On Point
Weekdays at 10am
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.
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You’ve heard the phrase "think outside the box." But what if constraints and limitations actually make us happier and more creative? *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint -
Dictators and authoritarian leaders often plaster their faces across the country they control. Is this happening in the United States? *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint -
The Supreme Court will soon rule on who gets to decide when a product needs a cancer warning – and who can sue if they’ve been exposed. At the center of the highly politicized debate is America’s most successful weedkiller, Roundup. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint -
History was made in this year’s London marathon when two runners broke the iconic two-hour barrier. Was it the shoes? The nutrition? The training? These specific elite athletes? *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint -
Political partisanship is one way to measure how the Supreme Court justices think about how their rulings affect the nation. SCOTUSblog editor Sarah Isgur says another, she believes more important way, has to do with their tolerance for change, with the justices ranging from order-loving institutionalists to true chaos agents. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint -
On Point news analyst Jack Beatty on “the unedifying spectacle of self abasement” from the Moscow show trial of the 1930s, to present-day confirmation hearings for Trump nominees. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint -
More than half of men under 50 in the U.S. have an open online sports book. Public health experts warn it's easier than ever to get addicted to gambling. Atlantic staff writer McKay Coppins spent a year exploring the world of sports betting, and why the pastime is particularly bad for young men. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint -
President Trump is directing the Justice Department to treat beliefs like "anti-Americanism, anti-capitalism, or anti-Christianity" akin to domestic terrorism. Can the president criminalize beliefs? *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint -
In 1998, the FDA required folic acid be added to breads and pastas but not corn masa, a staple in Latino communities. Folic acid is known to prevent neural tube birth defects. So, states like California and Alabama are now passing their own mandates. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint -
There’s a new word floating around Silicon Valley and the AI world: 'tokenmaxxing.' It means consuming as many units of AI as possible and often racking up multibillion dollar bills. What’s driving this behavior? *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint -
Dean Ball was a top adviser on AI for the Trump White House. He authored its AI policy. But now he says the way the Trump administration is strong-arming tech companies is a foundational threat to the nation. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint -
Senior editor Dorey Scheimer has a message about this week’s Jackpod and a special ‘behind the scenes’ episode of On Point. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint
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The Greco-Roman philosophy of stoicism is having a moment. Through wisdom, temperance, courage and justice you can create a virtuous, well-lived life. But have modern day stoics got it right? -
Puerto Rico is in the middle of a major gubernatorial race. As a new political party appeals to younger voters -- who've only experienced years of corruption, poverty and financial crisis -- who wins could have a big effect on the territory. -
Once the second largest protestant denomination in America, the United Methodist Church lost about a quarter of its members over issues of sexuality. Now, the church is overturning its prohibition on LGBTQ clergy and same-sex marriage. -
Glenn Loury is a renowned Black economist and conservative social critic. In his new memoir, he details his struggles, from adultery to addiction, all while a professor at Harvard. -
Our online feeds are already full of artificially-generated sludge. It’s tainting our discourse, our culture and the quality of information. One neuroscientist argues all of this AI junk threatens our very humanity. -
Two of rap’s biggest stars are feuding. Drake and Kendrick Lamar have been lobbing diss tracks back and forth for weeks. What does this say about modern hip-hop culture? -
A lot is at stake in Arizona’s senate race. It could determine control of the Senate -- and the outcome of the presidential election. -
The U.S. is building new nuclear weapons, including a massive missile called the Sentinel. They're up to 20 times more powerful than the bomb dropped on Hiroshima. -
The NCAA’s all-time scoring leader Caitlin Clark begins her WNBA career on Tuesday. Caitlin Clark helped elevate the game of basketball to new heights at the college level. What impact will she have in the pros? -
Some Palestinians have been able to flee Gaza. But millions are still there as the Israeli military moves on Rafah, and there’s still no agreement to pause the war.
