Senator Jim DeMint of South Carolina talks about his book The Great American Awakening: Two Years that Changed America, Washington, and Me, and what the Tea Party means for Washington negotiations on the budget, the debt ceiling, and the Republican pres. Field.

→ Add Your Comments, Listen and Read a Recap at It's A Free Country 

Last Fourth of July, South Carolina Senator Jim DeMint published Saving Freedom: We Can Stop America's Slide into Socialism. Senator DeMint (ranked by National Journal as the Senate’s most conservative member), has been making headlines as one of President Obama's most vocal critics on everything from the economy, health care reform to Cash for Clunkers. He joins The Takeaway with his take on how to correct the country's path.

For more from Senator DeMint, watch his speech on the Senate floor against President Obama's health care plan:

Senate Republicans who oppose the release of the second $350 billion of the Troubled Asset Relief Program, known as TARP, are facing an uphill battle. It looks as though Congress will approve the release of the money, so what do Senate Republicans need to hear before they feel secure that the money will be handled appropriately? The Takeaway is joined by Republican Senator Jim DeMint of South Carolina.

For more, here is Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell discussing the need for more information before the 2nd installment of TARP funds are released.