Apple CEO Steve Jobs Going on Medical Leave from The Takeaway: Early Edition by feedback@thetakeaway.org (Public Radio International and WNYC Radio)

For the second time in the company’s history, Apple CEO Steve Jobs is going on medical leave. A year and a half ago, Jobs underwent a liver transplant, and recovered from pancreatic cancer in 2004. The company's most recent earnings report will also be released today. Both announcements come at a time when Apple is facing some of its toughest competition from smaller tech challengers as well as fellow titans like Google. Thus far Steve Jobs has been synonymous with Apple — an often essential part of the brand. What is the possible future of Apple without Steve Jobs? We talk about the legacy of Steve Jobs and the future of the world's most valued technology company with Ken Auletta, author of the Annals of Communications column for The New Yorker Magazine and author of “Googled: The End of the World as We Know It.” We also talk with Steven Levy, journalist for Wired magazine. The podcast will be posted on this WNYC webpage, shortly.

The US and China: Neither Friends Nor Rivals from The Takeaway: Early Edition by feedback@thetakeaway.org (Public Radio International and WNYC Radio)

As Washington prepares for a visit from Chinese President Hu Jintao this week, we take a look at what lies ahead in the shifting relationship between superpowers. Should we fear the "waking dragon"? We're joined by Gideon Rachman, chief foreign-affairs commentator for the Financial Times and author of "Zero-Sum Future: American Power in an Age of Anxiety," and Simon Tay, was an Asia Society 2009 Bernard Schwartz Fellow and is Chairman of the Singapore Institute of International Affairs. He is also the author of "Asia Alone: The Dangerous Post-Crisis Divide from America." Listen to the podcast.

What is a Chinese Mother? from The Takeaway: Early Edition by feedback@thetakeaway.org (Public Radio International and WNYC Radio)

Author, mother, and law professor Amy Chua is creating a firestorm with an essay published in this past weekend’s Wall Street Journal titled, "Why Chinese Mothers are Superior.” The essay, which was given its title by the Journal, included excerpts from her new book “Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother.” Both showcases Amy’s strict parenting style — from forcing her daughters to practice the piano well into the night without bathroom breaks, to forbidding them to attend sleepovers. We’ve invited Amy on the show today — not to discuss whether her parenting methods are good or bad or right or wrong - but to talk about whether or not her methods are really Chinese. And if they're not Chinese, what they are instead. The podcast will be posted on this webpage, shortly.

Who Will Be the Next RNC Chair? from The Takeaway: Early Edition by feedback@thetakeaway.org (Public Radio International and WNYC Radio)

Conservatives from across the country have convened in Washington this week to elect the next Republican National Committee Chair. With the 2012 presidential election right around the corner, Republican officials are looking for a leader who can rally the base, attract new voters and, of course, raise money. Michael Steele, the current RNC chair, doesn't seem to have enough support to win a second term, although he has in some ways raised the profile of the office during his term. What else does the RNC Chair need to ensure a GOP win in 2012? Joining us is Ron Christie, Republican political strategist, CEO of Christie Strategies and author of Acting White: The Curious History of a Racial Slur. Listen to the podcast.

The Price of Everything from The Takeaway: Early Edition by feedback@thetakeaway.org (Public Radio International and WNYC Radio)

Everyday, all of us spend money on things — things we need, and things we don’t. And in turn prices are put on those things. But where do those prices come from? How much has to do with supply and demand? And how much has to do with bigger forces at play? Finance writer Eduardo Porter has been researching these questions for years. His new book is called “The Price of Everything: Solving the Mystery of Why We Pay What We Do.” Porter joins us to talk about the nature of value in modern society, some of its mysteries and explanations. Listen to the podcast.

The Misinterpretation of Metaphors from The Takeaway: Early Edition by feedback@thetakeaway.org (Public Radio International and WNYC Radio)

Back in March Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords made a statement responding to Sarah Palin's anti-healthcare reform campaign, saying, "we're on Sarah Palin's targeted list. But the thing is the way that she has it depicted has the cross hairs of a gun site over our district." Could metaphors in that statement have had an effect on who Jared Loughner targeted in Arizona over the weekend? Our guest James Geary, a journalist and author of the upcoming book, "I Is an Other: The Secret Life of Metaphor and How It Shapes the Way We See the World," says that metaphors in political rhetoric and imagery have a profound and largely non-conscious effect on us. Listen to the podcast.

The Surprising Origins of Everyday Expressions from The Takeaway: Early Edition by feedback@thetakeaway.org (Public Radio International and WNYC Radio)

Why do we say we’re "flying by the seat of our pants?" Or that someone’s "got our goat?" Harry Oliver has researched hundreds of the quirky phrases we use in everyday life, and found out the history and stories behind each one. His new book is called “Flying by the Seat of Your Pants: Surprising Origins of Everyday Expressions.” Listen to the podcast.

China Considers Requiring Families to Care for Elderly from The Takeaway: Early Edition by feedback@thetakeaway.org (Public Radio International and WNYC Radio)

Caring for the elderly has long played an important role in Chinese culture. But rapid economic growth has forced adult Chinese children to abandon their hometowns to find jobs in other parts of the country — often leaving their elderly parents on their own. This cultural shift has led Chinese officials to consider a law that would require adult children to care for their parents. Sheryl WuDunn, banker with Mid-Market Securities and author of “China Wakes: The Struggle for the Soul of a Rising Power,” joins us to discuss this trend in China and how it compares to the United States. Lily Weasner immigrated to America from China in 1971. She recenlty visited China to care for her own mother, who was ill, a job that traditionally falls to the eldest child. Download the podcast here.

Assassination Throughout History from The Takeaway: Early Edition by feedback@thetakeaway.org (Public Radio International and WNYC Radio)

The weekend’s shooting reminds us how common assassination attempts on politicians are in our country. And while people spar back and forth about whether Jared Loughner is crazy or whether he is political, there’s another conversation to be had: Why does radicalism become attractive to people? And how has the brew of high-voltage rhetoric, accessibility of weapons, and a dash of encouragement lead people to commit atrocious acts that, at times, have drastically changed the course of our nation? Douglas Brinkley is a historian and a professor at Rice University and author of "The Wilderness Warrior" and "The Great Deluge." He brings historical perspective to the tragic event. The podcast will be posted on this website, shortly.

Russell Simmons on How You Can Get Rich from The Takeaway: Early Edition by feedback@thetakeaway.org (Public Radio International and WNYC Radio)

Russell Simmons made his name as one of the most influential names in hip-hop by helping to found Def Jam Records in the 2980s. But he's also a the author of a successful self-help book that Oprah Winfrey helped become a bestseller. Simmons tells us why he's trying to help people get rich. Simmons is has a new book called "Super Rich: A Guide to Having It All" and stars in a new TV show called "Running Russell Simmons." Download the podcast here.

Good Writing: On the Endangered List? from The Takeaway: Early Edition by feedback@thetakeaway.org (Public Radio International and WNYC Radi

Ben Yagoda, a professor of English and Journalism at the University of Delaware wrote an article in this week's Chronicle of Education called “The Elements of Clunk” in which he laments some currently popular usages that tend to make the language clumsy and awkward. Yesterday, we asked you to find the problems in a sentence provided by Professor Yagoda. He joins us to discuss the results and the clunky trends he has observed plaguing written English today. Ben Yagoda is the author of "Memoir: A History" and "When You Catch an Adjective Kill It: The Parts of Speech, for Better and/or Worse," Download the podcast here.

Economists See Growth with Unemployment Report from The Takeaway: Early Edition by feedback@thetakeaway.org (Public Radio International and WNYC Radio)

The Labor Department is expected to release December unemployment numbers this morning. And there are rumors the president may also announce a new chief economic adviser to replace Lawrence Summers. Unemployment is likely to remain hovering around 10 percent, but the report is expected to show positive growth from a moth ago when unemployment rose to 9.8 percent from 9.6 percent. And last week, the new claims for jobless benefits increased, while the average number of Americans filing for unemployment insurance declined — a sign of a recovering economy. We talk with Harry Holzer, professor of public policy at Georgetown and a former Chief Economist at the U.S. Department of Labor. He is also the author of the new book Where Are All the Good Jobs Going? His book is out this month from the Russell Sage Foundation. Download the podcast here.

The Takeaway’s 2010 Breakup Quiz from The Takeaway: Early Edition by feedback@thetakeaway.org (Public Radio International and WNYC Radio)

All week long we're talking with some of our favorite guests from 2010 about the year that was…the good, the bad, and the ridiculous. Today, our subject is the year’s big breakups, and our guest is author, humorist, and newshound Andy Borowitz. But rather than just talk about or look at the breakups, we’re also inviting listeners to participate and answer a quiz that we’re calling the Takeaway’s 2010 Breakup Quiz. John Hockenberry and several listeners will try to answer the questions correctly, but maybe you, at home, will beat them to the answers. Download the podcast here.

Continued Calls for Apologies, Compensation for WWII 'Comfort Women' from The Takeaway: Early Edition by feedback@thetakeaway.org (Public Radio International and WNYC Radio)

One of the few remaining Korean women who Japanese troops forced into sexual slavery during World War II has died. Advocates for the few still alive say Japan should officially apologize and compensate the "comfort women." Dr. Katherine H.S. Moon is a professor of political science at Wellesley College and author of “Sex Among Allies: Military Prostitution in U.S.-Korea Relations." She elucidates the history of the women and the underlying tensions that likely makes a Japanese apology out of the question. Download the podcast here.

As Oil Prices Rise, Looking at the Year Ahead for Energy from The Takeaway: Early Edition by feedback@thetakeaway.org (Public Radio International and WNYC Radio)

Back in 2008, the price of a barrel of oil rose to $133, and prices at the pump topped $4 per gallon. As the economy slowed, and demand for oil dropped, the price did as well. However, the cost of oil has risen to just over $90 a barrel, as confidence in the economic recovery grows stronger and the price of filling up your car is expected to keep rising throughout 2011. What will happen to our economic recovery if we hit the psychological benchmark of $100 per barrel or higher this year? Garry Golden, futurist and blogger for The Energy Road Map joins us, along with Lisa Margonelli, Fellow at the New America Foundation and author of the book “Oil on the Brain: Petroleum's Long, Strange Trip to Your Tank.” They discuss the economic effects of rising oil prices and the changes in international and national infrastructure from electric vehicles to the new oil pipeline in Siberia. Download the podcast here.

Increased Secret Shipments Endeavor to Secure Nuclear Material from The Takeaway: Early Edition by feedback@thetakeaway.org (Public Radio International and WNYC Radio)

The world has seen a recent increase in shipments, by land and sea, of nuclear materials to more secure harbors. This increase comes on the heels of President Obama's pledge to secure all the world's nuclear material within four years and the ratification of the New Start Treaty. Is the securing of these nuclear materials on schedule with the President's four-year plan? We speak with David Hoffman, who has written on the subject for Foreign Policy magazine. He is also the author of "The Dead Hand: The Untold Story of the Cold War Arms Race and Its Dangerous Legacy." Download the podcast here.

What Compels Us to Predict an Unknowable Future? from The Takeaway: Early Edition by feedback@thetakeaway.org (Public Radio International and WNYC Radio)

Anticipating the future is a classic (and possibly uniquely) human pastime. For as long as humans have kept records of the past, we have also tried to predict our future...and in so doing, control our destiny. Why do we cling to these predictions? The end of the world, the end of humanity, even our future fortunes…why do we anticipate so much? Sherry Turkle is an M.I.T. professor and the author of the forthcoming book, Alone Together: Why We Expect More from Technology and Less from Each Other. She says that by predicting future technological advances, we express a sense of hope. Simon Winchester, freelance writer and author of the book Atlantic: Great Sea Battles, Heroic Discoveries, Titanic Storms,and a Vast Ocean of a Million Stories, says that as science advances, we have gotten noticeably better at foretelling the future. Download the podcast here.

Billy the Kid: Pardoned After 130 Years from The Takeaway: Early Edition by feedback@thetakeaway.org (Public Radio International and WNYC Radio)

As one of his final acts in office, New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson says he will pardon the man known as "Billy the Kid," delivering one of America’s best known criminals the pardon he had anticipated for much of his life. The move comes a mere 130 years after the gunslinger’s death. We speak with author/historian Mark Lee Gardener, and discuss why Richardson might want to make such a public pardon to a historical criminal, and ask why the prospect of a pardon is causing such a stir. Mark recently wrote the book “To Hell on a Fast Horse: The Untold Story of Billy the Kid and Pat Garret.” Listen to the podcast.

2011: The Year Ahead in Science from The Takeaway: Early Edition by feedback@thetakeaway.org (Public Radio International and WNYC Radio)

2010 may be coming to an end, but a whole new year of news and culture awaits in 2011. All week long, we'll be talking with big thinkers about what they’re anticipating …from new movies to world events. Today, our subject is science, and our guest is the one and only Dr. Michio Kaku, theoretical physicist, bestselling author, professor at the City University of New York, and host of “Science of the Impossible.” Dr. Kaku's newest book is called "Physics of the Future: How Space Will Shape Human Destiny and Our Lives by the Year 2100." Download the podcast here.

The Future of the RNC Chair Michael Steele from The Takeaway: Early Edition by feedback@thetakeaway.org (Public Radio International and WNYC Radio)

On a conference call with members of the Republican National Committee last night, Michael Steele ended several months of speculation and announced he will run again for chair of the RNC. His term as chairman has been marked by personal gaffes, attacks from prominent Republicans calling for his head, but also significant GOP pickups in both houses of Congress. Ron Christie, Republican political strategist, CEO of Christie Strategies, and author of Acting White: The Curious History of a Racial Slur, has been one of Steele's many critics, and he shares with us what he thinks the future holds for the RNC, GOP and Steele himself.

Download the podcast here. See The Takeaway webpage on this story here. See also: Black in the White House: Life Inside George W. Bush's West Wing.