1 big thing

As we celebrate 248 years of being a democracy, has the U.S. Supreme Court become the most powerful branch of government? We put that to Jeff Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, who in his latest book delves deep into the thinking of the founding fathers. For a special July 4th episode we asked him for his take on the immunity ruling and the SCOTUS term behind us, and his own 1 big thing: how the founding fathers' thinking about the courts and democracy matters today.Guests: Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center and host of We the People, a weekly podcast of constitutional debate; author of The Pursuit of Happiness: How Classical Writers on Virtue Inspired the Lives of the Founders and Defined AmericaCredits: 1 big thing is produced by Niala Boodhoo, Alexandra Botti, and Jay Cowit. Music is composed by Alex Sugiura and Jay Cowit. You can reach us at podcasts@axios.com. You can send questions, comments and story ideas as a text or voice memo to Niala at 202-918-4893.

One in every three adults in the U.S. has some kind of criminal record. That makes finding a job much harder, and has consequences not just for individuals and communities, but also takes a major economic toll on the country. One leader says businesses can advance the effort for so-called second chance hiring much faster than government. How her organization encourages businesses to help each other put more people back into the workforce.Guests: Maha Jweied, CEO of the Responsible Business Initiative for JusticeCredits: 1 big thing is produced by Niala Boodhoo, Alexandra Botti, and Jay Cowit. Music is composed by Alex Sugiura and Jay Cowit. You can reach us at podcasts@axios.com. You can send questions, comments and story ideas as a text or voice memo to Niala at 202-918-4893.

Climate change, inflation, and unreliable supply chains are just some of the challenges small-scale farmers globally are facing today. Alloysius Attah grew up on a farm in Ghana and has seen it all first hand. Now, as tech advances in agriculture and AI have opened new possibilities for farmers, he's helping small-scale farmers take advantage by providing access to critical information in their native languages. His organization Farmerline started in Africa and now works with more than 2.2 million farmers, reaching more than 50 countries.Guests: Alloysius Attah, co-founder and CEO of FarmerlineCredits: 1 big thing is produced by Niala Boodhoo, Alexandra Botti, and Jay Cowit. Music is composed by Alex Sugiura and Jay Cowit. You can reach us at podcasts@axios.com. You can send questions, comments and story ideas as a text or voice memo to Niala at 202-918-4893.

Reshma Saujani, founder of Girl Who Code, saw the pandemic push women out of the workforce and make existing workplace inequalities worse. "We have not made the workforce work for moms," she says. With her campaign called Moms First, she launched a tool last year that uses generative AI to help moms-to-be apply for paid leave benefits in New York. Soon it will be available in all other states where paid leave is available.For our second conversation on using AI to uplift people and promote equality, Reshma joined Niala to talk about the impetus for the tool, and why she thinks AI can be a major force for good.Guests: Reshma Saujani, Founder of Girls Who Code and Moms FirstCredits: 1 big thing is produced by Niala Boodhoo, Alexandra Botti, and Jay Cowit. Music is composed by Alex Sugiura and Jay Cowit. You can reach us at podcasts@axios.com. You can send questions, comments and story ideas as a text or voice memo to Niala at 202-918-4893.

Rich Buery, CEO of the Robin Hood Foundation, discusses using AI to fight poverty in NYC. They explore AI tools, an AI poverty challenge, empowering individuals in poverty through technology, and a Matrix-themed fundraising gala impact. The focus is on involving marginalized communities to combat inequality.

Colorado's Democratic Secretary of State Jena Griswold discusses the 600% rise in threats against her post-2020 election. They delve into legal measures to protect election officials, a lawsuit on Trump's eligibility, barring insurrectionists from the ballot, and the challenges faced by female leaders in safeguarding democracy.

Pulitzer-prize winning science writer Ed Yong shares how birdwatching transformed his life post-COVID. Discussion on the joy and conservation of birding, including tips for beginners and mental health benefits. Also, learn about efforts to save Hawaii's bird populations.

Former NFL quarterback turned private equity investor, Steve Young, discusses the surge of private equity investments in sports teams and makes the case for private equity buyers in the NFL. He also talks about coaching girls in flag football and the potential impact of private equity firms in NFL ownership.

Fei-Fei Li, known as the godmother of AI, is a professor at Stanford and co-director of the Human-Centered AI Institute. In this discussion, she unveils the latest advances at the intersection of robotics and generative AI. They explore how data enhances AI and robotics, and how human thoughts can become robotic actions. Li also emphasizes the importance of human-centered AI, addressing ethical concerns while fostering optimism for future developments. Tune in for a deep dive into the innovative possibilities of AI!

Republican lawmakers have come a long way on climate change since the days of tossing snowballs in the U.S. Senate a decade ago. Today, an 80+ member Conservative Climate Caucus wants to elevate Republicans' voices on climate, while maintaining conservative principles. But former President Donald Trump is still at odds with that mission. The Caucus' new chair, Iowa Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks, tells us her plan.Guests: Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, Republican representing Iowa's representing 1st Congressional District and Chair of the Conservative Climate Caucus; Jael Holzman, climate and energy reporter for AxiosCredits: 1 big thing is produced by Niala Boodhoo, Alexandra Botti, and Jay Cowit. Music is composed by Alex Sugiura and Jay Cowit. You can reach us at podcasts@axios.com. You can send questions, comments and story ideas as a text or voice memo to Niala at 202-918-4893.