Nov 13th, 2008 · As election results were announced on the evening of Nov. 4, people flooded streets across the country, celebrating the election of America's first black president. Now that the initial excitement has died down, guests and callers discuss the realities of racism in America — and what has and hasn't changed.
Nov 6th, 2008 · Adapted from John Boyne's novel, Mark Herman's movie is a Holocaust film for younger audiences. And though the naive perspective may work in print, Bob Mondello says it doesn't lend itself to the realities of film.
Oct 21st, 2008 · In the November issue of The Atlantic Monthly, Hanna Rosin writes about a young boy who, from an early age, challenged his sexual identity. She discusses the complicated realities parents must face when children feel trapped in the wrong bodies.
Sep 25th, 2008 · During the Great Depression, Americans went to the movies to escape the harsh realities of their daily lives. Now, as the nation faces arguably the worst financial crisis since the Depression, video games may be playing the role movies once filled in hard economic times.
Aug 18th, 2008 · California's medical marijuana law conflicts with federal law, which says the growth and sale of the drug is illegal. But taxing marijuana could provide hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue for state and federal governments. Madeleine Brand explores the economic and legal dreams versus the realities of medical marijuana in California.
Jul 18th, 2008 · In a time of ever-increasing energy prices, this week President Bush overturned a long-standing executive order banning offshore oil exploration in certain parts of the country. The move is largely symbolic at this point, as additional congressional action would be needed to fully open up offshore oil drilling.
Jul 10th, 2008 · A love story of the sober variety, Silvio Soldini's film is a mature look at the financial realities of married life — and at how they might just turn out to be less important than many of us think.
Mar 5th, 2008 · Novelist and screenwriter Richard Price discusses his new novel, Lush Life, about the repercussions of a shooting on the Lower East side. Price has written extensively about the realities of inner city life; he is a writer for HBO's The Wire which ends a five-year run on Sunday.