Slate News

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...

This week, David Plotz, John Dickerson, and Emily Bazelon discuss the raucous State of the Union; the spy balloon and U.S.-China relations; and Susan Dominus’s reporting on missed opportunities in treating menopause. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Zolan Kanno-Youngs, Katie Rogers and Peter Baker for The New York Times: “Kamala Harris Is Trying to Define Her Vice Presiden...

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 Ro...

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 .” If you enjoy this show, ple...

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 acc...

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. If you enjoy this show, please consider signin...

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 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 e...

This week, former Slate Money host Cathy O’Neill joins Felix Salmon , Emily Peck , and Elizabeth Spiers to discuss the technical glitch at the New York Stock Exchange. They also talk about a new study that found the IRS disproportionately audits Black taxpayers, and about Ozempic, a shockingly effective – and expensive – weight loss drug.   In the Plus segment: a debate over Slack etiquette.   Pod...

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 If you enjoy this show...

This week, David Plotz, John Dickerson, and Emily Bazelon discuss the killing of Tyre Nichols; violence interruption efforts–with guest Alec MacGillis; and the upcoming State of the Union. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Jamelle Bouie for The New York Times: “ The Police Cannot Be a Law Unto Themselves ” Radley Balko for The New York Times: “ Tyre Nichols’s Death Proves Y...

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 If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus mem...

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.  If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members...

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 . If yo...

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...

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 If you enjoy this show,...

This week, Chris Miller joins Felix Salmon , Emily Peck , and Elizabeth Spiers to discuss his new book, Chip War: The Fight for the World's Most Critical Technology . They discuss the crucial role of microchips, the global dynamics of microchip design and manufacturing, and how chips factor into US-China relations.   In the Plus segment: Moore’s Law.   Podcast production by Anna Phillips. Hosted o...

First, there was the Dobbs case. Then there was the leaked opinion in the Dobbs case. Then there was the investigation into the leaked opinion in the Dobbs case. Then there was the report on the investigation into the leak. Then there was the supplemental report from the Marshal on the report on the investigation into the leak. AND THEN there was the revealing reporting from the NY Times’ Jodi Kan...

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 If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get benefit...

This week, David Plotz, John Dickerson, and guest host Josie Duffy Rice discuss the rise of Marjorie Taylor Greene; Ron DeSantis’ attacks on educators; and the bipartisan bashing of monopolist Ticketmaster. Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Jonathan Swan and Catie Edmondson for The New York Times: “ How Kevin McCarthy Forged an Ironclad Bond With Marjorie Taylor Greene ” Go...

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. If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get benefits l...

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. If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members...

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. If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. S...

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 .  If you enjoy t...

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 If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members g...

This week, Felix Gillette joins Felix Salmon , Emily Peck , and Elizabeth Spiers to talk about his new book It's Not TV: The Spectacular Rise, Revolution, and Future of HBO and discuss the state of streaming, the relationship between sports and advertisers, and the decline of the movie theater industry.   In the Plus segment: YouTube.   Podcast production by Jessamine Molli. Hosted on Acast. See a...