

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 3, 2021 • 11min
Back to normal without herd immunity
Every week for the past year, Axios has published a map of where Covid cases are rising and falling in the U.S. Today, we retire our map because cases are decreasing nationwide, and have been for a while now. But Covid isn’t disappearing. So what will this next phase of the pandemic look like?
Plus, the big question mark hanging over the summer Olympics.
And, our skeptical space reporter explains why UFOs are having a moment.
Guests: Dr. Lauren Ancel Meyers, director of the COVID-19 Modeling Consortium at the University of Texas, and Axios' Ina Fried and Miriam Kramer.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:
Coronavirus cases are at their lowest point in the U.S.
Japan extends coronavirus state of emergency weeks before Summer Olympics
The scientific hunt for life isn't about UFOs

Jun 2, 2021 • 11min
Grading Biden’s racial wealth gap plan
Yesterday, the Biden administration was in Tulsa, Oklahoma to mark 100 years since the Tulsa Race Massacre. While there, he announced a plan to tackle the racial wealth gap in the US, aimed at increasing home and small business ownership in communities of color.
Plus, why some American visa holders are stranded in India.
And, CDC vaccine cards become de facto passports.
Guests: Andre Perry, senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, Nisha Karnani, partner at Antonini and Cohen, and Axios' Nick JohnstonCredits: 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:
"This was not a riot": Biden commemorates anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacre
World anxiously waits to see where Biden will send America's vaccines

Jun 1, 2021 • 11min
Tennis’ biggest star takes a stand
Four-time Grand Slam winner Naomi Osaka abruptly dropped out of the French Open yesterday, two days into the tournament. That’s after she was fined and threatened with expulsion for declining to do media interviews at the tournament, citing her mental health.
Plus, bogus QAnon theories have U.S. pastors worried.
And, the Chinese Communist Party at 100.
Guests: Axios' Jeff Tracy, Bethany Allen-Ebrahimian, 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, Alex Sugiura and Michael Hanf. Music is composed by Evan Viola. You can reach us at podcasts@axios.com.Go deeper:
Naomi Osaka withdraws from French Open after refusing to do press conferences
QAnon infects churches
At 100, Chinese Communist Party claims credit for the Chinese dream

May 28, 2021 • 11min
The news media's reckoning on race
When George Floyd was killed, the protests for racial justice put pressure on news organizations to do what many people had been calling for for years: hire and promote more journalists of color, listen to them, let them cover stories relevant to their communities. Like the killings of Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd. Or, more recently, the Atlanta spa shootings.Guests: Toulouse Olurunnipa, reporter for The Washington Post and a CNN Political Analyst, and Martin G. Reynolds, the co-executive director of the Maynard Institute for Journalism Education.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:
The global impact of Black Lives Matter
Companies face pressure to conduct racial audits
Crime jumps after court-ordered policing changes

May 27, 2021 • 11min
Climate activists get a win over big oil
Yesterday a court in The Hague ordered oil giant Royal Dutch Shell to reduce its carbon emissions. In a first-of-its kind ruling, Shell was ordered to cut emissions by 45% by 2030, 25% more than their previous 2030 goal.It’s just one of the latest moves to hold big oil accountable on climate change.
Plus, Haitian migrants in the U.S. react to renewed deportation protection.
And, U.S. intelligence is now researching the origins of Covid-19.
Guests: Miami Herald's Jacqueline Charles, and Axios' Andrew Freedman, and Bethany Allen-Ebrahimian.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, Alex Sugiura and Michael Hanf. Music is composed by Evan Viola. You can reach us at podcasts@axios.com.Go deeper:
Dutch court orders Shell to cut its emissions in landmark ruling
DHS expands Temporary Protected Status for Haitians in U.S.
Biden asks intelligence community to intensify investigation of COVID origins

May 26, 2021 • 11min
The failure to vaccinate the world
Almost 1 out of 2 Americans have had their first dose of vaccination against Covid-19. Compare that to 1 in 10 for the rest of the world. In the U.K. where second doses have been delayed, a newer variant is starting to outpace others.
Plus, President Biden plans to meet with Vladimir Putin.
And, new polling on how Americans view the fight for racial justice.
Guests: Axios' Dave Lawler, Zach Basu, 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, Alex Sugiura and Michael Hanf. Music is composed by Evan Viola. You can reach us at podcasts@axios.com.Go deeper:
India hit by "black fungus" infections as COVID death toll tops 300,000
Biden-Putin summit will be held in Geneva on June 16
Axios-Ipsos poll: America one year after George Floyd

May 25, 2021 • 11min
Remembering their names
Today marks one year since George Floyd was murdered in Minneapolis. His death galvanized a nation -- and reminded us of how many other names there are, of those killed by police. Many of the families left behind are struggling to recover, years and decades later.
Plus, some schools won’t offer remote learning come fall.
And, the start of a spaceflight revolution.
Guests: Axios' Russell Contreras, Bryan Walsh, and Miriam Kramer.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, Naomi Shavin, Alex Sugiura and Michael Hanf. Music is composed by Evan Viola. You can reach us at podcasts@axios.com.Go deeper:
Makeshift memorials tell a lonely story
New York City schools will have no remote option this fall
Welcome to the spaceflight revolution

May 24, 2021 • 11min
The local push to defund the police
In the almost year since George Floyd's murder, calls to "defund the police" have grown louder, and at a local level, that's resulted in cuts to some police budgets and efforts to reallocate funds to community policing and social services.
Plus, Jonathan Swan talks to Representative Liz Cheney.
And, venture capital thrives amid the pandemic.
Guests: Axios' Fadel Allassan, Jonathan Swan and Kia Kokalitcheva.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, Justin Kaufmann, Amy Pedulla, Naomi Shavin, Alex Sugiura, and Michael Hanf. Music is composed by Evan Viola. You can reach us at podcasts@axios.com.Go deeper:
"Defund the Police" lives on as a local movement
"Axios on HBO": Liz Cheney won't fight GOP push to restrict voting
VC not only survived, but thrived in 2020

May 22, 2021 • 11min
Hard Truths: Finding a job after prison
We're back with another episode of our Hard Truths series looking at the criminal justice system in the U.S. Today. Specifically, what happens when people of color make it out of that system and try to rebuild their lives.People of color are disproportionately imprisoned in the U.S. Black people are incarcerated five times more than white people, Hispanics nearly twice as likely as white people to end up behind bars. They also face longer sentences and harsher punishments which can make finding a job and rebuilding a life outside of prison much harder.Guests: New York Secretary of State Rosanna Rosado and Justin Cordova.Credits: "Axios Today" is produced in partnership with Pushkin Industries. This episode was produced by Nuria Marquez Martinez and edited by Alexandra Botti. Jeanne Montalvo is our sound engineer. Special thanks to Axios Executive Editor Sara Kehaulani Goo, Hard Truths Editor Michele Salcedo, and Executive Producer Dan Bobkoff.

May 21, 2021 • 11min
Israel and Hamas agree to ceasefire
After 11 days, the fighting between Israel and Hamas will end. Both the Israeli cabinet and Hamas approved a ceasefire yesterday.
Plus, the latest from Capitol Hill this week.
And, an unusually active hurricane season ahead.
Guests: Axios' Barak Ravid, Margaret Talev, and Andrew Freedman.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, Justin Kaufmann, Amy Pedulla, Naomi Shavin, Alex Sugiura, and Michael Hanf. Music is composed by Evan Viola. You can reach us at podcasts@axios.com.Go deeper:
35 Republicans vote in favor of Jan. 6 commission
NOAA forecasts another unusually active hurricane season