After an initial loss, several recounts, and months of challenges, Al Franken, the humorist turned talk show host turned politician, finally won Minnesota’s Senate race. Republican challenger Norm Coleman conceded the race after Minnesota’s Supreme Court ruled that the recounts were over. The Takeaway talks to Tom Scheck, reporter for Minnesota Public Radio and Polinaut blogger who has seen us all the way through this long race to the U.S. Senate. Also joining the conversation is Jay Newton-Small, Washington reporter for Time Magazine, who will explain the effect on Washington. Can you say "filibuster-proof"?
Watch Franken's victory speech below.

After 16 years, Vibe magazine made a big announcement: it's closing. The magazine founded by Quincy Jones covered the world of hip hop. But as the economy slumped, so did ad sales. Essence Magazine Senior Editor Patrik Henry Bass sees the closing of Vibe as another sign of the death of hip hop. Patrik is author of Like A Mighty Stream: The March on Washington, August 28, 1963

Nas said it three years ago: Hip Hop is Dead

They’re starting to call it “the cruise to nowhere.” For more than two weeks, the U.S. government has been closely tracking the progress of a North Korean ship as it makes its way across the South China Sea bound for Myanmar. At first officials thought the mystery ship could be the first test of the UN Security Council's resolution to allow inspection of suspicious ships. But now it seems that the North Koreans may be fishing for something else: a confrontation with the U.S. BBC Correspondent John Sudworth joins The Takeaway from Seoul, South Korea, with more of the story.

The saga of South Carolina governor Mark Sanford continues to capture the attention of his constituents, the nation, and the country of Argentina. Yesterday the wayward governor announced that his Argentine mistress was his soul mate, but that he would try to reconcile with his wife. Joining us for the latest from South Carolina is Mark Quinn, the host of South Carolina ETV and Radio’s Public Affairs Program, The Big Picture.

In the video below Sanford discusses his affair.

According to a new census report, New Orleans is the fastest growing city in the country. Last year its population grew 8.2 percent faster than any other city. And while the population has not yet reached the levels it was before Hurricane Katrina hit, the city is well on its way. Joining us to talk about life in the Big Easy are Allison Plyer, the co-director of the Greater New Orleans Community Data Center, and Shantrelle Lewis, the director of the McKenna Museum of African American Art and a longtime New Orleans resident.

For a closer look at the people behind the numbers, check out New To New Orleans: The Saints Who Came Marching In.

Click through for transcript

Tom Davis met Al Franken when they were both in high school, undoubtedly vying for title of class clown. They became friends, writing and performing comedy routines, and eventually becoming writers for Saturday Night Live. Tom Davis joins The Takeaway to share his memories of his partner in comedy. Tom Davis is the author of 39 Years of Short-Term Memory Loss: The Early Days of SNL from Someone Who Was There

A new report by the U.S. Census Bureau says that the population of New Orleans grew faster than any other city in America. Who is behind the Big Easy's growth spurt? The Takeaway talks with Jaime Peters and Marcie Dickson. They both moved to New Orleans within the past year and they'll tell us why. We’re also joined by Lolis Eric Elie, a reporter for the New Orleans Times Picayune.

As Governor Sanford stays in the headlines with new comments about his infidelity, Republicans are wincing. Sanford may not have a political future, but does his party? To look at what the recent sex scandals are doing to the Republican Party, Amity Shlaes, columnist for Bloomberg News, talks to The Takeaway.

For more Amity Shlaes, watch her appearance on The Daily Show:

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Amity Shlaes
thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Jason Jones in Iran

A United Nations inquiry into the December 2007 assassination of the former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto begins today. Bhutto was murdered in a suicide attack at a rally as she campaigned for election. Her death threw nuclear-armed U.S. ally Pakistan into crisis and her Pakistan People's Party rode a wave of sympathy to win a February 2008 election. Her widower, Asif Ali Zardari, later become President. As the commission investigating her murder gets underway, we ask whether they have enough power to get even close to the truth? The BBC’s World Affairs Correspondent Mike Wooldridge, who is in Islamabad, Pakistan, joins us with more.

As summer hits its stride, the nation’s farmer’s markets are filling up with fresh-from-the-farm produce. Peaches, blueberries, beets, lettuce, and okra are all in season. New York Times food writer Melissa Clark and Taja Sevelle from Urban Farming, a national nonprofit group dedicated to growing food in abandoned spaces, join The Takeaway for a look at the season's most delicious food. Garlic scape pesto anyone?

Want to find a farmers' market near you? Head over to Local Harvest And if you want to find out what's in season in your neck of the woods, check out this Peak Season Map

Chamomile Simple Syrup

Makes about one cup

• 1 cup water
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 big handful rinsed chamomile flowers

Put water and sugar in a pan and bring to a boil. Add chamomile flowers. Reduce heat and simmer for five minutes. Let cool. Strain.

Serving suggestions: Brush syrup on pound cake. Add to iced tea. Macerate any type of berry in a few tablespoons of syrup.

Garlic Scape Pesto

Makes about 1 cup

• 10 garlic scapes, finely chopped
•1/3 cup finely grated Parmesan
•1/3 cup slivered almonds
•About 1/2 cup olive oil
•Sea salt

Put the scapes, 1/3 cup of the cheese, almonds and half the olive oil in a food processor (or use a blender or a mortar and pestle). Blend all the ingredients. Add the remaining oil and, if you want, more cheese. If you like the texture, start eating. To thin, add more oil, a tablespoon at a time. Season with salt.

You can store the pesto in the refrigerator for up to a week or saved in the freezer for up to two months.

Serving suggestions: Add to pasta. Dress a tomato salad. Brush on toast for bruschetta.

Pain medication is one of the marvels of the modern age. But as Americans buy billions of doses of acetaminophen each year, the risk of misuse increases. More than 400 people die and 42,000 are hospitalized every year in the United States from overdoses of the drug. Yesterday a federal advisory panel recommended banning some popular prescription drugs – including Vicodin and Percocet – because of safety concerns. For more we turn to New York Times science writer Donald McNeil.

We had a live online Question and Answer session with Beth Kobliner, author of "Get a Financial Life: Personal Finance In Your Twenties and Thirties."

Click through for the full transcript ...