Go ahead and spring the question then. Act casual, like you just thought of this. If it's a good question, the prof will not only appreciate a chance to answer it but will know you've thought about the readings. If you need help with participation, go to the S-Center . They're great at suggestions.
Some professors favor a fairly equal combination of lecturing and discussions.
As a student, you have to be prepared to contribute when the professor opens up the floor for discussion. You've just finished 20 or 30 minutes worth of lecture, sitting attentively at your desk, so don't ruin your chance to change the pace by spacing out. If your class is using the NYT to help bring all these political concepts down to earth, make sure you take the time to see the connections. Be active and analytical when you read a NYT story. There were many internal reasons that brought about the breakdown of the Soviet Union which stem from economic stagnation, erosion of political legitimacy, and ethnic tensions.