Last week brought a spate of updates on SpaceX's programs. There was a major test of its Starship engines, the spacecraft that could someday be used to bring humans to the moon. SpaceX’s Crew2 mission to and from the International Space Station returned safely. And finally, Axios Space reporter Miriam Kramer caught up with SpaceX’s first all-civilian crew about life after space. Axios Re:Cap host Felix Salmon is joined by Miriam Kramer to unpack what all of these events tell us about SpaceX’s ne...
Nov 15, 2021•14 min•Transcript available on Metacast Johnson & Johnson is facing two multibillion-dollar threats from court cases related to its role in the opioid epidemic and allegations its baby powder contained asbestos. To contend with the liabilities, the company is deploying legal tactics used in bankruptcy cases, including a relatively rare type of merger. Axios Re:Cap host Felix Salmon is joined by David Warfield, a partner at Thompson Coburn and a bankruptcy expert, to unpack exactly what Johnson & Johnson’s latest moves mean for these c...
Nov 12, 2021•16 min•Transcript available on Metacast Wednesday’s release of the Consumer Price Index confirmed that inflation is up, with prices jumping 6.2% in the last year. It’s the largest increase the U.S. has experienced in three decades, and it’s certain to impact not just how consumers are spending but also how they vote. Axios Re:Cap host Felix Salmon digs into what these numbers could mean and how they might sway consumers and voters with Axios political reporter Hans Nichols.
Nov 10, 2021•15 min•Transcript available on Metacast General Electric was once considered the most valuable company in the world, a conglomerate that spanned industries and was respected specifically for its management prowess. But over the last two decades, the company has imploded in slow motion. On Tuesday, GE announced it would break into three distinct companies, marking the beginning of the end for the multinational behemoth. Axios Re:Cap host Felix Salmon is joined by Ted Mann, journalist and co-author of Lights Out: Pride, Delusion, and th...
Nov 09, 2021•15 min•Transcript available on Metacast The pandemic-era shift towards work-from-home has put an unprecedented demand on housing markets in cities like Charlotte, North Carolina. Axios Re:Cap host Felix Salmon digs into how this hot housing market dynamic is playing out on the ground, what factors are at play and how they interact with Axios Charlotte reporter Danielle Chemtob.
Nov 08, 2021•15 min•Transcript available on Metacast The pandemic and its impact on the economy have given President Biden a rare opportunity to spend so big it would expand key programs all Americans rely on. To understand how Biden’s spending packages stack up against FDR’s New Deal of the 1930s, Dwight D. Eisenhower’s notion of the Interstate highway system and Lyndon B. Johnson’s Great Society, Axios Re:Cap host Margaret Talev is joined by historian and author Julian Zelizer.
Nov 05, 2021•19 min•Transcript available on Metacast President Biden Thursday announced a Jan 4, 2022, deadline for vaccine mandate compliance for companies with over 100 workers. Axios Re:Cap host Margaret Talev digs into what this deadline will mean for employers, workers and especially those who work in health care settings with Axios Vitals author and health care editor Tina Reed.
Nov 04, 2021•13 min•Transcript available on Metacast Following Democrat losses in an off-year election cycle Tuesday night, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi Wednesday afternoon sent around a “Dear Colleague” letter intended to rally Democrats on Capitol Hill. To understand the message Pelosi sent and where her party’s progressive and moderate factions go from here, Axios Re:Cap host Margaret Talev is joined by Axios Congressional reporter Alayna Treene.
Nov 03, 2021•12 min•Transcript available on Metacast A slew of revelations about Facebook’s internal decision-making had many thinking the tech giant could face additional scrutiny and regulations. Instead, it appears in the wake of those stories, Facebook will plow ahead with its plans to play a bigger and more integral role in the lives of millions who use its services and platforms. Axios Re:Cap host Margaret Talev is joined by Axios technology managing editor Scott Rosenberg to discuss what Facebook’s rebrand tells us about its plans to expand...
Nov 02, 2021•17 min•Transcript available on Metacast Yesterday kicked off COP26, the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference. More than 100 world leaders are meeting in Glasgow, and this year’s gathering is more crucial than ever. Scientists are warning that time is running out to avoid more devastating climate change impacts over the coming decades. Is this the last chance to make a dent in global emissions? Axios Re:Cap talks with climate and energy reporter Andrew Freedman on what to look out for at this year’s COP26.
Nov 01, 2021•18 min•Transcript available on Metacast College admissions are theoretically based on high GPAs, test scores and strong admissions essays. But there’s another way students get accepted through legacy admissions, which wealthy students with alumni families get admitted to universities through their connections. Could we see more top-tier universities close this side door for wealthy students? Axios Re:Cap talks with chief financial correspondent and author of the weekly Axios Capital newsletter Felix Salmon on legacy admissions.
Oct 29, 2021•12 min•Transcript available on Metacast There’s a labor shortage plaguing industries across the board, as millions of people left the workforce during the pandemic or are switching careers. A new report from Indeed says interest in child care roles has gone down 15% since before COVID. How long will the pandemic affect working parents? Axios Re:Cap talks with Northeastern University economics professor Alicia Modestino about the state of child care in America.
Oct 28, 2021•14 min•Transcript available on Metacast The pandemic has had many older Americans feeling lonely and turning to online dating websites to find a connection, but many were left with broken hearts and empty bank accounts. The FTC reports that a record $304 million dollars were lost on online romance scams in 2020. How can the most vulnerable be protected? Axios Re:Cap talks with Washington Post personal finance columnist Michelle Singletary, who’s been reporting on online romance scams.
Oct 27, 2021•12 min•Transcript available on Metacast Firearms purchases have spiked in the U.S. over the last year. The FBI conducted more than 39 million firearm background checks in 2020. And many states have either passed major gun safety laws or gun rights laws. Could we see federal action on gun control in the near future? Axios Re:Cap talks with Axios’ politics reporter Stef Kight on state gun laws.
Oct 26, 2021•12 min•Transcript available on Metacast There’s been a lot of big news on COVID vaccines and boosters recently, and it's likely to change how the pandemic plays out this winter. While experts are predicting the colder months won’t see the same surge of COVID cases as last year, there are still a host of unknowns. Axios Re:Cap talks with Axios’ health care editor and author of Axios Vitals newsletter Tina Reed about the latest vaccine news and what it means for us all.
Oct 25, 2021•11 min•Transcript available on Metacast The pandemic hit thousands of firms across the country, especially those in the service sector. Hertz filed for bankruptcy and Airbnb laid off a quarter of its employees. So how were these companies able to thrive after knocking on death’s door?Axios Re:Cap talks with Axios’ chief financial correspondent and author of the weekly Axios Capital newsletter Felix Salmon on the “lazarus” companies of the pandemic-era.
Oct 22, 2021•11 min•Transcript available on Metacast Indocin, an anti-inflammatory rectal suppository that treats arthritis, once cost $198 for a box of 30 in 2008. And, today -- that same box now costs more than $10,000. That’s 52 times higher over the span of 10 years! How does this even happen? Axios Re:Cap talks with Axios’ health care business reporter Bob Herman skyrocketing drug prices and why it matters.
Oct 21, 2021•13 min•Transcript available on Metacast Almost 50% of Latinos in the U.S. owned a home in 2020, according to a report from the group monitoring U.S. Hispanic wealth creation. But Latinos are still 2.3 times more likely to be in forbearance and 1.5 times more likely to be delinquent on payments than white borrowers. Axios Re:Cap talks with Axios’ race and justice reporter Russell Contreras on the uptick in Latino home ownership and the financial troubles Latinos are also experiencing.
Oct 20, 2021•14 min•Transcript available on Metacast The recent Financial Times reporting that China launched a possible nuclear-capable hypersonic missile this past summer is complicated. China says it was a routine spacecraft test, but the launch caught U.S. intelligence by surprise. Should we be thinking about this in terms of a new Cold War? Axios Re:Cap talks with Axios’ China reporter Bethany Allen-Ebrahimian on what all this means for U.S.-China relations.
Oct 19, 2021•15 min•Transcript available on Metacast Today marks the beginning of a student journalism project that’s had students investigating the role American newspapers played in promoting lynchings and other racist violence from Reconstruction through the 1960s. Axios Re:Cap talks with Washington Post writer and associate professor of journalism at the University of Maryland DeNeen Brown on working with the students and her reporting on the 1921 Tulsa massacre that inspired the project.
Oct 18, 2021•13 min•Transcript available on Metacast On our latest installment of our Hard Truths series, we look at how faulty technology is making its way into the U.S. immigration system. Guests: Chaz Arnett, law professor at the University of Maryland and Miguel. 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. Dan Bobkoff is our executive producer. Special thanks to editor-in-chief Sara Kehaulani G...
Oct 16, 2021•14 min•Transcript available on Metacast The global energy crisis is becoming a bigger problem for the economy. The Consumer Price Index -- the best way to measure inflation in the U.S. -- jumped 5.4 percent in September compared to last year -- that’s according to new data released this week. How is the Federal Reserve and the Biden administration reacting to this latest data? Axios Re:Cap talks with Axios’ chief financial correspondent Felix Salmon who’s been reporting on the latest consumer price index data.
Oct 15, 2021•14 min•Transcript available on Metacast Last week Snapchat launched a new module -- called Run for Office Mini -- that helps young people run for local offices. And so far -- more than 2 million Snapchat users have engaged with the platform. Could this inspire the next generation of politicians? Axios Re:Cap talks with Axios’ political reporter Alexi McCammond about why Snapchat is entering this realm.
Oct 14, 2021•14 min•Transcript available on Metacast In 2020, the U.S. poverty rate declined as a result of stimulus checks and unemployment aid. What also helped in the decline? There was also an increase in cash programs from charities. Could “cash-in-hand” be a long-term solution to end poverty? Axios Re:Cap talks with Axios’ future correspondent Bryan Walsh on how philanthropic organizations are using cash assistance and what cash can’t fix.
Oct 13, 2021•15 min•Transcript available on Metacast Senators at the Facebook hearing last week used an analogy we’ve all heard before -- Big Tech is having a Big Tobacco moment. Are the harmful effects of social media sites like Facebook and Instagram that clear cut? Axios Re:Cap talks with Axios’ chief technology correspondent Ina Fried about how Big Tech compares to Big Tobacco.
Oct 12, 2021•13 min•Transcript available on Metacast Here’s a shocking statistic: Within five years of a heart attack, nearly half of women will die compared to 36% of men, that’s according to the American Heart Association. And now, researchers are discovering a strong link between psychological stress and heart disease, concerning cardiologists who see an increase in stress amongst women during the pandemic. Axios Re:Cap talks with Axios’ health care reporter Marisa Fernandez on how heart disease disproportionately impacts women AND how the pand...
Oct 11, 2021•12 min•Transcript available on Metacast At least half a million people are known to be homeless in the U.S. -- and the pandemic complicated efforts around the country to keep people housed. But - cities are still trying to fix this. Washington D.C is doing something different -- a pilot program offering one-year leases to unhoused residents in the city. Axios Re:Cap talks with Axios’ D.C. reporter Chelsea Cirruzzo who’s been reporting on how the pilot program has gone this week.
Oct 08, 2021•11 min•Transcript available on Metacast South Dakota has become a haven for an estimated $360 billion for the wealthy, according to the leaked financial documents in the Pandora Papers. Even though it’s one of the least populated states in the U.S., it now ranks as one of the top tax haven jurisdictions. Axios Re:Cap talks with Axios’ chief financial correspondent Felix Salmon, who’s been reporting on what the Pandora Papers revealed about South Dakota.
Oct 07, 2021•12 min•Transcript available on Metacast Energy prices are are going up around the world, as extreme weather becomes the norm and more people are on the move after long stretches of pandemic lockdown.China and India are facing an electricity crisis, while prices for oil and natural gas roughly doubled over the past year. In the U.S. gas prices are going up by 50%. Axios Re:Cap talks with Axios’ business editor Kate Marino who’s been reporting on the energy prices.
Oct 06, 2021•12 min•Transcript available on Metacast Facebook shares are down 15% from an all-time high on September 7th. That’s the biggest drop since the beginning of the pandemic. And yesterday, Facebook’s global outage may have prevented 54 billion Facebook messages from being sent and 3.75 billion fewer calling minutes on WhatsApp, according to marketing firm ABCD Agency. Axios Re:Cap talks with Axios’ media reporter Sara Fischer who’s been reporting on this, and how Facebook got to this moment.
Oct 05, 2021•12 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
