Welcome to Axis ProRata, a podcast that takes just 10 minutes to get you smarter on the collision of tech business and politics.

I'm Dan Pramak. On today's show, a huge shakeup in the aerospace sector and a big reminder on trade deficits.

But first, bailing on cash bail. So hopefully you've never been arrested for a crime, let alone been convicted of one,

but if you have or know someone else who has, you're probably familiar with the cash bail system,

which is basically an incentive to make sure you show up for court after being arrested. You pay a

certain amount of money, and then you get it back after fulfilling all of your court obligations,

whether or not you're found guilty. It has been this way for a very long time in America, but now there's a growing

movement to end it, arguing that cash bail discriminates against the poor. How? Well, okay, let's

imagine you can't afford the cash bail. You've got three options. The first, just wait in jail

until your court hearing, which could be months away, and in the meantime, you've got three options. The first, just wait in jail until your court hearing, which could be months away.

And in the meantime, you've got no income, no ability to take care of your family and things like that.

Second, you could use a bail bondsman, many of whom charge big fees for basically what amounts to loans,

often 15% of the total bond.

And just to show how unsavory this business is, the U.S. is one of just

two nations, two that have legal bail bond industries, the other being the Philippines.

Third, your last option, just plead guilty. And yes, there are plenty of examples of folks

who plead guilty because they couldn't afford bond and options one or two were less

appealing.

Not surprisingly, some prosecutors and legislators are pushing to change this system.

And one is Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner, who appeared on the latest episode of Axios on HBO.

The cash bail system keeps broke people in jail because they're broke and that's a problem. People should be in jail because

they are a menace to society because they are not going to show up for court. The bottom line here

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