Brian recently visited China on a trip for journalists sponsored by the Committee Of 100. He and his fellow travelers will be posting reflections on the blog over the next week. Here Clive Crook of the Atlantic responds to Brian's first post.

Thanks, Brian. You raise some very interesting questions.

I think I see the basic duality you mention a bit differently. To me, it’s not about the advantages of technocratic-meritocratic leadership (which you can have with or without democracy). It’s about two kinds of freedom--political and economic.

Brian recently visited China on a trip for journalists sponsored by the Committee Of 100. He and his fellow travelers will be posting reflections on the blog over the next week.

Five American journalists went on a one week trip to China sponsored by the Committee of 100, a group of prominent Chinese-Americans founded by I.M. Pei, Yo-Yo Ma and others with a foot in both worlds who are dedicated to having our two countries understand each other better. They conduct and sponsor tours like this for journalists each year. I want to start by thanking the C-100 for leading an ambitious and supremely organized trip, introducing us to so many many top people in different walks of life, and exposing us to so many different points of view about China (and us!) It was a very rich experience and I'm sure it will add great value to all our readers/viewers/listeners through the more sophisticated understanding we will now have of China (and us.)

Brian recently visited China on a trip for journalists sponsored by the Committee Of 100. He and his fellow travelers will be posting reflections on the blog over the next week.

Grab your shovel. Four years ago this week, on the day after the 2008 election, we asked you to answer the question "By 2012, what will Obama actually change?" We put your predictions into our online "time capsule," and now, we'll open it up and look at some of what you had to say. Remember, we're doing it again: make your predictions for 2016 here. Now let's revisit some of your 2008 predictions, grouped by category.

Who do you think is going to reach 270 electoral votes? How? Tweet us your predictions. Get it right, and you'll get a shoutout on the BL Show Wednesday morning! Here's how:

1) Go to 270ToWin.com and fill out your map.

2) Click on "Share Map" and hit the Twitter button, or copy the link.

3) Post the link below, or Tweet @BrianLehrer using the hashtag #BL270 Tweet #BL270

That's it! See what other WNYC fans are predicting below.

As part of the Brian Lehrer Show's 30 Issues in 30 Days series, the WNYC Data News team is designing interactive visualizations, tools and graphics to illuminate the data behind the issues. Join the full conversation on gun traffic and gun rights.

30 Issues Interactive from the WNYC Data News Team

As part of the Brian Lehrer Show's 30 Issues in 30 Days series, the WNYC Data News team is designing interactive visualizations, tools and graphics to illuminate the data behind the issues. Join the full conversation on same-sex marriage and other gay rights issues.

WNYC asked Longform to pick great stories as background reading for our 30 Issues in 30 Days series. These are stories that help illuminate and humanize the important issues this election year. Part Five of 30 Issues looks at "social issues" -- from abortion to gay marriage, race, guns, and gender. See all the guides here.

For daily picks of new and classic nonfiction, check out Longform or follow @longform on Twitter. Have an iPad? Download Longform’s app to read the latest picks.

(Update: Great chat! Read the AMA transcript to see the conversation, and we'll do another one soon.)

Brian is doing an Ask Me Anything on Reddit Wednesday at 1pm. Check out the thread here - post and upvote questions about news, politics, WNYC, the NY/NJ area...anything!

As part of the Brian Lehrer Show's 30 Issues in 30 Days series, the WNYC Data News team is designing interactive visualizations, tools and graphics to illuminate the data behind the issues. Join the full conversation on the U.S. relationship with China here.

As part of the Brian Lehrer Show's 30 Issues in 30 Days series, the WNYC Data News team is designing interactive visualizations, tools and graphics to illuminate the data behind the issues. Join the full conversation on the Obama and Romney military record here..

As part of the Brian Lehrer Show's 30 Issues in 30 Days series, the WNYC Data News team is designing interactive visualizations, tools and graphics to illuminate the data behind the issues. Join the full conversation on the current state of environmental and energy policy here.

WNYC asked Longform to pick great stories as background reading for our 30 Issues in 30 Days series. These are stories that help illuminate and humanize the important issues this election year. Part Four of 30 Issues looks at the role of government in housing, energy, health, and military funding and policy. See all the guides here.

For daily picks of new and classic nonfiction, check out Longform or follow @longform on Twitter. Have an iPad? Download Longform’s app to read the latest picks.