Last Friday was not the calmest day at the White House, as reporters and Republican lawmakers continued to press on the details of the Benghazi embassy attack. Plus, revelations that the IRS was targeting conservative groups. Ben Smith, Buzzfeed editor in chief, talks about the latest from Washington.

U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara says that NY State Senator Malcolm Smith "tried to bribe his way" into a shot at the New York City mayoral race. Both Sen. Smith and New York City Councilman Dan Halloran were arrested this morning for the alleged plot.

Ben Smith, editor in chief of Buzzfeed, gives his analysis of the President's press conference, originally scheduled for 11:15 this morning. It will be the final press conference in his first term. 

WNYC news host and reporter Richard Hake and NJPR host David Furst join Brian for the latest news on the storm, with WNYC reporters and other guests, including live coverage of Gov. Cuomo's and Mayor Bloomberg's press conferences.  Plus, your calls.

Coverage of Day 3 continues at Charlotte with guests from Radio Row at the convention center. Featuring:

• Ben Smith, editor in chief of BuzzFeed and political columnist for Politico
• Dan Malloy, governor of Connecticut
• Baratunde Thurston, WNYC special correspondent

Ben Smith, editor in chief of BuzzFeed and political columnist for Politico, sets the week in politics, from Romney's tax plan to tomorrow's primaries in Michigan and Arizona.

Colin Campbell, the man behind the Brooklyn Politics blog, and Ben Smith, senior political writer for Politico, discuss the special elections taking place in the NY-9, 54th AD, and elsewhere in the area.

Did you vote today? Tell us how you voted and why. Phones will be open 212.433.WNYC, or post in the comments below!

There's down to the wire, and then there's this. Ben Smith, senior political writer for Politico.com, discusses the continued intransigence in the debt ceiling negotiations in Washington, and the various plans being crafted in the Republican and Democratic camps.

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Ben Smith, senior political writer for Politico.com discusses the lewd tweet Representative Anthony Weiner sent out last week, and the controversy that’s ensued.

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Yesterday, the Senate voted against taking up a military bill that includes the DREAM Act and a repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." Ben Smith, senior political writer at Politico, discusses the vote and politics at play. Plus, your take on this morning's surprising Paladino-Cuomo poll - it's closer than almost anyone expected.

Sarah Palin, Newt Gingrich, and other Republican stars are headed to New Orleans. Politico.com's Ben Smith and Time's Michael Scherer discuss this weekend's Southern Republican Leadership Conference and what's ahead for the Republican party heading into November's mid-term elections.

ACORN is reorganizing. Edward-Isaac Dovere, editor of the monthly publication focused on New York politics and policy City Hall, and Ben Smith, senior political writer for Politico.com, discuss the reorganization of the beleaguered anti-poverty group ACORN.

The most anticipated conversation about the environment in years will kick off in Copenhagen today. It'll last seven days: Leaders from 192 countries, including President Obama, will attend at least some of the conference. by. International Herald Tribute correspondent James Kanter joins us from Copenhagen to tell us what's on the agenda there. Meanwhile, climate legislation seems low on the list of major priorities for the Obama administration. Politico's Ben Smith joins us to talk about how, with healthcare and financial reform on the agenda, serious legislative action on climate will likely be a long time coming.

Is the health care debate really Obama's Waterloo? Ben Smith of Politico discusses the battle lines being drawn in Washington. Then, Congressman Ron Kind (D-WI), discusses what centrist Democrats want from health care legislation, and why he voted against the bill last Friday.

President Obama will sign a presidential memorandum today to extend benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees as far as allowed under the Defense of Marriage Act. It's a surprise move that comes as the president faces criticism from several gay rights leaders over what they suggest has been a failure to live up to campaign promises in the first months of his presidency. For more on what the memorandum might provide, we're joined by Politico's Ben Smith.

President-elect Obama's aides will release a report today reportedly showing his transition team is clean. Meanwhile, the Illinois state senate committee considering impeachment of Blagojevich ended its work for the week without coming to any definitive conclusions. Politico's Ben Smith joins The Takeaway for an update.

In the final, intense sprint to the finish of the election, is there a Sarah Palin insurgency? Politico blogger Ben Smith sees increasing signs of tension in the McCain-Palin camp as lousy poll numbers and damaging revelations — like Palin's $150,000 makeover — are leading to finger-pointing and skirmishes within the campaign.

Ben Smith, reporter for Politico, and Stephen Dinan, reporter and blogger for The Washington Times, discuss the vetting process of Sarah Palin, plus the big speeches from last night.

Then
Christine Todd Whitman, former New Jersey governor, co-chair of the Republican Leadership Council, ...

Ben Smith, co-founder of Room Eight, discusses a grand jury subpoena issued to silence his blog, where he writes about New York politics. Attorney Paul Alan Levy also joins us to talk about bloggers' First Amendment rights.