The Takeaway

Biden Administration Announces New Sanctions Against Russia

The actions against Russia represent one of the first major tests for the new administration on the international level. 

Biden Administration Emphasizes Commitment to Israel at a Chaotic Moment in Israeli Politics

A visit to Israel from U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin came as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is once again fighting for his political future. 

What Withdrawing from Afghanistan Means for Veterans and Active Troops

This week, President Biden announced that U.S. troops would withdraw from Afghanistan by September 2021.

The Reality of Driving While Black

Today, Black drivers are 20 percent more likely to be pulled over than white drivers.

Derek Chauvin Trial: Chauvin's Defense Presents, and Rests, Its Case

This week, the defense presented and rested its case. 

President Biden Announces His Plan to Withdraw Troops from Afghanistan

The decision would mark the end of the U.S.’s longest-ever war. 

Documentary Filmmakers Push for PBS to Improve Commitment to Diversity Behind the Camera

This year, a growing number of filmmakers of color have critiqued PBS’s close ties with director Ken Burns. 

U.S. Pauses Johnson & Johnson Vaccine Following Six Cases of Rare Blood Clotting

Federal health agencies will investigate Johnson & Johnson's potential link to the rare blood clotting disorder “out of an abundance of caution.”

How the Federal Government Can Effectively Distribute Tribal Stimulus Funding

Advocates are hoping the $32 billion in stimulus funding to Native communities can help with current disparities, but also address longstanding issues of underfunding for Indian Country.

Pam Chatman, founder of Boss Lady Workforce Transportation, on How She's Getting Vaccines to the People of Mississippi

With so many people in red states hesitant to take the COVID-19 vaccine, one woman is working in the state of Mississippi to help get shots in arms.   

How the Media is Reporting on the Pause of the Johnson & Johnson Vaccine

What impact could reporting on the pause of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine have on vaccine hesitancy?  

New York Approves Pandemic Relief for Undocumented Workers

Last week, lawmakers in New York state approved a historic $2.1 billion relief fund for undocumented workers and other workers with nontraditional jobs.  

Future of U.S.-Iran Negotiations Complicated by Attack on Iranian Nuclear Site

Iran’s government has been tight-lipped about the full extent of the damage at a nuclear facility, but multiple outlets are reporting that Israel was involved in the recent attack. 

Protests Erupt in Minneapolis Suburb After Fatal Police Shooting of Duante Wright

Over the weekend, a police officer in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, fatally shot the 20-year-old Black man during a traffic stop. 

How the Body Positivity Movement Was Co-Opted and Commodified

The “body positivity" movement has exploded in recent years, but for many, it's become nothing more than a buzzword.

Biden Announces Commission to Explore Reforming the Supreme Court

Former President Trump’s appointment of three justices cemented the ideologically conservative 6-3 tilt. 

Haiti Still Hasn't Received COVID-19 Vaccines

Not a single dose of any COVID-19 vaccine has been made available for the country’s more than 11 million people.  

Amazon Defeats Unionizing Efforts in Alabama

According to the ballot count, workers at the facility voted overwhelmingly not to form a union. 

How a Previously Unreleased Album Could Impact Prince's Legacy

This month, Prince’s estate announced that an unreleased album by the legendary musician will be coming out this summer. 

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy on Aging Infrastructure, Vaccine Appointments, And More

Governor Murphy joins the Takeaway for a conversation about the state’s pandemic response, school reopenings, and election reform in the state.

Divisions Emerge Over Biden's Proposal to Raise the Corporate Tax Rate

One of the biggest debates emerging around President Biden's $2 trillion infrastructure proposal is how to pay for it.

Kentucky Passes Law to Expand Voting Access

This Wednesday, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear signed into law a bipartisan bill to expand voting access in the state. 

Biden Announces Executive Actions to Address Gun Policy

The new actions attempt to address recent violent mass shootings in the U.S.

A Procedural Ruling Allows Senate Democrats to Pass Some Bills with Simple Majority

This week, the Senate parliamentarian determined that Democrats could pass additional legislation through the budget reconciliation process. 

Arkansas Becomes First State to Ban Gender-Affirming Treatment for Transgender Youth

Earlier this week, the Arkansas state legislature overrode a veto by Governor Asa Hutchinson on House Bill 15-70. 

Is Civilian Oversight Effective?

Following last summer's protests against police brutality, calls for civilian oversight of police became widespread in cities across the U.S.

Derek Chauvin Trial: Expert and Police Testimony Denounces Chauvin's Actions

A look back at what expert and police witnesses have said. 

What's Lost When Lesbian Bars Permanently Close their Doors

Before the pandemic, the number of lesbian bars in the U.S. had dwindled down to just a handful. 

Corporations Take A Stand Against Republican Voting Laws

Senator Mitch McConnell retaliated by accusing corporations of “behaving like a woke parallel government."

Rethinking the Federal Response to Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women

Last week, Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland announced the creation of a new unit to coordinate between federal agencies on cases involving missing and murdered Indigenous women. 

Brain Fog is Everywhere During the Pandemic

After a year of isolation, wearing masks, and staying six feet apart, our brains—like most everything else—have adapted to the COVID-19 pandemic.  

Vaccine Versus Variants: The State of the COVID-19 Pandemic in the U.S.

More than 61 million people have been fully vaccinated in the U.S., with more than 106 million people at least partially vaccinated.

Vaccine Distribution Disparities in Africa

The continent of Africa has administered less than two percent of global vaccine distribution, despite making up 17 percent of the global population.

President Biden Pushes to Shape the Federal Courts

Last week, President Joe Biden announced 11 nominees for the federal bench. 

Cooking Shows Slowly Open Up to Broader Range of Cultural Backgrounds

The lack of representation on many popular cooking shows extends into the fine-dining world as a whole. The Takeaway speaks with chef Eric Adjepong about his experience on Top Chef. 

COVID-19 Vaccine Disparities Persist Worldwide

High-income countries have purchased over half of the world’s supply of vaccines, even though they make up less than a fifth of the global population.  

Why Advocates Say D.C. Statehood is Long Overdue

Momentum has grown around statehood for Washington, D.C., and advocates say it has wide-ranging implications on issues ranging from racial equity to gun control. 

Natalia Lafourcade and her Powerful Relationship with Traditional Mexican Music

Natalia Lafourcade discusses her Grammy win for her album "Un Canto por México, Vol. 1."