What Next: TBD | Tech, power, and the future

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.

The Surveillance Is Coming From Inside The (Smart) House

25 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Host Shannon Palus talks to Roxanne Leitao, a UK-based designer researching ways to make the smart home gear safer for victims of domestic abuse. They...

The Surveillance Is Coming From Inside The (Smart) House

25 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Host Shannon Palus talks to Roxanne Leitao, a UK-based designer researching ways to make the smart home gear safer for victims of domestic abuse. They...

Breaking Away From Google

18 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Host Aaron Mak discusses with journalist Nithin Coca his attempt to abstain from using any Google products in his daily life.  They discuss why he di...

Breaking Away From Google

18 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Host Aaron Mak discusses with journalist Nithin Coca his attempt to abstain from using any Google products in his daily life.  They discuss why he di...

The Case For The Vape

11 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Host Shannon Palus discusses how today’s vaping panic is connected to the rise of the cigarette with Jacob Grier, author of the new book The Redisco...

The Case For The Vape

11 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Host Shannon Palus discusses how today’s vaping panic is connected to the rise of the cigarette with Jacob Grier, author of the new book The Redisco...

Inside Uber

04 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

New York Times technology reporter Mike Issac discusses his new book Super Pumped: The Battle For Uber, which traces Uber’s rapid rise and fall unde...

Inside Uber

04 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

New York Times technology reporter Mike Issac discusses his new book Super Pumped: The Battle For Uber, which traces Uber’s rapid rise and fall unde...

Cosmetic Gene Editing Gone Awry

28 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Host Shannon Palus explores a future in which high school girls stay atop the social hierarchy by editing their genes, giving themselves purple eyes, ...

Cosmetic Gene Editing Gone Awry

28 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Host Shannon Palus explores a future in which high school girls stay atop the social hierarchy by editing their genes, giving themselves purple eyes, ...

When Your DNA is Public Information

21 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Aaron Mak learns about how law enforcement is using public genealogy websites to crack cold cases. His guest is Nila Bala, Associate Director of Crimi...

When Your DNA is Public Information

21 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Aaron Mak learns about how law enforcement is using public genealogy websites to crack cold cases. His guest is Nila Bala, Associate Director of Crimi...

The Allure of Smart Guns

14 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode Shannon Palus learns about personalized guns, sometimes referred to as “smart” guns. Her guest is Cassandra Crifasi, Deputy Direct...

The Allure of Smart Guns

14 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode Shannon Palus learns about personalized guns, sometimes referred to as “smart” guns. Her guest is Cassandra Crifasi, Deputy Direct...

China’s Cyber War Against Hong Kong

07 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode Aaron Mak learns about all the ways China is using cyber warfare to disrupt the efforts of protesters in Hong Kong. His guest is Nick ...

China’s Cyber War Against Hong Kong

07 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode Aaron Mak learns about all the ways China is using cyber warfare to disrupt the efforts of protesters in Hong Kong. His guest is Nick ...

Chemists Spill the Science of Skincare

31 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode Shannon Palus talks to Victoria Fu and Gloria Lu, co-founders of Chemist Confessions. Their goal is to help us all cut through the mar...

Chemists Spill the Science of Skincare

31 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode Shannon Palus talks to Victoria Fu and Gloria Lu, co-founders of Chemist Confessions. Their goal is to help us all cut through the mar...

Why Facebook Can’t Just Create a Currency

24 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode Aaron Mak looks into Facebook’s plan to create a global cryptocurrency called Libra. For an expert opinion, he turns to Chris Brumme...