Kristen Meinzer

Since the beginning of the war in Afghanistan, thousands of people have been forced to flee their homes, joining the 43 million refugees who are currently displaced around the world. Khaled Hosseini, bestselling author of “The Kite Runner” and “A Thousand Splendid Suns,” feels a particular kinship with these refugees. In 1980, when he was a teenager, he and his family were granted asylum in the U.S. when Afghanistan faced a different decade-long war with the Soviets.

When we think of Jihadists, we tend to think of people like Faisal Shahzad, who attempted to bomb Times Square last spring. But it so happens that one of the most famous Jihadist thinkers is a 76-year-old white woman from Westchester, New York named Maryam Jameela. Born to a non-observant Jewish family, she converted to Islam in her twenties, emigrated to Pakistan, and became a prominent female voice for conservative Islam, writing over thirty books on the subject. 

Journalist Jon Ronson has made his living writing about real people whose lives read like science fiction. "The Men Who Stare at Goats" is probably his best known work. Centering on the U.S. military’s efforts to develop paranormal warfare techniques, it was made into a Hollywood movie starring George Clooney and Jeff Bridges. Ronson’s newest work explores something just as strange and fascinating. It’s called “The Psychopath Test: A Journey Through the Madness Industry.”

In 1665, a young man from Martha's Vineyard became the first Native American to graduate from Harvard College. His name was Caleb, and a new novel imagines what his life was like, and who the people were that helped shape him. The new book is called “Caleb’s Crossing.” Pulitzer Prize winning novelist and journalist Geraldine Brooks is the author. She joins us in studio.

This week, Rafer tells Kristen why he thinks "Bridesmaids" is the most feminist film to come along in years. Kristen, in turn, tells Rafer that he might not know a darn thing about what feminism is.

WARNING: A clip from the movie contains some of the gross-out actions described and may be disturbing to some listeners!

The latest questionable campaign ad comes not from a 2012 hopeful, but from Democrat Dan Adler, who is running in a special congressional election for Jane Harman’s former seat in California. Deliciously misguided with a big budget, it’s almost impossible not to laugh at its absurdity.

This weekend, movie goers are talking about one movie: "Bridesmaids." A new raunchy ensemble comedy, it features a cast that's almost entirely female. "Bridesmaids" stars Kristen Wiig and Maya Rudolph, of "Saturday Night Live" fame, as well as Ellie Kemper from "The Office" and Wendi McLendon-Covey from "Reno 911." Crass to the point of being shocking, some cultural critics are arguing that this could be a watershed moment for women in film and comedy. 

The job market has been tough for college grads in the past few years. As we near yet another cycle of transitions, we’re taking a look at the current state of the job market, and checking in with recent graduates about what they’ve been facing. Takeaway contributor Beth Kobliner is here. Author of "Get a Financial Life,” she is also an appointee to the President’s Advisory Council on Financial Capability.

For more than thirty years, Cary Grant was one of the most bankable actors in the world, starring in such classics as “Bringing Up Baby,” “The Philadelphia Story,” “An Affair to Remember,” and “North by Northwest.” And to this day, he is the gold standard for the male movie star against whom actors like George Clooney are compared. But in 1966, at the age of 62, he hung up his hat, and focused the rest of his life on being a loving father to his only child, Jennifer Grant. Grant is the author of a new book, "Good Stuff: A Reminiscence of My Father, Cary Grant."

This spring, we’ve been sitting down with some of America’s most fascinating elder statesmen older Americans, long past retirement age, who are nonetheless still working to change how we live and work in this country. We’re calling this series “In My Experience.” And today we talk with lead singer and one of the founding members of the Blind Boys of Alabama, Jimmy Carter.

This spring, we’ve been sitting down with some of America’s most fascinating elder statesmen and stateswomen: older Americans, long past retirement age, who are nonetheless still working to change how we live and work in this country in a series called “In My Experience.” Today, our guest is comedian, movie star, and seven-time Emmy award winning TV legend Betty White. In addition to starring on “Hot in Cleveland,” White is also the author of a new book “If You Ask Me (And of Course You Won’t).”

Mel Gibson is trying to jump start his career with a movie about a depressed man who takes solace in a handheld beaver puppet. Rafer and Kristen debate whether the movie is a work of genius or an utter train wreck.

It’s Friday, and Rafer Guzman reviews this weekend's releases: "Thor," "The Beaver," and "Something Borrowed." Film critic for Newsday, Rafer Guzman also co-hosts the Takeaway’s Movie Date podcast. Below: The trailer for "Something Borrowed." Unfortunately, says Guzman, this movie is "neither a comeback nor a self-immolation for Mel Gibson."

Mother’s Day is just around the corner, and this week, during which all eyes are on the accomplishments of the president, we look at his mother, Stanley Ann Dunham. A teenage mother, she married and divorced twice, had two children, and eventually went on to earn a PhD and work in international development. New York Times writer Janny Scott has written a new, comprehensive biography of Dunham called “A Singular Woman: The Untold Story of Barack Obama's Mother.”

In the world of modern-day superstar sex symbols, there are those who simply look beautiful, and then there are those like Eva Mendes. Willing to play roles that range from the brilliant to the ridiculous, she’s famously starred in both Oscar-nominated fare like “Training Day” and loony comedies like “The Other Guys.”  Her newest film, which opens today, is called “Last Night.” The movie follows a husband and wife, played by Sam Worthington and Keira Knightley, who are each faced with the temptation stray from their marriage. Eva Mendes plays the woman who catches the eye of Sam Worthington’s character.

Mother’s Day is just around the corner. And aside from flowers and chocolates, what should we be giving Mom? Patrik Henry Bass, Takeaway contributor and senior editor at Essence magazine has compiled a list of books to say "thank you for not being like Mommy Dearest." Patrik calls his list “an ode to some of the moms we’re thankful we never had.”

This spring, we’re sitting down with some of America’s most fascinating elder statesmen; older Americans who are long past retirement age, who are nonetheless still working to change how we live and work in this country. We’re calling this series “In My Experience.” Today, our guest is Pulitzer-Prize winning cartoonist, screenwriter, playwright, and professor Jules Feiffer. The 82-year-old explains why he has no plans to retire.

In this week's Movie Date podcast, Rafer and Kristen look back at their memories of the high school prom and share their thoughts on proms on the screen — from John Hughes's "Pretty in Pink" to the new Disney teen flick, "Prom."

The countdown is over: this morning, after months of anticipation, Britain’s Prince William is marrying Kate Middleton. The wedding is in progress right now. And all this morning, we'll be bringing you live updates from both sides of the pond. We go first to Buckingham Palace where we're joined by the BBC's Laura Lynch and Paddy O'Connell. And for reaction from U.S.-based Brits we'll hear from The Takeaway's Kristen Meinzer, live from Greenwich Village, New York.

Takeaway producer — and today, wedding correspondent — Kristen Meinzer is in New York City's Greenwich Village, watching the royal festivities with other enthusiasts. We talk to Kristen about how the royal wedding is being seen on the streets of NYC.