The wealth gap between whites and minorities in the United States has ballooned to its largest ratios in decades, according to a new study by the Pew Research Center. Hispanics were the hardest hit in the recession, seeing their median wealth shrink 66 percent between 2005 and 2009, while white Americans only saw a dip of 16 percent.

President Obama and House Speaker John Boehner both addressed the nation last night, explaining where each of their parties stand on the current debate over the debt ceiling. What impact did the speeches have?

President Obama stood before the nation and pleaded with Congress to come to an agreement as soon as possible, in a prime-time speech to the American public last night. "We can't allow the American people to become collateral damage to Washington's political warfare," he said. House Speaker John Boehner immediately followed Obama's speech with his response, agreeing that the debate needs to be resolved, but urging Obama to sign on to the Republican proposal to raise the debt limit.

The music world lost one of its young stars over the weekend when Amy Winehouse was found dead in her London home. The singer was known for her unique vocal style and unapologetic rock star lifestyle. Winehouse was 27-years-old, the same age many of music's legends said goodbye to us far too early. They are known as the "27 Club" and they include Brian Jones, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison and Kurt Cobain.

The methodical killing of over 90 people by a gunman in Norway over the weekend has gripped the world with horror. The accused, Anders Behring Breivik, is currently in police custody, and has said he acted alone. Marcus Mabry, editor-at-large of The International Herald Tribune, the international edition of The New York Times, believes this tragic event has made Europe aware of a different kind of threat that they never knew was out there - extremist right-wing groups.

European leaders came to an agreement yesterday to help keep Greece and the rest of the euro zone from falling further into financial crisis. Greece will receive a second bailout, in the amount of 109 billion euros, or $157 billion. The move by the euro zone comes as Ireland and Portugal are still teetering on economic turmoil. The European Financial Stability Facility, the euro zone's rescue fund, will be given broad new powers to assist countries that have not yet been bailed out. It is unclear how French and German citizens, who have opposed any bailout, will react to the deal.

There are two major stories in the news both revolving around deals that have been held up by long, entrenched standoffs.

First, the debt debate wages on in Washington. After hours of closed-door meetings with high-level members of Congress, rumors floated around Capitol Hill yesterday that President Obama and Speaker of the House John Boehner were close to reaching a debt deal that would call for as much as $3 trillion in savings. 

Hundreds of thousands of homeowners who took out loans with Countrywide, and were overcharged for their loans when they fell behind on their payments can expect some money back soon. It's taken over a year for the Federal Trade Commission to figure out who will get parts of a $108 million settlement reached last summer with Countrywide. Countrywide will begin mailing checks today. Wells Fargo, the largest U.S. home lender, has also agreed to a steep fine of $85 million, for roping borrowers into costlier-than-necessary loans.

News Corporation founder Rupert Murdoch, his son James, and former News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks were questioned for hours by British lawmakers yesterday morning. "Sorry" became the theme of the day, as the three apologized profusely for the phone hacking scandal, though Murdoch did say he was not aware it was taking place. Around noon, an attacker threw a pie at Murdoch. 

Rupert Murdoch and his son James testified before the British Parliament yesterday, as one of their company's papers is mired in an illegal phone hacking scandal. Apropos of this, we decided to take a look at the dynamic of dynasties in the newspaper industry with Emily Bingham. She is a historian and a descendant of the Robert Worth Bingham, who for decades owned numerous media properties in Louisville, Kentucky, including the Louisville Times and The Courier-Journal.

The Takeaway's Washington correspondent, Todd Zwillich, called it correctly on yesterday's show, saying that the Gang of Six — a bipartisan group of senators who have been trying to formulate a deficit-reduction plan for months — would make a comeback. President Obama praised praised the group's proposal yesterday, calling it a "very significant step" toward a budget negotiation.

Demonstrators continue to protest in the streets of Athens today, amid violence and tear gas. Many Greeks are not happy with their government's upcoming vote on austerity measures, which would mean higher taxes and many spending cuts. If Greece's government does not pass the austerity measures, though, they would be at risk of not receiving a €12 billion bail-out, and becoming the first eurozone country to default.

The International Monetary Fund has a new managing director. Her name is Christine Lagarde, and she is the first woman to head the IMF, taking over for Dominique Strauss-Kahn. Her reign begins with some obstacles, namely Greece on the brink of defaulting. 

The Hotel Interncontinental in Kabul, Afghanistan was attacked by gunmen and suicide bombers yesterday. Gun fire was exchanged between the terrorists and police force for many hours, and ended with NATO helicopters shooting and killing three militants on the hotel's roof. The identity of the terrorists has not been confirmed yet, but many believe the Taliban are responsible.

President Obama emphasized nation building in his speech last week, announcing his plans for troop withdrawal from Afghanistan. We have been asking Takeaway listeners: how would you like to see the government spend all of the money once spent on wars, here at home?  

Many of you would like to see improvements in energy and a shift away from foreign oil dependence. President Obama suggested requiring all cars and light trucks to run at 56.2 miles per gallon by 2025. Is this feasible?

Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann made it official yesterday - she is running for president. She will go up against the likes of Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich, and Tim Pawlenty, for the Republican nomination.  How will her entry change the race?

Illinois' embattled ex-Governor Rod Blagojevich was found guilty yesterday on 17 counts of corruption, and could face up to 20 years in prison. Blagojevich was caught on tape trying to extort money in exchange for President Obama's vacated Senate seat in late 2008. Blagojevich had maintained his innocence throughout the trial, and was surprised by the guilty verdict. “I, frankly, am stunned," he told reporters. 

Tens of thousands of Greeks are gathering in the streets of Athens today, as part of a 48-hour strike to protest an austerity package that includes deep spending cuts and higher taxes, and would need to pass in order for Greece to obtain a bail-out from the European Union. Parliament will vote on the austerity package tomorrow. Polls show eighty percent of Greeks are apposed to the package. 

For the second time in history, an infectious disease has been eradicated. In 1979, smallpox was the first disease to be successfully wiped away. Now, a little-known disease called rinderpest is now joining the list. Rinderpest means "cattle plague" in German, and is a relative of the measles virus that infects cattle, deer, and other hoofed animals. The most virulent strains killed 95 percent of the herds they attacked, which was life-threatening for any society dependent on cattle. It has been blamed for speeding the fall of the Roman Empire.

The International Criminal Court decided this morning to issue a warrant for the arrests of Col. Muammar Gadhafi, his son Saif al-Islam Gadhafi, and Gadhafi's intelligence chief, on charges of crimes against humanity. It has been 100 days since NATO began air strikes against Libya and Col. Muammar Gadhafi's forces.