Dmitri Medvedev

In Russia, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has announced that he’ll run again for president next year. Edward Lucas, from The Economist, joins us.

Sergei Zhuk, an author and rock fan, says Rock and Roll helped bring down the Soviet Union. His book is called “Rock and Roll in the Rocket City: The West, Identity, and Ideology in Soviet Dniepropetrovsk, l960-l985.” Brigid McCarthy spoke to Zhuk.

It looks like one of Russian President Dmitri Medvedev’s New Year’s resolutions is to encourage all Russians to think twice about reaching for their favorite drink. As of January 1st, he’s setting a higher minimum price for Vodka in Russia.

President Obama is in Moscow working to renew U.S. relations with Russia. He just finished a speech at the New Economic School, but his words were meant to reach all of Russia. The Takeaway talks with New York Times Moscow Bureau Chief Clifford Levy.

President Obama is meeting with Russian President Medvedev to talk about extending the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty. The Takeaway is joined by Fyodor Lukyanov, editor of Russia in Global Affairs, to discuss how Russians are viewing Obama’s visit.