POLITICO Tech

The POLITICO Tech podcast is your daily download on the disruption that technology is bringing to politics and policy. From AI and the metaverse to disinformation and microchips, we explore how today’s technology is shaping our world — and driving the policy decisions, global rivalries and industries that will matter tomorrow.

Tech News
Politics
Daily News
401
The FDA's food failure
A POLITICO investigation based on more than 50 interviews finds the FDA is failing to meet American consumers' expectations on food safety and nutrition. POLITICO's Helena Bottemiller Evich reports on the agency's structural flaws and the risks posed to Americans.
12 min
402
The untold story of Afghanistan's female elite ...
Trained by the U.S. Army, a group of trailblazing Afghan women became a formidable military force during the war in Afghanistan. They now live scattered around the U.S., stuck in immigration limbo. Amanda Ripley reports.
14 min
403
Tribes left behind by America's weed laws
Federal protections for state and territorial cannabis markets don't apply to Native American tribes. Natalie Fertig reports.
13 min
404
5 key takeaways from U.N. climate report
On Monday, the U.N. offered a familiarly stark report card on the world’s progress on cutting emissions from the IPCC, which has been monitoring climate change since 1988. Despite the panel's regular reports about the consequences of burning fossil fuels, between 1990 and 2019 global emissions rose 54 percent and they are still rising. POLITICO's Karl Mathiesen reports.
13 min
405
Amazon's telehealth gold rush
Amazon has been pushing into health care for years, starting with wearable health devices and pharmacy services. But the nationwide expansion of its “Amazon Care” service is its biggest move in the rapidly growing telehealth industry, which could grow to a $20 billion sector over the next five years. Emily Birnbaum reports.
11 min
406
NYC mayor Eric Adams takes on the 'gotcha' press
In a copy of a Zoom recording provided to POLITICO, New York City Mayor Eric Adams instructed administration staff that every single communication from a city agency, down to notices about cherry blossoms in bloom, must be approved by City Hall — warning that anyone violating his “discipline of message” would be fired. Julia Marsh reports.
12 min
407
Biden turned the Russian ruble into rubble. How...
A raft of punishing sanctions sent Russia’s currency crashing after its invasion of Ukraine. A month later, the ruble has staged a dramatic recovery — putting pressure on the Biden administration and allies to deploy even tougher measures. But officials say the ruble's recovery is not necessarily a sign of improvement in the Russian economy or Putin’s position. Kate Davidson reports.
13 min
408
Why haven't more hospitals used N95s?
POLITICO reporter Rachael Levy broke the story that some hospitals have been asking patients to remove their N95 masks — even though they offer better protection. Rachael’s reporting changed a national policy in a matter of days — but the question remains why policymakers in the US are behind on mask guidance. Rachael Levy reports.
12 min
409
How a lawsuit spurred Florida GOP to pass ‘Don’...
Florida’s fight over contentious LGBTQ legislation — the "Parental Rights in Education Bill," dubbed the “Don’t Say Gay” bill by opponents — had its genesis nearly two years ago, not in the halls of the state Legislature but in a September conversation between a Tallahassee mother and her 13-year-old teen. Gary Fineout reports.
12 min
410
Biden's wealth tax on the uber rich
On Monday, President Joe Biden released his administration’s new budget proposal. It includes increases in domestic investments and a big boost in military funding. To pay for it, Biden proposed increasing taxes on corporations and the rich — including a new minimum tax on Americans with incomes of $100 million or more. Brian Faler reports.
10 min
411
How to prepare for cyberattacks
The Biden administration has issued ominous warnings about looming Russian cyberattacks. The energy and finance industries are of particular focus, but one of the President's top cyber aides said last week that "We should consider every sector vulnerable." Maggie Miller reports.
12 min
412
How Russia will impact the future of trade
Days after a 424-8 vote to revoke normal trade relations with Russia, the bill's path through the Senate is complicated. Senate Republicans are demanding the legislation be paired with a separate House-passed measure banning Russian oil imports, and Rand Paul has voiced opposition to expanding the Magnitsky Act. Gavin Bade reports.
12 min
413
Chip lobby gets warm welcome, but no money
A microchip lobbying blitz is happening on Capitol Hill today, and D.C. has pledged to pour billions of dollars into coaxing chip manufacturers back to the U.S. The problem? The money's held up in Congress. Brendan Bordelon reports.
13 min
414
Hackers come for your health data
Nearly 50 million people in the U.S. had their sensitive health data breached in 2021, a threefold increase in three years, according to a POLITICO analysis of the latest HHS data. Ben Leonard reports.
10 min
415
The global food crisis will only get worse
Russia and Ukraine combined provide about 30 percent of the world’s supply of wheat and Ukraine alone provides about 15 percent of the world's corn. Russia's invasion into Ukraine is setting off a global food crisis that might be unprecedented. Meredith Lee reports.
11 min
416
Will Biden (really) cancel student debt?
Ahead of the midterms, Democrats fret that Biden’s inaction on student debt could burn him with younger voters. Michael Stratford reports.
12 min
417
The state battle to criminalize trans care
The furor surrounding transgender youth has been playing out in Texas, but it's not the only state proposing criminalizing gender-affirming care despite opposition from medical experts. Republican lawmakers and conservative groups are increasingly using transition-related medical care as a wedge issue heading into the midterms. Juan Perez reports.
11 min
418
The Covid funding blame game
The White House asked for $22.5 billion for covid response funds. Last week, Congress put together a bipartisan $15 billion plan. But so far, exactly zero dollars have actually been agreed upon. And even as the administration warns it may need to cancel new orders of Covid-19 drugs as soon as next week and wind down access to testing soon after that, there appears to be no clear strategy from either the White House or Capitol Hill to secure the funds. Adam Cancryn reports.
12 min
419
How Liz Cheney wins re-election
Liz Cheney faces a primary with Trump-endorsed candidate Harriet Hageman. Wyoming political strategists say the only viable path to victory for Liz Cheney is with the help of Democrats and Independents who register as Republicans to vote in the primary. Tara Palmeri reports.
11 min
420
A firefighter shortage
The Forest Service has long struggled with staffing shortages, but the challenges have intensified amid a hyper-competitive labor market and cost-of-living concerns. Ximena Bustillo reports.
12 min
421
Biden's strategy: help Ukraine without provokin...
Over the weekend, Russia intensified its airstrikes on western Ukraine, hitting targets just miles from the Polish border. Pentagon and NATO officials reiterated on Sunday that they do not intend to directly confront Russian forces within Ukraine. But they are sending military supplies, and Russia has warned that it regards those convoys as legitimate targets. Alex Ward reports.
13 min
422
Russia sanctions put crypto under the spotlight
As more banks and payment systems cut off service to Russians, digital asset firms are navigating the same reputational minefields as traditional financial institutions. Sam Sutton reports.
12 min
423
One vax patient's rare journey
An adverse allergic reaction to a covid vaccine is rare, but just how rare remains to be seen. On Wednesday, the National Institutes of Health announced a new study to try to understand the number of people experiencing moderate allergic reaction to mRNA vaccines, and why. Joanne Kenen — who had an allergic reaction to her first Pfizer dose — reports.
12 min
424
China’s Russia problem
The Chinese government has made clear it will remain a strategic ally of Russia despite its invasion of Ukraine. But the West wants China's help in cutting off Russia. Phelim Kine reports.
13 min
425
Will Biden ban oil from Russia?
The White House is considering a ban on Russian oil imports — even as U.S. gas prices soar and Biden takes hits on inflation. Meanwhile, CERAWeek, the nation's most important oil and gas industry conference, convenes in Houston. Ben Lefebvre reports.
11 min