Lerer Videos

The Guantanamo decision isn't the only big news out of Washington this week. With health care, Afghanistan, and bank reform on its plate, Congress has lots of business to take care of. Todd Zwillich, Washington correspondent for the Takeaway, discusses the upcoming week. He also explains how things will get done (or not done): reconciliation, fillibuster, cloture, and other congressional procedures that shape the way bills become laws.

Merryl Tisch, chancellor of the New York Board of Regents, talks about New York's application for federal Race to the Top funds.

Milton Allimadi, publisher of Black Star News, talks about some of the sources of conflict between New York's African immigrant and African American residents.

The special legislative session in Albany continues today. Ken Lovett, Daily News Albany bureau chief, and Michael Lavers, mid-atlantic editor for EDGE Publications, an online LGBT newspaper, talks about the expected vote on marriage equality in Albany this week. Then Ken Lovett stays on to talk other Albany news.

Attorney General Holder's decision to try terror suspects in federal courts marks a turning point in the approach to combating terrorism, and the future of the Guantanamo base. Karen Greenberg, executive director of NYU's Center on Law and Security and the author of The Least Worst Place: Guantanamo's First 100 Days, puts it in context.

How do you feel about Khalid Shaikh Mohammed being tried in civilian court in New York? Comment below!

New Yorkers are divided on the plan to try self-described 9/11 mastermind Khalid Shaikh Mohammed in lower Manhattan. Paul Browne of the NYPD describes the negotiations that went into the decision and how local authorities are preparing for the trial.

Mary Mazzio, director of the documentaryTen9Eight, and Rahfeal Gordon, National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) alumnus and founder and CEO of RahGor Motivations and RahGor Publishing, talk about the movie TEN9EIGHT which follows high school students competing for funding to launch their own businesses.

Lawyers for the anti-poverty group ACORN filed a lawsuit against Congress in a U.S. District Court in Brooklyn yesterday. Vince Warren, executive director of the Center for Constitutional Rights, discusses the case and the argument he'll make to try to restore ACORN'S federal funding.

Voters rejected the Democratic incumbent Andrew Spano in the recent election for Westchester County Executive. Republican Rob Astorino, the Westchester County Executive-elect, talks about his election and plans for the county.

Today is Friday the 13th, a day when some say nothing can go right. Whether you are triskaidekaphobic or not, we’ve all had unlucky days – and lucky ones. Tell us about your luckiest or unluckiest day ever below!

Independent U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, discusses his financial reform legislation. How do you know when an institution is too big to fail? Comment below!

New York Times reporter Julie Scelfo, who wrote about New Yorkers’ window-gazing ways, explores the inevitable voyeurism/exhibitionism of city living and the relationships that sometimes result. Tell us your window-watching story! What's the strangest thing you've ever seen through a window? Do you have an ongoing window-watching relationship with a stranger? Have you ever met your window-neighbor? Comment below!

NPR Ombudsman Alicia Shepard talks about the network's coverage of the Acorn story; new ethics guidelines for social media; and their coverage of natural gas drilling and other current news.

New York State and Nassau County Democratic Party Chairman Jay Jacobs discusses the recent election and what it means for the Democratic party in the region.

Christopher Dodd's proposed legislation has thrust bank reform back in the spotlight. Daniel Gross, senior editor at Newsweek, discusses the possible reforms, as well as President Obama's upcoming trip to Asia, Europe's increased stimulus spending, and the ever-weakening dollar.

Racing to the Top Gotham Schools.org editor Elizabeth Green talks about New York's chances of qualifying for federal Race to the Top funds, now that the guidelines are out.Two Million Minutes In the 2007 documentary, 2 Million Minutes, venture-capitalist-turned-filmmaker Bob Compton critically compares American secondary education to its Chinese and Indian counterparts. The film's newly-released sequel, The 21st Century Solution, explains how American students could better spend their 2 million minutes in high school.

Ethan Zuckerman, co-founder of Global Voices and research fellow at the Berkman Center, joins us weekly in November to talk about the global impact of social media. This week's topic: crossing language barriers. Check out Meedan.net, a website that uses machine-assisted translation technology to bring together English and Arabic speakers.

Last night, long-time CNN anchor Lou Dobbs announced he was leaving the cable news channel, stating that "some leaders in media, politics and business have been urging me to go beyond the role here at CNN and to engage in constructive problem solving as well as to contribute positively to the great understanding of the issues of our day." Brian Stelter of the New York Times discusses what this means for the media landscape. What's your advice for Lou Dobb's next step? Where should he go next? What kind of problems should he tackle? Comment below!

The Right to the City coalition has just completed a citywide condo vacancy survey. They found 601 buildings in 9 community districts that had empty units or appeared to be stalled mid-construction. Jose Lopez from Make the Road NY and David Dodge from RTTC talk about the survey findings and how they plan to try to transform vacant units into affordable housing.