Slate Daily Feed

On this week’s episode: Elizabeth, Jamilah, and Zak help a parent who has been monitoring their teenage daughter’s text messages. Have they crossed a line, or are they doing their due diligence to ensure their child is safe? Then they answer a question from a parent whose 2 year-old daughter wants her ears pierced. How early is too early, and who should be making this kind of decision?  On Slate Plus, the hosts talk about how one Black mother’s video about her night doula went viral, sparking a debate about privilege, luxury, and the expectation that mothers, particularly Black mothers, must be suffering to succeed at motherhood.  Recommendations: Zak recommends calling your kids' creative hobbies an art practice. Jamilah recommends Passing on Netflix Elizabeth recommends the book Letters From Father Christmas Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes.  Podcast

Michigan state Senator Rosemary Bayer has been fighting for years to get safe storage laws on the books in her home state. In the wake of the shooting at Oxford High School, a school that sits in her district, her mission has become that much more urgent.  Guest: Rosemary Bayer is a state senator in Michigan. She represents the northern suburbs of Detroit. If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get benefits like zero ads on any Slate podcast, bonus episodes of shows like Slow Burn and Dear Prudence—and you’ll be supporting the work we do here on What Next. Sign up now at slate.com/whatnextplus to help support our work. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week’s episode of The Waves, Slate’s news director Susan Matthews interviews the Nation’s abortion-access correspondent, Amy Littlefield about her reporting for her recent New York Times piece, “Where the Pro-Choice Movement Went Wrong.” They start by talking about how America got to the precipice of overturning Roe v. Wade, and whether reproductive rights advocates are prepared for the fight to come. Later in the show, they discuss how women will continue to access abortion without Roe, and why organizing needs to become more local.  In Slate Plus Susan is joined by What Next senior producer Danielle Hewitt and The Waves producer Cheyna Roth to talk about the upcoming Sex and the City TV sequel, And Just Like That...     Podcast production by Cheyna Roth with editorial oversight by Susan Matthews and June Thomas.  Send your comments and recommendations on what to cover to thewaves@slate.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 1995, aspiring filmmakers created the first ever soap opera on the Web. Hollywood saw it as the future of entertainment. But a fan-led revolt showed that interactivity sometimes has a price. This week, Evan Chung explains the rise and fall of The Spot. One Year is produced by Evan Chung, Josh Levin, and Madeline Ducharme. Additional production help from Cheyna Roth. Mixing by Merritt Jacob. Slate Plus members get to hear more about the making of One Year. Get access to extra episodes, listen to the show without any ads, and support One Year by signing up for Slate Plus for just $1 right now. For a behind-the-scenes look into some of the articles we read when we create the show, check out our Pocket collection at http://getpocket.com/slate.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode, Madison and Rachelle examine two strange new phenomena taking over TikTok. First, Madison explains why Chanel’s advent calendars have become the subject of an internet furor. Then, Rachelle explores Hinge’s new voice notes feature, discusses the voice notes that have gone viral on other platforms, and explains why this not have been the dating app’s brightest idea. Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Derek John. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A year after they were caught on tape beating Rodney King, four LAPD officers went on trial. None were convicted.  How did the prosecution make its case against the cops? How did the officers hold up under questioning? And what happened when the verdict was announced?  Season 6 of Slow Burn is produced by Joel Anderson, Jayson De Leon, Ethan Brooks, Sophie Summergrad, and Jasmine Ellis.  Mixing by Merritt Jacob. To listen to these interviews in full, learn more about the making of this season, skip all the ads, and support Slow Burn, sign up for Slate Plus now. It's only $1 for your first month. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Julia is back! First, the panel discusses Jane Campion’s big comeback, The Power of the Dog. Next, the panel wades through Peter Jackson’s eight hour-long Beatles docuseries Get Back. Finally, the panel discusses the rise of the gift guide and gift giving. In Slate Plus, Steve and Dana catch up with Julia and chat about how relationships with culture consumption can change.  Email us at culturefest@slate.com. Endorsements Dana: The last movie Dana reviewed for Slate, Steven Spielberg’s and Tony Kushner’s remake (or re-invention) of West Side Story. It’s only in theaters currently, but (if you feel comfortable making the trip) it’s a great theatrical experience. Julia: Isabel Wilkerson’s historical study The Warmth of Other Suns. Winner of the 2011 National Book Critics Circle Award, it’s one of the most incredibly well-crafted narratives of the Great Migration. Steve: Among the pieces of culture Steve’s recently consumed, the one that meant the most after viewing the Beatles docuseries is a song: T

When Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai accused a former Chinese Vice Premier of rape, what came next was darkly predictable: the athlete disappeared from public view while the government scrubbed all mentions of her allegations and censored searches for her name. But few expected the Women’s Tennis Association to strike back, suspending all future tournaments in China and Hong Kong. As the WTA stands up to China - leaving millions of dollars on the table - will other sports organizations follow suit and hold the government to account over its human rights abuses? Guest: Ben Rothenberg, senior editor of Racquet Magazine and host of the tennis podcast No Challenges Remaining. If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get benefits like zero ads on any Slate podcast, bonus episodes of shows like Slow Burn and Dear Prudence—and you’ll be supporting the work we do here on What Next. Sign up now at slate.com/whatnextplus to help support our work. Learn more about your ad

Danny Lavery welcomes Tori Bedford, a writer and journalist based in Boston. Lavery and Bedford take on two letters. First, from a letter writer who isn’t sure how to let her new social circle know that they are not transgender. Then, another letter writer is wondering how to create better boundaries with her new, overbearing mother-in-law. Plus Bedford discusses her recent work on the “Mass and Cass” area of Boston. Slate Plus members get another episode of Big Mood, Little Mood every Friday: sign up now! Need advice? Send Danny a question here. Email: mood@slate.com Production by Phil Surkis Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

All signs point to rough congressional elections next year. What are House Democrats doing to hold their majority? Guest: Rep. Sean Maloney (D-N.Y.), chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get benefits like zero ads on any Slate podcast, bonus episodes of shows like Slow Burn and Dear Prudence—and you’ll be supporting the work we do here on What Next. Sign up now at slate.com/whatnextplus to help support our work. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Deciding to give up your dog is not something we talk about much, especially now when our pets are more like family members. But what do you do when your dog has behavioral problems that threaten the safety of others? On this episode of How To!, the second in a two-part series on difficult dogs, we hear more from renowned trainer Denise Fenzi and inventor and YouTuber Simone Giertz. They open up about their traumatic experiences with previous dogs and how they eventually had to give them up despite trying everything. And they share advice for how to regain trust in dogs and yourself as a dog owner.  If you liked this episode, check out Part One: “How To Get Your Dog to Stop Barking (Without Barking Back)” Do you have a question with no easy answers? Send us a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001 and we might have you on the show. Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now at slate.com/howtoplus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/a

On today’s episode of Spectacular Vernacular, Nicole and Ben discuss the pronunciation of the name of the latest COVID variant. They also interview Alex Bellos, puzzle columnist for The Guardian and author of The Language Lover’s Puzzle Book. And finally, Amanda Ripley, host of Slate’s podcast How To! joins us for some wordplay. We hope you’re ready to take your investigation skills to the next level. You could win a year’s membership to Slate Plus. Do you have any language questions or fun facts to share? Email us at spectacular@slate.com.   Produced by Jasmine Ellis.  Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: Ben’s Wall Street Journal column on “Omicron” as the name of the new Covid variant Ben’s 2020 Atlantic piece on how geographic labels for diseases can encourage xenophobia  Ben’s Slate piece on the puzzling legacy of Stephen Sondheim New US edition of The Language Lover’s Puzzle Book by Alex Bellos  Amanda Ripley’s podcast, “How To!”  Subscribe to Slate Plus. It’s only $1 for the first

Note: This episode is about offensive material, and so contains explicit and offensive language. Truly Tasteless Jokes were a series of joke books that dominated the bestsellers list during the 1980s. An equal opportunity joke book: Truly Tasteless Jokes were collections of jokes ranging from Helen Keller, to dead babies, to sexist and racist jokes that from the vantage of 2021, seem entirely abject. For readers in the 1980’s though, these books were ubiquitous. On this episode we dig into the history of these books and their author Ashton Applewhite. It’s a story that involves the tangled history of 1960’s free speech politics, conservative backlash, and the strange moment in the 1980’s when left and right wing speech politics converged to help make these books mainstream.  If you love the show and want to support us, consider joining Slate Plus. With Slate Plus you can get ad free podcasts, bonus episodes, and much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin break down college football’s playoff match-ups and Brian Kelly’s move to LSU. Insider’s Bradford William Davis joins to discuss the baseball lockout and his piece on the sport using two different balls. Finally, a conversation about sports blowouts. College football (5:29): Does outsider Cincinnati have a chance against Alabama, Michigan, and Georgia?   Baseball (27:08): Will the sport cancel games? And why did MLB have two different balls in circulation?   Blowouts (47:36): What makes some lopsided victories great and others unwatchable?   Afterball (1:04:30): Stefan with more sports musicals. If you enjoy Hang Up and Listen, consider giving the gift of Slate Plus to a fellow Slate fan and they’ll receive all the benefits of membership: unlimited reading, ad-free listening, bonus content, and so much more: Give Slate Plus Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After oral arguments last week, the Supreme Court looks ready to overturn Roe v. Wade. How did conservatives get to this moment when the majority of Americans favor legalized abortion? And do liberals have the patience to keep the fight alive? Guest: Mark Joseph Stern, staff writer at Slate covering the Supreme Court. If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get benefits like zero ads on any Slate podcast, bonus episodes of shows like Slow Burn and Dear Prudence—and you’ll be supporting the work we do here on What Next. Sign up now at slate.com/whatnextplus to help support our work. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Slate Money is obsessed with Succession, HBO's wonderful drama about the lives of the superrich Roy family. So, every Monday, we'll be discussing the previous night's episode with spoiler-filled glee. For Episode 8, Felix Salmon and Emily Peck are joined by Rachel Syme of The New Yorker to talk about the terrible parents of Succession, the fabulous – and not quite working – fashion choices, and Roman’s…ahem…picture.  Podcast production by Cheyna Roth.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Stoya and Rich answer a letter from a man who just found out something about his girlfriend that disgusts him. Then they hear from a letter writer who’s wondering what to do about his in-laws’ peculiar pre-wedding tradition. Mentioned in the episode: Shameless by Nadia Bolz-Weber Slate Plus members get another episode of the How to Do It podcast every Monday. Sign up for Slate Plus now for just $1 for your first month. *** Read the How to Do It column on Slate here. If you’re in need of sex advice from Stoya and Rich, write in here or leave a voicemail at ‪(347) 640-4025 and we may use it on the show. Remember, it’s anonymous—and nothing is too embarrassing! Production by Chau Tu. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, host Karen Han talks to Andrew Ortiz, founder of the movie merchandise company Super Yaki, which designs T-shirts, pins, hats, and more. In the interview, Andrew discusses the origins of the company and their first product, which was an enamel pin with legendary animator Hayao Miyazaki’s face on it. After that, Andrew talks about quitting his day job, staffing the company, and building a customer base of people who adore cinema. After the interview, Karen and co-host June Thomas discuss Andrew’s ability to create a vibe and a clear mission for his company. In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Andrew offers some tips for avoiding burnout.   Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-9675. Podcast production by Cameron Drews. If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get benefits like zero ads on any Slate podcast, bonus episodes of shows like Slow Burn and Big Mood, Little Mood—and you’ll

Actors Anthony Ramos and Jasmine Cephas Jones, who became a beloved couple online after meeting during rehearsals for Hamilton, have reportedly ended their engagement. The reports of the breakup came soon after a TikToker posted a video about Ramos allegedly going into a strip club with a woman who was not his fiancée. On today’s episode, Rachelle and Madison get into the drama, unpack exactly what a wife guy is, and explain why people on social media seem so obsessed with uncovering infidelity—especially if you’re the type of dude who never stops bragging about your girl. Plus, they unwrap all the embarrassing data within their Spotify Wrapped. Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Derek John. Support ICYMI and listen to the show with zero ads. Sign up to become a Slate Plus member for just $1 for your first month. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dahlia Lithwick is joined by Julie Rikelman, senior director of litigation at the Center for Reproductive Rights, who argued for reproductive rights and liberty on behalf of Jackson Women’s Health in Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health at the Supreme Court this week. Together, they unpack the arguments and discuss the women missing from the narratives in the courtroom that day.  Then, Dahlia’s joined by Professor Katherine Franke, director of the Center for Gender and Sexuality Law at Columbia University and the founder and faculty director of the Law, Rights, and Religion Project at Columbia Law School. Professor Franke helps us examine how the Supreme Court’s conservative majority’s views on religious liberty undergirded Wednesday’s arguments, are set to influence the court’s jurisprudence, and will likely alter your constitutional rights.  In our Slate Plus segment, Slate’s own Mark Joseph Stern joins Dahlia for a frank discussion of the liberal justices’ performances in this week’s monumental abortion case, th