Axios Re:Cap

This weekend we're posting four mini-episodes of the Axios Re:Cap podcast, focused on the unique challenges of back-to-school in 2020. This one digs into the strains on special education. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This year has been devastating for the live music industry, especially for touring musicians, some of whom earn up to 90% of their income from playing live. Axios Re:Cap producer Naomi Shavin is joined by Glass Animals frontman Dave Bayley, who released an album this week and discusses what it’s like to release and promote music when touring isn’t an option. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The U.S. for months has faced a national reckoning over simultaneous crises that Black Americans, especially, are facing: structural racism and violence, health disparities in COVID-19 outcomes and devastating economic impacts from the pandemic. Axios Re:Cap producer Naomi Shavin is joined by Shelly Bell, founder of Black Girl Ventures, to discuss how the founders in her network are faring, what happened after her organization received a wave of donations in June, and what she hopes to see happen next. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Monday, a California Superior Court judge ruled that Uber and Lyft should classify drivers as employees, not temporary contractors. Both companies plan to appeal, and on Wednesday, Uber’s CEO said that if this ruling is upheld, the company would have to temporarily stop operating in California. The ruling has implications far beyond the ridesharing industry, for the entire gig economy and more. Axios Re:Cap producer Naomi Shavin discusses the ruling and what comes next with Mike Isaac of the New York Times and author of “Super Pumped: The Battle for Uber.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Russia announced Tuesday that it has approved a vaccine for COVID-19 and has plans to inoculate health care workers, teachers, and others in the coming months, despite barely starting Phase 3 clinical trials. Axios Re:Cap producer Naomi Shavin digs into the impacts of this announcement on the vaccine race with Derek Lowe, medicinal chemist, author and expert on drug development and the pharmaceutical industry. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

August recess was supposed to start for Congress this week, but stimulus negotiations fell apart last week — prompting President Trump to circumvent Congress and attempt to extend programs put in place by the CARES Act via executive action. Now, it’s unclear if Congress is still negotiating, let alone if they’re any closer to a compromise. Axios Re:Cap producer Naomi Shavin is joined by Washington Post White House economics reporter Jeff Stein to find out more about the state of stimulus talks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Every day that goes by without a new stimulus agreement is another day of worry for many in America's middle class, which was shrinking before the pandemic began. Dan digs into what the pandemic has done to the middle class and what policies are needed to bolster it with Jim Tankersley, a New York Times economics reporter and author of the new book, “The Riches of This Land.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

An early pandemic fear was that people would be unable to pay rent and that it would lead to a surge in homelessness. Lawmakers intervened, creating municipal, state-level and federal eviction moratoriums — but many of them have now expired, including the federal moratorium put in place by the CARES Act. Dan discusses the looming housing crisis and where it factors into current stimulus negotiations with Alieza Durana of the Eviction Lab at Princeton University. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As stimulus negotiations drag on, Democrats and Republicans seem unable to agree on whether to include coronavirus-related liability protections for businesses, health facilities and schools — a decision that could reset the cost-benefit analysis for businesses thinking about reopening and employees considering a return to work. Dan digs into this debate with U.S. Chamber of Commerce EVP and chief policy officer Neil Bradley. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Trump relaxed his threat to ban the popular social media app TikTok, giving Microsoft room to negotiate an acquisition from Chinese tech giant ByteDance. Dan is joined by Peter Navarro, President Trump’s top trade adviser and a noted China hawk, to discuss the White House's current stance on TikTok, on Microsoft's operations in China, and on the deal. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We are on track for a more complicated voting process this fall than in any past election of our lifetimes. There are concerns around safety in the middle of a pandemic, security, logistics, access and more. Dan is joined by Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose, who explains why it could take weeks to know results from his state and why he remains confident in the process. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

 Last year, nearly the entire editorial staff of media site Deadspin quit in protest over interference in their editorial decisions by management. Now, most of them have reunited to form a new company called Defector Media, which will rely on a paid subscription model and no outside investment. Dan discusses the Deadspin walkout, the new project and this new business model with Defector's Giri Nathan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The chief executives of Apple, Amazon, Facebook and Google testified about antitrust issues in front of a House Judiciary subcommittee on Wednesday. It was the highest-profile showdown to date in the increasingly fraught relationship between Washington and Silicon Valley, which could culminate in efforts to break up one, or more, of the companies. Dan was joined by subcommittee chair Rep. David Cicilline (D-R.I.) after the hearing ended to discuss what the committee learned, why he wanted the four CEOs to testify together, and which companies he thinks should be broken up. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Live music venues were among the first businesses to close during the pandemic and will be among the last to reopen. In the meantime, many are facing financial ruin. Dan is joined by Sen. Amy Klobuchar, who is co-sponsoring a new bailout bill with Sen. John Cornyn aimed at helping independent venues. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The White House and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell this afternoon rolled out their proposal for the next federal stimulus. They have major disagreements with the Democrats who they'll need to get it passed — and it’s possible that no issue will be more contentious than unemployment benefits. The extra $600 per week payments allocated by the CARES Act are due to expire on Friday. Dan digs into the negotiations ahead with Wall Street Journal Congress reporter Andy Duehren. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices