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Lurking behind—and sometimes explicitly out in front of — the Trump administration’s ire for DEI, its crackdowns on immigration, and its rhetoric about what kind of country America is, is “the Great Replacement theory.” But it’s not an exclusively American problem.  Guest: Ibram X Kendi , author of “How To Be An Antiracist,” “Stamped From The Beginning” and his latest, “Chain of Ideas: The Or...

On this episode: Elizabeth Newcamp seeks counsel from Lucy Lopez and Zak Rosen on a treat habit that has gotten out of hand. They also answer a listener question about an annoying toddler who will. not. wait.  This week on the Plus Playground: A mega-round of science-y book recommendations.  Podcast production by Cheyna Roth and Rosemary Belson.  Follow us on YouTube !  Join us...

If you had as much trouble getting along with other humans as Sam Altman does, you too might be eager to issue in the artificial intelligence revolution. Guest: Andrew Marantz , staff writer for the New Yorker.  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 c...

On today’s episode, host Kate Lindsay is joined by creator Annie Rauwerda, who runs the popular @depthsofwikipedia account, to talk about 25 years of Wikipedia and the platform’s recent decision to ban AI . While Wikipedia has long been seen as an infinite well of knowledge, it’s kept alive by hundreds of thousands of dedicated human volunteers. From the teenager who’d drive to historical sites to...

The events of the past week have revealed a terrifying disconnect between the constitutional remedies available to us and the gravity of the threats posed by an utterly unfit President with his finger on the nuclear button. On this week’s Amicus, Dahlia Lithwick turns to two experts on impeachment and the 25th Amendment: Rep. Jamie Raskin, and Professor Michael Gerhardt. Each has been at the very...

This week: Retail investors usually stick to the stock market, but many are rushing to make bets on oil futures. Felix Salmon , Elizabeth Spiers , and Emily Peck discuss Emily’s piece about “dumb money” moving into more sophisticated trading markets —thanks to new crypto-driven platforms—and what’s motivating the trend.  Then, the hosts examine Bill Ackman’s grand plan to take over Universal...

Donna Summer was a hit-maker for two decades and a dance floor deity for more than three. Her collaborations with Giorgio Moroder and Pete Bellotte were formative in dance, electronic, and rock music, influencing everyone from David Bowie and Blondie to Madonna and Moby. But the rock establishment was stinting in its appreciation—whether at Comiskey Park in Chicago in 1979 or the Rock and Roll Hal...

With Congress again out for recess—instead of, say, working to end the partial government shutdown or doing something, anything, when the president threatens war crimes—one media organization had the savvy, gall, and, okay, shamelessness to deputize us all as honorary paparazzi.  Guest: Harvey Levin , founder of TMZ. This episode is member-exclusive. Listen to it now by subscribing to Slate P...

As OpenAI prepares for its IPO, the company decided to…pay millions of dollars for a tech talk show? Is this just what rich tech guys like Sam Altman are like now?  Guest: Mike Isaac , tech reporter for the New York Times. 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 Po...

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the state of the U.S. war with Iran including what Tuesday night's abject ceasefire means, a deeply unsettling profile of the internet fringe group "Groypers" that shows how they are affecting Republican politics with guest Antonia Hitchens , and legal and moral arguments over mandatory school reading lists being considered in Texas...

An Israeli filmmaker, who returned home from abroad after October 7, attempts to capture the feeling of mourning becoming a thirst for revenge among his compatriots, in a film he describes as a “bomb.” Guest: Nadav Lapid , Israeli screenwriter and film director of Yes ! Want more What Next? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the whole What Next family and across all your favori...

On this episode: Lucy Lopez , Elizabeth Newcamp , and Zak Rosen answer a question from a child-free listener. She's been putting in the work being a villager for her friends with kids. But now, when she needs someone in her corner, everyone is too busy. Is she expecting too much?  But first, they share their latest triumphs and fails, which include: changing family culture, a movie that can’t...

In the summer of 2006, a teenage girl began posting video diaries to a then-new site called YouTube under the handle lonelygirl15. Within weeks she was a phenomenon—even though no one knew the truth of who she really was. The frenzied quest to change that, to solve the mystery of lonelygirl15, would ultimately land her on the front page of newspapers and the covers of magazines. Twenty years on, l...

What’s the worst thing Steve, Dana, and Julia have ever done? And would you still love them if you knew the answer to that question? That’s not a subject for today’s episode, but these three do get into The Drama , the dark, polarizing rom-com directed by Kristoffer Borgli starring Zendaya and Robert Pattinson which is animated by such disquieting inquiries. Next, it’s time for elk meat, Montana g...

In the summer of 2006, a teenage girl began posting video diaries to a then-new site called YouTube under the handle lonelygirl15. Within weeks she was a phenomenon—even though no one knew the truth of who she really was. The frenzied quest to change that, to solve the mystery of lonelygirl15, would ultimately land her on the front page of newspapers and the covers of magazines. Twenty years on, l...

On today’s episode, host Kate Lindsay is joined by Slate contributing writer Imogen West-Knights to talk about Shy Girl , the controversial novel whose U.S. publication was cancelled over suspected AI use . The incident reveals just how unprepared the publishing industry is to confront the rise of AI-generated material, but also how AI is secretly already being used in many creative industries—whe...

Where was Congress while the president threatened that “a whole civilization will die tonight”?  Guest:  Senator Mark Warner , U.S. Senator from Virginia, top-ranking Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee. 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 Pod...

Hosts Alex Kirshner , Lindsay Gibbs , and Ben Lindbergh recap a chalky March Madness marked by coaching drama and uncertainty about college basketball’s future. Then Alex and Lindsay ask Ben about the early MLB season, from the Automated Ball-Strike challenge system to a new wave of impressive rookies. Finally, the panel speaks with author and soccer journalist Ryan O'Hanlon about the real story b...

When Doree Shafrir started fertility treatments in her late thirties, she thought it would be relatively simple. It ended up taking multiple rounds and sinking her family into debt.  Doree and her husband host the podcast Matt and Doree's Eggcellent Adventure: An IVF Journey . She also co-hosts Forever 35 , and writes the work advice column for Slate, Good Job .  Death, Sex & Money i...

Last week, the Army’s Chief of Staff, General Randy George, joined a long and growing list of high-level military officers who have been fired, forced out, or otherwise induced to leave their positions during the second Trump administration. What does that mean for the war in Iran? Guest: Idrees Ali , national security correspondent at Reuters. Want more What Next? Subscribe to Slate Plus to acces...

American Catholicism finds itself at a crossroads—split between its prominent conservative representatives in the Trump administration and in the priesthood, and the more inclusive, social justice-oriented messaging of the American pope.  Guest: Colleen Dulle , Vatican correspondent for America Media, co-host of “ Inside the Vatican ” podcast, and author of “Struck Down, Not Destroyed.” Want...

On this episode: Lucy Lopez , Elizabeth Newcamp , and Zak Rosen discuss AI’s creep into education. Specifically, the latest news surrounding AI replacing teachers. Including: a school in Chicago announcing teacher-free learning starting this fall and first lady Melania Trump laying out a vision to have a “humanoid educator” in classrooms.  They also answer a question about adding a dog to the...

One of artificial intelligence’s most hyped “abilities” is how it writes computer code. So much so that seemingly anyone can do it. So we figured… why not us?  Guests:  Greg Lavalee, Slate’s Chief Technology Officer. Clive Thompson, contributing writer for the New York Times Want more What Next TBD? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the whole What Next family and all...

This week: OpenAI completed a $122 billion investment round. Felix Salmon , Elizabeth Spiers , and Emily Peck discuss what this deal says about the private and public markets and try to wrap their heads around the astronomical valuations of OpenAI and SpaceX.  Then, Maryland-based spice company, McCormick, announced it will merge with Unilever’s food division to create a new spice and sauce m...

On today’s episode, host Kate Lindsay is joined by writer and content creator Josh Lora, who goes by TellTheBees on Substack , TikTok , Instagram and YouTube . After yet another meaningless Chappell Roan controversy , this time involving a young fan and a security guard, Kate and Josh look into why Chappell Roan is always such a lightning rod for discourse. What seems like celebrity gossip ends up...