1 big thing

People are returning to in-person work, mask and vaccine mandates have come down nationwide, but U.S. health officials are anticipating a new rise in COVID-19 cases because of the B.A. 2 variant. And many people with disabilities, or who are immunocompromised, are feeling vulnerable and left behind in this rush to reopen. Plus, Ukraine is losing patience with Israel. And, a moment of joy from the cherry blossom-filled US capital. Guests: Beatrice Adler-Bolton, a disability justice advocate and writer based in New York and Axios' Barak Ravid.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.

Today Supreme Court Justice nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson appears before the Senate Judiciary Committee for day one of her confirmation hearings. The 51-year old judge has been nominated to fill the spot left vacant by retiring Justice Stephen Breyer. If confirmed - which seems very likely - Jackson would be the first Black woman nominated to The Supreme Court. Plus, Russia and Ukraine reach a dangerous stalemate. And, how the White House is tackling rising gas prices. Guests: The Washington Post's Robert Barnes, Axios' Sophia Cai and Dave Lawler.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.

Russia’s war on Ukraine is now entering its fourth week. With no signs of Putin’s unprovoked attack slowing down, how can President Biden and other world leaders stop Putin without escalating it further? Plus, corporations grapple with abortion access for workers. And, Netflix cracks down on password sharing. Guests: Axios' Margaret Talev, Emily Peck, and Sara Fischer.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.

China is facing its worst coronavirus outbreak since the start of the pandemic, and nearly half of Europe has recorded double-digit increases in COVID-19 cases in the past week. And here in the U.S. where cases are still declining, Americans seem to be moving on without what journalist Ed Yong calls, “a social reckoning” as we near 1 million COVID deaths. Plus, strong language from Presidents Biden and Zelensky. And, we answer a listener question about the transition away from fossil fuels. Guests: Ed Yong, science writer at The Atlantic, and Axios' Ben Geman.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.

Today marks one year since six Asian women were shot to death in Atlanta-area spas. Those murders intensified the spotlight on Asian American hate, which was on the rise since the start of the pandemic. But this uptick has also led to increased visibility for Asian Americans and community activism over the past year. Plus, Ukraine’s president Zelensky is set to address the U.S. Congress. And, daylight saving time could become permanent. Guests: Axios' Shawna Chen, Hope King and Sophia Cai.Credits: Axios Today is produced in partnership with Pushkin Industries. The team includes 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.

Almost 3 million people – largely women and children – have fled Ukraine in the last 19 days. As the numbers continue to rise, humanitarian organizations and advocates are warning that the conditions at Ukrainian borders could put these refugees at especially high risk for human trafficking.Plus, China tries to play both sides in Russia’s war on Ukraine.Guests: Daphne Panayotatos, advocate for Europe with Refugees International and Axios' Bethany Allen-Ebrahimian.Credits: Axios Today is produced in partnership with Pushkin Industries. The team includes Niala Boodhoo, Sara Kehaulani Goo, Julia Redpath, Alexandra Botti, Nuria Marquez Martinez, Sabeena Singhani, Lydia McMullen-Laird, Alex Sugiura, 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.

As Russia continues to pummel Ukrainian cities, the war is coming dangerously close to spilling over into NATO countries. Yesterday, Russia launched a missile attack on a Ukrainian military base 15 miles from the Polish border that resulted in dozens of Ukrainian casualties. Plus, inflation heads toward double digits. And, Republicans make gains with Hispanic voters. Guests: Axios' Margaret Talev, Neil Irwin and Russell Contreras.Credits: Axios Today is produced in partnership with Pushkin Industries. The team includes Niala Boodhoo, Sara Kehaulani Goo, Julia Redpath, Alexandra Botti, Nuria Marquez Martinez, Sabeena Singhani, Lydia McMullen-Laird, Alex Sugiura, 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: Dashboard: Russian invasion of Ukraine Double-digit inflation is now quite plausible Democrats' Hispanic peril

A lot of the credit for the Democratic party’s electoral wins in Georgia has gone to Stacey Abrams and the groundwork her nonpartisan group, the New Georgia Project, laid in the state. Their strategy was to focus on voter registration and education. And her success made others take note of how they could engage more voters in purple states like Pennsylvania and North Carolina.Guests: Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams, executive director of the New North Carolina Project, Aimy Steele, and executive director of the New Pennsylvania Project, Kadida Kenner.Credits: "Axios Today" is brought to you by Axios and Pushkin Industries. This episode was produced by Nuria Marquez Martinez and edited by Alexandra Botti. Ben O'Brien is our sound engineer. Julia Redpath is our executive producer. Special thanks to editor-in-chief Sara Kehaulani Goo.

Earlier this year, Senate Democrats failed to pass a federal voting rights bill – a huge blow to progressive election reform efforts. Now, the party is turning to plan B: and some of its high-dollar donors are working to put new initiatives in place ahead of the November midterms. Plus, long covid patients struggle for financial help. And, an update on two big bills – one state, and one federal. Guests: Axios' Lachlan Markey, and NBC News reporter Kit Ramgopal.Credits: Axios Today is produced in partnership with Pushkin Industries. The team includes Niala Boodhoo, Sara Kehaulani Goo, Julia Redpath, Alexandra Botti, Nuria Marquez Martinez, Sabeena Singhani, Lydia McMullen-Laird, Alex Sugiura, 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: Scoop: High-powered group targets Trump lawyers’ livelihoods They got ‘long Covid.’ It cost them dearly (NBC News) Congress nears passing anti-lynching bill after decades of trying Florida lawmakers pass "Don’t Say Gay" bill

Russia’s attacks on Ukrainian civilians continue to escalate. The southern city of Mariupol has been pounded by intense bombing, including of a children’s and maternity hospital that left at least 3 people dead, including a child. Plus, the White House signals crypto is here to stay. And, we answer the first of your climate change questions. Guests: Axios' Zach Basu, Ryan Lawler and Andrew Freedman.Credits: Axios Today is produced in partnership with Pushkin Industries. The team includes Niala Boodhoo, Sara Kehaulani Goo, Julia Redpath, Alexandra Botti, Nuria Marquez Martinez, Sabeena Singhani, Lydia McMullen-Laird, Alex Sugiura, 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: White House issues executive order on regulating cryptocurrencies Zelensky: Russia's deadly hospital bombing proof of genocide The cold hard truth about electric vehicles in winter