1 big thing

Ohio is holding a special election on Tuesday for voters to decide how easy it should be to amend the state constitution. It is the only item on the ballot and it's called Issue 1. Supporters of the proposal want to make it more difficult for an abortion rights amendment to pass in the state's general election in November. The big picture: Issue 1 is getting national attention because of what it c...

The FDA approved the first pill for postpartum depression on Friday. The drug is called zuranolone, and unlike other antidepressants, it's specifically designated for postpartum depression, a condition that affects around 1 in 7 new mothers. The big picture: Zuranolone is taken daily for two weeks. Clinical trials showed that the drug could ease depression in as little as three days. Plus, young w...

Former President Donald Trump pleaded not guilty on Thursday to federal charges that he plotted to overturn the 2020 elections. Trump is the GOP presidential frontrunner and has been indicted three times since launching his 2024 campaign. The former president is spending big on legal fees and that's one reason he's burning campaign cash fast. The big picture: Trump isn't the only one blowing throu...

A federal jury on Wednesday sentenced to death the Pittsburgh Tree of Life Synagogue shooter. The gunman murdered 11 people in 2018, in what was the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S. history. The big picture: Since then, antisemitism has been on the rise. A report from the Anti-Defamation League found that antisemitic incidents increased by 36% in 2022 to the highest level since 1979. We dig de...

Former President Trump was indicted yet again on Tuesday. This time, it is over his alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election. The former president is expected to make an appearance in federal court in D.C. on Thursday. Plus, a settlement for one Black family over one of medicine's most famous cells. And, why Birkenstocks are back in style for investors. Guests: Axios' Margaret Talev, Russell...

This Sunday, Phoenix hit a new record: 31 straight days of temperatures of at least t 110°F. It's part of the extreme heat hitting the U.S. hard this summer, and it's especially hurting low-income households. We take a closer look at extreme heat's affect on Americans' access to food. Plus, how fatigue illustrates the challenges with long COVID treatment. And, what lab-grown meat tastes like. Gues...

In the run up to the 2022 midterm elections more than 100 lawsuits were filed over voting rights issue by both Democrats and Republicans. Can we expect the same for the 2024 presidential election? Plus, a reality check on deepfakes. And, new research on where the highest rates of Alzheimer’s disease are across the country. Guests: Axios' Alex Thompson and Shoshana Gordon. Credits: Axios Today is p...

Our weekly politics State of Play looks at what we can learn from Spain’s recent elections. And the latest in the legal woes for Trump and concerns over aging leadership in the Senate. Plus, why the use of donor embryos is on the rise. And, more summer reading recommendations. Guests: Axios' Alex Thompson, Carly Mallenbaum and Sara Kehaulani Goo. Credits: Axios Today is produced by Felix Salmon, A...

The Fed hiked interest rates by 0.25% on Wednesday, bringing them to the highest level in 22 years. Fed economists also said that given the recent resilience of the economy, they are no longer forecasting a recession. Plus, what more AI means for low-wage work. And, singer-songwriter Sinead O’Connor dead at age 56. Guests: Axios' Courtenay Brown and Emily Peck. Credits: Axios Today is produced by...

This week, a California judge struck down the Biden administration’s new asylum policy. And, the Justice Department is suing Texas over placing barriers in the Rio Grande to stop migrants from crossing into the U.S. Plus, the rise of “therapy speak.” And, UPS and its workers reach a deal. Guests: Axios' Stef Kight, University of Southern California's Darby Saxbe and Well. Guide's Israa Nasir. Cred...

More than 1,500 record-high temperatures have been recorded in the U.S. this month, according to NOAA. And a new study finds a definitive link between this extreme heat and climate change. But the biggest discovery may be just how vulnerable we are to the warming of the planet. Plus, Israel curbs the power of its Supreme Court, and tens of thousands protest. And, Speaker McCarthy’s quiet winning s...

The movie "Barbie" brought in at least a whopping $155 million in its opening weekend, making it one of the biggest movies of 2023, according to early Sunday projections from Comscore. Does this signal America’s return to the movies? Plus, Russia’s port attacks in Ukraine deepen worries over world hunger. Alabama lawmakers defy the Supreme Court on voting rights. And, the latest on UPS workers' fi...

U.S.-China tensions are at an all-time high and as relations deteriorate, the Japanese island of Okinawa is afraid of getting in the crosshairs. We take a closer look on how the geopolitical tensions are affecting the island. Plus, why the gender pay gap is shrinking. And, a new line of fashion dolls celebrates Latinas in America. Guests: Axios' Bethany Allen-Ebrahimian, Emily Peck and Marina E. F...

The Women’s World Cup kicked off on Thursday in Australia and New Zealand. And it's on track to become the most attended standalone women’s sporting event in history, according to FIFA. What sets this year’s contest apart? Plus, "Oppenheimer" brings painful memories for New Mexico Hispanics. And, Wesleyan University becomes the latest to end legacy admissions. Guests: Axios' Jeff Tracy and Russell...

Former President Trump announced on Tuesday that he received a target letter from special counsel Jack Smith and expects to be indicted. The former president's legal challenges are mounting, just as the 2024 campaign is heating up. But this latest indictment could hit voters differently. Plus, America’s therapy boom. Historic temperatures hit three continents. And, one year of the 988 hotline. Gue...

Life is about to get pricier for millions of families, with a triple whammy of pandemic-era safety net programs coming to an end around the same time this fall. How will this all pan out? Plus, why your sex chromosomes and hormones could impact the effectiveness of your medications. Antitrust regulators set their sights on private equity. And, why lottery jackpots are growing bigger -- but harder...

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is pushing forward with his judicial overhaul plan, despite widespread opposition and a call from President Biden. What comes next for the U.S. and Israel? Plus, making birth control pills more accessible in the U.S. The first RSV vaccine for all infants is approved. And, some of your summer reading recommendations. Guests: Axios' Barak Ravid and Oriana Go...

A political group is trying to get real money behind an independent candidate for the 2024 presidential election. And President Biden had a big week overseas. It’s our weekly politics State of Play. Plus, Hollywood actors walk out. How too much heat can harm our bodies long term. And, the first over-the-counter birth control pill. Guests: Axios' Hans Nichols, Tina Reed and Tim Baysinger. Credits:...

Wages are finally rising faster than inflation, according to new data from the Labor Department. And consumer prices in June had their smallest annual increase since March 2021. What does this mean for the power of our money? Plus, wealthy nations grapple with the rise in global migration. And, Ron DeSantis' Iowa ground game. Guests: Axios' Courtenay Brown, Stef Kight and Sophia Cai. Credits: Axio...

Severe storms this week have caused historic flooding in the Northeast, especially Vermont. Data on this kind of flooding is critical, but the national data we rely on underestimates the risk. Plus, the push for new treatments against superbugs. The Biden administration takes another shot at affordable child care. And, Meta's Threads reaches a milestone. Guests: Axios’ Andrew Freedman, Adriel Bett...

Humans have changed the Earth in such profound ways that scientists are announcing that the Earth has entered a new chapter: The Anthropocene Epoch. Plus, why corporate America is worried about the Supreme Court decision on affirmative action for universities. And, why today is one of the biggest shopping days of the year. Guests: Axios’ Alison Snyder, Emily Peck and Kelly Tyko. Credits: Axios Tod...

Maybe you’ve noticed President Biden sometimes whispering in public settings - especially when answering questions from reporters. But behind closed doors he’s been known to take the volume up a notch. Plus, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen’s important China visit. And, CVS and Walgreens get into the clinical trials business. Guests: Axios’ Alex Thompson and Tina Reed. Credits: Axios Today is produ...

This week a federal judge temporarily restricted the Biden Administration’s communication with social media platforms like Facebook, YouTube and Twitter. The ruling is a response to a lawsuit filed by the Republican attorneys general of Missouri and Louisiana. Plus, renewables help keep Texas electricity costs low. Younger 2024 political candidates show off their athletic abilities And, what next...

This Fourth of July long weekend saw about 17 mass shootings in the U.S., according to the Gun Violence Archive. At least 18 people were killed and more than 100 injured, many of them children and teens. But direct involvement in shootings is not the only way gun violence harms U.S. kids. Plus, Meta tries to edge out Twitter. And, some fun mystery summer reading. Guests: Axios’ Ina Fried, The Guar...

We've just passed the one year mark of the U.S. living in a post-Roe world, and 69% of Americans say abortion should be generally legal in the first three months of pregnancy, a record high according to Gallup. Plus, how climate change is affecting summer travel plans. And, the “wet bulb temperature” explained. Credits: Axios Today is produced by Niala Boodhoo, Alexandra Botti, Fonda Mwangi, Lydia...