As the nation prepares for the inauguration, the excited attendees are already streaming onto the National Mall. The Takeaway's Andrea Bernstein is there to report on the mood of those lucky enough to be in D.C. today. We are also joined by The Takeaway's contributor Patrik Henry Bass with his thoughts on the day when America will swear in the first African-American to lead the nation. Patrik Henry Bass is the Senior Editor of Essence magazine and the author of Like A Mighty Stream: The March on Washington, August 28, 1963.

In just a few hours the Lesbian and Gay Band Association will be making history as the first gay band to be included in an inaugural parade. During the Clinton era the LGBA were invited to inaugural events, but never asked to take part in the march down Pennsylvania Ave. We are joined by Femi Oke who went to the band's last dress rehearsal.

WNYC's own Terrance McKnight is in Washington, D.C. to witness the Inauguration of Barack Obama. We asked him to craft an essay on the subject of what this Inauguration means to him. Listen to his take on this historic day.

We asked our listeners and contributors to give us their thoughts on what the Inauguration of Barack Obama means to them. We got answers from across the nation.

This morning The Takeaway is reaching out across the country to see how the inauguration is resonating in local communities. We'll start with Detroit and Atlanta, majority black cities with rich African-American cultural traditions. William Boone, professor of political science at Clark Atlanta University, and Sarah Hulett, Detroit reporter for Michigan Radio, join John and Adaora with perspectives on the inauguration and their home towns.

In a frightening echo of the killing of 2006's murder of Anna Politkovskaya a very prominent Russian lawyer, Stanislav Markelov, was assassinated in broad daylight in Moscow yesterday. The speculation is that Markelov was targeted for his human rights activities. We turn to James Rodgers, the BBC's Moscow correspondent, for more on this disturbing event.

Chaos has embarked upon our nation's capitol today and no one knows that better than Capitol News Connection's Todd Zwillich. He joins us from one of the best seats in the business for today’s festivities. Being a Washington insider he used his credentials to secure a prime seat a mere 50 yards from where the soon-to-be President will be sworn in. All he has to do now though is wait and while he waits, he’s met quite a cast of characters.

The Takeaway's Andrea Bernstein is on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. right now waiting and waiting. She joins us for a report on what she's seeing, who she is meeting, and what the mood in Washington is like right now.

Soon-to-be President Barack Obama faces an enormous challenge today, namely living up to his own reputation as a remarkable speechwriter and orator. For a look at what message he should deliver, and what themes he'll have to uphold as the nation's 44th president, we are joined by Marcus Mabry. Marcus Mabry is the International Business Editor for The New York Times. He’s been a recurring voice throughout our election coverage and he joins us from Washington, D.C. today to weigh in on this historic moment.

We are listening in on the conversations happening in Washington, D.C. and across the nation as Barack Obama's inauguration brings millions of together from every corner of the country. Amy from Concord, New Hampshire shared her story and it speaks to both the optimism and sense of hope for today.

The seemingly unflappable soon-to-be President Barack Obama has all eyes on him today, but by now he should be pretty used to the attention. For the past 77 days since the election he has projected the calm, cool and collected image of a man who today will formally inherit the many burdens that plague this nation. New York Times reporter Peter Baker has a piece in today’s paper about what those 77 days say about the President-elect.

For more, read Peter Baker's article,Transition Holds Clues to How Obama Will Govern , in today's New York Times.

The Takeaway's look at how the inauguration is viewed across America continues with Dan Moulthrop, host of The Sound of Ideas on WCPN in Cleveland, and Johanna Sailor, a reporter for South Dakota Public Broadcasting. They'll discuss the particular perspectives of their corners of the nation on this historic day.

In one of the longest presidential campaigns in history, some people didn't believe Obama would be president until all the votes were in. Others believed from the moment they saw him at the Democratic National Convention in 2004. But when did Barack Obama believe he would be president? We take a look back at his speeches and appearances and try to figure out when he believed.

President-elect Obama has said he was inspired to climb the steps of the White House by the brave act of nine black Arkansas teenagers who made their way up the steps of Central High School in 1957 defying segregationists. Today, Obama will reach that highest of goals. Ernest Green is one of the Arkansas high school students who integrated Central High and will be a guest of honor at the inauguration this morning. He gives us his take on today.

Though Barack Obama’s ascent to the presidency is a monumental step in America, it doesn’t mean there isn't more work to be done to address the long legacy of racism and discrimination. Our contributor, Patrik Henry Bass, cautions that in order to carry this moment of hope for generations to come, our next challenge is to manage our racial expectations. Bass is the Senior Editor of Essence Magazine and author of " Like A Mighty Stream: The March on Washington, August 28, 1963."

As we continue with our national conversation on today's historic events, we turn to New Orleans and Times-Picayune columnist Lolis Eric Elie who says that as Barack Obama ascends to the presidency his hopes are up...but so is his guard.

The streets and sidewalks of Washington, D.C. are filling up with excited people from across the nation and around the world as the final preparation for Barack Obama's swearing in as president get underway. We check in with Capitol News Connection's Todd Zwillich who is on the podium waiting for the President-elect, Femi Oke who is on the increasingly crowded sidewalks of D.C., and the New York Times' Marcus Mabry.

Obama-mania is hitting the world as the inauguration of the 44th President gets underway. But outside of the United States, change has already started to come to Iraq. For a look at how Iraqis are viewing the change in power in the United States, we are joined by BBC Correspondent Jonny Dymond from Baghdad.

With all the coverage of the inauguration and all eyes on the president-elect, you would think the whole country was behind the new president. But that's definitely not the case in Oklahoma, where not one single county voted for Barack Obama. Joining us to discuss how Oklahomans are viewing this day is Michael Cross, the State Capital Bureau Chief at KOSU in Oklahoma City.

While Washington, D.C. is the center of attention today, we are gathering reactions to these historic events from across the country. The conversation continues now as we turn to Adam Arlington at KWMU in St. Louis and Susanna Capelouto, news director at Georgia Public Broadcasting in Atlanta.

Our conversation with the nation continues as we look for reactions to this historic Inauguration. We now turn to Chicago where WBEZ reporter Tony Arnold tells us how Obama's political home town is preparing to watch their Senator become President. The New York Times' Marcus Mabry rides along to give his thoughts on the events.

We return to The Takeaway's Femi Oke who is staked out on the crowded streets of Washington, D.C. She is shoving her microphone in front of anyone who will talk to her (and some who won't) in order to get the pulse of the scene.

Our national conversation continues with Joe Hicks, talk show host from Los Angeles on KFI. He may just be waking up, but he woke up excited for today's events and renewed global goodwill. He also lets us know all the best spots to view the Inauguration, even from 3,000 miles away. Marcus Mabry is still with us and offers his insights from Washington, D.C.

We return to the New York Times' Marcus Mabry who has been with us all morning for his final thoughts on this Inauguration. He discusses mandates, votes, and race in America.