

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

Feb 8, 2022 • 11min
Fixing the healthcare worker shortage
Nearly one in five health care workers quit their jobs since the start of the pandemic according to a poll in recent months by Morning Consult. So what’s being done to keep health care workers on the job?
Plus, President Biden’s plan to reshape migrant detention
And, why GoFundMe is ensnared in a free speech fight
Guests: Dr. Vineet Arora, Dean of Medical Education at the University of Chicago School of Medicine and Axios' Stef Kight and Hope King.Credits: Axios Today is produced in partnership with Pushkin Industries. The team includes Niala Boodhoo, Margaret Talev, 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.

Feb 7, 2022 • 12min
The influencers dominating the GOP
Power within the Republican party changed with lightening speed over the past several years. Axios' Jonathan Swan spoke with more than a dozen top GOP consultants - from the Trumpians to the most institutional - about what this shift means for the party.
Plus, a record low in housing supply keeps driving prices up.
And, Olympics corporate sponsors stay silent on human rights issues.
Guests: Axios' Jonathan Swan, Hope King and Matt Phillips.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, 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.

Feb 4, 2022 • 11min
The tenuous balance of power in the Senate
Democrats are down a crucial vote in the Senate after New Mexico Sen. Ben Ray Luján suffered a stroke. While the 49-year old senator is expected to make a full recovery, his absence means a shift in the balance of power in the Senate. For now, Republicans have a 50-49 working majority until Luján's return in 4 to 6 weeks.
Plus, hundreds of thousands of U.S. bridges are in need of major repair.
And, how Americans really feel about the 2022 Winter Olympics.
Guests: Axios' Margaret Talev, Jennifer Kingson and David Nather.Credits: Axios Today is produced in partnership with Pushkin Industries. The team includes Niala Boodhoo, Erica Pandey, 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:
Senator's stroke catches Democrats by surprise
Exclusive poll: Why Americans are turned off by the Olympics
America's bridges are falling apart faster than expected

Feb 3, 2022 • 11min
Omicron’s negative impact on American jobs
In January, nearly 9 million people missed work because they were sick with COVID or taking care of someone. That's why many, including President Biden, are bracing for disappointing January job numbers, which are released Friday morning.
Plus, are we past the latest covid surge?
And, roads that charge your electric car while you’re driving on it.
Guests: Axios' Neil Irwin, Sam Baker and Joann Muller.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.

Feb 2, 2022 • 11min
Reality check on the Russia-Ukraine crisis
Russian President Vladimir Putin said yesterday that the U.S. was trying to pull Russia into a conflict it does not want with Ukraine. Meanwhile, we’ve heard mixed messages from the Ukraine government about the U.S.’s stance.
Plus, trying to solve the affordable housing crisis in fast-growing cities.
And, football’s huge news day.
Guests: Axios' Zach Basu, Danielle Chemtob, and Jeff Tracy.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.

Feb 1, 2022 • 11min
The rise in fertility benefits for employees
In this tight labor market, more companies are trying to lure and keep employees by providing fertility benefits like egg freezing or in vitro fertilization.
Plus, China’s "closed loop" system for the winter Olympics.
And, new laws are changing how educators can teach Black History Month.
Guests: Axios' Erica Pandey, Tina Reed, 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, 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.

Jan 31, 2022 • 11min
What’s next in the Spotify and Joe Rogan controversy
Calls to boycott Spotify exploded this weekend, after musician Neil Young demanded the platform remove his music in protest over its most popular podcast, The Joe Rogan Experience. Rogan has been accused of spreading COVID misinformation.
Plus, how tipping is changing.
And, one Florida chaplain on ministering to nursing home residents three years into the pandemic.
Guests: Bonnie Bong, an Episcopalian Chaplain at The Pavilion for Health Care, a skilled nursing facility in Florida; and Axios' Sara Fischer and Nathan Bomey.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.

Jan 28, 2022 • 11min
President Biden’s lifelines
After a bruising few weeks for President Biden, the president got some rare good news this week. GDP is up and he now has the chance to appoint a new Supreme Court justice, two lifelines that can help buoy his sagging poll numbers
Plus, renewed attention on who can carry naloxone.
And, an end to Valentine’s Day emails.
Guests: Sheila Vakharia, deputy director of the department of research and academic engagement for the Drug Policy Alliance and Axios' Margaret Talev and Erica Pandey.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.

Jan 27, 2022 • 12min
What Justice Breyer's retirement means for U.S. politics
News organizations are reporting the Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer is planning to retire at the end of the current term. This gives President Biden his first chance to determine who's on the high court. And it's an opportunity to follow through on his campaign promise to appoint the first black woman to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Plus, how his retirement could affect the midterm elections.
And, the GOP courts Latino voters in Florida.
Guests: Axios' Sam Baker and Sophia Cai, Republican National Committee communications director Danielle Alvarez, Lucas Acosta, coalitions director and senior spokesperson for the Democratic National Committee and Pew Research Center's Mark Hugo Lopez.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.

Jan 26, 2022 • 11min
A growing crisis for Haitian migrants in South Florida
In the last three months, the US coast guard has intercepted three boats, including one that had the largest group of migrants to land on the shores of the Florida Keys in more than two years.Plus, concerns over China’s influence on Olympics coverage.Guests: The Miami Herald's Jacqueline Charles, Tessa Petit, co-executive director of the Florida Immigrant Coalition, immigration attorney Frandley Julien, and Axios' Sara Fischer.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.