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The Brian Lehrer Show / November 09, 2009

The Brian Lehrer Show

Monday, November 09, 2009
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  • BERLIN, GERMANY: (FILES) West Berliners crowd in front of the Berlin Wall early 11 November 1989 as they watch East German border guards demolishing a section of the wall in order to open a new crossing point between East and West Berlin, near the Potsdamer Square. The day before, Gunter Schabowski, the East Berlin Communist party boss, declared that starting from midnight, East Germans would be free to leave the country, without permission, at any point along the border, including the crossing-points through the Wall in Berlin. Germany will celebrate 09 November 2004 the 15th anniversary of the wall's fall. AFP PHOTO FILES/GERARD MALIE (Photo credit should read GERARD MALIE/AFP/Getty Images)
    West Berliners crowd in front of the Berlin Wall early 11 November 1989 (Getty Images)

    A Look Back

    20 years ago today the Berlin Wall came down. Three authors of books on the fall of communism and its repercussions mark the occasion. Plus, 2009 is also the 10th anniversary of Radio Rookies, the WNYC program that lets teenagers tell their own stories on the air. Three past and current “rookies” talk about program and how it affected their lives. And, E.D. Hirsch argues for public schools and a core curriculum.

Debrief on the Health Care Bill

Jonathan Alter, senior editor and columnist for Newsweek, offers analysis of the health care bill, and is joined by New Jersey Congressman Bill Pascrell.

Educating for a Cohesive Citizenry

E.D. Hirsch, retired professor of education and humanities at the University of Virginia, advocates for core curricula and public schools in his new book, The Making of Americans: Democracy and Our Schools.

Jesus Gonzalez, Brian Lehrer and Veralyn Williams

Rookies Anniversary

Celebrating the 10th Anniversary of Radio Rookies, two former rookies, Jesus Gonzalez, Youth Power community organizer for Make the Road By Walking, and Veralyn Williams, freelance tv, radio producer, reporter, and editor, share excerpts of their pieces and discuss how the program affected their lives. Radio Rookies senior producer Kaari Pitkin joins the discussion.

Twenty Years After The Fall of the Berlin Wall

On the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, three authors who have written on the subject look back on the fall of communism and its continuing repercussions:

Michael Meyer, chief speechwriter to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, former Newsweek Bureau chief for Germany, Central Europe and the Balkans between 1988 and 1992 and author of The Year that Changed the World: The Untold Story Behind the Fall of the Berlin Wall.

Victor Sebestyen, British journalist born in Hungary and author of the books Twelve Days: The Story of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution and Revolution 1989: The Fall of the Soviet Empire.

Romesh Ratnesar, assistant managing editor of Time Magazine and the author of Tear Down This Wall: A City, a President, and the Speech that Ended the Cold War.

Abortion and the Health Care Bill

One last-minute element to the health care reform bill was the Stupak/ Pitts amendment, which limits coverage of abortions. Laurie Rubiner, Vice President for Public Policy and Advocacy Planned Parenthood Federation of America and Planned Parenthood Action Fund, discusses the amendment.

Read the Planned Parenthood Statement on Stupak/Pitts

Michael Moore on Brian's 20th Anniversary

The Brian Lehrer Show

Live from the Greene Space: Michael Moore talks about his new documentary, Capitalism: A Love Story and Brian celebrates the 20 year anniversary of the show with a 20 year news quiz.

fish lizzard

Happy 150th Birthday, Evolution!

The Brian Lehrer Show

Richard Dawkins, biologist, professor of the Public Understanding of Science at Oxford University, and author of many books on science, most recently, The Greatest Show on Earth: The Evidence for Evolution, talks about Charles Darwin's On the Origin of Species, which was published on 24 November 1859.

What's Next for the Movement?

The Brian Lehrer Show

In the aftermath of President Obama's campaign, Kevin Powell, Brooklyn-based community activist has written a new book, Open Letters to America: Essays by Kevin Powell, outlining his thoughts about political engagement, particularly among African-American youth.

No Logo

No Logo: One Decade Later

The Brian Lehrer Show

Journalist and activist Naomi Klein discusses the ten-year anniversary of the release of her landmark book NO LOGO: Taking Aim at the Brand Bullies.

A person dressed as a bear to represent a bear market performs outside the New York Stock Exchange on October 6, 200 in New York. Wall Street tumbled after the opening bell as fallout from the credit crisis triggered concerns about the economy and the Dow fell below 10,000 for the first time in four years.

Uncommon Indicators

The Brian Lehrer Show

The Brian Lehrer Show wants to hear how the economy is affecting the little things in your daily life. Share your stories and photos of the downturn.

Help us map abandoned lots, stalled construction and unsold condos.

Video Picks

The Brian Lehrer Show

Check out some recent video clips of interviews with guests and Brian Lehrer's weekly Web video picks.