What Next: TBD

A weekly podcast about tech, power, and the future.

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About the Show

Every Friday, Slate’s popular daily news podcast What Next brings you TBD, a clear-eyed look into the future. From fake news to fake meat, algorithms to augmented reality, Lizzie O’Leary is your guide to the tech industry and the world it’s creating for us to live in.

Host

  • Lizzie O’Leary is the host of What Next: TBD, Slate’s show about technology, power, and the future. Previously, she created and hosted Marketplace Weekend. She has reported for CNN, Bloomberg News, and the New York Times Magazine, among others. She is also a contributing writer at the Atlantic.

Honey, I Sold the House to Zillow

Why are tech companies flipping houses?

The Return of Hacktivism

Massive data dumps from inside Twitch and Epik may signal a new era in the world of moralistic hacking.

Will the Facebook Whistleblower Make a Difference?

Frances Haugen thinks we’re talking about Facebook all wrong.

What Instagram Does to Teens

A leaked internal report concludes, “we make body issues worse for one in three teen girls”

Are We Getting COVID Testing All Wrong?

It may be time to reimagine how we use tests in the U.S.

China vs. Video Games

Why is Beijing restricting young people’s gaming to three hours a week?

Can This River Be Saved?

The 40 million people who rely on water from the Colorado River are running out of time.

The Rush for Ivermectin

Who’s profiting from the latest unproven COVID treatment craze?

Elizabeth Holmes on Trial

The founder of Theranos faces criminal charges in court next week. Here’s what to expect.

Will Booster Shots Make a Difference?

 Globally, what’s the best use of the next available dose?

What’s Taking the FDA So Long?

Full approval of the vaccines could move the needle on U.S. vaccination rates. So what’s the holdup?

Can America Fix Its Trains?

To make a real difference, we first need to learn how to spend the money well.

I Bought It. Why Can’t I Fix It?

Manufacturers don’t let customers repair their own stuff. That may be about to change.

How Spyware Mercenaries Hack Your Phone

A new spyware technology has the cybersecurity world scrambling to catch up.

It’s Hot. It’s Flooding. Is This the New Normal?

A climate scientist on why it’s not too late to turn things around.

So, What Happens to WFH Now?

White-collar workers are heading back to the office. Will anything be different after a year and a half away?

It’s Time to Talk About UFOs

A new report shows that the government is changing its tune on unidentified aerial phenomena.

Welcome to Bitcoin Beach

Can El Salvador’s seaside crypto experiment really work as a national policy?

What Cops Are Doing With Your DNA

Police have solved hundreds of cold cases using open-source DNA platforms. But at what cost?

What Space Billionaires Cost Us

Jeff Bezos’ quick trip into outer space is about more than just publicity.