

1 big thing
Axios
Axios podcast host Niala Boodhoo digs deep with leaders you know — or need to know — in business, politics and culture. Every week, all in under 20 minutes.About Axios: Axios is a digital media company launched in 2017. Axios helps you become smarter, faster with news and information across politics, tech, business, media, science and the world. Subscribe to our newsletters at axios.com/newsletters and download our mobile app at axios.com/app. About Niala Boodhoo: Niala Boodhoo is the host of 1 big thing and previously hosted Axios Today She was the founding Host and Executive Producer of the award-winning news program The 21st. An alum of Reuters, The Miami Herald and WBEZ/Chicago, Niala was a 2019-2020 Knight-Wallace fellow.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Apr 5, 2022 • 12min
What does the West stand for?
On Sunday, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky spoke to CBS' Margaret Brennan. In that conversation, he described apparent Russian war crimes committed against the people of Ukraine and what the last few days have meant for the war.
Plus, how to get started with crypto investing.
And, jury selection in the death penalty trial for the Parkland shooter.
Guests: Margaret Brennan, host of CBS' Face the Nation and Axios' Brady Dale.Credits: Axios Today is produced by Niala Boodhoo, Sara Kehaulani Goo, Alexandra Botti, Nuria Marquez Martinez, Sabeena Singhani, 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:
Zelensky in Bucha: Ukraine wants "to show the world what happened here"
Axios Crypto: 👋 Let's get started
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Apr 4, 2022 • 11min
Apparent war crimes reported in Ukraine
Russian forces have retreated from the area around the capital Kyiv, leaving Ukrainian forces and civilians to take stock of the devastation. In Bucha, northwest of Kyiv, Ukrainian troops and international journalists have reported finding brutalized bodies and evidence of mass graves, prompting fresh international outrage about possible war crimes.Plus, removing barriers to employment for people with criminal records.Guests: Rachel Denber, deputy director of the Europe and Central Asia division at Human Rights Watch and Axios’ Emily Peck and Margaret Harding McGill.Credits: Axios Today is produced by Niala Boodhoo, Sara Kehaulani Goo, Alexandra Botti, Nuria Marquez Martinez, Alex Sugiura, Sabeena Singhani, and Lydia McMullen-Laird. 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:
Ukraine: Apparent War Crimes in Russia-Controlled Areas (Human Rights Watch)
Dashboard: Russian invasion of Ukraine
Employers revamp background checks to help fight labor shortage
America gets a clean record

Apr 1, 2022 • 12min
Food banks are feeling the squeeze
Inflation is now at 7.9 percent and has been causing financial hardship for millions of American families for months. But it's getting harder for food banks to get the staples they need in order to help.
Plus, a historic release from the US oil reserve.
And, how Wordle is bringing families together.
Guests: Axios’ Torey Van Oot, Jason Clayworth, Taylor Allen, and Stephen Totilo.Credits: Axios Today is produced by Niala Boodhoo, Sara Kehaulani Goo, Julia Redpath, Alexandra Botti, Nuria Marquez Martinez, Alex Sugiura, Sabeena Singhani, and Lydia McMullen-Laird. 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:
Neighbors in need: Inflation squeezes Minnesota food banks
Dashboard: Russian invasion of Ukraine
Wordle used to have a much harder wordlist

Mar 31, 2022 • 11min
The 9-5 workday is fading
Covid didn’t just change where we work, it also changed when we work. The 9-5 workday is fading - some estimates suggest that 75% of all global companies now allow most employees to work from anywhere, with more time flexibility. And that can have benefits for both early birds and night owls.
Plus, the Biden administration is expected to end Title 42 by late May.
And, preparing for our new climate future.
Guests: Michelle Hackman, immigration reporter at The Wall Street Journal and Axios' Ben Geman and Erica PandeyCredits: Axios Today is produced by Niala Boodhoo, Sara Kehaulani Goo, Julia Redpath, Alexandra Botti, Nuria Marquez Martinez, Sabeena Singhani, 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:
Biden Administration to Lift Title 42 Border Policy, Officials Say (WSJ)
Scoop: Biden officials fear "mass migration event" if COVID policies end
Climate and energy takeaways from Biden's budget pitch
Night owl gets the worm
Automated Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (AutoMEQ)

Mar 30, 2022 • 11min
Russia's concessions draw US skepticism
After several hours of peace talks in Turkey, Russian officials said yesterday they would scale back military activity near Kyiv, Ukraine and to the north.
Plus, U.S. covid booster strategy takes a page from choose-your-own adventure.
And, young women are out-earning men in more than 20 American cities.
Guests: Axios' Zach Basu, Caitlin Owens and Emily Peck.Credits: Axios Today is produced by Niala Boodhoo, Sara Kehaulani Goo, Julia Redpath, Alexandra Botti, Nuria Marquez Martinez, Sabeena Singhani, 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.

Mar 29, 2022 • 11min
Biden’s push for police funding
President Biden Monday proposed a $5.8 trillion budget for the coming fiscal year, which would include a tax on billionaires and increased spending on defense, supply chain issues and law enforcement.
Plus, Justice Clarence Thomas’s wife under scrutiny from the Jan 6th committee.
And, how modernizing public transit could displace people who need it the most.
Guests: Axios' Hans Nichols, Andrew Solender, and Danielle ChemtobCredits: Axios Today is produced by Niala Boodhoo, Sara Kehaulani Goo, Julia Redpath, Alexandra Botti, Nuria Marquez Martinez, Sabeena Singhani, 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.

Mar 28, 2022 • 11min
President Biden goes off script on Vladimir Putin
In the last line of a 27-minute speech to close out his European trip, President Biden ended with an off-the-cuff comment aimed at Vladimir Putin. Those nine words are now threatening to overshadow the unified front the west has presented against Russia. The White House quickly walked back that statement from Warsaw - including Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Sunday.
Plus, police departments are underreporting hate crimes to the FBI.
And, the fight brewing over congressional redistricting in North Carolina.
Guests: Axios' Dave Lawler, Russell Contreras, and Michael Graff.Credits: Axios Today is produced by Niala Boodhoo, Sara Kehaulani Goo, Julia Redpath, Alexandra Botti, Nuria Marquez Martinez, Sabeena Singhani, 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.

Mar 25, 2022 • 12min
NATO, united
Biden gave a strong message about NATO’s unity from Brussels yesterday, where he held emergency meetings with allies, on Russia's war in Ukraine. Speaking to the press, Biden was clear on the purpose of the talks: ensure that NATO remains committed to longterm action against Russia's brutality.Plus, culture wars dominate at the confirmation hearings of Supreme Court Justice nominee Ketanji Brown JacksonGuests: Axios' Mike Allen and Margaret TalevCredits: Axios Today is produced by Niala Boodhoo, Sara Kehaulani Goo, Julia Redpath, Alexandra Botti, Nuria Marquez Martinez, Sabeena Singhani, 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.

Mar 24, 2022 • 12min
Cyberattacks and how to protect yourself
This week, a hacking group admitted to a January attack on Okta, a service used by thousands of companies to provide login security. As of now, little is known about what information this group took and from how many people. But the news comes as President Biden reiterated his warnings of a potential Russian cyberattack.
Plus, Poland’s new role in Europe
And, former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright dies at 84.
Guests: Axios' Sarah Mucha and Scott Rosenberg.Credits: Axios Today is produced by Niala Boodhoo, Sara Kehaulani Goo, Julia Redpath, Alexandra Botti, Nuria Marquez Martinez, Sabeena Singhani, 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.

Mar 23, 2022 • 12min
Zelensky’s bargaining position
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday said he was open to dropping Ukraine's demand for full NATO membership, in exchange for an end to Russia's war. Zelensky has been floating other compromise possibilities this week, too, as talks between negotiators continue to fail. So what is Ukraine's president willing to do or to give up to bring Vladimir Putin's attacks to an end?
Plus, why mortgage rates are soaring.
And, the pandemic renaissance for reading
Guests: Axios' Dave Lawler and Erica Pandey.Credits: Axios Today is produced by Niala Boodhoo, Sara Kehaulani Goo, Julia Redpath, Alexandra Botti, Nuria Marquez Martinez, Sabeena Singhani, 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.