The Takeaway continues its ongoing look at America as a patchwork nation, rather than a collection of red and blue states. This time, we focus on the "Immigration Nation." It's a group of 12 million people in 144 counties that have large Hispanic populations.

The Takeaway continues its ongoing look at America as a "patchwork" nation rather than a collection of red and blue states. This time, we focus on “Minority Central,” a group of 408 counties that are home to large pockets of black and Native American voters.

In our ongoing look at the economy, we turn to Dante Chinni of The Christian Science Monitor's Patchwork Nation project, which uses demographic information to look at America beyond state lines. No more red state or blue state. Chinni tells The Takeaway about the affluent way of life at risk in the "Monied 'Burbs."

In our ongoing look at the economy, we turn to our friend Dante Chinni of the Christian Science Monitor's Patchwork Nation project. The project uses demographic information to look at America beyond blue-and-red state dichotomies. What does financial pain feel like on a local level? Chinni talks with The Takeaway about what he's found in two communities on the frontlines of economic downturn, "Emptying Nests” and "Service Worker Centers."

Multiple sclerosis, once considered a disease that affected mainly those in Europe and North America, is actually a global concern. The Atlas of MS, the most comprehensive MS research study ever undertaken, was launched this week. For a look at the latest findings, The Takeaway checks in with the man who spearheaded this three-year endeavor.

Forget Red State - Blue State politics. But don't forget that all politics is local. The Christian Science Monitor's Patchwork Nation project is redefining political geography based on social and economic data, and in the process is clarifying the issues that will matter to Americans come November. Project leader Dante Chinni returns to The Takeaway to talk about another Patchwork Nation community, "Evangelical Epicenters."

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev is holding talks today with his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao in Tajikistan. Medvedev says China and four Central Asian republics have expressed understanding for Russia's actions in Georgia. Meanwhile, seven Western countries, including the United States, issued a joint statement condemning Russia’s decision to recognize Georgia's breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

Yesterday Russia further stoked the fire of the Georgia conflict by announcing that is was recognizing the regions of South Ossettia and Abkhazia as independent states. Next, on The Takeaway, The Central and Eastern Europe correspondent for The Economist, Edward Lucas seems to think we are looking at the beginning of a long and bumpy road.

Forget Red State - Blue State politics. But don't forget that all politics is local. The Christian Science Monitor's Patchwork Nation project is redefining political geography based on social and economic data, and in the process is clarifying the issues that will matter to Americans come November.