Axios Re:Cap

In August, Dan spoke with Brian Stelter, the CNN media critic and author of a book about Fox News called "Hoax." At the time, the dividing line between Fox News and President Trump has become blurred. Since then, the Fox-Trump relationship has frayed, wirth the outgoing President publicly endorsing its smaller rivals.

In October, Dan spoke with Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) about Big Tech censorship, election disinformation, and why he plans to subpoena Jack Dorsey, but not Mark Zuckerberg. We revisit that conversation, as right-wing criticisms of big tech have only gotten louder.

In August, Dan spoke with Renee Montgomery, a point guard for the WNBA’s Atlanta Dream and co-founder of More Than A Vote, a nonpartisan voting rights group. At the time, More Than A Vote was working to encourage voter turnout and convince the owners of NBA arenas and other large venues to offer them for polling locations. Looking back at the election, it worked. 

In October, Dan discussed Biden's economic policies and philosophies with former presidential candidate and then Biden campaign surrogate Pete Buttigieg. We revisit that conversation now that Biden has won and picked Buttigieg to be the next U.S. Secretary of Transportation. 

The NBA tips off off tomorrow night, making it the first major U.S. sports league to play a second season amidst the pandemic. No bubble this time, but also not many in-person fans. Axios Re:Cap talks with Milwaukee Bucks co-owner Marc Lasry on the business of basketball in this environment, plus that massive new deal for two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo.

We’re sharing the third episode of the Hard Truths podcast series.

In this episode, we examine the role of both policy and the private sector in perpetuating segregated housing. We explore the legacy of housing segregation in Chicago, how housing segregation impacts wealth-building, and how it lays the foundation for other forms of segregation. 

Guest: Natalie Moore, author of The South Side and WBEZ Chicago race, class and communities reporter.

Credits: "Axios Today" is produced in partnership with Pushkin Industries. The team includes Niala Boodhoo, Carol Wu, Cara Shillenn, Nuria Marquez Martinez, Dan Bobkoff, Sara Kehaulani Goo, Alex Sugiura and Naomi Shavin. Music is composed by Evan Viola. You can reach us at [email protected].

Pornhub is one of America's most-visited websites, but a recent investigation by The New York Times' Nicholas Kristof found many videos of minors and nonconsensual sexual violence. The blowback was swift, with Visa and Mastercard cutting some ties to Pornhub, which has now removed the vast majority of its content. Dan speaks with Kristof about the aftermath of his piece and what comes next. 

Bitcoin yesterday topped $20,000 for the first time ever, and then just kept climbing. Dan digs into the reasons for Bitcoin's price surge, and what it means for its future as an actual currency, with investor and podcast host Anthony Pompliano.

Aphria and Tilray on Wednesday announced merger plans for what would become the world's largest cannabis company by sales, just weeks after voters in several more U.S. states approved legalization. Dan digs into cannabis consolidation, and the politics that surrounds it, with Aphria CEO Irwin Simon and Tilray CEO Brendan Kennedy.

With vaccine distribution beginning this week, America can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. But that tunnel remains several months long, and that means economic pain and hardship for millions. Dan speaks with Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), who is helping spearhead a bipartisan and bicameral effort to get economic stimulus passed, about the odds of success this week and what's in the plan.