For his new book about the "Ed Sullivan Show," former San Francisco Chronicle columnist Gerald Nachman interviewed more than 60 artists who performed on the program including Carol Burnett, Jackie Mason and Alan King. Nachman joins us to discuss the show and its legacy. His new book is "Right Here on Our Stage Tonight!: Ed Sullivan's America." Nachman's other books include "Seriously Funny: The Rebel Comedians of the 1950s and 1960's" and "Raised on Radio."

The Senate faces a crucial vote on Saturday to decide whether it will move the health care bill forward to a floor debate. We get an update on the developments and discuss the next steps.

A state program that has invested billions to shrink class sizes is coming apart, and the number of kids in many California classrooms is at the highest level in more than a decade. That's according to a new investigation by California Watch, a project of the Center for Investigative Reporting in collaboration with KQED Public Radio. We'll find out how teachers are coping with kindergarten through third grade classes that have as many as 30 students, a situation now common in districts like San Jose and Contra Costa County. Meanwhile, some argue that with pressing budget cuts and inconclusive evidence about the benefit of small class sizes, class size reduction should not be a priority. We explore the debate.

Voters will go to the polls next year to elect a new governor, as well as to determine the political fate of the state's junior senator, Barbara Boxer. A year out, there's already a lot of action in the races. We take stock of the political jockeying and the issues facing California.

In response to the UC Regents' vote to raise tuition by 32 percent, a group of UC Berkeley students has taken over Wheeler Hall and barricaded themselves from police in protest. We get an update on the situation. Then, drivers on seven Bay Area bridges may soon see tolls go up $1 for cars, and for the first time see a $3 toll in the carpool lane. The Bay Area Toll Authority is holding hearings through next month on how much to raise tolls. Officials say they need to charge more due to rising costs, decreased bridge traffic and the need to seismically retrofit the Dumbarton and Antioch bridges. We discuss the various proposals, and how they might impact drivers.

Author and journalist Michael Specter believes that public fear and skepticism of technological developments -- from vaccines to genetically modified foods to synthetic biology -- threaten to undermine scientific progress. He joins us in studio to discuss his new book, "Denialism."

Author and journalist Michael Specter believes that public fear and skepticism of technological developments -- from vaccines to genetically modified foods to synthetic biology -- threaten to undermine scientific progress. He joins us in studio to discuss his new book, "Denialism."

New Yorker staff writer Hendrik Hertzberg joins us in studio to discuss his new book, "!OBAMANOS!: The Birth of a New Political Era."

New Yorker staff writer Hendrik Hertzberg joins us in studio to discuss his new book, "!OBAMANOS!- The Birth of a New Political Era."

In her new book "The Lacuna," bestselling author Barbara Kingsolver crafts a complex piece of historical fiction spanning three decades of Mexican and American history. Chronicling everything from the lives of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera in 1930s Mexico to the McCarthy trials of the 1950s, "The Lacuna" follows one character's artistic development and search for identity amidst the defining moments of the 20th century.

In her new book "The Lacuna," bestselling author Barbara Kingsolver crafts a complex piece of historical fiction spanning three decades of Mexican and American history. Chronicling everything from the lives of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera in 1930s Mexico to the McCarthy trials of the 1950s, "The Lacuna" follows one character's artistic development and search for identity amidst the defining moments of the 20th century.

We discuss the impact of the environment on our health with the director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, part of the National Institutes of Health. We'll address the risks of plastic additives, lead and mercury -- and the connections between the environment and cancer, asthma and reproductive health.

We discuss the impact of the environment on our health with the director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, part of the National Institutes of Health. We'll address the risks of plastic additives, lead and mercury -- and the connections between the environment and cancer, asthma and reproductive health.

This week, some UC and CSU students are gearing up to walk out of classes in protest of another round of tuition hikes and course cutbacks. University and community college officials blame the state budget squeeze for forcing their hand. We look at how campuses are coping.

This week, some UC and CSU students are gearing up to walk out of classes in protest of another round of tuition hikes and course cutbacks. University and community college officials blame the state budget squeeze for forcing their hand. We look at how campuses are coping.

The legal system is rife with stories of injustice. There are lawyers who sleep through trials, innocent men who wind up imprisoned and rapists who cut deals to avoid serving time. Journalist and lawyer Amy Bach says these miscarriages of justice happen far more than we'd like to admit -- and she argues it's because our legal system often eschews justice in favor of efficiency. We talk with Bach about her book, "Ordinary Injustice: How America Holds Court."

The legal system is rife with stories of injustice. There are lawyers who sleep through trials, innocent men who wind up imprisoned and rapists who cut deals to avoid serving time. Journalist and lawyer Amy Bach says these miscarriages of justice happen far more than we'd like to admit -- and she argues it's because our legal system often eschews justice in favor of efficiency. We talk with Bach about her book, "Ordinary Injustice: How America Holds Court."

We discuss President Obama's Asia trip with The Atlantic's national correspondent, James Fallows. Fallows recently returned to the U.S. after three years in China. He's the author of many books, most recently "Postcards from Tomorrow Square: Reports from China."

We discuss President Obama's Asia trip with The Atlantic's national correspondent, James Fallows. Fallows recently returned to the U.S. after three years in China. He's the author of many books, most recently "Postcards from Tomorrow Square: Reports from China."

Last Friday, Attorney General Eric Holder announced that Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the self-professed mastermind of the Sept. 11 attacks, and four other Guantanamo Bay detainees will be tried in New York City civilian federal court. Critics argue that military tribunals should be used instead. We discuss the move to civilian court.