Podcast

On Point with Meghna Chakrabarti

News

Get ready for your aha moment: Every weekday, host Meghna Chakrabarti pierces your news bubble to expose the whole story. Getting answers to the questions that need to be asked, examining our history and the human condition. No topic is too complicated or off the table. It’s all On Point.

News chart
#146
Episodes
415
Releases
Daily
Typical length
40 min
On air since
2025
Latest episode
11 hours ago

Episodes

415 episodes, newest first

  1. Why U.S. military bombings haven't stopped the global cocaine boom

    Show notes

    Since last year, the U.S. military has killed 240 people from Latin America while bombing alleged drug smuggling boats. With cocaine prices falling globally, whether the killings are deterring drug traffickers or just changing how drugs reach American streets.

    *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

    37 min
  2. Should Greek life be abolished or reformed?

    Show notes

    The Cornell Seven case has reignited the debate over whether fraternities should be allowed on college campuses at all. How to find the line between enriching community support and a system that might institutionalize harmful behavior.

    *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

    40 min
  3. The Jackpod: Not on bread alone

    Show notes

    On Point news analyst Jack Beatty looks back at a time when social values played a bigger role in American political life and hears a call for that ahead of this year’s midterms.

    *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

    49 min
  4. Min Jin Lee's new novel asks: Is education worth sacrificing for?

    Show notes

    In her sweeping follow-up to "Pachinko," author Min Jin Lee zooms in on learning centers, or hagwons, in the South Korean diaspora. "American Hagwon" examines whether education can really deliver a perfect life.

    *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

    45 min
  5. Could the biggest election security threat come from the federal government?

    Show notes

    From running tabletop exercises, to citing Civil War-era laws protecting voters, state election officials are on guard against threats; and not just from abroad. What state officials are doing to protect the midterms from federal government interference.

    *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

    37 min
  6. The case for 'anti-fascist economics'

    Show notes

    Inequality, inflation, gas prices are all on the rise. Economist Isabella Weber argues the way to solve America's affordability crisis is to change how we think about economics.

    *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

    39 min
  7. Does Trump's Russian diesel deal betray the U.S.?

    Show notes

    Congress passed the Lindsey Graham Sanctioning Russia Act with a bipartisan vote. This month, President Trump waived those sanctions. Why many legislators, policymakers and military strategists are saying the president betrayed U.S. interests.

    *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

    39 min
  8. Israel's election and what it means for U.S. support

    Show notes

    Israel goes to the polls in a razor-close election. What the results will mean for the trajectory of the war with Iran, ongoing conflict in Gaza and the West Bank and the future of U.S.-Israel relations.

    *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

    40 min
  9. The Jackpod: One cheer for private health insurance

    Show notes

    On Point news analyst Jack Beatty on why Sen. Bernie Sanders’ proposal for Medicare for All warrants more scrutiny than it's getting in progressive political circles.

    *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

    45 min
  10. Did Anthropic just make a big mistake?

    Show notes

    AI company Anthropic says you can no longer be "abusive or cruel" to its model, Claude. And Claude itself will decide what counts. Many in the AI world say that's dangerous.

    *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

    38 min
  11. On Point Live: The North Carolina factor

    Show notes

    North Carolina voters will help decide the balance of power in the U.S. Senate. Join Meghna Chakrabarti for a special -- and spicy -- conversation live from Greensboro, N.C.

    *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

    48 min
  12. How should we be talking about the Cornell case?

    Show notes

    Cornell University is at the center of a rape allegation that has raised difficult questions about how we talk about consent, sexuality and justice. Do we have the right language to have these discussions?

    *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

    46 min
  13. How a few tight Senate races could define Congress

    Show notes

    A number of Senate races are too close to call -- defying expectations and upsetting established political affinities within certain states. What does this say about the midterms and the direction of American politics?

    *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

    39 min
  14. Are we on the verge of a new Cold War?

    Show notes

    The Pentagon is rethinking America's nuclear weapons strategy – including lowering the barrier for their use in the battlefield. Why national security analyst Joe Cirincione says this could spark a new nuclear arms race.

    *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

    42 min
  15. The Jackpod: A rough start for Gen Z

    Show notes

    On Point news analyst Jack Beatty looks into the impact that AI is having on the job market for Gen Z graduates and the difference that choice of college major can make.

    *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

    26 min
  16. Can the U.S. and Canada still be friends?

    Show notes

    President Trump's war on Canada is intensifying -- from high tariffs and import bans to public personal attacks. How Canadians view Trump's trade war -- and the future of U.S.-Canada relations.

    *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

    36 min
  17. The political scramble for the new South

    Show notes

    The South is the fastest-growing region in the U.S., with states like Georgia and Texas seeing a surge of younger and more diverse people. Experts say that could mean generational political shifts in the Sun Belt.

    *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

    38 min
  18. Who owns America's farmland?

    Show notes

    More than 20% of all farmland in Iowa is owned by someone, or some company, out of state. That's pushing land prices up, and it's becoming a major issue in the governor's race.

    *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

    36 min
  19. AI is steamrolling through math. Why does that matter?

    Show notes

    AI is solving some of the toughest math problems in the world, including ones that have stumped mathematicians for decades. What it means for human ingenuity when there are no more hard problems left to solve.

    *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

    40 min
  20. Tales of shipwrecks from around the world

    Show notes

    Marine archaeologist Sean Kingsley has explored more than 350 shipwrecks -- from pirate ships in the Bahamas to British India Steam Navigation ships off the coast of Ireland. We ask him what discoveries he’s made so far and what else he hopes to find.

    *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

    36 min