Hillary Clinton steps out of the political spotlight today as she departs from the U.S. State Department after four years as secretary of state. As we reflect on her legacy, John Cassidy, staff writer at The New Yorker, argues that Secretary Clinton achieved more as "an ambassador to the world" than as secretary of state.

Ed Koch, the three-time mayor of New York, died this morning at the age of 88. His 12-year mayoralty encompassed the fiscal austerity of the late 1970s and the racial conflicts and municipal corruption scandals of the 1980s, an era of almost continuous discord that found Mr. Koch at the vortex of a maelstrom day after day.

Earlier this week we asked you to share stories about experiencing overwhelming beauty, and we've rounded up some of our favorites — tales of double-rainbows, starry skies, sailing under the moon, and even modern art.

Friday is movie day on the Takeaway, when we talk about the weekend’s big releases. This week, there are three: the teen zombie romance, "Warm Bodies"; the Sylvester Stallone buddy shoot-em-up, "Bullet to the Head"; and "Stand up Guys," a crime comedy starring Al Pacino, Christopher Walken. and Alan Arkin.

When author and Wesleyan University professor of film studies Jeanine Basinger decided to write a history of marriage at the movies, she remembered that her friends had been so skeptical of her own, back in 1967.

This weekend, two football teams go head-to-head in the biggest sports event on the American calendar. But this year, the Superbowl isn’t just about two teams. It’s also about two brothers: Jim Harbaugh, head coach the San Francisco 49ers and John Harbaugh, head coach of the Baltimore Ravens.