What Next | Daily News and Analysis

The “blue tsunami” of the midterms swept Democrats into power in places they haven’t won in decades and decades. What will it take for the Dems to hold what they’ve won?Guests:Clare Malone and Galen Druke, co-hosts of the podcast “Still Counting.” Jim Newell, Slate’s senior politics writer and author of The Surge newsletter.Want more What Next? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the whole What Next family and across all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of our show page. Sign up now at slate.com/whatnextplus to get access wherever you listen.Podcast production by Evan Campbell, Madeline Thames-Ducharme and Patrick Fort.Paige Osburn is the senior supervising producer of What Next and What Next TBD. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As Democrats were routing their way through the midterms, Hakeem Jefferies said they were going to be focused on affordability, not on getting even. But corruption was a big issue for voters. What should the priorities be when the Democrats take control of Congress next January?Guests: Adam Smith, congressman from Washington’s 9th district and ranking member of the House armed services committee.JoAnna Mendoza, representative elect for Arizona’s 6th congressional district. Want more What Next? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the whole What Next family and across all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of our show page. Sign up now at slate.com/whatnextplus to get access wherever you listen.Podcast production by Evan Campbell, Madeline Thames-Ducharme and Patrick Fort.Paige Osburn is the senior supervising producer of What Next and What Next TBD. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Democrats wouldn’t let themselves believe the polls heading into Tuesday’s midterms, and Republicans didn’t seem all that worried about them either. But as returns started coming in Tuesday night, no one could believe their eyes.Guest: Molly Olmstead, Slate staff writer.This episode is member-exclusive. Listen to it now by subscribing to Slate Plus. By joining, not only will you unlock exclusive episodes of What Next —you’ll also access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the What Next show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Or, visit slate.com/whatnextplus to get access wherever you listen.Podcast production by Evan Campbell, Madeline Thames-Ducharme and Patrick Fort.Paige Osburn is the senior supervising producer of What Next and What Next TBD. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As an electoral issue during the midterms, artificial intelligence was tied up with money in politics, with industry and government in cahoots, and with data centers feeling forced into communities. It was a big winner for Democrats this year, and all of these—plus the implications for employment—are going to be bigger issues in 2028.Guest: Rob Flaherty, political strategist and founder of Tomorrow Together, a tech-focused political action committee.Want more What Next TBD? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the whole What Next family and across all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of our show page. Sign up now at slate.com/whatnextplus to get access wherever you listen.Podcast production by Evan Campbell, Madeline Thames-Ducharme, Patrick Fort and Micah Phillips.Paige Osburn is the senior supervising producer of What Next and What Next TBD. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Democrats basically got their best-case scenario to play out in the midterms. But that was only the election—so what’s the plan for governing here? A gaggle of Slatesters convenes to discuss live.Guests:Jim Newell, Slate’s senior politics writer and author of The Surge newsletter.Aymann Ismail, Slate senior writer who spent election night at the Abdul El-Sayed watch party in Michigan.Luke Winkie, Slate staff writer who spent election night with Hasan Piker in West Hollywood.Want more What Next? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the whole What Next family and across all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of our show page. Sign up now at slate.com/whatnextplus to get access wherever you listen.Podcast production by Evan Campbell, Madeline Thames-Ducharme and Patrick Fort.Paige Osburn is the senior supervising producer of What Next and What Next TBD. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.