On Point with Meghna Chakrabarti
Every weekday, host Meghna Chakrabarti explores the full story behind the news, examining history and the human condition. The show aims to provide answers to important questions and cover topics that are often overlooked. It is a daily news and public affairs program produced by WBUR in Boston.
Episodes
Is ‘eldest daughter syndrome’ real?
Eldest daughters have a reputation for being Type A and bossy. But they can also do emotional heavy lifting in families. What does science say about how birth order influences our personalities?
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Is it safe for Americans to go into the woods today?
Health Secretary RFK Jr. doesn't think so. That's why the Trump Administration is investing millions of federal dollars to reduce Lyme disease by 25 percent by 2035. But how?
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The real story of birthright citizenship
The Supreme Court will issue its decision on President Trump’s effort to overturn birthright citizenship within days. Historian Heather Cox Richardson with the real story of birthright citizenship.
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How John Quincy Adams went from president to maverick
John Quincy Adams was a one term president. He then entered Congress where he presented so many anti-slavery petitions that Southern Congressmen wanted him out. What that says about how Congress can work.
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How New Mexico's governor got big things done
New Mexico’s Democratic governor Michelle Lujan Grisham has a robust list of progressive achievements – including making her state the first in the U.S. to offer free universal childcare. The outgoing governor shares what her party can learn about how she got it done.
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The Jackpod: Slamming the golden door
On Point news analyst Jack Beatty on the impossibility of White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller’s vision for the U.S. as a nation without immigrants.
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Inside a diminished CDC as it confronts Ebola
The Centers for Disease Control has lost as much as a third of its staff under the Trump administration. How the Ebola outbreak in Africa exposes a weakened CDC.
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A road trip through American history
Historian Beverly Gage hit the road to learn about our country's history. She visited more than 300 historic sites -- from museums and battlefields to roadside attractions. What she learned about how America honors its history.
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China's take on the Trump summit
President Trump heaped praise on China’s President Xi after their recent summit. While the Chinese leader’s rhetoric was much more restrained. A review of the U.S.-China summit from China's perspective.
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Why the pope wants to 'disarm' AI
Pope Leo XIV has published his first major document. The encyclical “Magnifica Humanitas” focuses on AI and what the pope calls the “distorting effects of technological power.”
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The Declaration of Independence: 250 years later
The Declaration of Independence is the founders' vision of America's values – equality, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. How that vision still lives on today.
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The Jackpod: Catastrophe-proofing AI
On Point news analyst Jack Beatty on the perils and promise of AI as outlined in the papal encyclical, “Magnifica Humanitas,” and a forthcoming law review paper, “AI and Existential Risk.”
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How China's superfast charging cars are leaving American EVs in the dust
An electric vehicle battery that charges almost as fast as it takes to fill a tank of gas. And it might soon be available almost everywhere except the United States. How China's superfast-charging electric vehicles are leaving American EVs in the dust.
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Does Trump's 'anti-weaponization' fund go too far?
Donald Trump plans to use a $1.776 billion fund to compensate anyone he chooses, including people who stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. Some Congressional Republicans are furious. Other critics call it the worst act of presidential corruption in history.
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Is Google's new AI search killing the internet?
Google has a new AI search bar. Instead of links, it gives you AI-synthesized answers. Some say it could be the end of the internet as we know it.
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How Katie Herzog drank her way to sobriety
For 20 years, journalist Katie Herzog tried to stop drinking. But nothing seemed to work. Until she stumbled upon a lesser-known path to sobriety.
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The new science of 'dad brain'
You’ve heard of 'mom brain.' But how do men’s brains change when they become fathers?
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The Jackpod: Bearing his pain silently
On Point news analyst Jack Beatty memorializes the courage and sacrifice of the Black men and women who served in the U.S. military in World War II.
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How women are breaking records in ultramarathons
Rachel Entrekin just won one of the hardest ultramarathon races in the world. She ran 253 miles across Arizona, breaking the previous course record by more than two hours. But she's no outlier. At ultra-distances, more and more women are taking the crown.
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Is an energy crisis coming for the global economy?
Europe and Asia are facing fuel shortages. The U.S. is in a fuel deficit. Some experts say the Iran War has caused the largest energy security threat in history. And it's about to get worse.
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The small Utah county fighting a massive data center
A rural county at the edge of the Great Salt Lake. A multimillionaire celebrity businessman. A shadowy state agency. What Box Elder County, Utah’s fight over a 40,000-acre data center reveals about America’s AI future.
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What Yale saw when it looked in the mirror
Conservative critics say America's elite colleges don't encourage political diversity and have biased admissions. A Yale University commission recently concluded that those critics may be right.
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Is Trump taking a chainsaw to the Forest Service?
The Trump administration has made dramatic changes to the U.S. Forest Service -- closing nearly every regional office and axing its research budget. Some say it's overdue reform. But critics say public lands won’t be protected.
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The Jackpod: The times they are a-changin’
On Point news analyst Jack Beatty on how the growth of inequality in the U.S. is creating a new political order willing to embrace raising tax rates.
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Introducing 'The Midnight Rebellion,' a new climate fiction podcast
From WBUR, here's a new kind of story, one that's all about the big questions and decisions we face. The Midnight Rebellion is a pick-your-own-path podcast set 100 years in the future, where the stakes are nothing less than the planet itself. It's fiction rooted in real science, built for the kids in your life (ages 7 and up) — and the whole family.
You're listening to Chapter 1 of The Midnight R
Why American low-cost airlines fail
Spirit Airlines, known for cheap flights, suddenly closed earlier this month. Budget airlines seem to do fine in Europe. Why can’t they survive in the U.S.?
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Inside Trump's self-dealing presidency
Since taking office, President Trump’s wealth has grown by at least $1.4 billion. There have been overseas real estate projects, a Trump phone that doesn’t exist and a Trump-branded cryptocurrency. Conflicts of interest or corruption?
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A Holocaust scholar asks: 'Israel, what went wrong?'
Omer Bartov was born on an Israeli kibbutz, grew up committed to Zionist ideals, and is now professor of holocaust and genocide studies at Brown University. But in his new book, Bartov argues that Zionism has changed and he can no longer support it.
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The hidden chemistry at the heart of the Milky Way
Scientists have taken the largest ever image of the Milky Way. The image shows spectacular detail of our home in the universe, and offers scientists a color-coded guide to some of the most mysterious corners of our galaxy.
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What Democrats could learn from the GOP
The Republican Party has a highly sophisticated online and social media operation. Meanwhile Democrats focus on their traditional political talking points. Could the Dems take a page out of the GOP's messaging playbook? Democratic influencer Emily Amick sure thinks so.
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The Jackpod: Blue money blues
On Point news analyst Jack Beatty has questions about how money is being raised for the Democratic National Committee and Democratic candidates and how that money is being spent.
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When thinking ‘inside the box’ is better
You’ve heard the phrase "think outside the box." But what if constraints and limitations actually make us happier and more creative?
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Why authoritarians put their faces on everything
Dictators and authoritarian leaders often plaster their faces across the country they control. Is this happening in the United States?
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Roundup transformed farming in the U.S. Could it change regulation too?
The Supreme Court will soon rule on who gets to decide when a product needs a cancer warning – and who can sue if they’ve been exposed. At the center of the highly politicized debate is America’s most successful weedkiller, Roundup.
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The 'how' behind the sub-two hour marathon
History was made in this year’s London marathon when two runners broke the iconic two-hour barrier. Was it the shoes? The nutrition? The training? These specific elite athletes?
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Why you’re thinking about the Supreme Court in the wrong way
Political partisanship is one way to measure how the Supreme Court justices think about how their rulings affect the nation. SCOTUSblog editor Sarah Isgur says another, she believes more important way, has to do with their tolerance for change, with the justices ranging from order-loving institutionalists to true chaos agents.
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The Jackpod: Sock puppets
On Point news analyst Jack Beatty on “the unedifying spectacle of self abasement” from the Moscow show trial of the 1930s, to present-day confirmation hearings for Trump nominees.
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Inside the life of a 'degenerate' sports gambler
More than half of men under 50 in the U.S. have an open online sports book. Public health experts warn it's easier than ever to get addicted to gambling. Atlantic staff writer McKay Coppins spent a year exploring the world of sports betting, and why the pastime is particularly bad for young men.
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Who's a 'domestic terrorist' in Donald Trump's America?
President Trump is directing the Justice Department to treat beliefs like "anti-Americanism, anti-capitalism, or anti-Christianity" akin to domestic terrorism. Can the president criminalize beliefs?
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Why California wants folic acid in its corn tortillas
In 1998, the FDA required folic acid be added to breads and pastas but not corn masa, a staple in Latino communities. Folic acid is known to prevent neural tube birth defects. So, states like California and Alabama are now passing their own mandates.
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Why the tech world is ‘tokenmaxxing’
There’s a new word floating around Silicon Valley and the AI world: 'tokenmaxxing.' It means consuming as many units of AI as possible and often racking up multibillion dollar bills. What’s driving this behavior?
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Why America isn't ready for the AI revolution
Dean Ball was a top adviser on AI for the Trump White House. He authored its AI policy. But now he says the way the Trump administration is strong-arming tech companies is a foundational threat to the nation.
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A word about this week’s Jackpod
Senior editor Dorey Scheimer has a message about this week’s Jackpod and a special ‘behind the scenes’ episode of On Point.
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Why are American children such picky eaters?
Why do American kids love chicken nuggets and applesauce, but hate broccoli and brussels sprouts? In her new book “Picky," Helen Veit explores how American children became the fussiest eaters in history.
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Why is the U.S. reluctant to adopt the Scandinavian prison model?
A handful of states from California, Pennsylvania to Maine have tried to adopt a more rehabilitative Scandinavian prison model. But such models have failed to be replicated at large scale. Why?
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How can you be drunk without drinking?
A mysterious condition can push your blood alcohol level sky-high — even if you haven’t had any drinks. What causes auto-brewery syndrome — and what are the legal and medical implications?
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Why conservative judges think Trump has gone too far
Several federal judges have issued opinions saying the Trump administration is flouting the rule of law and the principles of democracy. How effective has the bench been in checking executive power?
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Trump vs. the Pope
President Donald Trump is no stranger to an internet feud. But now, he’s taken on a whole new adversary: the Catholic Church. What impact will it have on the country’s Catholic electorate?
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The Jackpod: Death becomes them
On Point news analyst Jack Beatty on how authoritarians have co-opted their military and valorized its dead over living experience in the officer corps.
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The 'why' behind how we talk
An accent doesn’t just tell someone where you are from – but who you are – your cultural background, race, age and class. How the way we talk tells people more than we think.
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Seattle mayor Katie Wilson: The full conversation
On stage before an enthusiastic audience of around 900 Seattleites, Mayor Wilson talks with Meghna about housing and homelessness, and also about what it’s like to be a Democratic Mayor in the time of President Donald Trump.
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Seattle's new socialist mayor has big plans
Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson had no prior political experience. She took over as the city faces an affordability crisis and a homelessness emergency. How's she doing roughly three months into the job?
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New questions for the Epstein files investigation
Former attorney general Pam Bondi refused to appear at a congressional hearing about the Epstein Files. First Lady Melania Trump gave a press conference to deny that she knew about Epstein’s abuse. What we're learning about Epstein’s connections to powerful people.
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The teachers pushing back on screens in schools
It's not just phones anymore. More teachers and even entire U.S. school districts are cutting back the time students spend on laptops and other screens. How do students really learn -- and do screens help or hurt?
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The real cost of the war with Iran
The U.S. has been spending up to $2 billion every day on the war with Iran. But that’s just military expenditure. What’s the real, long-term economic toll?
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The Jackpod: Democracy by lottery
On Point news analyst Jack Beatty has been reading “Politics without Politicians” by political theorist Hélène Landemore, in which she makes the case that randomly selected citizens can make for better government than elected politicians.
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What happened to shame in politics?
Shame is a powerful feeling that can keep behavior in check. So what happens when political leaders feel no shame at all?
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How China's superfast charging cars are leaving American EVs in the dust
An electric vehicle battery that charges almost as fast as it takes to fill a tank of gas. And it might soon be available almost everywhere except the United States. How China's superfast-charging electric vehicles are leaving American EVs in the dust.
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What are Israel's goals in Lebanon?
So far, more than a million people have been forcibly displaced by Israel’s invasion of southern Lebanon. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says eradicating Hezbollah is critical for Israeli security. But critics argue Israeli occupation will only reenergize the Iran-backed militia.
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What happens when religious fundamentalists come to power? (Part Two)
Military service members are filing a flood of complaints about religious justifications for the U.S. war in Iran. How Christian extremism came to influence the Trump administration and offer moral underpinnings for the new war in the Middle East.
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What happens when religious fundamentalists come to power? (Part One)
Shia fundamentalism has come to define Iran’s place in the Middle East and the world. And that wasn’t an accident. How Iranian leaders use Shia Islam to exert their power.
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The Jackpod: Dad Gummit!
On Point news analyst Jack Beatty on how the U.S. Congress serves the financial interests of itself through insider trading.
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From the archive: History-making astronaut Christina Koch
NASA astronaut Christina Koch is making history as the first woman to travel around the moon as a crew member on the Artemis II mission. It’s not the first time Koch has made history. In 2020 she told Meghna what it was like to spend a record-breaking 11 months in space.
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What will it take to save America's birds?
Since 1970, the North American bird population has declined by more than 25%. There are many factors driving this. And several things bird lovers can do to reverse the trend.
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Trump's 'Homeland empire'
Mass deportations, smash and grab wars, attacks on domestic civil rights, the hijacking of the economy. Professor Nikhil Pal Singh asks: What if President Donald Trump’s ramping up of militarism at home and abroad is part of a bigger strategy?
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What veterans want you to know about the war with Iran
As the war in Iran enters its second month, the Trump Administration is sending U.S. marines to the region. Without a clear goal for the conflict, many veterans are speaking out, while others say it's necessary.
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Could this finally be the year for Texas Democrats?
It’s been more than thirty years since a Democrat won state-wide in Texas. But some think a voter backlash against President Trump’s policies could end that drought and that Democratic nominee for Senate James Talarico, could defeat either of his two Republican challengers, John Cornyn or Ken Paxton in the general election. Or are his chances just a blue mirage?
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How to make AI work for us
AI has become unavoidable. It prompts us when we write emails, handles our customer service issues, answers our internet queries. How AI is changing our lives and what we can do to ensure it's actually helping, not harming us.
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The Jackpod: Naked to our enemy
On Point news analyst Jack Beatty on how the Trump administration has eroded the ability of the U.S. to counter the threat of terrorism, even as that threat appears to be growing.
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Introducing ‘Question Everything’: Why did ICE Lock Up this Pro-Trump Reporter? (Part One)
The story of an idiosyncratic reporter trying to free himself from U.S. government detention from KCRW’s “Question Everything.” This is the first in a special two-part series about Mario Guevara. The second part is also out now.
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Iran's complex revolutionary history
Many in the West see Iran as a nation defined by a revolution. It’s also one of the world's oldest continuous civilizations that’s withstood centuries of struggle.
How Iran’s history affects what’s happening today.
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The might and magic of human muscles
Our muscles power us -- from the tissue that pumps blood from our heart to the tiny fibers that give us goosebumps. How exactly do muscles work — and how can we best strengthen them?
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Everything you need to know about the Strait of Hormuz
About 20% of the world’s oil supply travels through the Strait of Hormuz. The Iran War threatens to cut it off. The history of the Strait of Hormuz, who controls it and how it became so critical to the global oil supply.
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Inside the breakdown of U.S.-Iran nuclear talks
Ali Vaez was involved with the 2015 negotiations that led to the Iran Nuclear Deal. He'll explain why, even as a new deal was tantalizingly close late last month, the U.S. and Israel launched their war against Iran.
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Are we witnessing the death of expertise?
Analyst Tom Nichols says the Trump administration is fundamentally incompetent. And he says there’s been a systematic erosion of expert trust for years — which is dangerous for American democracy.
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The Jackpod: The ties that bind
On Point news analyst Jack Beatty on Trump's ties to Jeffrey Epstein and Russia and how it might explain the administration's agenda.
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The 'universal language' of rhythm
Rhythm. It's so much more than the backbone of music – it’s essential to how our brains function. Whether you think you've got it or not, why rhythm is a fundamental part of your everyday life.
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Why Trump wants to ‘take’ Cuba
As the war with Iran becomes more entrenched, President Donald Trump now says he thinks he’ll “have the honor of taking Cuba.” What does that mean and what’s at stake?
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The view of the Iran war from abroad
U.S. allies say they won't commit military aid to the war in Iran, and some foreign analysts say the U.S. lacks strategy. The view of the war from the international community.
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Iran's new leader: 'His father on steroids'
Iran’s new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei took control after his father's assassination. What we know about the elusive new leader and his vision for Iran.
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