Hamas releases a shocking video of an emaciated Israeli hostage as the US special envoy says they are determined to push for a deal to end this war rather than reach a temporary ceasefire.
We speak to one of the Israeli hostage families who met US President Donald Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff in Tel Aviv.
Also on the programme: a court in southern India has sentenced a prominent politician to life in prison for raping one of his domestic staff; and would you use an app allowing guests to buy a seat at your wedding for €150?
(Photo: Steve Witkoff meets with Israeli hostage family members on August 2, 2025. Credit: The Hostages and Missing Families Forum Headquarters)
Some disputes resist an easy “good vs. evil” dynamic, but when one side calls their plans “Operation Satanique,” it’s not too hard to figure who “the baddies” are.
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.
Harriett Gilbert talks with Juhea Kim about her debut novel Beasts of a Little Land.
Set during the turbulent years of Japanese-occupied Korea in the early 20th century, this sweeping historical epic traces the lives of two unforgettable characters: Jade, a young girl sold to a courtesan school, and JungHo, the orphaned son of a hunter who becomes swept up in the Communist resistance. Over five decades, their paths cross and recross as they navigate war, occupation, and revolution.
Rich with lyrical prose, folklore, and unflinching insight into the brutality of empire, Beasts of a Little Land explores identity, loyalty, and the high price of survival.
Juhea Kim will be talking about why the Tiger is such an important symbol in Korean history, how her writing is structured like a symphony, and how as a writer she strives to show the humanity of all her characters when they are on very different sides of war and colonialism.
More people are claiming Social Security early in 2025. Robert Brokamp speaks with Dr. Michael Finke, a professor at the American College of Financial Services, about why he thinks this is likely a mistake for most retirees.Also in this episode: - How much money do you need to be financially comfortable, and how much makes you wealthy? - Which countries’ stock markets are performing the best in 2025 -A unique way to measure the stock market’s valuationHost: Robert Brokamp Guest: Dr. Michael Finke Engineer: Adam Landfair
A flurry of economic news this week painted an unflattering picture of the U.S. economy. States are eying redistricting as a way to swing control of the U.S. House. New research underscores some of the problems with relying too much on body mass index.
From TikTok: More on 3I/Atlas and Aliens; News Items: Artery Calcium Scan, Microwave Beam for Geothermal Drilling, World's Largest Cargo Plane, Dental Floss Vaccine; Your Questions and E-mails: Apes Sign Language, Mama Cass; Name That Logical Fallacy; Science or Fiction
Russian media have dismissed Donald Trump's announcement that he will deploy nuclear submarines closer to Russia. Mr Trump said his decision was prompted by “provocative comments” on social media by the former Russian president, Dmitry Medvedev. Mr Medvedev said in a post on X on Monday that President Trump was playing "the ultimatum game" with Russia, and that such an approach could lead to a war involving the United States.
Also in the programme: The world's first legislation to control artificial intelligence starts coming into force in the EU today; and from Gaza, the sixteen-year-old with a dream to become a great violinist.
(Photo: Dmitry Medvedev was Russia's president in 2008-12. Credit: Reuters)
Charlie & Colin expose how Bitcoin treasury companies mirror 1929 investment trusts, creating overleveraged positions that could trigger the next bear market through forced selling and debt spirals.
Charlie and Colin dive deep into the dangerous parallels between today's Bitcoin treasury companies and the 1929 investment trust bubble. They analyze how companies like MicroStrategy use convertible debt to accumulate Bitcoin, why this creates systemic risk, and how forced selling could trigger a catastrophic unwind. From Ponzi-like dividend structures to the speculative attack strategy, they break down why this leverage-fueled boom might end badly.
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**NOTES:**
• 98 companies raised $86B in 8 weeks for crypto
• MicroStrategy needs $300-400M annually for dividends
• Q1 revenue only $111M vs dividend obligations
• Public entities hold ~900K Bitcoin total
• Investment trusts grew 11x from 1927-1929
• 1929 trusts were 1/3 of all capital issuance
Timestamps:
00:00 Start
02:30 Lessons from 1929
07:22 Trusts vs BTC treasury companies
12:50 Shorting MSTR
20:51 Hear me out.. companies that make profits
24:34 Don't say the P word!
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