senior business and economics correspondent.

Tell us what you think by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or sending an email to whatnext@slate.com. Follow us on Instagram for updates on the show.

Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, and Anna Martin.

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Is the Measles Panic Warranted? Apr 01, 2019

Officials in New York’s Rockland County declared a state of emergency after yet another measles outbreak. In Brooklyn, more cases of measles have cropped up over the last several months as well. Both places are home to a tight-knit Orthodox Jewish population that has become increasingly skeptical of vaccinations. Why is this particular community so susceptible to the disease? And how are they getting their information about vaccines? Rockland County has gone so far as to bar unvaccinated children from public places. So, is this the right approach? And is all this news coverage just making hysteria worse?

Guests: Gwynne Hogan, health reporter at WNYC Dan Engber, Slate’s science columnist

Tell us what you think by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or sending an email to whatnext@slate.com. Follow us on Instagram for updates on the show.

Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, and Anna Martin.

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A Pilot on Whether He’ll Ever Trust Boeing Again Mar 29, 2019

After the Ethiopian Airlines crash on March 10—and the Indonesian Airlines crash before that, in October—country after country began grounding the deadly Boeing 737 Air Max fleet, and the U.S. belatedly followed suit. This week, Congress held hearings with Boeing and the FAA, questioning them about how the planes were certified and what went wrong. There were a lot of public apologies and a lot of corporate humility. But questions remain: Who’s to blame for the deadly crashes, whom do we hold accountable, and how do we prevent this from happening again?

Guest: Rob Mark, commercial pilot and publisher of Jetwhine.com.

Tell us what you think by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or sending an email to whatnext@slate.com. Follow us on Instagram for updates on the show.

Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, and Anna Martin

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Is the Court Ready to Curb Gerrymandering? Mar 28, 2019

This week, the Supreme Court returned to the subject of partisan gerrymandering. After kicking the can down the road last time, will the court finally decide on the constitutionality of drawing election maps to rig elections? And who’s the most interesting justice to watch?

Guest: Mark Joseph Stern, who covers the courts and the law for Slate.

Tell us what you think by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or sending an email to whatnext@slate.com.

Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, and Anna Martin.

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Trump is Trying to Kill Obamacare, Again Mar 27, 2019

The president’s week was off to a great start. The Attorney General’s letter regarding Mueller’s Russia investigation largely exonerated him of any crimes. So why did Trump start talking about health care again? It’s anybody’s guess, but Democrats are ecstatic.

Guest: Dan Diamond, Health Care Reporter at Politico

Tell us what you think by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or sending an email to whatnext@slate.com. Follow us on Instagram for updates on the show.

Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, and Anna Martin.

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New York City’s School Segregation Problem Mar 26, 2019

New York City’s top public high school has a diversity problem. How did the crown jewel of the city’s public education system come to look so unlike the public?

Guest: Mara Gay, writer for the New York Times Editorial Board.

Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, and Anna Martin.

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About That Mueller Report Mar 25, 2019

What we know about the Mueller report. Spoiler: not a whole lot.

Guest: Dahlia Lithwick, Slate’s legal correspondent and host of the Amicus podcast. Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, and Anna Martin.

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How Long Will It Take the Death Penalty To Die? Mar 22, 2019

California has a new moratorium on executions, despite the fact that voters upheld capital punishment twice in recent statewide elections. Could this mark the beginning of a lasting policy change?

Guest: Jordan Steiker, director of the Capital Punishment Center at the University of Texas School of Law.

Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, and Anna Martin.

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When Are We Going to Start Planning For Floods? Mar 21, 2019

This week, we’re following the enormous flooding in the Midwest. Climate change is magnifying the shortcomings of our river policies. We build in the flood plains, and we bracket our rivers with dams and reservoirs. But is it folly to think that we can control where the rivers run?

Guest: Tony Messenger, metro columnist for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, and Anna Martin.

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Court Packing Is Not That Extreme Mar 20, 2019

Some of your favorite presidents have tried to pack the Supreme Court. So why does it sound like such an extreme tactic? And why are top Democrats finally embracing it as a way out of the wilderness?

Guest: Mark Joseph Stern, Slate’s legal correspondent.

Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, and Anna Martin.

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How the Internet Makes Murderers Mar 19, 2019

The Christchurch shooter lurked in corners of the internet that most people don’t understand. But there are ways to fight extremists who are radicalized online -- and the U.S. has done it quite recently.

Guest: Robert Evans, writer for Bellingcat and host of the podcast Behind the Bastards.

Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, and Anna Martin.

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Why is Beto Running? Mar 18, 2019

After weeks and weeks of mulling a decision, Beto O’Rourke finally entered the 2020 presidential race. What is he bringing to the table? Anything?

Guest: Josh Voorhees, Senior Writer at Slate.

Tell us what you think by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or sending an email to whatnext@slate.com. Follow us on Instagram for updates on the show.

Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, and Anna Martin

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How to Dodge a Presidential Pardon Mar 15, 2019

This week, former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort was sentenced to a total of 7½ years in prison. Here’s how his case is one of the best examples of a special counsel making sure that those who did wrong serve the time.

Guest: Jed Shugerman, a professor at Fordham Law.

Tell us what you think by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or sending an email to whatnext@slate.com. Follow us on Instagram for updates on the show.

Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, and Anna Martin.

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The Side Door Into College Mar 14, 2019

The FBI submitted indictments this week into the largest college admissions scam they’ve ever prosecuted. Celebrities, millionaire parents, and college sports coaches are among the dozens charged in a scheme that sought to get wealthy kids through a “side-door” of college admissions. One that guaranteed them entry to top-tier universities.

The admissions system has always favored the wealthy. Can that be fixed?

Guests: Andy Thomason, editor at the Chronicle of Higher Education. And Julie Lythcott-Haims, former Stanford dean and author of How to Raise an Adult.

Tell us what you think by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or sending an email to whatnext@slate.com. Follow us on Instagram for updates on the show.

Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, and Anna Martin

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Big Banks Say “No” to Private Prisons Mar 13, 2019

If you made your way up to 1185 Park Ave. on the Upper East Side of New York, you’d find an apartment building that looks like a castle. It’s the apartment of Jamie Dimon, CEO of JP Morgan Chase. Back in February protesters stood on the sidewalk and chanted up at him hoping to end JP Morgan Chase’s business with the private prison industry.

It worked.

Who are the protesters looking at next?

Guests: Tracy Jan, reporter at the Washington Post, and emoji activist Jennifer 8. Lee.

Tell us what you think by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or sending an email to whatnext@slate.com. Follow us on Instagram for updates on the show.

Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, and Anna Martin.

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Joe Biden's Laundered History Mar 12, 2019

There's really never been a national political conversation about Joe Biden's record. Partly because much of the focus today is about the time he spent as Vice President under Barack Obama. If he decides to run, what other ugly skeletons will the public find?

Guest: Jamelle Bouie, New York Times Columnist

Tell us what you think by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or sending an email to whatnext@slate.com. Follow us on Instagram for updates on the show.

Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, and Anna Martin.

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Is Mark Zuckerberg Gaslighting You? Mar 11, 2019

Facebook is reshuffling its priorities and making moves that could help it evade antitrust regulators. Will it affect users that much? No. Is it solving a problem users have been talking about? Not really. So what is Mark Zuckerberg’s latest blog post all about?

Guest: Will Oremus, Slate’s senior tech writer and co-host of the podcast If/Then.

Tell us what you think by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or sending an email to whatnext@slate.com. Follow us on Instagram for updates on the show.

Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, and Anna Martin.

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The Scandal Catching Up to Justin Trudeau Mar 08, 2019

A scandal involving Justin Trudeau’s cabinet is putting Canada’s warts on display.

Guest: Jesse Brown, publisher of the Canadaland news site and podcast network.

Tell us what you think by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or sending an email to whatnext@slate.com. Follow us on Instagram for updates on the show.

Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, and Anna Martin.

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Listening to Ilhan Omar Mar 07, 2019

House Democrats have scuttled a plan to chide Rep. Ilhan Omar over remarks she made about the U.S.-Israel relationship. Why were her words so triggering? Is she making a fair point? And what should she do now?

Guest: Slate economics and policy writer Jordan Weissmann.

Tell us what you think by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or sending an email to whatnext@slate.com. Follow us on Instagram for updates on the show.

Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, and Anna Martin.

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Things That Should Scare You More Than Momo Mar 06, 2019

The Momo challenge doesn’t appear to be much of a threat, but the fact that parents are worried about it reveals a real anxiety about the videos that YouTube pushes toward kids.

Guest: Taylor Lorenz, writer for the Atlantic.

Tell us what you think by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or sending an email to whatnext@slate.com. Follow us on Instagram for updates on the show.

Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, and Anna Martin.

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The National Emergency Isn’t Really Trump’s Fault Mar 05, 2019

President Trump’s national emergency declaration is headed for a showdown. More and more Senate Republicans are peeling away from their caucus to reject it. Sen. Rand Paul says his “political soul” hangs in the balance. But Sen. Mitch McConnell is keeping his opinions to himself. and waiting for Trump’s veto to send the issue to the courts. Why are Republicans leaders supporting what their colleagues call a blatant executive branch power grab?

Guest: Slate politics writer Jim Newell.

Tell us what you think by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or sending an email to whatnext@slate.com. Follow us on Instagram for updates on the show.

Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, and Anna Martin.

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Reconsidering Michael Jackson Mar 04, 2019

If you’re watching the Leaving Neverland documentary about Michael Jackson’s alleged child sexual abuse, you probably want to talk to someone about it: What it left out, what it wants to accomplish, and how it complicates our view of victimhood.

Guest: Slate senior writer Seth Stevenson.

Tell us what you think by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or sending an email to whatnext@slate.com. Follow us on Instagram for updates on the show.

Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, and Anna Martin.

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Sins of the Fathers Mar 01, 2019

For years now, survivors of Catholic clergy sexual abuse have sought accountability at the local level, taking claims to their parish or bishop. But the Roman Catholic Church is a global institution, and experts say its cover-up of child abuse reaches the upper echelons of church leadership. What would it take to go after the Vatican?

Guest: Marci Hamilton, founder of CHILD USA. This episode first aired on Nov. 14, 2018. Tell us what you think by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or sending an email to whatnext@slate.com. Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, and Anna Martin.

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The Gun-Owning Doctors Changing the Gun Debate Feb 28, 2019

Last fall, doctors from all over America took to social media with the hashtag #ThisIsMyLane (or #ThisIsOurLane). They sent pictures of themselves in blood-drenched scrubs and shared stories of treating victims of shootings. They were responding to a tweet from the NRA chiding them for speaking out about gun violence. Who are these doctors who have seen the worst results of gun violence—and still own guns? Guest: Dr. Brendan Campbell, pediatric surgeon at Connecticut Children's Medical Center in Hartford, Connecticut. This episode first aired on Nov. 15, 2018. Tell us what you think by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or sending an email to whatnext@slate.com. Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, and Anna Martin.

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Civil Rights Cold Cases Find Teenage Allies Feb 27, 2019

It started as a simple lesson in civil rights and ended as a bill President Trump signed into law. How did a class of New Jersey high school students create a piece of legislation to help solve civil rights crimes?

Guests: Oslene Johnson, former student at Hightstown High School. Stuart Wexler, history teacher at Hightstown High School.

Tell us what you think by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or sending an email to whatnext@slate.com.

Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, and Anna Martin

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Venezuela’s Crisis Deepens Feb 26, 2019

As violence erupts on the Venezuelan border, Vice President Mike Pence makes his way to Colombia to reaffirm American support for the opposition leader, Juan Guaido. How far is the U.S. willing to go? And will this be remembered as the weekend everything changed?

Guest: Ana Vanessa Herrero, reporter at the New York Times. Joshua Keating, international editor at Slate.

Tell us what you think by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or sending an email to whatnext@slate.com.

Follow us on Instagram for updates on the show. Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, and Anna Martin.

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The Laquan McDonald Case Isn’t Over Feb 25, 2019

Chicago’s mayoral election is Tuesday. The race has been crowded, contentious, and very much shaped by the Laquan McDonald case.

Guest: Jamie Kalven, a journalist with the Invisible Institute.

Tell us what you think by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or sending an email to whatnext@slate.com. Follow us on Instagram for updates on the show.

Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, and Anna Martin.

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Who Wants to Be a (Heavily Taxed) Millionaire? Feb 22, 2019

As Democrats try to find an economic message that can win in 2020, a group of like-minded millionaires is making the rounds, telling any politicians who will listen, “We want to pay more in taxes.” Why now?

Guest: Morris Pearl, chair of Patriotic Millionaires.

Tell us what you think by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or sending an email to whatnext@slate.com. Follow us on Instagram for updates on the show.

Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, and Anna Martin.

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Meet the EPA’s Ghost-Writer Feb 21, 2019

A scientist on the outer fringes of his field has been patiently making the case that the U.S. government applies far too conservative controls on toxins in the environment. Now, he’s trying to implement his ideas at the EPA -- by writing a sweeping new rule that could make the agency unable to regulate pollution & other contaminants.

Guest: Susanne Rust, reporter for the Los Angeles Times. Read her story here.

Tell us what you think by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or sending an email to whatnext@slate.com.

Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, and Anna Martin.

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The Fight to Change Frat Culture Feb 20, 2019

People who believe the fraternity system is broken have been trying every which way to force changes -- something, anything, to stop the parade of injuries, sexual assaults, and deaths that have happened at frat houses. Last week, we saw yet another attempt to change frat culture -- this time in a lawsuit filed against Yale University. On Wednesday's show, how have fraternities evaded comeuppance for so long?

Guest: Doug Fierberg, attorney and founder of The Fierberg National Law Group.

Tell us what you think by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or sending an email to whatnext@slate.com. Follow us on Instagram for updates on the show.

Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, and Anna Martin.

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Utah’s Medicaid Battle Feb 19, 2019

Voters during the 2018 midterms favored the expansion of Medicaid, but it’s being met with some pushback by conservative legislators. What can Utah’s Medicaid episode teach us about how health care fights may roll out over the coming years?

Guests: Utah 25th District Rep. Joel Briscoe. Rachana Pradhan, health care reporter for Politico. Eric Eddings, co-host of The Nod.

Tell us what you think by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or sending an email to whatnext@slate.com. Follow us on Instagram for updates on the show.

Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, and Anna Martin

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A Cautionary Green New Deal Tale Feb 15, 2019

The Green New Deal brought attention back to the idea of high-speed rail in America. This week California squandered it. What lessons should Americans be taking from the failed high-speed rail project in California?

Guest: Henry Grabar, staff writer at Slate.

Tell us what you think by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or sending an email to whatnext@slate.com. Follow us on Instagram for updates on the show.

Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, and Anna Martin

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Has Anything Changed Since Parkland? Feb 14, 2019

After the school shooting in Parkland, Florida, we saw a group of students speed through the stages of grief and go directly to action. One year later, have they made any lasting changes to the gun control debate?

Guest: Dave Cullen, author of Parkland.

Tell us what you think by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or sending an email to whatnext@slate.com. Follow us on Instagram for updates on the show.

Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, and Anna Martin.

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The Democratic Divide Over Israel Feb 13, 2019

President Donald Trump called on Rep. Ilhan Omar to resign after her anti-Semitic remarks this past weekend. She has since apologized, but the episode revealed a bigger problem that is bound to keep rearing its head for the Democratic Party: its stance on Israel.

Guest: Joshua Keating, Slate's International Affairs Writer.

Tell us what you think by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or sending an email to whatnext@slate.com. Follow us on Instagram for updates on the show.

Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, and Anna Martin.

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When a Border Wall Isn’t Enough Feb 12, 2019

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How to Get Away With Highway Robbery Feb 11, 2019

Reporters in South Carolina schlepped to all 46 courthouses in the state to document every civil asset forfeiture case in a three-year period. What they found was an impossibly flawed law that rewards bad police-work.

Guests: Anna Lee, reporter for the Greenville News. Read the paper’s series, TAKEN. David Smith, a lawyer and defender of civil asset forfeiture laws, when properly applied.

Tell us what you think by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or sending an email to whatnext@slate.com. Follow us on Instagram for updates on the show.

Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, and Anna Martin.

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How an Abortion Bill Started the Mess in Virginia Feb 08, 2019

Virginia is in chaos as racist stunts and allegations of sexual assault threaten to upend the political careers of four top state officials. How did we get here? It all started with a debate over an abortion bill.

Guest: Anna North, senior reporter for Vox. Read her story on what the nasty politicking has to do with abortion rights.

Tell us what you think by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or sending an email to whatnext@slate.com. Follow us on Instagram for updates on the show.

Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, and Anna Martin

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How Trump’s Inaugural Committee Got Into Trouble Feb 07, 2019

Inaugurations are ethically dubious in the best of times. So why is the Trump inaugural committee under investigation? Consider the scale of the swindle.

Guest: Ilya Marritz, co-host of Trump Inc., a podcast produced by WNYC and ProPublica.

Tell us what you think by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or sending an email to whatnext@slate.com. Follow us on Instagram for updates on the show.

Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, and Anna Martin.

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Which State of the Union? Which Medicare for All? Feb 06, 2019

It was a long speech that often meandered from pleas for bipartisanship to accusations of “ridiculous partisan investigations.” What do we make of this state of the union?

Plus, it’s anyone’s guess what 'Medicare for All' really means on the 2020 campaign trail.

Guests: Jim Newell, Politics Writer at Slate. And, Jordan Weissmann, Slate’s Senior Business and Economics Correspondent.

Tell us what you think by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or sending an email to whatnext@slate.com. Follow us on Instagram for updates on the show.

Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, and Anna Martin

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Larry Krasner and the System That Fought Back Feb 05, 2019

Larry Krasner promised a sea change when he was elected to serve as Philadelphia’s district attorney. It should surprise no one that his policies are making waves.

Guest: Philadelphia Inquirer reporter Chris Palmer. Read his story about Krasner’s first year in office.

Tell us what you think by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or sending an email to whatnext@slate.com. Follow us on Instagram for updates on the show.

Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, and Anna Martin.

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The Ferguson Effect Feb 04, 2019

There's a new prosecutor in St. Louis County taking on decades of racial injustice. How will Wesley Bell, buoyed by the political movement after the death of Michael Brown, deliver on his progressive promises?

Tell us what you think by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or sending an email to whatnext@slate.com.

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Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, and Anna Martin.

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Anti-Vaxxers Brought Back the Measles Feb 01, 2019

The latest measles outbreak in the Pacific-Northwest is a self-inflicted wound. One that Texans, and Americans alike, should all pay attention to.

Guest: Dr. Peter J. Hotez, co-director of the Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development.

Tell us what you think by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or sending an email to whatnext@slate.com. Follow us on Instagram for updates on the show.

Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, and Anna Martin.

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Don't Call Him El Chapo Jan 31, 2019

Joaquín Guzmán operated in Mexico’s shadows for decades. His trial is shining a spotlight on who the man is and the chaos he sowed on a country . How are Mexicans dealing with the explosive allegations made against former presidents? And what are we all missing by sensationalizing the drug lord's trial?

Guest: León Krauze, Columnist for Slate, co-host of Trumpcast, and news anchor for Univision.

Tell us what you think by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or sending an email to whatnext@slate.com. Follow us on Instagram for updates on the show.

Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, and Anna Martin.

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Howard Schultz and the Ghost of Ross Perot Jan 30, 2019

Howard Schultz's potential independent presidential candidacy has gotten off to a rough start. Why are Democrats and Republicans alike upset about the Starbucks CEO entering the 2020 fray? And will it even matter?

Guest: Steve Kornacki, National Political Correspondent for NBC News and MSNBC.

Tell us what you think by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or sending an email to whatnext@slate.com. Follow us on Instagram for updates on the show.

Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, and Anna Martin

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How Big Tech Is Bleeding American Journalism Jan 29, 2019

More than 1,000 journalists lost their jobs last week. The reason is pretty simple: Big tech is beating digital media to the money. To save journalism, what rules should the public be fighting for?

Guest: Will Oremus, Slate’s Senior Technology Writer.

Tell us what you think by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or sending an email to whatnext@slate.com. Follow us on Instagram for updates on the show.

Podcast production by Mary Wilson and Jayson De Leon, with help from Anna Martin.

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The Gun Rights Case Headed to the Supreme Court Jan 28, 2019

Why it matters that the Supreme Court is taking on a gun rights case now, after keeping its powder dry for years.

Guest: Mark Joseph Stern, who covers courts & the law for Slate.

Tell us what you think by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or sending an email to whatnext@slate.com. Follow us on Instagram for updates on the show.

Podcast production by Mary Wilson and Jayson De Leon, with help from Danielle Hewitt.

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The Opposition Comes for Venezuela’s Maduro Jan 25, 2019

How Venezuelans reached a breaking point, and how a team of savvy politicians orchestrated the break. No one expected the greatest threat of a proxy war to come out of South America -- right?

Guests: Ana Vanessa Herrero, reporter for the New York Times. Josh Keating, senior editor of foreign affairs for Slate.

Tell us what you think by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or sending an email to whatnext@slate.com. Follow us on Instagram for updates on the show.

Podcast production by Mary Wilson and Jayson De Leon.

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Congress Does Something Jan 24, 2019

The Senate is readying a vote on two bills to fund the government. The measures aren’t expected to pass, but they might signal the beginning of the end of the shutdown.

Guest: Jim Newell, who covers Congress for Slate.

Tell us what you think by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or sending an email to whatnext@slate.com. Follow us on Instagram for updates on the show.

Podcast production by Mary Wilson and Jayson De Leon, with help from Danielle Hewitt.

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Kamala Harris & the Rise of Progressive Prosecutors Jan 23, 2019

More and more reform-minded district attorneys are taking office as self-avowed progressive prosecutors. Why don’t some advocates think Kamala Harris deserves the label?

Guest: Lara Bazelon, associate professor at the University of San Francisco School of Law, contributing writer for Slate, and author of the book Rectify: The Power of Restorative Justice After Wrongful Conviction. Read her op-ed, “Kamala Harris Was Not a ‘Progressive Prosecutor,’” in the New York Times.

Tell us what you think by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or sending an email to whatnext@slate.com. Follow us on Instagram for updates on the show.

Podcast production by Mary Wilson and Jayson De Leon, with help from Danielle Hewitt.

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The Women Fleeing Saudi Arabia Jan 22, 2019

What Mohammed bin Salman’s rise to power has meant for women in Saudi Arabia.

Guest: Journalist Sarah Aziza. Read her latest reporting in the New Yorker.

Tell us what you think by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or sending an email to whatnext@slate.com. Follow us on Instagram for updates on the show.

Podcast production by Mary Wilson and Jayson De Leon, with help from Danielle Hewitt.

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Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Flips the Script Jan 18, 2019

Why aren’t conservatives’ usual tricks working on Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez?

Guest: Slate writer Lili Loofbourow. Read her piece here.

Tell us what you think by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or sending an email to whatnext@slate.com. Follow us on Instagram for updates on the show.

Podcast production by Mary Wilson and Jayson De Leon, with help from Danielle Hewitt.

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The L.A. Teachers' Strike Jan 17, 2019

What makes the Los Angeles teachers’ strike different from the strikes that swept the country last year? In L.A., a robust charter school sector competes with the traditional public schools for funds.

Guest: Dana Goldstein, education reporter for the New York Times.

Tell us what you think by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or sending an email to whatnext@slate.com. Follow us on Instagram for updates on the show.

Podcast production by Mary Wilson and Jayson De Leon, with help from Danielle Hewitt.

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The Gymnast Who Went Megaviral Jan 16, 2019

UCLA’s Katelyn Ohashi wowed the internet this week with a viral video of her college gymnastics floor routine. As Ohashi’s star rises, the U.S. women’s gymnastics program is imploding. Fans of the sport wonder: What is the price of being world-class?

Guest: Slate contributor Rebecca Schumann.

Tell us what you think by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or sending an email to whatnext@slate.com. Follow us on Instagram for updates on the show.

Podcast production by Mary Wilson and Jayson De Leon, with help from Danielle Hewitt.

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Pardons, Presidential Power, and Worry About Bill Barr Jan 15, 2019

More than 25 years after serving as Attorney General under George HW Bush, Barr is set to return to the role this week. What should we expect? And what should the senators at the confirmation hearing be asking?

Guest: Noah Feldman, professor of constitutional law at Harvard University and columnist at Bloomberg.

Tell us what you think by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or sending an email to whatnext@slate.com. Follow us on Instagram for updates on the show.

Podcast production by Mary Wilson and Jayson De Leon.

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The Three-Headed Beast Leading U.S. Foreign Policy Jan 14, 2019

Slate’s Fred Kaplan explains how two different Trump advisers, Mike Pompeo and John Bolton, are trying to carry out U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East.

Tell us what you think by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or sending an email to whatnext@slate.com. Follow us on Instagram for updates on the show.

Podcast production by Mary Wilson and Jayson De Leon.

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The Threat of National Emergency Jan 11, 2019

What would a national emergency look like, and why hasn't Trump declared one yet? Dahlia Lithwick has answers. Plus: Was it weird that Ruth Bader Ginsburg wasn't at work this week?

Tell us what you think by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or sending an email to whatnext@slate.com. Follow us on Instagram for updates on the show.

Podcast production by Mary Wilson and Jayson De Leon.

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How We Became Shutdown Nation Jan 10, 2019

How could congressional leaders end the current government shutdown? Come to think of it, how could they put an end to shutdowns altogether?

Guests: Tom Davis, former Republican congressman from Virginia, and Slate’s Jim Newell.

Tell us what you think by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or sending an email to whatnext@slate.com. Follow us on Instagram for updates on the show.

Podcast production by Mary Wilson and Jayson De Leon.

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Clemency for Cyntoia Brown Jan 09, 2019

Advocate Mariame Kaba explains why the Cyntoia Brown story is compelling, complicated, and deeply frustrating -- why it's wrong to portray Cyntoia Brown as a child, why Brown’s story is deeply familiar to black women in America, and why Kaba considers Brown’s crime a radical act of “self-love.”

Tell us what you think by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or sending an email to whatnext@slate.com. Follow us on Instagram for updates on the show.

Podcast production by Mary Wilson and Jayson De Leon.

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Battling 2020 Fatigue Jan 08, 2019

Jamelle Bouie sees each presidential election like a grand experiment. On today’s show, he shares some of his hypotheses going into the 2020 campaign season. Will the rift grow between President Trump and the establishment GOP? Will Democrat presidential hopefuls continue to propose bold policies unthinkable 10 years ago? Will white Democratic candidates be able to appeal to black and brown Americans without triggering latent racism among voters?

Tell us what you think by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or sending an email to whatnext@slate.com. Follow us on Instagram for updates on the show.

Podcast production by Mary Wilson and Jayson De Leon.

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The Republican Party Shake-Out in Kansas Jan 07, 2019

The rightward shift of the Republican Party is kind of like global warming: Each political ecosystem is feeling it differently. In Kansas, lifelong Republicans are finding themselves without a habitat.

Guests: Barbara Bollier Kansas state senator, and Patrick Miller, political science professor at the University of Kansas.

Tell us what you think by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or sending an email to whatnext@slate.com. Follow us on Instagram for updates on the show. Podcast production by Mary Wilson and Jayson De Leon.

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We're in the New York Times Dec 09, 2018

No big deal.

Did you see What Next mentioned in the New York Times? We'll be back with more shows in January.

Until then, these are some of our favorite episodes:

The Gun-Owning Doctors Changing the Gun Debate, Nov. 15th

Sins of the Fathers, Nov. 14th

The Wildfires to Come, Nov. 13th

Talk to you soon.

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Jeff Flake Takes Another Stand Nov 17, 2018

Sen. Jeff Flake is demanding legislation to protect the Mueller probe. High-profile conservatives are peeling off from the Federalist Society to stand up to the Trump administration. Slate’s Dahlia Lithwick explains why she thinks this is a pivotal moment for the Trump administration and its discontents.

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The Gun Owning Doctors Changing the Gun Debate Nov 16, 2018

This week doctors from all over America took to social media with the hashtag #ThisIsMyLane (or #ThisIsOurLane). They sent pictures of themselves in blood-drenched scrubs and shared stories of treating victims of gun violence. Much of this was in response to the NRA after a tweet they sent last Wednesday.

Today on the show we talk to Dr. Brendan Campbell – a pediatric surgeon at Connecticut Children's Medical Center in Hartford, CT. He has treated victims of gun violence for more than a decade. This week, he and his fellow colleagues released a new paper in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons recommending new ways to think about gun safety. Not only as doctors who have seen the damage that a gun can do, but because they own guns themselves.

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Sins of the Fathers Nov 14, 2018

Survivors of Catholic clergy sexual abuse have gone after the church in a piecemeal fashion. But the Roman Catholic Church’s cover-up of child sexual abuse goes back decades, and experts say it reaches the upper echelons of church leadership. What would it take to go after the Vatican? We talk to someone who’s tried it: Marci Hamilton, a professor and founder of Child USA.

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The Wildfires to Come Nov 14, 2018

Stephen Pyne has made fire his life’s work. He put them out for 15 summers and has thought about them ever since. Today on the show – the conversation we’re not having about wildfires and why despite the devastation in California this week, he remains hopeful that we can figure this out.

Here’s how you can help the victims of the California wildfires.

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The Legacy of the Last Florida Recount Nov 12, 2018

Rick Hasen, founder of the Election Law Blog, explains how we got here: Shrinking away from the hard election reforms, ignoring the easy reforms, and enacting short-sighted remedies. Hasen is a professor at UC Irvine and a Slate contributor.

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Sessions’ Last Act Deals Blow to Police Reform Nov 10, 2018

Just as he was getting kicked out the door, former Attorney General Jeff Sessions wanted to do one last thing: strongly limit the strength and use of consent decrees moving forward. It’s a move that deals a significant blow to the Department of Justice’s ability to reign in police abuse across the country.

Today on the show: what is a consent decree? And what happens in one small town in Louisiana when Jeff Sessions takes office and decides to turn a blind eye to its abuses?

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What to Watch After Sessions’ Ouster Nov 09, 2018

Ben Wittes of Lawfare and the Brookings Institution tells us four things to watch for in the wake of the ouster of Attorney General Jeff Sessions. For more from Wittes on this, check out the latest episode of The Lawfare Podcast. Plus, Mary McCord, who used to lead the National Security Division at the Department of Justice, explains why she remains hopeful that her old agency can keep its blinders on and stay above politics.

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What Won for the Democrats? Nov 07, 2018

Democrats ran all sorts of different campaigns and won (or lost) in all sorts of different ways. Is there a lesson they could take from the midterms and carry into the next election? Plus, how did racism figure into the Florida and Georgia governor’s races? Jamelle Bouie joins the show to nurse our election hangover.

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Happy Election Day? Nov 06, 2018

Alfredo Corchado calls in from the border to talk about voter enthusiasm in his area. Amy Walter from the Cook Political Report shares her tips for watching election night returns. Slate’s Molly Olmstead explains why she’ll be eyeing the teacher candidates tonight. The Root’s Jason Johnson is our man in Atlanta following the Georgia gubernatorial contest.

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What Story Will This Election Tell Us? Nov 05, 2018

With less than 36 hours to go until the final voting deadline for the midterm elections, it's important to know what's at stake. Amy Walter, a host on The Takeaway and National Editor of the Cook Political Report, knows that each election tells us a story and this one is no different. She joined us today to talk about what signals and trends she's looking out for and what that means for our future as a country and how we understand ourselves.

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They Forecast a Hate Wave in 2008 Nov 02, 2018

Daryl Johnson tried to warn Homeland Security about the growing momentum behind right-wing extremists. He was not well-received. On Friday’s show, how the actions of the Obama and Trump administrations fueled far-right violence. Plus, there’s election shadiness happening in Kansas. Slate’s Mark Joseph Stern explains.

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The State of Red State Democrats Nov 01, 2018

President Trump wanted to make this the election of the caravan. For red state democrats, that’s becoming the case. So with only days to go until midterms how will Trump’s immigration rhetoric shape close races? Slate’s Jim Newell joins us today to discuss the state of red state democrats. Plus, BuzzFeed’s Caroline O’Donovan spent the day in Mountain View, CA at Google’s headquarters to cover the walkout of its employees in protest of what they say is the company's lenient treatment of executives accused of sexual misconduct. She joins us to debrief on the day out West.

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Understanding the Crisis in Yemen Oct 31, 2018

Eric Nagourney, an international desk editor for the New York Times, explains the paper’s decision to publish harrowing photographs of malnourished Yemeni children. And Fatima Alasrar, a Yemeni and a senior analyst for the Arabia Foundation, explains why she thinks assigning blame for Yemen’s famine is complicated.

We’ll be piloting What Next in public for the next several weeks. Tell us what you think: whatnext@slate.com.

Follow us on Instagram for updates on the show, our weekend reading lists, and occasional posts about pita chips.

Podcast production by Mary Wilson and Jayson De Leon. Engineering by Terence Bernardo.

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"And Subject to the Jurisdiction Thereof..." Oct 30, 2018

There's a clause in the 14th amendment that people wanting to change it continue to come back to: "and subject to the jurisdiction thereof." Today on the show, Professor Garrett Epps of The Atlantic joins us to explain why its absurd for Trump to think he can end birthright citizenship with an executive order and, also, why it's not absurd to talk about him wanting to change it.

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Words Matter Oct 29, 2018

Slate’s April Glaser explains the futility of expelling bigots from one social media platform, only to see them find safe harbor on another.

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The Blame Game Oct 26, 2018

While we wait for news on the bomb suspect, a debate between Slate’s Mike Pesca and Mary Harris: Can we blame the potential explosives on provocative political speech?

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Does Corruption Matter? Oct 25, 2018

When it comes to the people we vote for, how corrupt is too corrupt? With Herb Jackson, Washington correspondent for USA Today and The Record. We take a whirlwind tour of the U.S. politicians hitting the campaign trail with a dark cloud hanging over their heads. We land in New Jersey, where Senate Democrats suddenly have to worry about a tighter race. The reason? Their incumbent, Bob Menendez, narrowly escaped corruption charges last year.

We’ll be piloting What Next in public for the next several weeks. Tell us what you think: whatnext@slate.com. Follow us on Instagram for updates on the show, our weekend reading lists, and occasional posts about pita chips.

Podcast production by Mary Wilson and Jayson De Leon. Engineering by Terence Bernardo.

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Midterm Trolls - Online and Off Oct 24, 2018

US Cyber Command launched its first cyber operation to deter Russian interference in the 2018 midterm elections, but is it too late? Clint Watts, the author of Messing With the Enemy, "Oh yeah." Today on the show, the continued assault on our information space. Plus, the bomb scares that targeted high-profile Democrats.

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Turkey Makes the Most of Its Moment Oct 23, 2018

Slate senior editor Josh Keating explains why Turkey has seized on the disappearance of a foreign journalist to stick it to Saudi Arabia. And Slate writer Aymann Ismail reconsiders going on hajj. We’ll be piloting What Next in public for the next several weeks. Tell us what you think: whatnext@slate.com. Follow us on Instagram for updates on the show, our weekend reading lists, and a picture of a young Aymann Ismail going on “baby hajj.” Podcast production by Mary Wilson and Jayson De Leon. Engineering by Terence Bernardo.

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The Health Care Turnabout Oct 23, 2018

Andrew Gillum began his candidacy as a "Medicare for All" supporter. His subtle slide from that position to another is a small, but telling one. Today on the show, a look into the health care debate in the lead up to midterms. Plus, Slate's Mark Joseph Stern on the Trump administration's effort to roll back civil rights protections for transgender people.

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Just an Old Sweet Song Oct 19, 2018

Kai Wright of WNYC and Slate’s Jamelle Bouie on the governor’s race in Georgia. Plus, Deadspin’s Dvora Meyers explains the implosion of USA Gymnastics.

We’ll be piloting What Next in public for the next several weeks. Tell us what you think: whatnext@slate.com. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at Slate.com/whatnextplus. Follow us on Instagram for updates on the show, our weekend reading lists, and occasional posts about pita chips. Podcast production by Mary Wilson and Jayson De Leon. Engineering by Terence Bernardo.

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Now Is a Good Time to Cheat on Your Taxes Oct 18, 2018

Budget cuts have crippled the IRS allowing tax cheats to run rampant. ProPublica's Jesse Eisinger says the agency's ability to pursue criminal cases is in collapse because of budget cuts and the fact that the agency still has the same number of auditors it had in 1953. So who benefits from this? And why does it matter?

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From One Caravan to Another Oct 17, 2018

Mary Harris is joined by Vox’s Dara Lind to discuss how the latest caravan from Honduras is shining a light on the danger and red tape facing asylum seekers. Plus, what else did you miss today?

We’ll be piloting What Next in public for the next several weeks. Tell us what you think: whatnext@slate.com. '

Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at Slate.com/whatnextpus.

Follow us on Instagram for updates on the show, our weekend reading lists, and our occasional posts about pita chips.

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Could the Saudi Monarchy Fall Over This? Oct 16, 2018

Host Mary Harris talks to Dexter Filkins of the New Yorker on the fraught relationship between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia. Plus, Slate’s Jim Newell explains why you should care about the final debate tonight between Ted Cruz and Beto O’Rourke.

This is the debut episode of What Next, Slate’s new daily news show. We’ll be piloting What Next in public for the next several weeks. Tell us what you think: whatnext@slate.com.

Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at Slate.com/whatnextpus.

Follow us on Instagram for updates on the show, our weekend reading lists, and our occasional posts about pita chips.

Podcast production by Mary Wilson and Jayson De Leon.

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Trailer: Introducing What Next Oct 01, 2018

A smart round-up of the biggest stories of the day. When the news feels overwhelming, we’re here to help you answer: What next? Look for the show every weekday afternoon.

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