What Next: TBD | Tech, power, and the future
Episodes
The Great Climate Migration Begins
11 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
As the planet warms in the coming decades, many parts of the planet that millions now call home will become uninhabitable. At first, people in these a...
The Great Climate Migration Begins
11 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
As the planet warms in the coming decades, many parts of the planet that millions now call home will become uninhabitable. At first, people in these a...
The Limits of Filming Police Brutality
04 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In the wake of the killing of Michael Brown in 2014, and the national protests that followed, many believed that video shared on social media, along w...
The Limits of Filming Police Brutality
04 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In the wake of the killing of Michael Brown in 2014, and the national protests that followed, many believed that video shared on social media, along w...
QAnon Goes Mainstream
28 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Not long ago, the QAnon conspiracy theory seemed to have lost momentum. Social media mentions had decreased. 8chan had gone offline. But since March, ...
QAnon Goes Mainstream
28 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Not long ago, the QAnon conspiracy theory seemed to have lost momentum. Social media mentions had decreased. 8chan had gone offline. But since March, ...
What Went Wrong With Contact Tracing Apps
21 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In the early days of the pandemic, countries around the world invested heavily in new technologies that would help track the movement of the virus. No...
What Went Wrong With Contact Tracing Apps
21 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In the early days of the pandemic, countries around the world invested heavily in new technologies that would help track the movement of the virus. No...
How Google Search Sold Out
14 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In the early days of internet search engines, Google set itself apart by providing a simple service. A list of links, inviting you to explore the webs...
How Google Search Sold Out
14 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In the early days of internet search engines, Google set itself apart by providing a simple service. A list of links, inviting you to explore the webs...
How One Block Got Through It
07 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Over the past five months, city blocks have been slipping away. Bars are closed; restaurants are half-empty; retail is shuttered. As the country retur...
How One Block Got Through It
07 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Over the past five months, city blocks have been slipping away. Bars are closed; restaurants are half-empty; retail is shuttered. As the country retur...
When America Can’t Pay the Rent
31 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
For the last four months, federal and state eviction moratoria have kept Americans in their apartments, even if they couldn’t pay rent. Now, with fi...
When America Can’t Pay the Rent
31 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
For the last four months, federal and state eviction moratoria have kept Americans in their apartments, even if they couldn’t pay rent. Now, with fi...
New Orleans Without Music
24 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
More than any other U.S. city, New Orleans banks on its culture. From music to restaurants to parades, the city relies on a steady stream of tourists ...
New Orleans Without Music
24 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
More than any other U.S. city, New Orleans banks on its culture. From music to restaurants to parades, the city relies on a steady stream of tourists ...
Cities Are Running Out of Money
17 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
After months of coronavirus lockdowns, cities are taking stock of their finances. The situation is bleak. With plummeting sales and property tax reven...
Cities Are Running Out of Money
17 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
After months of coronavirus lockdowns, cities are taking stock of their finances. The situation is bleak. With plummeting sales and property tax reven...
Is “Covid Flight” a Thing?
10 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Tens of thousands of people leave American cities every year. Normally, they’re replaced by new arrivals seeking jobs, education, and opportunity. B...
Is “Covid Flight” a Thing?
10 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Tens of thousands of people leave American cities every year. Normally, they’re replaced by new arrivals seeking jobs, education, and opportunity. B...
What's a City Without the Office?
03 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Since March, white-collar offices in major cities across the United States have stood empty. Now, with growing evidence that the workforce is equally ...
What's a City Without the Office?
03 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Since March, white-collar offices in major cities across the United States have stood empty. Now, with growing evidence that the workforce is equally ...
A Hidden Side of Police Abuse
26 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Responding to protests around the country, the New York City Council passed the POST Act: Public Oversight of Surveillance Technology last week. The b...
A Hidden Side of Police Abuse
26 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Responding to protests around the country, the New York City Council passed the POST Act: Public Oversight of Surveillance Technology last week. The b...
Why Remote Learning Failed
19 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In March, when schools across the country shut down, few people could have guessed that students wouldn’t return until the fall. Schools weren’t e...
Why Remote Learning Failed
19 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In March, when schools across the country shut down, few people could have guessed that students wouldn’t return until the fall. Schools weren’t e...
Is This the End of Facial Recognition?
12 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This week, three of the leading developers of facial-recognition technology announced they would stop, or at least pause, selling this technology to p...
Is This the End of Facial Recognition?
12 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This week, three of the leading developers of facial-recognition technology announced they would stop, or at least pause, selling this technology to p...
Your Delivery Habit Isn't Helping
05 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In the midst of the pandemic, protests and police lockdowns, restaurants are turning increasingly to delivery apps like DoorDash and Grubhub to stay a...
Your Delivery Habit Isn't Helping
05 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In the midst of the pandemic, protests and police lockdowns, restaurants are turning increasingly to delivery apps like DoorDash and Grubhub to stay a...
Trump and Twitter Go to War
29 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
On Tuesday, after years of inaction, Twitter fact checked President Trump’s tweets for the first time. Six words were added below the original text...
Trump and Twitter Go to War
29 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
On Tuesday, after years of inaction, Twitter fact checked President Trump’s tweets for the first time. Six words were added below the original text...
What Is Elon Musk Thinking?
22 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
As the coronavirus shut down manufacturing across California in March and April, Elon Musk only wanted one thing: to start making cars again. So when...
What Is Elon Musk Thinking?
22 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
As the coronavirus shut down manufacturing across California in March and April, Elon Musk only wanted one thing: to start making cars again.So when l...
Decoding the Flood of COVID Data
15 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Every week, it feels like some new piece of coronavirus information dominates the headlines. Mysterious symptoms, changing government directives. This...
Decoding the Flood of COVID Data
15 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Every week, it feels like some new piece of coronavirus information dominates the headlines. Mysterious symptoms, changing government directives. This...
Should You Get an Antibody Test?
08 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Yesterday, New York City announced that it would provide 140,000 free antibody tests to residents who want to know if they have been exposed to the co...
Should You Get an Antibody Test?
08 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Yesterday, New York City announced that it would provide 140,000 free antibody tests to residents who want to know if they have been exposed to the co...
How the Crisis Could Embolden Big Tech
01 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This week, the world’s largest tech companies posted their quarterly earnings. And—unlike most other companies in the world—things aren’t look...
How the Crisis Could Embolden Big Tech
01 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This week, the world’s largest tech companies posted their quarterly earnings. And—unlike most other companies in the world—things aren’t look...
Can We Really Make a Safe Vaccine in 18 Months?
24 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
There are over 60 vaccines for the coronavirus currently in development. Four of them are already being tested in humans. As researchers move at break...
Can We Really Make a Safe Vaccine in 18 Months?
24 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
There are over 60 vaccines for the coronavirus currently in development. Four of them are already being tested in humans. As researchers move at break...
Can the U.S. Really Track the Coronavirus?
17 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Before the U.S. can start opening back up, states will need to put systems in place for “contact tracing,” or meticulous tracking of the disease w...
Can the U.S. Really Track the Coronavirus?
17 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Before the U.S. can start opening back up, states will need to put systems in place for “contact tracing,” or meticulous tracking of the disease w...
The Limits of Coronavirus Predictions
10 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
As governments around the world try to predict the toll and duration of the coronavirus, they’re turning increasingly to a handful of forecasting mo...
The Limits of Coronavirus Predictions
10 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
As governments around the world try to predict the toll and duration of the coronavirus, they’re turning increasingly to a handful of forecasting mo...
Risking Your Life for $8.71
03 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This week, workers at Amazon, Whole Foods, and Instacart have announced mass strikes across the country. Though demand for these services is high, pay...
Risking Your Life for $8.71
03 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This week, workers at Amazon, Whole Foods, and Instacart have announced mass strikes across the country. Though demand for these services is high, pay...
Where Are All the Tests?
27 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Slate Plus members get ad-free podcasts and bonus episodes of shows like Slow Burn and Dear Prudence. Sign up now to listen and support our work. T...
Where Are All the Tests?
27 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Slate Plus members get ad-free podcasts and bonus episodes of shows like Slow Burn and Dear Prudence. Sign up now to listen and support our work.The...
Big Tech Eyes the Pandemic
20 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Slate Plus members get ad-free podcasts and bonus episodes of shows like Slow Burn and Dear Prudence. Sign up now to listen and support our work. G...
Big Tech Eyes the Pandemic
20 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Slate Plus members get ad-free podcasts and bonus episodes of shows like Slow Burn and Dear Prudence. Sign up now to listen and support our work.Goo...
What If They Close All the Schools?
13 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Last week, the superintendent of the Northshore school district near Seattle made a difficult decision. With the coronavirus spreading rapidly in the ...
What If They Close All the Schools?
13 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Last week, the superintendent of the Northshore school district near Seattle made a difficult decision. With the coronavirus spreading rapidly in the ...
Did the Internet Doom a Pregnancy?
06 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Slate Plus members get ad-free podcasts and bonus episodes of shows like Slow Burn and Dear Prudence. Sign up now to listen and support our work. F...
Did the Internet Doom a Pregnancy?
06 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Slate Plus members get ad-free podcasts and bonus episodes of shows like Slow Burn and Dear Prudence. Sign up now to listen and support our work.For...
Did Money Corrupt an A.I. Utopia?
28 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
OpenAI was founded in 2015 with a billion dollars and an idealistic mission: Create artificial intelligence that could address humanity’s biggest pr...
Did Money Corrupt an A.I. Utopia?
28 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
OpenAI was founded in 2015 with a billion dollars and an idealistic mission: Create artificial intelligence that could address humanity’s biggest pr...
Inside Facebook’s Supreme Court
21 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
After years of controversial content moderation decisions, from deepfakes to deplatforming, Facebook is trying something new. In January, the social n...
Inside Facebook’s Supreme Court
21 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
After years of controversial content moderation decisions, from deepfakes to deplatforming, Facebook is trying something new. In January, the social n...
Coronavirus Tests China's Surveillance State
14 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Over the last month, as coronavirus spread across China, Xi Jinping’s vast surveillance and censorship infrastructure went into high gear. But with ...
Coronavirus Tests China's Surveillance State
14 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Over the last month, as coronavirus spread across China, Xi Jinping’s vast surveillance and censorship infrastructure went into high gear. But with ...
Iowa’s App-ocalypse
07 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
On Monday, the Iowa caucuses went off the rails. As the hours stretched into days, and still the results remained unclear, a new piece of election tec...
Iowa’s App-ocalypse
07 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
On Monday, the Iowa caucuses went off the rails. As the hours stretched into days, and still the results remained unclear, a new piece of election tec...
Why Is the U.S. Scared of Huawei?
31 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Recently a special delegation of senior Trump administration officials arrived in the U.K. Their mission? To convince prime minister Boris Johnson to ...
Why Is the U.S. Scared of Huawei?
31 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Recently a special delegation of senior Trump administration officials arrived in the U.K. Their mission? To convince prime minister Boris Johnson to ...
Which Tech Companies Are Doing the Most Harm?
24 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Last week, Slate published The Evil List, an expansive attempt to document the most concerning tech companies around the world, according to the exper...
Which Tech Companies Are Doing the Most Harm?
24 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Last week, Slate published The Evil List, an expansive attempt to document the most concerning tech companies around the world, according to the exper...
The Silicon Valley Dream Was Always a Fantasy
17 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In 2013, Anna Wiener moved from New York to San Francisco to join the city’s booming tech scene. Over the course of four years, she worked at three ...
The Silicon Valley Dream Was Always a Fantasy
17 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In 2013, Anna Wiener moved from New York to San Francisco to join the city’s booming tech scene. Over the course of four years, she worked at three ...
How Targeted Ads Started Watching Us All
10 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In 2019, for the first time, more advertising money went toward targeted digital ads in the U.S. than on radio, television, cable, magazine, and newsp...
How Targeted Ads Started Watching Us All
10 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In 2019, for the first time, more advertising money went toward targeted digital ads in the U.S. than on radio, television, cable, magazine, and newsp...
Do Algorithms Make Sentencing Fairer?
03 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Around the country, states are employing algorithms to help reduce prison populations and predict recidivism. This week, we hear from a Wisconsin judg...
Do Algorithms Make Sentencing Fairer?
03 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Around the country, states are employing algorithms to help reduce prison populations and predict recidivism. This week, we hear from a Wisconsin judg...
A Landmark Privacy Law Takes Effect. Now What?
27 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
On January 1st, a new law will grant Californians the right to see, delete, and stop the sale of personal information collected by tech companies. But...
A Landmark Privacy Law Takes Effect. Now What?
27 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
On January 1st, a new law will grant Californians the right to see, delete, and stop the sale of personal information collected by tech companies. But...
Ring: Your Doorbell Is Watching
20 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Back in 2013, an entrepreneur named Jamie Siminoff appeared on Shark Tank. He was seeking an investment in a new product he was calling Doorbot, a sm...
Ring: Your Doorbell Is Watching
20 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Back in 2013, an entrepreneur named Jamie Siminoff appeared on Shark Tank. He was seeking an investment in a new product he was calling Doorbot, a sm...
Inside The Influence Economy
13 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Over the past decade, the world of influencers has grown from a fringe marketing movement to a multibillion-dollar industry. Now, tactics and strategi...
Inside The Influence Economy
13 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Over the past decade, the world of influencers has grown from a fringe marketing movement to a multibillion-dollar industry. Now, tactics and strategi...
What Is Google After Larry and Sergey?
06 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
On Tuesday, Google founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page announced that they are stepping down from their respective roles as president and CEO of Alpha...
What Is Google After Larry and Sergey?
06 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
On Tuesday, Google founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page announced that they are stepping down from their respective roles as president and CEO of Alpha...
Is TikTok Really a National Security Threat?
22 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
TikTok now has over 1.5 billion downloads, putting it in the company of social media giants like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. While all of these ...
Is TikTok Really a National Security Threat?
22 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
TikTok now has over 1.5 billion downloads, putting it in the company of social media giants like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. While all of these ...
How WhatsApp Got Hacked
15 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Recently, Facebook filed a lawsuit against a little-known Israeli spyware firm called NSO Group. Facebook is accusing NSO of supplying technology that...
How WhatsApp Got Hacked
15 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Recently, Facebook filed a lawsuit against a little-known Israeli spyware firm called NSO Group. Facebook is accusing NSO of supplying technology that...
The Uber Drivers Who Don’t Want to Be Employees
08 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
California recently passed a law that would classify rideshare drivers across the state as employees, rather than contractors. Among many other benefi...
The Uber Drivers Who Don’t Want to Be Employees
08 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
California recently passed a law that would classify rideshare drivers across the state as employees, rather than contractors. Among many other benefi...
The Price of Automating Aviation
01 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Boeing’s CEO Dennis Muilenburg appeared in front of Congress. He was there to answer questions about what his company knew, and when, bef...
The Price of Automating Aviation
01 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Boeing’s CEO Dennis Muilenburg appeared in front of Congress. He was there to answer questions about what his company knew, and when, bef...
Inside Facebook's Political Ad Mess
25 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Over the last week, Facebook and Mark Zuckerberg have been under fire for declining to fact-check political ads. But a former insider says this is the...
Inside Facebook's Political Ad Mess
25 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Over the last week, Facebook and Mark Zuckerberg have been under fire for declining to fact-check political ads. But a former insider says this is the...
Announcement: What Next: TBD
24 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Hey If Then listeners! As of now, the new Slate podcast What Next: TBD will be taking over this feed. What Next: TBD is a weekly analysis with host Li...
Announcement: What Next: TBD
24 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Hey If Then listeners! As of now, the new Slate podcast What Next: TBD will be taking over this feed. What Next: TBD is a weekly analysis with host Li...
Smash Bros Side Hustlers
16 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Smash Bros Side Hustlers
16 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The People Who Hold The Internet Together
09 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The People Who Hold The Internet Together
09 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
What it Takes to Study Online Harassment
02 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
What it Takes to Study Online Harassment
02 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.