The Takeaway

What Happens to Health Care Workers Who Speak Out?

In the U.S., some hospitals are disciplining health care workers who speak publicly about their concerns.

The Mayor of Savannah Opposes Georgia Governor's Aggressive Reopening Plan

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp has announced a slew of businesses will be able to reopen as soon as Friday. Mayor Van Johnson believes that is far too soon.

Environmental Justice in the Age of COVID-19

For years, black people in the U.S. have been dealing with environmental justice issues. 

Joking from a Distance: Samantha Bee and 'Full Frontal' Writer Kristen Bartlett on Making a Late Night Show from Home

The Takeaway speaks with Samantha Bee and Kristen Bartlett about how they're putting together a new show every week.

San Francisco Mayor London Breed Discusses the City's Response to COVID-19

We spoke with the mayor of San Francisco, London Breed, about the tough choices ahead.

Former Climate Skeptic on How Disinformation on COVID-19 Was Paved by Years of Climate Denial

Decades of undermining science related to pollution and climate change has paved the way for the denial of COVID-19.

Immigration Ban: How Trump is Using COVID-19 to Further Restrict Entry into the U.S.

The latest ban on green card holders is just the latest move to restrict migration by the Trump administration.

"The Quietest Earth Day That I Have Had in Fifty Years": Earth Day Turns Fifty at a Strange Time

Earth Day began as an environmental teach-in half a century ago in 1970. Every year since, it has adapted according to what's happening in the world.

Ten Years After Deepwater Explosion, the U.S. Isn't Equipped to Handle Another Disaster of its Magnitude

On April 20th, 2010, a drilling rig exploded off the coast of Louisiana and spilled millions of gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico. 

Montana Judge Revokes Permit on Controversial Keystone XL Pipeline

A judge in Montana has canceled a key permit for the controversial Keystone XL pipeline that’s expected to stretch from Canada to Nebraska.

The Paycheck Protection Program is Failing to Help Many Small Businesses

The program ran out of the money last Thursday and stopped taking loan applications from small business owners.

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot Addresses Racial Disparities in her City's COVID-19 Outbreak

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot joins The Takeaway to discuss racial disparities in her city's coronavirus cases and how her government is responding.

How the Spread of COVID-19 Could Impacted the Treatment of Other Global Diseases

As the treatment of COVID-19 takes precedent throughout the world, some experts worry that other global health initiatives will fall to the wayside. 

The Pandemic is a Mass Traumatic Event

The coronavirus pandemic could leave millions of people with post-traumatic stress disorder, from first responders on the ground to those forced to quarantine at home.

Does Biden's Climate Plan Go Far Enough To Win Over Progressives?

Biden’s climate platform was consistently ranked lower by environmental groups compared to progressive candidates. Environmentalsts are now asking Biden to shift left on climate.

In the Midst of a Global Pandemic, Tornado Outbreaks Devastate the South

Storms continue to strike the south leaving destruction in their wake.  How will they fare while also dealing with a pandemic?

Writer Jason Reynolds on Engaging Kids Through Literature from Home

As parents and guardians across the country know, it’s not always easy to keep kids engaged through online and distance learning. But writer Jason Reynolds wants to help.

It's hard to know how the coronavirus pandemic will permanently alter the fabric of society. So far, 22 million Americans have filed for unemployment over the last month of social distancing. This week, Politics with Amy Walter looks at the impact the economic downturn caused by COVID-19 will have on a generation that was just starting to find their footing. 

Hannes Schwandt, Assistant Professor at Northwestern University School of Education and Social Policy, shares how cohorts unlucky enough to join the workforce during a recession see a loss in lifetime earnings in addition to other less desirable life outcomes. 

Amanda Mull, a staff writer at The Atlantic, describes how disasters like pandemics alter the worldview of those transitioning into adulthood. The economic fallout from the Great Recession made it difficult for millennials to start stable careers causing them to protest the institutions and policies that contributed to their struggle. The current economic downturn has the potential to do the same for Generation C. 

Judah Lewis was finishing the second semester of his senior year at Howard University when COVID-19 caused the school to close and classes to move online. The path to his last semester was not an easy one and now he feels like the rug has been pulled out from underneath him. Lewis talks to us about how the pandemic has jeopardized his post-graduation prospects and his job with Teach for America. 

Heather Long, an economics reporter at The Washington Post, shares an update on who is left out when it comes to the $1,200 government stimulus checks meant to soften the blow from the economic downturn.

As part of our continuing look at how mayors across the country are tackling this pandemic, Mayor Linda Gorton of Lexington, Kentucky describes the measures she's taken to fight COVID-19.

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

The Past, Present, and Future of the U.S. Postal Service

What could become of the USPS during this pandemic if they're not bailed out?

Frustrations Mount as Cuomo and De Blasio Publicly Disagree Over NYC School Closures

On Sunday, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced his city's school system would remain closed for the rest of the academic year, reopening a feud with Governor Andrew Cuomo.

Tara Reade's Sexual Assault Allegations Against Joe Biden Explained

Tara Reade, a former Senate aide, has accused Joe Biden of sexually assaulting her in 1993.

Outdated Software Complicates Efforts to Keep State Unemployment Systems Running

A new investigation from The Verge found that more than a dozen state unemployment websites run on a decades-old software.

Why Puzzles Are So Popular During the Pandemic

Like toilet paper, canned goods, and hand sanitizer, jigsaw puzzles have been flying off the shelves in recent weeks. 

False-negatives from COVID-19 Tests are Not Just About Testing Accuracy

False-negatives can be caused by a host of factors, including the best practices for administering them. 

State Policies May Give People with Disabilities Lower Priority for COVID-19 Care

A new investigation from the Center for Public Integrity shows that people with disabilities may not be able to access ventilators amid the pandemic.

2020 WNBA Virtual Draft: Everything You Need to Know

This Friday, ESPN will host the WNBA draft on its main channel for the first time. 

Showrunner Dahvi Waller Explores a Counterrevolution in 'Mrs. America'

The new FX show 'Mrs. America' tells the story of conservative activist Phyllis Schlafly, who worked to halt the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment in the 1970s.

Farmers Scramble to Stay Profitable Amid Disruptions to the Food Industry

Many farms around the country are still producing plenty of food but with restaurants closed or scaled back, farmers are figuring out how to sell their product to stay afloat.

Farmworkers Keeping America Fed During COVID-19 are Worried About Their Health

Farmworkers are put in a precarious position by COVID-19. Workers around the country are worried about their own health and safety, as they continue to harvest the food we eat.

How Coronavirus Has Hit Local News

The news industry has been struggling to stay afloat for years. But local news has been hit particularly hard by COVID-19.

Is Social Media the Future of Epidemiology?

News and social media are changing the way we learn about and track the spread of infectious diseases.

When Home Isn't Safe: Shelter-In-Place for Victims of Domestic Violence and Child Abuse 

We’re staying home to keep ourselves and each other safe. But what if home isn’t safe at all?

What Does Recovery from COVID-19 Mean?

As thousands of people around the world continue to get sick from COVID-19, many are also recovering.

FDA Relaxes Blood Donation Restrictions for Men Who Have Sex With Men Amid COVID-19

The FDA has reduced the amount of time men have to wait to donate blood after having sex with another man. 

Joking from a Distance: Aparna Nancherla on Finding Humor in our Collective Anxiety

Joking about living with anxiety has been central to Aparna Nancherla’s material for years now, making her brand of humor particularly well suited to this current moment.

The scale of the COVID-19 pandemic is unprecedented but history is often a helpful guide. Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary of Health and Human Services for the Obama administration, and Andy Card, Secretary of the Department of Transportation for President George H.W. Bush and White House Chief of Staff for President George W. Bush, describe what it's like to govern during a crisis. Plus, former Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta and Executive Director of the Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense Dr. Asha George chronicle the political challenges to preparedness.

A handful of rural states are without statewide stay-at-home orders and Arkansas is one of them. Marco McClendon is the Mayor of West Memphis, Arkansas, a town located just across the Mississippi River from downtown Memphis, Tennessee. Mayor McClendon shares the measures he's implementing in his town to contain COVID-19.

This week, Senator Bernie Sanders ended his bid for the Democratic nomination. Ruby Cramer has been covering the Sanders campaign for BuzzFeed News. She shares what his legacy might look like and which factors contributed to his shift from frontrunner to dropout. 

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