1 big thing

Students across the country are going back to school this week as the Omicron COVID variant surges. But many districts -- like Atlanta, DC and Cleveland -- have already delayed their in-person returns, as districts ramp up testing requirements. Plus, many surprise out-of-network medical bills are now illegal. And, how the extended freeze on federal student loan payments is affecting borrowers. Gue...

We wrap up 2021 with three of our favorite Axios political voices: co-founder Mike Allen, managing editor for politics Margaret Talev, and political reporter Alexi McCammond. Plus, your best moments of 2021. Guests: Axios co-founder Mike Allen, Axios managing editor for politics Margaret Talev, and Axios political reporter Alexi McCammond. Credits: Axios Today is produced in partnership with Pushk...

The U.S. economy dominated so much of the news in 2021. Just this week we learned that wholesale inflation in November rose at a record rate from a year ago. Axios' Courtenay Brown wraps up the year in economic news, and looks ahead to the new year. Plus, how one church in Mayfield, Kentucky is helping its neighbors with tornado recovery. And, tips on managing mental health this winter. Guests: Dr...

There’s been a breakthrough in the push to punish the Chinese government for genocide against Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities. A new piece of bipartisan legislation is expected to end up on President Biden’s desk. Plus, pro sports braces for Omicron. And, the impact of Black Lives Matter over the last 18 months. Guests: Axios' Zach Basu, Jeff Tracy and Russ Contreras. Credits: Axios Today is p...

Yesterday was a historic day in the Middle East. The Israeli prime minister, Naftali Bennett, met the de facto leader of the United Arab Emirates, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed during the first ever official visit to the UAE from Israel. This took place 15 months after the Abraham Accords, the biggest breakthrough in Middle East Peace in a quarter century, normalized diplomatic relations between...

The death toll continues to rise in Kentucky after devastating tornadoes touch down in the state Friday night. More than 80 people are confirmed dead and scores more injured. Some of the worst damage and the highest toll may be in southwestern Kentucky, but at least two dozen tornadoes were on the ground across six different states. Towns have been flattened and infrastructure devastated. Ten of t...

It’s been 566 days since George Floyd was murdered by a Minneapolis police officer. His death spurred millions of people across the globe to protest in support of Black lives. We examine the impact in three locations: United Kingdom, Mexico and Nigeria. Guests: Aba Amoah, co-founder of Justice for Black Lives, Alice Krozer, professor at the Center for Sociological Research at the College of Mexico...

This week has been all about President Biden taking on Russia and China. The president had a two-hour-long call with Vladmir Putin about Ukraine. Earlier in the week the U.S. announced a diplomatic boycott of the Winter Olympics in China. And this all against the backdrop of President Biden’s Summit for Democracy this week. Plus, the U.S. starts denying some Afghan immigrant applications. And, how...

The head of Instagram, Adam Mosseri, came to Capitol Hill yesterday with a message for Senators: his company could and will do better in protecting teens. He was defending the social media app from growing bipartisan backlash over its reported potential harmful impact on teens, especially young girls. Plus, creating a haven for abortions in California. And, a new zero carbon emissions goal for the...

Today marks two years to the day since a mysterious new virus was discovered in Wuhan, China. That of course was soon dubbed SARS-CoV-2, and fast forward to today, we are grappling with the latest variant and another pandemic winter. We delve into the latest Axios-Ipsos poll that shows the nuance behind how tired Americans are with the pandemic, and what they want governments or businesses to do a...

Americans spend hundreds of billions on prescription drugs each year. In fact, about $370 billion as of 2019. And employers in charge of healthcare plans paid for about $166 billion of that. It's middleman firms, which actually negotiate these drug prices on behalf of employers. But because they keep their data secret, companies have no idea whether they're getting a fair deal on drug prices or no...

The investigation continues into last week’s shooting at a Michigan high school. Over the weekend, the parents of the 15-year-old suspect who shot and killed four of his classmates and injured seven others were charged with involuntary manslaughter for their role in the deaths. Now the school’s culpability is in question. Plus, new data could shed light on the Omicron variant. And, the U.S. reacts...

The Biden administration has reached a deal with Mexico to restart the Trump-era “Remain in Mexico” program, also known as the Migrant Protection Protocol at the border. Starting Monday, asylum seekers will once again have to wait outside the US while their claims are processed. Plus, Mike Allen wraps up the week in politics. And, the new trend of IV treatments at spas. Guests: Axios' Stef Kight,...

The Supreme Court heard arguments Wednesday in a challenge to Mississippi’s law that bans abortion after the 15th week of pregnancy. It’s the most significant abortion case in years and a direct challenge to Roe v. Wade. Plus, Stacey Abrams announces a run for Georgia governor in 2022. And, putting high gas prices in perspective. Guests: Harvard University constitutional law professor Noah Feldman...

The World Health Organization yesterday advised people 60 or older to postpone any travel because of the new Covid-19 variant, Omicron. The new strain was first identified in South Africa and may have originated there or Botswana, which has led to many countries—including the US—banning travelers from that part of the world. Plus, what Congress has to do this month. And, ER doctors’ role in prescr...

Axios' Bethany Allen-Ebrahimian found Airbnb has more than a dozen homes available for rent in China's Xinjiang region, on land owned by the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, an organization sanctioned by the U.S. for complicity in genocide and forced labor. Plus, the new lure of "buy now, pay later" online. And, on this Giving Tuesday - how one CEO views philanthropy. Guests: Axios' Bet...

This Thanksgiving weekend many in the world were reacting to the latest, heavily-mutated Covid-19 variant first detected in Botswana. On Friday, the World Health Organization called the new strain - Omicron - a variant of concern. There’s a lot we don’t know about this new strain, even as countries around the world are scrambling to get ahead of it with travel bans. But last night, Canada confirme...

On this holiday, we've got One Big Thing: what the Axios Today team is thankful for and why. Spend a few minutes with us for our bonus Thanksgiving episode! Credits: Axios Today is produced in partnership with Pushkin Industries. The team includes Niala Boodhoo, Sara Kehaulani Goo, Julia Redpath, Alexandra Botti, Nuria Marquez Martinez, Alex Sugiura, Sabeena Singhani, Lydia McMullen-Laird, David T...

Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed - a Nobel Peace Prize winning politician - has said he’ll lead troops who are fighting rebels in the Tigray region of the country in what he’s calling "the final fight" to save Ethopia. Meanwhile, the Biden administration is warning of a potential humanitarian crisis there that could destabilize the entire region. Plus, the rise of vegan Thanksgiving. And, the...

With Thanksgiving around the corner, COVID cases in the U.S. are rising in most states and across the country as a whole: by 20 percent over the past two weeks. That has us asking what role testing is going to play in keeping ourselves and our families safe for the holidays. Plus, Jerome Powell is nominated for a second term to lead the Fed. And, why some cities are giving Universal Basic Mobility...

Closing arguments are expected to begin today in the murder trial of Travis and Gregory McMichael and William Bryan, the three men accused of killing Ahmaud Arbery in Brunswick, Georgia. This comes just a few days after Kyle Rittenhouse was found not guilty in the fatal shooting of two people at demonstrations in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Though the cases are unfolding in two different parts of the coun...

In our latest installment of the Hard Truths series examining systemic racism in the U.S., we look at the renewed push to diversify children’s TV shows. Guests: Axios reporter Oriana Gonzalez. Credits: “Axios Today” is brought to you by Axios and Pushkin Industries. This episode was produced by Nuria Marquez Martinez and edited by Alexandra Botti. Jeanne Montalvo is our sound engineer. Julia Redpa...

The FDA is likely to sign off shortly on the Pfizer booster shot for everyone 18 and over, but many cities and states like New York City and California have already made boosters available to all adults. We look at what we do and don't know about who should get boosters and what kind is best. Plus, President Biden meets with his North American counterparts. And, the growing global reach of Mexican...

More than 100,000 people died of an overdose in the 12 month period ending in April of this year, according to CDC data. Plus, the House issues a rare censure of a Republican lawmaker. And, a debate in Washington over who authorizes military force. Guests: Andrew Kolodny, medical director for opioid policy research at Brandeis University and Axios' Glen Johnson and Alayna Treene. Credits: Axios To...

Tensions are rising in Eastern Europe, on the border between Belarus and Poland. Yesterday, Polish police began using water cannons and tear gas against people trying to cross into the country. For weeks now, thousands of migrants from Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan have been waiting at the border in an attempt to enter the European Union, in what EU leaders are calling a manufactured crisis. Plus, t...