Federal prosecutors will seek the death penalty for alleged Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, who is awaiting trial and has been charged with 30 counts, including killing three people and using weapons of mass destruction. More than 250 people were injured in the twin blasts on April 15, 2013. Do you agree with the government's decision to pursue the death penalty? Vote in our poll.

Last year, Syria agreed to eliminate its stockpile of chemical weapons, and now the regime's deadline to give up its entire arsenal is looming. To date, Syria has released less than 5 percent of its chemical weapons—and there's evidence that the Syrian regime is deliberately stalling on its agreement for political purposes. Reuter's correspondent Anthony Deutsch has been reporting on the delays in Syria's compliance. He joins The Takeaway to discuss the delays and whether they are politically motivated.

National Security Agency director Keith Alexander is preapring to step down in March, and according to reports, President Barack Obama is interviewing Alexander's potential successor himself. If he is confirmed by the Senate, Navy cryptologist and Vice Admiral Mike Rogers will take the helm of the NSA as the agency faces renewed public scrutiny. Rogers's former colleague John Nagl, a retired Lieutenant Colonel, counterinsurgency expert and headmaster of the Haverford School, discusses the Vice Admiral's resume and how he might change the NSA.

In the first season of "The West Wing," the White House hosts an open house for "Big Block of Cheese Day," a nod to President Jackson, who hosted a similar event for the American people. This year, the Obama Administration has adopted the tradition. Today the White House is hosting a virtual "Big Block of Cheese Day" over social media. Eli Attie, writer and producer for "The West Wing," discusses the tradition, from the Jacksonian Era to the fictional Bartlet Administration to the Obama White House today.

Throughout the 1990s, meth was produced by the government of North Korea. But these days it’s ordinary North Koreans who have set up their own labs and are manufacturing and distributing it. In North Korea, “meth is offered as casually as a cup of tea,” according to LA Times Beijing Bureau Chief Barbara Demick. She joins The Takeaway to explain why the government stopped producing the drug, and how entrepreneurs have since picked up the business.

Also on Today's Show: A blanket of ice in the South is leaving thousands stranded in cars, schools, and even public radio stations...The Takeaway got a lot of great entries for our Soup or Bowl recipe contest and we've managed to narrow it down to our top four recipes...The battle over gay rights in India is in the courts and on the streets after the Indian Supreme Court refused to review a decision to restore the criminalization of gay sex.

Also on Today's Show: Takeaway listeners gave us their to-do lists for President Barack Obama in 2014. From healthcare to the state of the criminal justice system in America, we call upon experts to tell us whether we can realistically expect these issues to be addressed...As President Obama prepares to deliver his State of the Union address, a big focus on tonight's speech will be on income inequality in America. But, a new analysis of the data might suggest that we are misinterpreting the state of income inequality.

Artist, composer and performer R. Luke DuBois developed his signature style through data mining. In his 2008 piece, "Hindsight is Always 20/20," DuBois isolates the most frequently mentioned words from State of the Union Addresses that span from George Washington to George W. Bush. As President Barack Obama prepares for the 2014 State of the Union Address, DuBois examines word patterns in State of the Union Addresses over time, and describes how a president's rhetoric reflects their era.

Also on Today's Show: The political crisis in Ukraine is escalating, with the justice minister threatening a state of a emergency—a move that many on the ground believe will make a bad situation worse...Last week, Alabama declared a state of emergency over propane shortage. But it's not just Alabama—Texas and Ohio have also declared a propane emergency. Today on The Takeaway, the details behind the propane shortage hitting farmers and residential customers all across the country.

In advance of the State of the Union on Tuesday, we're creating a Takeaway to do list called "SOTU To Do,"—and we need your help. What should be on Obama's to do list? Tweet us @TheTakeaway using #SOTUToDo and we'll make our own, listener-sponsored to do list for the president. But first, Takeaway Washington Correspondent Todd Zwillich examines the topics President Barack Obama will likely cover on Tuesday.

"The marketing of it is of particular concern because not only is it glamorizing and in some ways sexualizing e-cigarettes, there is a concern that it is going to renormalizing smoking," says Michael Eriksen, former director of the CDC's Office on Smoking and Health.

It's become popular to insist that the key to a successful career is to simply "follow your bliss" straight into a profession that you're truly passionate about. For most people, is it really practical to do what you love? And if it's not, why are we giving this advice to our young people? Miya Tokumitsu, holds a Ph.D in art history. Her recent essay in Jacobin magazine breaks down why being told to "do what you love" isn't necessarily sound advice.

Other Highlights From Today's Show: Governor Jerry Brown has declared a drought emergency for the state of California. What does this mean for cities like San Diego?...Our Movie Date team reviews this week's big release and gives their top picks for this year’s Sundance Film Festival ...The World Economic Forum will devote all of today to panels and talks on the threat of climate change. Is this a sign of things to come?

Hillary Clinton has yet to declare her candidacy for the 2016 presidential race, but the Clinton machine is well-oiled and ready for action. Amy Chozick, reporter for Takeaway partner The New York Times, is the author of "Planet Hillary," the cover story in this week's New York Times Magazine. She explains how the Clinton campaign machine is gearing up for 2016.

At the end of last year as the federal government allowed long-term unemployment benefits to expire for 1.3 million Americans, and North Carolina led the way in also reducing benefits. Paul Tine is a North Carolina state representative that voted for the unemployment cuts. Jaslyn Roberts is the career center director for Charlotte Works, a job training organization. Together they explain how things have changed in the state since benefits have been cut.