Slate News

Welcome to Slate Money Goes to the Movies, a miniseries in which Felix Salmon, Anna Szymanski, and a different guest each week discuss popular business-themed movies.  In this special holiday preview episode, Felix and Anna are joined by Yinka Adegoke, the Africa editor for Quartz, to discuss the classic Christmas/commodities-trading comedy Trading Places . They talk about the rampant 1980s-ness o...

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  Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign u...

Dahlia Lithwick is joined by Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson to talk about lessons learned from this election cycle, and what it’s like to be in the eye of the “unleash the kraken” storm.  Next, Dahlia talks with Professor Steve Vladeck of the University of Texas School of Law about Bill Barr’s departure from the Justice Department, and they try to shed some light on the latest signals...

Felix Salmon, Emily Peck, and Anna Szymanski discuss Massachusetts regulators’ complaint against the Robinhood app, how MacKenzie Scott is giving away billions, and all the One Percenters leaving big cities. In the Slate Plus segment: Currency manipulation.  Email: slatemoney@slate.com Podcast production by Jessamine Molli. Twitter: @felixsalmon , @Three_Guineas , @EmilyRPeck Hosted on Acast. See...

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...

Emily, John and David discuss the massive Russian hack-- with guest Alex Stamos, Bill Barr’s resignation, and Joe Biden’s cabinet. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Alex Stamos for The Washington Post: “ Enough Is Enough. Here’s What We Should Do to Defend Against the Next Russian Cyberattacks. ” John Dickerson for 60 Minutes: “ Excited Delirium: The Controversial Syndrome...

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. Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.  Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feed...

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 resea...

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 resea...

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 .  Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcas...

Felix Salmon, Emily Peck, and Anna Szymanski discuss the DoorDash and Airbnb IPOs, the massive antitrust lawsuit against Facebook, and vaccine ethics.  In the Slate Plus segment: Should we just take away Zuck’s special shares? Email: slatemoney@slate.com Podcast production by Jessamine Molli. Twitter: @felixsalmon , @Three_Guineas , @EmilyRPeck Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more infor...

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? Gue...

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? Gue...

Emily, John and David talk about the coup attempt, Facebook’s legal troubles, and which presidential norms to restore or discard, with guest Tim Wu. It's conundrum season! Pass along your most pressing conundrums here: www.slate.com/conundrum . Our annual Conundrum show is coming soon. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Tim Wu for the New York Times: “ What Really Saved the...

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 .  Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now. Hosted on A...

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.  Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now. Hosted on...

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...

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.  Hosted...

Dahlia Lithwick is joined by Jack Goldsmith, Harvard Law professor, senior Hoover Institution fellow, co-founder of the Lawfare blog, and co-author (with Bob Bauer) of After Trump: Reconstructing the Presidency . They unpack the presidential pardon power and try to figure out what Attorney General Bill Barr is up to with John Durham’s investigation of the investigation into the 2016 election.  In...

Felix Salmon, Emily Peck, and Anna Szymanski discuss Salesforce’s $27.7 billion acquisition of Slack, Nasdaq’s proposed plan to require more diverse boards, and Amazon’s big hiring spree.  In the Slate Plus segment: Will we go back to the movies? Email: slatemoney@slate.com Podcast production by Jessamine Molli. Twitter: @felixsalmon , @Three_Guineas , @EmilyRPeck Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/pr...

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...

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...

It's conundrum season! Pass along your most pressing conundrums here: www.slate.com/conundrum . Our annual Conundrum holiday show is coming soon. Emily, John and Jamelle discuss presidential pardons; coronavirus exemptions for houses of worship; and David joins in for a conversation with Australia's former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull about disinformation. Here are some notes and references fro...

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...