On today's show:We examine President Obama’s so-called 'Pivot to Asia' strategy.The story of an African-American soldier fighting in the Korean War who, captured by the Chinese Red Army, settled in China after his release. The BBC spoke with his daughter. A new documentary, The State of Eugenics, examines the history of U.S. sterilization laws and how they impacted the people who were selected for sterilization.

On today's show: Worldview examines Barack Obama's foreign policy legacy. Today, Obama’s policies in Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan.  And as part of the BBC series “The Museum of Lost Objects,” the story of a tiny Sumerian cylinder seal depicting a harvest festival. Carved in 2600 B.C., it disappeared when Baghdad’s Iraq Museum was looted during the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

On today's show:Reacting to alleged election tampering and heightened geopolitical tensions, the Obama Administration ejected 35 top Russian diplomats from the U.S. We discuss how Russia is regaining footing as a global power.WBEZ film contributor Milos Stehlik talks with award-winning filmmaker Angus Macqueen about his 1999 documentary “Gulag,” which documents the history of the forced labor camps during the Stalin era of the Soviet Union.This week, the University of Chicago’s Oriental Institute has a lineup of events and exhibits through the end of March.

On today's show:We look at U.S.-Mexico policy in the Trump era. We hear about the legacy of the former Archbishop of Jerusalem, the Most Reverend Hilarion Capucci, who was laid to rest in Lebanon Thursday.Plus, the story of Don Larson, creator of the Sunshine Nut Company.

On today's show: In Pakistani law, blasphemy can carry the death penalty. We discuss the controversial law with Saroop Ijaz of Human Rights Watch.  Indonesia has its own blasphemy laws. We speak with journalist Ted Fishman about a blasphemy law that is threatening the governor of Indonesia's capital, Jakarta. Chicago’s Bassel & The Supernaturals is a nine-member group whose music combines neo-soul and funk to address issues like the war in Syria.

We discuss recent news out of the Middle East after Syrian rebel groups walked away from preliminary peace talks planned for Kazakhstan later this month and we hear from an “American Culture Coach” about the quirks of translating American shorthand in speech and small talk.

On today's show:American actress Kim Schultz began a three year intercontinental romance just as civil war was breaking out in Syria. Our film critic reviews his favorite documentaries of 2016, including 13th and Fire At Sea.And how did The Nutcracker, a Russian ballet, make its way to the United States to become a holiday tradition? It started with three brothers from Utah.

Earlier this week Russia, Iran and Turkey met (without the U.S. or other European powers) to discuss creating a political agreement to end the war in Syria.  The meeting took place as evacuations continue from eastern Aleppo.  We discuss the way forward to peace in Syria with Joshua Landis, director of the Center for Middle East Studies at the University of Oklahoma. He edits the blog Syria Comment. 

On today's show:  Russia, Iran and Turkey met to discuss creating a political agreement to end the war in Syria, without the U.S. or other European powers. Journalist and author Deborah Jian Lee left Christian Evangelicalism because she was demoralized by its conservative politics. But years later, she's discovered that Evangelical culture and politics are changing, and changing fast.  

After last November's terrorist attacks in Paris, Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner said he would ban Syrian refugees from entering the state. We hear from some groups that are calling for Rauner to rescind his statement and a policy they believe creates an atmosphere of Islamophobia. And on Global Notes: Morning Shift and Radio M host Tony Sarabia treats us to the first batch of artists he considers this year's best in global music. And we hear about some of the year’s most important climate change studies.