The Takeaway

With Kavanaugh Hearings Underway, Anonymous White House Letter Upends Washington

The Kavanaugh confirmation hearings should have been a win for Trump's embattled presidency, but an op-ed penned by an executive staffer has sent the administration into crisis mode.

With us to discuss this whirlwind of a week is Dana Bash, political correspondent for CNN and Phil Rucker, White House Bureau Chief for The Washington Post.

You can connect with The Takeaway on Twitter, Facebook, or on our show page at TheTakeaway.org.

Why America Doesn't Value Low-Wage Work

If wages are low, can the idea that "no job is better than another job" still be true?

Kavanaugh Invokes Youngstown Steel, Truman Era Ruling That Defines Executive Authority

In Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co. v. Sawyer, the Supreme Court ruled that President Truman had exceeded his executive authority in trying to nationalize the U.S. steel industry.

Surge in Inmate Deaths in Mississippi Raise Red Flags 

Sixteen inmates died in state prisons in Mississippi in the month of August.

Is there a “Textbook Shakedown” on College Campuses?

Besides college tuition, another hefty cost that students need to worry about is the price of textbooks. Is there any relief in sight?

Guests:

Brittany Bronson

William Howell

Michelle Liu 

Andre Perry

You can connect with The Takeaway on Twitter, Facebook, or on our show page at TheTakeaway.org.

Supreme Court Nominee Hearing Before the Senate Continues...And it is Heated

It is day two for Judge Brett Kavanaugh in his Supreme Court confirmation hearing.

Ayanna Pressley on Path to Become the First Black Woman Elected to Congress from Massachusetts 

In Massachusetts 7th Congressional District, there was a big upset as Boston City Councilor Ayanna Pressley defeated 10-term incumbent Congressman Michael Capuano.

Arizona Governor Taps Former Senator Jon Kyl to Take John McCain's Seat

Governor Doug Ducey announced Jon Kyl's appointment at a press conference on Tuesday.

The Four-Day School Week: A Closer Look at the Rising Trend

Since the Great Recession, a number of school districts have cut back the school week from five days to four. A look at this growing trend and its consequences. 

"Bisbee '17" Unearths a Deportation Buried in an Arizona Town's Past

A new documentary, “Bisbee ‘17,” casts current residents of Bisbee, Arizona in reenactments of one of their town's darkest moments, the deportation of over 1,000 striking miners. 

Guests: 

Katie Barlow

Adam Reilly

Bret Jaspers

Kavitha Cardoza 

Robert Greene

You can connect with The Takeaway on Twitter, Facebook, or on our show page at TheTakeaway.org.

Kavanaugh Faces Senate for Supreme Court Confirmation Hearings

The ideological balance of the Supreme Court hangs on one man, waiting to give conservatives the edge.

The U.S. Government Has Denied Passports to Citizens Living on the Border, Placing Their Citizenship in Question

The U.S. government alleges that many people living along the U.S. border have illegitimate and fraudulent birth certificates, placing their legal status in question.

Reuters Journalists in Myanmar Sentenced to Seven Years in Prison

The two Reuters journalists charged with obtaining state secrets in Myanmar were sentenced to seven 7 years in prison by a judge.

Chicago Police Officer Heads to Trial for Shooting Death of Laquan McDonald

Officer Jason Van Dyke is charged with murder for the 2014 shooting death of 17-year-old McDonald. 

The Supreme Court and the Cultural Battle Within America's Public Schools

In a new book, law professor Justin Driver argues that the Supreme Court has failed to protect the constitutional rights of public school students since the 1970s.

Guests: 

David Lat 

Byron Tau

Jennifer Correro

Steven Butler

Jennifer White

Justin Driver

You can connect with The Takeaway on Twitter, Facebook, or on our show page at TheTakeaway.org.

On the week that marked the 53rd anniversary of the signing of the Voting Rights Act, The Takeaway explored what it was meant to do, the state of voting rights across the country, and why so many Americans who are eligible to vote are still kept from doing so. 

You can connect with The Takeaway on Twitter, Facebook, or on our show page at TheTakeaway.org.

As Distrust Grows, Who's Going to Lead? 

An hour-long look on American leadership begins with a look at just how dire the leadership and trust crisis is, and the historical analogies. 

How Grassroots Leadership is Changing America

As trust in national leadership wanes, local leaders are filling the void, says one activist. 

Jelani Cobb on Shifting Leadership Voices

Conversations about race are perhaps more honest than they have been in decades, but how does talk translate to a shift in behavior?

The State of Conservative Leadership

While the party has more power than ever, conservatives still question the leadership of the party, and who's in charge. 

Katie Couric on Americans Distrust in Mainstream Media

One institution that Americans have really lost faith in - the media. But journalism is crucial for our democracy. So how do we fix this?

Guests: 

Jelani Cobb

Ramesh Ponnuru

Eric Liu

Katie Couric

You can connect with The Takeaway on Twitter, Facebook, or on our show page at TheTakeaway.org.

The Troubling Emergency Response Failures After Hurricane Harvey

A year after Hurricane Harvey, a new investigation explores how failures in emergency response systems in Texas and human error led to tragedy.

Defending the Environment May Get You Killed

Environmental defenders are being threatened and killed at increasingly high rates.

Arizona Voting Problems Erode Public Trust 

Thousands of Arizona primary voters were unable to vote when polls opened.

In Good or Bad Times, American Paychecks Don't Grow

Even though the economy appears to be strong and growing stronger by many measures, for workers in “production and nonsupervisory” positions, their paychecks have fallen.

Guests:

Sheri Fink

Heather Iqbal

Jessica Boehm

Heidi Shierholz

Harry Holzer

You can connect with The Takeaway on Twitter, Facebook, or on our show page at TheTakeaway.org.

Inside the Fight to Reunite Families Separated at the U.S. Border

Around 500 children separated from their parents at the border, still haven't been reunited, a month after the deadline for reunification.

California Abolishes Cash Bail as Advocates Voice Concern

California is the first state to completely replace cash bail with a pretrial assessment system — but criminal justice reform advocates were against the final measure. 

Court Rules North Carolina Congressional Maps Unacceptably Gerrymandered Again

This time North Carolina's gerrymandering fight could have far reaching implications for the nation. 

Legal Marijuana: How Women Are on the Path to Dominate the Billion Dollar Industry

Gia Morón left her job on Wall Street to make sure black and brown women have a stake in the growing cannabis industry. She explains.

Guests:

Lee Gelernt 

Senator Bob Hertzberg

Assemblyman Rob Bonta

Jonathan Kappler

Gia Morón

You can connect with The Takeaway on Twitter, Facebook, or on our show page at TheTakeaway.org.

From Indictment to Impeachment: We Answer Your Questions on Trump's Legal Woes

As always, the news out of President Trump's White House is moving fast. So fast that you probably have lots of questions about exactly what’s going on. You asked, we answered. 

Researchers Struggle to Track K2 Overdoses as Chemicals Keep Shifting

K2 or synthetic cannabinoids have proven a whack-a-mole for researchers struggling to prevent overdoses among at-risk populations.

The U.S. and Mexico Strike a Trade Deal...On Some Shaky Legal Territory

On Monday, President Trump announced it had struck a trade deal with Mexico, seeking to ditch NAFTA. But many questions still linger.

UN Report Accuses Myanmar Military of Genocide

The report also recommends that several top officials in the Myanmar military should face trial in the International Criminal Court. 

After Aretha Franklin, a Look at Gospel Music 

The big question: Can the Gospel genre evolve and still maintain a deep connection to religion?

Guests:

Rebecca Ballhaus

Ken White

Daniel Sullivan

Amber McKinney

Andre Kimo Stone Guess

You can connect with The Takeaway on Twitter, Facebook, or on our show page at TheTakeaway.org.

Reflections on the Life and Legacy of Senator John McCain 

Senator John McCain died on Saturday after a battle with brain cancer. We reflect on Senator McCain’s life, legacy and impact on the world stage.

James Baldwin's Only Children's Book Gets Revived

James Baldwin’s children’s book, “Little Man, Little Man,” is being republished more than 40 years later. We speak with Baldwin’s niece, Aisha Karefa Smart. 

North Carolina Keeps Three Confederate Monuments at Statehouse 

The North Carolina Historical Commission recently voted to allow three controversial Confederate statues to remain at the state Capitol in Raleigh. We have more on that decision and the ongoing debate over Confederate monuments.

Guests: 

Fred Hiatt

Aisha Karefa-Smart

Bob Hesselbein

Elliot Ackerman

Kate Hendricks Thomas

Dr. Valerie Ann Johnson

Maya Little

You can connect with The Takeaway on Twitter, Facebook, or on our show page at TheTakeaway.org.