The Takeaway

Georgia's Voter Purges Raise Voter Suppression Concerns

State officials announced they will purge more than 300,000 names from voter rolls.

How Big Business Killed Deadspin

An editorial decision to "stick to sports" turned into mass exodus at Deadspin, leaving the popular site with no staff remaining.  

'Harriet' Attempts to Capture the Life of an American Icon

'Harriet' is the first Hollywood feature film to center around the life of Harriet Tubman. But the casting of British actress Cynthia Erivo as Tubman has generated controversy.

How California's Housing Crisis is Worsening Wildfire Damage

Developers are building cheaper housing on land prone to wildfire damage.

A Temporary Ban to Trump's Health Care Requirements for Immigrants

A judge issued a temporary ban on a Trump administration immigration policy, which would have required immigrants to prove they have health insurance, or the ability to afford it.

The rocketing cost of prescription drug prices makes the burdensome healthcare landscape more difficult to navigate for the millions of Americans that rely on a prescription. One thing that voters, regardless of party, have agreed on is that the cost of prescription drugs in the U.S. is way too high. Americans spend significantly more on prescription drugs when compared to any other country. But, why? Senator Amy Klobuchar joins Politics with Amy Walter to discuss her work in Washington on reducing the cost of prescription drugs.

Sarah Kliff of The New York Times and Yasmeen Abutaleb of The Washington Post join us to discuss why there's been such little movement on this subject, even though there's broad support for reform. Finally, Nick Fandos, a congressional correspondent for The New York Times, joins us to discuss the House's vote to authorize a resolution to establish the next phase of the impeachment inquiry. 

Is There a Rift Between Trump and the Military?

This week, Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman testified before Congress about his concerns that President Trump pressured the Ukrainian president to investigate Joe Biden.

The Movement to Decriminalize Sex Work

The push for decriminalization is gaining national attention, with proposed legislation on the line.

Boeing's CEO Finally Answers to Lawmakers

Lawmakers have been holding hearings for months to get to the bottom of what went wrong.

How Right-Wing Industry Leaders are Re-Shaping the Interior Department 

Industry leaders proposed a plan to commercialize camping grounds and raise the entrance fees.

Understanding the Key Witnesses in the Impeachment Investigation

Testifying in the inquiry can mean taking on big risks and incurring high costs. 

The Bravery of Journalists in Ukraine

Ukraine can be a difficult place for journalists. Journalists Nastya Stanko and Anna Babinets share their experiences covering crime, corruption, and war in the country. 

Panel Decides Some Chimps Won't Be Moved to Sanctuary

Though research on the endangered animals has been banned, a panel of veterinarians decided that some chimpanzees will have to retire in labs.

Honduran Mother Wins Asylum Case. Will her Daughter, Who was Deported, Be Able to Come to the U.S.?

In March, WNYC's Beth Fertig brought us the story of Ana and Susan. We hear news of Ana's asylum win.

Americans are Losing Faith in the Government and Democracy 

Studies show that more Americans are saying they distrust the government and in extreme cases would consider an alternative to democracy.  

Wildfires are Sweeping Through Northern and Southern California

The Kincaid Fire in Sonoma County and the Getty Fire in Los Angeles are causing massive amounts of damage and forcing thousands to evacuate the area.

Representative Katie Hill Resigns Amid Allegations of Sexual Misconduct

Representative Hill was a rising star in the Democratic freshman class, but now she's leaving Congress. What happened?

The Supervillain on HBO's 'Watchmen' Is Racism 

The new HBO series based on the graphic novel is gaining a lot of attention for the way it tackles race issues and politics. 

Millions of Schoolchildren Are Now Under Digital Surveillance 

Companies use AI to track what students are typing in their emails, chats, Google docs, and any other school platforms.

Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, ISIS Leader, Killed in US Military Raid 

On Sunday morning, President Trump declared Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of the Islamic State, dead at a press conference in the White House.

New York Sues Exxon in Historic Climate Change Case

A trial began last week in which Exxon Mobil is accused of misleading investors — and the public — about how climate change regulations would affect its operations.

Disney Unlocks the Vault, but 'Song of the South' Remains Behind Closed Doors

Disney is set to launch a new streaming service, giving audiences access to a range of the studio's films, but one controversial title will remain locked away: "Song of the South."

Chicago Teachers Strike Strike Enters Second Week

About 300,000 Chicago public school children are missing class for the 8th day on Monday, as the teacher’s strike continues. 

What began as a love affair is now a relationship on the rocks. This week on Politics with Amy Walter, a look at the relationship between Democrats and big tech giants like Amazon, Facebook, and Google. 

When it comes to big tech, the conversation has shifted from if they should be regulated to how and by whom. For a long time, these tech giants grew quickly and quietly beyond what many of us could’ve imagined. As a result, incredible wealth and power started to concentrate in Silicon Valley, largely unchecked by Congress.

Tim Wu, the author of The Curse of Bigness and a professor at Columbia University, explains how big tech companies became embedded in the social and economic fabric of our country. Senator Mark Warner is one of a growing number of Democrats who are critical of how much power big tech has amassed, and he shares his ideas on how to rein them in on today's show. Representative Ro Khanna, the Democrat who represents Silicon Valley in Congress, walks us through the adversarial nature of the relationship between Silicon Valley and Washington, D.C.

Plus, Cecilia Kang, a tech reporter at the New York Times, gives an update on the antitrust investigations going on. Finally, journalist and author Charles Duhigg explains the spectacular growth of Amazon, from its early days as an online retailer to the tech giant it is today. 

The Republican Response to the Impeachment Inquiry

We hear from a Republican strategist on the ongoing impeachment inquiry.

How the Media Covered Hillary Clinton's Emails

The Clinton email scandal has been put to bed with a new State Department report, but the media didn't treat it the way it did the rest of the email story.

Houston Astros Controversy Highlights Problems within the MLB

An Astros assistant general manager yelled profane language at several female reporters in the Astros clubhouse over the weekend.

Other segments:

HUD Officials Admit to Withholding Funding from Puerto Rico

Last week, officials from the Department of Housing and Urban Development admitted that they purposefully delayed sending hurricane relief to Puerto Rico.

Some Parents Are Saying "No" to Homework

Many parents and teachers think homework needs to be reduced, or even eliminated, for elementary school children.

In the U.S., the Number of Uninsured Children is On the Rise

More than one million U.S. children disappeared from the rolls of Medicaid and CHIP between December 2017 and June 2019.

Why Unregulated Gun Sales Flourish Online

Guns and gun parts are sold openly on some of the internet's biggest platforms.

Diversity Initiatives Fall Short in the Workplace

Organizations across the country are increasingly turning to diversity and inclusion initiatives, in an effort to develop a culture of inclusion in the workplace.

The Key Factors for Protests Around the World

At the heart of many of these protests are the increasing level of inequality and distrust, and disgust, with the inner workings of government.

Four Pharmaceutical Companies Avoid Their Day in Federal Court with Settlement 

The deal came hours before what would have been the first federal opioid trial was set to begin. 

Your Halloween Chocolate Most Likely Comes from Child Labor in West Africa

Most of the cocoa cultivated in West Africa uses child labor.

Justin Trudeau Wins a Second Term as Canadian Prime Minister

But his diminished standing in government could have implications for the passage of the USMCA.

Will Impeachment Bring People to the Streets?

If impeachment proceedings go on behind closed doors, will the public support it?