• Washington Takeout: Takeaway Washington Correspondent Todd Zwillich asks: if the new government estimate that only 2% of the public will actually use a public option is accurate, did it warrant such a big fight? If it passes, will it have enough negotiating clout to matter?   
• Business Takeout: Bernie Madoff gave a jailhouse interview to the SEC, the agency he says should have caught him years ago. Louise Story, finance reporter for our partner The New York Times, explains why Madoff's multi-billion dollar Ponzi scheme passed regulator inspections.
• Sports Takeout: The Takeaway's Sports Contributor, Ibrahim Abdul-Matin, warms the hearts of Yankees fans as he recaps last night's Game 4 and anticipates tonight's Game 5 matchup in Philadelphia.

• Business Takeout: New York Times business correspondent Louise Story tells us about a new investment fund focusing on companies with women on their boards of directors. 
• Sports Takeout: Takeaway sports contributor Ibrahim Abdul-Matin recaps Monday Night Football and previews the start of the NBA season. 
• Listener Takeout: We hear your responses on living without credit cards and our reliance on older relatives during economic hard times.

• Washington Takeout: The Takeaway's Washington correspondent, Todd Zwillich, tells us about the week ahead in the health care reform debate.
• Business Takeout: Columnist for Slate and Newsweek Dan Gross gives us a hint at what the government might label "too big to fail" when it comes to banks.
• Sports Takeout: Takeaway contributor, Ibrahim Abdul-Matin, talks about the Yankees' win in Game 6 of the ALCS.

• Washington Takeout: The Obama administration wants to wait until the disputed Afghanistan elections are resolved before deciding on a new war strategy, including new troop levels. The Takeaway's Washington correspondent, Todd Zwillich, looks at how that decision is playing out in the capitol.
• Sports Takeout: Baseball's post-season is wrapping up, and two teams are a game away from the World Series. The Takeaway's sports contributor, Ibrahim Abdul-Matin, discusses the NY Yankees' "trampling" win (10-1) over the Anaheim Angels in Game 4 of the American League Championship Series. The Yankees now lead the series 3-1. We also get a preview of Game 5 of the National League Championship Series with the LA Dodgers squaring off against the Philadelphia Phillies.
• Listener Takeout: Listeners respond to our question on how you know it's winter and how you're preparing this year.

• Washington Takeout: Julie Mason, of The Washington Examiner, talks about a report by the American Health Industry Plans that says insurance premiums will rise if senate legislation passes.
• Sports Takeout: Ibrahim Abdul-Matin recaps Monday Night Football and Monday Night Baseball.
• Business Takeout: New York Times reporter Louise Story looks at the first criminal trial tied to the economic collapse.

The full Senate is scheduled to take up Sen. Max Baucus' (D-Mont.) health care bill later this week, but the bill's language has been thoroughly chewed over already. The influence of lobbyists and special interests has removed and reshaped many provisions once thought central to reform. We talk to New York Times Washington correspondent David Kirkpatrick; and Dave Levinthal, spokesperson for the Center for Responsive Politics, about how a bill really becomes a law. (Watch a refresher on the subject from "Schoolhouse Rock" below.)

Takeaway Washington correspondent Todd Zwillich looks ahead to a bipartisan White House meeting on Afghanistan, and a congressional battle over earmarks.

Our Washington correspondent, Todd Zwillich, joins us to talk about the latest in Washington's steps toward extending domestic unemployment benefits and discussion of potential sanctions on Iran.

When unemployment rises, so do mortgage defaults. The Obama administration's plan to help borrowers modify mortgages has had mixed results, and lawmakers are calling for a second look. To explain, we speak to finance reporter Louise Story from our partner, The New York Times.

Iran test-fired missiles over the weekend and revealed a previously undisclosed nuclear facility. We check in with Julie Mason, White House correspondent with The Washington Examiner, to gauge the reaction on Capitol Hill to these developments.