Flu season is back, and this year's strain of the virus is especially brutal. But why is the 2013 influenza strain so bad? Dr. Joseph Bresee, chief of the Epidemiology and Prevention Branch in the CDC's Influenza Division, explains.

The New York City Medical Examiner has announced that the office is reviewing more than 800 rape kits, cases were handled by a former lab technician who made a series of incorrect reports over the course of ten years, from 2001 to 2011. Lawrence Kobilinsky, forensic scientist and chair of the science department at John Jay College, discusses the science of DNA analysis. Erin Murphy, professor of at New York University School of Law, explains the legal issues at stake.

Residents of Coastal New York and New Jersey are still feeling the aftereffects of Sandy more than two months after the powerful storm. President Obama signed a $9.7 billion Sandy aid package last Sunday, and Congress will decide the fate of another $51 billion aid package next Tuesday. Bob Hennelly, contributing editor for politics and investigations for Takeaway co-producer WNYC, discusses the politics behind Sandy aid, and how victims are coping.

The flu outbreak is so severe in Boston that Mayor Thomas Menino declared a health emergency this week. Dr. Brien Barnewolt, chair of emergency medicine at Tufts Medical Center, describes the scene on the ground. 

This week, the Baseball Writers of America decided that in 2013, no players would be elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. Potential inductees included players hailing from the infamous steroids era. Yesterday, Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig announced that the League would expand its drug testing program. Dave Zirin, sports columnist for The Nation, explores the ramifications for MLB players and the league itself.

The national borrowing limit is set at $16.4 trillion, but that limit needs to be raised in order for the Treasury Department to continue to be able to pay for what Congress has already approved. If Congress doesn't agree to the increase, the President has warned that the consequences will be "catastrophic." Meanwhile, Congressional Republicans have been threatening to demand spending cuts before agreeing to raise the debt ceiling. Joe Weisenthal, deputy editor of Business Insider, lays out the options for tackling the coming crisis.

This weekend, Queens of Comedy Tina Fey and Amy Poehler host the Golden Globes, just a few days after Emma Stone and 2013 Oscar host Seth McFarlane presented the Oscar nominations. Add to that the Razzie nominations for the worst movies of 2012, and you have a well-rounded kick-off to red carpet season. The Takeaway’s Movie Date team, Rafer Guzman and Kristen Meinzer have all the details on the nominees, the snubs, and the upcoming shows.