On Point: Recent Episodes
WBUR
Let's make sense of the world – together. From the economy and health care to politics and the environment – and so much more – On Point host Meghna Chakrabarti speaks with newsmakers and real people about the issues that matter most. On Point is produced by WBUR.
$24 billion of pandemic-era child care funding expires at the end of this month. What can providers and families do?
Award-winning sci-fi writers Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck talk with Meghna Chakrabarti about the world they created in “The Expanse” and what they’re working on next.
Section 3 of the 14th Amendment to the Constitution bars from office any public official involved in an insurrection. Can legal reasoning withstand political reality when it comes to Donald Trump?
In this new weekly special podcast, On Point’s news analyst Jack Beatty offers his unique perspective and insight on aspects of current political life in the U.S. Today, the leading presidential candidates. Jack Beatty joins Meghna Chakrabarti.
Congress is gearing up for another fight over the farm bill -- a massive piece of legislation that could hit $1 trillion for the first time ever. Where's that money going? Congressman Earl Blumenauer joins Meghna Chakrabarti.
12 years after a nuclear meltdown at Fukushima, Japan pours treated wastewater from the site into the ocean. Is the plan safe?
Even though the economy is doing better, few Americans say they’re better off financially this year than they were last year. So what's behind the pessimism Americans have about their own financial lives?
When dozens of companies in the U.K. experimented with a four-day work week, employers and employees loved it. Could a four-day work week work in the United States?
In a world where we emphasize productivity and even celebrate busyness how, how we can slow down and find meaningful rest. Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith joins Meghna Chakrabarti.
Hundreds of thousands of Israelis are still protesting what they see as a threat to Israeli democracy and their personal freedom. Now, those protests are including the rights of Arab-Israelis, too. Nadav Tamir joins Meghna Chakrabarti.
Wildfires have become a tragic part of life in many communities. After a summer of wildfires, rethinking how we live in combustible landscapes.
There is a major effort to decriminalize sex work in the U.S. But not all current or former sex workers share the same goals. In fact, in many states, they are fighting against each other. Should the law be changed, and how?
The West African country of Niger has been a bright spot of growing democracy and security across sub-Saharan Africa. Now, a coup there threatens to destabilize the region.
Many of us turn to music to feel better. But music can also help us physically heal. Studies show music can affect our blood pressure and our heart rate – and even help us manage pain.
This is Part III of On Point's Week of Wonder.
How do you find deep happiness? Researcher Dacher Keltner says the answer is to find everyday wonder.
What if you could taste the world’s electrical fields? Hear vibrations in a leaf? Or see magnetic currents guiding you home? Science writer Ed Yong helps us perceive the world the way animals do – through eyes, ears, antennae and more.
WBUR's On Point brings you a 'Week of wonder': A curation of shows from the past year reveling in the wonder of the world we live in.
In Episode I: Earth needs darkness just as much as it needs light. Human light pollution is pushing back the dark, which is changing the natural world, and could be hurting us, too. Johan Eklöf joined Meghna Chakrabarti.
It’s been a year since President Biden signed into law the Inflation Reduction Act to boost clean energy projects. Is the bill enough for the U.S. to meet its climate goals?
Former President Donald Trump faces racketeering charges in Georgia for his efforts to overturn the 2020 election. What could this indictment mean for Trump and his alleged co-conspirators?
Calling 911 can have tragic consequences for people having a mental health crisis. They can be arrested or even killed. Some advocates and police officers are trying to change that. Brian Peete and Stephanie Van Jacobs join Deborah Becker.
Born in the Bronx, New York, hip-hop soon found some of its most influential rappers in Los Angeles. On the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, we take a look at how the West Coast helped make hip-hop one of the most dominant cultural forces in the world. Tyree Boyd-Pates and Damita Jo Freeman joined Meghna Chakrabarti.
Rural colleges in America are struggling. Due to enrollment and funding shortages, many have had to close or slash core majors to stay afloat.
The political organization No Labels says it wants to unite Americans around a third-party presidential candidate. But critics say their efforts are more likely to lead to the re-election of Donald Trump.
The waters off Florida and across the Caribbean are reaching record-breaking temperatures. As high as 100-plus degrees Fahrenheit. If warm seawater is here to stay, what will it mean for all that lives in the ocean and on land?
Index funds. They’re a very popular way of investing across the stock market. But now the top four funds control roughly one-quarter of all public U.S. companies. We hear how index funds are shaping corporations and the American economy.
Are cultural and economic forces changing boyhood, manhood and fatherhood? Richard Reeves says yes, and that many men and boys are struggling.
Liberal academic Richard Kahlenberg thinks the only way to truly solve America’s deep inequities is to look at class, not race. "When we focus exclusively on race and ignore the class issues, we are missing a huge part of what makes society unfair in America today."
From Turkey to Chile to Hungary, authoritarian leaders don’t come to power on their own. They get there with the help of political parties, the rich and powerful, friendly media and the just plain corrupt.
Since the start of the war, experts in the U.S. and Europe have lamented that countries outside the West have been slow to stand by Kyiv. What’s behind the caution towards aligning with the West?
Facebook hired Frances Haugen to help it filter out violent rhetoric and abusive behavior. But she says the company ignored her team’s recommendations. So, in 2021, she leaked thousands of pages of internal documents to the media. Today, she says the dangers haven't gone away.
Chances are, you’ve noticed more and more businesses asking you to leave a tip – from coffee shops and breweries to take-out and drive-thrus. How did we get here? Sean Jung and Jeremy Price join Tiziana Dearing.
Third Places – communities outside of our homes, schools or workplaces – were impacted by the pandemic. How can we rebuild them? Danielle C. Rhubart, Jorge González-Hermoso and Danielle Maude Littman join Anthony Brooks.
Americans spend almost $100 billion a year on state lotteries. Why do so many states receive just a fraction of that money?
Florida governor Ron DeSantis had a strong start in his run for the GOP presidential nomination. But lately, his polling numbers have dropped and big donors are hitting the pause button. Why isn't his strategy working?
What happens in the brain when you pray or meditate? Neurotheology explores the connection between our synapses and spiritual revelations.
In some places in the U.S., available foster care homes have been cut as much as 60%. Why is this happening and can it be fixed?
A million miles from Earth, the James Webb Space Telescope has spent the past year peering deep into the cosmos and back in time. Why the telescope’s discoveries have scientists in awe.
In much of the world, it’s been dangerously hot this summer. And extreme heat is only expected to become more common. Cities across the globe have hired “chief heat officers” to figure out how to adapt to life on a hotter planet.
The newest food diets. The magic weight loss pill. Changing beauty standards. We hear constant messaging around how we should eat and look. But what does science have to say about it?
10-step skincare routines, products made from snail mucus. South Korea now exports more cosmetic products than smartphones. But pursuing beauty ideals can come at a social, emotional and physical cost.
The International Seabed Authority is meeting to devise regulations that could allow mining of the deep ocean floor for minerals needed for green energy technology. But bringing those minerals to the surface could disrupt delicate deep-sea ecosystems. Gerard Barron, Helen Scales and Andrew Sweetman join Meghna Chakrabarti.
25 years ago, a neuroscientist and a philosopher made a bet that by now, science and philosophy would understand what makes and defines human consciousness. Want to guess who won?
Steven Dettelbach heads the Federal Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms. An agency that gun violence prevention advocates say is understaffed, underfunded and is severely restricted by Congress.
Many Americans with ADHD are scrambling for their prescription medication due to a months-long shortage. Why is the rate of adult ADHD diagnosis growing four times faster than diagnoses among kids?
Decades before the Supreme Court's recent ruling striking down affirmative action, voters in California did the same, ending affirmative action in the nation's largest state higher ed system. Youlanda Copeland-Morgan and John McWhorter join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Many Americans look to work as a means of self-actualization, community and purpose. But if our job is our only identity – what happens if we lose it?
10 years ago, U.S. intelligence contractor Edward Snowden stunned the world by revealing government officials were surveilling private citizens across the globe. A decade later, has anything changed about government surveillance?
Until recently Bruno Lozano was the mayor of Del Rio, Texas. Once seen as a rising star in the Democratic party, he’s now a fierce critic of President Biden’s handling of the southern border.
Amanda Ripley is a journalist, and even she, like millions of Americans, decided to turn off the news. So what needs to change? Ripley has an answer, and it begins with giving people hope.
Pulitzer Prize-winning musician Rhiannon Giddens challenges us to honestly answer the question, can any culture lay total claim to specific styles of music?
The whole hog barbeque is the original style of American barbeque. It’s a tradition deeply rooted in indigenous and Black history. Ryan Mitchell joins Meghna Chakrabarti.
In 1956, a federal judge ordered the town of Clinton, Tennessee to desegregate its high school. The unrest that followed tore the town apart.
TikTok is a driving force in the music industry. How does the platform identify snippets of music and turn artists into the next generation of global music stars? That's the job of Ole Obermann, which makes him one of the most influential people in pop music today.
U.S. universities educate thousands of foreign-born students. They graduate with skills the U.S. needs, and they want to stay here. The immigration system makes it hard for them to stay. Jon Marcus and Nicolas Rollason join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Apple, Meta, Amazon and Disney want workers to be in the office more days per week. How does where we work affect our productivity and office culture?
Last year, the PGA Tour and LIV Golf filed lawsuits against each other. Now, the two groups are forming an alliance. What does it tell us about Saudi Arabia’s growing efforts to sportswash its reputation?
Russian officials have warned NATO since the start of the Ukraine war that it could resort to nuclear weapons. Most observers think that's bluster. But one former defense attaché to Moscow takes what he's hearing very seriously.
The Southern Baptist Convention – the nation's largest Protestant denomination – overwhelmingly voted to oust women from church leadership. What’s driving this crackdown, and what impact will it have on the church’s already declining population? Carlisle Davidhizar and Daniel Darling join Meghna Chakrabarti.
The city of Milwaukee has an ambitious climate plan to cut its carbon emissions. Hundreds of U.S. cities have similar plans. Very few have met their goals.
This week former president Donald Trump pleaded not guilty to dozens of federal criminal charges for his handling of classified documents. How will the trial of Donald Trump alter the nation's political landscape?
Woniya Thibeault used her knowledge of skills used by early humans to become the first women to win History Channel’s wilderness reality show, Alone. Now she wants to show you how you can deepen your connection with nature, and why you should.
State and federal government is so focused on policymaking and not implementation that it often fails to provide the services its laws intend. In her new book “Recoding America,” author Jennifer Pahlka outlines why the government doesn’t work and how to fix it.
A new Florida law lets teachers prohibit students from using phones in class. How do phones alter a student's ability to focus, stay on task, absorb new information and exercise self-control?
In the race for the White House, due to President Joe Biden's age, Vice President Kamala Harris is under a lot more scrutiny than number twos on the ticket usually are. Eugene Daniels and Kate Andersen Brower join Meghna Chakrabarti.
80% of California's water from the Colorado River is used for agriculture. As the river dries up, the first cuts tend to land on farmers. But is targeting the country’s food supply the best way out of this water crisis? Tina Shields and Richard Howitt join Meghna Chakrabarti.
In 1973, countries came together and signed a historic treaty to stop the international trade of endangered species. 50 years later, the CITES agreement has never been updated, even as species go extinct faster than ever.
Kremlin critic Bill Browder recounts how he was targeted by a deepfake video call that he says came from Russia.
A prominent Kremlin critic says the Russian government invited him to a Zoom call that turned out to be a deepfake. But what happens when governments start using deep fakes against each other?
Republicans in the Texas House voted overwhelmingly last week to impeach State Attorney General Ken Paxton. Charges include fraud, bribery and more. But it’s also revealed a divide in the Texas GOP itself.
A pandemic, war in Ukraine, supply chain breakdowns -- all led to soaring prices. And now, the idea that inflation is driven in part by corporations keeping prices high is gaining momentum. We hear why economists are beginning to take 'greedflation' seriously.
One virus causes more birth defects in American babies than any other nongenetic disease – but most don’t know it exists. We hear a mother’s journey to understand her daughter’s diagnosis of congenital CMV.
In the past five years, states allowing access to life-ending medication for the terminally ill have more than tripled. But as more states allow such end-of-life care, is access really growing? And for whom? Dr. Diana Barnard and Katie Engelhart join Meghna Chakrabarti.
The debt ceiling deadline is quickly approaching. How will it impact your personal finances if the U.S. government can’t pay its bills?
In 1993, then Secretary of Defense Les Aspin invited the CEOs of America's largest defense contractors to a private get-together. We hear how a secret dinner at the Pentagon kicked off a massive consolidation in the defense industry. Norman Augustine and Rep. John Garamendi join Meghna Chakrabarti.
The children of fallen soldiers often bottle up their suffering. But some are opening up with the help of a writing seminar for Gold Star kids. Bailey Donahue, Maria Rossi and Thomas Brennan join Anthony Brooks.
J. Edgar Hoover, former FBI director. History has cast him as powerful, paranoid, a man not afraid to intimidate and investigate his critics. That's how he's seen now. What about then? Beverly Gage joins Meghna Chakrabarti.
Hunter Biden faces possible indictment from the Justice Department. Exploring the details behind the headlines about the President's son. Adam Entous joins Meghna Chakrabarti.
Florida law now bans public colleges from offering general ed classes that “distort significant events” or “teach identity politics." What happens when the government tells colleges what they can and can’t teach? Ana Ceballos, Andrew Gothard and Eden McLean join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Thousands of miles of fiber optic cable at the bottom of the world’s oceans carry more than 95% of the world’s data, from phone calls and emails to encrypted military secrets. Rick Chislett spent 41 years laying fiber optic cable around the world.
Thousands of miles of fiber optic cable lying at the bottom of the world’s oceans carry more than 95% of the world’s data. Now, those undersea cables are at the forefront of a new rivalry between China and the U.S. over who controls the flow of big data.
The U.S. military promised to implement policies that would counter extremism in its ranks. But still it persists. What more should the Pentagon be doing to stop extremism in the military?
Commercial real estate is cratering. In cities like Los Angeles and Chicago, more than 20% of office space lies vacant. What does that mean for America’s cities?
Former president Donald Trump tried to overthrow an election he lost. Now, he’s running for president again. How should news organizations cover candidate Trump in post Jan. 6th America?
This year more than a third of Yellowstone’s bison have been removed from the herd – most of them shot – after they wandered out of the national park in search of food. That’s intensified the debate into how to best manage the iconic animal. Rick Wallen joins Meghna Chakrabarti.
When the Department of Homeland Security appointed Nina Jankowicz to lead an effort to fight disinformation and hate speech, disinformation and hate speech came for her. Now, she’s suing Fox News. Nina Jankowicz joins Meghna Chakrabarti.
The COVID-19 emergency declaration is over. Over three years, Americans saw their lives forever changed. We check in with Americans we heard from during the pandemic about life now.
The federal COVID-19 public health emergency is coming to an end today. But as we look back at the three-plus years of the pandemic, did we miss the opportunity to best protect our country? Olivia Troye and Shana Gadarian join Meghna Chakrabarti.
The U.S. debt limit clock is ticking. The nation could default in weeks. In 2011, the country came within 72 hours of that happening.
Press one. Press two. Try to find a human, but you can’t. Welcome to the nightmare that is customer service.
NPR's Mary Louise Kelly has reported from around the world. In her new book, she looks back on the choices she made as a reporter and a mother.
Mary Louise Kelly joins Meghna Chakrabarti, live at the Brattle Theatre in Cambridge, Mass.
The Supreme Court doesn’t have a code of ethics -- unlike every other judicial bench in the U.S. Who should require and enforce a code of ethics on the high court?
When Sheila Clemmons Lee’s son was killed in a Nashville police traffic stop in 2017, she joined a coalition campaigning to create a police oversight board. Now, the Republican super-majority in the Tennessee state legislature has moved to abolish the board.
In Tennessee’s state assembly, Republicans are unabashedly exerting their power – over-ruling local laws, expelling Democratic lawmakers. What does Tennessee tell us about the health of democracy in U.S. state legislatures?
Americans are moving out of big cities. Cost, quality of life and the pandemic are shifting decades of population growth patterns. So where do Americans want to live now?
Thousands of people die each year waiting for an organ transplant in the U.S. The Biden administration says it’s time the system is reformed. We hear how to improve America’s organ transplant system.
Nearly 30,000 experts in the computing and AI world signed an open letter calling for a pause on AI development. What guardrails are needed before more advanced artificial intelligence is unleashed?
The world of fine art is full of multimillion dollar one-of-a-kinds and breathtaking masterpieces. But it’s also rife with fraudsters and forgers. When fakes demand a fortune, what does that say about the intrinsic value of art?
Nearly three-quarters of Americans believe there should be a mandatory retirement age for elected officials. In many state judiciaries, there already is. Do mandatory retirement ages work in state courts? And if they do, why not in other branches, too?
The Affordable Care Act says you don't have to pay for preventative health care. But a federal judge in Texas recently struck that down. And it could change the way 160 million Americans get their care. Nicholas Bagley joins Meghna Chakrabarti.
Cyber warfare is the future of war. And in many ways, that future is already here. So, is the United States ready? Patrick Tucker, Jaspreet Gill and Admiral Mike Rogers join Meghna Chakrabarti.
People the world over are feeling economically and culturally insecure. Economist Pranab Bardhan says liberal leaders aren’t paying enough attention to that, and that’s led to a growing disenchantment with democracy.
As maternal deaths rose in the U.S. during the pandemic, Black women bore the brunt. In fact, they are almost three times more likely to die in childbirth than white women.
Joan Biskupic has been a supreme court analyst for 25 years. Her new book tells the inside story of the court’s conservative transformation -- the personalities and the politics behind the court we have now, and will have for years to come.
Major League Baseball has new rules designed to speed up the game and attract new fans. We learn what fans and players think of the sport’s big changes in the first few weeks of the new season. Jeff Passan and C.J. Stewart join Anthony Brooks.
President Biden’s new emissions standards are designed to accelerate the push towards electric vehicles. Among the challenges – batteries, and China’s stranglehold on the supply chain. We hear how to reach an electric future.
By limiting access to abortion, Republicans have achieved a long sought-after goal. But it has cost them dearly in recent elections and many are looking to 2024 with trepidation. Jess Bidgood, Ramesh Ponnuru, Dante Scala and Eleanor Klibanoff join Anthony Brooks.
It's episode five of our series 'The power of populism.' Populism can have an authoritarian trajectory, but can it also bring about better democracies? Thomas Frank, Jean Louise Cohen and Jack Beatty join Meghna Chakrabarti.
It’s easy to think of American populism as disempowered rural residents versus the urban elite. When it comes to America’s electoral system and influencing national policy, who has the real power? Jonathan Rodden and Danielle Allen join Meghna Chakrabarti.
On Point continues to explore “The power of populism” this week. Today, Wisconsin and the politics of resentment. How has populism flourished in the Badger state?
Populism is on the rise across the globe, from Turkey to Hungary to Brazil. The second episode of our series “The power of populism” looks at the appeal of populism in India, and what it means for the future of the world’s largest democracy.
Populism has been on the rise in recent years. But why? And what exactly is populism? It’s the first episode of our series "The power of populism."
For the first time in our nation’s history, a president was indicted on criminal charges. What’s next for Donald Trump?
Student discipline problems rose sharply in the pandemic. Schools say disruptive behavior has been on the rise for years, but they're not allowed to do much about it. Now, lawmakers want to change that. Ben Court, Patrick Wall and Elizabeth Errico join Meghna Chakrabarti.
T-Mobile had a major cell phone outage in February. Last year, AT&T customers in Minnesota lost service for four days. What would it take to make America's wireless networks more reliable? Harold Feld joins Meghna Chakrabarti.
Health care professionals across the country say they're being forced to compromise the quality of care they give their patients in the name of profits.
In our nation’s for-profit health system, more and more health care professionals say they're being forced to make choices that are bad for patients. Much like soldiers at war, clinicians now report suffering from “moral injury.”
Gun violence recently surpassed car accidents as the leading cause of death for American children. For Black children – that’s been the case since 2006. Dr. Victor Garcia and Joseph Richardson join Meghna Chakrabarti.
The COVID pandemic paved the way for widespread use of telehealth doctor’s appointments. They worked. But some states are rolling back access to virtual visits.
20 years after the U.S. invaded Iraq, congress is quietly repealing its authorization of the war. We look back at the past two decades in Iraq, through an Iraqi's eyes. Ghaith Abdul-Ahad joins Meghna Chakrabarti.
Sitting members of Congress are aiding January 6th defendants. Visiting them in jail, releasing raw Capitol footage to Fox news. We hear what it means when members of Congress back the people who tried to tear Congress down.
The U.S. is considering banning the hugely popular video-sharing app TikTok, over concerns that its Chinese ownership poses a threat to national security. What’s to fear about TikTok?
Why did Jacob Wideman murder Eric Kane?
In 1986, the two 16-year-olds were rooming together on a summer camp trip to the Grand Canyon when Jacob fatally — and inexplicably — stabbed Eric.
That night, Jacob went on the run, absconding with the camp’s rented Oldsmobile and thousands of dollars in traveler’s checks. Before long, he turned himself in and eventually confessed to the killing — although he couldn’t explain what drove him to do it.
It would take years of therapy and medical treatment behind bars before Jacob could begin to understand what was going through his mind that night. It would take even longer to try to explain it to his family, to his victim’s family and to parole board members, who would decide whether he deserved to be free ever again.
This debut episode of “Violation,” a podcast from WBUR and The Marshall Project, introduces the story of the crime that has bound two families together for decades.
Jacob’s father, John Edgar Wideman, is an acclaimed author of many books on race, violence and criminal justice. He spoke with Violation host Beth Schwartzapfel in a rare, in-depth interview about his son’s case that listeners will hear throughout the series, including this premiere.
For the first time in U.S. history, a former president may be charged with a serious crime. We discuss the legal and political fallout of the possible indictment of Donald Trump.
In America we have the wealth and the know-how to end poverty, so why don’t we? Sociologist Matthew Desmond seeks answers in his new book “Poverty, By America.”
Just three weeks after the catastrophic earthquake in Turkey, reconstruction was already underway. Turkey’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has promised to rebuild in one year. But is racing to rebuild the right answer? Evren Aydoğan, Divya Chandrasekhar and Jared Maslin join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Teen mental health is declining, particularly among girls. The pressure of social media is often cited as a leading cause. But that’s not the full story behind the mental health of teenage girls in the U.S.
The collapse of Silicon Valley Bank marks the second largest bank failure in America’s history. Some say a 2018 rollback on bank regulations helped cause it. What happens when so-called midsized banks also get too big to fail?
Computer brain interfaces used to be the stuff of science fiction. Now, headphones and earbuds with sensors that can read your brain waves – and sell your data – are hitting the market. Experts say it’s the time to establish rules of the road.
A Texas lawsuit attempting to ban the abortion pill could undermine how the FDA approves drugs. If the plaintiffs succeed, experts say the pharmaceutical industry could be thrown into chaos -- leaving past and new drugs also on the chopping block. Glenn Cohen and Eva Temkin join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Emily Fobert is a research fellow at the University of Melbourne in Australia. In the lab, Emily studies how light pollution affects marine life.
Earth needs darkness just as much as it needs light. Human light pollution is pushing back the dark, which is changing the natural world, and could be hurting us, too. Johan Eklöf joins Meghna Chakrabarti.
The State of Missouri controlled the St. Louis police force from the Civil War until a decade ago. Now Republican state politicians want that power back. We explore the struggle for control of the police between the city and state.
Professor Nico Smit specializes in aquatic parasitology at Northwestern University in South Africa.
Many years ago, while working on his Ph.D., Smit ran across something special in the coastal waters off South Africa: a tongue-replacing parasite.
Parasites. Cause of human disease. Big on the yuck-factor. It's easy to think of them as doing no good -- but researchers say that's the wrong way to think of these essential creatures.
Barbara Brandon-Croft is the first Black female cartoonist to be nationally syndicated. Her comic strip, “Where I’m Coming From,” ran from 1991 to 2005 and featured nine Black women who talk about everything from racism, politics, friendship to love.
Following a scathing independent report last year, Britain is shutting down its leading gender identity clinic. We talk about what lead to the closure, and how the debate over “gender affirming care” is unfolding in the United Kingdom. Hannah Barnes joins Meghna Chakrabarti.
More studies are finding that natural immunity from COVID can be as protective as vaccination. U.S. health leaders knew this in 2021 — but most didn’t publicly acknowledge it. Why?
Injustice in America’s for-profit justice system. When profit becomes the point, families become targets of the very justice system that is meant to protect everyone.
When dozens of companies in the U.K. experimented with a four-day work week, employers and employees loved it. Could a four-day work week work in the United States? Juliet Schor, Matthew Bidwell and Shawn Noratel join Meghna Chakrabarti.
In July 2022, Florida Governor DeSantis signed Florida House Bill 1467. It requires all schoolbooks to be reviewed by a district employee holding an educational media specialist certificate, to ensure the books are grade level appropriate and free of pornography.
Shortly after the bill went into effect, videos started popping up on social media of empty school bookshelves.
Brian Covey, who posted a video of those empty bookshelves, joins Meghna Chakrabarti.
Florida governor Ron DeSantis is making changes to public K-12 education. How are his policies and politics impacting Florida classrooms? Jeff Solochek joins Meghna Chakrabarti.
The international community responded to Russia's invasion of Ukraine with harsh sanctions. But a year later, Russia is still fighting in Ukraine. Have sanctions failed? Adam Smith, Frank Vogl and Sergey Aleksashenko join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Thirty years ago, a secret dinner at the Pentagon led to a flurry of consolidation in the defense industry. We hear the story of that so-called "last supper" and what it means for the Pentagon's $800 billion budget today. Norman Augustine and Rep. John Garamendi join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Millions of Americans sell their blood plasma every year. It’s part of a global, multibillion dollar business. But what is plasma really used for? Kathleen McLaughlin and Dr. Morey Blinder join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Since the 1950s, the number of occupations requiring a state license has ballooned. Who benefits, who loses when one in four workers in American need a license to do their job?
100 years ago, average life expectancy in the U.S. was 47. Today, it's closer to 80 -- and lots of people are using those extra 30 years to reinvent themselves.
When a train carrying hazardous materials derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, residents were forced to evacuate. Industry critics say lax safety regulations and industry lobbyists set the stage for this disaster.
Contemporary political battles have put school classrooms at the center of a debate about race and our country’s history. How should American educators be teaching the history of slavery? Danielle Allen and David Blight join Kimberly Atkins Stohr.
Since Russia invaded Ukraine one year ago this week – nearly 8,000 civilians have been killed, 11,000 injured and millions displaced. We hear from Ukrainians about their year of living through war.
It’s been nearly a year since Russia invaded Ukraine. Both sides are preparing for new offensives. Can NATO keep its promise to stand with Kyiv for as long as it takes?
Amazon is no longer content with being your go-to retailer, streaming service, or smart speaker. The trillion-dollar company now wants to be your doctor’s office and your pharmacy.
There is more child sexual abuse content online than ever before. And not just on the dark web, but on platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Snapchat. What can the major tech companies do to stop it?
A deal with the Netherlands and Japan marks America’s latest effort to curb China’s semiconductor production. National security, meets economic rivalry, meets trade war geo-politics.
Before the shooting down of more unidentified aerial objects over the past few days, there was the China spy balloon. That gave us a rare glimpse into spycraft between the U.S. and China. What have we learned?
The federal government asked the seven Colorado River Basin states for a plan to cut water. All came to an agreement – except California. Now the federal government may have to step in. How will the West adapt as the Colorado River runs dry?
Congress recently, and quietly, gave the FDA the power to prohibit off-label uses of medical devices. What’s behind that change and what it could mean for prescription medication?
In the 1980s, a lawyer devised a tax dodge that would save the ultra-rich millions. In the 1990s, Congress stepped in to make the maneuver even more lucrative. We hear how the ultra-rich avoid paying taxes.
Populism, border politics and primaries. In this podcast special, On Point news analyst Jack Beatty highlights key moments from President Biden's second State of the Union address.
American English has many forms. It’s evolved over 400 years to match this country’s dynamic history. Humanities professor Ilan Stavans says that because it’s so adaptable, American English can unify our fractured nation. Ilan Stavans joins Meghna Chakrabarti.
The Taliban promised they would honor Afghan women's rights. Instead, they have banned women from universities, even required covering the faces of female mannequins. Mina, Najia Naseem and Rangina Hamidi join Meghna Chakrabarti.
One in five Americans now live with their parents, grandparents, or adult children -- all under one roof. It's a remarkable change from a few generations ago. Ammylou Daludado, Michelle Singletary and Hope Harvey join Meghna Chakrabarti.
John Reynolds has lived in Yosemite National Park his entire life. In this 'First person' diary, he shares how living in nature helps him maintain a sense of awe.
How do you find deep happiness? Researcher Dacher Keltner says the answer is to find everyday wonder.
The banality of evil. That was Hannah Arendt's famous observation during the trial of Adolf Eichmann, the ‘architect of the Holocaust.’ Now, there's evidence that Eichmann's evil was anything but banal.
Special police units like the now-disbanded SCORPION team in Memphis are common around the country. Police chiefs say they’re essential for fighting crime. Critics say their elite status and lack of accountability is a recipe for abuse.
A recent edition of On Point explored the role of patriarchal power in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and the consequences of that for Mormon women in abusive relationships.
Currently, only men in the Mormon Church get to ascend the religious hierarchy.
Kate Kelly founded the group Ordain Women roughly a decade ago to try to change that.
This month, a Utah man murdered his wife, and their five children, and his mother-in-law, before killing himself. That’s sparked a conversation among Mormon women about power and safety in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
In the 1980s, the world came together to ban CFCs, commonly used chemicals that were destroying the atmosphere’s ozone layer. Are there lessons we can apply to tackling climate change?
House Republicans are getting down to business, drafting legislation to spend more money on border control, less on the IRS. Hardliners are calling for radical changes to social security and Medicare. How will the GOP advance its agenda in the House? Rep. Gary Palmer, Scott MacFarlane and Philip Wallach join Kimberly Atkins Stohr.
Over 40 million adults in America suffer from an anxiety disorder. But anxiety, the emotion, has an evolutionary purpose: It helps us prepare for an uncertain future.
Until recently Bruno Lozano was the mayor of Del Rio, Texas. Once seen as a rising star in the Democratic party, he’s now a fierce critic of President Biden’s handling of the southern border.
Almost every major company in the U.S. requires their employees to participate in diversity, equity and inclusion training. But is DEI training achieving what it aims to do?
So far, the presidency of Joe Biden has seen some big legislative successes, but a disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan. With a new Republican House majority determined to block his agenda, what’s next for the Biden presidency?
College enrollment is down across the nation. Demographic changes are largely driving that. What does the decline mean for the future of small colleges?
In Europe there are ‘dementia villages’ where residents can live freely despite their memory loss. Could that work here in the United States? Iris Van Slooten and Dr. Tia Powell join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Representative George Santos has lied about almost every aspect of his life. How do uncontrolled fabulists get that way -- going way beyond the little fibs we all tell -- to cutting all ties with the truth?
The American Academy of Pediatrics has released new guidelines to tackle the obesity epidemic. They’re calling for family counseling, early treatment with drugs and even surgery. Can pediatricians turn the epidemic around?
In 2012, horrified by the Sandy Hook school shooting, stay-at-home mom Shannon Watts founded Moms Demand Action. It’s now one of the largest anti-gun violence groups in the nation.
The nation’s first gun insurance mandate took effect this year in San Jose, California. Gunowners in the city are required to have liability insurance, or they'll be fined a minimum of $250. But can insurance actually curb gun violence?
Fast fashion retailers like Shein sell t-shirts for less than $5 apiece. This business model, along with social media, fuels an erosion in the quality of clothing at every level. What price are we really paying for super-affordable fashion?
The population of planet Earth reached 8 billion people late last year. By the year 2100, we're headed for 2 billion more.
What does that mean for us and our planet?
Elizabeth Hadly is a professor of biology at Stanford University, and director of the Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve in California's Santa Cruz Mountains.
For four decades, she's been an eyewitness to dramatic changes in the plant and animal kingdoms caused by human beings.
In the early 1800s, the human population hit 1 billion. As of late last year, human population 8 billion. And by the end of the century, it’s expected to top ten billion. What does that mean for humanity and the environment?
ChatGPT is one of the most sophisticated AI chat bots ever released. With just a few prompts, it can write almost anything.
Daniel Herman, a high school English teacher in Berkeley, California, has some ideas about how ChatGPT might find its way into his classroom.
ChatGPT is one of the most sophisticated AI chatbots ever released. A high school teacher says it writes better than some students. But what happens when we can't tell the difference between computer and human-generated writing?
After a series of botched executions, Alabama could soon begin executing death row incarcerated people using lethal gas. Oklahoma, Mississippi, Missouri, California, Wyoming and Arizona have legalized execution by lethal gas. We hear why.
First person: The Indigenous peoples of the Americas have been using psychedelics for thousands of years. Colonization and extermination ripped away their right to use psychedelics for generations.
Aging might be reversible. Harvard researcher and biotech founder Dr. David Sinclair theorizes in his New York Times best-selling book, “Lifespan,” that aging doesn’t have to be inevitable.
The GOP has taken back the House. But with a fractious caucus, and an ascendant far-right wing, how will Republicans run the House and what do they want to achieve in the new Congress? Sarah Longwell joins Meghna Chakrabarti.
Americans spend almost $100 billion a year on state lotteries. Why do so many states receive just a fraction of that money? Jonathan D. Cohen joins Meghna Chakrabarti.
The Money Ladies are back. Michelle Singletary and Rana Foroohar will be our guides for what to watch for in your personal finance and national economy this year.
Rebroadcast: Trees are on the move. Because of climate change, the world’s forests are heading north. What does this mean for us and our survival? Ben Rawlence joins Meghna Chakrabarti.
Rebroadcast: For antitrust reformers, the size and power of companies like Google and Facebook represent more than a threat to consumer welfare. It’s the final episode in our series “More than money." Matt Stoller, Jack Beatty and Carl Shapiro join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Rebroadcast: From Robert Bork's "consumer harm" to Lina Khan's "democratic harm," we discuss the ideas that drive the government's approach to antitrust regulation. Daniel Crane, Barry Lynn and Jack Beatty join Meghna Chakrabarti.
The nineteenth century saw the rise of great monopolies. Americans pushed back. What changed?
We discuss lessons learned from antitrust action in the Gilded Age with Jack Beatty and Charles Postel.
Rebroadcast: Microsoft wanted to acquire Activision-Blizzard for almost $70 billion. Is the mega-merger a new kind of monopoly?
Rebroadcast: Our series "More than money" is an exploration of the hidden power of monopolies in the U.S.
Part I looks at how corporate monopolies dominate the beef industry.
"It's failed consumers on one end of the supply chain, and it's failed the American family farmer and rancher on the other." Bill Bullard, Claire Kelloway and Jack Beatty join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Many of us turn to music to feel better. But music can also help us physically heal. Studies show music can affect our blood pressure and our heart rate – and even help us manage pain.
For the first time in American history, Congress has referred a former president for criminal prosecution. Will the Justice Department bring charges against Donald Trump?
Disgraced FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried was one of the biggest proponents of a philanthropic movement called effective altruism. Where does the movement go from here?
Americans are spending more time alone and less time with friends, according to a Census Bureau survey. We hear what's behind the drop in time spent with friends, and why it’s important to reverse the trend.
Before she was a teenager, Achut Deng escaped civil war in South Sudan and life in a Kenyan refugee camp. Until recently, she carried that secret history with her.
The 2022 World Cup wraps up this weekend in Qatar when Argentina plays France in the final.
Nico Cantor is a soccer broadcaster, primarily for CBS Sports. He’s doing Spanish language commentary for Fútbol de Primera at this World Cup.
Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene will be a potent force in the Republican Controlled House. What will she do with her influence? Robert Draper and Tia Mitchell join Meghna Chakrabarti.
In the third installment of our podcast-only series Remarkable Science, we talk with journalist, author and National Geographic fellow Dan Buettner.
He's spent more than a decade analyzing 'Blue Zones' — five places where people live the longest, healthiest lives.
There is a new bankruptcy tactic being used to shield executives from accountability. Non-debtor releases give corporate leaders -- like the Sackler family and Harvey Weinstein -- immunity from lawsuits for life. Mike Spector and Clifford White III join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Social psychologist Jonathan Haidt says America is in trouble.
He sees it on college campuses and through social media.
Haidt joins Meghna Chakrabarti to discuss democracy, social media and how to fix America's 'ailing' institutions.
A California entrepreneur says he's building affordable homes in South Central LA at half the usual cost. How? By saying no to public funding.
When referring to Christians, politicians and the media are often focusing on one group -- politicized evangelicals. But, in truth, they are a small slice of the broad spectrum of American Christianity.
Former FBI chief J. Edgar Hoover. He hated the American left. Demonized and investigated his critics. But what did the rest of America think about him?
In 2017, the battle to retake Mosul from ISIS razed the city to the ground. Approximately 10,000 civilians died. Their families have spent the past five years trying to bring their city back. Ali Baroodi, Maria Rita Acetoso and Sarhang Hamasaeed join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Hawaii’s Mauna Loa volcano is erupting for the first time in nearly four decades. A new generation of researchers equipped with new technology are observing the primal forces that continue to shape the planet.
Across China, remarkable public demonstrations against the country’s zero COVID policy. Could this mark the surfacing of deeper discontent in Chinese society?
Huge numbers of kids are struggling to read. Why? Because literacy curriculum used in thousands of classrooms doesn’t work. Emily Hanford joins Meghna Chakrabarti.
Studies show a majority of Americans believe other Americans mostly look out for themselves. With trust on the decline, can it be rebuilt?
Trust is essential for survival, for relationships, for a civilized society. But trust needs an ally. We hear why building trust needs a good dose of healthy skepticism, too. Sanford “Sandy” Goldberg, Jack Beatty and Julia Jordan-Zachery join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Brazilians have low levels of institutional trust. They also have low levels of trust in each other. Why? Chayenne Polimédio and Rafael Ioris join Meghna Chakrabarti.
What happens in our brains when we trust someone? Neuroscientists explain how our brains process trust, and why it's worth the risk. Jamil Zaki and Oriel FeldmanHall join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Rebroadcast: Jane Goodall formed incredible bonds with chimpanzees in the wild. But were those bonds similar to what we humans experience as trust?
From February to May 2020, almost 12 million American women lost their jobs compared to 9 million men, according to Pew Research. But new analysis finds that gender was not the main driver behind those pandemic job losses for women.
Zac Zaki and Tom Schueman join us to talk about the friendship they forged in Afghanistan, and what it took to get Zaki out of Kabul.
Journalist Putsata Reang has reported on many wars. Her own life is defined by the war her family escaped. “What did I owe my mother for giving me life?" The question gripped Reang when she decided to tell her mother that she's gay.
Congress has tried for years to reign in this ticketing monopoly. Will Taylor Swift Fans make all the difference? Krista Brown and Andre Barlow join Kimberly Atkins Stohr.
Last year at this time, retailers had high demand, but stock was in short supply. This year, that’s turned on its head. So, what does that mean for consumers? G. Tony Bell and Alla Valente join Kimberly Atkins Stohr.
Rebroadcast: An 'invisible epidemic' is causing suffering in millions of women. It affects memory, concentration, balance. We discuss traumatic brain injuries in survivors of domestic violence. Eve Valera and Rachel Ramirez join Meghna Chakrabarti.
A new word was coined to describe the economy in the fall of 2020: She-cession. Neat, but maybe too convenient. Claudia Goldin joins Meghna Chakrabarti.
In a country that’s increasingly polarized – many voters in the midterms said it doesn’t have to be that way. We hear what ticket splitting tells us about what American voters are looking for.
Elon Musk borrowed billions to buy Twitter. Now he has to figure out how to pay all that back. But there’s just one problem. Nilay Patel and Sen. Ed Markey join Anthony Brooks.
In a world where we emphasize productivity and even celebrate busyness, is constant fatigue inevitable? Or – can we learn and practice meaningful rest? Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith joins Meghna Chakrabarti.
Are cultural and economic forces changing boyhood, manhood and fatherhood? Richard Reeves says yes, and that many men and boys are struggling.
Children’s hospitals across the U.S. are being overwhelmed by the respiratory infection RSV. Can it be contained, and how? Dr. Meghan Bernier and Saad Omer join Meghna Chakrabarti.
The biggest test of U.S. democracy since Jan. 6, 2021. What do the midterm election results tell us about Americans' belief in democracy and the direction of the nation? Heather Cox Richardson, Stephen Henderson, Tom Bonier, Lisa Desjardins and Jack Beatty join Meghna Chakrabarti.
After a year of catastrophic weather events, nations have gathered for the COP27 climate conference. The picture is grim, but some climate scientists say they’re encouraged by progress the world has made. David Wallace-Wells joins Meghna Chakrabarti.
Important ballot measures are at play in the midterms. In some states, voters are being asked to consider limiting their own right to put citizen-sponsored initiatives on future ballots. Neil Volz, Chris Melody Fields Figueredo and Josh Visnaw join Meghna Chakrabarti.
The Biden Administration wants to make higher ed more affordable. Why aren't colleges and universities doing more themselves to make getting a degree less expensive? Eric Kelderman and Mitch Daniels join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Press one. Press two. Try to find a human, but you can’t. Welcome to the nightmare that is customer service. Jeannie Walters and Jared Spool join Meghna Chakrabarti.
An open-air drug market is thriving San Francisco’s Tenderloin neighborhood. We explore what's behind it. Randy Shaw, Leighton Woodhouse and Sam Quinones join Meghna Chakrabarti.
The Supreme Court set a precedent for affirmative action more than 40 years ago. Now that precedent hangs in the balance as the court considers it again.
The midterms are right around the corner, and both parties are talking all about the economy. What message will win with voters? Natasha Korecki, Jon Ralston, Bente Birkeland and Chad Livengood join Anthony Brooks.
Britain is on Prime Minister number three, in just the past two months. What's going on with Britain's conservative party, and with the nation they've been elected to lead? Emily Maitlis and Jack Beatty join Meghna Chakrabarti.
For years, legal activists fought to free their client ... an elephant. Earlier this year, the state's highest court rejected that argument. But the question's now out there: If corporations can have some personhood rights, why not animals, too? David Scheel and Richard Cupp join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Puerto Rico is recovering from Hurricane Fiona which hit last month. It’s also still recovering from Hurricane Maria, which hit more than 5 years ago. So, what’s holding back Puerto Rico’s recovery? Adi Martinez-Roman and Deepak Lamba-Nieves join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Timothy Snyder says Russian President Vladimir Putin is vulnerable at home, as Russian men leave to avoid being sent to fight in Ukraine.
Dmitry Grigoriev is Russian man living in Georgia to avoid mobilization. He shares his story.
Russia invaded Ukraine eight months ago, seemingly unprepared for the fight Ukraine would put up. Scholar Timothy Snyder answers the question: How will the war in Ukraine end?
More than a million Black Americans fought for the United States in World War II. They fought for a double victory: over fascism and over racism. But their fight would continue long after the war ended. Matthew Delmont joins Kimberly Atkins Stohr.
The U.S. dollar is soaring against other currencies, adding to fears of a global financial meltdown. When that happened in 1985, governments took action. Could that happen today?
Kenneth Rogoff and Jean-Claude Trichet join Kimberly Atkins Stohr.
Corporations facing massive litigation are using a new legal strategy to avoid liability. It’s known as the Texas two-step. Step one: create a subsidiary and transfer a few assets and all the lawsuits. Step two: The subsidiary files for bankruptcy. Rob Rasmussen, Mike Spector and Leigh O'Dell join Kimberly Atkins Stohr.
Chess is an ancient game of grand masters, now being upended in the digital domain. To add to the upheaval, grand master Hans Niemann has been accused of cheating in more than 100 games. Danny Rensch, Levy Rozman and Anna Cramling join Meghna Chakrabarti.
If the U.S. is to be less reliant on global supply chains, businesses and consumers are going to have to change expectations. Rana Foroohar joins us to discuss what it'll really take to rebuild the economy at "home." Rana Foroohar and Jack Beatty join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Political analysts call the Hispanic vote a ‘sleeping giant.’ Most still vote Democratic, but the GOP is gaining ground. We'll listen to Hispanic voters from across the country. Rick Sanchez, Veronica Lopez, Iris Ramos-Jones and Doni Curkendall join Meghna Chakrabarti.
In the likely final hearing of the January 6th House Committee, the members laid out their key findings – detail after detail. Eric Cortellessa, Elaine Kamarck, Sarah Longwell and Jack Beatty join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Who is least likely to vote in the midterms next month? Young Americans. But are politicians any more likely to listen to young Americans if they don't turn up at the ballot box? Fana Haile-Selassie, Tinisee Buckman and Troy Simpson join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Key parts of our economy and defense rely on imports from China. President Biden wants to end that dependence. On the flipside, President Xi has been trying to untangle China’s economy from ours for years. How’s that working out? Hung Tran and Elaine Dezenski join Meghna Chakrabarti.
A California entrepreneur says he's building affordable homes in South Central LA at half the usual cost. How? By saying no to public funding. Martin Muoto and Mike Loftin join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Chile is a democracy that fell into dictatorship for nearly two decades. What were the warning signs? Robert Funk, Peter Siavelis and Heraldo Muñoz join Meghna Chakrabarti.
In its last term the Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade, limited the authority of the EPA and expanded gun rights. In its new term, the court faces decisions on voting rights, affirmative action, gay rights. Amy Howe, Carolyn Shapiro and Erwin Chemerinsky join Kimberly Atkins Stohr.
Portraits are about far more than pencil or paint.
But for most of our nation’s history, Black Americans were denied that public honor.
Now, with a collection of 145 portraits of America’s iconic and unsung Black heroes -- one artist is setting out to change that. George McCalman joins Kimberly Atkins Stohr.
Long COVID is generally defined as having symptoms that persist for more than four weeks. Hanna Tripp has lived with COVID symptoms since March 2020, just as the pandemic began. Hear her story in today's 'First person' diary.
Thousands of Americans suffer from long COVID, and doctors still don’t understand it. But researchers who’ve spent decades studying Chronic Fatigue Syndrome say they have some answers. Dr. David Putrino and Dr. Lucinda Bateman join Kimberly Atkins Stohr.
Republicans have a chance to take back the U.S. House and Senate in November’s midterm elections. We sit down with conservative voters across the nation to hear what’s on their minds.
Women across Iran have taken to the streets after the death of a young woman in police custody. Their government says it will ‘mercilessly confront’ them: dozens have been killed. Neither side is backing down: what’s next for the women of Iran?
In Texas, large social media platforms may soon lose the right to moderate their own content. We discuss NetChoice v. Paxton – and how a Texas law could impact First Amendment rights and content moderation online. Alan Rozenshtein and Julie Owono join Kimberly Atkins Stohr.
In Mexico, more than a dozen journalists have been murdered a year, every year, for two decades. In 2012, Regina Martinez was one of them. One reporter wanted to know why. Katherine Corcoran joins Kimberly Atkins-Stohr.
Only one city in the U.S. has supervised drug injection sites to combat overdose deaths. We discuss a life-saving solution that’s seemingly too controversial. Peter Davidson and Ronda Goldfein join Kimberly Atkins Stohr.
Millions of climate refugees are expected to move north from the South and West in years to come. The mayor of Buffalo, New York says they’ll be welcome. Maria Agosto, Matt Hauer and Beth Gibbons join Kimberly Atkins Stohr.
Every day, U.S. border patrol drops off hundreds of Venezuelan refugees in downtown El Paso. From then on, they’re the city’s responsibility. But why? Uriel Garcia, Molly O'Toole and Niurka Meléndez join Kimberly Atkins Stohr.
Post-World War II, there was something seen as even worse than being a communist in U.S. politics: being gay. We discuss how lives and careers were lost through decades of bipartisan homophobia. James Kirchick joins Meghna Chakrabarti.
With Russia’s military setbacks in Ukraine, there’s been increasingly open criticism of President Putin and his war. We examine Putin's pressure points. Nikolas Gvosdev and Olga Ivshina join Kimberly Atkins Stohr.
Law journalist Dahlia Lithwick profiles female lawyers and judges who challenged the Trump administration in her new book, 'Lady Justice.'
Many Silicon Valley companies want their software engineers to live for their jobs. And they offer them everything from meals to dry cleaning to spiritual coaches. But is the office really the place to find a life’s worth of fulfillment? Carolyn Chen and Lauren Padron join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Jane Goodall formed incredible bonds with chimpanzees in the wild. But were those bonds similar to what we humans experience as trust? It's the first episode of our series "Essential trust."
Jackson, Mississippi hasn't had safe drinking water for weeks. The city's mayor says the problem's decades in the making. That makes Jackson a lesson for the entire country. Donna Ladd, Aaron Packman and Catherine Coleman-Flowers join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Our series of podcast-only episodes called Remarkable Science features conversations with scientists about their work, recorded in front of a virtual audience at WBUR’s CitySpace venue in Boston.
Dr. Jennifer Nuzzo, director of the Pandemic Center at Brown University, and Dr. Albert Ko, professor of public health and epidemiology and medicine at Yale, explore how we should all go about living in a time of outbreaks, pandemics and other infectious threats.
President Biden's $37 billion anti-crime plan includes funding to hire 100,000 more police. What's actually in the plan? Richard Rosenfeld and Elie Mystal join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Russia has cut off energy supplies to Europe. It's causing a crisis. How long can Europe hold on? Suriya Jayanti and Tim McPhie join Meghna Chakrabarti.
The midterms are coming, and your TV's already been flooded with campaign ads. But do the ads even work? Do they sway voters at all? Christopher Warshaw and Dan Bayens join Meghna Chakrabarti.
This year, Congress actually came up with a solution to help the U.S. Postal Service. A bipartisan bill passed that's the biggest financial reform of the Post office in 20 years. What's been fixed? Jacob Bogage and Paul Steidler join Meghna Chakrabarti.
One decade and 6,000 pages of documents later, the Bin Laden papers have upended our understanding of al-Qaida. Nelly Lahoud joins Meghna Chakrabarti.
Some school libraries have been forced to remove controversial books. The threat now is on public libraries, where some communities have recently taken another step -- they've voted to defund their local libraries. Deborah Caldwell-Stone, Patrick Sweeney and George M. Johnson join Meghna Chakrabarti.
The COVID-19 pandemic completely upended children’s lives as they knew it. What did they lose? We talk to a longtime education reporter about how the pandemic changed her view of public education. Anya Kamenetz joins Meghna Chakrabarti.
In Douglas Rushkoff’s latest book: “Survival of the Richest," we hear how the tech elite are planning to escape the destruction they had a hand in creating.
The life of a digital influencer. Primp. Place product. Post. And cha-ching! But… that’s not all. “There is such an incredible amount of labor, much of that remains concealed behind the scenes." Brooke Erin Duffy and Ayana Lage join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Phones. TVs. Computers, everywhere inside. But outside, how can we help kids see the forest beyond the screens? Steven Rinella joins Meghna Chakrabarti.
For decades, scholar Randall Kennedy has been writing about race, culture and the law. “We are certainly much further from the racial promised land than I had thought that we were," he says. Randall Kennedy joins Meghna Chakrabarti.
Mass grief. Mass outrage. Seemingly everywhere. But can we also learn to share in each other’s joy?
Eve Ekman, Shelly Gable and Amelie, an On Point listener, join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Steven Salaita was a rising star in the field of American Indian studies.
In the fall of 2012, he applied for a job at the University of Illinois. Then, he lost everything.
“I had taken to Twitter and other forms of social media to condemn Israel’s bombardment of the Gaza Strip in Palestine," Salaita remembers.
"And suddenly, I got an email out of the blue informing me that the job offer had been pulled."
Academic freedom on American campuses. Keith Whittington joins Meghna Chakrabarti.
Whales migrate along routes thousands of miles long - oceanic superhighways - that also happen to be corridors of human disruption. We discuss the fight to protect whale superhighways. Kerri Seger and Michael J. Moore join Meghna Chakrabarti.
On the most recent episode of On Point, we talked about Serena Williams' retirement. Or, as she calls it, 'an evolution away from tennis.'
Williams's decision brings to light the challenges for professional athletes who retire after being successful in sports their whole lives. We talked to former NFL wide receiver Markus Wheaton. He played in the league for six seasons.
After 23 Grand Slam singles and 27 years on tour, Serena Williams says this U.S. Open will be her last.
Williams says she’s “evolving away from tennis.”
But what does that mean for athletes who have dedicated their lives to pursuing greatness in a sport? William C. Rhoden and Kensa Gunter join Kimberly Atkins Stohr.
It’s Independence Day in Ukraine.
Official celebrations have been canceled. But the fact that there’s an independent Ukraine at all is celebration enough for Ukrainians.
President Zelenskyy is vowing to fight on. What lies ahead for Ukraine? Tanya Kozyreva, Michael Kofman and Olga Ivshina join Kimberly Atkins Stohr.
Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy knows what it’s like to fly with presidents. Kimberly Atkins Stohr hears about his life in American politics.
Donald Trump's supporters are unleashing a torrent of criticism of the FBI after agents searched Mar-a-Lago. What impact is it having? Andrew McCabe and Dennis Lormel join Kimberly Atkins Stohr.
Author Salman Rushdie remains in critical condition after a brutal knife attack last week. We'll look at the long history of the price people pay to defend free speech. Jacob Mchangama joins Meghna Chakrabarti.
In 2013, Meghna Chakrabarti spoke with Salman Rushdie, on the tail end of his book tour for Joseph Anton.
Today, in this podcast special, we're resurfacing the 2013 Radio Boston interview with Rushdie.
Why are wages what they are? We talk about the myths that help set wages in the modern economy. Jake Rosenfeld and Larry Mishel join Meghna Chakrabarti.
We look closely at swing state Ohio, and what the midterms Senate race there says about the appeal of Trumpism nationwide. Gary Abernathy, Haley BeMiller and Jack Beatty join Meghna Chakrabarti.
A new study finds that the standard recommendation of two-and-a-half hours a week of exercise may not be enough. You might need twice as much exercise to live a long, healthy life. NiCole Keith and Dr. Eddie Phillips join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Zac Zaki and Tom Schueman join Meghna Chakrabarti to talk about the friendship they forged in Afghanistan, and what it took to get Zaki out of Kabul.
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley had written a letter of resignation. In it, he accused former President Donald Trump of betraying the country. But Milley never sent the letter. That's according to a stunning report in the New Yorker magazine. Susan Glasser and Peter Baker join Meghna Chakrabarti.
The nation's meatpacking companies skirted COVID safety regulations. And they did it with the White House's help, according to a little known Congressional report. So how’d they get away with it? Michael Grabell and Debbie Berkowitz join Meghna Chakrabarti.
- The last Taiwan Straights crisis. China's was badly outmatched by the U.S. So what's the Chinese military capable of now? Oriana Skylar Mastro and Bonny Lin join Meghna Chakrabarti.
The federal government is spending big to usher in an electric vehicle future.
What ideas can make sure the money is well spent? Samantha Houston and Alexander Laska join Meghna Chakrabarti.
From the deck of the Starship Enterprise, to the storied parquet of the NBA -- Nichelle Nichols and Bill Russell changed how the world saw Black Americans. We remember the legacies of these two pioneers. Angelique Fawcette and Marc J. Spears join Meghna Chakrabarti.
In a truly open society, all ideas can flourish -- even those that tear down democracies. New technologies help those ideas spread. So, are fragile democracies the norm? Zac Gershberg, Sean Illing and Jack Beatty join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Youth suicide has been on the rise across the United States. And for young people between the ages of 5 and 12, the suicide rate for Black children is nearly double that of white children. Tami Charles and Kevin Simon join Meghna Chakrabarti.
The typical teen body clock and the typical school start time are out of synch. California is pushing back the start of the high school day. Other districts already have. Did it work? Lisa L. Lewis joins Meghna Chakrabarti.
First person: Jose Luis Alvarez, co-founder of Forests for Monarchs, and Martha Askins, a retired lawyer, discuss the beauty of the monarch butterfly and conservation efforts to save them.
Every year, migratory monarch butterflies travel thousands of miles.
But for decades, their population has been declining. Now, the monarchs are endangered.
We discuss how to save the endangered monarch butterfly. Orley “Chip” Taylor and Wendy Caldwell join Meghna Chakrabarti.
You’ve seen the pharma ads saying depression may be caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain. But for years, doctors have known that's not entirely true. A big new study confirms that, and it’s come as a shock to patients. Daniel Carlat joins us.
A new bill proposes critical updates to the Electoral Count Act of 1887, but is it enough to prevent another Jan. 6th? Matthew Seligman, Derek Muller and Jack Beatty join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Franklin Leonard is founder of The Black List, a company and production studio that searches for the best screenplays that aren't getting attention from Hollywood execs.
In a pod exclusive, Leonard joins Meghna Chakrabarti for a special live event at KPCC's Public Radio Palooza series in Pasadena, California.
Monkeypox is spreading across the country, with numbers rising. COVID was supposed to be a wake up call for American public health. So how did this happen? Aaron Gettinger and Dr. Ali Khan join Meghna Chakrabarti.
There were more than 560 homicides in Philadelphia last year. Now, some elected officials are calling for the return of a controversial policing tactic: stop-and-frisk. Sammy Caiola, Shira Scheindlin and Councilman Isaiah Thomas join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Amanda Ripley is a journalist, and even she, like millions of Americans, decided to turn off the news. So what needs to change? Ripley has an answer, and it begins with giving people hope.
Joe Segal, Amanda Ripley and David Bornstein join Meghna Chakrabarti.
The James Webb Space Telescope has sent back its first images. We'll discuss the deepest glimpse into the story of the universe human kind has ever had.
Catherine Espaillat and Steve Finkelstein join Meghna Chakrabarti.
As its series of hearings wraps up, what has the January 6 committee revealed about Donald Trump and the attack on the Capitol?
Rep. Jamie Raskin, Rosalind Helderman and Jack Beatty join Kimberly Atkins Stohr.
During the 2020 Presidential campaign, Joe Biden called himself a “transition candidate.” But transition to bring America where?
Mike Lux, Jonathan Lemire and Jack Beatty join Kimberly Atkins Stohr.
In several countries, elected politicians are making deals with violent militias. Is America next?
Rachel Kleinfeld and Bill Kristol join Kimberly Atkins Stohr.
In decisions involving state funding for religious schools and prayer on a high school football field the conservative majority on the Supreme Court says it is defending religious liberty. But for some, that seems more like an attack.
Linda Greenhouse and Michael McConnell join Kimberly Atkins Stohr.
Omicron BA.5 is the new dominant COVID strain in the U.S. New mutations. A new set of questions.
Dr. Ashish Jha, Professor Marlene Wolfe and Dr. Amesh Adalja join Kimberly Atkins Stohr.
The banality of evil. Hannah Arendt's famous observation during the trial of Adolf Eichmann, the ‘architect of the Holocaust.’ There's new evidence that Eichmann's evil was anything but banal. Yariv Mozer and Bettina Stangneth join Meghna Chakrabarti.
“America never would have gotten into this mess if it weren’t for me and my friends.”
That's how Tim Miller begins his new book "Why We Did It."
Tim Miller and Sarah Isgur join Meghna Chakrabarti to discuss how “normal” Republican staffers paved the road to Trump.
Decades before QAnon, far-right conspiracists were already pushing a conservative political agenda. We discuss the history of far-right populism – from the John Birch Society to Trumpism. Edward Miller and Jack Beatty join Anthony Brooks.
Some Republicans say state legislatures should have the power to override federal elections. The Supreme Court is taking up a case that could make that the law of the land. We hear why some say that would imperil our democracy. Bertrall Ross, Dan Vicuña and Dallas Woodhouse join Anthony Brooks.
Analysts studying recent mass shootings say there's a previously unrecognized pattern. It begins in the darkest corners of the internet.
We discuss the online training ground for mass shooters. Alex Newhouse and Emmi Conley join Meghna Chakrabarti.
The crypto market is in meltdown, with $2 trillion lost so far. Could it pave the way to new regulations? Hester Peirce and Molly White join Meghna Chakrabarti.
A pandemic program that worked, but was eliminated anyway. We hear what's behind the end of the universal free school meals program. Lisa Davis, Teresa Brown and Krista Ruffini join Meghna Chakrabarti.
On Point senior editor speaks with Democratic Senator Ed Markey of Massachusetts and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg about the actions the federal government could take to improve the airline industry.
A pilot shortage exacerbated by pandemic staff cuts and a mandatory retirement age has led to thousands of flight delays and cancellations. After a $50-plus billion bailout during the pandemic, why does airline service seem even worse?
William J. McGee joins Meghna Chakrabarti.
The Supreme Court upended 40 years of deference to agencies like the EPA. They've ruled that the EPA can't aggressively regulate carbon emissions. But the ruling could curb the reach of almost every regulatory agency in the country.
Christine Todd Whitman, Lisa Graves, Paul DeCamp and Christopher Wright join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Rebroadcast: Historian Jon Grinspan says Americans in the past fought to fix democracy. But what does that mean for Americans today?
"Many of our problems have, if not identical moments in the past, parallels and similar tendencies in our democracy across time.” Jon Grinspan and Jack Beatty joined Meghna Chakrabarti.
Who's to blame for America's polarized politics? The government? The media? Special interests? Tom Nichols says the problem is 'all of us.'
Tom Nichols and Jack Beatty join Meghna Chakrabarti.
As January 6th rioters closed in on the Capitol, the Trump White House did nothing. Cassidy Hutchinson, former senior aide to then White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows went to Meadows' office and found him scrolling on his phone. Chris Whipple, Alan Rozenshtein and Jack Beatty join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Unlike when Roe was first decided in the 1970s, women needing abortions now are more likely to be women of color who are already mothers. How will losing access to abortions alter their lives? Kwajelyn Jackson, Fatima Goss Graves and Janai Nelson join Meghna Chakrabarti.
What if you could taste the world’s electrical fields? Hear vibrations in a leaf? Or see magnetic currents guiding you home? Science writer Ed Yong helps us perceive the world the way animals do – through eyes, ears, antennae and more.
Record-high gas prices. Interest rate hikes. A tight jobs market. Inflation at a 40-year high. We discuss the confusing state of the American economy. Rana Foroohar joins Meghna Chakrabarti.
The January 6th select committee is continuing to pick apart the events and forces that led up to the attack on the Capitol. After weeks two of hearings, what have we learned about Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election? Andrea Bernstein, Ilya Marritz and Jack Beatty join Kimberly Atkins Stohr.
50 years ago, Title IX outlawed sex-based discrimination at federally funded schools. But in collegiate level sports, you’d be pushed to know it. Donna Lopiano and Lori Bullock join Kimberly Atkins Stohr.
COVID reinfections were considered rare in 2020, but emerging variants have now made them increasingly likely. We discuss what we now know about COVID-19. Akiko Iwasaki and Dr. H. Cody Meissner join Kimberly Atkins Stohr.
U.S. aid is helping Ukraine in its ongoing battle with Russian invaders. But ongoing conflict comes with a risk. As war drags on ... is it time to talk compromise? Anne Applebaum, Steven Simon and Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze join Kimberly Atkins Stohr.
Despite their differences of opinion, the nine justices of the U.S. Supreme Court have always regarded mutual trust as a pillar of their establishment.
But the leak of a draft ruling has rocked that. So is the court forever changed? Dahlia Lithwick, Amy Howe and Carolyn Shapiro join Kimberly Atkins Stohr.
Will artificial intelligence replace doctors? It's the final episode in our series “Smarter health." Dr. Sumeet Chugh and Stacy Hurt join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Summer 2020. The worldwide COVID death toll had hit half a million. And the Greek government had a decision to make.
How could the nation open up to tourists while also keeping COVID under control in Greece?
In this podcast extra, On Point senior editor Dorey Scheimer talks with professor Hamsa Bastani. Bastani helped develop 'Eva,' an AI algorithm that helped Greece curb COVID.
The Western megadrought. This year, it's brought early, record-breaking wildfires to New Mexico. The drought is forcing permanent ecosystem changes. Can there be longterm solutions? Mayor Louie Trujillo and John D’Antonio join Meghna Chakrabarti.
For decades, the NRA has said that America's astronomical rate of gun violence is "the price we pay for freedom." We'll look at that creed, and how it may be the most powerful force in the American debate about guns. Frank Smyth and Pat McCrory join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Congress's January 6th select committee is broadcasting its hearings directly to Americans.
But with partisan gaps widening, and fewer people saying Trump is responsible for the attack on Congress, can the hearings break through with the American people?
Lisa Desjardins, Steven Levitsky and Jack Beatty join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Phones. TVs. Computers, everywhere inside. But outside, how can we help kids see the forest beyond the screens? Steven Rinella joins Meghna Chakrabarti.
Health care is heavily regulated. But can the FDA effectively regulate AI in health care? It's episode three of our series “Smarter health."
Elisabeth Rosenthal, Finale Doshi-Velez and Yiannos Tolias join Meghna Chakrabarti.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives enforces gun laws already on the books. How can enforcement happen when the very agency charged with doing so are handicapped by Congress? Champe Barton and David Chipman joins Meghna Chakrabarti.
Many Silicon Valley companies want their software engineers to live for their jobs. And they offer them everything from meals to dry cleaning to spiritual coaches. But is the office really the place to find a life’s worth of fulfillment? Carolyn Chen and Lauren Padron join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Mass grief. Mass outrage. Seemingly everywhere. But can we also learn to share in each other’s joy?
Eve Ekman, Shelly Gable and Amelie, an On Point listener, join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Admiral James Stavridis knows what it takes to make decisions in battle. Stavridis says the things needed to make good decisions in war are not that different from what's needed to make good decisions in everyday life. He'll tell us about it.
AI, ethics, your care. It's episode II of our special series “Smarter health."
Glenn Cohen and Yolonda Wilson join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Post-World War II, there was something seen as even worse than being a communist in U.S. politics: being gay. We discuss how lives and careers were lost through decades of bipartisan homophobia. James Kirchick joins Meghna Chakrabarti.
Texas used to have some of the strictest gun laws in America. But since they were relaxed, there have several mass shootings across the state. We talk to Texans about the laws they've stripped away. Rep. Joe Moody and Michael Cargill join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Justice Samuel Alito’s draft opinion on abortion shows the Supreme Court could overturn Roe v. Wade on the basis that abortion is “not deeply rooted in the nation’s history and traditions.” We look at the fragility of unenumerated rights. Kenji Yoshino and Jack Beatty join Meghna Chakrabarti.
REBROADCAST: Burn pits in Afghanistan and Iraq. Vast piles of U.S. military waste set alight, pouring smoke into the air that U.S. soldiers would breathe. Why were they ignored for so long? Megan Stack, Le Roy Torres and Dan Brewer join Meghna Chakrabarti.
American health care is complex. Expensive. Hard to access. Could artificial intelligence change that?
It's the first episode in our series 'Smarter health.' Dr. Ziad Obermeyer joins us.
It’s estimated that more than 60,000 people live on the streets and in the parks of Los Angeles. Or put another way – 20% of all unhoused Americans – are in LA. Can the city find a way to house everyone who calls LA home? Heidi Marston and Rachel Estrada join Kimberly Atkins Stohr.
Following the mass shooting of 19 elementary school children in Uvalde, Texas yesterday, we ask what will it take for us to find the political will to prevent these kind of events from being a uniquely American experience. Lee Drutman, Daniel Webster and Jack Beatty join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Life with robots once seemed possible only in science fiction.
But today, scientific advances in artificial intelligence and robotics have ensured that robots are a part of our everyday lives.
On May 13, the Day of AI, we brought together a panel of experts to talk about the future of AI and robots.
This is the first installment of our series Remarkable Science -- featuring conversations with scientists about their discoveries, recorded in front of an audience at WBUR’s CitySpace venue.
Since the start of the war, we’ve listened to voices from Ukraine. As the war grinds on, how do Ukrainians see things? Ivan Gomza, Olga Buzunova and Mariana Budjeryn join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Great replacement theory -- the erroneous belief that there's an effort underway to 'replace native-born Americans with immigrants for electoral gains.' That fear has moved from the fringes to the mainstream. As many as one in three Americans say they believe it. Jeffery Robinson and Ricky Jones join Meghna Chakrabarti.
The U.S. spends more on health care than any other country in the world.
But Americans are not as healthy as people living in other rich nations. Could artificial intelligence change all that?
Starting Friday, May 27th, On Point presents a four-part series: 'Smarter health: Artificial intelligence and the future of American health care.'
Trees are on the move. Because of climate change, the world’s forests are heading north. What does this mean for us and our survival? Ben Rawlence joins Meghna Chakrabarti.
The a national baby formula shortage. The reason? Corporate monopolies, poor quality control and federal regulation. Matt Stoller joins Meghna Chakrabarti.
In an archive edition of On Point: As American conservatives meet for their conference in Budapest, we learn more about why they're gathering to hear Viktor Orban. Jack Beatty and Kim Scheppele join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Journalist Putsata Reang has reported on many wars. Her own life is defined by the war her family escaped.
“What did I owe my mother for giving me life?" The question gripped Reang when she decided to tell her mother that she's gay.
Putsata Reang joins Meghna Chakrabarti.
Different religions in America have different answers to the question of when life begins. If the government adopts one definition of life when it comes to abortion access, is it restricting the free practice of all other beliefs? Elizabeth Reiner Platt and Rabba Sara Hurwitz join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Rebroadcast: If you consult three doctors and get three different opinions, that’s an example of what Nobel Prize-winning psychologist Daniel Kahneman and his colleagues call “noise.” How do you decide what to do when professionals don’t agree? We’ll cut through the noise and exploring human judgment. Daniel Kahneman and Olivier Sibony join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Youth suicide has been on the rise across the United States. And for young people between the ages of 5 and 12, the suicide rate for Black children is nearly double that of white children. Tami Charles and Kevin Simon join Meghna Chakrabarti.
For more than 40 years, millions of tons of Uranium ore were mined from Navajo lands to make nuclear weapons. Thousands of workers were exposed to deadly radiation.
Those workers are about to lose funding to cover their health costs. Phil Harrison and Amber Crotty join Meghna Chakrabarti.
In Shanghai, the long near total lockdown has meant empty streets, food insecurity, and rising anger and dissent. So why is China still pursing its iron clad COVID-zero strategy? Don Weinland, Dr. Yangyang Cheng and Yanzhong Huang join Meghna Chakrabarti.
In the United States, Roe v. Wade is on the brink of being overturned. But across Latin America, abortion access is expanding. Why is the United States going in the opposite direction from much of the world on abortion rights? Michelle Oberman, Cora Fernandez Anderson and Jack Beatty join Meghna Chakrabarti.
More than half the world's population experienced a headache disorder in the past year. Why? Dr. Amaal J. Starling and Dr. Peter Goadsby join Meghna Chakrabarti.
In a podcast extra, Meghna Chakrabarti reflects on a 2017 conversation with Sarah Weddington, the Texas attorney who successfully argued Roe v. Wade 44 years ago.
The U.S. is approaching a grim milestone – one million dead from COVID-19. Millions more Americans trying to figure out how to live life without the person they loved. We remember those we've lost to COVID. Micki McElya and Marisa Renee Lee join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Politics feels like a centrifugal force, pushing, tearing American democracy apart. So what glue can hold us together? Yascha Mounk and Jack Beatty join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Florida property insurance is a hot mess. One word: Litigation. In fact, more than 75% of all property insurance lawsuits in the United States originate in Florida. Mark Friedlander and Jeff Brandes join Meghna Chakrabarti.
The Biden Administration has delayed the restart of student loan repayments. We discuss the federal government's role in causing and fixing the problem of high student loan debt. Josh Mitchell and Beth Akers join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Intensity. Drama. Speed. Americans are falling in love with Formula One racing. However, is the new motor sports fandom real, or driven by a Netflix algorithm? Drew Lawrence and Carlos Serra join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine has pushed the Nordic nations toward NATO. How will it change European security? Emma Ashford, Heli Hautala and Wess Mitchell join Meghna Chakrabarti.
NATO expansion in the '90s. U.S. Defense Secretary Les Aspin asked in 1993: "How do you deal with the question of membership?" Ultimately, the Clinton administration's answer to that question may have had more to do with domestic politics than international alliances. Mary Elise Sarotte and Charles Kupchan join Meghna Chakrabarti.
From Nazi Germany to Mussolini’s Italy, fascists worked to repress the rights of women by restricting education and abortion rights. Now, there are echoes of that past again. Anne Wingenter and Erica Chenoweth join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Social psychologist Jonathan Haidt says America is in trouble.
He sees it on college campuses and through social media.
Haidt joins Meghna Chakrabarti to discuss democracy, social media and how to fix America's 'ailing' institutions.
While you were tending to your quarantine sourdough starter, Chinese YouTube star Li Ziqi was growing mushrooms, making peach blossom crowns and listening to the sound of blooming roses.
Join Amory Sivertson and Ben Brock Johnson in their podcast 'Endless Thread' as they explore Li Ziqi, and why millions of isolated people worldwide have been drawn to the quiet intricacy and beauty of her videos.
Some states and local law enforcement agencies have taken it upon themselves to develop their own firearm hand-in laws that they can effectively enforce. That’s happened in California, Washington state, Colorado and Lafourche Parish, Louisiana.
On Point producer Paige Sutherland has more on what's happening in Louisiana and the gap in America's gun laws.
The House committee investigating the January 6 insurrection will soon make public what they’ve found. Congressional historian Ray Smock says the stakes are high.
Kimberly Atkins Stohr hosts a discussion on the next phase of the Jan. 6 investigation with Betsy Woodruff Swan, Raymond Smock and Jack Beatty.
Georgia, once solid red, is looking more purple than ever. We hear the inside story of Georgia’s shift left, and what it can teach Democrats nationwide. Greg Bluestein joins Kimberly Atkins Stohr.
A controversial immigration policy meant to keep COVID-19 out of the U.S. is set to end next month. But despite claims of the policy causing a humanitarian crisis, U.S. lawmakers claim lifting Title 42 will cause a different crisis here at home. Eleanor Acer, Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, Harold Koh and Monette Zard join Kimberly Atkins Stohr.
Last Tuesday, President Joe Biden declared genocide was taking place in Ukraine.
"I called it genocide because it’s become clearer and clearer that Putin is just trying to wipe out the idea of even being able to be a Ukrainian," the president said.
But is Biden right? We discuss the politics of calling the Russian invasion of Ukraine a genocide and the investigations to prove it. Kate Cronin-Furman and Eugene Finkel join Kimberly Atkins Stohr.
Personal fitness for women used to be considered unladylike. That all changed with fitness pioneers like Lotte Berk and Judi Sheppard Missett. But look closer and there’s much more to the story than jazz shoes and leg warmers. Danielle Friedman and Jessica Rihal join Kimberly Atkins Stohr.
When three friends went on a rum-fueled rampage one night deep in the Nevada desert, they never expected the trouble they would find themselves in a week later.
The men broke into a remote unit of Death Valley National Park known as Devil's Hole — a mysterious flooded cave that happens to be home to the one of the rarest fish on Earth, and one that's critically endangered too.
This episode, based on Paige Blankenbuehler's High Country News feature, is a bite-size crime story starring an obscure species of tiny fish, and some hedonistic humans who stepped a little too far over the line, and suffered some big consequences.
Last Seen host Nora Saks dives into the fraught relationship between humans and nature, and the long arm of the law intended to protect our most vulnerable species.
Water bottles. Shopping bags. Computers. Medical equipment. Food containers.
We're living in an invisible miasma of microplastics. What's it doing to human health? Erica Cirino and Heather Leslie join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Ambassador Bill Taylor has been the top U.S. diplomat in Ukraine twice, most recently under President Trump. He joins Meghna Chakrabarti to discuss how the United States’ relationship with Ukraine is changing.
According to the White House, billionaires in America pay income tax at a rate that’s just half that of the average worker. President Biden is proposing taxing the unrealized gains of the richest Americans — assets the wealthy haven’t yet cashed out on. Steve Rosenthal joins Meghna Chakrabarti.
Online attacks and harassments have become a fact of life for many women online. Can it be stopped? Nina Jankowicz joins Meghna Chakrabarti.
There's an unprecedent number of intercepted audio coming out of the Russia-Ukraine war. How is it changing what's happening in Ukraine?
John Scott-Railton and Andrei Soldatov join Meghna Chakrabarti.
WBUR, the home of On Point, makes a handful of podcasts you may not have heard before, and we want to change that.
So, we’re continuing with our weekend playlist of other podcasts made at WBUR.
Today: An episode from 'Endless Thread' — about a battle between astronomers over a somewhat unassuming rock.
An effort to get guns out of the hands of abusive boyfriends failed again in Congress. We discuss the story behind the two-decades old fight to close the so-called “boyfriend loophole."
Last year, Liz Shuler became the first ever woman elected president of the country's largest labor union. She joins us to talk about where the labor movement is headed.
Jennifer and Tyrone Harris had $230,000 of debt. But after four years, they paid down their debt entirely. How did they do it?
For 25 years, Michelle Singletary has dished out personal finance guidance at the Washington Post. Who did she turn to for advice?
America doesn't have enough teachers. The Biden administration is calling for states to spend and recruit more. Will that work? Linda Darling-Hammond joins Meghna Chakrabarti.
A Russia-Ukraine peace agreement. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy wants concrete security guarantees. Would Russia accept? Ret. Lt. Gen. Donald Kerrick, Max Seddon and Dr. Cindy Wittke join Meghna Chakrabarti.
WBUR, the home of On Point, makes a handful of podcasts you may not have heard before, and we want to change that.
Every Sunday for the next month, we’ll drop one of our favorite episodes of a WBUR podcast in this feed.
First up: An episode from the new season of 'Last Seen.' Amory Sivertson traces the enigmatic life of Jack Murphy, or "Murph the Surf," who pulled off the biggest jewel heist in New York City history.
The James Webb Space Telescope is NASA, the European Space Agency and the Canadian Space Agency's most ambitious space observatory ever. A million miles away from Planet Earth, it is designed to look back to the beginnings of the universe.
In this 'First Person,' we hear from Robert Gonsalves, creator of the phase retrieval imaging technique now being used by the James Webb Space Telescope.
Peering deeper into the universe than we ever have before. We hear the remarkable story of the James Webb Space Telescope. Marcia J. Rieke and Nikole Lewis join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Influential voices on the American far-right, such as white nationalist Nick Fuentes, are genuflecting to Russia. How close, and how dangerous is the far-right's Russian relationship? Jason Blazakis, Natalia Antelava and Jack Beatty join Meghna Chakrabarti.
In January, South Korea had about 4,500 new COVID cases a day. By mid-March, that number ballooned to over 400,000. But at the same time, South Korea has one the lowest COVID death rates in the world. So, how are they doing that? Sangmi Cha and Jerome Kim join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Ethiopia’s government has turned the northern Tigray region into a virtual prison. Five million people. No way in. No way out. No food, no medicine, no electricity. How long can the world look the other way? Etana Dinka, Hayelom Mekonen and Ephraim Isaac join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Alexander Vindman and Lawrence Wilkerson have unique histories that have brought them to two different views on what the U.S. and Europe must do as Russia continues its attack on Ukraine. We hear from them both. Ret. Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman and Ret. Col. Larry Wilkerson join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Whales migrate along routes thousands of miles long - oceanic superhighways - that also happen to be corridors of human disruption. We discuss the fight to protect whale superhighways. Ari Friedlaender joins Meghna Chakrabarti.
A legislative proposal in Missouri would make it illegal for a woman to cross state lines to receive a legal abortion. Restricting a woman's freedom of movement. Is it the next step in states that continue to tighten abortion access? Tessa Weinberg, Dr. Colleen McNicholas and Mary Elizabeth Coleman join Meghna Chakrabarti.
For millions of Ukrainians who have not -- and cannot -- leave their cities, how are they enduring life in a warzone? Alevtina Kakhidze and Ivan Gomza join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Big rhetoric around three simple words. But what would a "no-fly zone" really mean in the skies over Ukraine? John Kornblum and Lt. Gen. David Deptula join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson would be the first former public defender on a bench full of former prosecutors and corporate lawyers. What difference would that make on the highest court in the land? Nancy Gertner and Benjamin Barton join Meghna Chakrabarti.
The U.S. and NATO have warned Beijing not to back its ally. What China chooses to do now will have worldwide implications for years to come. We talk about it. Tong Zhao, Dr. Yangyang Cheng and Oriana Skylar Mastro join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Dr. Celine Gounder is a senior fellow and editor-at-large for public health at Kaiser Health News. She shares where the U.S. struggles in talking about the pandemic, and what we can do to fix it.
COVID, two years later. We discuss building trust and lessons for leaders who will face the next pandemic. Richard Tofel and Jack Beatty join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Sanctions are squeezing Russia’s economy, but not its wealthiest. We look at how the global financial system enables oligarchy, and how to fix it. Louise Shelley and Oliver Bullough join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has defended his country, deftly used the media, and galvanized the world. We hear a profile in leadership. Gina Scott Ligon and Max Hastings join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Russian President Vladimir Putin put his nuclear arsenal on high alert. What are the strategic, and political moves necessary to avoid the unthinkable? Matthew Bunn, Målfrid Braut-Hegghammer and Dr. Ira Helfand join Meghna Chakrabarti.
The Cold War was defined by the fear of mutually assured destruction. Does Russia's invasion of Ukraine signal a new Cold War? Mary Elise Sarotte, Jack Beatty and William Braun join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Burn pits in Afghanistan and Iraq. Vast piles of U.S. military waste set alight, pouring smoke into the air that U.S. soldiers would breathe. Why were they ignored for so long? Megan Stack, Le Roy Torres and Dan Brewer join Meghna Chakrabarti.
More than one million Ukrainians have been forced to across the border. We hear more about the humanitarian and refugee crisis as Russian attacks in Ukraine intensify. Sarah Deardorff Miller, Natasja Bogacz, Kateryna Babkina and Oleksandr Mykhed join Meghna Chakrabarti.
The international community may not be sending soldiers. But does isolation from the global economy constitute a form of economic war against Russia?
Patricia Cohen, Josh Lipsky and Timothy Frye join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Bombing and encircling civilians in cities, indications that cluster bombs may have been dropped. Is Russia committing war crimes in Ukraine?
Jeffrey Edmonds, Richard Weir, Philippe Sands and Jack Beatty join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Apollinaria Oleinikova is 18-years-old. For most of her life, she was a carefree Muscovite. Now, she's publicly protesting, along with other Russians, in Moscow.
Russians join us to discuss the war being waged in their name. Nina Khrushcheva and Andrei Soldatov join Meghna Chakrabarti.
On today’s show, we discussed the ethics of autonomous vehicles and the recent incidents involving Tesla’s “full self-driving” beta software.
In a podcast special, we share what it's like behind the wheel when Tesla software is in action.
Self-driving technology has come a long way in recent years, but it remains far from perfect. And that's partially because of decisions made -- not by the cars -- but by programmers. Rebecca Heilweil and Matthew Johnson-Roberson join Meghna Chakrabarti.
President Biden's first State of the Union address covered everything from war in Ukraine, to COVID, to inflation.
In a podcast special, On Point news analyst Jack Beatty shares 5 key takeaways from Biden’s big speech.
In 1999, Putin ordered the airstrikes and bombing that razed the Chechen capital of Grozny. Could he do it again, in Ukraine? Andrew Harding, Michael Kofman and Paul Stronski join Meghna Chakrabarti.
In 2020, almost every single child on planet earth was out of school, due to COVID.
Lost school years. Lost learning around the world. What impact will it have, for generations? Robert Jenkins, Mary Goretti Nakabugo and Olavo Nogueira join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is the greatest test of European resolve in a generation. Will it transform the EU? Tom Nichols, Nina Jankowicz, Naomi O’Leary and Olga Tokariuk join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Despite warnings from the West, Russian troops are advancing on Ukraine. If sanctions don’t work, what should the U.S. do next? Derek Chollet, Angela Stent, Terrell Jermaine Starr and Mariana Budjeryn join Kimberly Atkins Stohr.
Vitriol against public servants is increasing. What impact does that have on who stays in politics – and for the health of democracy? Marico Sayoc, Matt Ford and Meredith McGehee join Kimberly Atkins Stohr.
The percentage of people who say they don’t have a single close friend has quadrupled in the past 30 years, according to the Survey Center on American Life. What's driving the American friendship gap? Jennifer Senior, Dr. Marisa Franco, Aminatou Sow and Ann Friedman join Kimberly Atkins Stohr.
The “suburbs” have become a hot constituency in recent years. But has the term enveloped the full range of their residents? R. L’Heureux Lewis-McCoy joins Kimberly Atkins Stohr.
President Biden is considering who he’ll nominate to the Supreme court. She’ll make history in more ways than one. So who does the president have in mind? Gloria Browne-Marshall and Renee Knake Jefferson join Kimberly Atkins-Stohr.
For antitrust reformers, the size and power of companies like Google and Facebook represent more than a threat to consumer welfare. It’s the final episode in our series “More than money." Matt Stoller, Jack Beatty and Carl Shapiro join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar is the chair of the Senate Subcommittee on Competition Policy, Antitrust and Consumer Rights. She’s also on the Judiciary Committee.
Last month, the Judiciary Committee passed the American Innovation and Choice Online Act, an effort to target big tech companies for potential antitrust violations.
The bill proposes giving federal agencies the authority to issue civil penalties for anti-competitive activities in the tech sector.
In a pod exclusive, Sen. Klobuchar joins us to reflect on Senate action against monopolies in the digital age.
From Robert Bork's "consumer harm" to Lina Khan's "democratic harm," we discuss the ideas that drive the government's approach to antitrust regulation. Daniel Crane, Barry Lynn and Jack Beatty join Meghna Chakrabarti.
The nineteenth century saw the rise of great monopolies. Americans pushed back. What changed?
We discuss lessons learned from antitrust action in the Gilded Age with Jack Beatty and Charles Postel.
Microsoft wants to acquire Activision-Blizzard for almost $70 billion. Microsoft says it won't harm consumers. But is the mega-merger a new kind of monopoly? Dina Bass, Bill Kovacic and Jack Beatty join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Our series "More than Money: The Cost of Monopolies in America" is a week-long exploration of the hidden power of monopolies in the U.S.
Today's episode looks at how corporate monopolies dominate the beef industry.
"It's failed consumers on one end of the supply chain, and it's failed the American family farmer and rancher on the other." Bill Bullard, Claire Kelloway and Jack Beatty join Meghna Chakrabarti.
In just days, several states have suddenly reversed course on masks in school. But not everyone agrees. We talk about whether now's the right time to end school masking. Dr. Lucy McBride and Debra Furr-Holden join Meghna Chakrabarti.
The Paycheck Protection Program was supposed to help workers stay afloat during the pandemic. But new analysis finds most PPP funding went to the richest 20% of Americans. David Autor and Lydia DePillis join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Three days before his interview for the New York Giants’ head coaching position, Brian Flores learned that the job was already promised to someone else. Flores is now suing the NFL. We talk about football, coaching, and race. N. Jeremi Duru joins Meghna Chakrabarti.
Ukraine has a long, fraught history with Russia and the Soviet Union. How do Ukrainians see themselves now? Vitaly Chernetsky, Timothy Snyder and Sevgil Musayeva join Meghna Chakrabarti.
The Electoral Count Act is at the center of Donald Trump's attempt to overturn the 2020 election. Now, the Senate is considering reforming the 136-year-old law. Mark Joseph Stern, Judge Michael Luttig and Norman Eisen join Meghna Chakrabarti.
A simple word game has taken the internet by storm. But now that the New York Times owns the game, can the wonder of Wordle last? Jonathan Knight, Ian Bogost and Katy Pearce join Meghna Chakrabarti.
A third of all the nation's rooftop solar panels are in California.
Now, the California public utilities commission says it’s time to pull back the support.
We discuss the battle for California’s rooftop solar. Matt Freedman and Terry Tamminen join Meghna Chakrabarti.
20 years ago, President Bush ordered the creation of a secretive prison at Guantanamo Bay. Many were innocent. Many were tortured. Two presidents tried to close Gitmo -- and failed. And we’re still stuck with it. Michael Lehnert, Moazzam Begg and Carol Rosenberg join Meghna Chakrabarti.
A year ago, Israel was the first country to issue a strict vaccine passport. Now, some health officials say the Green Pass did not stop the omicron variant, and is no 'longer relevant.' We evaluate the effectiveness of vaccine passports. Miquel Oliu-Barton, Maya Peled-Raz, Dr. Jennifer Avegno and Seema Mohapatra join Meghna Chakrabarti.
The U.S. pulled out of Afghanistan last year. Now, U.S. vets are coming together to help the Afghans who did so much for them.
Hear about Operation North Star, and the story of the soldiers working to save their Afghan colleagues, and friends. David Young and Missy Ryan join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Justice Stephen Breyer is retiring after more than two decades at the Supreme Court. Who might President Biden call to replace him? We discuss what Breyer’s replacement could mean for the court, and the weighty decisions that lie ahead. Jill Dash and David Savage join Kimberly Atkins Stohr.
The way we often think about poverty in the United States is as an individual failing, social welfare professor Mark Robert Rank says. So, what would happen if the U.S. redefined poverty as being impoverished of support? Mark Robert Rank, Amy Glasmeier and Kai Sinclair join Meghna Chakrabarti.
The federal government removed the gray wolf from the endangered species list last year. Now, hundreds of gray wolves have been killed. We hear how tribes are leading efforts to stop the hunts. Tom Rodgers and Adrian Wydeven join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Seditious conspiracy. The Justice Department has levied the charge on 11 people associated with the January 6 Capitol attack. But what is seditious conspiracy, and why is the charge so rare? Ryan Reilly, Jenny Carroll and Rachel Carroll Rivas join Meghna Chakrabarti.
With the omicron wave, hospitals have been crushed by the surge in patients. But COVID is a symptom, not the cause of hospitals being overwhelmed. What needs to change? Dr. Vivian Lee joins Meghna Chakrabarti.
From infrastructure to child care, Democrats are pushing for issues with broad public support. So why do so many Americans believe our country is headed in the wrong direction? Jack Beatty, Mike Murphy and Anat Shenker-Osorio join Kimberly Atkins Stohr.
There are potentially tens of millions of domestic violence survivors with undiagnosed brain injuries. Their stories are slowly coming to light. In a podcast extra, Paula Walters shares her journey to discovering her brain injury, and taking her power back.
The suffering caused by domestic violence is emotional, spiritual and physical. But there's one aspect of that suffering that is almost invisible: brain injury. In this First Person diary, survivor Freya Doe shares her story.
An 'invisible epidemic' is causing suffering in millions of women. It affects memory, concentration, balance. We discuss traumatic brain injuries in survivors of domestic violence. Eve Valera and Rachel Ramirez join Meghna Chakrabarti.
The White House promises schools 10 million COVID tests every month. But some medical experts say testing in schools may hurt more than help. CDC director Dr. Rochelle Walensky and Dr. Monica Gandhi join Meghna Chakrabarti to make sense of what's happening in America's schools.
Hard-right talk radio and podcasts have influence and reach. For their audiences, the Jan. 6 insurrection was just the beginning. We explore what far-right radio and podcasts are telling Americans about their own democracy. Tim Miller and Cynthia Miller-Idriss join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Atlanta has been the cradle of civil rights leadership in the past. But what about its future? We explore Atlanta's legacy, and future leadership in the pursuit of civil rights. Charles Black, Nsé Ufot and Maurice Hobson join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Redistricting. The process of creating maps to determine who represents you at the state and federal level. Independent commissions were supposed to take the politics out of this process. We ask: how’s that going? Doug Spencer and Michael Li join Kimberly Atkins Stohr.
In March 2020, an MIT scientist developed a cheap, rapid COVID test -- giving results in just 15 minutes. It could have been a game changer early in the pandemic, but it never made it to consumers. Why? Dr. Irene Bosch joins Meghna Chakrabarti.
Elizabeth Holmes became a tech billionaire through fraud. Now, she faces years in prison. Will Silicon Valley’s ‘fake it till you make it’ culture face an overall reckoning? Dr. Bijan Salehizadeh, Micah Rosenbloom and Kara Swisher join Meghna Chakrabarti.
You've heard the headlines about record-breaking omicron cases. But are case number the wrong way to look at COVID? We learn how to make sense of the pandemic, now. Dr. Paul Checchia and Dr. Richard Lessells join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Are cities in the West prepared for a perpetual fire season? 2 Colorado residents share how Western wildfires in Superior, CO and Louisville, CO have shaped their lives.
Wildfires aren't just in the wilderness anymore. We discuss resilience, retrofit and the urgent need for new regulations as fires threaten Western American cities. Natasha Stavros and Erica Fischer join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer is pushing election reform – no matter what it takes. Some members of the GOP has other plans. What does that mean for American democracy? Rep. Katherine Clark, John Fortier and Sophia Lin Lakin join Kimberly Atkins Stohr.
In December 2020, Representative Jamie Raskin lost his son. A few days later, he watched in horror as America almost lost its democracy. Rep. Raskin joins Meghna Chakrabarti.
Senator Joe Manchin torpedoed the Biden administration's social spending plan, for now. But West Virginians want answers. We learn what West Virginians need, and what their senator is willing to support. Kelly Allen and Josh Sword join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Inflation, rate hikes, tax credits and more. Michelle Singletary and Rana Foroohar guide us through what's to come in the 2022 economy.
It's almost one year since the Jan. 6 Capitol attack.
The DOJ is underway with what's now the largest criminal investigation in U.S. history.
What can the investigation tell us about what happened on Jan. 6? Roger Parloff and Heidi Beirich join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Colin Powell served America at its highest levels. Joint Chiefs Chairman. Secretary of State. A man both celebrated and tarnished by war. In a rebroadcast, we look back on his life and legacy with his former chief of staff.
Multi-level marketing distributors claim to sell life-changing products. They’re also selling something else -- misleading product claims and disinformation. Amanda Montell and Stephanie McNeal join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Rebroadcast: Investigative journalist Amanda Ripley wanted to understand the sources of human conflict. So she studied it for more than four years. She detected a strong pattern to the most intractable conflicts, big and small. She found it in divorces, gang violence and political polarization. From the personal to the tribal, we discuss high conflict, and how to pull free of it. Amanda Ripley, Curtis Toler and Jack Beatty join Meghna Chakrabarti.
In the U.S., individual rights are sacrosanct. Legal scholar Jamal Greene calls that "rightsism," and says it's pushing the country in the wrong direction. In a rebroadcast, we hear why he says it’s time to reduce the focus on individual rights. Jamal Greene and Jack Beatty join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Kathryn Paige Harden says most people have no clue what genetic science can already do. In her new book 'The Genetic Lottery,' she says a new moral framework is needed to prepare for what's to come. Kathryn Paige Harden and Carey Goldberg join Meghna Chakrabarti.
What determines your happiness? We talk about why science says, even with every problem in the world right now, you deserve to be happy. Laurie Santos and Jack Beatty join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Bob LaBonne Jr. is president and CEO of LaBonne's Market in Connecticut. He reflects on a COVID year, and what the pandemic has exposed about America's food supply chain. "It was nice to see the world recognize the food industry as essential workers. And our people stepped up, and they're still doing it months later," LaBonne says.
Pandemics do end. A century ago, the last great global pandemic finally petered out. How did the world know, or decide, when the 1918 pandemic was over? Howard Markel and Jack Beatty join Meghna Chakrabarti.
The next iteration of the internet could be a vast, three-dimensional digital frontier that looks a lot like real life. We discuss what’s real, what's not – and what happens when we can’t tell the difference. Cathy Hackl and Cecilia D’Anastasio join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Kellogg’s workers strike for months. A successful Union drive at one Starbucks. Approval rates for unions at a 60-year high. We discuss the sharp rise in union activity in 2021. Steven Greenhouse and Jeff Farmer join Meghna Chakrabarti.
The Children's Online Privacy and Protection Rule hasn't been updated in 20 years. Meanwhile, the entire digital world has transformed and become fully integrated into children's lives, whether parents want it or not. Marc Groman join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Fiona Hill served as the National Security Council's top Russia expert in the Trump Administration. She was concerned about the U.S.'s posture then, and even more concerned now, given President Vladimir Putin's moves on Ukraine. Fiona Hill joins us to discuss why she thinks Putin has 'put Russia in a rather dangerous, unpredictable position.'
Katie Mack is an actor, writer and podcaster based in New York. She suffered from opioid addiction for 10 years.
In this First Person diary, she shares how it took going sober to find real love and community.
What empty well do opioids fill in someone suffering from addiction? We hear why opioid addiction can feel like love -- and what that means in a world of crumbling economic security and weakened social bonds. “The reason you get addicted is because something is missing for you. And oftentimes, what's missing is the ability to feel love.” Maia Szalavitz and Dr. Nora Volkow join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Just how far was President Trump – and his team – willing to go to overthrow the results of the 2020 election?
Newly released documents in a congressional investigation show that at some point, it was suggested that Trump declare a National Emergency to overturn the election. We get the latest on what congressional investigations are revealing about the insurrection. Quinta Jurecic and Brian Klaas join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Fetal viability was considered to be around 28 weeks when Roe v. Wade was decided in 1973. How is medical technology changing the question of viability, and the abortion debate? Carol Sanger and Dr. Edward Bell join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Schools are facing a shortage of bus drivers. Custodians. Substitute teachers. Cafeteria workers. When the system is spread thin, who suffers most? Alena Zachery-Ross and Koby Levin join Meghna Chakrabarti.
The U.S. is cracking down on international spyware. The new twist? The spyware companies are headquartered in allied nations. "These tools are allegedly used in a way that raises a human rights issue for the U.S. government." John Scott-Railton and Steven Feldstein join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Historian Jon Grinspan says Americans in the past fought to fix democracy. But what does that mean for Americans today?
"Many of our problems have, if not identical moments in the past, parallels and similar tendencies in our democracy across time.” Jon Grinspan and Jack Beatty join Meghna Chakrabarti.
The life of a digital influencer. Primp. Place product. Post. And cha-ching! But… that’s not all. “There is such an incredible amount of labor, much of that remains concealed behind the scenes." Brooke Erin Duffy and Ayana Lage join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Comprehensive disease surveillance allowed South Africa to first identify the COVID Omicron variant. But they haven't had as much success with vaccination efforts. We take a close look at South Africa and the pandemic. Vicky Baillie and Salim Abdool Karim join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Vermont Senator Pat Leahy won't run again. Leahy's been in office since 1974. That's longer than more than 150 million Americans have been alive. Are U.S. elected officials getting too old? Maxwell Alejandro Frost, Melody Crowder-Meyer and Louise Aronson join Meghna Chakrabarti.
What's the biggest threat to American elections, and to people's trust in them? Conspiracy theories. Former Homeland Security cybersecurity chief Chris Krebs joins Meghna Chakrabarti to discuss why the greatest election security threat to the nation right now is domestic misinformation.
When linguist John McWhorter hears activists and academics condemn "whiteness" or talk about "centering" people of color, he doesn't hear effective anti-racism. "The issue is what do you do about it? And frankly, it’s not this." He joined Meghna Chakrabarti to discuss how to combat the harms of 'woke racism.'
The U.S. is locked in another "great powers" conflict, this time with China. That's what you'll often hear in Washington. But is a Cold War era analogy the right one for modern China? Melvyn Leffler, Jack Beatty and Yangyang Cheng join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Tiana Caldwell lives in Kansas City, Missouri. And when On Point first spoke with her in May 2020, Tiana had been furloughed from her job and had just received an eviction notice from her landlord. In this radio diary, she joins us with an update on her life. "I fought, I didn't just lay down. It makes you feel like you are not powerless," she says.
$800 billion in COVID relief funds still hasn't made it to the American people. In Pennsylvania, $2.5 billion of that aid is being moved to the state's “rainy day fund.” We track unspent pandemic relief funds. Marc Goldwein, Rep. Torren Ecker and Claudia Sahm join Meghna Chakrabarti.
1 in 5 American health care workers have left the profession since the pandemic hit.
The pandemic has pushed what was already a tough situation into crisis mode. And as psychiatrist Wendy Dean sees it, this is more than just burnout. What's driving the pandemic's health care exodus? Cassandra Alexander, Wendy Dean and Elaine Batchlor join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Journalist George Packer says our country is divided into four factions “pitting tribe against tribe.”
He’s reported on political divides around the world. Does he think America can be united once again? In this rebroadcast, George Packer and Jack Beatty join Meghna Chakrabarti.
People. Don’t. Listen. “There’s so much in our society that is encouraging us not to listen," Kate Murphy says. What is good listening and can it make a difference? In this rebroadcast, Kate Murphy and John Wood, Jr. join Meghna Chakrabarti.
President Biden made a big claim when he signed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act into law. We check that claim, and the reality of how far the U.S. has to go for truly world class infrastructure. Nancy Qian and Kevin DeGood join Meghna Chakrabarti.
With the $1 trillion infrastructure act signed into law, state and local officials must now determine how most of that money will be spent. We talk with some of those with the power to make or break the infrastructure law.
Gov. Janet Mills, Mayor Acquanetta Warren and Derek Green join Meghna Chakrabarti.
There's $8 billion in the new Infrastructure act for preserving water systems in the West. We look at where the money will go and what difference it could make. Professor Richard White and Kyle Roerink join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Scott Dudley is the lead pastor at Bellevue Presbyterian Church in Bellevue, Washington. Dudley says he has a generally supportive congregation. But lately, he's faced some hostility.
A recent poll found that more than any other group, white evangelical protestants believe American culture and values are under threat. Why? Anthea Butler and Robert P. Jones join Meghna Chakrabarti.
President Joe Biden signed a $1 trillion infrastructure bill this week. Tucked into the plan includes the Biden administration's belief in the importance of nuclear power. Ernest Moniz, Allison Macfarlane and Rita Baranwal join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Michael Tubbs grew up in poverty. He became Stockton, California's first Black mayor when he was just 26 years old. Now, he's sharing the reality of his life beyond the headlines. Michael Tubbs joins Meghna Chakrabarti.
What are American school kids being taught about climate change? Journalist Katie Worth visited schools and analyzed dozens of textbooks, and she says a web of corporate and political influences is miseducating many school children about climate change.
Katie Worth, Kristen Del Real and Deb Morrison join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Vaccines are still the first, best way to end the pandemic. But can so-called therapeutics also help? The FDA says there are 11 treatments already authorized for emergency use. We learn about therapeutics, and the part they play in the fight against COVID. Dr. Preeti Malani, Dr. Nahid Bhadelia and Dr. George Yancopoulos join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Zillow went on an algorithmic home-buying spree. It didn't work. But what is algorithmic home-buying? We learn the impact AI home-buying is having on the housing market. Gregor Matvos and Jeff Meyers join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Something strange is happening to American officials around the world. Migraines, dizziness, even brain injury. And the incidents keep happening. So who, or what, is behind Havana Syndrome? Adam Entous and Frank Figliuzzi join Meghna Chakrabarti.
China vows to take back Taiwan, as Xi Jinping warns against American interference. But for the U.S., Taiwan is about a lot more than Taiwan itself. What is America's true interest in Taiwan? Oriana Skylar Mastro, Yun Sun and Steve Blank join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Democrats lost the governorship in Virginia. What did voters really care about? A long-time democratic analyst joins us with the lessons he's learned from Virginia, and why he's worried his party refuses to see the bigger picture. Ruy Teixeira and Jack Beatty join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Colleen Swan and the members of the indigenous Iñupiat community who live on Kivalina, climate change isn't a remote abstraction. It's an emergency that's threatening their lives now.
Climate change has a disproportionate impact on the Global South. So should the world's industrialized nations make reparations? We hear the case for climate reparations. David Wallace-Wells and Riton Quiah join Meghna Chakrabarti.
What is going on at the Port of Long Beach? Truckers, longshoremen and port managers tell us why the supply chain is breaking down. Matt Schrap and Mario Cordero join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Mayoral elections across the country this week. We take a look at who will next lead America's cities, and the impact those mayoral races may have on national politics. Anthony Brooks, Jon Collins, David Hyde, Rose Scott and Dave Debo join Meghna Chakrabarti.
About 180 countries have some sort of paid parental leave. We hear from moms around the world about how those nations made it work. Isra’a Hamdeh, Jody Heymann, Dr. Raisa Renner and Tilde Bang-Kristensen join Meghna Chakrabarti.
The Supreme Court is about to hear its highest profile gun case since 2008. We take a look at the case, and why the court's decision could have an impact on state gun laws across the country. Jennifer Mascia and Darrell A.H. Miller join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Interest rates, inflation, employment. That's where the Fed formally flexes its power. That's also why Karen Petrou says it's an 'engine of inequality.' Could that change? Karen Petrou and Jeffrey Lacker join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Kids today face a unique combination of challenges, from the pandemic, to climate change and political unrest. On today's hour, two young people share why so many kids are looking to the future with everything from trepidation to impending doom.
From the pandemic to climate change, politics and social media, kids are pessimistic about their future. It's hurting them, and us all. We talk to people who say it's time to do something about it. Elissa Epel and Doug Abrams join Meghna Chakrabarti.
The race for Governor of Virginia may be the most important political contest of the year. We look at Virginia’s governor’s race and what it says about the political parties – and where the country’s heading. Mel Leonor and Bob Holsworth join Anthony Brooks.
Senate Republicans have used the filibuster to block major voting rights legislation twice this year. Meanwhile, at least 19 states have enacted 33 laws that make it harder to vote. What would it take to pass voting rights legislation? Jack Beatty, Tia Mitchell, Sen. Angus King and LaTosha Brown join Anthony Brooks.
Inflation is back.
The past year has seen more than a 5% jump in the Consumer Price Index. While the price of food, gas, cars, lumber are all up.
But what is inflation, and do economists really know how it works? Jack Beatty, Diane Swonk and Laura Tyson join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Infection rates. Cases. Deaths. 14-day moving averages. Efficacy. We're wading through a world of COVID data. But the way that data's presented may do more harm than good. Nick Melvoin, Tracy Høeg and Jonathan Rothwell join Meghna Chakrabarti.
In a full, unedited version of our conversation "From unknown successes to personal disillusionment: What the public doesn't know about Colin Powell," Retired Colonel Lawrence Wilkerson, who served as Colin Powell's chief of staff for more than a decade, reflects on Powell's life and legacy.
Colin Powell served America at its highest levels. Joint Chiefs Chairman. Secretary of State. A man both celebrated and tarnished by war. We look back on his life and legacy with his former chief of staff. Ret. Col. Lawrence Wilkerson joins Meghna Chakrabarti.
California will now allow multi-family units on land zoned for single-family housing. Will it make a difference? Victor Gordo, Ben Metcalf and Adam J. Fowler join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Texas's Rio Grande Valley is diverse and politically powerful.
Until recently, the nation's two political parties saw the voters of the Rio Grande as a monolith.
But that's been changing over the past two election cycles. We look at why Republicans and Democrats are working to woo voters along the Rio Grande. Cynthia Villarreal, Xavier Villarreal, Michael Rodriguez, Rogelio Nuñez and Perla Bazan join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Nike attracted the world's best. Alberto Salazar was a Nike-funded coach for almost 20 years. That ended in scandal. Is a reckoning for professional runners upon us? Matt Hart and Lindsay Crouse join Meghna Chakrabarti.
In Uganda, like many countries, malaria is endemic and deadly.
But that might soon change. After 40 years in development, the WHO has approved the first ever malaria vaccine.
Malaria has shaped human history. Could that story now be coming to a hopeful end? Dr. James Tibenderana and Dr. Ripley Ballou join Meghna Chakrabarti.
People. Don’t. Listen. “There’s so much in our society that is encouraging us not to listen," Kate Murphy says. What is good listening and can it make a difference? Kate Murphy and John Wood, Jr. join Meghna Chakrabarti.
School boards are a new nexus of America's culture wars. Some say the targeting of school boards is a political tactic used by right-wing organizations. We hear that deeper story. Peter Montgomery, Noah Weinrich and Laura Vozzella join Meghna Chakrabarti.
The Supreme Court is supposed to rule by the law alone. But Randall Kennedy says that doesn't always happen.
“A very common misconception is that the Supreme Court is above politics."
If the Supreme Court is too ideological, what should be done about it? Randall Kennedy and David Cole join Meghna Chakrabarti.
What determines your happiness? We talk about why science says, even with every problem in the world right now, you deserve to be happy. Laurie Santos and Jack Beatty join Meghna Chakrabarti.
New Zealand was aiming for 'COVID zero.' What does New Zealand's changing strategy tell us about what the pandemic's end should look like?
Dr. Celine Gounder, Joseph Allen and Dale Fisher join Meghna Chakrabarti.
For decades, scholar Randall Kennedy has been writing about race, culture and the law. “We are certainly much further from the racial promised land than I had thought that we were," he says. Randall Kennedy joins Meghna Chakrabarti.
A former Facebook employee says the social media giant knows it is tearing society apart. Will Facebook face its Big Tobacco moment? Sharon Eubanks, Kate Klonick and Phil Weiser join Meghna Chakrabarti.
The brain, behavior and authoritarianism. Understanding the social and neurological forces that drive people to turn their backs on democracy. Timothy Snyder and Lisa Feldman Barrett join Meghna Chakrabarti.
The price tag for the Democrats’ social spending bill may be shrinking – but the needs of Americans are not. We hear what stays in the bill, what goes and what it all means for Americans who need help. Jennifer Bendery and Jack Beatty join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Cars. Smartphones. Appliances. An international chip shortage is squeezing supply chains and inventory. How did this happen? And when will it end? Dr. Willy Shih joins Meghna Chakrabarti.
Our series The Prime Effect explores the ways Amazon is changing how we live, work and shop.
In a bonus episode live from CitySpace, host Meghna Chakrabarti and senior editor Dorey Scheimer give you a behind-the-scenes breakdown of what they learned while producing the eight-part series.
Local police departments can’t put a corner at the end of every street. But Amazon already has—with Ring cameras. So what is Amazon really doing with all your data? We look at Amazon and surveillance. Ramesh Srinivasan and Jon Callas join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Maren Costa worked at Amazon for 15 years. That abruptly ended last spring when she spoke out about the company's climate impact. In the sixth episode of our series "The Prime Effect," we look at Amazon's labor force, and how, someday, it could be changing how you work. Karen Weise and David Glick join Meghna Chakrabarti.
That Amazon package at your door begins with power guzzling server farms. Distribution centers. Thousands of trucks. Commercial planes. And billions of cardboard boxes.
In the 5th episode of The Prime Effect, we explore Amazon’s environmental footprint. Anastasia O’Rourke and Tom Rivett-Carnac join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Our series "The Prime Effect" considers how Amazon shapes the way we shop, work and live. In the last episode, we ask, What industries will the company transform next? Joshua McNichols, Brad Stone, Nadina Rosier and Sara Fischer join Meghna Chakrabarti.
There’s new information on just how hard the Trump administration tried to overthrow the 2020 election. How healthy is the state of our democracy? Neil Buchanan, Suzanne Mettler, Anna Grzymala-Busse and Jack Beatty join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Multi-level marketing distributors claim to sell life-changing products. They’re also selling something else -- misleading product claims and disinformation. Amanda Montell and Stephanie McNeal join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Democrats in Washington are divided again. Will Democrats let party infighting destroy their own, and President Biden's, ambitious goals? Rep. Henry Cuellar, Lisa DesJardins, Rep. Ayanna Pressley, Jack Beatty and Molly Ball join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Steven Salaita was a rising star in the field of American Indian studies.
In the fall of 2012, he applied for a job at the University of Illinois. Then, he lost everything.
“I had taken to Twitter and other forms of social media to condemn Israel’s bombardment of the Gaza Strip in Palestine," Salaita remembers.
"And suddenly, I got an email out of the blue informing me that the job offer had been pulled."
Today, On Point: Academic freedom on American campuses. Keith Whittington joins Meghna Chakrabarti.
College enrollment may be an indicator of a growing economic and social crisis among American men. We hear from researchers who say American democracy depends on doing something about it. Christopher Goins, David Autor and Ronald Levant join Meghna Chakrabarti.
If you use Slack at work, Zoom for school or binge watch Netflix at home, guess what? You’re also using Amazon. Amazon Web Services currently controls 30% of the cloud computing market. The fourth installment in our series The Prime Effect goes inside AWS, one of the biggest parts of Amazon you may have never heard of. Tim Bray and Michael Cusumano join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Like everything with Amazon, its marketplace is big. Small businesses like Steve Chou’s Bumblebee Linens can soar. But is the marketplace also destroying main street brick and mortar stores? In the third episode of our Amazon series, a look at the peaks and pits of Amazon's marketplace for retail. James Thomson and Stacy Mitchell join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Who is Jeff Bezos? In the second part of our series Amazon: The Prime Effect, we learn about the man who built Amazon and the innovation he brings to everything. Brad Stone joins Meghna Chakrabarti.
It’s not just a retailer. So what is Amazon? Hear part one in our series on how Amazon is changing the way we shop, work and live. Brad Stone and Stacy Mitchell join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Our eight-part series The Prime Effect explores the myriad ways Amazon is changing the way we shop, work and live.
Coming up in the On Point podcast feed, you'll find Part I -- IV of The Prime Effect. We hope you enjoy.
Oregon students used to have to pass a basic skills test in order to graduate from high school. This summer, the state dropped the requirement. How do we know when a high school student is ready to graduate? Betsy Hammond and Michael Dembrow join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Americans jump through too many hoops, travel too far, and pay too much for their prescription drugs.
Can America's broken prescription drug system be fixed? Jonathan Cohn, Jack Beatty, Rep. Scott Peters and Rep. Jan Schakowsky join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Our series "The Prime Effect" considers how Amazon shapes the way we shop, work and live. In the last episode, we ask, What industries will the company transform next? Joshua McNichols, Brad Stone, Nadina Rosier and Sara Fischer join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Dr. Scott Gottlieb was former FDA commissioner under President Trump. Now, he says it’s time for a national conversation about public health as national security, and how we’re far too unprepared and vulnerable to ignore it. Scott Gottlieb joins Kimberly Atkins Stohr.
The U.S. defense budget is more than $700 billion dollars. How efficiently are those dollars being spent? Lindsay Koshgarian and Ret. Col. Lawrence Wilkerson join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Kathryn Paige Harden says most people have no clue what genetic science can already do. In her new book 'The Genetic Lottery,' she says a new moral framework is needed to prepare for what's to come. Kathryn Paige Harden and Carey Goldberg join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Robert Hogue remembers the day he was in his office at the Pentagon, celebrating his first year as Marine Corps legal counsel. The date? September 11, 2001.
President Biden called COVID a “pandemic of the unvaccinated” as he announced his sweeping plan that would require more than 100 million American workers get vaccinated.
Government mandates and smart public health decisions. Do the two meet in Biden's new COVID plan? Nita Farahany and Lawrence Gostin join Meghna Chakrabarti.
A custody trial in Texas involving a Native American child and white foster parents caught journalist Rebecca Nagle’s eye. She discovered it was a part of something much, much bigger. Rebecca Nagle joins Meghna Chakrabarti.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom is facing a recall vote. The state's Latino voters could tip the scales. We unpack what Latino voters in California want from the state's recall election. Mindy Romero and Luis Sánchez join Meghna Chakrabarti.
People under the age of 25 make up more than 60% of the population of Afghanistan.
Afghanistan's people are young. And most of those young people have grown up with expanded rights for women, a burgeoning media, new technology and opportunities previously unavailable when the Taliban ruled.
Now that the Taliban are back in power, what do young Afghans want for the future of their country?
The Afghanistan war is especially powerful for us at On Point. The program got its start 20 years ago, on September 17th, 2001. Jack Beatty, On Point's news analyst, has been with the show, every day, from the beginning.
He joins Meghna Chakrabarti to reflect on America's longest war.
Over the last 20 years, journalists and entrepreneurs like Saad Mohseni have built a free and independent press in Afghanistan.
Mohseni recently told the Journo podcast that the Taliban can’t shut that all down.
"I don’t want to overstate this, but I think media has become the beacon of hope for the country," Mohseni said.
Our series The Longest War concludes with a look at what the future holds for Afghanistan’s free press and, ultimately, its citizens.
In 2001, Barbara Lee was the only member of congress to vote against the Afghanistan war resolution. How did the past 20 years change her and her country?
Rep. Barbara Lee joins Meghna Chakrabarti in the third installment of our series 'The Longest War.'
U.S. soldiers may have left Afghanistan, but the war has not left them. In the second installment of our series 'The Longest War,' veterans share their stories. Bajun Mavalwalla, Baji Mavalwalla and Laura Jedeed join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Shabana Basij-Rasikh is the founder of the first and only boarding school for girls in Afghanistan.
In the first episode of our series 'The Longest War,' we hear her story, and the future of Afghan women. Shabana Basij-Rasikh and Fanoos Basir join Meghna Chakrabarti.
This week, we’re seeking to better understand the impact of 20 years of war in Afghanistan. In our series The Longest War, you’ll hear from Afghan women, U.S. veterans and others about how choices made in Washington and Kabul shaped their lives.
25-year-old Fanoos Basir is a civil engineer and former member of the Afghan women’s national soccer team. Currently, she's living in a refugee camp in France.
In this podcast exclusive, she shares the sights, sounds and experiences of life in a refugee camp.
Something is happening in the workplace. More than 4 million Americans quit their jobs in April.
So what’s going on? In this rebroadcast, we ask financial columnists Michelle Singletary and Rana Foroohar why so many Americans are saying 'I quit.'
Rana Foroohar, Michelle Singletary and Jennifer Kastelic join Meghna Chakrabarti.
Ever heard of the Supreme Court's shadow docket? It's a not-so-transparent rule that can short-circuit the normal appellate process. We hear where it's being used, and what it means for the future of the Supreme Court. Melissa Murray and Heather Cox Richardson join Meghna Chakrabarti.
The diversion of water from refuges in the Klamath River basin, as well as climate change, is altering migratory patterns of bird species in the Pacific Flyway, from Alaska to Patagonia.
John Alexander is executive director of the Klamath Bird Observatory.
He joins us in this 'First Person' diary to explain how 'the arteries of the West, our wetland ecosystems, are failing.'
Along the Klamath River basin, drought is punishing everyone: from farmers to native tribes to fish. What can be done to ease this historic water crisis? Alex Schwartz, Dr. Alex Gonyaw, Scott Seus and Barry McCovey Jr. join Meghna Chakrabarti.