Looking back on KCRW Berlin — Part 2

KCRW Berlin’s final broadcast marks the conclusion of *Studio Berlin*, a current affairs program that provided an English-language perspective on German politics and society for 18 months. The discussion reflects on the show’s evolution from a traditional studio format to a remote, pandemic-era production, highlighting segments on the Fridays for Future movement, the complexities of German reunification, and the long-delayed opening of the BER airport. Key insights include the challenges of asylum seekers like Mariam Mohammadi, the impact of COVID-19 on social cohesion, and the shifting transatlantic relationship with the United States. Looking toward 2021, the participants identify the U.S. presidential inauguration, the German federal election, and the constitutional court’s ruling on Berlin’s rent cap as critical developments that will shape the post-Merkel political landscape.