The Takeaway

Departure of Dan Coats Signals New Direction for Intelligence Agencies Heading into 2020

Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats will be stepping down next month, after a tenure that saw him clash with President Trump over Russian election meddling.

Police Departments are Struggling to Help Officers With Their Mental Health, But It's Not Always Welcome

Police departments around the country are trying to break the culture of silence around mental health struggles.

Other segments: 

FEMA Reinstates Restrictions to Puerto Rico's Access to Federal Aid 

FEMA Press Secretary Lizzie Litzow said the decision was made because of Puerto Rico's leadership changes and history of financial irregularities and mismanagement.

Tinder Now Issues Alerts to LGBTQ Users Entering Countries Where Same-Sex Relationships are Criminalized

Tinder has warned LGBTQ users to exercise caution when connecting to people in these countries as law enforcement has been known to use the app for entrapment. 

Muslim Politicians Hold First National Gathering As Islamophobia Continues To Rise

The number of Muslim candidates has risen significantly since President Trump was elected in 2016.

What does the Guatemalan "Safe Third Country" Agreement Mean? Immigration Policy Changes, Explained

An update on recent immigration and asylum policy changes.

Woman Set to Replace Rosselló Doesn't Want the Job 

Puerto Rico's Secretary of Justice is next in line to run the government, but she faces legal and ethical dilemmas of her own.

Why Law Enforcement Loves Amazon's Doorbell Camera, Ring 

New reports have come out that show how local police departments are collaborating with Ring and Ring users, which is worrying privacy advocates. 

Other segments: 

As Indigenous Protections Erode Under Bolsonaro, Brazilian Miners Murder Tribal Leader 

Last week, a group of Brazilian miners invaded indigenous land and fatally stabbed a leader of the Waiãpi tribe. 

The End of "Orange Is the New Black"

Netflix released the show's seventh and final season on July 26.

Much of the coverage of Special Counsel Robert Mueller's congressional testimony this week focused on optics, with pundits on both sides framing the hearings as either beneficial or damaging to a particular political narrative.

But where the hearings may have lacked in made-for-TV soundbites, Mueller's comments reiterated the fact that the United States remains under attack from a foreign adversary, one that seeks to undermine our faith in the foundational principles of democracy.

We hear from cybersecurity experts about how this problem goes far deeper than just election meddling, and what needs to be done to address the continuing threat.

Plus, we take a look at the growing amount of student debt owed in the US, which passed a staggering $1.5 trillion in 2018. With more and more students struggling to pay for a college education, what are political leaders, and 2020 Democratic presidential candidates, doing to address this crisis?

Guests:

Suzanne Spaulding, former Under Secretary for cyber and infrastructure protection at the US Department of Homeland Security.

Lisa Kaplan, founder of the Alethea Group.

M.H. Miller, editor at The New York Times, and author of a forthcoming book about his experience with student debt.

Danielle Douglas-Gabriel, a reporter covering the economics of education for The Washington Post.

'The People Have Spoken': Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rosselló Resigns

The historic protests on the island have shaken the political establishment on the island.

More Than 3 Million People Could Lose Food Stamps Under New USDA Rules

A proposal by the Trump administration could leave millions facing hunger.

Tarantino's Treatment of Women in “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” and Beyond

Director Quentin Tarantino is out with a new movie that raises familiar questions about his treatment of women and female characters.

Other segments: 

California Prepares for the Worst of Fire Season

PG&E, Northern California's biggest utility, is under a microscope after being held responsible for some of the most devastating fires over the last two years. 

You can find all of our coverage of the Mueller report here.

Database Shows that Drug Companies Distributed 76 Billion Opioid Pills in 7 Years

As a result, major drug companies will face the first of many lawsuits in October.

New US Budget Deal Avoids Massive Cuts at the Cost of Trillion-Dollar Deficits

Congress has just a few days to pass the budget and avoid a looming fiscal crisis.

U.S. Government Hospitals Put Native Americans at Particular Risk for Opioid Use

The Department of Health and Human Services released a scathing report on the Indian Health Service and its role in the opioid epidemic.

USDA Indefinitely Suspends Report on Bee Population

The survey collected data that helped beekeepers, farmers, and scientists better understand the declining bee population. 

Should 2020 Democrats Appeal to Moderates or Progressives?

Some members of the House have been calling for Democratic candidates to appeal to the center, and for outspoken progressive lawmakers to tone down their rhetoric. 

The State of Election Security on the Eve of Mueller's Testimony 

The redacted Mueller Report warned that Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election was the beginning.

Puerto Rican Musician iLe Demands Resignation of Gov. Rosselló, Co-Writing Protest Song

A new song by Residente, iLe and Bad Bunny has been deemed the "anthem" of this moment in Puerto Rican history.

Other segments: 

Tensions Continue to Grow Between the West and Iran 

The British and the U.S. have announced plans to increase their military presence in the Strait of Hormuz after months of escalating incidents.

How Puerto Rico's Colonial Roots is Influencing the Political Unrest

Today is the 10th day of demonstrations in Puerto Rico calling for the resignation of Governor Ricardo Rosselló.

How Puerto Rican Student Activists Envision the Future of the Island

With the increased political turmoil in Puerto Rico, we wanted to hear how politically active students on the island are processing this political crisis. 

Are Deepfakes the Next Fake News?

Deepfakes, or video and audio that's manipulated using artificial intelligence, raises concerns about the spread of disinformation, especially heading into the 2020 election. 

Trees are an Immediate, Cost-Effective Solution to Battling Rising Temperatures

Global temperature is rising and heat waves are getting worse. One straightforward way to make things better: plant trees. 

Other segments:

Mumbai's Annual Monsoon Problem

The city's aging infrastructure and rapid development means Mumbai residents face constant disruptions because of flooding during the rainy season. 

As Floodwaters Recede in South Asia, Concern Grows Over Rest of Monsoon Season 

Extreme weather tied to climate change has made this year's monsoon more unpredictable. 

After a bruising political week in which President Trump's feud with "The Squad" reached a fever pitch, Amy Walter reflects on how both Republicans and Democrats could be alienating crucial voters ahead of the 2020 elections.

Plus, we look at the yawning generation gap, as voters from different eras compete for political relevance.

With the U.S. electorate divided along generational lines, there are transformational demographic trends already having clear impacts on the way 2020 presidential candidates are trying to appeal to voters. But while the Baby Boomer bloc is increasingly eclipsed by the combined numbers of Generation X, Millennials, and Generation Z, so far it's an open question whether or not the influence of younger voters will have the final say in determining the results of the Democratic primary, or the general election.

This week, we look at the different generations active in U.S. politics, and try to figure out the forces at play in deciding the country's future.

Guests:

Dave Weigel, national political reporter for The Washington Post

Paul Taylor, author of The Next America: Boomers, Millennials, and the Looming Generational Showdown

Clare Malone, senior political writer at FiveThirtyEight

Manuel Pastor, professor of sociology and American Studies & Ethnicity at the University of Southern California

The Political Crisis Continues in Puerto Rico 

Pressure is continuing to mount on Puerto Rico’s governor, Ricardo Rosselló, following a scandal over the weekend in which nearly 900 pages of his private chat messages were leaked.

Two Voices from the Puerto Rican Diaspora Talk About the Crisis on the Island

As protests break out on the island, we hear from Puerto Ricans on the mainland.

How Trump Is Reshaping the Courts

It’s two and a half years into his presidency, and President Trump has dramatically reshaped the nation’s courts.

The Familial and Cultural Resonance of Cookbooks

The internet has made looking up recipes easier than ever, yet the growing sales of physical cookbooks show we still prefer holding something tangible.

European Commission Elects Ursula Von Der Leyen as First Female President

Ursula von der Leyen, former German defense minister, will play a key role in the US-EU relations, on issues like trade, G-20 meetings, climate change, and the Iran deal.

Black Lives Matter: The State of Activism Five Years After Eric Garner's Death

On the fifth anniversary of Garner's death by chokehold, a roundtable discussion on how the Black Lives Matter movement has evolved.

The Inequity of Sex Offender Registries 

The recent revelation's about Jeffrey Epstein's sex crimes demonstrates many of the problems within sex offender registries. 

What 007 and Ariel Tell Us About Hollywood 

Two recent casting choices give black women leading roles in iconic movie franchises. 

Sudan Protests Continue Amid Ongoing Talks Between Military Council and Civilian Opposition

On Wednesday, an agreement was reached to establish a council while the country waits for elections.