The Takeaway

Congresswoman Lee on Afghanistan

On September 14, 2001, Congresswoman Barbara Lee was the lone voice and vote against rushing to war in Afghanistan.

Your Questions Answered About the Delta Variant, School Re-openings and Child Hospitalizations

Covid-19 infection rates are reaching pre-vaccine levels in the US, with ​​more than 900,000 new cases reported last week.

School Nurses Are in Short Supply During the Pandemic

According to one study from the National Association of School Nurses, 25 percent of schools nationwide did not have a school nurse.

The Delta Variant is Taking a Toll on Our Mental Health

How do we deal with burnout when we're hitting yet another pandemic wall?

For transcripts, see individual segment pages.

Afghanistan: What Happens Now?

Late last week the Taliban swept across the country of Afghanistan capturing major cities before taking over the capital of Kabul on Sunday after President Ashraf Ghani left the country. This action comes more than two weeks before U.S. Troops are due to leave the country. This sent thousands fleeing to the airport and the borders in an attempt to escape Taliban rule. After two decades, what if anything was accomplished by this war and will the interpreters, guides and others that helped the U.S. get themselves and their families out to safety.

Edwidge Danticat on the Devastation in Haiti 

Over the weekend a 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti, leveling buildings in the western region of the country and killing around 1300 people. Hundreds are still missing and heavy rains from tropical depression Grace make relief efforts more complicated.

COVID-19 Has Spurred A Caregiving Crisis

The number of older and disabled Americans that require long-term home-based assistance is growing exponentially and the cost for many families can be overwhelming. This is creating what some are calling a caregiving crisis.

For transcripts, see individual segment pages.

In the Wake of Haiti's Quake

On Saturday, August 14, a powerful earthquake struck the island nation Haiti. Registering a strength of 7.2, this quake is even larger than the 2010 quake which killed nearly a quarter million Haitians. 

New Census Numbers will affect redistricting

According to the latest census data that was released on Thursday, the U.S is diversifying and the white population is shrinking. We discuss whether demographics equate to one’s destiny and how the new numbers can affect political representation in the months and years to come.

The Victory Fund's Push to Increase LGBTQ+ Political Power

As redistricting gets underway, the LGBT Victory Fund—a national organization dedicated to electing LGBTQ+ people to office—is pushing to keep LGBTQ+ neighborhoods united as maps are redrawn, thereby strengthening their collective voting power. 

Why Indigenous Viewers and Critics Are Celebrating "Reservation Dogs"

Last week, a new dramedy called “Reservation Dogs” premiered on FX. Set on Indian Territory in northeastern Oklahoma, the show is part of a renaissance among Indigenous creatives in Hollywood.

For transcripts, see individual segment pages.

Does Bipartisanship Still Work?

A conversation on the history of bipartisan legislation, changes in ideology, and whether true bipartisanship is actually dead.

Fights Over Voting Rights and Mask Mandates Heat Up in Texas

This week, Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan signed arrest warrants for 52 Democrats who have refused to return to the state Capitol during the two special sessions called this summer.

What the July Jobs Report Tells Us About Economic Recovery

Last week, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released its July jobs report, which showed a .5 percent drop in the unemployment rate to 5.4 percent.

For transcripts, see individual segment pages.

Why Was the Sexual Harassment Investigation Cuomo's Tipping Point?

A few months back, Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s administration was accused of deliberately hiding the full scope of nursing home deaths in New York during the pandemic.

Governor Whitman on New York's Incoming Governor

Governor Andrew Cuomo’s resignation on Tuesday means Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul will serve as the next Governor of New York. She will become the first woman in the state’s history to serve in that position.

Illinois Leads the Country in Banning Interrogators Lying to Minors

In July, Illinois became the first state to ban police from lying and using deception tactics in interrogations with minors. Illinois Senate Bill 2122, was signed by Governor of Illinois J.B Pritzker, and will go into effect in January 2022. Advocates for the bill say that people under 18 years old are two to three times more likely to falsely confess to a crime than adults. 

 For transcripts, see individual segment pages.

Andrew Cuomo is Stepping Down, But the System That Supported Him Remains

On Tuesday, in a move that came as a surprise to many observers of New York politics, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced his resignation. Cuomo’s decision to step down comes in the wake of Attorney General Letitia James’s report detailing allegations made by 11 women who say that Cuomo sexually harassed them and created a toxic work environment.

Will Restaurant Employees Go Back to Work?

2020 was a devastating year for the restaurant industry and its employees as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. More than 110,000 places closed their doors either temporarily or permanently, and food industry sales fell 240 billion dollars.

Farmers Markets Build Community Across the U.S.

They’re places where you can not only buy locally-grown fruits and vegetables but also connect with your wider community. 

For transcripts, see individual segment pages.

The Plight of Afghan Interpreters

The race is on to get Afghan interpreters, guides, and contractors, as well as their families out of the country.

A Look at Feminist Foreign Policy in Afghanistan

As the Taliban takes over more territory in Afghanistan, Afghan women's rights organizations are calling on foreign governments to take a feminist approach to foreign policy.

How Actor Winston Duke Brought All of Himself to "Nine Days"

Actor Winston Duke has had standout roles in major movies including “Black Panther” and “Us,” but this summer he’s starring in a much more intimate film called “Nine Days.”

For transcripts, see individual segment pages.

The Weight of Student Loan Debt Amid the Pandemic

The $1.7 trillion that tens of millions of people in the U.S. hold is an increasingly heavy financial burden on many Americans and places a disproportionate weight on Black Americans.

Gender Gap in Higher Education Has Grown Since Onset of the Pandemic

The pandemic has exacerbated a years-long gender gap in college enrollment. This gap is particularly pervasive for Native, Black and Latino men.

Connecticut Becomes First State to Make Prison Calls Free

The state joins several jurisdictions across the U.S. that have taken steps to make prison and jail phone calls free, including New York City and Los Angeles.

For transcripts, see individual segment pages.

What the Cuomo Sexual Harassment Report Means for Democrats Nationwide

This week, the New York attorney general released a report detailing allegations that Governor Andrew Cuomo sexually harassed 11 women and created a culture of “fear and retaliation.” 

Politics, Power, and Abuse

In 2019, Professor Vanessa Tyson publicly accused Virginia Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax of sexual assault.

The Ohio Special Election and the Future of the Democratic Party

On Tuesday, Shontel Brown, the chairwoman of the Cuyahoga County Democratic Party, won the special election primary in Ohio’s 11th Congressional District.

For transcripts, see individual segment pages.

Alabama Union Coal Mine Workers Enter Fifth Month of Strike

More than 1,000 union miners from Warrior Met Coal in Brookwood, Alabama, are striking for higher pay and increased benefits.

An Inside Look at Anti-Union Meetings

New reporting from "The American Prospect" tells the inside story of anti-union action in a plant-based meat company known as No Evil Foods.

Should Police Unions Be Busted or Saved?

There's a rift in the labor movement about how to effectively pursue police reform.

Responses to DaBaby's Homophobic Remarks Show Push and Pull of Progress in Hip Hop

For queer, Black fans of hip hop, offensive comments like the ones made by DaBaby are upsetting. But the rise of openly queer stars like Lil Nas X also shows how far the genre has come.

For transcripts, see individual segment pages.