Humanitarian aid for Palestinians in northern Gaza is the lowest it's been in more than a year. People on the ground in Gaza share what, and who, could change the scale of civilian suffering.

President-elect Donald Trump has tapped Fox News host and military veteran Pete Hegseth as his nominee for Secretary of Defense. Who he is -- and what this pick could mean for the direction of America’s national security.

Donald Trump won North Carolina. But Democrats in the state swept every major executive branch race, including governor, and broke the Republican supermajority in the statehouse. What explains this split?

Millions of voters who turned out in 2020 didn't show up this year. Why they stayed home or left the top of the ticket blank -- and how we might reinvigorate Americans' belief in voting.

On Point news analyst Jack Beatty on why he thinks the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is an intellectual disgrace for the Biden administration.

Starr County, Texas is 97% Latino. For more than 130 years the County voted for Democrats. Until last week. In fact, Starr County has been swinging right for the past 8 years, with a 75-point shift to Republicans since 2016. What's motivating Latino voters in Starr County to back Republicans over Democrats?

This month marks 20 years since the start of the bloodiest battle of the Iraq War. Marines who were on the ground share their stories and the two-decade long struggle to heal.

The war in Ukraine. A trade battle with China. 'Mass deportations' to Mexico. How are Europe, Mexico and China preparing for Donald Trump’s return to the White House?

Voters across the country went for Donald Trump and other Republicans in big numbers -- and endorsed progressive measures like abortion access and an increased minimum wage in ballot initiatives. What this tells us about what voters really want.

Trump won the presidency, but down ballot votes didn't always follow party. How can we understand the conflicting and diverging values expressed in the 2024 election?

On Point news analyst Jack Beatty on the historic eras the U.S. could return to if Donald Trump’s various campaign policies are enacted.

Republicans dominated the election -- with Donald Trump taking back the White House, flipping the Senate and likely keeping control of the House. How the Republican Party did it, and the policies and priorities it will have in Congress and the White House.

Just seven swing states decided the fate of the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election. A roundtable conversation with journalists on the ground, right after Election Day.

A Wisconsin city became a political flashpoint in the national immigration debate. In On Point's latest collaboration with ProPublica: How Whitewater, Wisconsin has responded to a new wave of immigration.

Republicans have already filed more than 90 lawsuits challenging voting rules and practices – before a single ballot has been counted. What clues these lawsuits hold about a looming legal battle after Election Day.

According to a recent poll by the American Psychological Association, more than two out of three Americans say the upcoming presidential election is causing a significant amount of stress in their lives. The consequences of election-related stress and what you can do to manage it.

On Point news analyst Jack Beatty on the political power of fantasy over reality and its role in Trumpian politics in the U.S.

This month, more than a dozen former Trump staffers went on the record to say that everyone should heed the warning that Donald Trump is a fascist and would rule as a dictator.

False claims and threats about the 2024 election are expected to get worse after Election Day. How are social media companies preparing?

The Federal Elections Commission has issued rules that make coordination between campaigns and big donors legal and more direct. How's that shaping the 2024 election? We explore the connection between billionaires and the campaigns they're influencing.

The Georgia Supreme Court has blocked the state's Republican-led election board from enforcing new election rules introduced just weeks before Election Day. We speak to Republican Janelle King, a board member who pushed for the rule changes.

2024 is set to be a record-breaking year for political advertising, with some $10.2 billion spent across the U.S. Most of those dollars are aimed at seven swing states. What do voters in those states see on their TVs and online — and what does that say about current political messaging?

The latest on special counsel Jack Smith’s case against former President Donald Trump and his attempt to overturn the 2020 presidential election.

On Point news analyst Jack Beatty on the influence of French historian and philosopher René Girard’s beliefs about the nature of human beings on our daily lives, social media, and JD Vance’s conversion to Catholicism.

Donald Trump has promised to deport millions of migrants if he's elected. He wants the largest mass deportation in U.S. history. How Trump plans to do that and its likely consequences.

Donald Trump claimed that newborns are sometimes “executed." That is not true. He’s talking about perinatal palliative care. We learn the facts about the care these grieving families receive and why it's sometimes needed.

Wisconsin is one of the states that will likely determine the 2024 election. On Point goes on the road to Milwaukee, Wisconsin to talk to the chair of the state election committee about the security and trustworthiness of the vote.

With Election Day quickly approaching, many voters are still wondering what a potential Kamala Harris presidency would look like -- and how it would differ from the Biden administration.

Some 53 U.S. Senators and representatives are leaving Congress this year. What’s driving this flood of retirements? What does it mean for the 2024 election and beyond?

While the presidential race is getting most of the attention, control of several key state legislatures is also up for grabs, in places like Arizona and Michigan. The contests for legislative control across the country – and why they matter.

On Point news analyst Jack Beatty outlines the details and potential consequences of Donald Trump’s plan for the mass deportation of more than ten million migrants currently in the U.S. should he be elected president again.

Former President Trump wants to build a tariff wall: 60% tariff on goods from China, 20% on imports from everywhere else in the world. But what exactly are tariffs, and who do they help or hurt?

For years, Republican strategist Sarah Longwell has been conducting focus groups with so-called “flippers,” voters who supported Donald Trump in 2016 then flipped to Joe Biden in 2020. Longwell’s analysis on what’s influencing them in 2024.

Rebroadcast: Exonerees are turning to the private sector to provide them with urgently needed cash. But with interest rates so high, it could end up being a new form of confinement.

With Russia’s war against Ukraine, the wider war in the Middle East, the border issues with Mexico -- the world is watching the U.S. presidential election more than ever. We hear from international observers in Europe in Latin America to Africa about why how you vote matters to the rest of the world.

On Point news analyst Jack Beatty draws a line from Donald Trump’s appearance as a savvy businessman on The Apprentice to his belief in tariffs as a powerful tool to benefit the U.S. economy, and even prevent war.

Since 2020, many voters have dug into their positions. Others have changed. Some have turned away from politics entirely. Several Americans who shared their stories during the 2020 election, join us to discuss election 2024.

In Georgia, a Republican-led state election board is implementing new rules just weeks before election day. Local election officials say the new rules will hurt the state’s election security. What's behind the upheaval in Georgia's elections?

The media uses small soundbites and sensible summaries to make Donald Trump sound more coherent than he actually is. But by doing so, some argue that the media ends up presenting a misleading picture of the former president that could misinform voters.

Pedestrian deaths in this country are at an all-time high. And now, the government is stepping in. For the first time ever, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has proposed new rules that would affect the external design and look of supersized trucks and SUVs.

Israel. Hamas. Hezbollah. Iran. One year since Hamas's brutal attack on Israel, the Netanyahu government has expanded its war beyond Gaza. What’s next in the widening war — and what are the consequences?

On Point news analyst Jack Beatty on the moments in the vice presidential debate when Republican candidate JD Vance contradicted the evidence of his own track record with misrepresentations and obliquities.

Local election officials are working hard to make sure the 2024 election goes off without a hitch. And they're doing that despite being criticized, hounded, attacked, and threatened. Three county elections officials, Democrats and Republicans, from Nevada, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania share their experiences from the frontlines of America's elections.

Under the Biden Administration, the FTC significantly stepped-up antitrust enforcement. Last year alone Biden’s regulators filed a record 50 antitrust enforcement actions. And mergers reached a 10-year low. Have Biden's antitrust actions helped consumers?

Every presidential path to victory in 2024 leads through Pennsylvania. In Cambria County, voters flipped from blue to red in a few short election cycles. What clues does the county hold for 2024?

Arizona was the first state in the country to adopt universal school vouchers. But who is benefiting from this program, and who gets left behind? With school voucher questions on several state ballots right now, we look at lessons from Arizona in our latest collaboration with ProPublica.

The Taliban has banned women from speaking in public. They're banned from singing, reading, reciting poetry, or even laughing outside their homes. What do the recent crackdowns mean for Afghan women -- and what can the international community do to stop it?

On Point news analyst Jack Beatty on the constitutional procedure that calls for the House of Representatives’ congressional delegations to determine the winner of the presidential election in the event of a tie in the electoral college.

Zyn nicotine pouches have exploded in popularity, generating millions of dollars for tobacco giants — and a new subculture on the internet, or “Zynternet.” Zyn has even found its way into national politics. What's behind the rise of Zyn?

Ukraine wants to use western long-range weapons to strike targets inside of Russia. Vladimir Putin says if President Biden approves such use of western weapons, it will mean massive war. Could a decision to help Ukraine win its war spark a larger geopolitical catastrophe?

Menstruation is a definitive experience of a woman's life, and an indicator of her health. So why has period blood or menstrual fluid been largely under-researched?

Russia’s efforts to influence American voters in this year’s elections are getting more advanced. They’ve even used American media personalities to try to sow division. How can we protect election integrity?

In a new memoir, New York Times correspondent Edward Wong retraces the complicated story of his father’s life as a zealous young Communist in China to an immigrant in America. What does it mean to love country over party?

On Point news analyst Jack Beatty on the entertainment value of conspiracy theories as a source of their appeal.

The gender divide among Gen Z voters is deeper than any other generation. Young women are drawn to progressive politics. Young men are drawn to Trump. But why?

Vice President Harris proposes giving a $25,000 grant to first-time homebuyers to help solve America’s housing crisis. Many are skeptical. But Florida’s Republican Governor Ron DeSantis has championed a similar program in his state.

Becoming a parent was once a social norm. But today, more Americans than ever are ambivalent about having children. What could create a renewed sense of meaning in parenting?

Hear On Point's mini-series on the declining birth rate in the United States. We're not looking at economics, or education, but another aspect of parenthood highlighted and debated in two new books. Do children bring a unique sense of meaning to life?

In 2020, Alina Chan called for the scientific community to not abandon a potential lab leak origin of SARS-CoV-2. She was called a conspiracy theorist and a race traitor. Her story and the search for the origins of COVID, four years later.

On Point news analyst Jack Beatty imagines a presidential debate in which Vice President Kamala Harris candidly answers the questions of undecided voters.

In his new book "The End of Race Politics," Coleman Hughes argues that closing racial divides in America means building a color-blind society. Coleman Hughes joins Meghna Chakrabarti.

Mexico could soon become the world's first country to elect every single one of its judges, even on the Mexican supreme court. Will it combat corruption or is it a political power grab?

Our planet’s rich nature sounds are disappearing, drowned out by human-made noise. Sound recordist Matt Mikkelsen travels the world, listening to and working to preserve our vanishing soundscapes.

Phoenix, Arizona has crossed a troubling milestone. More than one hundred days of temperatures over 100 degrees. Across the country, extreme heat kills more Americans than hurricanes, floods and tornadoes combined. So why don’t we label is a disaster?

The world’s focus on growth - also known as GDP - has led to higher living standards, longer life and more jobs. But it has also destroyed the climate and created mass inequality. Economist Daniel Susskind argues that what we need isn’t less growth, but less destructive growth. Is that possible?

On Point news analyst Jack Beatty finds contemporary resonances in the new book by British historian Richard J. Evans, “Hitler’s People: The Faces of the Third Reich.”

The Barred Owl is considered “invasive” in the Pacific Northwest and it’s pushing the Northern Spotted Owl to extinction. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has a plan -- kill nearly half a million Barred Owls over the next 30 years.

Some colleges receive tens of thousands of applications every year. Admissions officers are turning to Artificial Intelligence to help with the screening. What that could mean for who gets into college and how.

On Point’s “money ladies,” Michelle Singletary and Rana Foroohar, are back to answer your questions about housing, inflation, the lingering impact of COVID and more.

Some estimates say artificial intelligence could replace hundreds of millions of jobs in the not-too-distant future. Why the rapid advances in AI may be the best argument yet for universal basic income.

Rebroadcast: The United States has set ambitious goals to transition to clean energy. We’ll need more mining to do it. But given the environmental, political, and human costs of accelerating mineral mining, can the United States meet its climate targets?

On Point news analyst Jack Beatty on the potency of humiliation in politics today.

Rebroadcast: To electrify our economy, the world needs more nickel. Indonesia has plenty and hopes it can pave the road to prosperity. How the rush for metals is shaking up global geopolitics.

Rebroadcast: Most of the world’s cobalt is extracted in the Democratic Republic of Congo. But to get it, hundreds of thousands of Congolese people labor with no other means to survive. On episode three of On Point’s special series -- cobalt and the human cost of mining.

Rebroadcast: Copper is key to our green energy future, but copper extraction is deeply harmful to the environment now. Episode two of On Point’s special series “Elements of energy” explores how to resolve that contradiction.

Rebroadcast: The U.S. sits on some of the largest lithium reserves in the world. It’s a key element for clean energy. The first episode of On Point’s weeklong exploration “Elements of energy” takes us inside America’s push for a lithium boom.

On Point news analyst Jack Beatty on the meaning of Kamala Harris’ rallying cry at the Democratic National Convention and four themes he observed.

Kamala Harris accepted the Democratic presidential nomination. The first Black woman to do so. Thursday night she gave the biggest speech of her life. How did she do?

Democrats have a 2024 policy platform, covering topics like the economy and immigration. But they wrote it when Joe Biden was the nominee. What do the Democrats stand for with Kamala Harris out front?

VP candidates JD Vance and Tim Walz hail from Midwestern states. Both use that identity to try and appeal to voters. Who will Midwesterners decide has it right?

Last week, Boston Red Sox player Jarren Duran was suspended for two games after responding to a heckling fan with a homophobic slur. Men’s pro sports have a rocky history with LGBTQ issues, and although teams are trying, some question whether it’s enough.

For three years, hundreds of people in Texas and Illinois received payments of $1,000 a month, no strings attached. It was the biggest study of its kind. And after eight years of research – the results are in. What did we learn?

The topline numbers about the U.S. economy don’t seem to match what millions of Americans are feeling. Which information is right?

On Point news analyst Jack Beatty on Donald Trump’s propensity for lies and falsehoods, and their connection to the power he has over his followers.

On Point and ProPublica are launching a new collaboration, bringing you monthly special episodes that combine ProPublica’s groundbreaking investigative reporting with On Point’s incisive analysis. In the first episode: The world is awash in plastic waste. Oil companies claim to have a solution, an advanced form of chemical recycling. But can it deliver on its promise?

Disabled and sunk ships. Frightened sailors. Not because of sharks – but because of whales and orca. Scientists seeing an increase in unexpected large marine mammal interactions. Why?

Companies track your data online. So it's no surprise that they know a lot about your habits and preferences. Now, they're trying to use that data to offer different prices to different customers, for the same items.

It's been a month since the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump. The Secret Service is finally, publicly accepting responsibility. But what decisions and lack of resources led to the failure?

Hot flashes. Brain fog. Sleep problems. Millions of women go through menopause each year. But what’s happening in the brain during this life transition? Lisa Mosconi joins Meghna Chakrabarti.

This week, a federal judge issued a ruling that could shake up how we use the internet. U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta ruled that Google has illegally used its dominance to stifle competition and quash innovation. Back in October, we undertook a detailed examination of the case, known as U.S. v. Google, with Tim Wu, an expert on monopolies.

Meghna Chakrabarti and On Point senior editor Dorey Scheimer do their best knowing even together, they are not one Jack Beatty. They take your messages and questions about President Biden's decision to drop out and the new state of the 2024 presidential race.

More than 30 years ago, sociologist James Davison Hunter coined the term "culture wars." Since then, those wars have poisoned American politics. Today, Hunter says cultural resources that create a sense of national solidarity could end America's culture wars. But what exactly are cultural resources? And can they be renewed?

No witnesses. No physical evidence. An ironclad alibi. Nevertheless, a Texas jury sentenced Ben Spencer to life in prison for a murder he didn't commit. Journalist and author Barbara Bradley Hagerty shares what it took to set Spencer free.

The last time Congress passed a law to protect children on the internet was 26 years ago. That’s before Facebook or the iPhone was even created. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle agree regulation is long overdue. It’s the 'how' that’s the question.

More than a quarter of young Americans have cut ties with one of their parents. Sometimes on the advice of therapists, who say families are traumatizing. But some families say they’re the ones being traumatized. We discuss the debate over family estrangement.

High housing costs are pushing more Americans to find roommates, including baby boomers and empty nesters. We take a look at the growing trend of intergenerational living.

Anti-tourism protests spread around the world this summer. Some cities are charging tourist entry fees, banning cruise ships or imposing fines for bad behavior. Some say the solution to the world’s growing wanderlust isn‘t for people to travel less but to travel better.

Techno libertarians, white nationalists and JD Vance are all linked to a movement known as the 'New Right.' What is this movement and how has it influenced the Republican candidate for vice president?

Kamala Harris is making her prosecutorial experience center stage in her presidential bid against Donald Trump. What Harris’s record tells us about who she is, what she believes, and how she might govern if elected.

Today’s autocratic rulers don’t share a specific ideology. But they do share a thirst for power. In her latest book, Autocracy, Inc., Anne Applebaum says the new twist is that those autocrats now work together to keep that grip on power.

Celebrated author Amy Tan doesn’t just write best-selling novels. She’s a passionate birder, too. Her book 'Backyard Bird Chronicles' describes the transformative experience of birding in her own backyard.

With nearly three quarters of Israelis wanting Benjamin Netanyahu out of office, On Point news analyst Jack Beatty says the Israeli prime minister is on borrowed political time. Meanwhile, U.S. President Joe Biden is out of political time after dropping out of the 2024 race.

No matter how much order, sense, or predictability we try to bring to our lives, uncertainty and the anxiety it can create are always there. But new thinking on uncertainty shows us how it can be a good thing.

Is the government covering up what it knows about UFOs, now called Unexplained Aerial Phenomena? We dive into 75 years of UFO history and the beginnings of government mistrust.

In places where human beings have done everything they can to pave and plow over nature, what might happen if we just left those places alone?

Utah’s Great Salt Lake is the largest salt lake in the Western Hemisphere. Since the 1980s, the lake has shrunk by two-thirds, and is projected to disappear entirely in the next five years. If it does, it will lead to massive environmental, economic and public health issues.

After surviving an attempted assassination, Donald Trump promised he would seek unity as he accepted the GOP’s nomination. We take a look at what Trump said, and whether or not that message was embraced by delegates, Republican party leaders, and Trump's base nationwide.

On Point news analyst Jack Beatty has a tale of two parties: “Republicans united in the shimmer of victory, Democrats divided in the shadow of defeat.”

Donald Trump has transformed Republican politics, and Republican policy, as reflected in the GOP's newest platform. Analysts say it echoes the language of its presidential candidate, instead of previously held Republican views, on a range of issues from the economy to abortion.

Sharks are full of secrets, despite being some of the oldest creatures on the planet. Marine biologist Jasmin Graham has spent a decade studying them — and trying to bring more women of color like her into the field.

Dr. Anthony Fauci was the government’s top infectious disease official during the COVID-19 pandemic. What has his career in public service taught him?

An assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump two days before the Republican National Convention. Politicians across the board are condemning political violence and violent rhetoric. Can we turn away from both?

For 40 years, federal judges deferred to the expertise of government agencies to interpret ambiguous language in laws. But after a recent Supreme Court decision, that power now lies in the hands of the judiciary.

On Point news analyst Jack Beatty traces how the politics of revenge triumphed over the politics of remedy in the years between D-Day and the attack on the U.S. Congress. This special episode was recorded in front of a live audience at WBUR CitySpace.

Donald Trump has openly admired authoritarians around the world. Now he’s pledging to rule like one. An examination of the promises, powers and plans of a second Trump presidency.

Boeing has pled guilty to federal charges related to two deadly 737 MAX crashes. What went wrong in the Boeing C-suite?

Jason De León spent nearly seven years embedded with a group of smugglers moving migrants across Mexico. How that experience changed his perspective on the smugglers’ world.

There's a troubling trend in medicine -- increasing cancer diagnoses in people younger than 50. But why? Dr. Kimmie Ng and Dr. Tim Rebbeck join Meghna Chakrabarti.

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?

On Point news analyst Jack Beatty Joe Biden’s display of frailty in his old age at the CNN debate and what that could mean for his campaign for a second term in the Oval Office.

State and federal government is so focused on policymaking 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.

Ransomware hackers are attacking health care systems in the U.S. and around the world. Why are health care networks so vulnerable?

Washington Post sports columnist Jerry Brewer used to have no doubt about the unifying power of sports. But in recent years, Brewer says that Americans are bringing political divisions to the games.

78 days after the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed after it was struck by a cargo ship, the Port of Baltimore is back in business. The cleanup involved more than 2,000 people, 18 barges, 13 floating cranes, 10 excavators and 22 tugboats.

In May, On Point featured the first U.S. broadcast interview of Dr. Hilary Cass. The UK-based pediatrician had just completed the world’s largest systematic review of medicalized care for gender-questioning youth. On Point senior editor Dorey Scheimer speaks with parents about how they navigate decisions about care for their transgender and gender-questioning children, and the challenges they face.

Post-presidential debate, the hosts of the 'Pod Save America' share debate analysis informed by their own White House and political campaign experience. Plus, their guide to saving democracy ahead of the 2024 election.

Russia and North Korea have signed a new deal that brings the two countries closer together than they’ve been since the Cold War. What does this agreement mean for the U.S. -- and the world?

Organ transplant patients are concerned the drugs they take to survive can cause other health problems like cancer and diabetes, and yet the medications haven’t improved in decades. Why has drug development in transplantation been stalled?

In the coming days the Supreme Court is set to issue historic decisions on the power of federal agencies, January 6th prosecutions, and presidential immunity. What will the Supreme Court’s decisions mean for America?

A former IRS agent says the agency gives a pass to corporate tax cheats and the super-rich when investigating possible tax crimes.

Mexico just elected its first female president. Many hope Claudia Scheinbaum will improve the lives of millions of Mexican women. An assessment of female leaders and their impact on women's lives across Latin America.

On Point news analyst Jack Beatty recalls past presidents who have not been transparent about their health, which leads to a question he hopes moderators will ask President Biden at the upcoming CNN debate.

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas recently said that some migrants “do try to game” the U.S. asylum system. What's the evidence for that and, if true, what needs to change to stop it?

From Roots to the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air to Abbott Elementary, Bethonie Butler’s new book "Black TV" shows how TV series centered on Black characters have evolved over the past 50 years.

Indian prime minister Narendra Modi predicted his BJP party would win a commanding victory in recent elections. But India's 969 million voters had something entirely different in mind.

In this year’s European Union elections, far-right parties made gains across many of the EU’s 27 countries, including in France, Germany and Italy. What’s driving this?

George Stephanopoulos, host of ABC’s “This Week,” and co-host of “Good Morning America," speaks with Meghna Chakrabarti live at WBUR's CitySpace about his new book “The Situation Room: The Inside Story of Presidents In Crisis." Plus, what he's learned from interviewing Donald Trump.

With two wars raging and dynastic power on the rise around the world, the post-1945 world order feels like it’s being tested like never before. British historian Simon Sebag Montefiore says its’s more like a return to normality.

On Point news analyst Jack Beatty has been reading "The Age of Grievance" by New York Times columnist Frank Bruni. He outlines the ubiquity of grievance in the U.S., and how Donald Trump has captured this to his advantage.

From "Soul Train" and the "Oprah Winfrey Show" to the blues and Afro Sheen, for decades, Black Chicagoans have shaped culture in the U.S. and across the world.

Humans have long been fascinated by of dreams, but what has science learned about them? Neuroscientist Dr. Rahul Jandial says dreams benefit us -- from helping regulate emotions, to processing trauma.

The COVID pandemic lockdowns. It was an approach endorsed by many public health experts. But could there have been a better way?

Etsy used to be the place to shop for quirky, handmade items from independent crafters all over the world. Now, it’s flooded with mass-produced products. What happened to Etsy?

In April, the U.S. military deployed a pair of high energy lasers to combat enemy drones. Now that the once-imagined weaponry of science fiction is reality, how will it impact the future of warfare?

On Point news analyst Jack Beatty looks into a correlation between news awareness and political leanings, and how that has inspired a controversial theory about democratic citizenship.

In China, Big Brother is most definitely watching. Estimates show up to 16 million Chinese citizens -- from university students to taxi drivers -- are political informants for the government.

Many Republicans in Congress are dodging the question of whether they’ll accept this year’s election results. What’s at stake in 2024 if only one party will accept defeat?

Other countries have social safety nets. The U.S. has women. In the new book "Holding it Together: How Women Became America's Safety Net," sociologist Jessica Calarco says it’s time that changed.

Being alone often gets a bad rap. But research shows alone time can actually boost overall well-being, increasing our emotional regulation, contentment and creativity.

Democrats are losing working-class voters at an alarming rate, despite the popularity of President Biden’s policies. A roundtable of working-class voters share what Democrats can do to win them back.

On Point news analyst Jack Beatty lays out the ways that President Biden’s Gaza policy has been, what New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof calls, “a moral, practical and political failure.”

Missing packages. Undelivered letters. If you've been having problems with your mail lately, you're not alone. The USPS is rolling out big changes across the country, from Richmond, Virginia to Santa Clara, California.

Oregon made history in 2020 when it became the first state in the nation to decriminalize small amounts of hard drugs like cocaine, heroin and meth. But last month – the state repealed it. What happened?

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?

A recent report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office reveals poor living conditions inside military barracks – from mold and exposed sewage, to broken windows, nonexistent HVAC systems and more.

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.

With the first presidential debate less than six weeks away, On Point news analyst Jack Beatty explores some approaches to interviewing a candidate like Donald Trump.

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.

Labor economist David Autor’s research shows how historically, technological advances hurt the incomes of middle- and working-class Americans. But when it comes to AI, Autor says the exact opposite could happen.

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?

On Point news analyst Jack Beatty looks into why President Biden’s initiatives to boost the economy, with legislation such as the American Rescue Plan and the Inflation Reduction Act, are not recognized by many voters.

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.

Rebroadcast: What happens in the brain when you pray or meditate? Neurotheology explores the connection between our synapses and spiritual revelations.

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?

'Buy now, pay later' loans for just about everything are growing. But there’s barely any data or regulation on this emerging market. Are consumers being helped or hurt by this new lending option?

On Point news analyst Jack Beatty on the rise of illiberalism in the U.S. today and its historic entwinement with liberalism in America.

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.

Podcast extra: British pediatrician Dr. Hilary Cass led a highly anticipated independent scientific review of gender health services for children in England, commissioned by the National Health Service. Now popularly known as the 'Cass Review,' it concludes for most young people, "a medical pathway will not be the best way to manage their gender-related distress.” She gave On Point her first broadcast interview in the U.S.

A groundbreaking review out of the UK finds “poor” or “low quality” evidence for using puberty blockers and hormones to help gender-distressed young people. Dr. Hilary Cass, who led that review, gives her first U.S. broadcast interview to On Point.

Dyslexia affects one in every 5 Americans. But only 2 million are diagnosed and receive the help they need. Why?

The Russia-Ukraine war has lasted over two years. But just weeks after Russia's 2022 invasion, both sides came close to a settlement that could have ended the war and saved thousands of lives. What happened?

Rebroadcast: In 1956, a federal judge ordered the town of Clinton, Tennessee to desegregate its high school. The unrest that followed tore the town apart.

On Point news analyst Jack Beatty on the power of the MAGA red hat to forge an identity and spread a political message around the world.

For decades some conservative scholars and politicians have asserted the United States is a constitutional republic, not a democracy. So which one is it?

Celebrated author Amy Tan doesn’t just write best-selling novels. She’s a passionate birder, too. Her new book on birding describes the wonder she sees looking out her window.

More than six months since the Hamas attack on Israel, dozens of Israelis are still held hostage, over 30,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, and there’s no peace in sight. Israelis on the future of Israel.

Across Mexico, thousands of illegal rehab centers treat patients with drug addiction, often holding them against their will. Now, these "anexos" -- informal, underground treatment facilities -- are here in the United States.

More than 80% of Black smokers smoke menthol cigarettes. The FDA is now pushing to ban the products, saying it will prevent death and disease. Phillip Gardiner and Alan Blum join Deborah Becker.

On Point new analyst Jack Beatty argues that Democrats are losing touch with working class voters. What could they do to change that?

The city of Dallas reduced its overall violent crime by 30% compared to this time last year. Its mayor and police chief credit the so-called “hot spot policing.”

Textualism, which sees a legal system's original structure as immortal, is the dominating philosophy on the court today. But retired Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer argues pragmatism, which considers consequences of legal decisions, is the better mindset.

Elections in the world’s largest democracy are underway. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s power is ascendant. But, like in other global democracies, so are concerns about religious nationalism and democratic decline. Ashutosh Varshney and Vivan Marwaha join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Languishing. That feeling of a lack of motivation or direction. Most people feel a sense of languishing at some point in their lives. So how do we move from languishing to flourishing? Sociologist Corey Keyes has spent his career trying to find the answer.

Physician Dr. Sharon Malone is on a mission to help women better manage their health in the American health care system. Her No. 1 tip from her book 'Grown Woman Talk' -- Be your best advocate.

On Point news analyst Jack Beatty recalls a 1984 speech by President Reagan outlining the importance of allies and collective security.

Your exact location, what apps you use, the last thing you bought online. Your data is for sale – and the U.S. government is buying it. Byron Tau joins Deborah Becker.

Several states have changed policy in recent years to make involuntary commitment easier for people with severe mental illnesses. But forced treatment still raises civil rights questions, with some saying it can harm patients.

The 2024 Ohio senate contest could determine the balance of power in of the U.S. senate. What’s at stake in Ohio? Karen Kasler, Christopher Devine and Tim Ryan join Anthony Brooks.

There are several perfectly legal ways to steal a U.S. presidential election, according to election law expert Lawrence Lessig. Lessig says the U.S.’s election and legal systems are vulnerable – and need immediate correction.

On Point news analyst Jack Beatty reviews the evidence that former President Donald Trump’s multiple criminal prosecutions are politically motivated.

Youth sports are supposed to be about fun and team spirit. But now, kids are training year-round and joining expensive travel leagues earlier. It’s costing families, and kids too.

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.

President Biden told Israel the humanitarian situation in Gaza is unacceptable and an immediate ceasefire is essential. Meanwhile, U.S. weaponry continues to flow to Israel. Could Biden back up his tough talk and curtail military aid?

"3 Body Problem," a Netflix adaptation of the Chinese sci-fi novel by the same name, is causing controversy in China for its depiction of the Cultural Revolution. How do the Chinese people see this crucial period of their history?

As humans, we have conversations all the time. But research shows we actually aren’t very good at communicating. Journalist Charles Duhigg shows us not only how to become a communicator -- but a 'supercommunicator.'

Last month Boeing whistleblower John Barnett was found dead - an apparent suicide. He’d spent the last 7 years speaking out about Boeing’s declining safety and quality.

On Point news analyst Jack Beatty tells Meghna what he expects to see outside and inside polling stations in November 2024

64 million Latinos live in the U.S. It’s a population bigger than any Spanish-speaking country in the world except Mexico. What defines American-Latino identity?

The pig-butchering scam. It's a criminal industry that targets the vulnerable, engages in human trafficking, and exploits weaknesses in digital currency. How does it work?

Sportsbooks are everywhere. Sports betting has changed how fans engage with games and generated $5 billion in taxes. But the industry is also fueling scandals and concerns over addiction.

Jennifer and James Crumbley were found guilty of manslaughter for a mass school shooting carried out by their son. Could parental accountability curb the U.S. gun violence epidemic? What else could parents be liable for?

Nobel prize-winning economist and psychologist Daniel Kahneman has died at the age of 90. In June 2021, we spoke with Kahneman, and his co-author Olivier Sibony, about their book, ‘Noise: A Flaw in Human Judgment.'

On Point news analyst Jack Beatty looks at what’s counted in official U.S. inflation numbers and finds that the cost of money is not factored into the cost of living.

Author Philip K. Howard says Americans are in a crisis of human disempowerment. But he says re-empowerment is possible, and that could lead to a national flourishing.

The National Association of Realtors agreed to pay a $418 million settlement and change the way members charge commission. A federal jury ruled last year that the NAR conspired to inflate housing market costs. What could that mean for the way homes are bought and sold in the U.S.?

Rebroadcast: The future is closer than it appears. Sensors that can read your brain waves – and sell your data – are hitting the market, and experts say it’s time to establish rules of the road.

Trump's allies are hoping another Trump victory will limit access to abortions, contraceptives, IVF, even recreational sex. But they aren't just hoping, they have detailed plans on how to do it.

Should kids be allowed on social media? A growing number of families are saying "no" to social media at all. Felicia Hernandez, Katie Longhauser and Evan Greer join Meghna Chakrabarti.

On Point news analyst Jack Beatty watches a Donald Trump campaign rally with a famous Franz Kafka quote about the normalization of the abnormal in mind.

Due to technical difficulties, the Jackpod will be posted later than usual. Check back later for this week's episode.

The House passed a bill that could force the sale of TikTok, or ban the app altogether. But is targeting a single social media platform the best way to protect Americans from espionage and covert influence campaigns? Jake Auchincloss, Emily Baker-White and Jim Lewis join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Former U.S. attorney Barbara McQuade says disinformation is seeping into every aspect of our political and social lives. How can we stop it?

Exonerees are turning to the private sector to provide them with urgently needed cash. But with interest rates so high, it could end up being a new form of confinement.

Alaska and Maine use ranked choice voting in elections. Four other states could soon join them. We learn why more states are considering ranked-choice voting.

Duke University recently announced plans to close and re-home its century-old herbarium. But with climate change and a looming biodiversity crisis, scientists say these preserved collections of old plants are more important than ever.

Listen: The first chapter of Endless Thread’s podcast Beyond All Repair. Host Amory Sivertson first met Shane Correia in 2017 while interviewing him about his experience with homelessness for WBUR’s Endless Thread. But there is another dark chapter in Shane's life: his older sister being accused of murdering her mother-in-law in 2002, when he was 13 years old. Now Shane wants to know, did his sister commit this brutal crime?

On Point news analyst Jack Beatty on how presidents lose touch with reality.

Given the environmental, political, and human costs of accelerating mineral mining, can the United States reach its clean energy goals? It's the final episode of our special series "Elements of energy."

To electrify our economy, the world needs more nickel. And Indonesia has it. Can nickel pave the road to prosperity? In part four of “Elements of energy," hear how the rush for metals is shaking up global geopolitics.

Most of the world’s cobalt is extracted in the Democratic Republic of Congo. But to get it, hundreds of thousands of Congolese people labor with no other means to survive. On episode three of On Point’s special series -- cobalt and the human cost of mining.

Copper is key to our green energy future, but copper extraction is deeply harmful to the environment now. Episode two of On Point’s special series “Elements of energy” explores how to resolve that contradiction.

The U.S. sits on some of the largest lithium reserves in the world. It’s a key element for clean energy. The start of On Point’s weeklong exploration “Elements of energy” takes us inside America’s push for a lithium boom.

On Point news analyst Jack Beatty on President Biden’s State of the Union address and the politics of memory, versus the politics of hope.

Rebroadcast: 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.

For almost a decade, Poland's democracy was in retreat. But last fall, Poland successfully elected a pro-democracy government coalition. What can the rest of the world learn?

The GOP prides itself on being the anti-tax party. But it wasn't always that way. In Michael Graetz’s book "The Power to Destroy," he describes how the anti-tax movement became one of the most powerful forces reshaping American politics and society in the past 50 years.

While in power, former Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte ordered the murder of thousands of people without trial. Journalist Patricia Evangelista chronicles the leader's bloody 'war on drugs' in her memoir "Some People Need Killing."

Foreign diplomats are nervous that the United States’ once solid global leadership is on shaky ground. What’s at stake if the U.S. cedes its place as a world leader?

Rebroadcast: 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?

On Point news analyst Jack Beatty on the potential influence of low information voters on this year’s presidential election, and the future of U.S. democracy.

A recent report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office reveals poor living conditions inside military barracks – from mold and exposed sewage, to broken windows, nonexistent HVAC systems and more.

Hot flashes. Brain fog. Sleep problems. Millions of women go through menopause each year. But what’s happening in the brain during this life transition? Lisa Mosconi joins Meghna Chakrabarti.

In his new book "The End of Race Politics," Coleman Hughes argues that closing racial divides in America means building a color-blind society. Coleman Hughes joins Meghna Chakrabarti.

Donald Trump has openly admired authoritarians around the world. Now he’s pledging to rule like one. An examination of the promises, powers and plans of a second Trump presidency.

Many of us struggle to get help taking care of our kids or aging loved ones. How might we rethink the U.S. care economy? Nancy Folbre and Michelle Allgood join Deborah Becker.

On Point news analyst Jack Beatty compares and contrasts what a second term for Donald Trump or Joe Biden would mean for U.S. efforts to combat climate change.

If Joe Biden and Donald Trump are on the ballot in November, they’ll be the oldest presidential candidates in U.S. history. How does age affect our memory, cognition, and even the ability to be president? Zaldy Tan joins Deborah Becker.

The number of drug overdose deaths in the U.S. is at a record high. Now, more people with addictions are choosing to recover not in a rehab clinic, but at home, surrounded by loved ones.

This week marks the second anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. For Wall Street Journal correspondent Yaroslav Trofimov, that means two years of stories of resilience and determination. He tells those stories in his new book "Our Enemies Will Vanish."

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."

Secret spells. Magic potions. The world of witchcraft has a powerful cultural hold and a dark history. What do centuries of witch trials teach us? Marion Gibson and Leo Igwe join Meghna Chakrabarti.

On Point news analyst Jack Beatty looks back to 1982 and the presidency of Ronald Reagan as he considers how and why the U.S. should intervene to prevent an Israeli assault on Rafah, Gaza’s southernmost city.

Ed Pierson is an aviation manager who used to work on Boeing's 737 Max production line. When a door panel blew off an Alaska Airlines flight, Pierson wasn't surprised. A Boeing whistleblower speaks.

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? Danielle Vermeer and Mandy Lee join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Although hospitals are required by law to post their prices online, many do not. Congress and now even employers and unions are demanding that changes.

Google Chrome plans to phase out cookies that track your online activity in the name of protecting privacy. But big tech also has its own interests in mind. Patience Haggin and Alan Chapell join Meghna Chakrabarti.

On Point news analyst Jack Beatty discusses Republican pollster Whit Ayres' observation that Joe Biden is “a bystander watching events spin out of control.”

Snowpack is getting less reliable in American winters. And in many places, that's not just an environmental problem, but an emotional one, too.

The Chinese government is urging women to have more babies -- after decades of a one-child policy. But officials face major pushback from Chinese women themselves.

Over the weekend, the U.S. launched retaliatory strikes against Iranian proxies further raising tensions in the Middle East. How will Iran respond? Dan Byman and Afshon Ostovar join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Last month, the Ingenuity ended its mission as the first aircraft to make an extraterrestrial flight. After nearly three years on Mars, what did it teach us? Teddy Tzanetos and Havard Grip join Meghna Chakrabarti.

The U.S. Supreme Court is hearing an appeal of a Colorado court ruling this week that could keep former President Trump off the ballot. It could profoundly shape the 2024 election -- and American democracy.

From desalination plants in Australia, wastewater recycling plants in Orange County, CA to net zero water buildings in NYC, in his latest book author and engineer David Sedlak looks not at the problems but the solutions. David Sedlak joins Meghna Chakrabarti.

From the annexation of the Philippines in 1898, to looming confrontation with Iran today, On Point news analyst Jack Beatty on U.S. leadership, vested military interests, and unintended military entanglements.

About a third of students are on track to miss at least 10% of school days this year. Why are students missing school, and how can we bring them back? Scott Hale and Hedy Chang join Meghna Chakrabarti.

The federal government has jurisdiction over immigration matters. In Eagle Pass, the state of Texas has taken over. But what Texas is doing is illegal and could lead to a Constitutional crisis. Rep. Eddie Morales and Stephen Vladeck join Meghna Chakrabarti. Editor's note: On Point reached out to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the White House, Governor Greg Abbott’s office, the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Texas Military Department, and the Texas Attorney General’s Office. All of them either declined our request for an interview or did not respond.

Many of us learned how to do our jobs and connect with colleagues at our first workplace. But after the pandemic normalized remote work, how are young people today getting that professional coming-of-age experience? Cali Williams Yost and Jeffrey Jensen Arnett join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Earlier this month, Florida became the first state to get FDA approval to import cheaper drugs from Canada. But will it work? Nicholas Bagley and Joel Lexchin join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Alabama has carried out the first execution by asphyxiation with nitrogen gas. Kenneth Eugene Smith was executed after a previous attempt involving lethal injection failed. In this episode from January 2023, we heard about that botched execution and how states have been wrestling with how to carry out the ultimate penalty.

Average height in the U.S. has been in decline since about 1980. What’s causing that, and why does it matter?

On Point news analyst Jack Beatty has been reading "The Authoritarian Handbook: 2025," a new report by the bipartisan group Protect Democracy, outlining the promises, powers and plans of Donald Trump as he seeks to return to the White House.

Family members of hostages held by Hamas are furious. They’ve stormed the Israeli parliament, calling for a deal to get the remaining hostages released. But Israel’s war cabinet is split on a path forward. Dahlia Scheindlin and David Makovsky join Meghna Chakrabarti.

About 40 million Americans have stopped attending a place of worship in the past 25 years. What’s driving it, and what does it tell us about the importance of faith in America? Michael “Mike” Graham and Pastor Jim Davis join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Utah’s Great Salt Lake is the largest salt lake in the Western Hemisphere. Since the 1980s, the lake has shrunk by two-thirds, and is projected to disappear entirely in the next five years. If it does, it will lead to massive environmental, economic and public health issues. Terry Tempest Williams and Ben Abbott join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Polls show Donald Trump dominating the race for the Republican presidential nomination. How does he do it -- and can anyone catch him? Batya Ungar-Sargon, Sarah Longwell and Heather Cox Richardson join Meghna Chakrabarti.

On Point news analyst Jack Beatty discusses the moral character of President Harry Truman, and whether character matters today for presidents or presidential candidates.

Technical gremlins thwarted our plans for The Jackpod today, but we have a plan. Fingers crossed.

No matter how much order, sense, or predictability we try to bring to our lives, uncertainty and the anxiety it can create are always there. But new thinking on uncertainty shows us how it can be a good thing. Maggie M. Jackson joins Meghna Chakrabarti.

There’s been a major surge in gang violence in Ecuador, fueled by the transnational cocaine trade. Now, Ecuador's government is fighting back by sending in the military.

AI has the power to make audio and videos of people saying anything their creators want. So, how will policymakers and election officials prevent it from deceiving voters? Darrell West and Nicole Gill join Meghna Chakrabarti.

The pandemic changed how we work and how we think about commuting. Workers are now more likely to see the daily commute as part of their workday. Should employers compensate for time spent getting to work? Christopher Wiese and Laurens Steed join Meghna Chakrabarti.

From Roots to the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air to Abbott Elementary. Bethonie Butler’s new book "Black TV" shows how TV series centered on Black characters have evolved over the past 50 years.

After the door plug of an Alaskan Airlines’ Boeing 737 Max-9 blew out in flight earlier this month, the Federal Aviation Administration says it will perform a complete audit of the Max-9’s entire production line. In this episode from 2020, we hear from a Boeing engineer and an aviation analyst about what’s at the root of the safety issues with the 737 Max, troubling the plane then and now.

On Point news analyst Jack Beatty on the Americans who seem poised to reject democracy in 2024.

It’s hard to miss the growing popularity of non-alcoholic drinks and younger people choosing to cut back on alcohol consumption. What’s driving this change? Emily Nicholls and Elva Ramirez join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Clashes in the West Bank are escalating. Since Oct. 7 – hundreds of Palestinians in the West Bank have been killed, thousands arrested, and many banned from entering Jerusalem. As tensions rise, we discuss the current crisis in the West Bank.

With two wars raging and dynastic power on the rise around the world, the post-1945 world order feels like it’s being tested like never before. British historian Simon Sebag Montefiore says its’s more like a return to normality.

Presidential primary season is set to begin. On the Republican side, one candidate has dominated the polls so far. Can anyone beat Donald Trump? Jess Bidgood, Whit Ayres and Tim Miller join Anthony Brooks.

Sgt. Aquilino Gonell left the Dominican Republic at 12 years old in pursuit of the American dream. On Jan. 6, 2021, that dream turned into a nightmare as Gonell was attacked and beaten by a violent mob as he sought to protect the Capitol.

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.

Congress is looking to cut fees that credit card companies charge merchants for processing payments. But if that happens, credit card companies say rewards programs will suffer.

Inflation is slowing, unemployment’s low and the Federal Reserve thinks we’ve probably avoided a recession. Finance journalists Michelle Singletary and Rana Foroohar on what to watch for in our personal finances and national economy this year.

Harvard researchers have been studying how we can live happier and healthier lives since 1938. They’ve tracked people across their entire lives, and more recently their descendants. What have they learned?

A conversation with Woniya Thibeault, winner of the wilderness survival show "Alone." She wants to show people how to deepen their connection to nature — not just to survive, but to thrive.

Barbara Brandon-Croft is the first Black, female nationally syndicated cartoonist. “Where I’m Coming From,” featured nine Black women who talk about everything from racism, politics and love. A conversation with Barbara Brandon-Croft.

Americans are spending more time alone and less time with friends. The dramatic drop in how much time you spend with friends, and why it's so 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.

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 is the last thing that unifies this otherwise fractured nation.

A survey has found that American Christians’ beliefs are as diverse as the country they live in. A conversation about the broad spectrum of belief in American Christianity. (Originally aired on December 12, 2022.)

The Colorado Supreme Court has ruled former President Donald Trump is not eligible to be on the state’s primary ballot. The court determined the 14th Amendment disqualifies Trump because he engaged in insurrection. This episode from our archive explores how the U.S. Supreme Court might consider how the 14th Amendment applies to Donald Trump. (Originally published 9/11/23)

When PBS first asked Italian chef Lidia Bastianich to cook for a television audience, she had one condition: She wanted them to film in her actual kitchen. A quarter century later, Bastianich is still inviting viewers into her home.

In the last Jackpod of 2023, On Point news analyst Jack Beatty answers listener questions ranging from political messaging to what binds us as a nation.

An Arab and Israeli writer have developed an unlikely friendship, writing long letters back and forth for years about how to achieve peace in the Middle East. They’ve never actually met or spoken — until now.

Leonard Leo has been described as a puppet master – pulling strings between rich and powerful conservatives to turn the American judiciary to the right. Who is Leonard Leo and how has he been so effective?

Your carbon footprint helps you identify actions you can take to personally fight climate change. It also shifts responsibility away from petrochemical companies. If that seems convenient for Big Oil, it's because the carbon footprint concept was popularized in part by oil giant BP.

You've seen baby formula and razor blades locked behind plastic cases. Retailers say it's partly because of a rise in shoplifting. But analysts say there’s no clear data to back up that claim. Katherine Masters and Alexis Piquero join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Taylor Swift and Beyoncé have generated some $10 billion for the U.S. this year. What does the staggering rise of these two women say about our economy -- and about us?

On Point news analyst Jack Beatty on the appeal of Donald Trump’s promise of revenge and retribution to many Republican voters.

There are middlemen between you and pharmaceutical companies that make huge profits from drug prices. They’re called pharmacy benefit managers, or PBMs.

With a worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, global calls for an Israel-Hamas ceasefire are growing. Israel says it will not stop until the Hamas threat is gone. Is there any path to stop the violence in Gaza?

Sports Illustrated recently pulled authors and articles from its website after reporting found that they were generated by AI. How did the once legendary publisher fall so low?

In 2020, Chileans overwhelmingly supported writing a new constitution. Two years later, Chileans overwhelmingly rejected it. This month, they will vote on a different version, but many say it’s worse than what they already have.

In places where human beings have done everything they can to pave and plow over nature, what might happen if we just left those places alone?

A social media post from Donald Trump has On Point news analyst Jack Beatty inquiring about the demise of political argument in the U.S. and what that means for democracy.

Some voters want President Biden to condemn Israel's bombing of Gaza. Biden believes his public embrace helps him influence Israel -- but that may be changing. Nimrod Novick and Amb. David Hale join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Parents have delicate conversations with their kids on intimacy, violence, even the meaning of life. Now, kids want to talk about climate change. Parents, are you prepared?

Tim Alberta is one of America's top political reporters. He's also the son of an evangelical preacher. In his new book, Alberta investigates how politics has corroded the Evangelical movement that raised him.

Pharmacists at major chain stores like CVS and Walgreens are at a breaking point. Many workers have staged walkouts, saying they are overworked, understaffed and risking patient safety.

Video games. A massive global industry expected to generate nearly $190 billion in revenue this year, according to industry estimates. So why have there been unprecedented layoffs across the gaming world?

On Point news analyst Jack Beatty on evidence the U.S. is failing at the fundamental mission of keeping its people alive, and the correlation between politics and life expectancy in the U.S.

The U.S. has struggled to build wind farms at sea. What's causing the setbacks?

The U.S. government says it foiled a plot by the Indian government to assassinate one of its citizens who was living in the United States. It's called transnational repression, and the FBI says it's a growing problem. Enes Kanter Freedom, Yana Gorokhovskaia and Roman Rozhavsky join Meghna Chakrabarti.

The 1993 Oslo Accords were a milestone in the Arab-Israeli peace process. But after 30 years of talks, there's no peace yet. Lessons for the future from peace efforts of the past. Yossi Beilin and Omar Dajani join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Almost a quarter of U.S. children under 18 live with a single parent and no other adults. That’s the highest rate in the world. So, what does it mean for those children?

One in five Americans now live under the same roof as their parents, grandparents or adult children. It's a remarkable change from a few generations ago. Why more Americans are choosing to live in multigenerational housing.

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.

The former U.S. poet laureate Tracy K. Smith has a new memoir. In it, she discovers a surprise in her late father’s military records that changed how she sees herself as a Black woman in America.

School systems around the country are grappling with ways to teach students media literacy. California has just passed a law to do that, and experts say they’re doing it right.

More than 21,000 migrants have arrived in Chicago since last summer setting off a political fight for resources. On Point follows up on the story we brought you last month to report on Mayor Brandon Johnson's efforts to convince the voters who put him in office to continue supporting him. Plus, analysis on what is different about this moment in a city that has historically celebrated immigrants.

Barry Rosen says he can understand in some way what the hostages in Gaza are going through. Rosen was press attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Tehran in November 1979 when he was taken hostage and held, along with 51 others, until January 1981.

It's been more than 40 days since Hamas kidnapped some 240 people in Israel. Only four have been released. What's next? Gili Roman and Dani Gilbert join Meghna Chakrabarti.

No stereotype can tell the story of more than 20 million people. We look at the true diversity of the Asian American academic experience. Julie J. Park joins Meghna Chakrabarti.

On Point news analyst Jack Beatty on the rise in Donald Trump’s use of rhetoric and imagery associated with 1930’s Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy. Two leading historians say the former president represents a present-day form of fascism.

Former State Department official Josh Paul was in charge of U.S. arms transfers to other nations for years. But when it came to the current arms sales to Israel, he says the entire process was different.

It’s been almost 15 years since the last deadly plane crash on a U.S. airline. But near misses in U.S. aviation have grown 25% in the last decade. What's behind the rise in close calls? Paul Rinaldi and Dorothy Robyn join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Unexplained aerial phenomena. Is the government covering up what it knows? We dive into 75 years of UFO history and the beginnings of government mistrust. Garrett Graff joins Meghna Chakrabarti.

The UN is investigating whether war crimes have been committed by Israel and by Hamas. But what exactly qualifies as a war crime? And why are they so hard to prove – and prevent? Janina Dill and Michael Bryant join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Congress is currently considering the “Retirement Savings for Americans Act,” an ambitious bill that seeks to create a national retirement system. Back in April 2021, two economists told us about their bipartisan plan to help millions of low-income Americans save for retirement.

In Ohio, Virginia, Kentucky and other states, voters made some big statements about what they want in state and local government. What this could mean for races next year and beyond. Delegate Don Scott, Jack Beatty, Simon Rosenberg, Austin Horn and Coy Ferrell join Meghna Chakrabarti.

On Point news analyst Jack Beatty tells us about the history of New Hampshire primary voters ending the candidacies of Democratic presidents seeking reelection, and asks whether President Biden could suffer the same fate in 2024.

Gaza’s health care system has collapsed. Food and water are scarce. More than 10,000 Palestinians have been killed so far in the Israel-Hamas war, as international pressure for a broader ceasefire rises. Maria Abi-Habib, Hiba Tibi and Merissa Khurma join Meghna Chakrabarti.

In "Romney: A Reckoning," journalist McKay Coppins gets unfettered access to the senator’s journals, emails and dozens of private interviews to unpack what led Romney to combat the GOP’s embrace of Donald Trump.

The FTC is suing a private equity firm, and the anesthesiology companies it owns in Texas for monopolistic practices that it says harm patients' health and their pocketbooks. Gretchen Morgenson and Brendan Ballou join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Republican Congressman Mike Johnson is a hard-right evangelical from Louisiana. Now, he's speaker of the house.

On Point's Paige Sutherland reports on a Supreme Court case being heard on Nov. 7 that has the potential to grant firearms access to hundreds of thousands of domestic abusers who are currently prohibited.

Antisemitism is on the rise in the United States, with threats against Jewish people reaching near-historic levels, according to FBI director Christopher Wray. What historical and intellectual undercurrents are driving this increase? Erwin Chemerinsky, Julia Steinberg and Simon Sebag Montefiore join Meghna Chakrabarti.

On Point news analyst Jack Beatty tells us why he thinks the 1965 Immigration and Nationality Act, and the subsequent rise in immigration, shapes today’s politics, and growing anti-democratic sentiment.

The worldwide production of plastic has doubled in the past 20 years worldwide. Plastic waste in the environment has grown too. Can a new global treaty help? John Hocevar, Dr. Charlotte Lloyd and David Clement join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Israel vows to eliminate Hamas. But is there a plan for the aftermath of the Israel-Hamas war? Thomas Warrick, Barak Greenapple and Hiba Husseini join Meghna Chakrabarti.

The NCAA is asking Congress to keep college athletes as students, not employees. They say it's to protect the students. Opponents say it’s about the money. Will the NCAA get its antitrust exemption and what could it mean if it does? Katie Van Dyck and Jill Bodensteiner join Meghna Chakrabarti.

As the Donald Trump trials continue, the list of key witnesses are growing. From his former lawyer Michael Cohen in New York, to several more taking plea deals in Georgia.

Hundreds of Catholics are gathered in Rome this month for a major meeting about the future of the church. For the first time ever, women and laypeople are invited – and have a vote. Cathleen Kaveny, Fr. Don Bosco Onyalla and Fr. Tom Reese join Meghna Chakrabarti.

After a mass shooting in Maine, On Point news analyst Jack Beatty turns to 17th century philosopher Thomas Hobbes to try to understand why gun ownership is so prevalent in the U.S.

The border crisis is no longer just a border issue. Northern cities like Chicago are scrambling to accommodate busloads of migrants arriving daily, causing political backlash at the local and national level. Cata Truss, David Moore and Jack Beatty join Meghna Chakrabarti.

The politics and dynamics influencing Israel's top leaders, and how that could shape the course of the Israel-Hamas conflict.

The health ministry in Gaza reports at least 3,700 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli strikes since October 7. How are Palestinian Americans processing the ongoing conflict? Leila Farsakh, Philip Farah and Laila El-Haddad join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Tensions are high not only in Israel and Gaza, but across the region, as fear of the conflict spilling over grows. Ali Hashem, Randa Slim, Ryan Crocker and Ehud Eiran join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Half of 5-year-olds in America today can expect to live to age 100. So how can we age well and live with purpose well into retirement? William Kole joins Meghna Chakrabarti;

On Point news analyst Jack Beatty tells us that accusing presidential candidates of being mentally unfit for office has a dubious history in American politics.

As war continues to devastate Israel and Gaza, 7.5 million American Jews are sharing their own struggles. We hear their stories and differing perspectives on the ongoing tragedy.

More Americans are saying they don’t want to have children. But what does life without children really look like? Maria Coffey joins Meghna Chakrabarti.

After the death of George Floyd, there were mass protests, corporate pledges and swelling public support for Black Lives Matter. But what came out of it?

Hamas is an Islamist militant group, designated by the U.S. and EU as a terrorist organization. It's now delivered the biggest blow ever to Israeli security. What are Hamas's origins?

In this podcast extra episode recorded before a live audience at WBUR’s CitySpace, Meghna speaks with NPR Morning Edition host Steve Inskeep about his new book exploring how President Lincoln worked to unite a divided America. Plus, the state of democracy and journalism, today.

Earlier this week, Harvard professor Claudia Goldin won the Nobel Prize in economics, only the third woman in history to do so. In this conversation with Goldin from last year, we hear how her focus on women in the workforce has led to great discoveries. Claudia Goldin joins Meghna Chakrabarti.

On Point news analyst Jack Beatty tells us how a second Trump administration could drastically weaken federal agencies and increase the power of the president.

The U.S. is warning Hezbollah, and the United Arab Emirates are warning Syria, not to enter Israel-Hamas conflict. Could the war spill over into a regional tragedy?

California public schools have a new way of teaching math, to achieve more equitable outcomes. Critics say the math guidelines are flawed to the core.

An oil boom has arrived in the South American nation of Guyana. Is it a contradiction that a country threatened by climate change could get rich selling fossil fuels? Amy Westervelt and Melinda Janki join Meghna Chakrabarti.

The National Science Foundation has funded its first ever research hub focused on Indigenous knowledge. This $30 million investment will fund projects from ancient clam-farming to mapping climate change on tribal lands.

For the first time ever, scientists have fully decoded the Y chromosome. Long thought to be the stubby counterpart to the X chromosome, turns out there's far more to the Y than meets the eye.

On Point news analyst Jack Beatty tells us what stands to him out about the districts of the eight representatives who voted to oust Kevin McCarthy as Speaker of the House. Also, listeners respond to last week’s episode about ‘The line’ -- the feeling many working-class Americans have about being left behind.

When Donald Trump suggested that General Mark Milley should be executed, it was the latest in a long line of violent rhetoric from the former president.

The Justice Department is suing Google for allegedly using its power to stifle other search engines. It’s the first major tech antitrust trial in decades. Tim Wu, Leah Nylen and Matt Schruers join Meghna Chakrabarti.

The Supreme Court is hearing a case this week that could hamper federal enforcement of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The case may also change the way the government enforces civil rights laws across the board.

Ultra-processed foods now make up the majority of calories in the typical American diet. Studies show the health effects are about as bad as smoking. What would it take to get back to eating real food? Dr. Chris van Tulleken joins Meghna Chakrabarti.

The Federal Trade commission sued Amazon this past week, accusing it of monopolistic practices. This episode from our archive explores the history of federal antitrust regulation and how FTC chair Lina Khan has championed new thinking about monopolistic power in the U.S. (Originally published 2/17/22)

The Federal Trade commission sued Amazon this week, accusing it of monopolistic practices. This episode from our archive investigates how the Amazon Marketplace operates, who wins and who loses. James Thomson and Stacy Mitchell join Meghna Chakrabarti. (Originally published 6/7/21)

The Federal Trade commission sued Amazon this week, accusing it of monopolistic practices. This episode from our archive explores how Amazon operates and what power it has. Brad Stone and Stacy Mitchell join Meghna Chakrabarti. (Originally published 4/26/21)

Historian Heather Cox Richardson is one of the most important public intellectuals in the country. She says her understanding of American history gives her hope for America’s future, in this special conversation recorded before a live audience at WBUR's CitySpace.

On Point News analyst Jack Beatty explores Donald Trump's appeal to voters who see their dignity affronted daily. Plus, a searing message for Democrats and President Biden from one Black voter who polls indicate is far from alone.

For 20 years, President George W. Bush’s emergency AIDS relief plan for Africa has saved millions of lives. Now, a small group in Congress wants to kill the plan.

Electric vehicles are the elephants in the room as the United Auto Workers strike for better pay and benefits. In an electric future, can unionized auto industry jobs survive? Jack Ewing, Stephen Silvia and Jason Walsh join Meghna Chakrabarti.

By the end of this century the Pacific Ocean could rise more than 6 feet, threatening 1,200 miles of California coastline and the communities on it. We hear lessons from California on what must change for everyone living on the edge of rising water. Rosanna Xia and A.R. Siders join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Ice and minerals on the Moon could help humanity travel to space’s distant planets and asteroids. But which countries, which companies should get the right to extract those resources? Michelle Hanlon joins Meghna Chakrabarti.

Produced by WBUR, Boston’s NPR, in partnership with The Trace, The Gun Machine looks into the past to bring you a story that most Americans never learned in history class: how early partnerships between mad scientist gunsmiths and a fledgling U.S. government created the gun industry in the Northeast, and how that industry has been partners with the government ever since. Host Alain Stephens examines how this 250-year relationship underpins all Americans’ interactions with guns — including our failures in dealing with the fallout of gun violence. The Gun Machine debuts on Oct. 4, 2023. Listen and follow on Apple, Spotify, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.

There’s growing momentum for what could be a historic Israel-Saudi Arabia peace deal. But why now?

Jack Beatty offers his unique perspective and insight on aspects of current political life in the U.S. In this episode, what’s behind a raft of polls showing a deterioration in support from a key voting block for President Biden in 2024. Plus, listeners tell us why they turned away from causes that were once part of their identity.

More than 100 million people in America have medical debt. Some of those trying to help have to resort to debt buying companies. We learn how the debt buying industry works, and who wins and who loses. Noam Levey joins Meghna Chakrabarti.

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.

2021 was a good year to invest in cryptocurrency. But then came 2022 and the trillion-dollar crypto wipeout. We hear tales from the world of cryptocurrency and casino capitalism. Zeke Faux joins Deborah Becker.

In the '60s, some advocates wanted everyone to have access to psychedelics. Not everyone agreed. Now, with psychedelics growing in popularity, the tensions between access, money, and research are back.

There's a troubling trend in medicine -- increasing cancer diagnoses in people younger than 50. But why? Dr. Kimmie Ng and Dr. Tim Rebbeck join Meghna Chakrabarti.

In this weekly podcast, Jack Beatty offers his unique perspective and insight on aspects of current political life in the U.S. In this episode, the tenacity of Donald Trump's most ardent followers.

HGTV is a channel for dramatic remodels and dreamy properties. But is HGTV popularizing cookie cutter design over regional character across America?

$24 billion of pandemic-era child care funding expires at the end of this month. What can providers and families do? Julie Kashen joins Meghna Chakrabarti.

Some estimates say artificial intelligence could replace hundreds of millions of jobs in the not-too-distant future. If that happens, how will people make ends meet? Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck, Erik Brynjolfsson and Scott Santens join Meghna Chakrabarti.

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? Gerard Magliocca and Michael McConnell join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Observers are asking whether the conflict in Ukraine has reached a stalemate. Could the Korean Armistice agreement, signed 70 years ago, serve as a model for Ukraine and Russia now? Carter Malkasian and Jong Eun Lee join Meghna Chakrabarti.

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? Jim Smith and Naoko Aoki join Meghna Chakrabarti.

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.

This is Part V of On Point's Week of Wonder. 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. Psyche Loui and Pier Lambiase join Meghna Chakrabarti.

This is Part IV of On Point's series Week of Wonder. Parasites are the cause of numerous debilitating diseases, so it’s easy to think of them as doing no good. But losing parasites could have devastating consequences for our ecosystem. Chelsea Wood join Meghna Chakrabarti.

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.

This is Part II of On Point's Week of 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? Anthony Michael Kreis and Chris Timmons join Deborah Becker.

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. Andrew Koricich joins Meghna Chakrabarti.

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. Jay Nixon, Dick Gephardt and Jack Beatty join Meghna Chakrabarti.

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? Katey Lesneski and Peter de Menocal join Meghna Chakrabarti.

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. John Coates 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.

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? Christof Koch and David Chalmers join Meghna Chakrabarti.

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. Steven Dettelbach joins Meghna Chakrabarti.

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? Dr. Anthony Rostain joins Meghna Chakrabarti.

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 digs deep into American roots music and finds connections to cultures around the world. Can any culture lay total claim to specific styles of music? Today, On Point: A conversation with musician Rhiannon Giddens, recorded live at WBUR's CitySpace.

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. Rachel Louise Martin and Jo Ann Allen Boyce join Meghna Chakrabarti.

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? Cali Williams Yost and Emma Harrington join Meghna Chakrabarti.

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 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? Jeff Solochek, Catherine Steiner-Adair and Michael Horn join Meghna Chakrabarti.

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? Michelle Singletary joins Meghna Chakrabarti.

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? Amanda Frost joins Meghna Chakrabarti.

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? Peter Nelson, Ben Winchester and Heady Coleman join Meghna Chakrabarti.

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?

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. Helena Grant, Kimberly Seals Allers and Congresswoman Alma Adams join Tiziana Dearing.

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? Charlie Sykes and Shawn Johnson join Meghna Chakrabarti.

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. Dr. Jamie Wooldridge is a pediatric pulmonologist. She says the stresses of the health care industry are driving many doctors and nurses to leave the profession.

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.

Mass protest in Israel have delayed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s attempts to transform Israel’s judiciary. But there are signs of deeper troubles for Israeli democracy.

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.