What Next

Could the U.S. Have Stopped Russia’s Hack?

Security experts have called for a clear cyber warfare policy for decades. The U.S. still hasn’t worked one out.

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Episode Notes

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

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Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Danielle Hewitt, Elena Schwartz, and Davis Land with help from Frannie Kelley.

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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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