A fresh alternative in daily news featuring critical conversations, live reports from the field, and listener participation. The Takeaway provides a breadth and depth of world, national, and regional news coverage that is unprecedented in public media.
One Final Farewell
Our host and our staff have remained dedicated to one thing: bringing you, the listeners, a quality news and information show.
Unfortunately, in February, The Takeaway staff found out that WNYC executives planned to cancel the show. The last day of the show was June 2nd, 2023. No official press release or external communications from NYPR mentions the end of the show, so in this episode, we address it head on with our former executive producer and current Executive Editor for GBH News, Lee Hill
Producer Appreciation Weeks: David Escobar
Rounding out our Producer Appreciation Weeks, intern David Escobar and host Melissa Harris-Perry look back at some of the stories he’s produced for The Takeaway:
Does The Indian Child Welfare Act Hang in Peril?; An Enduring American Pastime: The State Fair; Working Out the Four-Day Work Week; Healing Trauma Through Nature in Wildcat; How A Doll Became a Queer Icon in M3GAN
"David Escobar is a senior at Fordham University, double majoring in Journalism and Digital Technology & Emerging Media. His
Showing Some Appreciation to David Gebel
David Gebel spent many years working as a singer and actor, and in between shows would work as a temp at various corporate jobs.
Little did he know that all those acquired office skills would help him end up at WNYC, initially supporting Radiolab, and then expanding his work to also include supporting The Takeaway and the podcast More Perfect.
David focuses on the paperwork, the scheduling and the business support tasks, so that everyone else can focus on making great audio, but David was also i
Producer Appreciation Weeks: Zachary Bynum
"Atlanta influences everything."
As part of our Producer Appreciation Weeks, Host Melissa Harris-Perry talks with the professionals behind the scenes who bring you the stories you love.
Digital producer Zachary Bynum is a resident of Atlanta who's worked remotely with The Takeaway for the last 2 years. He produces, edits, and publishes all of our social media content, webpages, and podcasts.
Zachary has also produced some enterprising coverage on the show, so today we are revisiting some of hi
Producer Appreciation Weeks: Monica Morales-Garcia
As part of our goodbye to The Takeaway, Melissa Harris-Perry sits down with the beautiful folks behind the scenes who make the show happen every day! Today, we're highlighting the work of producer, Monica Morales-Garcia, by listening back to a few of her favorite segments:
"Black Maternal Health Week Comes to an End""Hospice Care Is Plagued by Exploitation""Brittney Johnson is Spellbinding""Keyla Monterroso Mejia is Taking the Lead""Now, Who Speaks [non-English]?
"
Monica joined The Takeaway i
Producer Appreciation Weeks: Cat Sposato
As part of our farewell to The Takeaway, host Melissa Harris-Perry sits down with the people behind the scenes who make The Takeaway happen. Today, we're taking a look at some of the work done by Cat Sposato while here on the show. Some of her favorite segments include:
Unpacking the Parkland Shooter VerdictA Conversation with MacArthur Fellow Kiese LaymonHurricanes, Puerto Rico and Bad Bunny's "El Apagón"The Polarizing Popularity of Pickleball
Cat joined The Takeaway team in September 2022, whi
Producer Appreciation Weeks: Morgan Givens
We continue our Producer Appreciation Weeks with Host Melissa Harris-Perry, who peels back the curtain and speaks with the talented folks that make The Takeaway every day. Today we're highlighting some of Morgan Givens' favorite segments produced during his time with The Takeaway:
What Makes a Black ManElectric Literature Editor-in-Chief Denne Michele Norris Makes History and Makes SpaceAward Winning Poet Danez Smith Rises to the TopWhy Titus Kaphar Won't "Shut Up and Paint"Level Up: Accessibili
Producer Appreciation Weeks: Mary Steffenhagen
As part of our farewell to The Takeaway, Melissa Harris-Perry sits down with the folks behind the scenes who make the show happen every day. Today, we're highlighting the work of Mary Steffenhagen — an award-winning investigative journalist and producer who joined The Takeaway just over a year ago — by listening back to a few of her favorite segments:
• "When Women’s Survival is Criminalized" and "Corrections in Ink"
• "A Culture of Abuse and Cover-Ups in the Southern Baptist Convention"
• "How
Producer Appreciation Weeks: Ryan Wilde
We continue our Producer Appreciation Weeks with Host Melissa Harris-Perry, who peels back the curtain and speaks with the talented folks that make The Takeaway every day.
Producer Ryan Wilde got his first taste of radio in an unlikely place: 104.5 Ice Radio in Antarctica. After beginning his public radio career as an intern, and then producer for The Brian Lehrer Show, he also had a stop in Illinois to produce The 21st, a daily, statewide show produced by Illinois Public Media. After returning
Producer Appreciation Weeks: Katerina Barton
As part of our Producer Appreciation Weeks, Host Melissa Harris-Perry talks with the professionals behind the scenes who bring you the stories you value and the shows you love.
Producer Katerina Barton revisits some of her favorite segments that she's produced throughout the past two years on The Takeaway:
Gordon Plaza Residents Fight for Relocation from Toxic Land
What is Driving the Truck Driver Shortage?
What Does Queer Mean?
Holiday Movie Prescriptions
The Savannah Bananas Play Ball
Kat
Movie Therapy: Prescriptions for Embracing Change
As the Takeaway comes to an end, we get one last set of movie prescriptions from Kristen Meinzer, a culture critic and host of the podcast "By The Book" and Rafer Guzman, a film critic for Newsday, and they bring us movie prescriptions about embracing change and fresh starts.
Together Kristen and Rafer are the co-hosts of the podcast, Movie Therapy.
KRISTEN’S PICKS:
Barb and Star Go To Vista Del Mar, 2021
When middle aged best friends Barb and Star lose their jobs, they decide that a restorative
Showing Some Appreciation: Inside the Control Room with Director Jay Cowit
We went behind-the-scenes with our control room team: Jay Cowit, Vince Fairchild and Jackie Martin to find out how The Takeaway gets made every day.
Then, we got a 1-on-1 conversation between show host Melissa Harris-Perry and Director Jay Cowit who's been working on the Sound design of The Takeaway for nearly 15 years now.
"Jay has been with The Takeaway since its on-air inception in 2008, and has been the Show Director, Technical Director, and sound designer since 2009...He is responsible for
Showing Appreciation to Our Senior Broadcast Engineer Vince Fairchild
Over the years, The Takeaway has seen a long list of rotating staff made up of intrepid, outspoken journalists and producers.
That list does not include Vince Fairchild who is a 'Takeaway veteran' in every sense of the word. Vince has worked as a broadcast engineer on the show since its first year on air in 2008 and now serves as our Senior Broadcast Engineer.
"He fact checks like no other. He sound designs with mastery. And he’s so good that when our Director Jay Cowit is out, Vince slides rig
Showing Appreciation to Our Line Producer Jacklyn Martin
You might not know this about our Line Producer Jackie Martin, but she is an Air Force Veteran who served from 2000-2005.
On The Takeaway, she has produced segments about “Other Than Honorably” Discharged LGBTQ+ Veterans who were discriminated against and discharged due solely to their sexual orientation, gender identity or HIV status. On top of that, she has coproduced a number of other segments about sports, politics, and culture.
"After she left the AirForce she began her career in radio, whe
Replay: Visiting the Prison at Angola
Original Air Date: August 30, 2022
More than 55,000 people across the U.S. are incarcerated with the sentence of life without the possibility of parole. This population been rising sharply in the past few decades, with an increase of 66% since 2003, according to research by The Sentencing Project.
For those who are sentenced to live and die behind prison walls, there is a sense that they have been forgotten. But a new project is documenting some of their stories: The Visiting Room Project featur
Showing Appreciation to Our Powerhouse Producer Shanta Covington
On Friday, June 2, we will broadcast our final episode.
As we head into these final days, we are taking the time to pause and show a little gratitude for the extraordinary team of producers who make The Takeaway every day.
Today, we are hailing our Senior Producer: Shanta Covington. Shanta and Takeaway host Melissa Harris-Perry have been working on media projects together for over a decade now.
They first met when Melissa worked as a tv host on MSNBC's MHP Show (2012-2016). Shanta was a guest
Narcan: How To Save a Life
The mounting death toll from the opioid crisis in the United States continues to wreak havoc in cities, towns, and rural communities across the nation. Over the past two decades, the number of people dying from opioid overdoses in New York, and across the United States, are rising each year.
But there is something that some public health experts say could help. Narcan, the brand name for the drug naloxone, is an overdose prevention tool that anyone can use. It’s a simple nasal spray, it's legal
Black History and Afrofuture with Costume Designer Ruth E. Carter
Ruth E. Carter made history when she became the first Black costume designer to win an Oscar, and the first Black woman to win two Oscars, both for her work on Marvel’s Black Panther franchise. She’s been the premier designer for movies that portray iconic Black characters and cultures for three decades, having worked with the likes of Spike Lee, Denzel Washington and Ava DuVernay even before her Black Panther triumphs. Carter recounts pivotal moments and reflects on her career in a new book, "T
L.A. Strippers Win the Fight for a Union
A group of dancers working at the Star Garden Topless Dive Bar in North Hollywood, Los Angeles, just won their battle to form the only current union for strippers in the country. Since being locked out on the job in March 2022, the dancers held a strike and picket for eight months before officially voting to unionize with Actors' Equity in November. But club management challenged the vote, prompting the National Labor Relations Board to set a hearing for May 15, 2023. Yet over this past weekend,
The WGA Strike Enters Week Three
The Writers Guild of America, which has over 11-thousand members, is entering week its third week of a work stoppage. This is the first strike in 15 years, and comes at a time when the TV and film industry has seen some major changes in recent years. Amongst their demands, writers are seeking higher wages, better residuals, and assurances on the use of AI.
First we hear from Monice Mitchell Simms, TV writer, screenwriter, author, producer and a member of the Writers Guild of America, who has be
Title 42 Ended. What Happens Now?
Under the covid era immigration policy, Title 42 had expelled and turned away 2.6 million people at the U.S. Southern border without question. But that has not stopped the tens of thousands of migrants from gathering along the Southern border, hoping to be allowed to remain in the United States while awaiting a court date. While the Biden administration has rejected comparisons to the Trump administration, now as Title 42 measures have been lifted new asylum rules have been put into place. Causi
Buffalo, One Year Later
Sunday marked one year since the racist mass shooting in Buffalo. Melissa Harris-Perry sits down with Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown to reflect on the tragedy and discuss how the city is coping right now. The tragic shooting is one of several disturbing massacres motivated by hate that have occurred in recent years. But the history of race based violence dates back to the beginning of what is now the United States, and some of the recent racially motivated attacks call to mind some of the racist viol
Replay: What Does It Mean to Mother Across Borders?
We discuss what motherhood looks like when mothers and children are separated by borders, and how these families challenge Western stereotypes about what "good" motherhood is. We speak with Gabrielle Oliveira, associate professor at Harvard's Graduate School of Education and the author of "Motherhood Across Borders: Immigrants and their Children in Mexico and in New York City."
Replay: Policing the Womb
Original Air Date: May 6, 2022
Motherhood and its many meanings and expectations are created and experienced within the particular realities of our society and history. And to better understand some of our shared national history with mothering we sat down with Professor Michele Goodwin of the University of California-Irvine who is author of the book Policing the Womb: Invisible Women and the Criminalization of Motherhood.
Music In Their Own Words: Harpist Ashley Jackson
Harpist Ashley Jackson seeks to shatter the traditionally narrow definition of "classical music," highlight Black history and pay homage to Black composers.
Jackson, an Assistant Professor and the Director of Undergraduate Studies for the Music Department at Hunter College, views the harp as a vehicle for storytelling. In a recent performance at New York City's Lincoln Center called "Take Me To The Water," Jackson explored the role and symbolism of water in Black stories.
Her upcoming album, "E
Talking Change with Dorian Warren
On May 8th, 2023, Community Change Action, a nonprofit organization that aims to “dramatically improve material conditions for people struggling to make ends meet in the United States,” launched its “A Day Without Childcare” action. Thousands of parents, families and childcare providers came together to push for equitable access to childcare. Co-President of Community Change and friend of the show, Dorian Warren, joins The Takeaway to discuss this action.
Governor Jay Inslee on Washington's Assault Weapons Ban
Washington state has long led on progressive policies and reform. In late April, Washington Governor Jay Inslee signed a package of bills to address gun violence. House Bill 1240 prohibits the manufacture, importation, distribution, and sale of assault-style weapons in Washington. Two additional measures require a 10 day waiting period and a training requirement for all gun purchases were also signed by the Governor.
We speak with Governor Jay Inslee about the legislation, and hear how Washin
Nebraska Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh On Her 11-Week Filibuster
Nebraska state senator from Omaha, Machaela Cavanaugh, promised to filibuster every bill that comes before the legislature this year — even those she supports. Why? She’s trying to stop a bill intended to outlaw gender-affirming care for people 18 and under.
Senator Cavanaugh has been filibustering since February 23 and halfway through the legislative session in March, she’d managed to prevent even a single bill from passing. Her work took on a new urgency this week when Republicans introduced a
America's Compassion Deficit and the Killing of Jordan Neely
Last week, Jordan Neely, a talented dancer whose impersonations of Michael Jackson made fans of many who watched him perform, was killed by a white former Marine on the New York City subway.
Before the marine put Jordan in a chokehold that killed him, he’d been crying out for food. In the depths of despair, he said he wanted to die. But, what he needed was help. Countless others believe Jordan Neely should be alive today.
Protests have rocked the city’s subways on behalf of a young man whose men
Montana House Rep. Zooey Zephyr Stands Up For Others
After speaking out on the Montana House floor against a bill that would restrict gender-affirming health care, Rep. Zooey Zephyr was censured by the legislative body.
Zephyr, the state’s first openly transgender representative, will be barred from attending in-person debates and voting on legislation for the rest of the legislative session. That’s because Zephyr’s lawsuit against the Montana House, claiming her censorship violated her First Amendment rights, was denied by a Montana District judg
Ethiopian NGOs Say Facebook Ignored Warnings About Hate Speech
A new investigation by Insider reveals flaws and failures of Facebook’s "Trusted Partner" program, which it heavily relies on in "Rest of World" regions which account for just 10% of Facebook's revenue. Trusted Partners are local NGOs contracted to provide local expertise and context to inform Facebook’s content moderation policies and practices. But Trusted Partners in Ethiopia told Insider that Facebook routinely ignored their recommendations and allowed hate speech that inflamed real life vio
North Carolina State Supreme Court Upends Voting Rights
During the past month, the new Republican majority controlling North Carolina’s state Supreme Court issued reversals of previous rulings on voting rights and overturned a trial court decision.
These moves will have meaningful effects on the ability to cast a vote in the state and will have critical implications for local, state, and national election outcomes.
We speak with Ari Berman, National Voting Rights Correspondent for Mother Jones.
'Head Down' to North Carolina: The H2A Visa Program and Abortion Rights
The new investigative podcast series “Head Down'' explores labor trafficking happening within the U.S. government sponsored H2A visa program. It is sold as a “mutually beneficial” immigration program that allows migrant workers to come to the U.S. as temporary agricultural workers, but a close look into the program reveals a great disparity between how the program is described and what actually happens.
A recent investigation by Prism, LatinoUSA, and Futuro Investigates found that this program
Exploring Consumer Protection: The Kroger-Albertsons Merger
Original Air Date: March 3, 2023
As Americans faced soaring food prices, a proposed $24.6 billion dollar megamerger between Kroger and Albertsons was announced on October 14, 2022.
These are two of the largest grocery chains in the country, accounting for more than 5,000 locations and employing over 700,000 people across its banner.
The United Food and Commercial Workers and Rocky Mountain Farm Workers Union- two of the nation's largest and oldest unions- are opposed to the merger citing its po
Another Bank Goes Bust
Original Air Date: May 02, 2023
On Monday, another multi-billion dollar banking institution collapsed — First Republic Bank. Wealthy investors had been pulling out billions of dollars in deposits over the past few weeks, in a 21st-century digital run on the bank. Federal regulators seized its assets, covered $13 billion in losses, and sold it off to JPMorgan Chase. This is now the second-largest bank failure in American history, and the third significant bank failure of the past two months after
23 MAYORS IN 2023: Jim Kenney, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Jim Kenney was elected to the Philadelphia City Council in 1992 at just 32 years old. After decades of service, he was elected mayor in 2016 then reelected in 2020. As a term limited city leader, Mayor Kenney is in his final months of leading Philadelphia.
We hear him reflect on his time as mayor, his efforts to address crime, and hear about some of the reasons why he is a proud Philadelphian.
Downtown Crime: Perception Versus Reality
A new study from the Brookings Institution reveals that Americans in four major cities — Chicago, New York, Philadelphia and Seattle — believe that crime is out of control in downtowns. But the data shows that that’s not the whole story. While cities post-pandemic have seen an increase in particularly violent and property crimes, those increases haven’t happened in the downtowns, but in the areas that have been historically disadvantaged and disinvested in. So what accounts for this mismatch bet
The American Medical Debt Crisis
In March, the actions of a local church in Winston-Salem, North Carolina received national attention for all the right reasons. The congregation at Trinity Moravian Church partnered with an organization called R-I-P Medical Debt to cancel 3,000 local residents’ medical debt, to the tune of $3.3 million dollars. They bought that debt for just a little over $15,000 dollars.
Rev. John Jackman, the pastor of Trinity Moravian Church held a symbolic “debt burning” ceremony to mark the occasion, with
Two Generals Fight Over Power In Sudan
Last month violence took over Sudan's capital, Khartoum… it has now spread through the entire country and thousands of civilians have fled from the chaos seeking refuge in Chad, Egypt, and other neighboring countries. Despite a second 72-hour ceasefire, violence has continued. Nations, including the US, have evacuated diplomats and citizens from the country.
The violence stems from a long rivalry between two generals.
The fighting between the two rivals has resulted in attacks on healthcare faci
Black Girl Genius Zaila Avant-Garde
As if winning the 2021 Scripps National Spelling Bee and holding three Guinness World Records weren’t already huge accomplishments, now Zaila Avant-Garde is adding the title of author to her name.
She stops by and chats with Melissa about “It’s Not Bragging If It’s True: How to Be Awesome At Life” which is out now, and the upcoming Children’s Book, “Words of Wonder: From Z to A,” which is out June 27th.
Will There Ever be Justice for Emmett Till?
The recent death of Carolyn Bryant Donham, the woman whose words prompted the kidnapping, torture and brutal murder of 14-year-old Emmett Till in 1955, now means that the last person known to be involved in his kidnapping and murder…will never face accountability.
We speak with Timothy B. Tyson, author of The Blood of Emmett Till and senior research scholar at Duke University, and Keith Beauchamp, an award-winning filmmaker behind the documentary “The Untold Story of Emmett Till” and producer of
Do AP Courses "Shortchange" Students?
Millions of American high school students take Advanced Placement Courses and Exams every year. AP Courses are standardized, college-level classes that students can take in high school, ideally exposing them to the depth, breadth and intellectual rigor of content they’d encounter in the university. But the author of a new book argues that these courses and exams are instead shortchanging students out of the liberal arts education that the AP was initially founded to foster. We speak with Annie A
Texas Senate Approves Bill Eliminating Faculty Tenure
Original Air Date: April 25, 2023
Only days after passing a measure that could dismantle Diversity Equity and Inclusion programs at public universities and colleges, the Texas State Senate passed a bill that would ban tenure offers to new professors at public colleges and universities in Texas.
The measure has been opposed by professors across the state who say that this is an attack on academic freedom. Senate Bill 18 now moves to the Texas State House.
We speak with Dr. Karma R. Chávez, Bobby
The Tension Between Public and Charter in Abbott Elementary's Second Season
Original Air Date: April 26, 2023
The sitcom Abbott Elementary has become a weekly favorite among all ages in the world of streaming and binge-watching TV. The network series created by Quinta Brunson is a comedy at heart set at a predominantly Black elementary school in Philadelphia, but under the brilliant writing and jokes, is a political commentary about the challenges faced by under-funded public schools.
In season 2 (spoiler alert!), the series introduces a new nemesis which is a charter s
Replay: The Takeaway Book Report
Original Air Date: December 16, 2021
The Takeaway community is full of book worms and literary lovers, so we spoke with some incredible authors about their work and some titles to look out for.
Feminist AF: A Guide to Crushing Girlhood
Co-authored by Brittney Cooper , Chanel Craft Tanner , and Susana Morris, this book walks us through their tips for surviving girlhood with a feminist flair.
These Precious Days: Essays
New York Times bestselling author Ann Patchett reflects on home, family, fri
The Impact of The New York Times' Trans Coverage
Thousands of New York Times contributors signed an open letter this February that raised concerns about alleged imbalance and bias in the paper’s coverage of trans people and issues. This month, the co-authors released another letter — this time addressed directly to Times’ publisher A.G. Sulzberger. Contributors continue to criticize both the Times’ coverage of trans people and issues, which they say is biased and harmful, as well as the Times’ response to the letter. Staffers who signed the le
Franchises Are Fighting Back
In recent months, franchisees of companies from the Hilton Inn to Subway have been pushing back against their corporate franchisors, claiming they are being squeezed out of profits. And a new study from the Government Accountability office found that franchisees tend to lack basic control over the operational side of their local storefronts, which can make turning a profit difficult. Yet despite these problems, many franchisees forgo reporting the deceptive and unfair practices of their franchis
Diane Feinstein and Senatorial Power
Democratic Senator from California Diane Feinstein has spent more than three decades in the U-S senate. Her tenure has won her praise from allied politicians like former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. The lawmakers have defended Senator Feinstein as questions arise surrounding her ability to serve. Despite the backing of some defenders, Senator Feinstein is facing calls to step down from within her own party. Minnesota Representative Dean Phillips and Cal
Cop City: Police Shot Protester Tortuguita 57 Times
An autopsy conducted by an independent examiner in March found Tortuguita's hands were in a raised position. A second autopsy report -conducted by the DeKalb County Medical Examiner-found no gun residue on Queer, Indigenous-Venezuelan activist Manuel Teran AKA Tortuguita's hands but only upon visual inspection.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation ran a gun residue kit, confirming gun residue was found on Tortuguita's body. The report noted that "it is possible for victims of gunshot wounds, both
How to Go From Pink-Slipped to Parties
When the dot-com bubble burst back in 2000, Allison Hemming was one of the many laid-off employees. At the time, she planned a get together and networking event with fellow-laid off employees to swap career advice, commiserate, and meet with recruiters, and this meetings turned into what she dubbed “pink slip parties.” Now, as more than 100,000 employees in the tech and media industries have faced layoffs over the past year, we talk to Allison Hemming, CEO of The Hired Guns, a tech-recruiting fi
Tara Bynum's Reading Pleasures
Our nation constantly struggles to understand the lives and lived experiences of enslaved Black Americans. Discussing the lives of enslaved Black people can be complicated.
That complexity can push us towards easy understandings and answers of who they were while inadvertently seeking rebellion in their every word and deed. This search for near constant rebellion through a 21st century lens flattens their lives and experiences.
In Reading Pleasures: Everyday Black Living in Early America, Prof
Supreme Court Upholds Mifepristone Access, for Now
On Friday, the Supreme Court issued a stay on a lower court ruling. The stay ensures, that for now, the abortion pill, mifepristone, will remain widely available. Mifepristone was first approved as safe and effective for ending pregnancies more than 20 years ago.
But earlier this month, U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, a federal judge in Texas appointed by former President Donald Trump, suspended the Food and Drug Administration’s approval of mifepristone.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for th
Bozoma Saint John, Urgently Living after Grief
Noted Businesswoman and marketing maven, Bozoma Saint John, joins us to talk about her new book “The Urgent Life: My Story of Love, Loss and Survival,” which chronicles the difficult moments she’s survived and her choice to live life urgently.
Happy World Earth Day
The Takeaway is celebrating a very intersectional Earth Day Weekend with some of our favorite segments on environmental justice:
How Indigenous Water Protectors Paved Way for Future Activism
The Work of Black Girl Environmentalist
What Queer Ecology Can Teach Us About Environmentalism
The Intersection of Climate Justice and Racial Justice
Young Voices Speak Out About Earth Day
For full transcripts, see our website.
Ralph Yarl Deserves to be a Kid
Original Air Date: April 19, 2023
It’s an act that’s familiar to countless older siblings around the nation: pick up your younger siblings from afterschool, the bus stop, maybe even another friend’s house and then walk them home. It’s an act that took a decidedly dangerous and near deadly turn for the 16 year-old “gentle soul”, clarinet player and member of his high school marching band – Ralph Yarl.
Hundreds marched and called for justice after Ralph Yarl was shot twice – once in the head – by
A Look at Coachella 2023: Weekend One
Original Air Date: April 20, 2023
As weekend one of Coachella wrapped up last week and we head into weekend two of the three-day music festival, we check in with Pitchfork staff writer Allison Hussey about the highs, lows, and the lesser-known artists of Coachella.
You can catch her Coachella coverage at pitchfork.com.
Puff Puff Passing Marijuana Legislation
The stoner classics Scary Movie and Friday envisioned a future where “puff, puff, pass” is the norm. And the majority of states across the nation have acquiesced. Recent years have seen a spate of laws in state legislatures that make weed legal for medical and recreational purposes.
Federally, the issue of marijuana legalization appears to have stalled, but recent bills introduced in congress point towards a future of possible bipartisan support for the drug’s legalization.
Senior editor of Mari
Larissa Fasthorse On Finding the Humor in Performative Wokeness
Larissa Fasthorse is one of the first Indigenous women to have her play produced on Broadway. THE THANKSGIVING PLAY is one of six plays coming out written by Larissa Fasthorse in 2023. THE THANKSGIVING PLAY centers indigenous issues through the lens of a small community’s attempt at staging a “socially-conscious thanksgiving play.”
Fasthorse joins The Takeaway to talk about THE THANKSGIVING PLAY, the pressures of being one of the first Indigenous women to have a play produced on Broadway and wh
Little Richard, the Architect of Rock n' Roll
Little Richard was a larger-than-life entertainer and personality which is captured by the new documentary, “Little Richard: I Am Everything.”
We speak with the film’s director, Lisa Cortes.
23 MAYORS IN 2023: Michelle Wu, Boston, Massachusetts
As part of our "23 Mayors in 2023" series, we head to Boston, Massachusetts.
At the age of 36, Michelle Wu was elected as the first woman and the first person of color to become mayor of Boston 2021.
Boston is the 23rd largest city in America, with a population of almost 700,000. A diverse, and very young city, Boston has the highest percentage of 20-34 year olds of the top 25 largest cities in America. But challenges with racial inequality in Boston persist.
We speak with Mayor Michelle Wu, may
Is The NFL Draft Exploitative?
Making it to the NFL is the dream of countless young boys and men across the nation. Less than 2-percent of college football players make it to the NFL.
For those who do make it, before they can don the uniform of a professional team and see those dreams realized, they must first be selected in the NFL draft. Draft day is like winning the lottery for those selected to play on an NFL team, but the draft isn’t without its critics who find the process dehumanizing. Former NFL quarterback Colin Kaep
Writers Could Strike on Hollywood for the First Time in 15 Years
Hollywood and the writers that make movies and TV shows possible are in the middle of a labor battle, which could bring Hollywood to a halt for the first time in 15 years.
On Monday, members in the Writers Guild of America union cast their last ballots, and the union announced that 97.85 percent of members voted to authorized a strike.
The writers’ union is currently in negotiations with Hollywood studios. The current contract ends on May 1st, which is when the strike would begin if both sides
Black Maternal Health Week Comes to an End
Today marks the last day of Black Maternal Health Week. A week that sheds light on the rise of maternal mortality in the US. We speak with Loretta Ross an activist, educator, author, and co-founder of SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Justice Collective, as well as the co-creator of the theory of reproductive justice.
Ross has traveled the world at the invitation of leaders and activists to speak about reproductive justice, and in 2022 she was the recipient of a MacArthur Fellowship “Genius
Whose Bodies Does Broadway Cast, and Whose Does It Cast Aside?
Ryan Donovan, an Assistant Professor of Theater Studies at Duke University joins the show to talk about his new book, “Broadway Bodies: A Critical History of Conformity." In the book, Ryan looks at Broadway musicals and casting from 1970 to 2020 and the bodies that Broadway has historically excluded from its stages, based on size, gender, disability, and how that intersects with race and ethnicity, and the shows that are not making an effort to be more inclusive.
The World of Digital Book Influencers
Americans buy more than 800 million books a year. And even though the pandemic era bump in book sales has stabilized, publishing remains a multi-billion dollar industry.
There’s a booming genre of online content that is transforming the publishing industry. It’s called “book influencing” where book reviewers online find creative ways across social media platforms to discuss what they are reading.
Kelsey Weekman, internet culture reporter for Buzzfeed News, joins us to discuss how these influenc
Robin Thede is Making Room for More Black Women in Comedy
Original Air Date: July 13, 2022
Since 2019, "A Black Lady Sketch Show" has served as a testament to just how wonderfully weird and insightful things get when some of the best Black women comedians gather. Its success is due in large part to the vision of creator and star Robin Thede. On Tuesday, June 12, it was announced that Thede's timely and iconic sketch comedy show was nominated for a third year in a row. This year the show is nominatd for 5 Emmy nominations including: Outstanding Variety
Former Olympian Dominique Dawes on Simone Biles, Mental Health, and More
Original Air Date: July 29, 2021
The decision by gymnast Simone Biles to not compete in the Olympic Team Finals or the all-around individual competition in order to prioritize her mental health has left many wondering why.
Former Olympian and gold medalist Dominique Dawes joins The Takeaway to give an insider perspective on the pressure young women gymnasts face and why this decision by Biles may be her greatest feat yet.
Holly Robinson Peete, An Advocate for Autism
Original Air Date: January 11, 2022
Actress, author and “gangsta mom of four” Holly Robinson Peete joins us to talk about her advocacy work for kids on the autism spectrum and her decision to go public about her son’s diagnosis.
Human Composting is Legal in New York—Now What?
In the face of so many environmental crises caused by climate change, more and more Americans have been thinking about their carbon footprints. Not only the footprints we make by living — but also the ones we make by dying. An alternative method to burial and cremation has been gaining interest across the country, and it recently became legal in New York: human composting.
But legalization is really just the start of the story. Human composting still faces a few major barriers before New Yorkers
What Makes a Black Man?
Jonathan Majors is one of Hollywood’s swiftest rising stars. And he presented a version of masculinity that pushed back against the heavily policed boundaries set by society and Black men themselves. Majors’ version of masculinity welcomed softness and vulnerability – it also drew the ire of those who found his gender performance emasculating and pointed towards the “feminization” of Black men.
When he was arrested at the end of March on charges of domestic violence, Majors was arraigned and rel
Rutgers University Faculty are on Strike
On Monday, at Rutgers University in New Jersey, thousands of professors, part-time lecturers, and graduate and undergraduate students marched together holding signs that read, “We R on strike for a better Rutgers.” We spoke to Dr. Donna Murch, Associate Professor of History at Rutgers and the New Brunswick Chapter President of Rutgers AAUP, one of the unions on strike.
In the midst of this standoff, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, took on a foundational role in preventing University President,
Meet the Librarians of TikTok
Librarians across the country are using TikTok to advertise their services, connect with communities and put their libraries on the national map... And they're pretty funny! We talk with three librarians about their strategies, goals, and experiences as library workers during a time of rising right-wing attacks on books and library funding.
We speak with Rhea Gardner and Mychal Threets, both supervising librarians at Solano County Library in California — and they run the library's TikTok! Visit
Ryans Only at the Ryan Meetup (and Definitely No Bryans)
Takeaway producer Ryan Andrew Wilde recently came across a flier that said "Is your name Ryan? Wanna meet other Ryans? Join the Ryan Meetup!" At the bottom of the flier, it laid out some strict rules: "First name must be Ryan" and "No Bryans Allowed."
A few weeks later, intrigued but unsure of what to expect, Ryan headed to Ryan Maguire's, a lower Manhattan bar and restaurant, with a microphone and some questions.
Ryan Andrew Wilde, associate producer for The Takeaway, shares the story. We hear
The Native American Roots of the US Constitution
Many of the Founding Fathers who signed the Constitution had a deep familiarity with Native nations, some having negotiated treaties or engaged in diplomatic relations with them.
We spoke to Robert J Miller, Professor of Law at the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at ASU, who enlightened us about the Native origins of the US Constitution
Are "Thoughts and Prayers" Enough?
In the wake of Monday’s mass shooting in Louisville, Kentucky, we discussed whether there is any value to “thoughts and prayers” in moments of public violence and loss.
Dean Yolanda Pierce is currently dean of the School of Divinity at Howard University and will soon become dean of the School of Divinity at Vanderbilt University this fall.
Dean Pierce joined The Takeaway to offer reflections on the contributions and challenges of public faith discourse in a secular democracy.
Idaho Restricts Interstate Travel for Abortions
After the U-S Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade last summer, Republican led states across the nation began enacting bans that curtailed reproductive rights and the right to an abortion. The state of Idaho has some of the strictest anti-abortion laws in the nation. Abortion is entirely banned in the state with exceptions for rape, incest, or if the life of the pregnant person is in danger.
Last week, the state moved further to the right with its anti-abortion laws after Republican Governor Brad
The Tennessee Three: How Did We Get Here?
Today, officials in Nashville are scheduled to vote to reinstate former Tennessee State Representative Justin Jones. State Rep. Jones and State Rep. Justin Pearson of Memphis were expelled by Republican lawmakers last week after leading a push for gun reform in protest on the House floor last Thursday. Memphis city council could reappoint Pearson during their meeting on Wednesday of this week.
Even if both are reappointed by their respective city councils, the appointments are not permanent. E
Recess Therapy on The Takeaway
Original Air Date: April 4, 2023
It’s pretty hard to forget Tariq the “Corn Kid” from the popular digital series, “Recess Therapy,” an interview style show where the kids hold the spotlight, and talk about everything from their favorite foods, to the candid ways that they experience and understand the world around them, and even share wholesome advice for strangers.
We talk with the person that holds the microphone and conducts those interviews: creator, comedian, and host of Recess Therapy, Jul
Pink Was the New Black. Magenta Might Be Next.
Original Air Date: December 12, 2022
Last summer, we were living in a hot-pink world thanks in part to the Barbie-inspired trend, dubbed “Barbiecore.”
Hollywood celebrities, influencers, and artists all put their own spin on the hot-pink fashion trend, and the #barbiecore hashtag on TikTok has garnered over 272.8 million views. Today, you can find a number of social media users uploading a recently added Barbie filter on their photos.
It's not-so surprising that the Barbie trend is taking over
Long Covid Three Years Later
Earlier this year, the World Health Organization toed a fine line between acknowledging the fact that the COVID-19 pandemic isn’t over, while laying the groundwork to begin transitioning out of a global emergency. However, President Biden and his administration aren’t waiting to follow the World Health Organization's lead.
The administration plans to “terminate” the coronavirus national and public health emergencies on May 11 of this year. And perhaps sooner, now that a Republican led bill to en
Undermining the ADA
A law moving through the Kansas legislature is set to weaken the enforcement of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and two cases before the Supreme Court could narrow the ability of disabled people to sue over violations of their rights.
We speak with Rebecca Cokley, Program Officer for U.S. Disability Rights at the Ford Foundation, about what this could mean for the future of disability access.
North America has a Nuclear Waste Problem
In 1942, just below the football stadium at the University of Chicago, scientists were racing to figure out the feasibility of a controlled nuclear reaction. At that moment, it was all about WWII.
In 1958, the US began generating electricity from nuclear power, and today there are nuclear power plants in more than half of American states. The US Department of Energy touts nuclear energy as “cleaner and greener” pointing to its zero emissions and smaller land footprint, but nuclear power genera
The "Mercy Workers" Who Fight the Death Sentence
Nine prisoners have been executed in the United States in 2023, according to the Death Penalty Information Center. Yet the number of death sentences in the country has steadily decreased in recent decades, from more than 300 annually in the mid-1990s to fewer than 30 in recent years. This is thanks, in part, to the work of a small group of little-known professionals known as mitigation specialists. Their mission? Mercy.
Sara Baldwin is a mitigation specialist in Florida. Her job is to dig deep i
State Sponsored Hate: Uganda's Antigay Laws
Last month, Uganda’s parliament passed several new laws that criminalize openly identifying as LGBTQ+, adding on to brutal discrimination LGBTQ+ Ugandans have faced for years.
The Takeaway talks with Dr. Frank Mugisha, Director of Sexual Minorities Uganda about the recent laws.
Russia Arrested American Journalist Evan Gershkovich
Evan Gershkovich is a 31-year-old American journalist who works as a reporter for the Wall Street Journal in Russia. Last week, he was arrested by Russian officials and accused of espionage, the first time Russia has accused a foreign journalist of spying since the Cold War. He faces up to 20 years in prison.
First, we hear from Pjotr Sauer, a former colleague and friend of Evan Gershovich. Then, we speak with Dr. Dani Gilbert, Fellow at the John Sloan Dickey Center for International Understa
The Polarizing Popularity of Pickleball
Pickleball is America’s fastest growing sport. According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, pickleball has seen a 156.7% increase in players over the past three years.
Described as a cross between tennis, badminton and ping-pong, pickleball is attracting fans of racquet sports from across the country. And this increase in interest has come with both serious problems and incredible opportunities.
Takeaway producer Cat Sposato takes a quick journey through the world of pickleball at
Wisconsin Voters Are Headed to the Polls
On Tuesday, Wisconsin voters will head to the polls to cast their ballots for the State Supreme Court. With more than 30 million dollars in spending so far, this election will determine the fate of abortion rights and gerrymandered maps in Wisconsin… And could have larger repercussions during the upcoming 2024 presidential election.
To talk to us about Wisconsin’s Supreme Court elections is Maayan Silver, a reporter at W-U-W-M 89.7, Milwaukee’s public radio.
Why Does Broadway Keep Doing Drag?
Original Air Date: January 18, 2023
A musical adaptation of the 1959 movie, "Some Like It Hot," is now on Broadway. The movie has been acclaimed as one of the best comedy films of all time, but much of that comedy relies on the trope of men using drag as a disguise. It's a trope that Broadway is no stranger to, as evidenced by recent adaptations of "Mrs. Doubtfire" and "Tootsie." The "Some Like It Hot" musical attempts to alleviate this tension between historic and often harmful portrayals of dr
Celebrating International Transgender Day of Visibility
International Transgender Day of Visibility is a day of celebration, support, and love within the transgender community and among allies, and it is especially important amid the ongoing legislative efforts across the country targeting the lives, the health, and the well being of trans individuals.
According to the Human Rights Campaign, which is tracking anti-LGBTQ+ bills introduced in statehouses across the country, just in these first few months of 2023, there have been a record number of bil
Behind the Texas State Takeover of Houston Independent School District
Houston Independent School District enrolls nearly 200,000 students, and it's the largest school district in Texas, and 8th largest in the U.S.
Earlier this month, the Texas Education Agency announced the state was taking over the district citing poor performance. The state is dismissing the superintendent and the elected school board and replacing them with state appointees. Critics say this is another example of predominantly white, Republican lawmakers taking control over a diverse, and larg
'Blood Money': Inside the American Blood Plasma Economy
Millions of people across the world rely on life-saving medications made from blood plasma. And U.S. is the leading exporter of that plasma.
Here in the U.S. donating plasma is a legal and regulated process. It is also a paid exchange. Although you can’t sell a kidney or even your blood, there are parts of you that you can sell to earn money. For example, donating eggs for assisted reproductive technology is legal and paid.
And the United States is one of only a few countries in the world that
Unprisoned with Tracy McMillan
Inspired by Tracy McMillan’s Life, UnPrisoned is a half-hour comedy starring Kerry Washington, Marque Richardson, and Faly Rakotohavana. It's about Paige, a therapist and single mom, whose life is turned right-side-up when her dad gets out of prison and moves in with her and her teenage son.
Tracy joined us to talk about her real-life inspiration of a common story that is almost never told.
Here We Are Again: The Covenant School Shooting
On Monday, a 28-year-old shooter entered the Covenant School, a private Christian school in Nashville, armed with two assault rifles and a handgun. The shooter then killed six people, including three 9-year-olds, and three faculty members. The shooter legally purchased seven weapons from five different gun stores before the shooting at Covenant school.
They were fatally shot by law enforcement who responded to the scene. This comes against a backdrop of Tennessee laws making access to guns far
The Right of Return for Formerly Incarcerated Artists
Original Air Date: March 27, 2023
Right to Return USA just announced its 2023 Fellows. Six artists will receive a $20,000 award to support projects aimed at transforming the criminal legal and immigration systems, as well as combatting mass incarceration.
We speak with Right of Return co-founder Jesse Krimes and 2023 Fellow Jaiquan Fayson about the fellowship, the barriers for formerly incarcerated people in society, and art's role in reforming the criminal justice system.
Remembering as They Forget: Dementia's Impact on Loved Ones
Dementia is a disease that slowly steals away memories while keeping up the pretense that it’s stealing away nothing at all. A patient’s ability to create reality from their fragmented memories can lead to strained relationships with their loved ones and a deep sense of loneliness in their caregivers. Clinical psychologist, and author of Travelers to Unimaginable Lands: Stories of Dementia, the Caregiver and the Human Brain,
Dasha Kiper shares how our understanding of consciousness makes it har
Late Night Basie Brings Count Basie's Works to a New Audience
Superjam producer Paul Peck is bringing the works of the illustrious American jazz pianist and composer Count Basie to a brand-new generation with his latest project.
Late Night Basie is a Count Basie tribute album that’s reimagining many of the late musician’s greatest hits featuring artists like Cimafunk and Terence Blanchard.
Paul Peck sits down with The Takeaway to talk about the project and the ways he’s brought this music to a new age.