What Next

How Extremists Capitalized on the Pandemic

Conspiracy theorists, racists, and other extremists see an opportunity to further divide and sow chaos under lockdown.

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Episode Notes

As the coronavirus continues to leave people sick and out of work, alone and under stress, there’s one particular group of people taking special notice, extremists. It’s not just the virus that is spreading. Extreme and violent rhetoric is too.

Guest: Hannah Allam, covers extremism for NPR.

Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, Danielle Hewitt, and Mara Silvers.

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About the Show

The problem with the news right now? It’s everywhere. And each day, it can feel like we’re all just mindlessly scrolling. It’s why we created What Next. This short daily show is here to help you make sense of things. When the news feels overwhelming, we’re here to help you answer: What next? Look for new episodes every weekday morning.

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  • Mary Harris is the host and managing editor of What Next, Slate's new daily news podcast. She has reported throughout the public radio system, for NPR, Marketplace, and WNYC.

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