Could all the public attention affect George Zimmerman’s right to a fair trial? It’s a question that Wendy Kaminer has been mulling over. Kaminer is a lawyer, social critic, and correspondent at The Atlantic. She’s also the author of eight books, including “Worst Instincts: Cowardice, Conformity, and the ACLU.”

The Trayvon Martin case caught national attention after the release of the 911 calls George Zimmerman made to police just before the shooting. Those recordings have played a major role in shaping public opinion, throwing into doubt whether Zimmerman will get a fair trial. Sonny Brasfield is executive director of the Association of County Commissions of Alabama. He helped draft the 2010 legislation that made Alabama the first state to bar the release of 911 recordings. Wendy Kaminer is a lawyer, social critic and contributing editor at The Atlantic.

Heavy stuff this week. "October Baby" tells the story of a woman's discovery that her mother almost aborted her. Intended or not, the movie's politics — see what happens when you don't have an abortion? — align comfortably with those of the religious Right. Likewise, the recent film "The Lorax" and 2006's "Happy Feet" decry the ills of global warming in a quintessentially liberal parlance. But not all movies have agendas, right?

Three big movies out today: the horror movie “Cabin in the Woods,” the Farrelly brothers long-awaited “Three Stooges,” and the action movie “Lockout,” starring Guy Pierce. Rafer Guzman and Kristen Meinzer, our Movie Date team, are here as usual. In addition to hosting the podcast, Rafer is film critic for Newsday and Kristen is culture producer for the Takeaway.

Back in 1970, in the city of San Diego, a small group of comic book fans decided to organize a convention. Their dream was to attract 500 fans. In the end, however, only 300 showed up. But the organizers didn’t give up. Over 40 years later, San Diego Comic-Con International attracts 130,000 attendees each year. Morgan Spurlock takes a closer look at these die-hard fans, and the mother of all comic book conventions in his new movie, which hits theatres today. It’s called “Comic-Con Episode IV.”

It has been 46 days since 17-year-old Trayvon Martin was shot and killed in Sanford, Florida, yet it will be months before there is any resolution in the case. Although second degree murder charges have been filed against the man who admits to shooting Trayvon, but it could be eight months or more before a jury is convened and the trial begins. What happens in the meantime? Valerie Houston is a Pastor at Allen Chapel AME Church in Sanford, Florida, and Farai Chideya is a journalist and blogger at Farai.com.

Last night in a press conference, Florida state special prosecutor Angela Corey announced the charges filed against George Zimmerman for the shooting death of Trayvon Martin on February 26. Zimmerman was arrested yesterday on charges of second degree murder. Adam Kaeloha Causey, a reporter with the Florida Times Union, attended last night's press conference. Dale Carson is a lawyer and retired legal instructor for the FBI, and joins us to discuss the legal explanation behind Zimmerman's arrest.

This year, hundreds of thousands of Americans will travel abroad, not to see ancient ruins or visit historic sites, but to undergo affordable medical care. These medical tourists will go to Mexico, Thailand, Costa Rica and elsewhere for everything from root canals to hip replacements. And while this type of tourism has been around for decades, it’s become more and more popular as health-care costs in the U.S. continue to rise. Paul Vehorn is a behavioral psychologist who’s visited Thailand for two different procedures, and James Surowiecki is a journalist with the New Yorker who explores what the bigger economic implications of medical tourism might be in his article entitled “Club Med.”

Last night at 6pm, Florida state special prosecutor Angela Corey announced that George Zimmerman had been charged with second degree murder in the Trayvon Martin case.

In addition to stating the charges, she also announced that George Zimmerman was in state custody, and responded to questions from the journalists.

Among the journalists there was Adam Kealoha Causey, a reporter with the Florida Times Union.

And offering a legal interpretation on last night’s press conference is Dale Carson, a lawyer, retired legal instructor for the FBI, and a former police officer.

Despite his best efforts, Santorum always seemed to be two steps behind the Republican front-runner, Mitt Romney. And yesterday, he announced that he’d no longer try to catch up. Weighing in on Santorum's decision are Todd Zwillich, The Takeaway's Washington correspondent, Ron Christie, Takeaway contributor and Republican political strategist, and Karen Martin, organizer of Spartanburg Tea Party, who previously told us she was hoping for "anyone but Romney" but now her perspective has changed.

Rick Santorum has suspended his campaign for the Republican presidential nomination, leaving an essentially two-man race between Romney and Obama. Moving forward, what will the Republican, Mitt Romney, do to win the support of Rick Santorum’s supporters? And as President Obama directs his attacks toward the Republican front-runner, what strategy will he have to enlist?

With all the talk of Rick Santorum bowing out of the GOP race, solidifying Mitt Romney's status as the Party's likely choice to face off against President Obama, it's easy to forget about the Democrats. They have the White House to secure, a slim lead to retain in the Senate, and, oh yeah, they'd like to take back the House too! There's likely no one as deeply involved in the Democrats' 2012 campaign as Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Chair of the Democratic National Committee.

Last week we talked with a woman who championed a law that requires sites like Backpage.com to obtain documentation proving that the escorts they advertise are at least 18. But in addition to these laws, what else should be done to protect children from the world of sex trafficking? Nicholas Kristof, columnist for our partner The New York Times, has delved extensively into this question.

Thomas Kinkade, the self-appointed "Painter of Light," died last Friday. In the days since his passing, the debate that surrounded him when he was alive has grown even louder. Was Kinkade a great democratizer of art or a charlatan businessman? Susan Orlean penned one of the most comprehensive pieces ever written on Thomas Kinkade for the New Yorker in 2001, entitled "Art for Everybody."

Citizens Medical Center is, by most measures, a respected and respectable hospital. A non-profit, their mission is to serve their community of South Texas. And in their mission, they’ve been mostly successful, appearing on Thomas Reuters’ list of top 100 American hospitals three times over the past decade. 

And yet, the Victoria, Texas hospital has people across the country outraged. The reason: a hiring policy they instituted last year. In short, the policy requires potential employees to have a body mass index below 35. This means that a man who is 5-foot-10 and 245 pounds would not meet the hospital’s hiring requirements.

The Titanic sank 100 years ago this month. To mark the anniversary, James Cameron is re-releasing his mega-blockbuster "Titanic" in 3D, prompting some critics to say its strictly a marketing ploy while others cheer the innovation.

Will "Titanic 3D" burn a hole in your wallet, or will it blow your mind? This week, Rafer and Kristen put that question to Daniel Engber, senior editor at Slate. Listen to find out what he's got to say.

It’s Friday, when we talk about movies at The Takeaway. There are a couple very big ones this week, as well some smaller ones. On the big side, we have Titanic 3D, and on the small side, a socially conservative, religious, and very controversial film called “October Baby.” Rafer Guzman and Kristen Meinzer, our Movie Date team, are here as usual. In addition to hosting the podcast, Rafer is film critic for Newsday and Kristen is the culture producer for The Takeaway.

Twenty years ago today, Serb militants opened fire on thousands of peace demonstrators in Sarajevo, the Muslim-led capitol city of the newly independent state of Bosnia-Hercegovina. The attack set off what would become the longest siege of a capitol city in modern warfare — lasting from April 5, 1992 to February 29, 1996. We talk to Nadja Halilbegovich, born and raised in Sarajevo, who still has mortar in her body from the days of the siege, and Barbara Demick, author of "Logavina Street: Life and Death in a Sarajevo Neighborhood," which hits bookstores this month.

On the fall of 2005, New Orleans was in the grip of one of the worst natural and social disasters in American history: Hurricane Katrina. And six days after Katrina hit, it became clear the disaster went beyond rising water, poorly constructed levees, and questionable relief efforts. Laura Maggi of the Times Picayune joins us from New Orleans to tell us about the sentencing and aftermath of the Danziger Bridge case.

If you need proof that the economy is looking up, you need only look as far as your neighborhood car lot, or maybe even your own driveway. This week it was announced that there was a major bump in March auto sales. How major? Chrysler alone experienced a 34% increase in sales over the course of the month. Paul Eisenstein is the publisher of TheDetroitBureau.com. He explains what to make of these auto numbers, and whether they’re sustainable.