Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke spoke before Congress today. He gave his assessment of the American economy and proposed new potential measures to foster economic growth. The Takeaway has been speaking with Americans about their experiences since the beginning of the recession, and followed up with three on their economic outlooks.

Legendary science fiction author Ray Bradbury died yesterday at age 91.  He's remembered best for short-story collections like "The Martian Chronicles," and novels like "Fahrenheit 451," "Something Wicked This Way Comes," and "Dandelion Wine." Kim Stanley Robinson, science fiction writer known for his award-winning Mars trilogy, was born in Waukegan, Illinois, the same hometown of Ray Bradbury. He describes Bradbury's enduring influence.

Activists say the Mubarak regime tortured and killed many who they deemed enemies of the state. And it's all archived in the secret files of the secret police, files that could further incriminate Mubarak and spell bad news for his cronies. Helena Merriman investigated the whereabouts of the secret police files and spoke with protesters who stormed government buildings to sneak out what files they could.

First there were sexual abuse cover ups. Then there was a string of private letters and documents published in Italian newspapers called "Vatileaks" suggesting trouble in Rome. Now the Catholic Church has condemned an influential group of American nuns for promoting “radical feminist themes." How is the Church handling this worsening public relations disaster?

As the saying goes, "Everything's bigger in Texas." In her new book, "As Texas Goes...," Gail Collins, author and op-ed columnist for our partner The New York Times, discovers that this statement also applies to the Lonestar State's influence on American politics.

Unemployment is dropping and debts are closing in some of the country’s big swing states. Can governors like Scott Walker and John Kasich of Ohio take credit for their states' revitalized economies? Or have President Obama's growth initiatives and bailouts had a positive effects?

When it comes to American history, Americans are often on shaky ground. Even politicians can never seem to get straight which text "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" appears in, let alone where Mount Rushmore gets its name, or what happens in the Bill of Rights after the fifth amendment. Denise Kiernan, the co-author, with Joseph D'Agnese, of "Stuff Every American Should Know," is trying to help set us straight.

In 2008, Calera, Alabama shifted the boundaries of its voting districts in a way that drastically altered the city's racial geography. Almost immediately, the U.S. Department of Justice wrote that Calera couldn't go through with it. Is voter discrimination based on race a thing of the past? Or should the government still keep watch on those states which have an unpleasant history of racism?

After learning that his beloved music was being used as a torture device at Guantanamo Bay, Sesame Street composer Christopher Cerf set out to uncover the true connection between music and violence.

For the first time, scientists have pieced together the entire DNA sequence of an 18-week-old fetus without having to use any invasive tests that could result in a miscarriage. It's an advance that offers a glimpse of the future of prenatal testing. Andrew Pollack covers bio technology for our partner the New York Times, and Dr. Jonathan Moreno is a bioethicist and professor of medical ethics at the University of Pennsylvania.