David J Fazekas

China has existed as an independent state for close to 4,000 years. After a decline in the 20th Century, the large nation has risen to the ranks of a global superpower in recent decades, replacing the USSR as U.S. rival; but it has also been a partner. Many would argue that Dr. Henry Kissinger is the man to thank for China's current relationship with the West, and particularly the U.S. He joins us for more on that subject and his new book "On China," and also admits to mistakes in strategy by the Nixon Administration on the war in Vietnam.

President Barack Obama arrives in Ireland today, as he begins is week long trip to Europe. His stops include the UK, France, and Poland. Jason Stallman, editor for the national desk at The New York Times, looks at what we can expect in the week ahead on this trip. 

As the president journeys through Europe, a number of key economic indicators is set to be released, including GDP figures. Charlie Herman, economics and business editor for The Takeaway and WNYC, crunches the numbers for us and tells us if good things are ahead for our economy.

The news that Maria Shriver was leaving her husband, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, earlier this month sent shock waves across the nation. The reason for her seeking a divorce remained just speculation in the media and blogosphere until the Los Angeles Times broke the revelation that Schwarzenegger had a secret love child. Sharon Waxman, founder and CEO of TheWrap.com, and Tracy Weber, senior reporter for ProPublica, talk about what this scandal says about our culture.

In President Barack Obama's speech on the Middle East Thursday, he addressed the looming issue of peace between Israel and Palestine. President Obama said that the borders of "Israel and Palestine should be based on the 1967 lines." This statement drew immediate negative reaction from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is scheduled to meet with President Obama today in Washington, D.C.

Two NATO helicopters allegedly crossed over into Pakistani air space and were shot at by Pakistani ground troops yesterday morning. This incident comes at a time when relations between Pakistan and the U.S. are extremely tense and fragile. Both countries need each other, but both would love to be less dependent on the other, and are trying to find ways to accomplish that. Teresita Schaffer, former U.S. ambassador to Sri Lanka, analyzes the relationship.

LinkedIn, the social networking site for professionals is scheduled to set share prices today, and then start selling Thursday. This event comes as there is great demand by investors for more companies like LinkedIn and Facebook to go public. And while investors are itching to invest in these companies, these same businesses are going to great lengths to try and woo young talent to work for them. Louise Story, Wall Street and finance reporter for The New York Times, has the latest.

It's been four years since the financial crisis submerged the U.S. into a deep recession, that its still trying to recover from, yet many wonder, why no major cases have been brought against any of the banks that were culprits in the collapse. That may all change. New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has subpoenaed three major Wall Street banks. Louise Story, Wall Street and finance reporter for The New York Times, has the latest.

Erik Prince, the founder of Blackwater Worldwide has found work for his new company, Reflex Responses, helping to build a mercenary army for the United Arab Emirates. There are questions about the legality about such a project — an American training foreign soldiers without the U.S.'s approval. Kateri Carmola, an associate professor of political philosophy at Middlebury College in Vermont, explains why this is such an explosive move.

The embattled managing director for the International Monetary Fund, Dominique Strauss-Kahn, was denied bail yesterday, after being arrested and charged over the weekend with raping a Manhattan hotel maid. His arrest has shocked and angered many in France, where he was considered by many a strong candidate for the presidency. Some of those reacting from Strauss-Kahn's country believe he has been unfairly treated, and find it impossible to believe that he committed such a crime.

Tough guys, fast cars — you may tell your children to stay away from such a crowd, but there are actually numerous car clubs that defy that stereotype. Dr. Brenda Gross-Nixon, aka "The Church Lady," is part of the Lady Ryderz, who along many other clubs hold fundraisers in Brooklyn to better the community. This past weekend, Circuit Family Police and Clergy held a fundraiser to raise $25,000 for a gun buy-back program.

While Washington continues tp debate the debt ceiling, the United States is expected to reach the limit on its debt today. This means the government will no longer be able to borrow money. Charlie Herman, business and economics editor for The Takeaway and WNYC Radio, says it's just a mystery what will happen, because we're not seeing any deals on the table yet. There are questions about the future of the International Monetary Fund after its managing director, Dominique Strauss-Kahn was arrested in New York for allegedly sexually assaulting a Manhattan hotel maid.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission cited Alabama Brown's Ferry nuclear power plant for a failed valve, that could have hindered efforts to cool one of the reactors in an emergency. This news comes on the heals of the NRC coming under criticism for being too close to the nuclear industry to really be an effective regulator. Tom Zeller, senior reporter on energy and environment at The Huffington Post, shares what needs to change for the NRC to become an effective overseer of the nation's nuclear power industry.

Michelle Obama is hosting a poetry program tonight at the White House, and her guest will be hop-hop artist, Lonnie Rashid Lynn, Jr., better known as, Common. Many conservatives are outraged by this decision, Fox News called the rapper, "vile." Conservatives are pointing to a set of lyrics from Common's "A Letter to the Law," where he says:"With that happening, why they messing with Saddam? Burn a Bush cos' for peace he no push no button. Killing over oil and grease, no weapons of destruction."

It appears the U.S. is leering towards Pakistan with suspicious eyes after intelligence reports Osama bin Laden was most likely living in a compound in Abbottabad, for close to six years. The White House claims a healthy relationship with Pakistan is vital to U.S. national security. How will the relationship between the U.S. and Pakistan change after bin Laden's death — will it improve or deteriorate? And what will Pakistan's new role in the international community be? To help us answer those questions is Munir Akram, former Pakistani ambassador to the United Nations.

Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence agency (ISI) has received heavy scrutiny from the United States, after a raid by U.S. special forces on a compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan, lead to the killing of Osama bin Laden. Information gathered from the raid suggests bin Laden had been living in that compound for close to six years. Many question the circumstances of the most wanted man in the world had been living safely within Pakistan's borders, in a $1 million compound, for that long without anyone in the ISI knowing. However, with U.S.-Pakistan relations at stake, it is necessary to pay close attention to evidence and not jump to conclusions, says Christine Fair.

Over two terabytes of information have been extracted from Osama bin Laden's hard drives, taken during the raid on his compound last Sunday. According to Tom Donilon, President Obama's national security adviser, the amount of information could fill a small college library. We talk with Tom Ridge, former head of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security; former governor of Pennsylvania; and current president and CEO of Ridge Global, an international security and risk management firm based in Washington, D.C., about the impact that the new intel will have on our national security and foreign policy.

A week ago, Osama bin Laden was found and killed by American special forces in Pakistan. A hefty amount of information has been retrieved from the compound, enough information to fill a "small college library," according to Tom Donilon, President Obama's National Security Adviser. A number of videos of Osama bin Laden were released to the public, including one, which shows the late terrorist watching videos of himself on a small television. Callie Crossley, host of "The Callie Crossley Show" on WGBH in Boston, looks at what all this intelligence will tell us about bin Laden, and how this affects the U.S. role in Afghanistan.

President Obama appeared on CBS's "60 Minutes" Sunday night to talk about what transpired leading up to the raid of Osama bin Laden's compound and his subsequent death. Todd Zwillich, The Takeaway's Washington correspondent responds to President Obama's fascinating explanation of the "decision points" that were part of the raid.

50 years ago today, brave men and women white and black boarded buses in Washington, D.C. and rode through the South, with their final destination being a rally in New Orleans. On their way there, they encountered violent racist attacks, including from members of the Ku Klux Klan, who firebombed them in Alabama. Jim Zwerg and Glenda Gaither Davis were both passengers on those buses, and they join us today to share their memories, and hopes for the future.

The news of Osama bin Laden's death have helped boost President Obama's poll numbers. Todd Zwillich, The Takeaway's Washington correspondent explains the numbers and warns that the impact may not be as significant as one might think. Although, bin Laden's killing is good for the president, domestic issues will likely bring that boost back down before the elections.