David J Fazekas

There is growing debate among Democrats and Republicans over which president's tactic helped find and kill Osama bin Laden. Was it the harsh interrogation techniques under the Bush administration, that included waterboarding and sleep deprivation of detained al-Qaida members? Or was it old fashioned surveillance and intelligence gathering methods that got bin Laden? Scott Shane, national security reporter for The New York Times says that until all the documents are declassified, it may be difficult to know.

Osama bin Laden's death sparked crowds to gather at ground zero in New York City, as well as Times Square, and in front of the White House in Washington, D.C. Cheers and chants of  "USA, USA, USA," were heard. These scenes of exaltation have some Americans wondering if celebrating death, even that of a terrorist, is actually the moral and American thing to do.

For the latest out of Washington after Osama bin Laden's death, we turn to Todd Zwillich, The Takeaway's Washington correspondent. New details on the operation that led to bin Laden's death reveal that while American forces knew that bin Laden was living at the Abbottabad compound, they didn't know for certain that he'd be home at the time of the raid. Now, the question remains as to how Washington is planning to deal with Pakistan; did the Pakistani leadership know that bin Laden was hiding out in their country?

The U.S. has been at war in Afghanistan for almost ten years, with one of the main objectives to hunt down Osama bin Laden. With bin Laden now dead — killed by American Navy Seals, and buried at sea — does U.S. foreign policy on the global war on terrorism have to change? Retired Air Force Colonel, Sam Gardiner believes President Obama will have to find a good argument to stay at war in Afghanistan.

Gas prices just keep on going up, up, up, and the average American's wallet keeps getting thinner, thinner, thinner. Congress is set to return back to session next week, and try to remedy the situation.  But is there anything they can really do to lower gas prices, and haven't we all seen this same movie before?

The Takeaway's Washington correspondent, Todd Zwillich, looks at the upcoming political debate over gas prices.

Pop lyrics seem to have taken a turn towards the "me" and "I" variety, according to a new study. The study analyzed three decades of songs, and concluded that song lyrics have become more narcissistic in recent years, reflecting current youth culture. Is that really true? Maura Johnston, music editor for The Village Voice, lends her thoughts on this topic.

We want to know: Do you believe you are narcissistic? Take this test and find out.

Armed drones will soon fly in Libya in order to help enforce the no-fly zone in place there, the White House announced last week. Drones have been a controversial military weapon over the past few years, and a new study by the British Defense Ministry, believes new technologies, such as drones, may mean we resort to military conflict much sooner and easier than before. Are drones really a useful tool in military conflict or do they just serve to escalate the situation? 

President Obama is set to deliver a much anticipated speech 1:30 p.m. at George Washington University in Washington. The speech will detail his long-term plans for reducing the nation's deficit. Todd Zwillich, The Takeaway's Washington correspondent says that the president will have to prepare the public for tough decisions as he faces the debt.

Over 20 locations across the country put in their bid to house one of the retired space shuttles, and only four won. NASA announced the winners yesterday on the 30th anniversary of the first space shuttle flight, Columbia. Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida will soon have space shuttle Atlantis; Endeavor will head to the California Science Center in Los Angeles; the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum in New York City won Enterprise, which will move from the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum, to make room for Discovery.

The budget remains the hot button issue in Washington, and cuts all across the board appear likely, except for defense. Military spending makes up approximately 20 percent of the federal budget, and will likely exceed $700 billion in 2011 — that's 40 percent of the world's total military spending. Where does all that money go to? Larry Korb, senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, and former Assistant Secretary of Defense under the Reagan administration explains.

A government shutdown was averted in the 11th hour last Friday, as Congress and the White House came to a temporary resolution on the budget crisis. President Barack Obama will give a speech on Wednesday night detailing how he hopes to reduce the deficit. But the budget debate is not over, and is actually just beginning, according to The Takeaway's Washington correspondent, Todd Zwillich. Republicans want spending drastically reduced, and Democrats want taxes increased — this will make for an even more dramatic confrontation between party lines as the issue of the debt arrives.

Last Friday night, with a government shutdown staring them right in the eyes, Congress was able to come to temporary resolution over the 2011 budget crisis. President Barack Obama will lay out the details for reducing the deficit in a speech Wednesday night. What's the next big showdown in Washington? Raising the debt ceiling. Charlie Herman, business and economics editor for The Takeaway and WNYC Radio, sees the debt debate as "bigger and more troublesome" than what just transpired over the budget.

Congressman Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), unveiled his budget yesterday, proposing cuts of some $6.2 trillion over the next decade. Medicare and Medicaid will fundamentally change under Ryan's plan — with Medicare losing $389 billion, and $735 billion being cut from Medicaid. Todd Zwillich, The Takeaway's Washington correspondent details what parts of the budget will affect Americans the most. Theda Skocpol, professor of sociology and government at Harvard University, explains how Medicare and Medicaid will change under Ryan's plan.

House Majority Leader John Boehner and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid sat behind closed doors yesterday, trying to come to compromise over the budget, but leaders in both parties seemed to be bracing for a real government shutdown by the end of the week. President Obama urged both Democrats and Republicans to put aside petty differences and come to a compromise. If they don't, every federal agency will have to come up with a contingency plan, especially the Office of Management and Budget, and the Office of Personnel Management. 

The Obama administration made a bold decision in November 2009 that divided the country, which was still scarred by the events of September 11, 2001. Attorney General Eric Holder announced the self-proclaimed mastermind of 9/11, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, and four other detainees allegedly tied to the attacks, would be tried in a civilian court in New York City, just blocks away from where the Twin Towers stood. After battling Congress for over a year, Holder reversed his decision and announced yesterday those same men will now be tried before a military commission at the Guantanamo Bay detention center.

Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein did little to ingratiate himself to the general public when in November 2009 he told The Times of London that bankers do "God's work." Now Goldman will have to face those who actually are doing "God's work."

A coalition of Catholic nuns plans to cause a scene at the investment bank's annual shareholders meeting next month. The Sisters of Saint Joseph of Boston, the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia, the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, and the Benedictine Sisters of Mt. Angel make up the coalition, and are all Goldman investors.  

Congress continues to battle over the nation's budget. Could the government be headed for a shutdown? Charlie Herman, economics editor for The Takeaway and WNYC Radio, and Callie Crossley, host of The Callie Crossley Show on WGBH, look ahead to the week in news.

Ivory Coast's bloody conflict continues, as forces loyal to President-elect Alassane Ouattara battle for power against the forces of incumbent President Laurent Gbagbo, who refuses to step down. Thousands have reportedly been killed since last November's election, many of them civilians; and tens of thousands more have lost their homes. Nearly 85,000 people have fled across the border to neighboring Liberia. Mike Sunderland, Africa media manager for Save the Children, is stationed near a refugee camp in Bahn, Liberia, and shares what he has witnessed.

General Electric is fighting back against a report by The New York Times that the company did not pay any federal taxes last year. GE called the allegations, "inaccurate," and "grossly oversimplified," and said that it did pay almost $2.7 billion in cash income taxes in 2010, and in excess of $1 billion in payroll, state and local sales and property taxes. Who's telling the truth? Louise Story, Wall Street and finance reporter for the Times, says the $2.7 billion in taxes is a global figure, which includes other countries than the U.S. And the $1 billion in state taxes paid isn't relevant, because the Times story was about GE not paying federal taxes. She also explains that GE has been fighting back against the Times' report via Twitter. They aren't disputing the facts of the story, but trying to send out their own message.

The House of Representatives voted 218 to 109 yesterday to end one of President Obama's signature economic plans, the Home Affordable Modification Program. The program was expected to help more than 4 million homeowners keep their homes, instead of the underwhelming 600,000 it managed to help — rendering it a flop. Meanwhile, the housing market remains in trouble, with sales and prices continuing to fall. Louise Story, Wall Street and finance reporter for The New York Times, has the latest on HAMP, and why housing is having an incredibly difficult time getting out of the dumps.