It’s been a week of mixed economic news. Gas prices are down; jobless claims are up; pending housing sales are up. While it's been hard to put a finger on whether the recovery is progressing or stumbling, it is clear that as presidential campaigning pushes into full swing, talk about the economy will only grow heated. This may particularly be the case in the 14 states expected to be "swing states" this election: job growth in swing states has been well below the national average for job growth around the rest of the US this past year, and that could be a major cause for concern for President Obama come this November. Motoko Rich, economics reporter for our partner The New York Times explains the latest economic numbers, and what to look for in the months ahead.

"Girls," written by and starring Lena Dunham, was initially the subject of overwhelming praise for telling the story of twenty-something New York females in a new way. But in the two weeks since the series premiered, "Girls" went from being praised to being the object of overwhelming vitriol. From the blogosphere to the New York Times, critics have asked: Why does this show, which takes place in Brooklyn, New York in 2012, have an entirely white cast? Russell Robinson is professor of law at the University of California, Berkeley and the author of a study on race, ethnicity and gender casting in Hollywood. Melissa Silverstein is the editor of Women and Hollywood and the artistic director of the Athena Film Festival.

The CIA and the Pentagon have been granted new and broader authority to carry out drone strikes in Yemen. The Obama Administration reportedly approved the clandestine campaign's expansion earlier this month, reflecting growing concern over Yemen being a safe haven for Al Qaeda operatives. Greg Miller, national security correspondent for The Washington Post explains what this policy shift will mean for the US's overseas drone campaign.

Every Friday, The Takeaway convenes a panel to look back at the week's big stories. This week, we'll hear more about Arizona v. U.S., the case that will determine the constitutionality of Arizona's immigration law, known as SB 1070. James and Rupert Murdoch both testified before a British inquiry into media ethics, our partner The New York Times published a comprehensive investigation into Walmart's practices in Mexico, and the campaign finance case against former Senator John Edwards began in North Carolina. Farai Chideya, journalist and Fellow at Harvard University's Institute of Politics, and Paddy O’Connell host of the BBC’s Broadcasting House program, explain the news of the week.

The Department of Veteran Affairs says that 95 percent of patients seeking mental health care are evaluated with two weeks. A new report from the VA Inspector General, however, suggests those claims are vastly overstated — and less than half of patients are seen that quickly. The rest wait, on average, more than a month and a half. Former soldier Jacob Manning experienced the VA's limitations first-hand in January. After he unsuccessfully tried to kill himself, a friend convinced Manning to call a local VA clinic for help. He was told, to call back the next day because the clinic was about to close. Veteran Scott Swaim is the Director of Veteran Services at Valley Cities Counseling, has worked with many troubled former soldiers. He’s also a contractor for the Washington Department of Veterans Affairs’ War Trauma and PTSD Program.

It’s Friday, when we talk about movies at the Takeaway. And there are plenty of big ones today, from the romantic comedy "Five Year Engagement" to the claymation kids movie "Pirates: Band of Misfits." Rafer Guzman and Kristen Meinzer, our Movie Date team, are here as usual. In addition to hosting the podcast, Rafer is film critic for Newsday and Kristen is culture producer for the Takeaway.

It’s day five of the John Edwards trial. We take a step back to contextualize the former North Carolina senator's sex scandal within the storied history of political infidelities. Remember Grover Cleveland's sex scandal? Our guest, historian and TV show host Dr. David Eisenbach, certainly does.  

On April 29, 1992, nearly 20 years ago, an all-white jury acquitted four white Los Angeles Police Officers in the case of Rodney King, a black motorist who suffered severe injuries after a brutal beating from the LAPD. South Los Angeles promptly exploded into riots that lasted six days, leaving more than 50 people dead, thousands injured, and $1 billion in damage. Anna Deavere Smith is an playwright, actress and author of "Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992," a one-woman show that Smith developed from interviews with 300 subjects involved in the Rodney King case and its aftermath. She reflects on the riots that tore the city apart, 20 years ago, and discusses whether and how police-community relations have changed since 1992.

A judge in the Netherlands has approved a government plan to prevent foreigners from entering cannabis cafes. Anna Holligan is a reporter for our partner the BBC.