Axios Re:Cap

This year, both Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin plan to fly passengers on suborbital space trips. Dan and Axios space reporter Miriam Kramer discuss how tourism could change the space industry.

PLUS: Allegations of Chinese espionage at a U.S. pension fund and a big day for CEO swaps.

Despite the momentum he’s been building since 2015, the Democratic Party appears to be caught off guard by Bernie’s wins in New Hampshire and Nevada. Dan and Axios politics and White House editor Margaret Talev dig into the Democratic Party dynamics following Bernie’s caucus wins.

PLUS: A big play for your financial data and what tech means for the future of democracy.

The Boy Scouts of America filed for bankruptcy this week in the face of hundreds of lawsuits from men who allege that they were abused during their time in the scouts. Pro Rata producer Naomi Shavin and Axios reporter Courtenay Brown discuss how the bankruptcy filing will impact the creation of a compensation trust for victims and more. PLUS: The Fed signals it may cut rates and a new study on crowdfunding for medical bills.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Mike Bloomberg’s campaign is hiring people to regularly post from their personal social-media accounts and send texts in support of Bloomberg to their contacts. Pro Rata producer Naomi Shavin is joined by Axios media reporter Sara Fischer to discuss the campaign’s strategies and how social media platforms are responding.

PLUS: Morgan Stanley buys E*Trade and the Trump administration sides with Oracle.

A Chinese think tank generated a series of reports rating state governors and White House officials on their “friendliness” towards China. Pro Rata producer Naomi Shavin is joined by Axios China reporter Bethany Allen-Ebrahimian, who obtained and analyzed the reports. 

PLUS: The coronavirus vaccine race and optimism in the record label business

After China implemented a ban on importing waste including recyclables, many U.S. cities found themselves without a market for their paper, plastics, and more. Pro Rata producer Naomi Shavin and Axios reporter Erica Pandey discuss technology and economic shifts that could help recycling. 

PLUS: Coronavirus hits Apple and tech alarm bells sound in Nevada

Helsinki, Finland just joined Oslo, Norway in achieving a major road safety goal: zero pedestrian or cyclist deaths for an entire calendar year. Dan and Axios editor Sam Baker discuss the investments, tech, and infrastructure changes it would take for U.S. cities to reduce roadway fatalities. 

PLUS: Coronavirus kills a tech conference and the new owner of America’s second largest local news publisher

In a new report from the Washington Post, national security reporter and author Greg Miller reveals that a major global supplier of encrypted communication technology was owned, for decades, by the CIA and West German intelligence. Dan and Greg trace the history of Crypto AG and how it set the stage of modern surveillance programs.

PLUS: Big Tech under a new microscope and a requiem for the Yang Gang.

Amazon is seeking to depose President Trump and Defense Secretary Mark Esper in the latest escalation of a suit attempting to prove “unmistakable bias” in the Pentagon’s decision to award a $10 billion contract to Microsoft over Amazon Web Services. Dan discusses the case with NPR business correspondent Alina Selyukh.  

PLUS: Mobile’s megamerger gets court approval and AOC gets a challenger.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is considering ways to limit access to YouTube, which has become a crucial platform for his critics and go-to source for news and entertainment for Russians under 30. Axios World Editor Dave Lawler joins Dan to talk about how Putin has limited media and internet access and what he may do next.

PLUS: A new move to break up Big Tech and Netflix meets the Oscars.