The Takeaway

American identity is shifting: from what we look like, to where we worship, to who we love. And so it’s not surprising that for many Americans, those changes create a sense of anxiety. Some feel they are being left behind by a country they thought they knew. Others are excited to chart a new course, to take part in that dream that so many Americans aspire to. The data proves that Americans really do think about these ideals. 2017 figures from the Pew Research Center found that 36% of U.S. adults reported that their family had already achieved the American dream. 46% surveyed said they are "on their way" to achieving it. The Takeaway examines the fluctuating notions of American identity. Plus, we speak with President Jimmy Carter about what he believes to be a crisis of faith in the American government; and an update on the apparently growing role of American soldiers in Yemen's civil war.

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

The National Rifle Association’s annual conference beings today in Dallas. Around 80,000 people are expected to attend and the event is slated to feature high-profile speakers such as Texas Senator Ted Cruz, social media personalities 'Diamond and Silk,' Vice President Mike Pence, and President Donald Trump. The renown of their speakership illustrates the massive influence the N.R.A. enjoys in politics, which in turn comes partly from the organization’s longstanding success in fundraising. The Takeaway examines the N.R.A.'s outsize role in American political fundraising. Plus, we look at the fallout from a school bus drivers' "sickout" in Atlanta; the launch of NASA's first-ever probe exploring the Martian interior; former Boston Celtics player-coach Bill Russell making history 50 years ago this week; a brewing diplomatic controversy between England and Ethiopia over stolen artifacts; and a preview of this week's must-see (and must-avoid) films.

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

At the age of 13, Yeonmi Park staged a daring escape from North Korea. But the treacherous journey carried an uncertain promise of freedom; she faced a harrowing experience at the hands of the Chinese before eventually making it to South Korea. Park, now 24, is a human rights activist who has authored a book about her experience. The Takeaway asks Park about what the Western media should know as President Trump engages Kim Jong-un in serious negotiations. Plus, we scrutinize the latest lawsuit against DACA, brought by seven Republican state attorneys general; and we review the plight of Canada's First Nations people, in light of a recent warning by a U.N. special rapporteur about systemic violence against indigenous women.

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

In Marion, Ohio, a city of about 35,000 people an hour north of Columbus, eight migrant teenagers from Guatemala found themselves trapped in a trafficking ring in 2014. A particularly alarming piece of the story, says Deirdre Shessgreen, is that the teenagers had actually been approved by the Office of Refugee Resettlement, a division of Health and Human Services which resettles unaccompanied migrant children. The Takeaway examines the federal oversight of these scores of migrant children. Plus, we look at how a new Malaysian law targeting fake news may actually be being misused by the government to target critics; and the story of a young girl's escape from the Rwandan genocide and her journey building a new life in America.

The number of major wireless carriers in America may soon go from four to three. Over the weekend, T-Mobile C.E.O. John Leger and Sprint C.E.O. Marcelo Claure announced a nearly $27-billion merger between the third and fourth largest wireless carriers in the United States. The two companies will now have to convince the Trump administration not to block their merger, which it is currently trying to do in another case being argued in court: AT&T’s $85 billion dollar planned acquisition of Time Warner. The Takeaway examines what implications that case may have for the T-Mobile-Sprint deal. Plus, we review the exclusive list of questions Special Counsel Mueller has for President Trump, leaked to The New York Times; a modern-era remake of Spike Lee's classic, "He Got Game;" and a suicide bomb in Afghanistan's capital that killed nine journalists.

On Sunday, between Tijuana, Mexico, and California, about 400 migrants claimed asylum along the U.S. border. They’re part of the caravan of Central American migrants, mostly from Honduras and El Salvador, whose route has become international news because of the ire they’ve drawn from President Trump. The Takeaway looks at the migrants claims of asylum and whether or not they will be allowed to remain in the U.S. Plus, we look at how California police were able to use online genealogy services to track down the Golden State Killer; how thousands of Nicaraguans are taking to the streets to call for the ouster of President Ortega; and how India is grappling with sexual violence.

April 27, 2018: For the first time in over half a century, a North Korean leader crossed the country’s southern border today. Kim Jong-un met with South Korean President Moon Jae-in at the newly renovated "Peace House" as part of the two countries' third summit. The Korean leaders discussed the path for an official end to the Korean War and North Korea’s nuclear program, pledging to totally denuclearize the Peninsula. The historic occasion was watched feverishly by media worldwide, and South Korean citizens took off from work to behold with rapt attention the breakthrough that might have seemed elusive when President Trump began to ramp up the threats on their northern neighbor. The Takeaway examines the prospect of longterm peace in light of this recent breakthrough. Plus, we examine a guilty verdict in the trial of comedian Bill Cosby; a self-described ex-'incel' speaks about his former community's hateful posture; and a new enacted anti-trafficking bill that may endanger sex workers.

April 26, 2018: The National Memorial For Peace And Justice opens in Montgomery, Alabama today. The monument, conceived by the Equal Justice Initiative, intends to memorialize the more than 4,000 known victims of lynching in this country. The project's precursor was a body of research collected by the E.J.I. which uncovered thousands of instances of lynchings that had not previously been documented. The research culminated in a 2015 report entitled "Lynching in America: Confronting the Legacy of Racial Terror," which unearthed incidents of hangings and other brutal measures of "racial terror" in twelve different states. The Takeaway explores America's first memorial dedicated to the victims of lynching. Plus, we look at the latest series of teachers' strikes in Alabama and Colorado; after 40 years, a potential suspect in the case of the Golden State Killer; and an exploration of the misogynist ideology called 'incel' culture that may have played a role in the Toronto van attack.

April 25, 2018: In February of last year, President Trump tweeted that his administration would fully defend their concept of a "travel ban" in court, despite later challenges that would block various attempts to implement it. Today, the Supreme Court began hearing oral arguments in the first, definitive legal test of the ban, which excludes citizens from some Muslim-majority countries from obtaining entry visas to the United States under the guise of national security. The Takeaway examines the government's case and considers the plaintiffs' arguments against it. Plus, we look at a new report from The Intercept documenting pervasive abuse in U.S. immigration facilities; Mike Pompeo's near-certain confirmation by the Senate as Secretary of State; the unfolding protests in Nicaragua calling for President Ortega's ouster; and the underground queer ballroom scene in New York City that promotes voguing and self-expression.

April 24, 2018: The suspect in the deadly Waffle House shooting in Nashville, Tennessee, was arrested on Monday after a 36-hour manhunt. Travis Reinking, 29, was arrested near his apartment which was close to the restaurant where early Sunday morning he started firing towards patrons with his AR-15 rifle. Four people were killed in that rampage. One patron, James Shaw Jr., is being credited for saving the lives of others after wrestling with the gunman and throwing his weapon over the counter. The Takeaway brings you the latest on the shooting in Nashville and the police investigation. Plus, we examine a new report documenting human rights abuses occurring under the shroud of Yemen's civil war; one of the contenders for Paul Ryan's vacant seat Cathy Myers discusses her candidacy; and actor Laurie Metcalf reviews her recent appearances on stage, on the big screen, and on T.V.