

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

Jun 17, 2021 • 11min
Congress approves Juneteenth as a federal holiday
The House voted yesterday to make Juneteenth a federal holiday, after the Senate unanimously did so on Tuesday. Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery in the U.S., falling on the day in 1865 that enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas learned they were free - more than two years after emancipation was announced.
Plus, culture clash at the Southern Baptist Convention.
And, the FAA gets serious about unruly passengers.
Guests: How to Be an Antiracist's Dr. Ibram X. Kendi, Houston Chronicle's Robert Downen, and Axios' 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, Amy Pedulla, Naomi Shavin, and Alex Sugiura. Music is composed by Evan Viola. You can reach us at podcasts@axios.com.

Jun 16, 2021 • 11min
Biden meets Putin
Later today, President Biden will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin. This will be the first meeting between the two since Biden took office. What’s it going to be like inside that room?
Plus, more evidence of COVID’s long term effects.
And, the new corporate must-have? The company retreat.
Guests: Axios' Margaret Talev, Glen Johnson, Marisa Fernandez, 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, 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.

Jun 15, 2021 • 11min
Predatory billing by U.S. hospitals
A new Axios Special Report, in partnership with Johns Hopkins University, sheds some light on the predatory practices American hospitals are using to collect on patients' debt. Medical debt makes up 58% of all debt collections in the U.S. and has caused hundreds of thousands of Americans to file for bankruptcy.
Plus, the overlooked role of Latinos in the LGBTQ civil rights movement.
And, the home ownership gap widens.
Guests: Axios' Caitlin Owens, Russell Contreras, and Nick Halter.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, Justin Kaufmann and Alex Sugiura. Music is composed by Evan Viola. You can reach us at podcasts@axios.com.Go deeper:
America's biggest hospitals vs. their patients
The overlooked history of Latinos in the LGBTQ struggle
Homeownership gap widens in the Twin Cities

Jun 14, 2021 • 11min
Style Over Substance at the G7
The G7 Summit, a meeting of some of the world's wealthiest democracies, wrapped up yesterday in Cornwall, England. What are the takeaways from President Biden's first foreign trip?
Plus, a new government in Israel.
And forecasting the short-term future for work, life and play.
Guests: Axios' Dave Lawler, Barak Ravid and Erica Pandey.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, Justin Kaufmann and Alex Sugiura. Music is composed by Evan Viola. You can reach us at podcasts@axios.com.Go deeper:Netanyahu out as new Israeli government survives confidence vote

Jun 11, 2021 • 11min
It’s still too soon to worry about inflation
The Consumer Price Index released yesterday shows that prices for food, energy and products like used cars increased 5 percent compared to May of 2020. It’s the biggest year-over-year increase in almost 13 years.
Plus, President Biden strikes a different tone on the world stage.
And, brace yourself for cold and flu season this year.
Guests: Axios' Felix Salmon, Marisa Fernandez, and Margaret Talev.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:
Consumer prices rose 5% from last May, as pace of inflation ticks up
America's next big wave of sick

Jun 10, 2021 • 11min
What’s next for mass transit
During the pandemic, ridership of mass transit pretty much collapsed. Now as the county reopens transportation experts are hoping that commuters will come back. But what if they don’t?
Plus, the uptick in trans murders in the U.S.
And, President Biden reverses the ban on TikTok.
Guests: Axios' Joann Muller, Orion Rummler, and Ashley Gold.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.Go deeper:Biden revokes, replaces Trump executive orders on Chinese-owned apps

Jun 9, 2021 • 11min
Why everyone's talking about critical race theory
You’ve probably heard the term critical race theory recently. Republican lawmakers in at least 9 states have come out strongly against it, claiming the theory is divisive, and are trying to ban its teaching in schools. Most Democrats strongly disagree. What is this decades-old academic concept that’s become a key fight in America’s culture wars?
Plus, new intelligence on the Capitol insurrection.
And, a record number of American job openings.
Guests: Axios' Russell Contreras, Alayna Treene, and Courtenay Brown.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, and Alex Sugiura. Music is composed by Evan Viola. You can reach us at podcasts@axios.com.Go deeper:
2022's war over racism
Senate report: Failure to relay intelligence permitted Jan. 6 attack
America's job openings hit new record in April

Jun 8, 2021 • 11min
A controversial new drug for Alzheimer’s
The FDA has approved a new Alzheimer’s drug for the first time in almost 20 years. The hope is it would treat the more than 6 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s disease. But the effectiveness of the drug is up for question.
Plus, the Biden administration’s split stance on Puerto Ricans and benefits.
And, the upside to online concerts.
Guests: Jose Delgado, Washington correspondent of El Nuevo Dia and Axios' Bob Herman, and Erica Pandey.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, and Alex Sugiura. Music is composed by Evan Viola. You can reach us at podcasts@axios.com.Go deeper:
FDA approves Biogen's Alzheimer's drug despite lack of evidence
The future of concerts is hybrid

Jun 7, 2021 • 11min
The hot, dry summer ahead for the West
The western US is in the middle of one of the worst droughts in at least the past 1,200 years. And as soon as this week, Lake Mead, the largest reservoir in the country, could reach its lowest point since it was first created in the 1930s.
Plus, Secretary of State Tony Blinken talks China with Mike Allen.
And, Jonathan Swan takes us inside the progressive fight over voting rights.
Guests: Axios' Andrew Freedman, Jonathan Swan and Mike Allen.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:
Southwest's new climate peril
Progressive dam about to break
Episode transcript

Jun 4, 2021 • 11min
From hoarding to sharing vaccines
It's Friday and we're doing a global edition of our weekly politics roundup, with Axios world editor Dave Lawler.
Plus, what to expect from the housing market.
And, how pandemic gaming is changing the media landscape.
Guests: Axios' Dave Lawler, Felix Salmon, and Sara Fischer.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:
1 big thing: 2 billion doses
Israel to ask U.S. for $1 billion in emergency military aid
Media industry braces for post-pandemic reality