1 big thing

Our record inflation rate of 8.5% year over year won’t last forever. But even when that goes away - some of the high prices we’re seeing now may never go back to pre-pandemic levels. Plus, could driverless vehicles extend to the trucking industry? And, a federal judge strikes down the CDC’s mask mandate. Guests: Axios' Javier E. David and Joann Muller. Credits: Axios Today is produced by Niala Boo...

If you feel like you’ve been inundated with spam texts lately, you're not alone. According to new data from Robokiller, an app that blocks spam calls and texts, Americans received an average of 42 spam texts each just in the month of March. Plus, the Pope pleads for peace on what he called “an Easter of War.” And, the latest out of Ukraine. Guests: Axios' Margaret Harding McGill and Zach Basu. Cre...

Elon Musk wants to take over Twitter. He’s offered to buy the company and take it private for 43 billion dollars in cash. This comes after he bought a 9.2% stake in the social media company. And he’s not the only billionaire to wade into free speech battles. Plus, Axios CEO Jim VandeHei on why we all need a little tough love. Guests: Axios' Sara Fischer and Jim VandeHei. Credits: Axios Today is pr...

The Ukrainian port city of Mariupol is holding on by a thread, as Russia concentrates its attacks on the east of the country. Earlier this week, the mayor of Mariupol said its streets were carpeted with bodies. Now the world is watching to see if Russia will capture its first major city since the start of the war against Ukraine in February. Plus, Mexican truckers stage a border protest against Te...

A gunman opened fire in a busy Brooklyn subway Tuesday morning, a mass shooting that created even more anxiety in a city already worried about a rise in crime. It’s not just in New York. According to the Gun Violence Archive, there have been 131 mass shootings this year. Plus, why May 9th is a crucial date in Vladmir Putin’s playbook. Guests: Bryan Walsh, editor for Vox's Future Perfect and Axios'...

China’s largest COVID outbreak in two years continues to spread across the country. In Shanghai, daily cases surpassed 26,000 over the weekend despite weeks of lockdown. Now residents in Shanghai are increasingly struggling to get access to food and medical care. Plus, the six states that could be key in the midterms. Guests: Axios' Bethany Allen-Ebrahimian and Alexi McCammond. Credits: Axios Toda...

Our economic headlines have been dominated by inflation. And an update out Tuesday isn’t looking good - we’re expecting to have hit another 40-year high last month. But there is some good news that you might have missed in all of this - we’re also seeing the lowest number of unemployment claims in 54 years. Plus, get ready for the summer of “revenge travel.” Guests: Axios' Neil Irwin and Joann Mul...

A historic moment yesterday in the Senate, where Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson became the newest Supreme Court Justice after a 53-47 vote. She will be the first Black woman appointed to the high court. The confirmation marks President Biden’s first Supreme Court pick. And it may turn out to be his only one. Plus, states wage new battles over abortion rights. Guests: Axios' Jonathan Swan and Oriana G...

Yesterday, President Biden praised a victory by Amazon workers in New York in their bid to unionize. About 55% of the workers at the Staten Island warehouse voted to form the first U.S. union at Amazon last week. Their victory is expected to spur union growth around the country. Plus, fresh sanctions against Russia after a civilian massacre. And, the role of tech in humanitarian work in Ukraine. G...

UN climate scientists gave governments a “final warning” in a new report on Monday, saying that to avoid the most catastrophic impacts of climate change, emissions must peak by 2025. At the Axios What's Next Summit in D.C. yesterday, Niala asks Ali Zaidi, White House deputy national climate advisor, what individuals can actually do. Plus, how young “techno-optimists” are driving the future. Guests...

On Sunday, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky spoke to CBS' Margaret Brennan. In that conversation, he described apparent Russian war crimes committed against the people of Ukraine and what the last few days have meant for the war. Plus, how to get started with crypto investing. And, jury selection in the death penalty trial for the Parkland shooter. Guests: Margaret Brennan, host of CBS' Face...

Russian forces have retreated from the area around the capital Kyiv, leaving Ukrainian forces and civilians to take stock of the devastation. In Bucha, northwest of Kyiv, Ukrainian troops and international journalists have reported finding brutalized bodies and evidence of mass graves, prompting fresh international outrage about possible war crimes. Plus, removing barriers to employment for people...

Inflation is now at 7.9 percent and has been causing financial hardship for millions of American families for months. But it's getting harder for food banks to get the staples they need in order to help. Plus, a historic release from the US oil reserve. And, how Wordle is bringing families together. Guests: Axios’ Torey Van Oot, Jason Clayworth, Taylor Allen, and Stephen Totilo. Credits: Axios Tod...

Covid didn’t just change where we work, it also changed when we work. The 9-5 workday is fading - some estimates suggest that 75% of all global companies now allow most employees to work from anywhere, with more time flexibility. And that can have benefits for both early birds and night owls. Plus, the Biden administration is expected to end Title 42 by late May. And, preparing for our new climate...

After several hours of peace talks in Turkey, Russian officials said yesterday they would scale back military activity near Kyiv, Ukraine and to the north. Plus, U.S. covid booster strategy takes a page from choose-your-own adventure. And, young women are out-earning men in more than 20 American cities. Guests: Axios' Zach Basu, Caitlin Owens and Emily Peck. Credits: Axios Today is produced by Nia...

President Biden Monday proposed a $5.8 trillion budget for the coming fiscal year, which would include a tax on billionaires and increased spending on defense, supply chain issues and law enforcement. Plus, Justice Clarence Thomas’s wife under scrutiny from the Jan 6th committee. And, how modernizing public transit could displace people who need it the most. Guests: Axios' Hans Nichols, Andrew Sol...

In the last line of a 27-minute speech to close out his European trip, President Biden ended with an off-the-cuff comment aimed at Vladimir Putin. Those nine words are now threatening to overshadow the unified front the west has presented against Russia. The White House quickly walked back that statement from Warsaw - including Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Sunday. Plus, police departments...

Biden gave a strong message about NATO’s unity from Brussels yesterday, where he held emergency meetings with allies, on Russia's war in Ukraine. Speaking to the press, Biden was clear on the purpose of the talks: ensure that NATO remains committed to longterm action against Russia's brutality. Plus, culture wars dominate at the confirmation hearings of Supreme Court Justice nominee Ketanji Brown...

This week, a hacking group admitted to a January attack on Okta, a service used by thousands of companies to provide login security. As of now, little is known about what information this group took and from how many people. But the news comes as President Biden reiterated his warnings of a potential Russian cyberattack. Plus, Poland’s new role in Europe And, former Secretary of State Madeleine Al...

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday said he was open to dropping Ukraine's demand for full NATO membership, in exchange for an end to Russia's war. Zelensky has been floating other compromise possibilities this week, too, as talks between negotiators continue to fail. So what is Ukraine's president willing to do or to give up to bring Vladimir Putin's attacks to an end? Plus, why mort...

People are returning to in-person work, mask and vaccine mandates have come down nationwide, but U.S. health officials are anticipating a new rise in COVID-19 cases because of the B.A. 2 variant. And many people with disabilities, or who are immunocompromised, are feeling vulnerable and left behind in this rush to reopen. Plus, Ukraine is losing patience with Israel. And, a moment of joy from the...

Today Supreme Court Justice nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson appears before the Senate Judiciary Committee for day one of her confirmation hearings. The 51-year old judge has been nominated to fill the spot left vacant by retiring Justice Stephen Breyer. If confirmed - which seems very likely - Jackson would be the first Black woman nominated to The Supreme Court. Plus, Russia and Ukraine reach a dan...

Russia’s war on Ukraine is now entering its fourth week. With no signs of Putin’s unprovoked attack slowing down, how can President Biden and other world leaders stop Putin without escalating it further? Plus, corporations grapple with abortion access for workers. And, Netflix cracks down on password sharing. Guests: Axios' Margaret Talev, Emily Peck, and Sara Fischer. Credits: Axios Today is prod...

China is facing its worst coronavirus outbreak since the start of the pandemic, and nearly half of Europe has recorded double-digit increases in COVID-19 cases in the past week. And here in the U.S. where cases are still declining, Americans seem to be moving on without what journalist Ed Yong calls, “a social reckoning” as we near 1 million COVID deaths. Plus, strong language from Presidents Bide...

Today marks one year since six Asian women were shot to death in Atlanta-area spas. Those murders intensified the spotlight on Asian American hate, which was on the rise since the start of the pandemic. But this uptick has also led to increased visibility for Asian Americans and community activism over the past year. Plus, Ukraine’s president Zelensky is set to address the U.S. Congress. And, dayl...