The Takeaway
The Takeaway is produced in partnership with its national audience. It delivers perspective and analysis to help us better understand the day’s news. Be a part of the American conversation on-air and online.
Airs on:
MON-THU 12pm-1pm
Subscribe
36 min
How Inadequate Prison Care Adds to the U.S. Opioid Epidemic
Very few state prisons offer adequate treatment for inmates who are addicted to opioids. We report on how a failure to treat those who are struggling with drug addiction in prisons is contributing to the nation’s opioid epidemic. Last spring, New Jersey opened a prison that’s dedicated to treating inmates who are struggling with drug addiction. We speak with the Acting Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Corrections, Marcus O. Hicks, about the state’s new strategy for handling incarceration and addiction; we explore the future of Greece’s economy as the country makes its official departure today from a long bailout process following its debt crisis; and we consider what’s working and what’s not in recycling programs across the country.
50 min
Politics with Amy Walter: So You Want to Run for Office? Bring Cash.
Today on Politics with Amy Walter, we follow the money in the 2018 midterm elections. Where is it all coming from? And what is it doing to our democracy? The big money is spent on competitive races - and those costs get up into the tens of millions. This hour we hear from political strategists and the people behind the money being spent on both sides of the aisle. Plus, a look at how the Citizens United decision became a turning point in American politics, and whether the money can ever really be taken out of politics for good.
38 min
Hundreds of School Closures, Decreased Enrollment and a Brand New Charter School in Puerto Rico
Back in February, Puerto Rico’s governor announced plans to introduce a new charter school and voucher system to the island. And on Monday, Puerto Rico’s first charter school will open its doors. But it’s a controversial move, as an education reporter based in San Juan explains; “Queen of Soul,” Aretha Franklin, died in her home in Detroit today. She was 76. We take a look back at the entertainer’s career and consider her legacy; we speak with two screenwriters behind the new movie, “Crazy Rich Asians.” It’s the first major studio release in 25 years to feature an entirely Asian cast; we report on the growing number of Indian nationals who are being arrested and detained after crossing the U.S.-Mexico border; and a note on the freedom of press.
35 min
Hundreds of 'Predator Priests' and Decades of Sexual Abuse Covered Up in Catholic Church, Report Reveals
Pennsylvania’s Attorney General released a grand jury report on Tuesday documenting decades of child sexual abuse by over three hundred Catholic priests in the state. We discuss the findings of the report and hear from Bishop Lawrence Persico of the Diocese of Erie, Pennsylvania; a conversation with Christine Hallquist, who won the Democratic gubernatorial primary in Vermont on Tuesday. She’s the first openly transgender nominee for governor for a major political party; on Tuesday, Nebraska held its first execution in more than 20 years. Convicted murderer Carey Dean Moore was put to death by a lethal injection that included, for the first time, the synthetic opioid, fentanyl; Puerto Rican musician, Ileana Cabra better known as iLe discusses her new song that’s out today, and also touches on the political situation in Puerto Rico, almost a year after Hurricane Maria.
38 min
Election Security: How Vulnerable are Voting Machines to Hacking?
With the midterms right around the corner, The Takeaway has an in-depth look at the state of election security. A former government intelligence analyst weighs in on the vulnerabilities and potential threats to our nation’s voting systems. During the 2016 elections, Colorado was one of multiple states targeted in a Russian interference campaign. Colorado Secretary of State, Wayne Williams, discusses efforts since then, to protect the state’s voting systems. Government forces in Afghanistan have been fiercely battling against Taliban insurgents after the extremists launched a major assault on the city of Ghazni on Friday. The Takeaway explores the resurgence of the Taliban. Almost seventeen years after the US-led invasion of Afghanistan, the Taliban is still very much at large. Up next, The Takeaway discusses U.S. strategy in Afghanistan and efforts to resolve the ongoing conflict. In Southern California, over 1400 firefighters have been battling California’s Holy Fire. The Takeaway has more details about the fire and the state of emergency in Orange and Riverside counties, in California. Last week, a group of leading international climate scientists released a new report about our warming planet. The Takeaway speaks with one of the authors about the latest research.
35 min
At Least 40 Children Dead in Yemen after Saudi-led Airstrike
Last week a school bus carrying children in northern Yemen was struck by a Saudi-led coalition airstrike. More than 40 children are believed to have been killed and dozens injured. We discuss the attack and the latest details about the conflict in Yemen, with a reporter in the nation’s capital; a recent report by Forbes alleges that U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross stole million of dollars from former employees and associates; the group behind the deadly Charlottesville “Unite the Right” rally one year ago, held another rally in Washington, DC yesterday. We discuss how things were handled, with Democratic Congressman Don Beyer who represents Virginia’s 8th District; we explore how so-called “flop accounts” on Instagram have become a venue for young people to talk about news and politics in a non traditional way; and a look at some of the major factors that launch people of color into poverty and homelessness.
47 min
Why Don't More Americans Vote?
On this week that marks the 53rd anniversary of the signing of the Voting Rights Act, The Takeaway looks at what it was meant to do, the state of voting rights across the country, and why so many Americans who are eligible to vote are still kept from doing so. We also hear from a political scientist who has the numbers and the research pointing to reasons so many millions of Americans willingly steer clear of the polls on election day. Later in the hour, we hear from someone who lost their right to vote after a felony conviction and a DACA recipient living in New York City who cannot vote, but she's hoping people will pledge to do so on her behalf.
34 min
Where We Are One Year After Charlottesville
This weekend marks the first anniversary of the deadly “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. We discuss the strength of hate groups and extremist organizations, with the director of the Southern Poverty Law Center’s Intelligence Project. Earlier this week, voters in St. Louis, Missouri ousted a longtime county prosecutor who had been criticized for his investigation into the police shooting of black teenager Michael Brown in Ferguson, four years ago today. Latino actor, Jay Hernandez will play the lead role in the reboot of the hit TV series, “Magnum P.I.” But, as with many recent reboots, it's unclear how much the show will incorporate the actor’s cultural identity into the production.