After passing the Senate 89-8, the House approved the fiscal cliff compromise negotiated by Vice President Joe Biden and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, concluding a battle over fiscal policy that's lasted two years. Takeaway Washington correspondent Todd Zwillich has been following the deal.

How truly cohesive is the U.S.'s mental health care system? And what can be done to ensure that those who need care most have access to it? Dr. E. Fuller Torrey discusses the shortcomings of the country's resources for the mentally ill.

Amardeep Kaleka, and his brother Pardeep, traveled to India this week to pay tribute to their father, who was killed in the Sikh temple shooting in Oak Creek, Wisconsin earlier this year. They talk about the long journey that's taken them from Oak Creek to India, and the stops they've made in between to advocate for stronger gun control laws in America.

The 112th Congress may have avoided a disaster by striking a last-minute compromise on the fiscal cliff-- but that's not the feeling among thousands in the New York/New Jersey region today. The House seems set to adjourn without having voted on an aid package for the victims of Hurricane Sandy. Bob Hennelly, contributing editor for politics and investigations for our co-producer, WNYC looks at the package and what the delay in its passage could mean for storm victims.

As we enter the new year, many of us are looking ahead to the future, but as writing instructor Susan Shapiro sees it, it might be more constructive for us to look back at the past-- and particularly at our biggest mistakes and humiliations.

Comet ISON is expected to pass close to earth in late 2013 and when it does, it could be one of the brightest comets seen in many years, perhaps even brighter than the full Moon. The American Museum of Natural History's Denton Ebel talks about Comet ISON and other spectacular comets.

Two standout athletes are dominating this year's NFL MVP chatter: Denver Bronco's quarterback Peyton Manning and Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson. SB Nation editor Samuel Chamberlain and Takeaway Sports contributor Ibrahim Abdul-Matin weigh in.