Todd Zwillich

Rep. Charlie Wilson (D-Tex) died yesterday at 76.  A member of the House Appropriations Committee, Mr. Wilson was best known for funding CIA support for the mujahedeen in Afghanistan in the 1980s, and of course, the movie, "Charlie Wilson's War."  We hear about Charlie Wilson's legacy with Takeaway Washington correspondent Todd Zwillich, and then with former CIA operative, Mike Scheuer.

• Washington Takeout: Takeaway Washington correspondent Todd Zwillich says that the feet of snow that blanket Capitol Hill isn't the only thing slowing Congressional appointments to a halt
• Health Takeout: Brazillian health officials are distributing 55 million condoms during Carnival. We talk with BBC reporter Paulo Cabral about the efforts to combat HIV and AIDS during the annual festival.
• Beetles Takeout: A species of beetles is eating away at trees, leaving them dead in forests around the country. We talk with Richard Hofstetter, a forest entomologist, about the noisy techniques he's using to save the trees.

• Money Takeout: Yesterday, China unseated Germany’s long held position as the world’s top exporter.  New York Times business and finance reporter Louise Story analyzes the country's achievement and predicts what may be in store for its booming economic engine.
• Washington Takeout: Takeaway Washington correspondent Todd Zwillich examines President Obama's unexpected press conference yesterday, where he made another call for bipartisanship on the Hill.
• Listeners Takeout: Listeners give us their tips on how to get healthy and stay in shape.    

John Murtha died yesterday at 77. He is being remembered as a national figure, but Takeaway Washington correspondent, Todd Zwillich brings us more about his influence in his home district of Johnstown, PA.

• Washington Takeout: Takeaway Washington correspondent, Todd Zwillich helps us remember Pennsylvania Congressman John P. Murtha, who died yesterday at 77.
• Sports Takeout: The 2010 Olympic Games kick off this week in Vancouver and Takeaway sports contributor, Ibrahim Abdul-Matin joins us to profile figure skater Johnny Weir.   

• TERRORISM: Takeaway Washington correspondent Todd Zwillich goes back to Sarah Palin's comments on terrorism at the Tea party keynote convention.
  
• BUSINESS: New York Times financial reporter Louise Story tells us how Goldman Sachs pushed A.I.G. over the edge.
  
• RESPONSES: We've been asking listeners to suggest a name and a platform for a new political party. We hear some more suggestions.

• SPORTS: Takeaway sports contributor Ibrahim Abdul-Matin recaps Super Bowl XLIV between the Indianapolis Colts and New Orleans Saints
• POWER PLANT EXPLOSION: Lucy Nalpathanchil, WNPR reporter in Middletown gives us the latest on yesterday's power plant explosion
• WASHINGTON: Obama announces a bipartisan meeting on the health care reform. Takeaway Washington correspondent Todd Zwillich brings us the latest from Washington.

• CONGRESS TAKEOUT: Takeaway Washington correspondent Todd Zwillich sets the scene of Sen. Scott Brown's swearing in, and the Massachusetts politician's thoughts on bipartisanship.
• SPORTS TAKEOUT: Ibrahim Abdul-Matin joins us with his prediction of who will emerge dominant in Super Bowl XLIV — the New Orleans Saints or the Indianapolis Colts.

Takeaway Washington correspondent Todd Zwillich caught up with Vice President Joe Biden yesterday. Biden, who was traveling his old stomping grounds on Capitol Hill to swear in Senator Scott Brown, had some interesting things to say about the filibuster rule in the Senate.

Takeaway Washington correspondent Todd Zwillich spends much of his days roaming the halls of the Capitol. We're bringing you some of the conversations he has with lawmakers and other insiders on the Hill.

• TALIBAN TAKEOUT: A senior intelligence official told the Associated Press that the U.S. believes Pakistani Taliban leader Hakimullah Mehsud died following a missile attack last month. We find out more from BBC correspondent Mark Dummetin Islamabad, Pakistan.
• MONEY TAKEOUT: New York Times business reporter Louise Story says speculation abounds over what kind of bonus Goldman Sach's CEO Lloyd Blankfein might award himself.
• SPORTS TAKEOUT: Sports contributor Ibrahim Abdul-Matin, talks about the two kickers heading into the Super Bowl. This is a position that can make the difference between a Super Bowl champion or a complete afterthought.
  

• CONGRESS TAKEOUT: Washington correspondent Todd Zwillich joins us with details of yesterday’s Senate Armed Forces Hearing which sent shockwaves through Capitol Hill after top ranking military members expressed their desire to see the repeal of the ‘Don’t Ask Don’t Tell’ law.
• SPORTS TAKEOUT: Ibrahim Abdul Matin counts down to the Super Bowl and talks about players and coaches that you might not know much about, like Indianapolis Colts defensive coordinator Larry Coyer.
• LISTENERS TAKEOUT: Listeners tell us how they help their friends who are unemployed and give us their picks for what television shows need to call it quits.

• CONGRESS TAKEOUT: Washington correspondent Todd Zwillich reports on President Obama's trip to New Hampshire — and on the continued reaction back on Capitol Hill to the president's budget.
• AUTO TAKEOUT: We know that Toyota Motor Corporation’s recall of 6.5 million cars across eight of their product lines will cost the company at least $1 billion up front.  Advertising consultant Cindy Gallop tells us that it will end up costing the company much more to repair its damaged brand.
• FINANCE TAKEOUT: New York Times business and finance reporter Louise Story says the lifting of a ban on Super Bowl commercials with an activist message has paved the way for a commercial from the conservative group, Focus on the Family.
  

President Obama is sending a $3.8 trillion budget to Congress today. The new budget predicts an average deficit over the next decade of 4.5 percent of the size of the economy.

Takeaway Washington correspondent Todd Zwillich says the budget is a direct political challege by the president to an unpopular Congress.

• CONGRESS TAKEOUT: Takeaway Washington correspondent Todd Zwillich reports on the re-confirmation of Federal Reserve Chief Ben Bernanke.
• SPORTS TAKEOUT: Sports Illustrated writer Jon Wertheim joins us with the latest from the Australian Open.
• LISTENER TAKEOUT: Listeners react to Chris Matthews comment that he "forgot" the president was black during the State of the Union.

• CONGRESS TAKEOUT: Takeaway Washington Correspondent Todd Zwillich joins us from Capitol Hill with more reaction to President Obama's State of the Union address.
• AUTO TAKEOUT: Because of faulty accelerators, Toyota decided this week to stop building and selling eight of it's most popular models, including the Camry and Corolla. Paul Eisenstein, publisher of The Detroit Bureau, joins tells us about the recall.
• BUSINESS TAKEOUT: The Federal Reserve decided this week to keep short-term interest rates near zero. New York Times finance reporter Louise Story joins us to discuss the Fed's move, and how it may help support economic recovery.

President Obama delivered his State of the Union Wednesday evening addressing jobs, the economy, health care and more. For help analyzing his speech, we talk with former Clinton speechwriter Ted Widmer and our Washington correspondent Todd Zwillich.

• WASHINGTON TAKEOUT: Washington correspondent Todd Zwillich talks about the latest on Capitol Hill, including where Congress is at with health care reform.
• MOVIE TAKEOUT:  Director James Cameron is once again 'King of the World' as "Avatar," his latest feature film, breaks the record for total box office receipts set by Cameron's "Titanic," a decade ago. Thom Geier, Senior Editor at Entertainment Weekly, joins us with a behind the numbers look at the business of blockbusting.

• WASHINGTON TAKEOUT: Washington Correspondent Todd Zwillich joins us for a look at what we might expect from President Obama's State of the Union address on Wednesday night.
  
• BUSINESS TAKEOUT:  The New York Times' Louse Story tells us about a new task force that President Obama promises will provide recovery and growth to a sector of the economy that’s been sorely overlooked in the recent spate of bail-outs and recovery bills.
• SPORTS TAKEOUT: Takeaway Sports contributor Ibrahim Abdul-Matin joins us with the latest results from the Australian Open. Just this morning, Rafael Nadal bowed out of the contest after he suffered a knee injury during the quarterfinal against Andy Murray.

• WASHINGTON TAKEOUT: In this week's State of the Union address, President Obama is expected to announce a three-year freeze in budget spending. Takeaway correspondent Todd Zwillich looks at the plan that will save an estimated $250 billion over 10 years.
• BUSINESS TAKEOUT: Yesterday, the U.S. Justice Department cleared the way for a massive merger between two of the world’s biggest concert promoters, Live Nation and Ticketmaster. The New York Times' Louise Story tells us more.
• LISTENER TAKEOUT: On yesterday's show, we talked with two doctors about how much child sex abuse is traumatic to the victim and when. It inspired one listener to call us about her own experience.