1 big thing

Today marks the start of the Biden Administration’s Enhanced Child Tax Credit program, meaning millions of American families can soon expect payments deposited in their bank accounts. What is it and what do you need to know? Plus, Jamaica will demand reparations from Britain over slavery. And, why parts of the Amazon are emitting more carbon than they’re absorbing. Guests: Axios' Hans Nichols and Andrew Freedman, and How to Be an Antiracist's Dr. Ibram X. Kendi.Credits: Axios Today is produced in partnership with Pushkin Industries. The team includes Niala Boodhoo, Sara Kehaulani Goo, Dan Bobkoff, Alexandra Botti, Justin, Kaufmann, Nuria Marquez Martinez, Sabeena Singhani, Amy Pedulla, Naomi Shavin, 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.

Cuban activists are saying more than 100 people are missing or have been arrested during recent protests on the island over economic conditions. The protests are the largest in decades. Plus, the growing debate over COVID booster shots. And, Texas lawmakers flee the state. Guests: Telemundo News' Marina Franco, Axios' Caitlin Owens and Stef Kight.Credits: Axios Today is produced in partnership with Pushkin Industries. The team includes Niala Boodhoo, Sara Kehaulani Goo, Dan Bobkoff, Alexandra Botti, Justin Kaufmann, Nuria Marquez Martinez, Sabeena Singhani, Amy Pedulla, Naomi Shavin, 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.

It’s the ever-famous shark week on the Discovery Channel this week -- but if we’re talking about deadly animals, did you know that deer are actually the deadliest in America? They’re the cause of death for about 200 Americans a year in collisions with cars - and another 30,000 are injured. Plus, an update on Haiti. And, the MLB All-Star Game shot in the arm for Denver. Guests: The Miami Herald's Jacqueline Charles, Axios' Felix Salmon and John Frank.Credits: Axios Today is produced in partnership with Pushkin Industries. The team includes Niala Boodhoo, Sara Kehaulani Goo, Dan Bobkoff, Alexandra Botti, Nuria Marquez Martinez, Sabeena Singhani, Amy Pedulla, Naomi Shavin, 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.

Stories of how extreme heat and wildfires are affecting communities are pouring out of the Western U.S. and Canada. One that caught our eye is out of Oregon, where a wildfire is threatening power grid lines in North California. This comes as the power grid is stretched thin across much of the country Plus, migration trends between the U.S. and Mexico are flipping. And, how self-driving car technology can be used for wheelchairs. Guests: Axios' Andrew Freedman, Stef Kight and Joann Muller.Credits: Axios Today is produced in partnership with Pushkin Industries. The team includes Niala Boodhoo, Sara Kehaulani Goo, Dan Bobkoff, Alexandra Botti, Justin Kaufmann, Nuria Marquez Martinez, Sabeena Singhani and Alex Sugiura. Music is composed by Evan Viola. You can reach us at podcasts@axios.com.Go deeper: Heat wave engulfs the West as Death Valley hits 130 degrees Migration trends between the U.S. and Mexico have flipped upside down Wheelchairs get the Tesla treatment with new smart tech

There have been lots of headlines this year about the rise in gun violence. And some of that is true - more than 180 people were killed in shootings across the country over the Fourth of July holiday weekend. Plus, a swift exit from Afghanistan. And, how Ohio's influencing the national Republican conversation. Guests: The Guardian's Abene Clayton and Axios' Mike Allen.Credits: Axios Today is produced in partnership with Pushkin Industries. The team includes Niala Boodhoo, Sara Kehaulani Goo, Dan Bobkoff, Alexandra Botti, Justin Kaufmann, Nuria Marquez Martinez, Sabeena Singhani and Alex Sugiura. Music is composed by Evan Viola. You can reach us at podcasts@axios.com.

Last Monday, Tucker Carlson went in front of his several million viewers and made an extraordinary accusation: that the NSA was spying on his emails. The NSA issued a rare, public denial that Carlson had been targeted. Plus, turmoil in Haiti. And, Dr. Ibram X. Kendi on the unfair expectations placed on athletes. Guests: Axios' Dave Lawler, Jonathan Swan, and How to Be an Antiracist's Dr. Ibram X. Kendi.Credits: Axios Today is produced in partnership with Pushkin Industries. The team includes Niala Boodhoo, Sara Kehaulani Goo, Dan Bobkoff, Alexandra Botti, Justin Kaufmann, Nuria Marquez Martinez, Sabeena Singhani, Amy Pedulla, Naomi Shavin, 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: Scoop: Tucker Carlson sought Putin interview at time of spying claim Haiti President Jovenel Moïse assassinated Controversy ahead of the Olympics

Last week, as much of the country experienced a heat wave, New York City’s Central Park had its hottest day since 2013. And New Yorkers got an alert on their cellphones from the city they'd never seen before: help us conserve energy while the grid is strained. It worked. And, what’s left behind as the U.S. exits Afghanistan. Plus, why the U.S. covid vaccination rate is stuck. Guests: Axios' Zach Basu, Tina Reed, and Bryan Walsh.Credits: Axios Today is produced in partnership with Pushkin Industries. The team includes Niala Boodhoo, Sara Kehaulani Goo, Dan Bobkoff, Alexandra Botti, Nuria Marquez Martinez, Sabeena Singhani, Amy Pedulla, Naomi Shavin, 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 Olympics are less than three weeks away and over this past weekend we saw three big headlines, all having to do with restrictions that have primarily affected women of color and intersex people. And it’s left many fans wondering who these Olympic rules are actually serving. And, infighting in the Vice President’s office. Plus, Noah Feldman -- and you -- on what freedom means in America now. Guests: Axios' Ina Fried, Margaret Talev and Harvard University constitutional law professor Noah Feldman.Credits: Axios Today is produced in partnership with Pushkin Industries. The team includes Niala Boodhoo, Sara Kehaulani Goo, Dan Bobkoff, Alexandra Botti, Nuria Marquez Martinez, Sabeena Singhani, Amy Pedulla, Naomi Shavin, 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: Namibian female athletes disqualified from Olympics due to naturally high testosterone levels Swimming caps for natural Black hair banned from Tokyo Olympics Biden aide charges "sabotage" of Harris

Today, president Biden will participate in a longstanding presidential tradition: a naturalization ceremony welcoming new U.S. citizens, ahead of the July 4th holiday. Those who’ve most recently become citizens did so at a pretty remarkable time: 2020 and 2021 have included a pandemic, a racial reckoning, an election unlike any other. We hear reflections from four new Americans. Plus, takeaways and surprises from the Supreme Court. And, why some progressives are bypassing Bernie Sanders. Guests: Axios' Sam Baker and Alexi McCammond.Credits: Axios Today is produced in partnership with Pushkin Industries. The team includes Niala Boodhoo, Sara Kehaulani Goo, Dan Bobkoff, Alexandra Botti, Nuria Marquez Martinez, Sabeena Singhani, Amy Pedulla, Naomi Shavin, and Alex Sugiura. Music is composed by Evan Viola. You can reach us at podcasts@axios.com.

Bill Cosby was released from prison yesterday after the Pennsylvania Supreme Court overturned his sexual assault conviction. The justices cited an existing agreement with a prosecutor they said should have barred Cosby from being charged. Plus, missed cancer screenings take a toll. And, Dr. Ibram X. Kendi on overlapping movements for civil rights. Guests: Harvard University constitutional law professor Noah Feldman, Axios' Tina Reed and How to Be an Antiracist's Dr. Ibram X. Kendi.Credits: Axios Today is produced in partnership with Pushkin Industries. The team includes Niala Boodhoo, Sara Kehaulani Goo, Dan Bobkoff, Alexandra Botti, Nuria Marquez Martinez, Sabeena Singhani, Amy Pedulla, Naomi Shavin, and Alex Sugiura. Music is composed by Evan Viola. You can reach us at podcasts@axios.com.Go deeper: Bill Cosby released from prison after court overturns conviction Pandemic may drive up cancer cases and exacerbate disparities