Caitlin Shamberg

Video released on Wednesday shows oil gushing into the Gulf of Mexico, as attempts to stop the flow of oil continue to fail. It's been reported that the bad wiring, a leak and a dead battery may have all contributed to the failure of the blowout protector on the well. And the oil continues to gush into the Gulf.

You can see a video on Youtube of the larger of two leaks, which is approximately 460 feet from the top of the blowout preventer and rests at a depth of about 5,000 feet. Watch the video below.

If Elena Kagan is confirmed as a Supreme Court judge, she’ll third woman and the third Jew to sit on the bench. The changing face of the Court has gotten us talking about the importance of diversity and we wanted to hear from you. We asked listeners, "When you look at your closest nine, how diverse is the group?"

Critics of Elena Kagan have emerged on both the Right and the Left. Among the issues raised are her lack of judicial experience, her efforts to ban military recruiters from Harvard’s campus, and her “brief” record. Some say we just don’t know enough about her. (And she doesn’t even have much of a Facebook presence, but more on that later.)

“In only 19 of the 100 largest metro areas did more than a quarter of the workforce in 2008 commute by a mode other than driving alone.” — Brookings Institution report, "The State of Metropolitan American"

Today we took a closer look at a new Brookings Institution report, which said that despite measures to encourage people to commute differently (Pogo Sticks, anyone?), we all still prefer to drive our cars — alone.

People talk to us every day on the web, on Facebook, via Twitter and on the air, so we're starting a new feature all about what you have to say called "Feedback Loop," written by web producer Caitlin Shamberg. Check it out on the blog after each day's show.

Happy Mother's Day! To celebrate, (and because the new documentary, “Babies" made us revisit our own early years), we’re collecting baby photos this week. Our hosts have uploaded theirs (too cute!), but we want to see yours. Join in!

We also had a great time asking you about your favorite movie moms. “The Terminator’s” Sarah Connor may be one of the toughest moms on film, but there are so many more that listeners sent in. From Joan Crawford in "Mildred Pierce" to Cher in "Mask," we got a great listener-generated list. Here it is:

For a brief moment on Sunday, eyes were fixed on the image of a balding white man changing his t-shirt in Times Square. It was reported that authorities were searching for this man, who was thought to possibly have connections to the car bomb attempt at one of New York’s busiest intersections. But he was the wrong guy. Poor guy. Turned out that particular piece of tape was useless. But was his privacy violated?

On today’s tech segment, we took a look at the efficacy of surveillance cameras. According to our guest, Bruce Schneier, security technologist and author, “Cameras don't have a preventative effect on crime, they don't reduce crime rates, measurably. At best, they move crime around.”

We're focusing on the Motor City this week as we broadcast from WDET Detroit. Today we spoke with author, Jeffrey Eugenides, about growing up and writing about the Detroit. We also heard from Robert Bobb, emergency financial director of the Detroit public school system about the struggle to improve the city's schools. And listeners have been telling us what they love about the city and one listener even sent in pictures. 

"I love that Detroit is one of the few cities in America that is thinking critically and rethinking what a city is and can be. You'll find some of the most amazing thinkers and people in the world right here in Detroit redefining what the word 'city' means."
 - Brian, Takeaway listener in Detroit, Mich.

We’ve gotten scores of responses to our question: What makes Detroit a great city? Listeners cite a strong work ethic, great arts institutions and yummy restaurants. And so we’re taking a closer look at one neighborhood that embodies the complexity of a city that struggles with poverty and unemployment, yet is alive with a cultural heritage that its citizens embrace and celebrate: Southwest Detroit's Mexicantown.

Earlier this week Caitlin Hebert and Cody Salvas wrote in to give us their six-words on the State of the Union, writing, "Bad economy no one is acting" and "What the hell is going on?!" We check in with the tenth graders to see if President Obama's address changed their minds. 

John Hockenberry walks through some moments from past State of the Union addresses, looking at the themes that always recur: the economy, health care, jobs, the deficit and changes big and small to our constitution and government.

John Hockenberry sat down with Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Mike Mullen at the Pentagon on Wednesday for a wide-ranging conversation. In this excerpt, we ask him about the use of Guantanamo Bay in the Haiti relief effort and working with a Haitian government in disarray.

Protestors, experts and delegations from 192 countries have descended on Copenhagen to try to come up with a strategies for combating climate change resolution. Developing countries a...