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On this week’s If Then, Will Oremus and April Glaser talk about about an unexpected move by President Trump that could save the Chinese electronics maker ZTE.  Also in the news is Project Maven, a Pentagon project to build AI for drones, which Google has been working on. This week it was reported that around a dozen Google employees quit over the company’s involvement in the project.The hosts discuss what one Apple blogger calls “one of the biggest design screwups in Apple history,” which has led to a class-action lawsuit. And they break down a major vulnerability in email encryption. Later, April and Will are joined by antitrust expert Gene Kimmelman. He’s the president and CEO of Public Knowledge, a nonprofit that focuses on tech policy research and advocacy. He formerly served as the Chief Counsel for the U.S. Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division under President Obama, during which time the NBC/Comcast merger was approved. They talk to him about AT&T’s antitrust trial with the DOJ as the company attempts to acquire Time Warner for $85 billion. If approved, that deal could reshape the future of how people connect to the internet, how they get their news and entertainment, and the future of mega-mergers proposed under Trump. And then there’s the recent revelation that AT&T hired Trump attorney Michael Cohen as a consultant last year. Don’t Close My TabsThe Guardian: Black Activist Jailed for His Facebook Posts Speaks Out About Secret FBI SurveillanceThe Verge: UK Newsstands Will Sell “Porn Passes” to verify Ages Under New LawsThe Telegraph: Newsagents and Corner Shops To Sell “Porn Pass” Access Codes To Allow Adults To Visit X-rated SitesPodcast production by Max Jacobs.If Then plugs: You 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.

Jayson De Leon has a few things to start your day, from Gina Haspel's inevitable confirmation to a potential independent run from Preet Bharara.

Dana Stevens, Sam Adams discuss the new film The Rider with Inkoo Kang, Childish Gambino's song and video for This Is America with Aisha Harria, and Jia Tolentino's New Yorker piece "The Promise of Vaping and the Rise of Juul" with Lena Wilson. 

On today’s Gist, we’re tearing up the playbook. We’re playing the first episode of our new limited-run podcast, Upon Further Review, based on the book of the same name. In this episode, Slow Burn host Leon Neyfakh imagines how American history might have been different if Richard Nixon had been any good at playing football. For more fascinating sports what ifs, subscribe to Upon Further Review now.

Prudence is joined this week by standup comedian Myq Kaplan, who hosts the new podcast Broccoli and Ice Cream, and who is making his second appearance on the show. Together they take on questions about how to decide if your partner is being vulnerable or controlling in a polyamorous relationship, what to do if you think you might be racist, how to appease your mother about miniscule wedding invite details when she is paying and whether or not you should kidnap a dog to get it fixed. Slate Plus members can hear Prudie and Myq discuss an additional letter about a difficult discussion surrounding close friends, partners, and consent. Not yet a member? Sign up at Slate.com/PrudiePod.Email: prudencepodcast@gmail.comProduction by Max Jacobs

A brief history of oratory from the Gilded Age to the Era of Trump.Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at www.slate.com/podcastsplus. Twitter: @lexiconvalleyFacebook: facebook.com/LexiconValleyEmail: lexiconvalley@slate.com

Virginia Heffernan talks to the journalist, Theo Padnos, about his open letter to Trump's CIA nominee, Gina Haspel. about his time spent in a Syrian torture prison and why, if it comes down to it, she must never obey torture orders from our Commander-in-chief.Join us for our live show in Brooklyn, NY on May 30th at 730PM (ET).

In the MeToo era, so many creative people are being outed as bullies, sexual predators, and worse. And for journalists who cover arts and entertainment, it’s been a bit of a tightrope: How can you write about House of Cards or The Cosby Show ever again without the work feeling hopelessly tainted? And are they still great shows, even if their stars or creators aren't?            How do you investigate claims of harassment if no one will talk, and a star's publicist won't let you near their client? What excellent works of art or storytelling were never made because bad men got in the way? A few weeks ago Kurt Andersen participated in a panel to talk about some of these questions with other journalists and critics. The panel was called “When Bad People Create Good Art: Writing About Culture in the #MeToo Era.” It was held at the Graduate School of Journalism at the City University of New York. The panel was moderated by Janice C. Simpson, director of the Arts and Culture Reporting Program at CUNY, and also included: Nekesa Moody, Global Entertainment and Style Editor of the Associated Press; A.O. Scott, film critic of The New York Times. "I like to think about the people who didn't get a chance, people who were in their path who were harmed, how they're doing,” said Maureen Ryan, Chief TV Critic at Variety, who also was on the panel. “I think a lot about that.”

From the mind of Mike Pesca, a new Slate podcast called Upon Further Review. In this episode, football really mattered to Richard Nixon. Only one problem — he sucked at it. That frustration fueled a persecution complex that would eventually bring down his presidency. How would history be different had Nixon been more than just a tackle dummy on his college football team? Upon Further Review and Slow Burn's Leon Neyfakh explores that question, and other great what ifs from sports history. 

On today’s Gist, is Sen. John McCain really the greatest political leader of all time?Have you heard of face gyms? Beauty gurus are rushing to recommend exercises for the forehead, chin, and cheeks to look younger and healthier. Our expert bullshitologist Maria Konnikova is here to scrutinize the case for facial toning. Konnikova is a contributor to the New Yorker and the author of The Confidence Game. In the Spiel, Salena Zito’s populist divining rod.

Stefan Fatsis and guest host Mike Pesca discuss the start of the NBA conference finals and the debate over the debate over who’s the greatest, Michael Jordan or LeBron James. Stefan talks to Roger Bennett of Men In Blazers about Wayne Rooney’s reported move to America and Roger’s new book, Men in Blazers Present Encyclopedia Blazertannica. And Stefan and Mike are joined by Nate DiMeo to discuss his essay in Mike’s new book, Upon Further Review, about the alternate history of tug-of-war. NBA (1:42): Stefan and Mike discuss Game 1 of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals, Michael v. LeBron, and Charles v. Shaq.Wayne Rooney (22:04): Stefan and Roger Bennett of Men In Blazers talk about English striker Wayne Rooney’s reported move to D.C. United of Major League Soccer.Tug-of-War (40:24): Stefan and Mike talk to Nate DiMeo about imagining what would have happened if tug-of-war hadn’t been kicked out of the Olympics a century ago.Afterballs (56:01): 

For this episode, we visited Slows Bar B-Q to talk with its chef, Mike Metevia. Prior to coming to Slows a decade ago, Metevia had worked in other sectors of the restaurant industry and with other cuisines, but he’d always been a barbecue guy in his private life. “I just like starting fires,” he tells us. Then in a Slate Plus extra, Metevia offers some tips on how to barbecue better at home. If you’re a member, enjoy bonus segments and interview transcripts from Working, plus other great podcast exclusives. Start your two-week free trial at slate.com/workingplus.Email: working@slate.comTwitter: @Jacob_BroganProduction: Mickey Capper, @FMcapper

Mothers, Michael Cohen and Argentina on this week's show with Felix Salmon, Anna Szymanski, and Emily Peck. We recorded on Thursday this week so the Michael Cohen news continued to develop after taping.Production by Daniel Schroeder

As the ripples from New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman’s resignation after allegations of violence against women continue, Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey joins Dahlia Lithwick to discuss the role of State Attorneys General and how that’s changing under Trump. Attorney General Healey also talks about fighting—and winning against—the gun lobby in court. Please let us know what you think of Amicus. Join the discussion of this episode on Facebook. Our email is amicus@slate.com.Podcast production by Sara Burningham.

Virginia Heffernan is joined by Isaac Butler, host of Slate's new podcast "Lend Me Your Ears," to talk about his show and what inspired it. Plus, Isaac and Virginia talk to the author of Tyrant: Shakespeare on Politics, Stephen Greenblatt, about the psychic tyranny of of Shakespeare's tyrants and what the work of the playwright can tell us about Trump and our era.Go check out Lend Me Your Ears!And join us for our live show in Brooklyn, New York on May 30th!