Empathy at Scale
On today’s show, host April Glaser looks at the continuing battle between Tesla CEO Elon Musk and the Securities and Exchange Commision. Earlier this week, the SEC asked a judge to hold Musk in contempt for tweets he’s made about Tesla’s performance. The SEC says Musk violated a settlement he reached with the commission last year, which required him to have his tweets reviewed before sending them. Then, Will Oremus speaks with journalist Casey Newton about an investigation he published this week on the tech site The Verge. The article is headlined, “The Trauma Floor: The secret lives of Facebook moderators in America.” Newton talked to current and former employees of a moderation facility in Arizona that contracts with Facebook, about the working conditions there. And, in particular, the psychological toll of scrutinizing hundreds of Facebook posts each day that feature extreme violence, hate speech, and conspiracy theories.5:57 - Interview with Casey Newton23:23 - Don’t Close My TabsStories discussed on the show: CNN: SEC Asks Judge to Hold Musk in ContemptThe Verge: The Trauma Floor: The secret lives of Facebook moderators in AmericaWired: The Laborers Who Keep Dick Pics and Beheadings Out of Your Facebook FeedDon’t Close My Tabs:April: Mercury News: Facebook, Google Bikes Lead to Tensions with NeighborsWill: Vox: How a coat on Amazon took over a neighborhood — and then the internetPodcast production by Max JacobsYou can get updates about what’s coming up next by following us on Twitter @ifthenpod. You can follow Will @WillOremus and April @Aprilaser. If you have a question or comment, you can email us at ifthen@slate.com.If Then is presented by Slate and Future Tense, a collaboration among Arizona State University, New America, and Slate. Future Tense explores the ways emerging technologies affect society, policy, and culture. To read more, follow us on Twitter and sign up for our weekly newsletter.Listen to If Then via Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify, Stitcher, or Google Play. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
27 Feb 201929min
Civil Rights Cold Cases Find Teenage Allies
It started as a simple lesson in civil rights and ended as a bill President Trump signed into law. How did a class of New Jersey high school students create a piece of legislation to help solve civil rights crimes?Guests: Oslene Johnson, former student at Hightstown High School. Stuart Wexler, history teacher at Hightstown High School.Tell us what you think by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or sending an email to whatnext@slate.com. Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, and Anna Martin Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
27 Feb 201923min
Venezuela’s Crisis Deepens
As violence erupts on the Venezuelan border, Vice President Mike Pence makes his way to Colombia to reaffirm American support for the opposition leader, Juan Guaido. How far is the U.S. willing to go? And will this be remembered as the weekend everything changed? Guest: Ana Vanessa Herrero, reporter at the New York Times. Joshua Keating, international editor at Slate. Tell us what you think by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or sending an email to whatnext@slate.com. Follow us on Instagram for updates on the show. Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, and Anna Martin. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
26 Feb 201918min
The Laquan McDonald Case Isn’t Over
Chicago’s mayoral election is Tuesday. The race has been crowded, contentious, and very much shaped by the Laquan McDonald case.Guest: Jamie Kalven, a journalist with the Invisible Institute. Tell us what you think by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or sending an email to whatnext@slate.com. Follow us on Instagram for updates on the show.Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, and Anna Martin. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
25 Feb 201915min
Who Wants to Be a (Heavily Taxed) Millionaire?
As Democrats try to find an economic message that can win in 2020, a group of like-minded millionaires is making the rounds, telling any politicians who will listen, “We want to pay more in taxes.” Why now?Guest: Morris Pearl, chair of Patriotic Millionaires.Tell us what you think by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or sending an email to whatnext@slate.com. Follow us on Instagram for updates on the show.Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, and Anna Martin. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
22 Feb 201923min
Meet the EPA’s Ghost-Writer
A scientist on the outer fringes of his field has been patiently making the case that the U.S. government applies far too conservative controls on toxins in the environment. Now, he’s trying to implement his ideas at the EPA -- by writing a sweeping new rule that could make the agency unable to regulate pollution & other contaminants.Guest: Susanne Rust, reporter for the Los Angeles Times. Read her story here. Tell us what you think by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or sending an email to whatnext@slate.com.Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, and Anna Martin. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
21 Feb 201920min
Can Palantir Be Used For Good?
On today’s show, host Will Oremus looks at the fallout from Amazon’s announcement last week that they’re abandoning plans for a new headquarters in New York City. Some celebrated it as a victory; others mourned a missed opportunity; still others were mad that Amazon took its ball and went home, rather than negotiating a fairer deal.Then, April Glaser talks with Faine Greenwood from the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative, where she focuses on the role of drones and data intensive foreign aid projects. Her latest piece for Slate is headlined “Why Humanitarians Are Worried About Palantir’s New Partnership With the U.N.” 6:02 - Interview with Faine Greenwood23:15 - Don’t Close My TabsStories discussed on the show: Slate: New York’s Anti-Amazon Movement Is Now a Blueprint for Critics of Big TechSlate: Why Humanitarians Are Worried About Palantir’s New Partnership With the U.N.Don’t Close My Tabs:April: The New Yorker: Private Mossad for HireWill: Wired: AR Will Spark The Next Big Tech Platform-Call It MirrorworldPodcast production by Max JacobsYou can get updates about what’s coming up next by following us on Twitter @ifthenpod. You can follow Will @WillOremus and April @Aprilaser. If you have a question or comment, you can email us at ifthen@slate.com.If Then is presented by Slate and Future Tense, a collaboration among Arizona State University, New America, and Slate. Future Tense explores the ways emerging technologies affect society, policy, and culture. To read more, follow us on Twitter and sign up for our weekly newsletter.Listen to If Then via Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify, Stitcher, or Google Play. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
20 Feb 201928min
The Fight to Change Frat Culture
People who believe the fraternity system is broken have been trying every which way to force changes -- something, anything, to stop the parade of injuries, sexual assaults, and deaths that have happened at frat houses. Last week, we saw yet another attempt to change frat culture -- this time in a lawsuit filed against Yale University. On Wednesday's show, how have fraternities evaded comeuppance for so long?Guest: Doug Fierberg, attorney and founder of The Fierberg National Law Group.Tell us what you think by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or sending an email to whatnext@slate.com. Follow us on Instagram for updates on the show.Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, and Anna Martin. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
20 Feb 201913min
