Tune into the second part of a special, two-part episode in honor of KCRW Berlin's last week on air.

Tune into the first part of a special, two-part episode in honor of KCRW Berlin's last week on air.

With the end of the year fast approaching, we're highlighting some of the big news stories from 2020. In this Studio Berlin episode, we revisit our discussion on President Donald Trump's plan to withdraw 9,500 U.S. troops from Germany, which first aired on July 8.

This November, we're highlighting some of the big news stories from 2020. In this Studio Berlin episode, we revisit our discussion on Germany's abortion law, which first aired on Feb. 1.

This November, we're highlighting some of the big news stories from 2020. In this Studio Berlin episode we revisit our discussion on the Black Lives Matter movement, which first aired on June 10.

Angela Merkel is the second-longest serving chancellor in modern German history. Recent polls show that German confidence in her is high, but the chancellor has made it clear she will not seek a fifth term in next year's election. What were Merkel's accomplishments and missteps over the past 15 years? And who is her possible successor?

Nov. 9 marks 31 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall. East and West Germany were officially reunited the following October, which the late Chancellor Helmut Kohl called a “dream come true." But the process of growing together brought trials and tribulations that sowed animosity between East and West Germans. Thirty years later, what does German unity look like? Host Sumi Somaskanda discusses the ups and downs of Germany's transformation. (This show first aired on Sept. 16.)

Mismanagement, corruption charges, dubious design plans and a series of technical mishaps led to delay after delay since the first scheduled opening of the Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) in 2011. So ahead of the much-beleaguered airport's official "takeoff" on Oct. 31, we’re hearing from people who have been following and a part of this story since the beginning.

As novel coronavirus cases skyrocket across Germany and Europe, we talk about what we've learned since the start of the pandemic. How can we best stop its spread, what are the new treatments and is a lockdown imminent or even wise?

This week, we measure the political climate in the U.S. in the lead up to the presidential election. With less than three weeks to go, what’s going on in the nation's capital? And what special role does the southern state of Georgia? We also explore how the next American president will shape politics on both sides of the Atlantic.

A recent survey by the children’s charity Deutsches Kinderhilfswerk found a majority believe that children’s interests have been neglected during the coronavirus pandemic. Host Sylvia Cunningham unpacks these findings with Nina Ohlmeier from the German Children's Fund; 16-year-old Mathilda Gross who is a member of the Children's and Youth Council at the charity, and Dr. Stephan Gerbig, a researcher and policy adviser for the German Institute for Human Rights.

The debate over unconditional basic income is not a new one, but it has gotten more attention in the wake of the COVID-19 health crisis. Find out more about the arguments for and against. (This show originally aired on Sept. 2.)

Two weeks after a fire destroyed the overcrowded refugee camp Moria on the Greek island of Lesbos, asylum policy is high on the EU Commission's agenda. German Chancellor Angela Merkel's governing coalition agreed to take in 1,500 additional refugees from Greece, a decision hotly debated by the opposition in the German Bundestag. Some critics say the number's not nearly enough, while others say it's time for other EU member states to step up. Host Sylvia Cunningham discusses the current situation on the Greek island of Lesbos and German aid efforts.

On Oct. 3, 1990, less than a year after the fall of the Berlin Wall, East and West Germany were reunited. But the process of growing together brought trials and tribulations that sowed animosity between East and West Germans. Thirty years later, what does German unity look like? Host Sumi Somaskanda discusses the ups and downs of Germany's transformation.

Cases of COVID-19 are rising and despite warnings from Berlin to remain alert, a growing number of Germans are pushing back against hygiene and social distancing rules even as their neighbors — the French — embrace those measures to try and avoid another lockdown. Host Sumi Somaskanda explores the subject.

The debate over unconditional basic income is not a new one, but it has gotten more attention in the wake of the COVID-19 health crisis. A new long-term study on how society would change if people were to receive a basic income is underway in Germany. Host Sylvia Cunningham explores some of the arguments for and against.

This week we revisit a controversial discussion that started earlier in the summer. Amid nationwide and international protests against racism, Germany's Green Party proposed to change Article 3 of the nation's Basic Law by removing "Rasse" - in English, "race" - from the text. Proponents of removing the word say it’s linked to Nazi ideology and this change is long overdue. Others say this move is too hasty and would actually harm people of color. Host Sylvia Cunningham finds out more.

Back in June, Berlin passed a hotly debated anti-discrimination law. It is the first of its kind in Germany and allows victims to pursue legal remedies against state officials — including police — for discrimination related to race, gender, disability, sexual orientation and more. But is the new law the panacea its proponents claim or is it villainizing the police as the law's critics contend? Host Sumi Somaskanda explores the issue.

Berlin schools reopened this week amid fears of a second COVID-19 wave, with about 370,000 students returning to the classroom. What measures are in place to minimize the risk of coronavirus outbreaks, and how are students, teachers and parents adapting to the "new normal"?

With the COVID-19 health crisis still at the top of Germany's agenda, have climate change policies fallen to the wayside? Or has the pandemic provided a test run in crisis management?