U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East George Mitchell arrives in Israel today as part of his two-week tour of the Middle East and North Africa. Against the backdrop of Israel's three week offensive in Gaza to root out Hamas militants, Mitchell has announced he is pushing a two-state solution to the Middle East conflict and during his trip he has been enlisting broad Arab support for his plan. But how important is it to have Arabic support for plans for peace in Israel? To help us answer that question, we turn to Rosemary Hollis. For ten years, Ms. Hollis was the head of the Middle East program at Chatham House—a leading international affairs think tank. She is now Director of the Olive Tree Programme at London's City Universtiy.

President Barack Obama has made clear that he views Cuban Americans as “Ambassadors of Democracy” who can bring a message to Cuba when they visit their families there. But what do Cuban-Americans think? Are they excited at this new patriotic title bestowed on them? Or glad to be able to trace their roots back to the island nation? Are they unwilling to return to Cuba while the Castros are still in power? Or are they just happy to have another beach to visit? This morning we are listening to the response from younger Cuban-Americans who were born here in the U.S. and never personally knew life under Castro or in Cuba. The Takeaway talks to Danny Mendoza, a filmmaker and student at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts.

A new report from The Sentencing Project reveals a changing demographic of prisoners who are incarcerated for drug charges. The report shows that for the first time in 25 years, since the start of the so-called War on Drugs, incarceration rates for black men has dropped. The report shows that over a six-year period, the rate of black men in jail on drug-related charges dropped 21% while the imprisonment for white men spiked by 42%. Is this racial disparity a sign of the changing prison demographic? To guide us through what these numbers mean, The Takeaway is joined by David Fathi, director of Human Rights Watch in the U.S.

Read The Sentencing Project's report, The Changing Racial Dynamics of the War on Drugs.

Researchers in Glasgow have developed an early warning sunburn indicator. A thin paper strip or sticker, filled with "intelligent ink," will turn pink after too much exposure to ultra-violet light. The device is easy to use, too: Before heading to the beach, strap on the bracelet or sticker and when you see it turn pink, it is time to put on a shirt or head indoors. The strips are inexpensive enough for frequent use and researchers are hoping to test the prototype this summer. We're learning more about this shiny new development with Andrew Mills, professor at Strathclyde University, who helped to create these sunburn wristbands.

The world is now spending billions of dollars investigating the causes of climate change. Scientists are quickly putting together physical and biological experiments and projects, hoping for solutions and models that will show us how to slow warming and save the planet. But there's another body of work underway that's focused on the human brain. This research argues that climate change policy and solutions for global warming won't be worth much until we know how to influence the individual decisions that cause global warming. To help us figure out why it is so hard to get our brains to choose green options we are joined by Jon Gertner, a contributing writer for the New York Times Magazine. His article on this will be available in the Times Magazine on Sunday.

Maybe this is a case for Captain Planet:

It's Tax Day! In these challenging economic times, and in the wake of massive bank bailouts and several of Obama's cabinet nominees who took tax missteps, people may be fishing for an excuse not to pay all of their taxes. For a primer on what motivates us to cheat—and what keeps us honest—we are joined by behavioral economist Dan Ariely. He is the James B. Duke Professor of Behavioral Economics at Duke University and author of Predictably Irrational.

For more Tax Day drama, check out our Producer's Note on the Battle of the Tax Day Tea Parties.

Are you singing about Splenda? Or nuts for Nutrisweet? Ecstastic for Equal? Slaphappy for Sweet 'N Low? Seems like everyone has an opinion on coffee shop sweeteners. Are you ready to add one more sweetener to your non-sugar repertoire? Welcome Truvia, a stevia-based sugar substitute that was approved by the FDA in December. With sugar substitutes raking in over $1.2 billion a year, you can expect new competitors in the market, but are they any good? Why are the fans so brand loyal? And whatever happened to plain old sugar? The New York Times food writer Kim Severson joins us in an exploration of the fierce competition for our tastebuds.

For more, read Kim Severson's article, Showdown at the Coffee Shop, in today's New York Times.

“Times are tough.” “We are beginning to see glimmers of hope.” Those were two of the statements President Obama made in his speech on the economy yesterday. It seems like a mixed message. What’s the best way to cope emotionally and stay on an even keel in turbulent times? Annie McKee, founder of the global consulting firm Teleos Leadership Institute, advises business leaders on how to use emotional intelligence to be effective. She joins The Takeaway to tell how regular people can use those same skills to ride the economic waves now.

Today is the Part Two of The Takeaway’s series “The Color of Money.” We’re exploring how the financial crisis is affecting people of color in the United States, perhaps differently than it affects their white peers. Today we are taking a close look at how financial services are marketed by black Americans to black Americans. For example, “rush cards" — no-credit-check, pre-paid credit cards with $200 credit limits and $50 a year in fees. We’re joined by Boyce Watkins, professor of finance at Syracuse University and founder of YourBlackWorld, to discuss access to credit, the failings of financial institutions, and the changing American Dream.

Listen to Part One of The Takeaway's Color of Money series, Debtors' Prison: It lives in the 21st Century.

Here is the ad for Russell Simmons' "Rush Card":



And here is a conversation about that Rush Card from the Young Guns Now (some harsh language):

Soon the entire subcontinent of India will have a job. They must go to their nearest polling place and elect a new government. No one is making predictions on this election other than to forecast that whatever unwieldy coalition government is elected, they have a tough road ahead. The global economic crisis has not failed to hit India, slowing growth for the first time in years. Despite the influx of three stimulus plans, which dramatically increased the deficit, the nation is still struggling, and none more than the poorest. Here with an election guide is Somini Sengupta, the South Asia bureau chief for the New York Times.

For more, read Somini Sengupta's article, As Elections Near, Tightrope Awaits in India, in today's New York Times.