1 big thing

The U.S. has warned Russia of crippling sanctions if they invade Ukraine - but as Europe’s main natural gas suppliers - it might be hard to get Europe to support that - because Russia provides almost 40% of its natural gas supply. Plus, understanding this week’s stock market boomerang. And making babies in outer space. Guests: Axios' Ben Geman, Matt Phillips and Miriam Kramer.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.

This year's midterms could see a big slate of extreme candidates. At least 19 House districts in 12 states across the U.S. with hyper-partisan districts won't have incumbents - setting the stage for heavily partisan candidates. Plus, the US orders diplomats’ families out of Ukraine. And, 3D printing for cars. Guests: Axios' Stef Kight, Dave Lawler 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, Lydia McMullen-Laird, Sabeena Singhani 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.

As year two of his term begins, President Biden has been busy doing cleanup after a two-hour press conference this week. His remarks caused international alarm and exacerbated divisions within the Democratic party. The big question now is can he hold onto allies as he fights battles at home and abroad? Plus, Burned out healthcare workers, looking for hope. And, could robo umpires be coming to major league baseball? Guests: Axios' Glen Johnson, Margaret Talev and Kendall Baker.Credits: Axios Today is produced in partnership with Pushkin Industries. The team includes Niala Boodhoo, Sara Kehaulani Goo, Julia Redpath, Erica Pandey, Alexandra Botti, Nuria Marquez Martinez, Lydia McMullen-Laird, Sabeena Singhani 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.

The Biden Administration announced yesterday it will distribute 400 million free N95 masks to the public, starting next week. They’ll be available at pharmacies and community health centers. Officials say it’s the largest deployment of personal protective equipment in US history. Plus, IRS chaos makes for a messy tax season. And, looming antitrust scrutiny for Microsoft. Guests: Dr. Leana Wen, emergency physician, former Baltimore health commissioner, and professor of health policy and management at George Washington University; and Axios' Emily Peck and Ina Fried.Credits: Axios Today is produced in partnership with Pushkin Industries. The team includes Niala Boodhoo, Sara Kehaulani Goo, Julia Redpath, Erica Pandey, Alexandra Botti, Nuria Marquez Martinez, Lydia McMullen-Laird, Sabeena Singhani 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, Secretary of State Tony Blinken is in Kiev to meet with the president of Ukraine. Time is running out to find a way to deescalate the conflict with Russia. Plus, the U.S. government tries to fill thousands of new tech jobs. And, the surprising cities with the fastest job growth. Guests: Axios' Dave Lawler, Margaret Harding McGill, and Erica Pandey.Credits: Axios Today is produced in partnership with Pushkin Industries. The team includes Niala Boodhoo, Sara Kehaulani Goo, Julia Redpath, Erica Pandey, Alexandra Botti, Nuria Marquez Martinez, Lydia McMullen-Laird, Sabeena Singhani 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.

Starting tomorrow, Americans will be able to order free rapid at-home Covid tests online at covidtests.gov. What should we expect from the Biden administration’s latest testing effort? Plus, the big push to ban books. And, retailers turn to tech to solve the worker shortage. Guests: Julie Rovner, chief Washington correspondent for Kaiser Health News and host of the What the Health? podcast; and Axios' Russell Contreras 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, Lydia McMullen-Laird, Sabeena Singhani 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.

President Biden hasn’t been seeing a lot of wins, lately. We’re almost a year into Biden’s presidency, and he’s in a rare position, with Republicans, moderate and liberal Democrats all at odds with his agenda.Plus, curbing carbon emissions by changing how planes land.Guests: Axios' Mike Allen, Margaret Talev, 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, Lydia McMullen-Laird, Sabeena Singhani 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.

New numbers show prices rose faster within 2021 than they have in the last 40 years. Inflation hit 7% in December. Plus, schools are trying to cope with a shortage of bus drivers. And, Omicron and at-home COVID tests. Guests: Axios' Neil Irwin and Alissa Widman Neese; and Dr. Jennifer Nuzzo, epidemiologist at the Johns Hopkins COVID-19 Testing Insights InitiativeCredits: Axios Today is produced in partnership with Pushkin Industries. The team includes Niala Boodhoo, Sara Kehaulani Goo, Julia Redpath, Alexandra Botti, Nuria Marquez Martinez, Lydia McMullen-Laird, Sabeena Singhani 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.

President Joe Biden yesterday made a forceful call for voting rights protections to pass Congress, and for a change to Senate rules to make it possible. Plus, tracking COVID through wastewater. And, China says it’s loosening its grip on the internet at the winter Olympics. Guests: Axios' Margaret Talev, Jason Clayworth, and Ina Fried.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, Lydia McMullen-Laird, Sabeena Singhani 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.

COVID case numbers have been breaking records in the last few weeks here in the U.S., but deaths and hospitalizations are largely down. So that got us thinking: how useful are case counts actually in understanding where we are in the pandemic? Plus, the healthcare worker shortage, by the numbers. And, why the James Webb Space Telescope is such a big deal. Guests: Dr. Jennifer Nuzzo, epidemiologist at the Johns Hopkins COVID-19 Testing Insights Initiative; Axios' Tina Reed and Miriam Kramer.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, Lydia McMullen-Laird, Sabeena Singhani 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.