The Takeaway

Faith Communities Find Creative Ways to Congregate Amid Pandemic

Places of worship are transitioning to creative ways of holding services that protect their congregations from the spread of the coronavirus.

What COVID-19 Means for VA Clinics in the U.S.

For years, the Department of Veterans Affairs has had to deal with crisis after crisis. As COVID-19 spreads across the country, the VA is once again finding itself in hot water. 

Joking from a Distance: Maria Bamford on Workshopping New Material Online

As part of a series of check-ins with different comedians, The Takeaway speaks with stand-up comic Maria Bamford about workshopping her material in a moment of social distancing.

The Big Challenges Latin America Faces with Coronavirus

In Latin America, the reported number of cases has remained low, and not all governments are taking precautions. Some leaders don’t seem to be taking the risks very seriously, either. 

How Coronavirus is Affecting the Primaries

As the coronavirus pandemic continues, so does the campaign for President of the United States. But it looks different than just a few weeks ago.

Online Games Like Animal Crossing are Giving People Ways to Still Gather and Socialize

Video games like Nintendo's, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, are giving people opportunities to hang out in virtual spaces when they can't in real life. 

Bonus:

What PG&E's Involuntary Manslaughter Guilty Plea Means for the Company's Future

On Monday, California utility company Pacific Gas and Electric announced that they’ll plead guilty to 84 counts of involuntary manslaughter for their role in the 2018 Camp Fire.

How Effectively is the Media Covering Trump's Handling of COVID-19?

Most television and radio news outlets are airing President Trump's coronavirus press briefings, despite the president's tendency to put out misleading information.

Immigration Advocates Call on ICE to Release Detainees

Immigration advocates and attorneys have called on ICE to release migrants and asylum seekers who are at risk of contracting COVID-19. 

Nurses Call for More Protective Gear, Training in the U.S. 

In some parts of the country, nurses are already struggling to secure the equipment and training they need to safely care for their patients. 

Takeaway Host Tanzina Vega on Motherhood and Social Isolation

Host Tanzina Vega gives us an update from her home in Queens, New York, where she is on maternity leave.

Across the Globe, Health Care Workers Are On the Front Lines of Pandemic

In the U.S., health care workers are sounding the alarm on severe equipment shortages in the country.

COVID-19: Are Rural Hospitals Prepared for the Pandemic?

For years, rural healthcare facilities have struggled to stay afloat.

How COVID-19 is Putting More Strain on Homeless Shelters

The rapid acceleration of coronavirus is stressing an already overcrowded shelter system. 

How Sex Workers Are Impacted by COVID-19

A look at how sex workers are impacted by COVID-19.

This week, a look at the way coronavirus is reshaping our worldview.

Louisiana was the first state to postpone their primary contest as a result of the ongoing public health pandemic. Several states have since followed its lead. Louisiana's Secretary of State R. Kyle Ardoin joins Politics to explain the reasoning behind the decision to move their primary.

The global economy has slowed considerably as communities attempt to contain the spread of coronavirus. Economist and Howard University professor Andria Smythe describes the tools that policymakers are using to soften the economic blow. 

Wendy Parmet, professor of law and the director of Northeastern University's Center for Health Policy and Law in Boston, discusses the power that state and local governments have to deal with a public health crisis. 

During times of crisis, people look to the President. A strong show of leadership has the power to calm nerves and reassure audiences that everything will be okay. Professor Barbara Perry is the Presidential Studies Director at the University of Virginia’s Miller Center. Professor Perry weighs in on what the role of the president has been historically and what lessons can be applied to the ongoing pandemic. 

Check out our ongoing coverage of the coronavirus pandemic here. 

Amazon's Sales Are Up But Their Workers Don't Feel Safe

Americans are hunkering down to slow the spread of the coronavirus. As people spend more time at home trying to avoid contact, they’re also shopping online more.

In Africa, Number of Reported Coronavirus Cases is On the Rise

On Wednesday, the World Health Organization said Africa should “prepare for the worst” as the disease continues to spread across the region.

Keep Calm and Stream On

Let’s talk about entertainment in the age of COVID-19.

Puerto Rico's Response to the Coronavirus Pandemic

Governor Wanda Vazquez has issued stricter guidelines to citizens on the island than we have seen anywhere on the mainland U.S., with a curfew from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.

How Much Will Workers Benefit from a Congressional Stimulus Package?

From paid sick leave to $1,000 checks, The Takeaway looks at what potential stimulus packages from Congress could mean for workers across the country.

DOJ Drops Charges Against Russian Firms Implicated in 2016 Election Interference

You might have missed what the Department of Justice did this week: they dropped charges against two Russian firms accused of funding efforts to interfere in the 2016 election.

U.S. Soccer President Resigns Following Equal Pay Backlash

The U.S. women's soccer team filed a gender discrimination lawsuit, and the Soccer Federation's response has left them in hot water.  

The Takeaway Answers Your Coronavirus Questions

The Takeaway gave your questions to two people who have been following this pandemic closely. 

Keep Calm and Shop On

People across the nation may be noticing empty shelves in supermarkets, but experts say don't panic, there's enough food for all.

The Best Artists Who Won't Get Their Big Breaks at This Year's SXSW

Austin’s South by Southwest festival is one of many cultural events that was called off this year due to COVID-19, meaning that a number of artists won't get to break out this year.

Primaries Still Held in Three States Today Despite Coronavirus Concerns

Arizona, Illinois, and Florida held primary elections today as the nation shuts down to reduce the spread of the coronavirus.

Can Travel Bans Slow the Spread of the Coronavirus? 

What the Coronavirus Pandemic Means for Our Mental Health

As the U.S. and other countries struggle to contain COVID-19, there’s an epidemic of another sort taking place: mass anxiety.

Local Officials Ease Water Shut-off Rules Amid Coronavirus Pandemic

As the spread of the coronavirus continues across the U.S., leaders in some cities are taking action to make sure all residents have access to running water.

NASA is Accepting Applications for New Astronauts: Extensive Travel Required 

NASA is taking applications for astronauts for the first time in four years. These new astronauts are likely to be part of future expeditions to the Moon and Mars.

Bonus:

How is the Coronavirus Impacting the 2020 Census?

To find out how the coronavirus could impact the census count, The Takeaway speaks wither with census expert Terri Ann Lowenthal.

Coronavirus has caused the cancellation of major sporting events, religious services, and other mass gatherings. It's even forced presidential contenders to rethink the way they campaign as people begin self-isolating. This week, Politics with Amy Walter takes a look at how the pandemic is reverberating across politics.

Michigan will have an outsized role come November. This is why Biden's performance in the swing state mattered a great deal during Tuesday's primary where he won every county in the state. Maya King of Politico, Ruby Cramer of BuzzFeed News, and Democratic strategist Joel Payne join us to discuss the primary results and what it means for the future of Bernie Sanders' campaign. 

Mayor Michael Taylor of Sterling Heights in Macomb County Michigan has voted for Republicans his whole life, but that changed ahead of his state's primary. Although Macomb County supported President Obama twice, it flipped for Trump in 2016. The county has traditionally been a bellwether in elections: whoever wins this blue-collar county wins the state. Mayor Taylor shares why he can no longer support Trump.

In the midst of election season, Jessica Huseman of ProPublica's Electionland project analyzes what about the election process has changed since 2016 and how that will affect turnout.  

Plus, Reid Wilson, national correspondent at The Hill and author of "Epidemic: Ebola and the Global Scramble to Prevent the Next Killer Outbreak," joins Politics to discuss the Trump administration's response to the coronavirus pandemic. 

Check out our ongoing coverage of the coronavirus outbreak here.