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
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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How AI tools are transforming the lives of people with disabilities
For people with disabilities, artificial intelligence tools are helping them see, hear, experience, and move through the world in profound new ways.
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From birthright citizenship to trans rights: The SCOTUS rulings shaping American life
The U.S. Supreme Court left some of its biggest decisions for last this session. Justices delivered a series of major opinions with consequences that will impact nearly every corner of the country.
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Writing Indigenous people back into America’s story
The U.S. is celebrating its 250th birthday this summer. But native people are often left out of America's founding narrative. Does uncovering that history change how we think of the country?
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Get in, we're going on a road trip
A road trip is the iconic American vacation -- with a richer and more complicated history than it may seem. What the American road trip reveals about who we are.
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The Jackpod: Apostle of the common good
On Point news analyst Jack Beatty has been listening to what Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy has been saying in town hall style interviews as he promotes his book, “Crisis of the Common Good.”
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The revolutionary history of Black comedy
From vaudeville to era-defining sitcoms, Black comedy has brought us some of our biggest stars and iconic characters. In the book "Black Out Loud," journalist Geoff Bennett explores how Black comedy has influenced how America sees itself.
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Is the Freedom of Information Act delivering on its promise?
For a democracy to be by the people and for the people, what do the people need to know? The Freedom of Information Act is central to answering that question. What FOIA has uncovered in its 60 years, and what it's up against now.
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The big influence of big sugar
The U.S. is one of the largest sugar producers in the world. And for more than 200 years, the sugar industry has gotten special protections from the government. Why?
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Should fans be able to alter the music they love using AI?
Spotify is set to launch a new tool that will enable subscribers to create cover versions and remixes of their favorite songs – using AI. What that could mean for musicians, their fans and the music on your playlist.
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What makes baseball magic
Curses, superstitions and pre-game rituals have been part of baseball for as long as the game has been around. What’s behind the magical traditions of America’s pastime.
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The Jackpod: Yankee Doodle Caged
On Point news analyst Jack Beatty on why he feels ambivalent about the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
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What does the Iran peace memo mean for the U.S.?
President Trump promised regime change in Iran, no nuclear development and a restabilization of the region. Now that the U.S. and Iran have signed a Memorandum of Understanding, did we get any of that?
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What Frederick Douglass warned us about America
In 1852, Frederick Douglass delivered what many consider the best abolitionist speech of all time. He asked, “What, to the American slave, is your 4th of July?” What makes it such a masterpiece — and what can we take from it today?
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Is there a right (or wrong) way to love America?
As America’s 250th anniversary approaches – the birth of this nation will be celebrated by millions. But what does it mean to be truly patriotic in the U.S.?
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Will a historic sewage spill undo the Chesapeake Bay's restoration?
The oyster is a huge part of coastal culture and economy in the U.S. But a historic sewage spill and climate change could put decades of restoration efforts at risk.
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Meghna Chakrabarti in conversation with American historian Heather Cox Richardson
Meghna sits down with American historian and author of the popular Substack "Letters from an American." They discuss America's 250th birthday, their favorite parts of the Declaration of Independence and optimism about America's potential. Join the On Point Club to hear the full conversation!
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How prediction markets have found their way into American politics
A Google engineer and member of special forces have been arrested for placing illegal bets on prediction markets. And these are just examples of the insider trading that may shape more than the country’s finances.
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The Jackpod: Mindless
On Point news analyst Jack Beatty on the Trump administration’s war on the concept of climate change.
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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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