The Takeaway

Coming up on today's show:

• In another attempt to repeal and replace Obamacare, the Senate unveiled its latest version of the GOP healthcare bill on Thursday. The new legislation is intended to appeal to moderates. Sabrina Corlette, a research professor at Georgetown University’s Center on Health Insurance Reforms, joins The Takeaway to discuss what’s been added and dropped in the new bill, and what those changes really mean for millions of Americans.

• Republicans point to Kentucky as an example of Obamacare's failure. Yet, the numbers show a different story. Jason Bailey, executive director for Kentucky Center for Economic Policy, joins The Takeaway to provide clarity about the economics of healthcare in The Bluegrass State.

• Russia may be heading for troubled times thanks to Vladimir Putin, according to author, historian and translator Richard Lourie. He's the author of the new book, "Putin: His Downfall and Russia's Coming Crash." The Russian expert is a former translator to Mikhail Gorbachev for The New York Times.

• In June, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas asked Israel to cut Gaza's electricity supply to put pressure on Hamas. Israel complied, and now electricity is only available to the region's 2 million residents for two to four hours a day. Tareq Baconi, a fellow for Al-Shabaka, a Palestinian policy network, joins The Takeaway to discuss the electricity crisis in Gaza. 

• An all-female team of student inventors from Afghanistan will now likely be among those attending an international robotics competition in Washington, D.C. this weekend. The students’ visa applications were initially rejected by the State Department, but after public outcry, President Donald Trump is allowing the team to come and compete at the event. Roya Mahboob, the co-founder and CEO of the Digital Citizen Fund, who brought the Afghan students together to work on a ball-sorting robot for the competition, discusses the team's accomplishments on The Takeaway.

• Every Friday, Rafer Guzman, film critic for Newsday and The Takeaway, drops by to review the new releases hitting the box office. This week, Rafer reviews the new action flick "War for the Plane for the Apes," and the horror film "Wish Upon." 

• The seventh season of "Game of Thrones" premieres on Sunday. The Takeaway talks to Robert "Robbie" Boake, the supervising location manager for the program, about the show's amazing scenery, and how he cultivates its sense of place.

This episode is hosted by Todd Zwillich.

Coming up on today's show:

• A new report from The New Republic shows that Trump's real estate holding have served as vehicles for Russian gangsters to launder money. Eric Bates, the editor of The New Republic, has the details. 

• Massachusetts is leading a lawsuit of 18 states, along with the District of Columbia, against Education Secretary Betsy DeVos because of the department’s decision to freeze regulations designed to help students defrauded by predatory colleges seek debt forgiveness. Maura Healey, Massachusetts attorney general, discusses the suit.

• On the outskirts of Mumbai, a group of women between the ages of 60 and 90 are attending a unique school specifically for grandmothers. These older women could not read or write, which led them to be excluded from public readings at religious festivals. Now, the village has come together to fund this program, and the school. Nikita Rudrappa, a journalist based in Mumbai, has the details. 

• During his time in office, President Trump has had a contentious relationship with France. On Thursday, he meets with newly-elected French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris. Olivier Knox, Chief Washington correspondent for Yahoo News, joins The Takeaway to explain what to expect from the president's trip.
  
  
• The Women’s U.S. Open starts today at the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey. That has some activists upset over the United States Golf Association’s choice of venue, given the president’s documented sexism and misogyny towards women. As protesters make calls to boycott the U.S. Open, Anya Alvarez, a contributor to ESPNW and The Guardian, and a former LPGA professional golfer, argues that singling out golfers misses the point.

• On Wednesday, the Larsen C Ice Shelf broke off the Western side of Antarctica. The rift in the shelf had been growing faster than scientists anticipated, and now that it is in the sea, it could hasten the collapse of the entire ice shelf. Rob Kunzig, environmental science editor for National Geographic, has the details. 

This episode is hosted by Todd Zwillich.

Coming up on today's show:

• After a year of denying that his campaign had any connections to the Kremlin, President Donald Trump is facing the first piece of hard evidence that key members of his campaign knowingly met with Russians in order to obtain information on Hillary Clinton. The president's eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., says he's prepared to testify before the congressional committees investigating Russian meddling. Sen. Ron Wyden, who sits on the Senate Intelligence Committee, explains how these new revelations may change the Senate's investigation. 

• Republicans need 50 votes to get a healthcare bill through the Senate, but more than a few GOP lawmakers say they're not on board with the plan to repeal and replace Obamacare. Perry Bacon Jr., a senior writer at FiveThirtyEight, explores why the GOP is having a hard time wrangling votes, and what it means for the Republican Party if the bill is dead. 

• A team of Chinese researchers has reportedly teleported a photon into space. It involves a complex phenomenon of quantum physics called entanglement. Scientists routinely teleport photons on Earth using entanglement, but with the move into space represents an impressive new achievement. Krister Shalm, a research associate at the National Institute of Standards and Technologies, has the details. 

• The month of July has been a particularly deadly one in Mexico, as criminal groups fight for the remnants of the empire once controlled by drug kingpin El Chapo. A battle between rival drug cartels left at least 26 dead in Mexico's Sierra Madre mountains, where illegal drugs have deep roots in the community. Joshua Partlow, Mexico City bureau chief for The Washington Post, weighs in. 

• Today, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will meet with foreign ministers from the four Arab states leading a boycott against Qatar in an effort to broker a resolution. It will be Tillerson’s first test in high level crisis negotiation. For a look at what to expect, The Takeaway turns to Charles Dunne, a scholar with Middle East Institute and a former diplomat in the U.S. foreign service for 24 years.

• Newly-appointed Poet Laureate Tracy K. Smith is a Pulitzer Prize-winning author who has published three books of poetry and written a memoir. She was appointed by the librarian of Congress, and fills the role for a year. She discusses her work, and how her poetry fits into modern American life. 

This segment is hosted by Todd Zwillich.

Coming up on today's show:

• After reports emerged this weekend that Donald Trump Jr. met with a Russian lawyer with links to the Kremlin in order to gather information on Hillary Clinton’s campaign, The Takeaway looks back at all of the reported meetings between members of the Trump team and Russia with Ryan Goodman, former special counsel to the Department of Defense.

• Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin, who was carried over from the Obama administration, discusses his efforts to reform the VA, and provide better healthcare and educational opportunities to America’s veterans.

• Three federal judges are hearing a case this week to determine whether the state of Texas intentionally weakened voting rights for millions of minorities. Jim Malewitz, an investigative reporter at The Texas Tribune, explains the details of the case and how it could be affected by the Supreme Court in the fall. 

• The University of Washington released a controversial study that alleges Seattle's minimum wage hike is bad for businesses and workers. Michael Reich, a professor of economics and co-chair of the Center on Wage and Employment Dynamics at the Institute for Research on Labor and Employment at the University of California at Berkeley, weighs in. 

• Takeaway Producer Oliver Lazarus examines how New York's sanctuary city policies often fail to live up to the rhetoric from City Hall. While the Big Apple invests millions in protective services for undocumented immigrants, Immigration and Customs Enforcement has considerable jurisdiction in the city, and regularly shows up to courthouses, often without a warrant.

• Stefanie Payne, a communication strategist at NASA, and Jonathan Irish, a professional photographer represented by National Geographic, spent a year traveling to every national park in the country to celebrate the centennial of the National Parks Service. They discuss their epic 43,000 mile journey and new multimedia project today on The Takeaway. 

This episode is hosted by Todd Zwillich.

Coming up on today's show:

• The Iraqi government declared victory in Mosul after almost nine months of fighting Islamic State militants. But efforts to rebuild the city's infrastructure and population are expected to bring a heavy cost. Tim Arango, Baghdad bureau chief for our partners at The New York Times, brings us the latest on the fight for control of Mosul. 

• Breaking with longstanding policy, the U.S. will delay announcing combat deaths from America's war in Afghanistan until 24 hours after informing the next-of-kin.  This new development raises more questions about the Trump administration's commitment to transparency. Shawn Snow, a reporter for the Military Times and Marine veteran, explains. 

• Following his meeting with Vladimir Putin, President Donald Trump is trying to reset the narrative on Russia yet again. Will Pomeranz, deputy director of the Kennan Institute for Advanced Russian Studies at the Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington, joins The Takeaway to discuss the president’s meeting with Putin, and what it signals for U.S.-Russia relations going forward.

• The youngest country in the world turned six years old yesterday, but celebrations in South Sudan were cancelled for the second year in a row because of civil war and famine. Alan Boswell, a conflict researcher and writer based in Nairobi, has the details. 

• In 2015, the city of St. Louis raised its minimum wage from $7.70 to $10.00 an hour. But for two years, the Missouri state legislature has worked to block the decision, and now the legislature has passed a new law to revert the minimum wage back to $7.70. Bettie Douglas, a 59-year-old minimum wage McDonald's worker in St. Louis, discusses the fight to raise the minimum wage, and what higher pay would mean for her life. 

• As the Trump administration continues its crackdown on undocumented immigrants, California farms are reeling from a shortage of workers. Joe Del Bosque is president of Del Bosque Farms in Firebaugh, California. He joins The Takeaway to comment on the labor shortage.

• For non-white children adopted by Caucasian families, race can play a role in shaping identity. As part of The Takeaway's original series "Uncomfortable Truths: Confronting Racism in America," Rebecca Carroll, editor of special projects at WNYC Radio, explains how racial lines shape her family. 

This episode is hosted by Todd Zwillich.

Coming up on today's show: 

• President Donald Trump is at the G20 Summit in Hamburg, Germany, meeting with leaders of the world’s biggest economies, including Russian President Vladimir Putin. Nikolas Gvosdev, a professor of national security studies at the U.S. Naval War College, discusses what's at stake as these meetings unfold.

• A year ago today, five police officers were shot and killed in Dallas, Texas, following a night of peaceful protests in response to the deaths of two black men, Philando Castile and Alton Sterling. Dallas Police Chief David Brown, who retired in October of 2016, joins The Takeaway to reflect on the tragedy, patterns of violence involving police, and his time serving on the force.

• Eighty years after the disappearance of Amelia Earhart, a new photo found in a former “top secret” file at the National Archives raises tantalizing questions about the famed aviator's fate. Amelia Earhart expert Ric Gillespie, the executive director of TIGHAR, (The International Group for Historic Aircraft Recovery) and author of "Finding Amelia: The True Story of the Earhart Disappearance," joins The Takeaway to help sort through the facts and fiction.

• Trying to figure out what summer shows you should be watching? Takeaway culture reporter  Melissa Locker runs through the newest seasons of "Game of Thrones," "Broadchurch," "Insecure," and the premiere of "Snowfall." 

• It's Friday, and that means movie talk. Rafer Guzman, film critic for Newsday and The Takeaway, takes a look at this week’s big releases, including "Spider-Man: Homecoming," "The Big Sick," and "Maudie."

• The craft store Hobby Lobby is being forced to return more than 5,500 artifacts that were reportedly smuggled into the United States from Iraq, most likely to be displayed in the company's forthcoming $500 million Museum of the Bible. Elizabeth Breunig, editor at The Washington Post, has been following the story since it first broke in 2015. 

This episode is hosted by Todd Zwillich.

Coming up on today's show: 

• As tensions with North Korea escalate, the people most likely to be affected by North Korean military action are the 10 million citizens just 120 miles from Pyongyang, in Seoul. Sung-Yoon Lee, a professor of Korean studies at the Fletcher School at Tufts University, discusses how the South Korean military is preparing civilians for potential action, and how South Korean citizens view the prospect of conflict with the North. 

• Earlier this year, Hawaii began working to overhaul its disaster preparedness and nuclear contingency plans as it confronts the reality of a more hostile North Korea. Matthew LoPresti is a Democratic state representative who introduced a resolution in the House to improve Hawaii's readiness and protect its civilians.

• President Donald Trump is in Poland today for a short visit before this weekend's G-20 Summit in Germany. Some in the European Union worry that his trip could be seen as an endorsement of Poland's move toward a more restrictive government. Anne Applebaum, a Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and author of Gulag: A History and columnist for The Washington Post, discusses the significance of the visit. 

• A mob attacked Venezuela’s opposition-dominated National Assembly in Caracas on Wednesday. Joshua Goodman, Andean News Director for the Associated Press, has the story.

• In an announcement made yesterday, Volvo CEO Håkan Samuelsson stated that starting in 2019, vehicles will either be powered by battery or some form of a hybrid. Rebecca Lindland, an executive analyst for the automotive site Kelley Blue Book, discusses Volvo's decision and the greater industry trend toward alternative energy.

• Has the auto industry peaked? And will President Trump's executive powers be able to stem likely layoffs? Joel Cutcher-Gershenfeld, a professor in the Heller School for Social Policy and Management at Brandeis University, joins The Takeaway to help us navigate the future of American car manufacturers.

• You might think "novel" when you think of summer reading, but nonfiction titles can be just as enthralling for your time off. Dana Williams, chair of the Department of English at Howard University, shares her new summer nonfiction picks.

This episode is hosted by Todd Zwillich.

Coming up on today's show: 

• Experts have indicated that a ballistic missile launched by North Korea late Monday was the country's first successful test of a weapon capable of reaching the United States. David Wright, co-director of the Global Security Program at the Union of Concerned Scientists and an expert on the technical side of nuclear weapons, explains just how big of a threat this weapon poses. 

• At a hearing last week before the Senate Intelligence Committee, a panel of experts testified about Russian interference in democratic elections and urged the U.S. to work closer with its allies in Europe to stop future threats. Nicholas Burns, a former ambassador to NATO, was part of the hearing and joins The Takeaway to share his concerns.

• Starting July 5, the Department of Veterans Affairs will offer emergency mental health services to veterans without honorable discharges. Kristofer Goldsmith, an Iraq War veteran, returns to The Takeaway to explain why, for many veterans, the new rule changes don't go far enough. 

• Hawaii has the highest rate of homelessness in the U.S. Many who find themselves on the street turn to informal encampments, but the state is cracking down on these communities. Hawaii-based journalist Liz Barney has been reporting on homelessness and takes us inside one of these camps.

• A federal court ruled that the Trump administration improperly suspended an Obama-era rule on methane emissions. This could be the first of many legal challenges for the current EPA. Lisa Friedman, a climate reporter at The New York Times, joins The Takeaway to discuss how this ruling could affect the White House's environmental policy going forward.

• A landfill in Wayne County, Georgia, was set be a dumping ground for thousands of tons of toxic coal ash waste. But after a long campaign led by the community and local newspaper, Wayne County may stay coal ash-free. Georgina Gustin, a reporter for InsideClimate News, and Dink NeSmith, owner of The Press-Sentinel, have the details.

• Need a summer reading recommendation? Ron Charles, of the Washington Post's Book World, joins The Takeaway to share his 2017 summer fiction picks.

This episode is hosted by Todd Zwillich.

Happy Fourth of July from The Takeaway. As the United States celebrates its independence, we’re reflecting on what it means to be American. In this special episode, we’re bringing you tough conversations from our “Uncomfortable Truths” series, which is all about confronting racism in America. Here’s what you’ll find in today’s show:

• In many ways, to be proud and free, the nation must address the sins of our past. Reniqua Allen, author of the upcoming book “It Was All A Dream? Black Millennials, Mobility, and Migration in the 21st Century,” and a producer with WNYC's United States of Anxiety podcast, reflects on the changing black experience in America.

• Jessica Shryack in Minneapolis emailed The Takeaway and said she wanted to participate in our series. She offered to highlight a discussion her good friend, Tiffany Wilson-Worsley. Tiffany is black, and Jessica is white. Today, they explain how their friendship developed by confronting preconceived ideas about race.

• Talking to your mom about identity may not seem like a conversation most people would classify as "uncomfortable," but Julia Fornes largely kept the story of her upbringing from her daughter, Alison Fornes. As Alison got older, she started to wonder why she didn't know more about her mother's childhood traditions back in the Caribbean. So she sat down to ask Julia about why she felt compelled to hide her Puerto Rican identity.

• Views of race vary throughout the community in Anchorage, Alaska, even though the state’s most populous city is incredibly diverse, with more than 90 languages spoken in public schools, and 55 percent of students identifying as people of color. Alaska Public Media's "Community in Unity" monthly dialogue series, moderated by Anne Hillman, the urban affairs reporter for the station, aims to take on a range of topics, from everything from the civil rights movement, to Native issues in The Last Frontier.

• A decades-long case of mistaken identity led two women named Lisa S. Davis on an unlikely journey. Lisa Savoy Davis is African-American and a personal trainer. Lisa Selin Davis is white and a writer and author. The two describe their unusual first meeting, and the friendship that grew out of it.  

Coming up on today's show: 

• Last week, a voter fraud commission set up by President Trump sent out voter information requests to every state. At least half of them are choosing not to fully comply, including Connecticut and Ohio. Connecticut Secretary of State Denise Merrill and Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted join The Takeaway to discuss their responses to the requests. 

• The original deadline for Qatar to comply with 13 demands set forth by neighboring Arab nations has been extended by 48 hours. Randa Slim, director at The Middle East Institute, updates us on the situation.

• A two-year civil war in Yemen may have exacerbated a devastating cholera epidemic, which has claimed more then 1,300 lives. Michelle Gayer, the emergency health director for the International Rescue Committee, has the news.

• Donations have been slow in coming to help the more than 20 million people across Yemen, South Sudan, Somalia, and northeast Nigeria who face starvation and famine. David Beasley, the executive director of the U.N. World Food Program, discusses some of the recent challenges his organization has faced.

• In the latest installment of The Takeaway's original series "Uncomfortable Truths," Rechelle Schimke, who is white, talks with her adopted brother Gerrit Schmike, who is black, about the differences — and similarities — in their childhoods.

This episode is hosted by Todd Zwillich.