On Point

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 …

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 …

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 …

House Republicans are getting down to business, drafting legislation to spend more money on border control, less on the IRS. Hardliners are calling …

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 …

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? Frank Dobbin, Robert Livingston and Chloé …

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 …

College enrollment is down across the nation. Demographic changes are largely driving that. What does the decline mean for the future of small …

In Europe there are ‘dementia villages’ where residents can live freely despite their memory loss. Could that work here in the United States? Iris …

Representative George Santos has lied about almost every aspect of his life. How do uncontrolled fabulists get that way -- going way beyond the …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

After a series of botched executions, Alabama could soon begin executing death row incarcerated people using lethal gas. Oklahoma, Mississippi, …

First person: The Indigenous peoples of the Americas have been using psychedelics for thousands of years. Colonization and extermination ripped away …

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.

When psychedelic drugs were banned by federal law in 1970, it ended a debate over who should have access to them. Now that debate has been reignited. …

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 …

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 …

Rebroadcast: From Robert Bork's "consumer harm" to Lina Khan's "democratic harm," we discuss the ideas that drive the government's approach to …

The nineteenth century saw the rise of great monopolies. Americans pushed back. What changed? 

We discuss lessons learned from antitrust action in …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene will be a potent force in the Republican Controlled House. What will she do with her influence? Robert Draper …

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 …

Social psychologist Jonathan Haidt says America is in trouble.

He sees it on college campuses and through social media.

Haidt joins Meghna …

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.

When referring to Christians, politicians and the media are often focusing on one group -- politicized evangelicals. But, in truth, they are a small …

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? Beverly Gage joins Meghna Chakrabarti.

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 …

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 …

Across China, remarkable public demonstrations against the country’s zero COVID policy. Could this mark the surfacing of deeper discontent in Chinese …

Huge numbers of kids are struggling to read. Why? Because literacy curriculum used in thousands of classrooms doesn’t work. Emily Hanford joins …

Studies show a majority of Americans believe other Americans mostly look out for themselves. With trust on the decline, can it be rebuilt? Robert Putnam and Jack Beatty join Meghna Chakrabarti.

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 …

Brazilians have low levels of institutional trust. They also have low levels of trust in each other. Why? Chayenne Polimédio and Rafael Ioris join …

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 …

The fragile beauty of the monarch butterfly. Can they be saved?

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

Important ballot measures are at play in the midterms. In some states, voters are being asked to consider limiting their own right to put …

The Biden Administration wants to make higher ed more affordable. Why aren't colleges and universities doing more themselves to make getting a degree …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

Timothy Snyder says Russian President Vladimir Putin is vulnerable at home, as Russian men leave to avoid being sent to fight in Ukraine.

Dmitry …

Russia invaded Ukraine eight months ago, seemingly unprepared for the fight Ukraine would put up. Scholar Timothy Snyder answers the question: How …

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 …

The U.S. dollar is soaring against other currencies, adding to fears of a global financial meltdown. When that happened in 1985, governments took …

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 …

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 …

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." …

Political analysts call the Hispanic vote a ‘sleeping giant.’ Most still vote Democratic, but the GOP is gaining ground. We'll listen to Hispanic …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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' …

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 …

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’ …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

With Russia’s military setbacks in Ukraine, there’s been increasingly open criticism of President Putin and his war. We examine Putin's pressure …

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 …

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."

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, …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

On the most recent episode of On Point, we talked about Serena Williams' retirement. Or, as she calls it, 'an evolution away from tennis.'

…

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 …

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 …

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.

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.

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.

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 …

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 …

The nation's meatpacking companies skirted COVID safety regulations. And they did it with the White House's help, according to a little known …

1996. 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 …

In a truly open society, all ideas can flourish -- even those that tear down democracies. New technologies help those ideas spread. So, are fragile …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

Franklin Leonard is founder of The Black List, a company and production studio that searches for the best screenplays that aren't getting attention …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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, …

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 …

In decisions involving state funding for religious schools and prayer on a high school football field the conservative majority on the Supreme Court …

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. …

The banality of evil. Hannah Arendt's famous observation during the trial of Adolf Eichmann, the ‘architect of the Holocaust.’ There's new evidence …

“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."

…

Decades before QAnon, far-right conspiracists were already pushing a conservative political agenda. We discuss the history of far-right populism – …

Some Republicans say state legislatures should have the power to override federal elections. The Supreme Court is taking up a case that could make …

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 …

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 …

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, …

On Point senior editor speaks with Democratic Senator Ed Markey of Massachusetts and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg about the actions the …

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 …

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. …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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. …

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 …

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 …

Despite their differences of opinion, the nine justices of the U.S. Supreme Court have always regarded mutual trust as a pillar of their …

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 …

Will artificial intelligence replace doctors? It's the final episode in our series “Smarter health." Dr. Sumeet Chugh and Stacy Hurt join Meghna Chakrabarti.

The Western megadrought. This year, it's brought early, record-breaking wildfires to New Mexico. The drought is forcing permanent ecosystem changes. …

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 …

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 …

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."  

…

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives enforces gun laws already on the books. How can enforcement happen when the very agency …

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 …

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. …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

American health care is complex. Expensive. Hard to access. Could artificial intelligence change that?

It's the first episode in our series …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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. …

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 …

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 …

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 …

Rebroadcast: If you consult three doctors and get three different opinions, that’s an example of what Nobel Prize-winning psychologist Daniel …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

In a podcast extra, Meghna Chakrabarti reflects on a 2017 conversation with Sarah Weddington, the Texas attorney who successfully argued Roe v. Wade …

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 …

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 …

Politics feels like a centrifugal force, pushing, tearing American democracy apart. So what glue can hold us together? Yascha Mounk and Jack Beatty …

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 …

The Biden Administration has delayed the restart of student loan repayments. We discuss the federal government's role in causing and fixing the …

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 …

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 …

From Nazi Germany to Mussolini’s Italy, fascists worked to repress the rights of women by restricting education and abortion rights. Now, there are …

Social psychologist Jonathan Haidt says America is in trouble.

He sees it on college campuses and through social media.

Haidt joins Meghna …

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 …

Some states and local law enforcement agencies have taken it upon themselves to develop their own firearm hand-in laws that they can effectively …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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. …

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, …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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. …

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 …

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 …

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 …

Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson would be the first former public defender on a bench full of former prosecutors and corporate lawyers. What difference …

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 …

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. …

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has defended his country, deftly used the media, and galvanized the world. We hear a profile in leadership. …

Russian President Vladimir Putin put his nuclear arsenal on high alert. What are the strategic, and political moves necessary to avoid the …

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 …

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 …

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 …

The international community may not be sending soldiers. But does isolation from the global economy constitute a form of economic war against Russia?

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 …

Apollinaria Oleinikova is 18-years-old. For most of her life, she was a carefree Muscovite. Now, she's publicly protesting, along with other …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

Vitriol against public servants is increasing. What impact does that have on who stays in politics – and for the health of democracy? Marico …

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 …

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 …

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 …

Sen. Amy Klobuchar is the chair of the Senate Subcommittee on Competition Policy, Antitrust and Consumer Rights. She’s also on the Judiciary …

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 …

From Robert Bork's "consumer harm" to Lina Khan's "democratic harm," we discuss the ideas that drive the government's approach to antitrust …

The nineteenth century saw the rise of great monopolies. Americans pushed back. What changed? 

We discuss lessons learned from antitrust action in …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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. …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

Seditious conspiracy. The Justice Department has levied the charge on 11 people associated with the January 6 Capitol attack. But what is seditious …

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 …

There are potentially tens of millions of domestic violence survivors with undiagnosed brain injuries. Their stories are slowly coming to light. In a …

The suffering caused by domestic violence is emotional, spiritual and physical. But there's one aspect of that suffering that is almost invisible: …