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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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Mar 22, 2022 • 12min
The global food crisis will only get worse
Russia and Ukraine combined provide about 30 percent of the world’s supply of wheat and Ukraine alone provides about 15 percent of the world's corn. Russia's invasion into Ukraine is setting off a global food crisis that might be unprecedented. Meredith Lee reports.
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Mar 21, 2022 • 13min
Will Biden (really) cancel student debt?
Ahead of the midterms, Democrats fret that Biden’s inaction on student debt could burn him with younger voters. Michael Stratford reports.
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Mar 18, 2022 • 11min
The state battle to criminalize trans care
The furor surrounding transgender youth has been playing out in Texas, but it's not the only state proposing criminalizing gender-affirming care despite opposition from medical experts. Republican lawmakers and conservative groups are increasingly using transition-related medical care as a wedge issue heading into the midterms. Juan Perez reports.
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Mar 17, 2022 • 12min
The Covid funding blame game
The White House asked for $22.5 billion for covid response funds. Last week, Congress put together a bipartisan $15 billion plan. But so far, exactly zero dollars have actually been agreed upon. And even as the administration warns it may need to cancel new orders of Covid-19 drugs as soon as next week and wind down access to testing soon after that, there appears to be no clear strategy from either the White House or Capitol Hill to secure the funds. Adam Cancryn reports.
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Mar 16, 2022 • 12min
How Liz Cheney wins re-election
Liz Cheney faces a primary with Trump-endorsed candidate Harriet Hageman. Wyoming political strategists say the only viable path to victory for Liz Cheney is with the help of Democrats and Independents who register as Republicans to vote in the primary. Tara Palmeri reports.
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Mar 15, 2022 • 12min
A firefighter shortage
The Forest Service has long struggled with staffing shortages, but the challenges have intensified amid a hyper-competitive labor market and cost-of-living concerns. Ximena Bustillo reports.
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Mar 14, 2022 • 13min
Biden's strategy: help Ukraine without provoking Russia
Over the weekend, Russia intensified its airstrikes on western Ukraine, hitting targets just miles from the Polish border. Pentagon and NATO officials reiterated on Sunday that they do not intend to directly confront Russian forces within Ukraine. But they are sending military supplies, and Russia has warned that it regards those convoys as legitimate targets. Alex Ward reports.
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Mar 11, 2022 • 12min
Russia sanctions put crypto under the spotlight
As more banks and payment systems cut off service to Russians, digital asset firms are navigating the same reputational minefields as traditional financial institutions. Sam Sutton reports.
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Mar 10, 2022 • 13min
One vax patient's rare journey
An adverse allergic reaction to a covid vaccine is rare, but just how rare remains to be seen. On Wednesday, the National Institutes of Health announced a new study to try to understand the number of people experiencing moderate allergic reaction to mRNA vaccines, and why. Joanne Kenen — who had an allergic reaction to her first Pfizer dose — reports.
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Mar 9, 2022 • 13min
China’s Russia problem
The Chinese government has made clear it will remain a strategic ally of Russia despite its invasion of Ukraine. But the West wants China's help in cutting off Russia. Phelim Kine reports.
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