The phrase "What happened next?" was a clue in the New York Times Crossword puzzle on October 9, 2025. The answer to this crossword clue is "ANDTHEN," a seven-letter word that fits the clue well.
If the query about "what happened next" was referring to something else related to news or stories featured in The New York Times, one highlighted article discussed the ongoing political and social tensions around the 2024 election, Arab American and Muslim American experiences, and issues related to Middle East violence and U.S. domestic reactions.
However, the most direct answer related to "what happened next" in the context of The New York Times is this crossword clue and its solution "ANDTHEN."