Axios Re:Cap

Legal Seafoods is one of dozens of companies around the country arguing that COVID-19 has interrupted cash flow to businesses and should be covered by business interruption insurance. Dan is joined by Legal Seafoods CEO Roger Berkowitz to discuss the steps he’s taking to keep his restaurant afloat and how he plans to eventually reopen. 

PLUS: The supreme court takes up robocalls and the next big question for small business bailouts

A federal judge dismissed the central claim of unequal pay in the lawsuit filed by the U.S. women’s national soccer team against the U.S. Soccer Federation. But the players, including Megan Rapinoe and Alex Morgan, have vowed to appeal. Dan is joined by Axios sports editor Kendall Baker to dig into this lawsuit and the ramifications of this ruling. 

PLUS: WeWork’s former CEO files suit and COVID death counts become partisan

Hurricane season starts June 1, and according to reporting from Axios national political reporter Jonathan Swan, FEMA is drafting guidance for how to respond to natural disasters and related emergencies in the midst of coronavirus. Dan is joined by Jonathan Swan to discuss what America could face this hurricane season. 

PLUS: Amazon’s big loss and the first of what could become a wave of retail bankruptcies

The coffers of the PPP program have been replenished with $310 billion, $60 billion which has been allocated to small lenders and community banks, but problems with the program persist. Axios’ markets editor Dion Rabouin and Dan debate whether the program works as intended, where more guidance is needed, and whether this round of funding will help businesses that need the money most. 

PLUS: Zoom’s newest headache and a Philadelphia icon heads to Silicon Valley

Meat processing plants, which were slow to institute effective protective measures for employees, have started to close amid mass cases of worker illness. Then yesterday President Trump signed an executive order that would reopen them. Dan is joined by Washington Post business of food reporter Laura Reiley to examine the state of our meat supply chain. 

PLUS: Jay-Z vs. artificial intelligence and Belgium asks its citizens for the best sort of solidarity

With states facing their worst financial crisis since the Great Depression, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has suggested that he favors states declaring bankruptcy over additional federal aid. Dan is joined by The Atlantic’s David Frum to discuss why creating a bankruptcy process for states appeals to the Republican party. 

PLUS: Cannabis in the age of coronavirus and smartphone makers feel the pain

States that are starting to reopen parts of their economies are starting from different places. Decisions about whether companies were essential in the first place were made on a state-by-state basis and stores that are closed in one state were open in another. Dan and Axios’ markets reporter Courtenay Brown dig into the questions of who is essential and how that’s being determined. 

PLUS: Who is excluded from part two of the small business loan program and Google searches in the age of COVID-19

This week brought 4.4 million unemployment claims, a drop from recent weeks, but still a dire sign for the economy and for working Americans. Dan and New York Times tax and economics reporter Jim Tankersley dig into the latest numbers, the funding small businesses still need to protect jobs and hire back employees, and the layoffs that may still be ahead as this crisis drags out. 

PLUS: A big battle over abandoned mergers and robot dogs join the fight against COVID-19

Last week, Instagram founders Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger launched Rt.live, which tracks the infection rate of COVID-19 in each state. Dan is joined by Kevin Systrom, who discusses what Rt.live can tell us as we navigate the crisis and shares his thoughts on how Silicon Valley has stepped up to offer funding, tools and leadership in the pandemic. 

PLUS: The small business loan pool gets refilled and Facebook buys big into India

Oil prices suddenly went negative Monday evening, a sign that oil supply is outpacing demand as travel by planes and cars dramatically decreases — but the historic nature of this price drop also speaks volumes to the volatility that coronavirus is introducing to so many markets. Dan is joined by Axios energy reporter Ben Geman to discuss what this means for the oil industry. 

PLUS: Facebook blocks COVID truther protests and the next big problem with health care