1 big thing

Latest Episodes:

Conservative wins close out the the Supreme Court term Jul 03, 2023

Show notes

On Friday the Supreme Court struck down the President’s plan to cancel up to $20,000 of student loan debt for tens of millions of Americans.

And, the Supreme Court rules businesses can refuse service to LGBTQ+ customers
Plus, protests in France continue, following the police killing of an unarmed French teenager of North African descent
Also, how to protect your scared dog during 4th of July fireworks

Guests: Danielle Douglas-Gabriel, Washington Post reporter on the economics of higher education, and Axios’ Sam Baker.

Credits: Axios Today is produced by Niala Boodhoo, Alexandra Botti, Lydia McMullen-Laird and Alex Sugiura. Music is composed by Evan Viola. You can reach us at podcasts@axios.com. You can text questions, comments and story ideas to Niala as a text or voice memo to 202-918-4893.

Go deeper:

The end of affirmative action for college admissions Jun 30, 2023

Show notes

The Supreme Court on Thursday struck down the use of affirmative action. Colleges and universities may no longer explicitly consider an applicant’s race when deciding admissions.

Plus, bringing lesbian bars back from the brink of extinction.

Guests: Axios’ Sam Baker, Megan Rose Dickey, Jessica Boehm, Alissa Widman Neese and Arika Herron.

Credits: Axios Today is produced by Niala Boodhoo, Alexandra Botti, Fonda Mwangi, Lydia McMullen-Laird, Robin Linn and Ben O'Brien. Music is composed by Evan Viola. You can reach us at podcasts@axios.com. You can text questions, comments and story ideas to Niala as a text or voice memo to 202-918-4893.

Go deeper:

Beating the “last mile” of inflation Jun 29, 2023

Show notes

President Biden was in Chicago on Wednesday touting so-called “Bidenomics.” But its biggest challenge may be winning the last mile of the inflation race -- a problem echoed across much of the world.

Plus, a new effort to prevent drowning deaths.
And, dangerous Canadian wildfire smoke clouds U.S. skies -- again.

Guests: Axios’ Courtenay Brown and California Water Safety Coalition's Will Koon.

Credits: Axios Today is produced by Niala Boodhoo, Alexandra Botti, Fonda Mwangi, Lydia McMullen-Laird and Alex Sugiura. Music is composed by Evan Viola. You can reach us at podcasts@axios.com. You can text questions, comments and story ideas to Niala as a text or voice memo to 202-918-4893.

Go deeper:

Supreme Court denies conservative bid to control elections Jun 28, 2023

Show notes

The Supreme Court on Tuesday denied state legislatures the unchecked power to set rules for federal elections, in a 6-3 decision.

Plus, malaria in the U.S., and more "mosquito days" across the country.

Guests: Axios' Alex Fitzgerald and Adriel Bettelheim; The National Constitution Center's Jeffery Rosen.

Go deeper:

A summer of strikes Jun 27, 2023

Show notes

Workers across the country are headed to the picket line this summer, from Starbucks to Amazon. More than 10,000 workers have gone on strike so far just this month.

Plus, pedestrian deaths at a 40-year high in the U.S.
And, how the Titan disaster could affect private space travel.

Guests: Axios' Emily Peck, Miriam Kramer and Sam Baker.

Credits: Axios Today is produced by Niala Boodhoo, Alexandra Botti, Fonda Mwangi, Robin Linn and Alex Sugiura. Music is composed by Evan Viola. You can reach us at podcasts@axios.com. You can text questions, comments and story ideas to Niala as a text or voice memo to 202-918-4893.

Go deeper:

New cracks in Putin’s power Jun 26, 2023

Show notes

The Wagner Group led an armed uprising in Russia over the weekend that lasted 24 hours. It marked the most serious threat to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s rule since he took office, revealing what Secretary of State Anthony Blinken called “cracks.”

Plus, a long heatwave tests the power grid — and people — of Texas.

Guests: Axios' Dave Lawler and Andrew Freedman.

Credits: Axios Today is produced by Niala Boodhoo, Alexandra Botti, Fonda Mwangi and Alex Sugiura. Music is composed by Evan Viola. You can reach us at podcasts@axios.com. You can text questions, comments and story ideas to Niala as a text or voice memo to 202-918-4893.

Go deeper:

GOP retaliation, and a bad look for the Supreme Court Jun 23, 2023

Show notes

Hard-right House Republicans forced a vote Thursday on a resolution seeking to impeach President Biden. House Republicans voted to censure Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif). And Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito is defending his personal ties with billionaire hedge funder Paul Singer. It's the weekly politics State of Play.

Plus, the sociocultural meaning of Barbie in 2023.

Guests: Axios' David Lindsey and Jennifer Kingson

Credits: Axios Today is produced by Niala Boodhoo, Alexandra Botti, Robin Linn, Fonda Mwangi, Lydia McMullen-Laird and Alex Sugiura. Music is composed by Evan Viola. You can reach us at podcasts@axios.com. You can text questions, comments and story ideas to Niala as a text or voice memo to 202-918-4893.

Go Deeper:

FTC accuses Amazon of duping Prime customers Jun 22, 2023

Show notes

The Federal Trade Commission sued Amazon on Wednesday for allegedly tricking millions of customers into signing up for Amazon Prime, as well as for making it hard to cancel Prime subscriptions.

Plus, new protections for pregnant workers.
And, wheelchair users fight for easier air travel.

Guests: Axios' Ashley Gold, Emily Peck and Alex Fitzpatrick.

Go deeper:

Why the U.S. needs India now more than ever Jun 21, 2023

Show notes

President Biden welcomes Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the White House on Thursday. This is Modi's first U.S. state visit and the stakes are high for the relationship between the two nations.

Plus, Hunter Biden reaches an agreement with the DOJ over tax and gun charges.

Guests: Axios' Ryan Heath and Alex Thompson.

Credits: Axios Today is produced by Niala Boodhoo, Fonda Mwangi, Lydia McMullen-Laird, Robin Linn and Alex Sugiura. Music is composed by Evan Viola. You can reach us at podcasts@axios.com. You can text questions, comments and story ideas to Niala as a text or voice memo to 202-918-4893.

Go deeper:

America's paternity leave patchwork Jun 20, 2023

Show notes

Over the weekend millions celebrated Father’s Day in the U.S. But, when it comes to giving dads paid time off to care for their new children, America lags behind.

Plus, the U.S. and China say they’ll stabilize relations.
And, new summer reading recommendations.

Guests: Axios' Erica Pandey and The New York Times' Jessica Grose.

Credits: Axios Today is produced by Niala Boodhoo, Alexandra Botti, Fonda Mwangi and Ben O'Brien. Music is composed by Evan Viola. You can reach us at podcasts@axios.com. You can text questions, comments and story ideas to Niala as a text or voice memo to 202-918-4893.

Go deeper:

Summer reading recommendations from Jessica Grose: