Justice David Souter has reportedly told the White House that he will retire from the Supreme Court at the end of the court's term in June. Justice Souter's retirement would give President Obama his first pick for the high court. Adam Liptak, the Supreme Court correspondent for the New York Times, joins The Takeaway to discuss what role Souter played in the high court and who are likely replacements for him.
The World Health Organization announced yesterday that they no longer will be referring to swine flu as the "swine flu" after receiving constant pressure from the meat industry. Its new name, "influenza A (H1N1)" doesn't necessarily roll off the tongue. Grant Barrett, a lexicographer and the co-host of the public radio show "A Way with Words," joins The Takeaway.
Chrysler filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy yesterday. It was the first major automaker since Studebaker in 1933 to attempt to restructure under bankruptcy. Three years later, Studebaker emerged from bankruptcy and managed to stay alive for a few more decades until 1966. Joining The Takeaway is Rebecca Lindland from Global Insight, a financial forecasting company; and Robert Farago, a blogger for The Truth About Cars.
"When you go under the knife and under anesthesia, there's always complications. The longer the surgery lasts, the less likely the patients going to survive.And the same thing can be said about this bankruptcy idea." —Rebecca Lindland, director of Automotive Research for the Americas, on Chrysler's bankruptcy
This Saturday marks the 135th running of The Kentucky Derby. If you don't know anything about the Kentucky Derby, except that women wear big hats and spectators drink mint juleps then you're missing out, because there's so much more to the Derby than that. Like how people choose which horse to bet on, how much a jockey can weigh and why mint juleps are a waste of good bourbon.
Jennie Rees, is a reporter for the Courier Journal, she's covered horse racing for over 25 years and she joins The Takeaway from the back side of Church Hill Downs.
Watch favored horse "I Want Revenge" train for the Derby in the video below.
Hundreds of schools nationwide received unexpected vacation days this week for thousands of school kids because of concerns about swine flu. In Fort Worth, Texas, all 144 schools were closed because of a suspected swine flu case.
Joining The Takeaway is Monica Davey, the Chicago bureau chief for The New York Times,
and Clint Bond, spokesperson for The Fort Worth Independent School District to talk about the various reactions nationwide towards how to deal with swine flu concerns that are affecting our daily lives.
Justice David Souter is planning to retire after more than 19 years on the Supreme Court, giving President Obama his first chance to fill a vacancy. What was Souter known for, and what will his retirement mean for the Supreme Court? To answer these questions on The Takeaway is Nate Persily, a professor of law and political science at Columbia University. He was at the Supreme Court this week watching the events unfurl.
"I think it's likely that he's going to get three pics. I think Justice Ginsberg and Justice Stevens are likely to retire in the next three years. At least those two." —Columbia law and political science professor Nate Persily on Obama's Supreme Court picks.
Everybody is trying to do their part to reduce the effects of climate change. But most of us are also probably hoping for some major shifts in our energy infrastructure to make the biggest differences. But a group of scientists in California would like to see the Department of Energy back a relatively simple idea: lightening up the colors of our rooftops and roads to reduce the energy that our homes and land absorb.
On The Takeaway is Surabi Menon, a research scientist at the Lawrence Berkley National Laboratory in Berkley, California, to explain how this would work.
This week news congealed around three stories: The swine flu outbreak, Senator Specter’s departure from the Republican Party and President Obama’s first 100 days in office. But in a world where there are over six and a half billion people, why aren't more stories covered?
Joining The Takeaway to talk about the news food chain is Mark Jurkowitz. He is the associate director of the Pew Research Center’s Project for Excellence in Journalism. And to talk about the stories that should have made the headlines is Salon Columnist Glenn Greenwald.
Mexican officials announced this week a total shutdown of the entire country in response to the outbreak of influenza A H1-N1, better known as the swine flu. Offices, restaurants, schools, and soccer stadiums will be closed from Friday through Tuesday. Joining The Takeaway is Gustavo Arellano, a writer for the OC Weekly in Orange County, California. He also writes the blog Ask A Mexican.
Chrysler is getting another chance to rewrite its business plan and this time it's with Fiat, the Italian car company known for zippy sports cars that are far from that of Detroit V-8 engines. This is Fiat's way of breaking into the American auto industry and Chrysler's way of keeping its cars on the roadway.
On The Takeaway is Nelson Schwartz, the European economics correspondent for the New York Times who wrote the piece "Chrysler Gets an Italian Accent".
The Takeaway is a national morning news program that invites listeners to be part of the American conversation. Hosts John Hockenberry and Celeste Headlee, along with partners The New York Times, BBC World Service, WNYC, Public Radio International and WGBH Boston, deliver news and analysis and help you prepare for the day ahead.
