The Takeaway

Miami Mayor Francis Suarez on his Approach to Flattening the Curve

We speak to Miami, Florida's Mayor Francis Suarez about his plans to stop the spread of the virus.

How Are Educators Rethinking U.S. History Education?

The recent uprisings for racial justice have shed light on how the teaching of U.S. history has been lacking in the past and how we can fix it.

Trump Administration Makes Sweeping Changes to International Media Outlets

Voice of America, and other government-funded international media outlets, have been in a state of chaos since controversial Trump pick took over last month.

Summer in the Age of COVID-19

How are you spending your summer?

Growing Ad Boycotts Are Pressuring Facebook to Stop Misinformation and Hate Speech

Over 100 companies have pledged to pull their ads from Facebook, causing Facebook's stock to fall. 

Puerto Rico's Domestic Violence Epidemic is Only Getting Worse

As millions around the world face increased rates of domestic abuse amid the COVID-19 pandemic, in Puerto Rico, the pandemic of violence against women goes back for years.

Artist Shaun Leonardo Wants to Expand the Conversation on Police Brutality Through His Work

In March, the Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland canceled an exhibition by artist Shaun Leonardo that depicted incidents of police violence. Now, Leonardo is speaking out.

Is Contact Tracing Working in the U.S.?

With more and more states continuing to reopen their economies, contact tracing is expected to play a critical role in slowing the spread of COVID-19.

Arizona and COVID-19: A Doctor on the Front Lines

As COVID-19 cases in Arizona explode, we hear from a doctor in Phoenix.

The Pandemic Has led to Fewer Parents Vaccinating Their Kids for Preventable Diseases

There is a decline in vaccine administration due to COVID-19, which could lead to an outbreak of preventable diseases. 

"Unacceptable": Rep. Deb Haaland on the Federal Response to COVID-19 in Tribal Communities

Representative Haaland, one of the first two Native American congresswomen, talks to The Takeaway about COVID-19 in Indigenous communities in New Mexico.

Comedian Ramy Youssef on Hollywood's Response to the Racial Justice Movement

Comedian Ramy Youssef discusses racism within the non-Black Arab community, the entertainment industry's response to the uprisings for racial justice, and more. 

In Texas, A New Surge of COVID-19 Cases

Texas was hurrying to get back to normal. Then, new confirmed cases of COVID-19 exploded.

Plano, Texas Mayor on Recent Uptick in COVID-19 Cases

How will local Texas leaders address and respond to the increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases?

Judge Sets July 17th Deadline for ICE to Release Migrant Children from Detention

On Friday, a U.S. district court judge in California ordered ICE to release migrant children who have been detained by the agency for longer than 20 days by July 17th.

Following the Killing of George Floyd, Public Murals On Display in Communities Across the U.S.

These public artworks are more than just tributes to the Black lives lost. They’re part of a deeper history of public displays of Black mourning in the United States.

The uncertainty caused by COVID-19 has resulted in a record number of people requesting to vote-by-mail. While increased access to mail ballots will stem the spread of the disease, waiting for ballots to arrive will delay the final result.

Kentucky and New York are among the states that hosted primaries this week. In both states, several candidates of color, many who ran on progressive platforms, had strong performances. While officials wait for absentee ballots to arrive so they can provide a final tally, the delayed outcome has raised questions about future elections. Amy Gardner, National Political Reporter at The Washington Post and Astead Herndon, National Political Reporter at The New York Times, share how Tuesday's elections bode for November.

The general election will likely come down to a handful of swing states. In Pennsylvania, where a primary was held on June 2, the process of counting votes lasted until days after. Montgomery County Commissioner Ken Lawrence weighs in on the looming pressure regarding the upcoming presidential contest.

Plus, Democratic Congressman Conor Lamb flipped his seat from red to blue in a special election in 2018. A pro-second amendment, pro-fracking moderate, Lamb was cautious to weigh in on President Trump in a district he'd won in 2016. Congressman Lamb describes how his campaign has shifted its messaging for 2020.

The ongoing protests against police brutality have prompted a national reexamination about the role of the police. In Philadelphia, Larry Krasner was elected as District Attorney in 2017. He ran as a reform candidate and promised to reduce the number of people in jail by overhauling the sentencing process and the bail system, in addition to holding officers accountable for misconduct. He weighs in on the culture of policing and police unions as we move towards a national tipping point.

As protesters continue to demand justice for George Floyd and accountability for police brutality, public symbols of white supremacy have become a target. Confederate statues have long held the ire of those who’ve said they elevate those who fought (and lost) to keep slavery alive. As the demands to remove public reverence to confederate generals become more widespread, historians are requesting that schools modify textbooks that romanticize what confederates were fighting for. James W. Loewen, historian, sociologist, and author of "Lies My Teacher Told Me," and Keisha N. Blain, Associate Professor of History at the University of Pittsburgh, join Politics to discuss.

Check out our ongoing coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic here. 

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Who Does the Acronym "BIPOC" Actually Serve?

How do major movements like the one we are seeing now change the language we use and how we talk about our identities?

Georgia Passes States First Hate Crimes Bill

On Tuesday, Georgia lawmakers passed the state’s first hate-crimes legislation.

How American Families Are Facing the Brunt of Deportations

Julia Preston profiled three separate families, whose loved ones were deported from the United States.

Will COVID-19 Worsen the Housing Crisis?

Evictions and foreclosures are looming large across the U.S., as state and federal protections for renters and homeowners are quickly expiring. 

All Eyes on Kentucky's Primary Election

A look at Kentucky's primary election: high voter turnout and expanded vote-by-mail.

Official New York Primary Results Are Absent as Absentee Ballots Wait to be Counted

New York saw an unprecedented number of absentee ballots mailed in for Tuesday's primary, but counting these ballots won't begin until next week. 

How a Lengthy Delay in COVID-19 Stimulus Funding Impacted Tribal Governments

Months after the CARES Act was signed into law, some of the money has still not been distributed to tribal government hoping to soften the financial damage from COVID-19.

Police Killing of Andres Guardado Highlights State Brutality on Latino Community

Latino and Black people are shot by police at a disproportionate rate.

WNBA Star Renee Montgomery Skipping the Season to Fight for Social Justice

We sit down the WNBA’s Renee Montgomery who is sitting out this season to focus on social justice.

Interest in Gardening Blooms Amid the Coronavirus Pandemic

The Takeaway talks to Ron Finley, a community activist and self-proclaimed “Gangster Gardener,” about making gardening more accessible to communities of color. 

What the Supreme Court's Decision Means for DACA Recipients

Last Thursday, the Supreme Court ruled against the Trump administration’s attempt to end Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, also known as DACA. 

How Bill Barr's Messy Ouster of Geoffrey Berman Fits into His Tenure as Attorney General

Over the weekend, Attorney General Bill Barr ousted Geoffrey Berman, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, in a messy back and forth that played out publicly.

Do Major Sports Leagues Really Support the Racial Justice Uprising?

The NFL, MLB, NBA, WNBA, and even NASCAR have all made statements in support of Black Lives Matter. But whether leagues are planning to back up those words with action is another matter.

Abdul Ali: How Therapy Helped Me Understand My Complicated Relationship with My Father

Writer Abdul Ali shares how therapy has helped him work through his relationship with his dad.

In the weeks since George Floyd was killed by police officers in Minneapolis, we’ve been watching uprisings take place against police brutality. What many Americans have finally woken up to is what Black Americans have known for years: That it’s impossible to separate police brutality from the racism that is baked into the structure of every American institution. Institutions, like schools, healthcare, housing, and policing have failed to give Black Americans a level playing field. 

99 years ago, Tulsa, Oklahoma was the site of one of the deadliest and most destructive race massacres in U.S. history. On that day, violent white people took it upon themselves to murder Black Americans and loot their businesses. Black homes, churches, restaurants, drugstores, and doctors offices were razed. In the end, Black Wall Street, one of the most prosperous Black communities, was destroyed. 

At a time when Americans are grappling with the role white supremacy played in shaping modern society, President Donald Trump chose to hold a rally in Tulsa during the weekend of Juneteenth. We take look at how the holiday resonates differently this year. 

Guests: 

Karlos K. Hill, Chair of the African and African American studies department at the University of Oklahoma

RJ Young, Host of the RJ Young Show. Excerpts from his audio diary were provided to us by KOSU. RJ's story is part of the America Amplified initiative. 

How Progressive District Attorneys Are Approaching Criminal Justice Reform

It’s been almost a month since George Floyd was brutally killed by police officers in Minneapolis. Protester's demands for police accountability have not waned, forcing officials to address the role of racism in policing and policy. As calls to defund the police grow louder, mayors, police chiefs, and local law enforcement step into the spotlight. At the same time, officials that attempt to reprimand officers for misconduct must face the wrath of powerful police unions. We speak with Kimberly Gardner, the Chief Prosecutor for the City of St. Louis, who was elected on the promise of reform on what it's like to go toe-to-toe with the police. 

Guest:

Kimberly Gardner, Chief Prosecutor for the city of St. Louis

How the Economy Fails Black Americans

Not only has the coronavirus pandemic disproportionately hurt Black Americans who've been infected at a higher rate, but the economic uncertainty it's created has set them back in terms of employment. Black Americans are concentrated in parts of the economy that have been designated as essential, like grocery store workers and transit operators. Still, Black unemployment almost tripled from February to May to almost 17 percent.

Today, Black households have one-tenth of the wealth compared to white families and are much less likely to own their homes. Historically, recovering from recessions is tougher for Black people. We sit down for a conversation about the unemployment rate for Black Americans and what an economic recovery might look like.

Guest:

Amara Omeokwe, Economics Reporter at The Wall Street Journal