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POLITICO
The POLITICO Tech podcast is your download on the disruption that technology is bringing to politics and policy. New episodes on Thursdays.
Episodes
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Apr 12, 2022 • 9min
Oligarchs can still stash money in real estate — for now
As political pressure grows to crack down on Russian oligarchs, U.S. policymakers are taking a deeper look at an industry that has long avoided anti-money-laundering rules: real estate. POLITICO's Katy O'Donnell discusses the push in Congress to close foreign money loopholes.
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Apr 11, 2022 • 12min
The FDA's food failure
A POLITICO investigation based on more than 50 interviews finds the FDA is failing to meet American consumers' expectations on food safety and nutrition. POLITICO's Helena Bottemiller Evich reports on the agency's structural flaws and the risks posed to Americans.
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Apr 8, 2022 • 15min
The untold story of Afghanistan's female elite soldiers
Trained by the U.S. Army, a group of trailblazing Afghan women became a formidable military force during the war in Afghanistan. They now live scattered around the U.S., stuck in immigration limbo. Amanda Ripley reports.
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Apr 7, 2022 • 14min
Tribes left behind by America's weed laws
Federal protections for state and territorial cannabis markets don't apply to Native American tribes. Natalie Fertig reports.
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Apr 6, 2022 • 13min
5 key takeaways from U.N. climate report
On Monday, the U.N. offered a familiarly stark report card on the world’s progress on cutting emissions from the IPCC, which has been monitoring climate change since 1988. Despite the panel's regular reports about the consequences of burning fossil fuels, between 1990 and 2019 global emissions rose 54 percent and they are still rising. POLITICO's Karl Mathiesen reports.
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Apr 5, 2022 • 12min
Amazon's telehealth gold rush
Amazon has been pushing into health care for years, starting with wearable health devices and pharmacy services. But the nationwide expansion of its “Amazon Care” service is its biggest move in the rapidly growing telehealth industry, which could grow to a $20 billion sector over the next five years. Emily Birnbaum reports.
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Apr 4, 2022 • 12min
NYC mayor Eric Adams takes on the 'gotcha' press
In a copy of a Zoom recording provided to POLITICO, New York City Mayor Eric Adams instructed administration staff that every single communication from a city agency, down to notices about cherry blossoms in bloom, must be approved by City Hall — warning that anyone violating his “discipline of message” would be fired. Julia Marsh reports.
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Apr 1, 2022 • 13min
Biden turned the Russian ruble into rubble. How’d it bounce back?
A raft of punishing sanctions sent Russia’s currency crashing after its invasion of Ukraine. A month later, the ruble has staged a dramatic recovery — putting pressure on the Biden administration and allies to deploy even tougher measures. But officials say the ruble's recovery is not necessarily a sign of improvement in the Russian economy or Putin’s position. Kate Davidson reports.
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Mar 31, 2022 • 12min
Why haven't more hospitals used N95s?
POLITICO reporter Rachael Levy broke the story that some hospitals have been asking patients to remove their N95 masks — even though they offer better protection. Rachael’s reporting changed a national policy in a matter of days — but the question remains why policymakers in the US are behind on mask guidance. Rachael Levy reports.
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Mar 30, 2022 • 12min
How a lawsuit spurred Florida GOP to pass ‘Don’t Say Gay’ law
Florida’s fight over contentious LGBTQ legislation — the "Parental Rights in Education Bill," dubbed the “Don’t Say Gay” bill by opponents — had its genesis nearly two years ago, not in the halls of the state Legislature but in a September conversation between a Tallahassee mother and her 13-year-old teen. Gary Fineout reports.
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