Slate News

Slate News episodes:

• 04.23.2024

  What Next: Your Right to Protest? Not the Supreme Court’s Problem.

  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. Want more...

  
• 04.23.2024

  Hear Me Out: Third Parties Are Saving Democracy

  On today’s episode of Hear Me Out: nobody wins with two parties. A competitive presidential election draws closer every day – and as ever, every vote will count. So is it fair to accuse third-party voters of wasting a vote, as...

  
• 04.22.2024

  What Next: What the WNBA Salary Debate Misses

  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:...

  
• 04.21.2024

  A Word: Freaknik: Party in the Black

  Nostalgia for the 1990s is everywhere, and for a generation of African Americans, perhaps nothing symbolizes the fun of that decade more than Freaknik. A sprawling days-long festival of all the good –and bad– of spring break behavior, at its...

  
• 04.21.2024

  Well, Now: We Don’t Need to Cure Autism

  April is Autism Acceptance Month, and how we’ve come to understand autism has evolved over the past several decades.  For years, autism spectrum disorder (ASD) was thought of as something that needed to be cured. Through better data and years of...

  
• 04.21.2024

  What Next TBD: The Internet Archive Endangered

  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...

  
• 04.20.2024

  Political Gabfest: Could You Be A Trump Juror?

  This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss Donald Trump’s first criminal trial and the Supreme Court argument on a criminal charge related to another Trump case and talk with The Atlantic’s Mark Leibovich about his profile of Governor Gavin Newsom.    Here are...

  
• 04.20.2024

  Slate Money: Tesla’s Toxic Relationship With Musk

  This week: Elon Musk wants his colossal, court-blocked pay package, and Tesla’s board wants to give it to him. Felix Salmon, Emily Peck, and Elizabeth Spiers also chat with Alicia Montgomery, current Slate audio VP and veteran of NPR, to...

  
• 04.20.2024

  Amicus: Twelve Jurors and One Angry Ex-President

  Get your tickets for Amicus Live in Washington DC here.  The first criminal trial of Donald Trump is finally here. This week, hundreds of possible jurors filed through Judge Juan Merchan’s courtroom in lower Manhattan. The selection process was a preview...

  
• 04.19.2024

  What Next TBD: What’s Driving Tesla’s Layoffs?

  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...

  
• 04.18.2024

  What Next: Is It Too Late to Escape “Forever Chemicals”?

  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...

  
• 04.17.2024

  Outward: A History of the Gay Right with Neil J. Young

  This week Bryan talks to writer Neil J. Young about his new book Coming Out Republican: A History of the Gay Right. They dig into some of the inherent contradictions of the Gay Right and the pillars of their political...

  
• 04.17.2024

  What Next: Will Abortion in Florida and Arizona Decide the Election?

  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.  Want more What Next? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to...

  
• 04.16.2024

  What Next: What Israel Does Now

  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...

  
• 04.16.2024

  Hear Me Out: Legalize Weed, But Not Like This

  On today’s episode of Hear Me Out: blaze it. Ahead of the honorary stoner holiday that is 4/20, we’re taking a look at the marijuana landscape. Public opinion has warmed considerably to legal weed in the past few decades – both...

  
• 04.16.2024

  Hang Up: The Meaning of O.J. Simpson

  Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin, discuss the death of O.J. Simpson and everything his life and his murder trial dredged up. They’re also joined by Vincent Goodwill of Yahoo Sports for a breakdown of the NBA playoffs. O.J. Simpson's...

  
• 04.15.2024

  What Next: Trump In (Criminal) Court

  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. Want more What Next? Subscribe...

  
• 04.14.2024

  A Word: Candace Owens: Back to Black?

  Commentator Candace Owens’ messy fall from grace in conservative media coincided with her appearances on popular Black chat shows. That includes The Breakfast Club, led by radio host and personality Charlamagne tha God. Once a minor social media personality who condemned Donald Trump as...

  
• 04.14.2024

  Well, Now: Most Skincare Products are BS. Here Are the Facts.

  As we approach the warmer months and start spending more time outside, healthy skin couldn’t be more important. So how can we best protect our body’s largest organ? Feel free to stock up on all the products for a 10-step routine...

  
• 04.14.2024

  What Next TBD: Is America Ready for Legal Psychedelics?

  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. Want more What Next TBD? Subscribe to...

  
• 04.13.2024

  Slate Money: Why America’s Internet Sucks

  This week, Slate Money hacks the mainframe! Washington Post tech writer Shira Ovide joins Felix Salmon, Emily Peck, and Elizabeth Spiers to discuss what’s wrong with America’s internet industry, how YouTube became the media empire no one talks about, and...

  
• 04.13.2024

  Political Gabfest: Arizona Territory’s 1864 Abortion Law

  This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the revival of Arizona’s 1864 abortion ban; the end of No Labels; and the past and future of presidential debates.    Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Mary Jo...

  
• 04.13.2024

  Amicus: The Jurisprudence of Bleeding Out

  Get your tickets for Amicus Live in Washington DC on May 14th here. We shouldn’t be surprised that we have to keep saying it, but here we are: the Supreme Court (notably trained as lawyers) will soon make decisions about...

  
• 04.12.2024

  What Next TBD: Does Google Suck Now?

  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.  Want more What Next TBD? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the whole What...

  
• 04.11.2024

  What Next: The Judge Protecting Trump

  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...

  
• 04.10.2024

  What Next; How the Government Botched Financial Aid

  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. Want...

  
• 04.09.2024

  What Next: No Labels Is Out. But RFK Jr. Remains.

  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. Want...

  
• 04.08.2024

  Hang Up: A Transcendent Women’s Tourney

  Stefan Fatsis and Josh Levin are joined by the Athletic’s Chantel Jennings to talk about South Carolina’s victory over Iowa. They also ponder Caitlin Clark’s WNBA future, John Calipari’s reported move to Arkansas, and Tennessee’s decision to move beyond the...

  
• 04.08.2024

  What Next: How Young Is Too Young to Work?

  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. Want more What...

  
• 04.07.2024

  A Word: Criminal Injustice

  A young Black man, wrongfully accused of sexual assault, is convicted nonetheless. Evidence that could’ve exonerated him is withheld or covered up, and he spends much of his youth in prison. It sounds like a movie-of-the-week, but it was the...

  
• 04.07.2024

  What Next TBD: America Needs More Power

  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 Want more...

  
• 04.07.2024

  Well, Now: Spring Cleaning Your Medicine Cabinet

  Spring is a time for fresh starts. For a lot of us, that means spring cleaning. But don’t worry, we’re not talking about the whole house.  This week, the Well, Now team is spring cleaning our medicine cabinets. What are some medicinal...

  
• 04.06.2024

  Slate Money: EVs Need a Charge-Up

  This week: Americans are less revved up about EVs. Felix Salmon, Emily Peck, and Elizabeth Spiers discuss if Elon Musk’s mischief has played a role in slowing sales. Also: the crisis in the wine industry, and how a combination investigative...

  
• 04.06.2024

  Amicus: When Gag Orders Become Campaign-Performance Indicators

  After weeks of the Trump trials (and the run-up to the Trump trials) becoming ever more engrossing spectator sports, both the public and the media may have lost sight of some of the stakes. They also may have lost sight...

  
• 04.06.2024

  Political Gabfest: Florida Bans Abortion Again

  Here are this week’s chatters: Emily: Scott Bauer for AP: Wisconsin voters approve ban on private money support for elections and Unfair Share: The Gerrymandered Chocolate Bar on Kickstarter John: Joey Roulette and Will Dunham for Reuters: Exclusive: White House directs NASA...

  
• 04.05.2024

  What Next TBD: Truth Social’s Rocky Week

  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. Want more What Next TBD? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the...

  
• 04.04.2024

  What Next: How Much Longer Can Netanyahu Hold On?

  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...

  
• 04.03.2024

  What Next: How Gambling Took Over Sports

  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...

  
• 04.02.2024

  What Next: How a Democrat Flipped a Seat in Alabama

  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...

  
• 04.02.2024

  Hear Me Out: Don’t Blame Capitalism For The Housing Crisis

  On today’s episode of Hear Me Out: housing the nation.  We have an affordable housing problem — and an affordability problem, period, but that’s another show.  When we talk about solutions to homelessness and cost burden for renters and homeowners alike, many...

  
• 04.01.2024

  Hang Up: The Kim Mulkey Profile Is Here

  Joel Anderson and Stefan Fatsis are joined by USA Today’s Lindsay Schnell to talk about the NCAA women’s college basketball tournament and by Buzzer’s Eamonn Brennan to discuss the men’s tournament. Finally, the Washington Post’s Kent Babb joins for a...

  
• 04.01.2024

  What Next: The Group Behind Christian Conservatives’ Winning Streak

  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...

  
• 03.31.2024

  A Word: Run for the Border?

  The American Dream has long been out of reach for many Black people in this country. Between police violence, the lack of economic opportunity, and the threat of a second Trump term, many African Americans are considering building their dream...

  
• 03.31.2024

  Well, Now: Eating Disorders Are Rising Among Boys. Why?

  Eating disorders are one of the most deadly psychiatric disorders. But for decades, much of the criteria to diagnose one applied only to cisgender girls and those assigned female at birth – like a loss of menstruation. This meant that many...

  
• 03.31.2024

  What Next TBD: The Psychological Toll of Mars

  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...

  
• 03.30.2024

  Political Gabfest Live In Washington, D.C.!

  This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz are live in Washington, D.C. to discuss the Supreme Court (again) and abortion (again); Donald Trump’s ups and downs in New York courtrooms and Ronna McDaniel’s rise and fall on NBC;...

  
• 03.30.2024

  Amicus: When RAGA Rhymes with MAGA

  It’s not quite red-yarn-on-a-corkboard, but given how often we’ve been thinking about the Republican Attorneys General Association (RAGA) over the years, it may as well be. The group has become a vital component of the conservative legal movement, with pay-to-play...

  
• 03.30.2024

  Slate Money: How Do You Bribe a President? Meme Stocks.

  This week: Truth Social is the latest meme stock, and buying it could win favor with a president. Felix Salmon, Emily Peck, and Elizabeth Spiers discuss what Truth Social means for Trump, whether Sam Bankman-Fried’s 25-year sentence is too harsh,...

  
• 03.29.2024

  What Next TBD: Can Boeing Pull Out of This Tailspin?

  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. Want more What Next TBD? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening...

  
• 03.28.2024

  What Next: Nickelodeon’s Legacy of Abuse

  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.”  Want more What Next?...