Axios Re:Cap

Affirm, a “buy now pay later” company led by PayPal co-founder and former CEO Max Levchin, went public today at a valuation of nearly $15 billion – and then saw its share price more than double. Dan goes deeper with Levchin to discuss the IPO, the future of fintech and the role of payments processors.

Social media platform Parler is currently offline after being booted from Amazon's cloud hosting service. The move came just days after Parler was also removed from the Apple and Android app stores for allegedly violating terms of service related to violent threats on its platform. Dan digs into what happened at Parler, including the latest news that much of its content and metadata were scraped and publicly posted, with New York Times cybersecurity reporter Nicole Perlroth.

Bitcoin exchange and digital wallet company Bakkt announced plans to go public via a SPAC, in a marriage of two of Wall Street's hottest trends. Dan speaks with new Bakkt CEO Gavin Michael to discuss the company, the deal and if this move will codify cryptocurrencies as part of mainstream American finance.

As the pandemic strengthens, America's labor market weakens, based on the latest monthly jobs report that showed a loss of 140,000 nonfarm payrolls. Dan discusses the numbers, what they really mean and where things could go next with Axios business reporters Courtenay Brown and Felix Salmon.

Much of what happened yesterday on Capitol Hill was not only predictable, but explicitly planned on Internet message boards where the MAGA movement gets the most darkly conspiratorial. Dan digs into what led to yesterday's insurrection and what comes next with NBC News' Ben Collins, who covers online disinformation, and Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights attorney Arusha Gordon, who is leading a lawsuit against the Proud Boys.

America's vaccination rollout is going much slower than expected, with only around 5 million vaccinations to date. Meanwhile, COVID-19 is causing record hospitalizations and deaths, with much of the country's economic and educational engine stuck in neutral. Dan digs into what's gone wrong and what happens next with STAT News senior reporter Helen Branswell.

Congress on Wednesday will be asked to certify state electors, thus setting the stage for Joe Biden's inauguration as the country's 46th president on Jan. 20. But, like so many things in the Trump era, it won't be business as usual, as large groups of House and Senate Republicans say they will object to electors from at least four states. Dan discusses the process and the precedent with Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), the ranking Democrat on the Senate Rules Committee who will lead her party's response to objections on the Senate floor. Plus, Atlanta Journal-Constitution political reporter Greg Bluestein joins to discuss Georgia's senate runoff elections.

President Trump and his allies have continued to baselessly rail against Dominion Voting Systems, whose machines will be used tomorrow in the Georgia runoff elections that will determine which party controls the U.S. Senate. Axios Re:Cap speaks with Dominion founder and CEO John Poulos about the controversies, the death threats and the "imminent" lawsuit his company plans to file.

In August, Dan dug into middle class myths and realities with Jim Tankersley, a New York Times economics reporter and author of the book "The Riches of This Land." In many ways, it’s the story of why so many in the middle class were already on the edge before the pandemic began.

2020 was the year special purpose acquisition companies — SPACS — went mainstream. We revisit the rise of SPACs via Dan’s July conversation with Wall Street titan Bill Ackman, who was ahead of his time in 2012 when he used a SPAC to bring Burger King public.

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.

COVID-19 vaccinations have begun in the U.S., with a New York City nurse on Monday becoming the first recipient outside of clinical trial participants. But some Americans remain skeptical, in part due to perceived political influence. Dan discusses the process, politics and science of COVID-19 vaccinations with Margaret Hamburg, who led the FDA between 2009 and 2015. Plus, Axios Codebook author Zach Dorfman joins to discuss the cybersecurity hack that has impacted both the U.S. Treasury and Commerce departments.

America is in the grips of the worst COVID-19 outbreak since the pandemic began, in terms of infections, hospitalizations and deaths. That means testing is now more important than ever before, and will continue to be a key public health tool even after vaccinations begin. Dan digs into the past, present and future of COVID-19 testing with Adam Schechter, CEO of LabCorp., one of the country's two largest testing companies.

Airbnb began trading today on the Nasdaq at a valuation north of $100 billion, which is more than Marriott, Hilton and Expedia combined. Dan digs into the year's largest IPO and how Airbnb has navigated a perilous year for travel and hospitality with company co-founder and CEO Brian Chesky.

Facebook on Wednesday was hit with landmark antitrust lawsuits, with the FTC and 48 states suing to force the company to spin off its Instagram and WhatsApp units. Dan goes deeper in a special pop-up episode, with Axios tech reporters Ashley Gold and Scott Rosenberg.

The market for mental wellness products is booming, as the pandemic has gotten on just about everyone's last nerve. Dan digs in with Michael Acton Smith, co-founder and co-CEO of meditation app Calm, about how mental wellness differs from mental health, the B2B of mental wellness and those election night ads on CNN.

For over a year, Axios has been investigating a suspected Chinese intelligence operative who cultivated extensive ties with local and national U.S. politicians, including a sitting congressman. Today, we present a special episode: the story of the alleged intelligence operation, which offers a rare glimpse into the lengths Beijing will go to access U.S. political circles. Guests: Axios' Bethany Allen-Ebrahimian, Axios Codebook author Zach Dorfman of the Aspen Institute, former Cupertino, CA mayor Gilbert Wong, former CIA intelligence official Rodney Faraon and Alameda County chief-of-staff Shawn Wilson. Credits: This story was edited by Alison Snyder, Scott Rosenberg and Sara Goo. This special podcast episode was produced by Dan Bobkoff and Carol Wu and mixed by Alex Sugiura. Special thanks to Mike Allen, Qian Gao and Naomi Shavin. Go deeper: Exclusive: Suspected Chinese spy targeted California politicians

Nearly nine months since the CARES Act became law, ensuring that an economic recession didn't become a depression, Congress is finally close to a successor bill. Dan digs into the negotiations, and what took so long, with Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.), co-chair of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus, which has taken the lead in crafting new legislation.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is reviewing two emergency use authorization requests for COVID-19 vaccines, with an outside advisory committee scheduled to meet next Thursday to review data from Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech. Dan digs in with former FDA commissioner Rob Califf, who talks about the EUA process, the science and who should make the final call. Plus, Axios media reporter Sara Fischer joins to discuss the future of theatrical releases.

America yesterday lost 2,762 people to COVID-19, per the CDC, bringing the total pandemic toll in the U.S. to 272,525. That's more than the population of Des Moines, Iowa. Or Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Or Toledo, Ohio. Dan speaks with Alex Goldstein, creator of the @FacesofCOVID Twitter account, about telling the stories behind the statistics.

General Motors this week slammed the brakes on a deal with electric truck company Nikola, but it doesn’t matter much for GM’s longer-term electric ambitions. Dan discusses the company’s investments in charging infrastructure, battery technology and new models with Ken Morris, GM’s VP for autonomous and electric vehicles.

The Nasdaq today said it will ask federal securities regulators to approve new rules that would require its listed companies to regularly report on the demographic diversity of their boards, and also comply with board diversity requirements. Dan goes deeper with Jeff Thomas, Nasdaq's senior VP of corporate services, to learn why Nasdaq is enacting this policy, the internal discussions that led to it and what happens to companies that don't comply.

The future of U.S. politics, and all that flows from it, is in the hands of Georgia voters when they cast their votes in two Senate runoffs on Jan. 5. Dan digs into the election dynamics with former Georgia Gov. Roy Barnes, a Democrat who served from 1999 to 2003.

Amazon may get more media buzz, but there is simply no retailer, or grocer, in America that does more business than does Walmart. And that gives John Furner, its head of U.S. operations, one of the best views into Black Friday and Thanksgiving grocery shopping. Dan talks to Furner about what he's seeing from his unique perch, and what pandemic-driven changes he expects will outlast the virus.

Butterball estimates that it sells one out of every three Thanksgiving turkeys, but knows that this year's celebrations will be a lot different than in years past. Dan talks with the turkey giant's CEO Jay Jandrain about what people are buying, what they're asking the "Turkey Talkline" and what the pandemic has meant for his business.

AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford today reported promising efficacy data for their COVID-19 vaccine, which has less stringent storage requirements than the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines and which may be distributed earlier in developing countries. Dan digs into the state of vaccine and therapeutics manufacturing with Bob Nelsen, a successful biotech investor who today launched Resilience, a giant new pharma production platform that he believes will prepare America for its next major health challenges. Plus, Axios health care editor Sam Baker joins to discuss AstraZeneca’s interim analysis.

U.S. air travel is down 65%, but lots of people are expected to fly this week, in defiance of CDC guidelines. Axios Re:Cap digs into the future of air travel, America’s largest plane maker and concerns over what this week could mean. Our guests are Axios reporters Joann Muller, Courtenay Brown and Erica Pandey.

We're eight days away from Black Friday, but this year it might be about a lot more than bargains or doorbuster stampedes. Instead, it could help determine if certain retailers will survive past 2020, or at least if they hold on to physical stores. Dan talks with Fortune senior reporter Phil Wahba about which retailers have the most to gain or lose next week and the broader future of retail.

President-elect Biden this week endorsed a proposal to immediately forgive up to $10,000 in student debt, with some experts arguing that he could do so via executive action. Dan speaks with Mike Pierce, policy director for the Student Borrower Protection Center, about Biden's plan, why it matters and what comes next.

Airbnb filed for its IPO yesterday, and showed some glimmers of hope for a travel and hospitality industry that has been hit particularly hard by the pandemic. Dan speaks with Skift co-founder and CEO Rafat Ali about what he learned from Airbnb's IPO prospectus, lessons for hoteliers and what will be left once COVID-19 is contained.

Moderna Therapeutics today reported a 94.5% efficacy for its COVID-19 vaccine, which needn't be stored at the same ultra-cold temperatures as does a similar vaccine developed by Pfizer. It also said short-term safety concerns, such as headaches and injection site soreness, self-resolved within days, and that it could have 20 million doses available by year-end. Dan speaks with Moderna chief medical officer Tal Zaks about the new data, distribution, politics, and how it was preparing for this moment even before COVID-19 was discovered.

We’re sharing the second episode of the Hard Truths podcast series. We are a moment in American history where there is a reckoning and awareness about the way things have been done. The widespread protests this summer have injected further urgency - and change. That’s true when it comes to community policing. But it’s also now affecting police who work in nearly half of America’s public schools. Guests: Jackie Byers, executive director of the Black Organizing Project, and Clarence Cox, former chief of Clayton County Public Schools Police Department. 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]. Go deeper:

America's election infrastructure survived and thrived last week, despite pandemic complexities and President Trump's unfounded claims of widespread fraud. Yes, including software and machines made by Dominion Voting Systems. Dan checks in on the state of U.S. election technology with Michael Hanmer, research director for the University of Maryland's Center for Democracy and Civic Engagement.

Parler has become the social network refuge for Trump supporters who believe that legacy platforms like Facebook and Twitter have become too restrictive, helping it shoot to the very top of the app store charts. Dan digs into Parler's popularity, process and controversies with Parler chief policy officer Amy Peikoff.

Gig economy companies like Lyft and Uber got a huge win in California, when voters approved a measure that will let them continue to classify many of their workers as independent contractors instead of as employees. Dan digs into the ballot measure and what comes next, both in California and nationally, with Lyft co-founder and president John Zimmer.

Pfizer on Monday announced that its COVID-19 vaccine has proven effective in preventing infection in over 90% of Phase 3 clinical trial patients, and added that it could have 50 million doses available by year-end. Dan talks to Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla about data, distribution, politics, and how he reacted upon receiving the news.

This is an Axios Election 2020 special. President-elect Joe Biden will enter office with some of the biggest challenges any American leader has ever faced. Axios’s Margaret Talev, Mike Allen, and Jim VandeHei join us break down what he’s up against.

This is Axios Special Election 2020 coverage. Joe Biden wins the presidential election, AP projects. We talk to Axios reporters Hans Nichols and Jonathan Swan to find out what’s next for both Joe Biden and Donald Trump.

Arizona remains one of the presidential election's most unsettled states, with Joe Biden clinging to a slight lead. Dan unpacks what happened in Arizona, including why Biden underperformed Democratic Senate candidate Mark Kelly and the supposed "Sharpiegate," with local reporter Hank Stephenson and University of Arizona professor Kate Kenski.

This is Axios Special Election 2020 coverage. Georgia and North Carolina were both seen as states in play this election cycle, but not many predicted they’d be among the last states to be called. We find out what’s happening on the ground and when a projected winner may be declared with Atlanta Journal Constitution reporter Greg Bluestein and Director of Research for Duke’s Polis Center for Politics Deondra Rose.

This is Axios Special Election 2020 coverage. Wisconsin has been called for Joe Biden, but the Trump campaign has already asked for a recount. We dig into what happens next with WisconsinWatch reporter Nora Eckert, who says that the "irregularities" alleged by the Trump campaign is a misunderstanding of how the state's process works.