Axios Re:Cap

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 near-term plans, future ambitions and lines of business. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 court cases and bankruptcy law at large. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 the fall of General Electric. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Plus, Margaret lays out what Axios will be watching for from tonight’s election results. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices