Podcasts by On Point | Podcast
Let's make sense of the world – together. From the economy and health care to politics and the environment – and so much more – On Point host Meghna Chakrabarti speaks with newsmakers and everyday people about the issues that matter most. On Point is produced by WBUR.
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Is there a path to ceasefire in Gaza? from 2023-12-13T11:59:10
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 v...
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What happened to Sports Illustrated? from 2023-12-12T11:37:10
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?
Chile's lessons and failures in writing a new constitution from 2023-12-11T11:55:12
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 ...
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Inside the 'rewilding' movement from 2023-12-08T12:17:14
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?
Abo...
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The Jackpod: The disappearance of political persuasion from 2023-12-08T01:00
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.
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The Biden approach to Israel from 2023-12-07T11:41:12
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 ...
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How to talk to kids about climate change from 2023-12-06T12:49:24
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?
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How politics corroded the American evangelical movement from 2023-12-05T13:05:43
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 th...
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The looming pharmacy crisis in America from 2023-12-04T13:17:21
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.
...
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Power, profits and labor practices in the video game industry from 2023-12-01T11:59:10
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 gam...
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The Jackpod: The uncertainty of existence from 2023-12-01T01:00
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.
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Can offshore wind help power the U.S. economy? from 2023-11-30T12:06:07
The U.S. has struggled to build wind farms at sea. What's causing the setbacks?
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How foreign authoritarian rule reaches into the U.S. from 2023-11-29T12:37:13
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 ...
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The legacy of the 1993 Oslo Accords from 2023-11-28T11:49:11
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 a...
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The benefit of 'the two-parent privilege' from 2023-11-27T11:41:12
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?
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Rebroadcast: Why more Americans are choosing to live in multigenerational housing from 2023-11-24T11:17:12
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 ...
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Rebroadcast: Pitmaster Ryan Mitchell on America’s complicated history with barbeque from 2023-11-23T11:23:12
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.
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Former poet laureate Tracy K. Smith's 'plea for the American soul' from 2023-11-22T11:41:11
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...
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How to teach media literacy to children from 2023-11-21T11:49:12
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.
An On Point follow-up: The political fallout over the migrant crisis in Chicago from 2023-11-21T01:00
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 Bra...
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First person: He was held hostage for 444 days from 2023-11-20T14:11:58
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 h...
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The plight of the hostages in Gaza from 2023-11-20T11:55:14
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.
Debunking myths about the Asian American academic experience from 2023-11-17T12:07:12
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.
The Jackpod: The 'F-word' from 2023-11-17T01:00
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 ...
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Why this U.S. government arms dealer resigned over weapon transfers to Israel from 2023-11-16T11:41:11
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 d...
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How to fix America's aviation system from 2023-11-15T11:56:14
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 Rin...
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UFOs and the U.S. government: The push towards greater transparency from 2023-11-14T11:35:13
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....
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Israel, Hamas and the laws of war: A primer from 2023-11-13T11:17:10
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...
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The legacy of Title 42 from 2022-04-20T12:11:16
A controversial immigration policy meant to keep COVID-19 out of the U.S. is set to end next month. But despite claims of the policy causing a humanitarian crisis, U.S. lawmakers claim lifting T...
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The politics of calling the Russia-Ukraine war a genocide from 2022-04-19T11:43:13
Last Tuesday, President Joe Biden declared genocide was taking place in Ukraine.
"I called it genocide because it’s become clearer and clearer that Putin is just trying to wipe out the i...
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The complicated history of women's fitness from 2022-04-18T12:07:11
Personal fitness for women used to be considered unladylike. That all changed with fitness pioneers like Lotte Berk and Judi Sheppard Missett. But look closer and there’s much more to the story ...
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On Point presents: 'Belly Up' from Last Seen from 2022-04-17T08:00
When three friends went on a rum-fueled rampage one night deep in the Nevada desert, they never expected the trouble they would find themselves in a week later.
The men broke into a remo...
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How microplastics affect human health from 2022-04-15T12:19:10
Water bottles. Shopping bags. Computers. Medical equipment. Food containers.
We're living in an invisible miasma of microplastics. What's it doing to human health? Erica Cirino and Heat...
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Ambassador Bill Taylor on the U.S.-Ukraine relationship from 2022-04-14T12:23:12
Ambassador Bill Taylor has been the top U.S. diplomat in Ukraine twice, most recently under President Trump. He joins Meghna Chakrabarti to discuss how the United States’ relationship with Ukrai...
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Understanding Biden's proposal to tax billionaires' unrealized gains from 2022-04-13T11:41:12
According to the White House, billionaires in America pay income tax at a rate that’s just half that of the average worker. President Biden is proposing taxing the unrealized gains of the riches...
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A disinformation expert's guide on combatting online abuse from 2022-04-12T12:05:12
Online attacks and harassments have become a fact of life for many women online. Can it be stopped? Nina Jankowicz joins Meghna Chakrabarti.
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How open-source intelligence is shaping the Russia-Ukraine war from 2022-04-11T11:37:11
There's an unprecedent number of intercepted audio coming out of the Russia-Ukraine war. How is it changing what's happening in Ukraine?
John Scott-Railton and Andrei Soldatov join Meghn...
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On Point presents: Space heist (or, how to steal a planet) from 2022-04-10T08:00
WBUR, the home of On Point, makes a handful of podcasts you may not have heard before, and we want to change that.
So, we’re continuing with our weekend playlist of other podcasts made ...
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Behind the decades-long fight to close the 'boyfriend loophole' from 2022-04-08T11:55:11
An effort to get guns out of the hands of abusive boyfriends failed again in Congress. We discuss the story behind the two-decades old fight to close the so-called “boyfriend loophole."
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AFL-CIO president Liz Shuler on the future of America's labor movement from 2022-04-07T11:53:13
Last year, Liz Shuler became the first ever woman elected president of the country's largest labor union. She joins us to talk about where the labor movement is headed.
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Pod extra: How personal finance columnist Michelle Singletary inspired one family's debt journey from 2022-04-06T14:04:39
Jennifer and Tyrone Harris had $230,000 of debt. But after four years, they paid down their debt entirely. How did they do it?
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Personal finance expert Michelle Singletary reflects on 25 years of her column 'The Color of Money' from 2022-04-06T12:37:17
For 25 years, Michelle Singletary has dished out personal finance guidance at the Washington Post. Who did she turn to for advice?
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Solutions for America's teacher shortage from 2022-04-05T12:25:12
America doesn't have enough teachers. The Biden administration is calling for states to spend and recruit more. Will that work? Linda Darling-Hammond joins Meghna Chakrabarti.
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What a Russia-Ukraine peace agreement might look like from 2022-04-04T11:47:13
A Russia-Ukraine peace agreement. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy wants concrete security guarantees. Would Russia accept? Ret. Lt. Gen. Donald Kerrick, Max Seddon and Dr. Cindy Wittke j...
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On Point presents: 'Murph' from Last Seen from 2022-04-03T08:00
WBUR, the home of On Point, makes a handful of podcasts you may not have heard before, and we want to change that.
Every Sunday for the next month, we’ll drop one of our favorite episod...
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First person: A scientist's discovery puts space into focus from 2022-04-01T14:52:42
The James Webb Space Telescope is NASA, the European Space Agency and the Canadian Space Agency's most ambitious space observatory ever. A million miles away from Planet Earth, it is designed to...
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The remarkable story of the James Webb Space Telescope from 2022-04-01T12:29:12
Peering deeper into the universe than we ever have before. We hear the remarkable story of the James Webb Space Telescope. Marcia J. Rieke and Nikole Lewis join Meghna Chakrabarti.
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The American far-right's Russian embrace from 2022-03-31T12:13:16
Influential voices on the American far-right, such as white nationalist Nick Fuentes, are genuflecting to Russia. How close, and how dangerous is the far-right's Russian relationship? Jason Blaz...
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What the U.S. can learn from South Korea's COVID strategy from 2022-03-30T12:07:14
In January, South Korea had about 4,500 new COVID cases a day. By mid-March, that number ballooned to over 400,000. But at the same time, South Korea has one the lowest COVID death rates in the ...
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No food, medicine or electricity: The truth about life in Ethiopia's Tigray region from 2022-03-29T12:06:08
Ethiopia’s government has turned the northern Tigray region into a virtual prison. Five million people. No way in. No way out. No food, no medicine, no electricity. How long can the world look t...
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2 former U.S. officials on America's next steps in the Russia-Ukraine war from 2022-03-28T11:53:34
Alexander Vindman and Lawrence Wilkerson have unique histories that have brought them to two different views on what the U.S. and Europe must do as Russia continues its attack on Ukraine. We hea...
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Protecting whale superhighways from 2022-03-25T11:47:14
Whales migrate along routes thousands of miles long - oceanic superhighways - that also happen to be corridors of human disruption. We discuss the fight to protect whale superhighways. Ari Fried...
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Inside Missouri's push to ban out-of-state abortions from 2022-03-24T11:59:11
A legislative proposal in Missouri would make it illegal for a woman to cross state lines to receive a legal abortion. Restricting a woman's freedom of movement. Is it the next step in states th...
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Life during war in Ukraine from 2022-03-23T12:23:14
For millions of Ukrainians who have not -- and cannot -- leave their cities, how are they enduring life in a warzone? Alevtina Kakhidze and Ivan Gomza join Meghna Chakrabarti.
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What would a 'no-fly zone' mean for Ukraine? from 2022-03-22T12:17:13
Big rhetoric around three simple words. But what would a "no-fly zone" really mean in the skies over Ukraine? John Kornblum and Lt. Gen. David Deptula join Meghna Chakrabarti.
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What Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson's history as a public defender means for the Supreme Court from 2022-03-21T11:53:14
Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson would be the first former public defender on a bench full of former prosecutors and corporate lawyers. What difference would that make on the highest court in the lan...
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China's place in the Russia-Ukraine war from 2022-03-18T11:41:11
The U.S. and NATO have warned Beijing not to back its ally. What China chooses to do now will have worldwide implications for years to come. We talk about it. Tong Zhao, Dr. Yangyang Cheng and O...
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Pod extra: Dr. Celine Gounder on how political divisions shaped the U.S. COVID response from 2022-03-17T14:52:36
Dr. Celine Gounder is a senior fellow and editor-at-large for public health at Kaiser Health News. She shares where the U.S. struggles in talking about the pandemic, and what we can do to fix it...
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COVID, 2 years later: Lessons learned from a global pandemic from 2022-03-17T12:23:11
COVID, two years later. We discuss building trust and lessons for leaders who will face the next pandemic. Richard Tofel and Jack Beatty join Meghna Chakrabarti.
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How the global financial system enables oligarchy from 2022-03-16T11:43:50
Sanctions are squeezing Russia’s economy, but not its wealthiest. We look at how the global financial system enables oligarchy, and how to fix it. Louise Shelley and Oliver Bullough join Meghna ...
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Volodymyr Zelenskyy's profile in leadership from 2022-03-15T12:36:57
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has defended his country, deftly used the media, and galvanized the world. We hear a profile in leadership. Gina Scott Ligon and Max Hastings join Meghna...
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What to know about the threat of nuclear war from 2022-03-14T12:17:50
Russian President Vladimir Putin put his nuclear arsenal on high alert. What are the strategic, and political moves necessary to avoid the unthinkable? Matthew Bunn, Målfrid Braut-Hegghammer and...
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Are we entering a new Cold War era? from 2022-03-11T11:47:50
The Cold War was defined by the fear of mutually assured destruction. Does Russia's invasion of Ukraine signal a new Cold War? Mary Elise Sarotte, Jack Beatty and William Braun join Meghna Chakr...
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Burn pits: Behind the 'silent killer' ignored by the U.S. government for years from 2022-03-10T12:01:49
Burn pits in Afghanistan and Iraq. Vast piles of U.S. military waste set alight, pouring smoke into the air that U.S. soldiers would breathe. Why were they ignored for so long? Megan Stack, Le R...
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Inside Ukraine's refugee crisis from 2022-03-09T12:31:48
More than one million Ukrainians have been forced to across the border. We hear more about the humanitarian and refugee crisis as Russian attacks in Ukraine intensify. Sarah Deardorff Miller, Na...
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The economic front in Russia's war against Ukraine from 2022-03-08T12:23:50
The international community may not be sending soldiers. But does isolation from the global economy constitute a form of economic war against Russia?
Patricia Cohen, Josh Lipsky and Timo...
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Investigating possible war crimes in Ukraine from 2022-03-07T11:59:50
Bombing and encircling civilians in cities, indications that cluster bombs may have been dropped. Is Russia committing war crimes in Ukraine?
Jeffrey Edmonds, Richard Weir, Philippe Sa...
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Russians reflect on the Russia-Ukraine war and the consequences at home from 2022-03-04T11:48:48
Apollinaria Oleinikova is 18-years-old. For most of her life, she was a carefree Muscovite. Now, she's publicly protesting, along with other Russians, in Moscow.
Russians join us to dis...
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First Person: Behind the wheel of a 'self-driving' Tesla from 2022-03-03T14:06:47
On today’s show, we discussed the ethics of autonomous vehicles and the recent incidents involving Tesla’s “full self-driving” beta software.
In a podcast special, we share what it's li...
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Tesla and the ethics of self-driving cars from 2022-03-03T11:43:49
Self-driving technology has come a long way in recent years, but it remains far from perfect. And that's partially because of decisions made -- not by the cars -- but by programmers. Rebecca Hei...
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5 key takeaways from Biden's first State of the Union address from 2022-03-02T15:37:50
President Biden's first State of the Union address covered everything from war in Ukraine, to COVID, to inflation.
In a podcast special, On Point news analyst Jack Beatty shares 5 key ta...
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What Putin's destruction of Grozny in 1999 means for Ukraine now from 2022-03-02T13:14:54
In 1999, Putin ordered the airstrikes and bombing that razed the Chechen capital of Grozny. Could he do it again, in Ukraine? Andrew Harding, Michael Kofman and Paul Stronski join Meghna Chakrab...
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The intergenerational impacts of global learning loss from 2022-03-01T12:23:49
In 2020, almost every single child on planet earth was out of school, due to COVID.
Lost school years. Lost learning around the world. What impact will it have, for generations? Robert ...
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Inside the European Union's response to the Russia-Ukraine war from 2022-02-28T12:07:49
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is the greatest test of European resolve in a generation. Will it transform the EU? Tom Nichols, Nina Jankowicz, Naomi O’Leary and Olga Tokariuk join Meghna Chakraba...
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Next moves for the U.S. as Russia invades Ukraine from 2022-02-25T11:31:51
Despite warnings from the West, Russian troops are advancing on Ukraine. If sanctions don’t work, what should the U.S. do next? Derek Chollet, Angela Stent, Terrell Jermaine Starr and Mariana Bu...
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How political vitriol impacts public servants from 2022-02-24T12:05:50
Vitriol against public servants is increasing. What impact does that have on who stays in politics – and for the health of democracy? Marico Sayoc, Matt Ford and Meredith McGehee join Kimberly A...
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The consequences of the friendship gap from 2022-02-23T11:49:49
The percentage of people who say they don’t have a single close friend has quadrupled in the past 30 years, according to the Survey Center on American Life. What's driving the American friendshi...
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The growing diversity in America's suburbs from 2022-02-22T11:55:48
The “suburbs” have become a hot constituency in recent years. But has the term enveloped the full range of their residents? R. L’Heureux Lewis-McCoy joins Kimberly Atkins Stohr.
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What to know about Biden's Supreme Court nominees from 2022-02-21T11:46:35
President Biden is considering who he’ll nominate to the Supreme court. She’ll make history in more ways than one. So who does the president have in mind? Gloria Browne-Marshall and Renee Knake ...
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More than money: Solutions for reining in monopoly power from 2022-02-18T12:01:49
For antitrust reformers, the size and power of companies like Google and Facebook represent more than a threat to consumer welfare. It’s the final episode in our series “More than money." Matt S...
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Full interview: Sen. Amy Klobuchar on a new trustbusting era in the Senate from 2022-02-18T02:35:13
Sen. Amy Klobuchar is the chair of the Senate Subcommittee on Competition Policy, Antitrust and Consumer Rights. She’s also on the Judiciary Committee.
Last month, the Judiciary Committ...
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More than money: Defining American antitrust law, from Bork to Khan from 2022-02-17T12:49:51
From Robert Bork's "consumer harm" to Lina Khan's "democratic harm," we discuss the ideas that drive the government's approach to antitrust regulation. Daniel Crane, Barry Lynn and Jack Beatty j...
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More than money: Antitrust lessons of the Gilded Age from 2022-02-16T13:00:32
The nineteenth century saw the rise of great monopolies. Americans pushed back. What changed?
We discuss lessons learned from antitrust action in the Gilded Age with Jack Beatty and Cha...
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More than money: Microsoft and the big tech question from 2022-02-15T12:05:51
Microsoft wants to acquire Activision-Blizzard for almost $70 billion. Microsoft says it won't harm consumers. But is the mega-merger a new kind of monopoly? Dina Bass, Bill Kovacic and Jack Bea...
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More than money: The monopoly on meat from 2022-02-14T13:08:11
Our series "More than Money: The Cost of Monopolies in America" is a week-long exploration of the hidden power of monopolies in the U.S.
Today's episode looks at how corporate monopolies...
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Is it time to end school masking? from 2022-02-11T11:49:56
In just days, several states have suddenly reversed course on masks in school. But not everyone agrees. We talk about whether now's the right time to end school masking. Dr. Lucy McBride and Deb...
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The failures and future of the Paycheck Protection Program from 2022-02-10T12:05:57
The Paycheck Protection Program was supposed to help workers stay afloat during the pandemic. But new analysis finds most PPP funding went to the richest 20% of Americans. David Autor and Lydia ...
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What the Rooney Rule reveals about football, coaching and race in America from 2022-02-09T11:53:50
Three days before his interview for the New York Giants’ head coaching position, Brian Flores learned that the job was already promised to someone else. Flores is now suing the NFL. We talk abou...
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The Russia-Ukraine crisis and how Ukrainians are finding a new sense of national identity from 2022-02-08T00:01:32
Ukraine has a long, fraught history with Russia and the Soviet Union. How do Ukrainians see themselves now? Vitaly Chernetsky, Timothy Snyder and Sevgil Musayeva join Meghna Chakrabarti.
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Protecting democracy, or political distraction? Inside efforts to reform the Electoral Count Act from 2022-02-07T00:01:43
The Electoral Count Act is at the center of Donald Trump's attempt to overturn the 2020 election. Now, the Senate is considering reforming the 136-year-old law. Mark Joseph Stern, Judge Michael ...
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Wordle and the future of the internet's favorite word game from 2022-02-04T11:53:50
A simple word game has taken the internet by storm. But now that the New York Times owns the game, can the wonder of Wordle last? Jonathan Knight, Ian Bogost and Katy Pearce join Meghna Chakraba...
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The battle for California's rooftop solar from 2022-02-03T12:07:54
A third of all the nation's rooftop solar panels are in California.
Now, the California public utilities commission says it’s time to pull back the support.
We discuss the batt...
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The moral, military and financial cost of Guantanamo Bay, 20 years later from 2022-02-02T11:50:28
20 years ago, President Bush ordered the creation of a secretive prison at Guantanamo Bay. Many were innocent. Many were tortured. Two presidents tried to close Gitmo -- and failed. And we’re st...
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Evaluating the effectiveness of vaccine passes from 2022-02-01T11:53:49
A year ago, Israel was the first country to issue a strict vaccine passport. Now, some health officials say the Green Pass did not stop the omicron variant, and is no 'longer relevant.' We evalu...
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Operation North Star: The military veterans working to protect Afghan allies from the Taliban from 2022-01-31T12:35:51
The U.S. pulled out of Afghanistan last year. Now, U.S. vets are coming together to help the Afghans who did so much for them.
Hear about Operation North Star, and the story of the sold...
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Justice Stephen Breyer, his replacement and the future of the Supreme Court from 2022-01-28T11:42:33
Justice Stephen Breyer is retiring after more than two decades at the Supreme Court. Who might President Biden call to replace him? We discuss what Breyer’s replacement could mean for the court,...
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Redefining poverty in the United States from 2022-01-27T12:12:24
The way we often think about poverty in the United States is as an individual failing, social welfare professor Mark Robert Rank says. So, what would happen if the U.S. redefined poverty as bein...
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The indigenous communities rising up to protect the gray wolf from 2022-01-26T12:07:49
The federal government removed the gray wolf from the endangered species list last year. Now, hundreds of gray wolves have been killed. We hear how tribes are leading efforts to stop the hunts. ...
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How sedition charges against the Oath Keepers will shape the Capitol investigation from 2022-01-25T11:53:52
Seditious conspiracy. The Justice Department has levied the charge on 11 people associated with the January 6 Capitol attack. But what is seditious conspiracy, and why is the charge so rare? Rya...
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Omicron, health care and what's really going on in America's hospitals from 2022-01-24T11:49:50
With the omicron wave, hospitals have been crushed by the surge in patients. But COVID is a symptom, not the cause of hospitals being overwhelmed. What needs to change? Dr. Vivian Lee joins Megh...
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The Democrats' messaging problem, and how to fix it from 2022-01-21T11:53:49
From infrastructure to child care, Democrats are pushing for issues with broad public support. So why do so many Americans believe our country is headed in the wrong direction? Jack Beatty, Mike...
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Pod Extra: A survivor discovers her brain injury, and takes her power back from 2022-01-20T19:34:58
There are potentially tens of millions of domestic violence survivors with undiagnosed brain injuries. Their stories are slowly coming to light. In a podcast extra, Paula Walters shares her jour...
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First Person: 'The shame did not belong to me. The shame belonged on him' from 2022-01-20T15:01:04
The suffering caused by domestic violence is emotional, spiritual and physical. But there's one aspect of that suffering that is almost invisible: brain injury. In this First Person diary, survi...
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An 'invisible epidemic': Survivors of domestic violence on living with traumatic brain injury from 2022-01-20T12:19:49
An 'invisible epidemic' is causing suffering in millions of women. It affects memory, concentration, balance. We discuss traumatic brain injuries in survivors of domestic violence. Eve Valera an...
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Making sense of the COVID strategy in America's schools from 2022-01-19T12:01:53
The White House promises schools 10 million COVID tests every month. But some medical experts say testing in schools may hurt more than help. CDC director Dr. Rochelle Walensky and Dr. Monica Ga...
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Far-right radio and the fight for American democracy from 2022-01-18T11:37:50
Hard-right talk radio and podcasts have influence and reach. For their audiences, the Jan. 6 insurrection was just the beginning. We explore what far-right radio and podcasts are telling America...
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Exploring the history and future of Atlanta's civil rights legacy from 2022-01-17T11:54:34
Atlanta has been the cradle of civil rights leadership in the past. But what about its future? We explore Atlanta's legacy, and future leadership in the pursuit of civil rights. Charles Black, N...
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How redistricting is changing America's voting maps from 2022-01-14T11:25:48
Redistricting. The process of creating maps to determine who represents you at the state and federal level. Independent commissions were supposed to take the politics out of this process. We ask...
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A scientist's rapid COVID tests never made it public. Here's how that shaped the pandemic from 2022-01-13T11:49:51
In March 2020, an MIT scientist developed a cheap, rapid COVID test -- giving results in just 15 minutes. It could have been a game changer early in the pandemic, but it never made it to consume...
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The Elizabeth Holmes trial: Fraud, funding and a reckoning for Silicon Valley from 2022-01-12T12:05:50
Elizabeth Holmes became a tech billionaire through fraud. Now, she faces years in prison. Will Silicon Valley’s ‘fake it till you make it’ culture face an overall reckoning? Dr. Bijan Salehizade...
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Making sense of the COVID pandemic's omicron phase from 2022-01-11T11:55:49
You've heard the headlines about record-breaking omicron cases. But are case number the wrong way to look at COVID? We learn how to make sense of the pandemic, now. Dr. Paul Checchia and Dr. Ric...
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First Person: 2 Colorado residents on how Western wildfires have shaped their lives from 2022-01-10T14:10:51
Are cities in the West prepared for a perpetual fire season? 2 Colorado residents share how Western wildfires in Superior, CO and Louisville, CO have shaped their lives.
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How cities in the West can prepare for the Western wildfire threat from 2022-01-10T11:37:50
Wildfires aren't just in the wilderness anymore. We discuss resilience, retrofit and the urgent need for new regulations as fires threaten Western American cities. Natasha Stavros and Erica Fisc...
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Voting access and the future of American election reform from 2022-01-07T11:49:48
Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer is pushing election reform – no matter what it takes. Some members of the GOP has other plans. What does that mean for American democracy? Rep. Katherine Cla...
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Jamie Raskin on surviving tragedy, and his refusal to let America lose its democracy from 2022-01-06T11:23:50
In December 2020, Representative Jamie Raskin lost his son. A few days later, he watched in horror as America almost lost its democracy. Rep. Raskin joins Meghna Chakrabarti.
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What West Virginians need from Biden's social spending plan from 2022-01-05T12:00:33
Senator Joe Manchin torpedoed the Biden administration's social spending plan, for now. But West Virginians want answers. We learn what West Virginians need, and what their senator is willing to...
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From inflation to rate hikes: The Money Ladies' guide to the 2022 economy from 2022-01-04T11:37:51
Inflation, rate hikes, tax credits and more. Michelle Singletary and Rana Foroohar guide us through what's to come in the 2022 economy.
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Inside the DOJ's Jan. 6 investigation from 2022-01-03T11:59:49
It's almost one year since the Jan. 6 Capitol attack.
The DOJ is underway with what's now the largest criminal investigation in U.S. history.
What can the investigation tell us...
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From unknown successes to personal disillusionment: What the public doesn't know about Colin Powell from 2021-12-31T11:37:57
Colin Powell served America at its highest levels. Joint Chiefs Chairman. Secretary of State. A man both celebrated and tarnished by war. In a rebroadcast, we look back on his life and legacy wi...
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From political polarization to gang violence: High conflict and how to free yourself from it from 2021-12-29T11:41:49
Rebroadcast: Investigative journalist Amanda Ripley wanted to understand the sources of human conflict. So she studied it for more than four years. She detected a strong pattern to the most intr...
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In Jamal Greene's 'How Rights Went Wrong,' reimagining America's legal approach to rights from 2021-12-28T11:41:49
In the U.S., individual rights are sacrosanct. Legal scholar Jamal Greene calls that "rightsism," and says it's pushing the country in the wrong direction. In a rebroadcast, we hear why he says ...
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First Person: Reflections on COVID's impact on the food service industry from 2021-12-23T16:46:46
Bob LaBonne Jr. is president and CEO of LaBonne's Market in Connecticut. He reflects on a COVID year, and what the pandemic has exposed about America's food supply chain. "It was nice to see the...
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What the 1918 flu pandemic reveals about how pandemics end from 2021-12-23T12:01:51
Pandemics do end. A century ago, the last great global pandemic finally petered out. How did the world know, or decide, when the 1918 pandemic was over? Howard Markel and Jack Beatty join Meghna...
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How the metaverse blurs the line between virtual and reality from 2021-12-22T11:41:50
The next iteration of the internet could be a vast, three-dimensional digital frontier that looks a lot like real life. We discuss what’s real, what's not – and what happens when we can’t tell t...
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From Kellogg's to Nabisco: The strikes behind America's growing labor movement from 2021-12-21T11:53:52
Kellogg’s workers strike for months. A successful Union drive at one Starbucks. Approval rates for unions at a 60-year high. We discuss the sharp rise in union activity in 2021. Steven Greenhous...
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Children, safety and the internet: How updating federal policy could protect kids online from 2021-12-20T11:37:51
The Children's Online Privacy and Protection Rule hasn't been updated in 20 years. Meanwhile, the entire digital world has transformed and become fully integrated into children's lives, whether ...
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Fiona Hill on the U.S. and Russia, from Trump to Biden from 2021-12-17T13:23:54
Fiona Hill served as the National Security Council's top Russia expert in the Trump Administration. She was concerned about the U.S.'s posture then, and even more concerned now, given President ...
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First Person: Drugs connected Katie Mack to the world. Until she found community in sobriety from 2021-12-16T14:22:55
Katie Mack is an actor, writer and podcaster based in New York. She suffered from opioid addiction for 10 years.
In this First Person diary, she shares how it took going sober to find r...
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Opioids can 'feel like love.' Here's how that helps our understanding of addiction from 2021-12-16T12:11:50
What empty well do opioids fill in someone suffering from addiction? We hear why opioid addiction can feel like love -- and what that means in a world of crumbling economic security and weakened...
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What congressional investigations are revealing about the Capitol insurrection from 2021-12-15T12:05:51
Just how far was President Trump – and his team – willing to go to overthrow the results of the 2020 election?
Newly released documents in a congressional investigation show that at some...
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The question of fetal viability and how it's changing the abortion debate from 2021-12-14T12:01:49
Fetal viability was considered to be around 28 weeks when Roe v. Wade was decided in 1973. How is medical technology changing the question of viability, and the abortion debate? Carol Sanger and...
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What's behind the worker shortage in American schools from 2021-12-13T11:53:51
Schools are facing a shortage of bus drivers. Custodians. Substitute teachers. Cafeteria workers. When the system is spread thin, who suffers most? Alena Zachery-Ross and Koby Levin join Meghna ...
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Why the U.S. is cracking down on international spyware from 2021-12-10T11:49:52
The U.S. is cracking down on international spyware. The new twist? The spyware companies are headquartered in allied nations. "These tools are allegedly used in a way that raises a human rights ...
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'Age of Acrimony': Historian Jon Grinspan on the last time Americans fought for democracy from 2021-12-09T11:47:51
Historian Jon Grinspan says Americans in the past fought to fix democracy. But what does that mean for Americans today?
"Many of our problems have, if not identical moments in the past,...
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Inside the lives of social media influencers from 2021-12-08T12:01:49
The life of a digital influencer. Primp. Place product. Post. And cha-ching! But… that’s not all. “There is such an incredible amount of labor, much of that remains concealed behind the scenes."...
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What we know about the Omicron variant and the pandemic in South Africa from 2021-12-07T11:37:51
Comprehensive disease surveillance allowed South Africa to first identify the COVID Omicron variant. But they haven't had as much success with vaccination efforts. We take a close look at South ...
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Are U.S. elected officials getting too old? from 2021-12-06T12:29:51
Vermont Senator Pat Leahy won't run again. Leahy's been in office since 1974. That's longer than more than 150 million Americans have been alive. Are U.S. elected officials getting too old? Maxw...
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Why misinformation is America's greatest election security threat from 2021-12-03T12:01:49
What's the biggest threat to American elections, and to people's trust in them? Conspiracy theories. Former Homeland Security cybersecurity chief Chris Krebs joins Meghna Chakrabarti to discuss ...
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Linguist John McWhorter on how to combat the harms of 'woke racism' from 2021-12-02T11:47:49
When linguist John McWhorter hears activists and academics condemn "whiteness" or talk about "centering" people of color, he doesn't hear effective anti-racism. "The issue is what do you do abou...
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A rekindled Cold War? A reality check on the narrative around U.S.-China tensions from 2021-12-01T11:43:51
The U.S. is locked in another "great powers" conflict, this time with China. That's what you'll often hear in Washington. But is a Cold War era analogy the right one for modern China? Melvyn Lef...
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First Person: Activist Tiana Caldwell on finding strength in the face of eviction from 2021-11-30T14:12:59
Tiana Caldwell lives in Kansas City, Missouri. And when On Point first spoke with her in May 2020, Tiana had been furloughed from her job and had just received an eviction notice from her landlo...
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Tracking unspent pandemic relief funds from 2021-11-30T13:11:49
$800 billion in COVID relief funds still hasn't made it to the American people. In Pennsylvania, $2.5 billion of that aid is being moved to the state's “rainy day fund.” We track unspent pandemi...
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What's driving the pandemic's health care exodus from 2021-11-29T12:43:08
1 in 5 American health care workers have left the profession since the pandemic hit.
The pandemic has pushed what was already a tough situation into crisis mode. And as psychiatrist Wend...
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What it will take to build world-class infrastructure in the U.S. from 2021-11-24T11:59:50
President Biden made a big claim when he signed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act into law. We check that claim, and the reality of how far the U.S. has to go for truly world class infr...
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States and cities decide where the infrastructure money goes. Here are some of their plans from 2021-11-23T12:19:51
With the $1 trillion infrastructure act signed into law, state and local officials must now determine how most of that money will be spent. We talk with some of those with the power to make or b...
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Water in the West: Can Biden's infrastructure act help restore it? from 2021-11-22T12:17:53
There's $8 billion in the new Infrastructure act for preserving water systems in the West. We look at where the money will go and what difference it could make. Professor Richard White and Kyle ...
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First Person: A pastor reflects on how politics divide his congregation from 2021-11-19T15:40:46
Scott Dudley is the lead pastor at Bellevue Presbyterian Church in Bellevue, Washington. Dudley says he has a generally supportive congregation. But lately, he's faced some hostility.
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Understanding the causes and consequences of white evangelical fear from 2021-11-19T12:29:48
A recent poll found that more than any other group, white evangelical protestants believe American culture and values are under threat. Why? Anthea Butler and Robert P. Jones join Meghna Chakrab...
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Nuclear power and America's clean energy future from 2021-11-18T12:23:49
President Joe Biden signed a $1 trillion infrastructure bill this week. Tucked into the plan includes the Biden administration's belief in the importance of nuclear power. Ernest Moniz, Allison ...
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The life and losses of politician Michael Tubbs from 2021-11-17T12:01:51
Michael Tubbs grew up in poverty. He became Stockton, California's first Black mayor when he was just 26 years old. Now, he's sharing the reality of his life beyond the headlines. Michael Tubbs ...
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'Miseducation': Journalist Katie Worth on climate education and corporate influences from 2021-11-16T11:43:50
What are American school kids being taught about climate change? Journalist Katie Worth visited schools and analyzed dozens of textbooks, and she says a web of corporate and political influences...
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Therapeutics and the part they play in the fight against COVID from 2021-11-15T11:47:50
Vaccines are still the first, best way to end the pandemic. But can so-called therapeutics also help? The FDA says there are 11 treatments already authorized for emergency use. We learn about th...
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AI home-buying and how it could change real estate from 2021-11-12T11:53:51
Zillow went on an algorithmic home-buying spree. It didn't work. But what is algorithmic home-buying? We learn the impact AI home-buying is having on the housing market. Gregor Matvos and Jeff M...
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The truth behind the mysterious Havana Syndrome from 2021-11-11T11:29:50
Something strange is happening to American officials around the world. Migraines, dizziness, even brain injury. And the incidents keep happening. So who, or what, is behind Havana Syndrome? Adam...
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America's future in Taiwan from 2021-11-10T12:11:53
China vows to take back Taiwan, as Xi Jinping warns against American interference. But for the U.S., Taiwan is about a lot more than Taiwan itself. What is America's true interest in Taiwan? Ori...
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Lessons from Virginia's governor race and what voters really want from 2021-11-09T11:41:48
Democrats lost the governorship in Virginia. What did voters really care about? A long-time democratic analyst joins us with the lessons he's learned from Virginia, and why he's worried his part...
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First person: How climate change shapes the community of Kivalina, Alaska from 2021-11-08T14:04:44
Colleen Swan and the members of the indigenous Iñupiat community who live on Kivalina, climate change isn't a remote abstraction. It's an emergency that's threatening their lives now.
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The case for climate reparations from 2021-11-08T11:49:50
Climate change has a disproportionate impact on the Global South. So should the world's industrialized nations make reparations? We hear the case for climate reparations. David Wallace-Wells and...
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What's behind the supply chain breakdown at the Port of Long Beach from 2021-11-05T11:53:51
What is going on at the Port of Long Beach? Truckers, longshoremen and port managers tell us why the supply chain is breaking down. Matt Schrap and Mario Cordero join Meghna Chakrabarti.
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Mayoral races across the country: A look at who will lead America's cities from 2021-11-04T12:23:50
Mayoral elections across the country this week. We take a look at who will next lead America's cities, and the impact those mayoral races may have on national politics. Anthony Brooks, Jon Colli...
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Lessons in paid family leave from parents around the world from 2021-11-03T12:19:51
About 180 countries have some sort of paid parental leave. We hear from moms around the world about how those nations made it work. Isra’a Hamdeh, Jody Heymann, Dr. Raisa Renner and Tilde Bang-K...
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What the Supreme Court's next big gun case means for gun laws across the U.S. from 2021-11-02T11:43:57
The Supreme Court is about to hear its highest profile gun case since 2008. We take a look at the case, and why the court's decision could have an impact on state gun laws across the country. Je...
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Why the Federal Reserve is an 'engine of inequality' from 2021-11-01T12:07:49
Interest rates, inflation, employment. That's where the Fed formally flexes its power. That's also why Karen Petrou says it's an 'engine of inequality.' Could that change? Karen Petrou and Jeffr...
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First Person: 'Can you listen?' Young people reflect on 'the pessimistic generation' from 2021-10-29T16:22:47
Kids today face a unique combination of challenges, from the pandemic, to climate change and political unrest. On today's hour, two young people share why so many kids are looking to the future ...
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The pessimistic generation: How grown-ups can grow up and give kids some hope from 2021-10-29T11:55:54
From the pandemic to climate change, politics and social media, kids are pessimistic about their future. It's hurting them, and us all. We talk to people who say it's time to do something about ...
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Virginia's governor's race and what it reveals about America's political future from 2021-10-28T11:47:50
The race for Governor of Virginia may be the most important political contest of the year. We look at Virginia’s governor’s race and what it says about the political parties – and where the coun...
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What it would take to pass meaningful voting rights legislation in America from 2021-10-27T11:59:53
Senate Republicans have used the filibuster to block major voting rights legislation twice this year. Meanwhile, at least 19 states have enacted 33 laws that make it harder to vote. What would i...
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The causes and consequences of inflation from 2021-10-26T12:05:51
Inflation is back.
The past year has seen more than a 5% jump in the Consumer Price Index. While the price of food, gas, cars, lumber are all up.
But what is inflation, and do e...
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The importance of fixing bad COVID math from 2021-10-25T12:11:53
Infection rates. Cases. Deaths. 14-day moving averages. Efficacy. We're wading through a world of COVID data. But the way that data's presented may do more harm than good. Nick Melvoin, Tracy Hø...
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Full-length version: What the public doesn’t know about Colin Powell from 2021-10-22T15:00:28
In a full, unedited version of our conversation "From unknown successes to personal disillusionment: What the public doesn't know about Colin Powell," Retired Colonel Lawrence Wilkerson, who ser...
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From unknown successes to personal disillusionment: What the public doesn’t know about Colin Powell from 2021-10-22T12:17:51
Colin Powell served America at its highest levels. Joint Chiefs Chairman. Secretary of State. A man both celebrated and tarnished by war. We look back on his life and legacy with his former chie...
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What California's new zoning bills mean for the state's housing crisis from 2021-10-21T12:44:43
California will now allow multi-family units on land zoned for single-family housing. Will it make a difference? Victor Gordo, Ben Metcalf and Adam J. Fowler join Meghna Chakrabarti.
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The life, culture and politics of voters across the Rio Grande Valley from 2021-10-20T12:01:51
Texas's Rio Grande Valley is diverse and politically powerful.
Until recently, the nation's two political parties saw the voters of the Rio Grande as a monolith.
But that's bee...
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A running scandal and the price of power at Nike from 2021-10-19T11:59:51
Nike attracted the world's best. Alberto Salazar was a Nike-funded coach for almost 20 years. That ended in scandal. Is a reckoning for professional runners upon us? Matt Hart and Lindsay Crouse...
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Inside the 40-year fight to rid the world of malaria from 2021-10-18T12:13:57
In Uganda, like many countries, malaria is endemic and deadly.
But that might soon change. After 40 years in development, the WHO has approved the first ever malaria vaccine.
Ma...
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The science behind good listening and why it matters from 2021-10-15T11:35:48
People. Don’t. Listen. “There’s so much in our society that is encouraging us not to listen," Kate Murphy says. What is good listening and can it make a difference? Kate Murphy and John Wood, Jr...
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Why school boards are a nexus of America's culture wars from 2021-10-14T12:41:51
School boards are a new nexus of America's culture wars. Some say the targeting of school boards is a political tactic used by right-wing organizations. We hear that deeper story. Peter Montgome...
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Is the Supreme Court too political? A look at the court's ideology from 2021-10-13T12:23:48
The Supreme Court is supposed to rule by the law alone. But Randall Kennedy says that doesn't always happen.
“A very common misconception is that the Supreme Court is above politics." Listen
Why science says you deserve to be happy from 2021-10-12T11:55:52
What determines your happiness? We talk about why science says, even with every problem in the world right now, you deserve to be happy. Laurie Santos and Jack Beatty join Meghna Chakrabarti.
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What New Zealand's changing COVID strategy tells us about the pandemic's end from 2021-10-11T13:54:35
New Zealand was aiming for 'COVID zero.' What does New Zealand's changing strategy tell us about what the pandemic's end should look like?
Dr. Celine Gounder, Joseph Allen and Dale Fishe...
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Scholar Randall Kennedy's reflections on race, culture and law in America from 2021-10-08T12:07:50
For decades, scholar Randall Kennedy has been writing about race, culture and the law. “We are certainly much further from the racial promised land than I had thought that we were," he says. Ran...
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Facebook's whistleblower and the social media giant's 'Big Tobacco' moment from 2021-10-07T13:01:52
A former Facebook employee says the social media giant knows it is tearing society apart. Will Facebook face its Big Tobacco moment? Sharon Eubanks, Kate Klonick and Phil Weiser join Meghna Chak...
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Your brain on authoritarianism: The inside forces that drive people to turn on democracy from 2021-10-06T12:13:57
The brain, behavior and authoritarianism. Understanding the social and neurological forces that drive people to turn their backs on democracy. Timothy Snyder and Lisa Feldman Barrett join Meghna...
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What compromise may look like for the Democrats’ 'Build Back Better' plan from 2021-10-05T11:47:52
The price tag for the Democrats’ social spending bill may be shrinking – but the needs of Americans are not. We hear what stays in the bill, what goes and what it all means for Americans who nee...
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What America's supply chain shortages mean for your buying, from phones to cars from 2021-10-04T12:41:54
Cars. Smartphones. Appliances. An international chip shortage is squeezing supply chains and inventory. How did this happen? And when will it end? Dr. Willy Shih joins Meghna Chakrabarti.
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The Prime Effect: Live from CitySpace from 2021-10-01T20:41:35
Our series The Prime Effect explores the ways Amazon is changing how we live, work and shop.
In a bonus episode live from CitySpace, host Meghna Chakrabarti and senior editor Dorey Schei...
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Amazon: The Prime Effect, Part VII from 2021-10-01T20:40
Local police departments can’t put a corner at the end of every street. But Amazon already has—with Ring cameras. So what is Amazon really doing with all your data? We look at Amazon and surveil...
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Amazon: The Prime Effect, Part VI from 2021-10-01T20:38:54
Maren Costa worked at Amazon for 15 years. That abruptly ended last spring when she spoke out about the company's climate impact. In the sixth episode of our series "The Prime Effect," we look a...
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Amazon: The Prime Effect, Part V from 2021-10-01T20:37:43
That Amazon package at your door begins with power guzzling server farms. Distribution centers. Thousands of trucks. Commercial planes. And billions of cardboard boxes.
In the 5th episo...
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Amazon: The Prime Effect, Part VIII from 2021-10-01T20:36:36
Our series "The Prime Effect" considers how Amazon shapes the way we shop, work and live. In the last episode, we ask, What industries will the company transform next? Joshua McNichols, Brad Sto...
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How attempts to overthrow the presidential election threaten democracy from 2021-10-01T12:23:51
There’s new information on just how hard the Trump administration tried to overthrow the 2020 election. How healthy is the state of our democracy? Neil Buchanan, Suzanne Mettler, Anna Grzymala-B...
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Multi-Level Marketing Companies And The Disinformation They Sell from 2021-09-30T11:59:52
Multi-level marketing distributors claim to sell life-changing products. They’re also selling something else -- misleading product claims and disinformation. Amanda Montell and Stephanie McNeal ...
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Will Infighting Upend The Democratic Party's Goals? from 2021-09-29T11:47:52
Democrats in Washington are divided again. Will Democrats let party infighting destroy their own, and President Biden's, ambitious goals? Rep. Henry Cuellar, Lisa DesJardins, Rep. Ayanna Pressle...
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The College Educators Behind The Push To Speak Freely On Campus from 2021-09-28T11:37:51
Steven Salaita was a rising star in the field of American Indian studies.
In the fall of 2012, he applied for a job at the University of Illinois. Then, he lost everything.
“I ha...
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The Social And Economic Crisis Facing Men In America from 2021-09-27T11:37:53
College enrollment may be an indicator of a growing economic and social crisis among American men. We hear from researchers who say American democracy depends on doing something about it. Christ...
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Amazon: The Prime Effect, Part IV from 2021-09-24T15:38:01
If you use Slack at work, Zoom for school or binge watch Netflix at home, guess what? You’re also using Amazon. Amazon Web Services currently controls 30% of the cloud computing market. The four...
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Amazon: The Prime Effect, Part III from 2021-09-24T15:35:59
Like everything with Amazon, its marketplace is big. Small businesses like Steve Chou’s Bumblebee Linens can soar. But is the marketplace also destroying main street brick and mortar stores? In ...
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Amazon: The Prime Effect, Part II from 2021-09-24T15:32:04
Who is Jeff Bezos? In the second part of our series Amazon: The Prime Effect, we learn about the man who built Amazon and the innovation he brings to everything. Brad Stone joins Meghna Chakraba...
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Amazon: The Prime Effect, Part I from 2021-09-24T15:30:02
It’s not just a retailer. So what is Amazon? Hear part one in our series on how Amazon is changing the way we shop, work and live. Brad Stone and Stacy Mitchell join Meghna Chakrabarti.
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A Message From Meghna from 2021-09-24T15:24:34
Our eight-part series The Prime Effect explores the myriad ways Amazon is changing the way we shop, work and live.
Coming up in the On Point podcast feed, you'll find Part I -- IV of The...
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Oregon Dropped Graduation Test Requirements. What That Means For Education In The State from 2021-09-24T12:13:51
Oregon students used to have to pass a basic skills test in order to graduate from high school. This summer, the state dropped the requirement. How do we know when a high school student is ready...
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Steps To Fix America's Broken Prescription Drug System from 2021-09-23T11:55:53
Americans jump through too many hoops, travel too far, and pay too much for their prescription drugs.
Can America's broken prescription drug system be fixed? Jonathan Cohn, Jack Beatty, ...
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Amazon: The Prime Effect, Part 8 from 2021-09-22T11:55:52
Our series "The Prime Effect" considers how Amazon shapes the way we shop, work and live. In the last episode, we ask, What industries will the company transform next? Joshua McNichols, Brad Sto...
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Former FDA Head Scott Gottlieb's Lessons For Controlling The Next Pandemic from 2021-09-21T12:29:47
Dr. Scott Gottlieb was former FDA commissioner under President Trump. Now, he says it’s time for a national conversation about public health as national security, and how we’re far too unprepare...
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Is The Pentagon's Budget Too Big? from 2021-09-20T11:55:53
The U.S. defense budget is more than $700 billion dollars. How efficiently are those dollars being spent? Lindsay Koshgarian and Ret. Col. Lawrence Wilkerson join Meghna Chakrabarti.
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In 'The Genetic Lottery,' Kathryn Paige Harden Considers A New Moral Framework For Genetics from 2021-09-17T12:07:52
Kathryn Paige Harden says most people have no clue what genetic science can already do. In her new book 'The Genetic Lottery,' she says a new moral framework is needed to prepare for what's to c...
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Survival And Service: Robert Hogue's Journey From 9/11 To Transformation In The Marine Corps from 2021-09-16T12:19:52
Robert Hogue remembers the day he was in his office at the Pentagon, celebrating his first year as Marine Corps legal counsel. The date? September 11, 2001.
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What Biden's Vaccine Mandates Mean For Public Health from 2021-09-15T13:55:53
President Biden called COVID a “pandemic of the unvaccinated” as he announced his sweeping plan that would require more than 100 million American workers get vaccinated.
Government manda...
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In 'This Land,' A Custody Trial Over Native Children Heads To The Supreme Court from 2021-09-14T12:08:59
A custody trial in Texas involving a Native American child and white foster parents caught journalist Rebecca Nagle’s eye. She discovered it was a part of something much, much bigger. Rebecca Na...
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What Latinos in California Want From The Gubernatorial Recall Election from 2021-09-13T11:37:52
California Gov. Gavin Newsom is facing a recall vote. The state's Latino voters could tip the scales. We unpack what Latino voters in California want from the state's recall election. Mindy Rome...
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First Person: What Young Afghans Want from 2021-09-10T16:30:45
People under the age of 25 make up more than 60% of the population of Afghanistan.
Afghanistan's people are young. And most of those young people have grown up with expanded rights for ...
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Reflections On America Since 9/11 And Our Series 'The Longest War' from 2021-09-10T14:23:01
The Afghanistan war is especially powerful for us at On Point. The program got its start 20 years ago, on September 17th, 2001. Jack Beatty, On Point's news analyst, has been with the show, ever...
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The Longest War: Part IV from 2021-09-10T12:05:48
Over the last 20 years, journalists and entrepreneurs like Saad Mohseni have built a free and independent press in Afghanistan.
Mohseni recently told the Journo podcast that the Taliban ...
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The Longest War: Part III from 2021-09-09T11:59:51
In 2001, Barbara Lee was the only member of congress to vote against the Afghanistan war resolution. How did the past 20 years change her and her country?
Rep. Barbara Lee joins Meghna...
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The Longest War: Part II from 2021-09-08T12:11:50
U.S. soldiers may have left Afghanistan, but the war has not left them. In the second installment of our series 'The Longest War,' veterans share their stories. Bajun Mavalwalla, Baji Mavalwalla an...
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The Longest War: Part II from 2021-09-08T12:11:50
U.S. soldiers may have left Afghanistan, but the war has not left them. In the second installment of our series 'The Longest War,' veterans share their stories. Bajun Mavalwalla, Baji Mavalwalla...
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The Longest War: Part I from 2021-09-07T11:41:51
Shabana Basij-Rasikh is the founder of the first and only boarding school for girls in Afghanistan.
In the first episode of our series 'The Longest War,' we hear her story, and the futu...
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First Person: Former Afghan Soccer Player On Life As A Refugee, Her Country's Future from 2021-09-07T09:53:02
This week, we’re seeking to better understand the impact of 20 years of war in Afghanistan. In our series The Longest War, you’ll hear from Afghan women, U.S. veterans and others about how choic...
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Judicial Transparency And The Future Of The Supreme Court's Shadow Docket from 2021-09-03T12:21:51
Ever heard of the Supreme Court's shadow docket? It's a not-so-transparent rule that can short-circuit the normal appellate process. We hear where it's being used, and what it means for the futu...
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First Person: How Drought Along The Klamath River Impacts Migratory Birds from 2021-09-02T14:36:43
The diversion of water from refuges in the Klamath River basin, as well as climate change, is altering migratory patterns of bird species in the Pacific Flyway, from Alaska to Patagonia.
The Klamath River Water Crisis And Its Lessons On Climate Change from 2021-09-02T12:47:53
Along the Klamath River basin, drought is punishing everyone: from farmers to native tribes to fish. What can be done to ease this historic water crisis? Alex Schwartz, Dr. Alex Gonyaw, Scott Se...
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Who's To Blame For America's Polarized Politics? Tom Nichols Says 'All Of Us' from 2021-09-01T12:17:51
Who's to blame for America's polarized politics? The government? The media? Special interests? Tom Nichols says the problem is 'all of us.'
Tom Nichols and Jack Beatty join Meghna Chakr...
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Where Residents In Oakland, California Stand On Defunding The Police from 2021-08-31T12:31:51
Oakland, California decided to pull back from a major increase to the police budget. But is that what residents in Oakland's neighborhoods want? Loren Taylor and Keisha Henderson join Meghna Cha...
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Journalist Sarah Chayes Reflects On 20 Years Of Crisis In Afghanistan from 2021-08-30T11:59:51
More than a decade. That's how long Sarah Chayes worked in Afghanistan. With the Taliban back in power, we talk with Chayes about how Afghanistan really changed, and how it changed her. Sarah Ch...
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The Future Of COVID: Confronting The Twists And Turns Of Scientific Uncertainty from 2021-08-27T13:15:50
The Delta variant is raging. And what scientists think they know -- and what they think we should do -- keeps changing. We learn how to cope with COVID uncertainty. Dr. Nirav Shah and Dr. Preeti...
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First Person: A Renter Reflects On How Delayed Rental Assistance Shaped Her Life from 2021-08-26T14:54:45
Charmayne Hunter-Spencer was among the millions of Americans behind on their rent.
So she turned to emergency rental assistance programs for help. Charmayne says that when she applied f...
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Where's The Rental Assistance? Inside Why Distribution Is Lagging from 2021-08-26T12:01:51
In January, President Biden announced nearly $47 billion has been allocated for rental assistance. So why has only a fraction of that federal aid been distributed? Ann Oliva and Bobby Wilkinson ...
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First Person: How Western Droughts Impact Navajo Farmers from 2021-08-25T13:55:14
Native Americans communities have been dealing with loss of water since a drought began 20 years ago. One of those communities is Many Farms, Arizona, where Roland Tso lives. Roland Tso is a gra...
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What The Future Holds For Water In The West from 2021-08-25T12:55:51
The federal government has declared a water shortage on the Colorado River. How did we get here? We hear what the future holds for water in the West. John Fleck and John F. Ross join Kimberly At...
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Who Are The Taliban Today? from 2021-08-24T11:49:50
Taliban leaders say they've changed. But there are widespread reports of violence and vengeance on the ground. Who really are the Taliban today? Laurel Miller, Anand Gopal, Ian Fritz and Jane F...
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First Person: After Loss, A Cat's Companionship Got This Doctor Through 'Dark Times' from 2021-08-23T16:06:45
In 2006, Fumiko Chino was in her late 20s. She was just beginning to find her way in life when everything came crashing down. Fumiko shares how an unlikely small furry companion ended up as a ki...
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How Pets Are Helping Us Cope With The Pandemic from 2021-08-23T13:14:12
During the pandemic many of us turned to pets for comfort. What is it about us that craves animal companionship? Elizabeth Berliner, Kim Roche and Alexandra Horowitz join Kimberly Atkins Stohr.
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First Person: Novelist Khaled Hosseini Reflects On How Afghanistan Changed from 2021-08-20T12:46:43
Khaled Hosseini is a world-renowned novelist and author of bestsellers "The Kite Runner" and "A Thousand Splendid Suns." He was born in Afghanistan but left the country as a young man.
I...
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Former Officials Assess The U.S. Exit From Afghanistan from 2021-08-20T12:25:53
President Joe Biden promised the nation last month a smooth withdrawal from Afghanistan. On Monday, he acknowledged the chaos that's come instead.
We discuss whether an orderly U.S. with...
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First Person: Stress Scientist Elissa Epel On Where She Finds Hope from 2021-08-19T16:12:47
Psychiatry professor Elissa Epel joined On Point last year to talk about resilience in the face of social isolation caused by the COVID shutdowns. When we checked in with her recently, she told ...
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Does The National Debt Really Matter? from 2021-08-19T11:55:53
The U.S. Debt is enormous. And some day, it might come due. But has debt hawkishness led to political paralysis when it comes to solving the nation's toughest problems?
Maya MacGuineas, ...
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First Person: Afghan Translator Reflects On The Collapse Of The Afghan Military from 2021-08-18T14:40:45
Ali Rasouly spent four years working with the United States Marines to help rebuild his country. In the latest First Person diary, he shares his thoughts on the collapse of the Afghan military.
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Why The Afghan Military Collapsed from 2021-08-18T11:55:52
20 years of war, conflict and attempts to rebuild in Afghanistan. All wiped away in what seems like just a few days and weeks as the Taliban take over Kabul. Or was it really that fast?
Examining A Culture Of Sexual Abuse In Martha Nussbaum's 'Citadels Of Pride' from 2021-08-17T13:01:51
Hubris. Denial. Power. Philosopher Martha Nussbaum sees all those things leading to Andrew Cuomo's resignation as governor of New York. But most of all, she sees the monumental power of pride. <...
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Mississippi's Hospitals Are Overwhelmed. What Will Curb The COVID Surge? from 2021-08-16T11:53:51
Mississippi is posting record numbers of new COVID cases, and doctors warn Mississippi’s hospital system is on the brink of collapse. We talk about the pandemic in Mississippi now, and what it’l...
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What The Delta Variant Means For The Return To School from 2021-08-13T11:59:50
This week, the nation’s two largest teachers’ unions dropped their opposition to COVID vaccine mandates for their members.
Both had previously said that vaccines for teachers should only...
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In 'Here, Right Matters,' Alexander Vindman Reflects On The Power Of Truth from 2021-08-12T11:55:52
When a congressman asked Alexander Vindman why he wasn’t afraid to blow the whistle on former President Trump, he said: "Because this is America. This is the country I’ve served and defended and...
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Amazon: The Prime Effect, Part 7 from 2021-08-11T12:37:51
Local police departments can’t put a corner at the end of every street. But Amazon already has—with Ring cameras. So what is Amazon really doing with all your data? We look at Amazon and surveil...
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How Viktor Orban's Hungary Is Linked To American Conservatism from 2021-08-10T12:37:50
Tucker Carlson goes to Budapest. The Fox News personality’s trip to Hungary highlights a high profile embrace of Victor Orban’s regime by influential U.S. conservatives. But Carlson isn’t the on...
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A Global Climate Tipping Point? Understanding The U.N. IPCC Report from 2021-08-09T12:53:56
The latest climate report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change finds that global temperatures are rising faster. Are nations willing to heed the warning? William Moomaw, Alexis Pap...
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How The 'Disinformation Dozen' Spreads Vaccine Misinformation Online from 2021-08-06T12:13:51
Just 12 accounts are behind 65% of all anti-vaccine disinformation on social media platforms. Most of them are still on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. We take a look inside the so-called 'disi...
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Capitol Officer Aquilino Gonell Reflects On The Jan. 6 Insurrection from 2021-08-05T11:43:51
The January 6th insurrection at the Capitol. Capitol and Metro police officers fought hand-to-hand for hours to protect lawmakers and American democracy. They're still living that day ... every ...
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How The Burden On Black Athletes Reflects The Experience Of Black America from 2021-08-04T12:29:50
When Gymnast Simone Biles cited mental health as the reason for withdrawing from almost all her Olympic events, Akilah Carter-Francique understood exactly what she meant. Akilah Carter-Francique...
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In 'Right Of Way,' Angie Schmitt On The Rise Of Pedestrian Deaths from 2021-08-03T13:01:51
Raquel Nelson and her children tried to cross the road one night. They were hit by a car. Three were injured, one killed. There was no safe pedestrian crosswalk. From vehicle design to street de...
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Why Does Infrastructure Cost So Much In America? from 2021-08-02T12:14:25
The US is one of the most expensive places in the world to build new roads, tunnels, and bridges. Why? And what impact could it have on the infrastructure compromise working its way through Cong...
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Pod Extra: A Conversation With Amazon VP Ardine Williams from 2021-07-30T16:59:13
Ardine Williams is Amazon’s vice president of workforce development. In this podcast exclusive, she speaks with Meghna Chakrabarti about the company's labor force and culture.
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Amazon: The Prime Effect, Part 6 from 2021-07-30T13:05:54
Maren Costa worked at Amazon for 15 years. That abruptly ended last spring when she spoke out about the company's climate impact. We take a look at how Amazon treats its workforce. Karen Weise and ...
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Amazon: The Prime Effect, Part 6 from 2021-07-30T13:05:54
Maren Costa worked at Amazon for 15 years. That abruptly ended last spring when she spoke out about the company's climate impact. We take a look at how Amazon treats its workforce. Karen Weise a...
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Pod Extra: Gilman Louie On The Global AI Warfare And Its Ethical Challenges from 2021-07-29T15:32:12
On today's show, we spoke about that future, its challenges and implications. During the hour, we shared a part of the conversation we had with Gilman Louie, a member of the National Security Co...
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Understanding The AI Warfare And Its Implications from 2021-07-29T13:00:37
The world’s superpowers are building new super-fast, super-lethal armies powered by artificial intelligence. AI warfare and its implications. Gen. John M. Murray, Patrick Turner and Heather Roff...
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Stories From Canada's Indigenous Residential School Survivors from 2021-07-28T12:31:52
John Jones was just 7 years old when he was forced to attend the Alberni Residential School in Canada. Stories from survivors of Canada’s residential schools. Cynthia Wesley-Esquimaux and Regis ...
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Revisiting Portland, One Year After Protests Erupted from 2021-07-27T13:42:30
Last summer, Portland erupted in protest. How has the city changed a year later? Sergio Olmos and Elliott Young join Meghna Chakrabarti.
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Breakthrough COVID Cases And What They Mean For The Ongoing Pandemic from 2021-07-26T12:55:51
Sean Fruit and his wife got their vaccinations, stopped wearing masks and drove to Vegas. They caught COVID. Breakthrough cases and what they mean for the ongoing pandemic. Travis Dagenais, Dr. ...
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Rethinking Gender With Mathematician Eugenia Cheng from 2021-07-21T11:43:48
A mathematician turns gender into a math problem. In this rebroadcast, we hear how math can help us rethink ingrained conceptions of gender. Eugenia Cheng joins Meghna Chakrabarti.
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In Author Ian Manuel's 'My Time Will Come,' A Look At Life In Solitary Confinement from 2021-07-19T11:43:48
Ian Manuel was placed in solitary confinement for a crime he committed just after the seventh grade. For 18 years, he lived in a 7-by-10-foot room. For 18 years, he did not have a window. Now, h...
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First Person: Naturalist Julie Zickefoose On The Joy Of Birds from 2021-07-16T12:58:45
The joy of birds. It's a joy that comes if we take the time to listen. In the latest First Person diary, artist, writer and naturalist Julie Zickefoose shares some words of advice on the wonders...
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Why Are Songbirds Across The U.S. Mysteriously Dying? from 2021-07-16T12:37:50
A disease killing songbirds across the U.S. has left experts puzzled.
Kimberly Atkins Stohr explores why so many North American songbirds are mysteriously dying. Jennifer Toussaint, Mar...
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Scenes From The Cuba Protests from 2021-07-15T11:47:52
Protesters chanting ‘liberty!’ have taken to the streets across Cuba. Amid food shortages and a raging pandemic, Cubans are saying, ‘We’ve had enough.’ Orlando Luis Pardo Lazo, Mónica Baró Sánch...
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First Person: Rev. Joshua Lazard On How COVID Pushed Us 'To Our Better Angels' from 2021-07-14T14:04:43
Reverend Joshua Lazard joined On Point last year to share how faith communities across America were worshiping together during the coronavirus outbreak. He spoke with Kimberly Atkins Stohr about...
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Navigating The Vaccine Divide from 2021-07-14T12:11:59
As the COVID-19 Delta variant spreads, vaccination rates have slowed. What’s behind the growing vaccination divide? Dr. William Schaffner and Jeff Huntsinger join Kimberly Atkins Stohr.
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Reimagining The 40-Hour Work Week from 2021-07-13T12:47:51
Imagine if your employer said your company was shortening the working week. A recent study out of Iceland found that working a 36-hour week improved employee happiness without compromising produ...
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The Case For Rethinking American Libel Law from 2021-07-12T11:47:52
In 1964, Times v. Sullivan set the principle behind U.S. libel law. Now, two Supreme Court justices say in this social media era it’s time to revisit the ruling. Is it? RonNell Andersen Jones an...
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Amazon: The Prime Effect, Part 5 from 2021-07-09T12:25:52
That Amazon package at your door begins with power guzzling server farms. Distribution centers. Thousands of trucks. Commercial planes. And billions of cardboard boxes.
In the 5th episo...
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The Great Resignation: What's Driving America's Labor Gap from 2021-07-08T11:43:51
Something is happening in the workplace. More than 4 million Americans quit their jobs in April.
So what’s going on? We ask financial columnists Michelle Singletary and Rana Foroohar wh...
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Making Sense Of America's 'Great Demographic Illusion' from 2021-07-07T11:35:52
The Census Bureau projects that in less than 40 years America could become a majority-minority country. That brings anticipation for some, fear from others. Richard Alba says both presumptions a...
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The Mutual Benefits Of Kindness from 2021-07-06T12:12:01
Christine Sheil's mother suffered from dementia. To be closer to her mom, Christine volunteered to play music in her mother's assisted living facility. But it was Christine who also needed suppo...
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In 'Last Best Hope,' George Packer Asks If America Can Unite Again from 2021-07-02T11:55:53
Journalist George Packer says our country is divided into four factions “pitting tribe against tribe.”
He’s reported on political divides around the world. Does he think America can be ...
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What Britney Spears Teaches Us About Conservatorships In America from 2021-07-01T11:25:52
Britney Spears has had no control over her finances or life choices for over a decade. Last week, she told a judge she’s had enough. We learn how conservatorships are supposed to work, and what ...
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The NCAA, Supreme Court And The Future Of College Sports from 2021-06-30T11:39:51
The Supreme Court rules the NCAA can’t bar education-related payments to college athletes. Is this the beginning of the end of amateurism in college sports? Dennis Dodd and Michael McCann join M...
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Eviction Moratorium Extension: What Happens When It Expires? from 2021-06-29T11:49:52
The government's evictions moratorium has kept millions in their homes during the pandemic. It's been extended till the end of July. But what then? Emily Benfer and Molly Solomon join Meghna Cha...
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Pod Extra: Why Rep. David Cicilline Wants To Break Up Amazon from 2021-06-28T16:51:14
Our special series Amazon: The Prime Effect takes a look at the ways Amazon is changing the way we shop, work and live.
Congressman David Cicilline is the chair of the House subcommittee...
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Amazon: The Prime Effect, Part 4 from 2021-06-28T11:53:53
If you use Slack at work, Zoom for school or binge watch Netflix at home, guess what? You’re also using Amazon. Amazon Web Services currently controls 30% of the cloud computing market. The four...
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Amazon: The Prime Effect, Part 4 from 2021-06-28T11:53:53
If you use Slack at work, Zoom for school or binge watch Netflix at home, guess what? You’re also using Amazon. Amazon Web Services currently controls 30% of the cloud computing market. The fourth ...
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First Person: Brattle Book Shop's Ken Gloss On How Family Got Him Through The Pandemic from 2021-06-25T14:42:41
Over the past few weeks, we've been reconnecting with guests that we featured on the show across the pandemic.
Ken Gloss was with us last April. He's an antique book dealer and proprieto...
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Masks, Messaging And COVID: Ed Yong On Why Public Health Is A Shared Responsibility from 2021-06-25T11:29:50
The CDC now says if you’ve had a COVID vaccine, the choice is yours to wear a mask. Science writer Ed Yong says that’s bad public health PR. We'll hear why he thinks the message to the nation mu...
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In 'The Constitution of Knowledge,' Scholar Jonathan Rauch's Defense Of Truth from 2021-06-24T11:49:52
Disinformation. Social media trolling. Shutting down speech. What do these realities of modern life have in common? Jonathan Rauch says they're all signs of a society in the midst of an epistemi...
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Hungary's A Textbook Case For Democracy In Decline. Is America Next? from 2021-06-23T12:13:59
Political science scholars look at Viktor Orban's regime in Hungary as a textbook case of rapid democratic decline. Is America moving in a similar direction? We learn what Hungary can teach the ...
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Addressing The Racial Inequities Of The Interstate Highway System from 2021-06-22T12:26:08
The Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956 authorized the construction of 41,000 miles of interstate highways that would connect our nation. But those highways also displaced and divided Black communit...
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Inside Merrick Garland's Vision Of Justice from 2021-06-21T11:55:55
Three months into the job, we take a close look at the DOJ under Attorney General Merrick Garland. From the ballot box to domestic terrorism: what is Garland’s vision of justice? Paula Reid and ...
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First Person: Adrienne Maree Brown Finds Joy In Finding Her People from 2021-06-18T15:06:46
adrienne maree brown is a scholar and author of "Pleasure Activism: The Politics of Feeling Good."
In this diary, she reflects on a year-plus of COVID, and finding joy in the midst of o...
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The Political Past And Present Of Arizona Senator Kyrsten Sinema from 2021-06-18T11:41:53
Arizona’s Democratic senator Kyrsten Sinema says her ‘brand’ is bipartisanship. Sinema isn't an everyday senator. We talk with Arizonans about Sinema's life story, what she stands for, and what ...
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America's Electric Vehicle Future from 2021-06-17T11:42:25
President Biden took a spin in Ford's new all electric F-150. American automakers say it's not long before they'll completely stop making cars that run on gas. Is this the turning point towards ...
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In 'How Rights Went Wrong,' Reimagining America's Legal Approach To Rights from 2021-06-16T11:49:50
In the U.S., individual rights are sacrosanct. Legal scholar Jamal Greene calls that "rightsism," and says it's pushing the country in the wrong direction. We hear why he says it’s time to reduc...
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Former IRS Chiefs On How To Fix The Tax Gap from 2021-06-15T11:25:50
President Biden wants to increase the capital gains tax. Former IRS commissioners Charles Rossotti and Fred Goldberg say the administration should go after tax cheats instead. They've got a plan...
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Understanding Putin's Playbook In A Biden Presidency from 2021-06-14T11:31:50
U.S. President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin will soon meet face-to-face for the first time in 10 years. Much has changed in the world -- and in Putin himself. Understanding Vla...
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America's Crime Surge: Why Violence Is Rising, And Solutions To Fix It from 2021-06-11T11:29:51
The homicide rate in some large cities rose by 30% last year. The violence shows no signs of slowing down. We take a look at what's behind the sudden spike, and solutions that could reverse the ...
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What Climate Change Means For America's National Parks from 2021-06-10T11:29:55
Conserving America's most precious public lands. It's the founding duty of the National Park Service. But what does conservation mean with accelerating climate change? Patty Glick, John Clayton ...
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Democracy At Risk: Scholars Offer Warnings And What Can Be Done from 2021-06-09T11:56:38
"Our entire democracy is now at risk." Those are the unvarnished words of more than 100 scholars with expertise in the history of democratic breakdown around the world.
Now, they're warn...
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First Person: Virologist Stanley Perlman Reflects On A Year Of COVID from 2021-06-08T13:30:45
Dr. Stanley Perlman is a professor of microbiology, immunology and pediatrics at the University of Iowa. He has been studying coronaviruses for 40 years. In this diary, he reflects on how COVID ...
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From India To Latin America: Portraits Of A Global Pandemic Far From Over from 2021-06-08T12:17:51
Life is moving toward normal in the U.S. But the COVID pandemic is still surging internationally. We discuss what it will take to beat the global pandemic, everywhere in the world.
Dr. ...
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Pod Extra: A Conversation With Amazon Executive Dharmesh Mehta from 2021-06-07T16:13:32
In our series “Amazon: The Prime Effect,” we take a look at how the $1.6 trillion company is changing everything about how we live, work and shop.
Amazon’s size and influence over e-com...
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Amazon: The Prime Effect, Part 3 from 2021-06-07T12:47:51
Like everything with Amazon, its marketplace is big. Small businesses like Steve Chou’s Bumblebee Linens can soar. But is the marketplace also destroying main street brick and mortar stores? In ...
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Inside One Conservative Organization's Nationwide Efforts To Restrict Voting Rights from 2021-06-04T11:55:46
Critics say a nationwide effort to restrict voting rights is underway. At issue: A push by one conservative organization to tighten election laws across the nation.
They plan to spend 24...
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How Redistricting Could Change Electoral Maps In 2022 And Beyond from 2021-06-03T11:55:50
With majorities in many state legislatures, Republicans are drawing electoral maps to give them a boost in the 2022 midterms and beyond. Can Democrats in Washington stop them? Michael Li, Jack B...
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Exxon And Activism: The Oil Industry Reckons With Climate Change from 2021-06-02T11:37:50
ExxonMobil shareholders have elected two board members backed by activist investors. We discuss the new chapter in the battle to make energy companies face the threat of climate change -- and to...
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How To Cut Through The 'Noise' That Hinders Human Judgment from 2021-06-01T11:43:50
If you consult three doctors and get three different opinions, that’s an example of what Nobel Prize-winning psychologist Daniel Kahneman and his colleagues call “noise.” How do you decide what ...
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How Screen Time Shapes Kids from 2021-05-31T11:25:51
Online school. Virtual playdates. Video games. What does it mean for children that more and more of their world is now mediated through a screen? After the pandemic, how will they transition bac...
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How Work Culture Can Adjust To Pandemic Burnout from 2021-05-28T12:13:57
After over a year of working in a pandemic, employees have had enough. Can work culture adjust to employee burnout? Anne Helen Peterson, Charlie Warzel and Felicia Davis join Anthony Brooks.
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Inside The Push To Get Students Back To School from 2021-05-27T14:41:49
Education Secretary Miguel Cardona wants ‘back to school’ to mean just that. But are parents and teachers on board? Anthony Brooks hosts a conversation on the push to get students back in classr...
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The Supreme Court, Abortion And The Anti-Abortion Movement's Long Game from 2021-05-26T14:10:54
The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a Mississippi abortion case that could spell the end of Roe v. Wade. Meanwhile, abortion restrictions are being signed into laws at an unprecedented rate. We...
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Reflecting On George Floyd Square, One Year Later from 2021-05-25T12:07:54
A year since the murder of George Floyd. A year of protests and people demanding change. But was it enough? We look at the intersection where Floyd was killed — George Floyd Square — and what it...
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A History Of Black Rebellion In America from 2021-05-24T11:38:40
Violent protests over racism in the 1960s had a ubiquitous label: riot. Historian Elizabeth Hinton prefers another word: rebellion. We hear the untold history one year after George Floyd's murde...
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Baseball's Big Swing At Sports Betting: How It's Shaping The Future Of The MLB from 2021-05-21T12:13:50
Major League Baseball's embrace of the billion dollar American sports betting business. Will it sully the game? Or could it save it? David Purdum and Craig Calcaterra join Meghna Chakrabarti.
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Michelle Singletary Wants To Help You Protect Your Finances 'When Crisis Hits' from 2021-05-20T11:54:37
The economy is recovering from the pandemic. But what goes up, will some day come down. Financial columnist Michelle Singletary joins Meghna Chakrabarti for a conversation on how to best protect...
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First Person: A Reporter's Recollections Of The Capitol Riot from 2021-05-19T14:48:56
How do we find the truth about what happened on the day of the Capitol insurrection? CBS reporter Grace Segers reflects on what she remembers from Jan. 6.
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Documenting The Truth About The Capitol Insurrection from 2021-05-19T13:07:51
Some members of Congress are now denying the severity of the January 6th attack on the Capitol. What dangers do those denials themselves pose to U.S. democracy? Scott MacFarlane and Barbara McQu...
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Colonial Pipeline And What It Will Take To Keep America's Grids Secure from 2021-05-18T11:43:51
The shutdown of the Colonial Pipeline revealed a troubling weakness -- most of the nation's critical infrastructure is owned by private sector companies, and most of that infrastructure is vulne...
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'The Words That Made Us': Scholar Akhil Reed Amar On How To Better Understand The Constitution from 2021-05-17T11:31:50
What do Americans have in common? Scholar Akhil Reed Amar says the one thing every single American shares is the United States Constitution. He shares why he wants Americans to better understand...
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Work V. Wealth: Capital Gains Tax, Explained from 2021-05-14T12:11:51
The capital gains tax. The Biden administration wants to raise it. But why is capital taxed less than work to begin with? We hear the little-known biography of the capital gains tax. Julia Ott, ...
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Amazon: The Prime Effect, Part 2 from 2021-05-13T11:31:50
Who is Jeff Bezos? In the second part of our series Amazon: The Prime Effect, we learn about the man who built Amazon and the innovation he brings to everything. Brad Stone joins Meghna Chakraba...
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Liz Cheney, The Big Election Lie And The Future Of The GOP from 2021-05-12T11:59:50
Marginalizing Trump critics. Changing election law. Embracing lies. What does it mean to be a Republican in 2021? And what does that say about where the party is headed? Cas Mudde, Jack Beatty a...
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What To Know About Kids And COVID Vaccines from 2021-05-11T12:17:51
The FDA issues an emergency authorization for kids and the COVID vaccine. Does the rush to vaccinate children come with a different set of risks and benefits than with adults? Dr. Monica Gandhi,...
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In Author Ian Manuel's 'My Time Will Come,' Reflections On Life In Solitary Confinement from 2021-05-10T12:08:37
Ian Manuel was placed in solitary confinement for a crime he committed just after the seventh grade. For 18 years, he lived in a 7-by-10-foot room. For 18 years, he did not have a window. Now, h...
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First Person: The Sounds, Tastes And Biology Of Cicadas from 2021-05-07T15:43:05
It's been 17 years since we last heard the sound of the cicada. Any day now, trillions of them will emerge out of the ground in parts of the eastern and Midwestern United States. It's a wonder o...
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They Sing, Mate, Then Die: The Wonders Of The Cicada from 2021-05-07T11:55:51
After 17 years underground, periodical cicadas are emerging in 15 states. They sing. Mate. Then die. We hear the wonders of the period cicada. Jessica Ware joins Meghna Chakrabarti.
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How To Return To Normalcy Without Herd Immunity from 2021-05-06T11:41:55
In the past, Dr. Anthony Fauci has said he'd like to see more than 75% of Americans get the vaccine. Now, Fauci and others public health experts like former FDA commissioner Scott Gottlieb are s...
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How Reforming Qualified Immunity Could Transform Policing In America from 2021-05-05T11:35:51
For more than half a century, so-called qualified immunity has shielded police officers from lawsuits. Now, Congress and some state houses are considering changing that. We discuss how reforming...
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The Future Of Work? Where You Want It To Be from 2021-05-04T11:31:52
It’s long been presumed that people will move to places where there are jobs. But is that changing? In a post-pandemic world, will we see a shift to jobs moving to where people are? Rana Forooha...
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Pod Extra: Dr. Anthony Fauci On The 'Mystical Terminology Of Herd Immunity' from 2021-05-03T15:43:07
The United States is at a new inflection point in the COVID-19 pandemic. Public health experts are beginning to say that the country may not reach so-called "vaccine-mediated herd immunity."
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How The Extreme Wealth Gap Harms Us All from 2021-05-03T11:43:52
There’s the age-old truism: Money can’t buy happiness. Yet we often believe that inordinate wealth would in fact be freeing. Mother Jones’ senior editor Michael Mechanic set out to understand th...
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Rural Internet Access: How To Get Broadband Across America from 2021-04-30T13:08:27
The internet is essential for modern life. Yet millions of Americans who live rural areas don't have access to it. Does the Biden administration's infrastructure plan have what will it take to g...
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Biden's 100 Days: What We've Learned About The Man, President And Country from 2021-04-29T11:31:53
Biden's first 100 days. Has President Biden reached his goals? What kind of president is Joe Biden? And how is the presidency shaping him? Jack Beatty, Amie Parnes and Shailagh Murray join Meghn...
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Exploring Mars To Better Understand Earth from 2021-04-28T11:38:03
Was Mars once like Earth? Can you imagine the red planet once a verdant green? That might be stretching it a bit, but NASA scientists are on an ambitious hunt for evidence of ancient Martian mic...
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What Anti-Protest Bills Reveal About The State Of U.S. Democracy from 2021-04-27T11:35:52
In the 2021 legislative session, lawmakers in 34 states have introduced more than 80 anti-protest bills. The proposals include civil immunity for people who drive their cars into crowds of prote...
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First Person: Litigator David Boies On Antitrust, Tech And The Government V. Microsoft from 2021-04-26T14:36:58
In part one of our series The Prime Effect, we focused on Amazon's power as the largest retailer in the world. But of course, it's not just a retailer. Amazon is a massive technology company, an...
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Amazon: The Prime Effect, Part 1 from 2021-04-26T11:43:51
It’s not just a retailer. So what is Amazon? Hear part one in our series on how Amazon is changing the way we shop, work and live. New installments air every 2 weeks.
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Rethinking American Cyber Security from 2021-04-23T12:35:53
When Russian Intelligence used a Texas company’s software update to launch a cyberattack against the U.S. last December, it showed just how vulnerable the U.S. is to cyberattacks. We discuss wha...
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The Psychology Of Climate Change from 2021-04-22T12:25:54
Climate change presents a grim future. We know what we’re up against, yet our impulse is to look away, to say we’ll worry about it later. The psychology of climate change and how to engage. Rene...
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The Chauvin Verdict, Accountability And What Police Reform In America Should Look Like from 2021-04-21T12:23:51
A jury finds former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin guilty on all counts in the murder of George Floyd. We discuss America’s reckoning with racism and policing after the Chauvin verdict...
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What We're Learning From The U.S. Vaccine Rollout from 2021-04-20T12:23:58
Ten million doses stuck on the shelf. We discuss what we’re learning from the vaccine rollout, and answer all the questions you have about COVID vaccines. Dr. Saad Omer, Rupali Limaye, Pam Chatm...
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Corporate Activism: Why Big Business Is Taking A Stand In Partisan Politics from 2021-04-19T12:25:54
After Georgia passed restrictive voting laws, corporate leaders spoke out. We discuss this new wave of corporate activism and what comes next. Ronnie Chatterji, Ashley Spillane and Jack Beatty j...
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First Person: Reflections On Rodney King's Legacy Through The Eyes Of His Daughter from 2021-04-16T15:31:04
Nearly 30 years before the video of George Floyd's death sparked protests across the nation, there was another video. It captured a brutal police beating of a man named Rodney King.
In M...
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Chauvin Trial: A Look Back At 1992 LA And America Since Rodney King from 2021-04-16T12:31:51
Listener advisory: This hour contains explicit language. When quoting language used by police officers assaulting Rodney King in 1991, a guest uses a racial slur. The word is uttered by John Bur...
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A Different Kind of COVID Test: Standardized Assessments During The Pandemic from 2021-04-15T12:11:51
The Biden administration says it won't allow states to cancel annual standardized testing. Some parents and educators are pushing back. We take a look at what statewide assessments measure durin...
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Is Politics Filling The God Gap? from 2021-04-14T11:44:54
A recent Gallup poll found that fewer than half of Americans belong to a house of worship. But while Americans might be losing their religion, they are not losing their religious fervor. What’s ...
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Understanding China's Rise As A Global Power from 2021-04-13T11:37:58
What does China want its future to be? How does it see its own rise as a global power? We discuss what we need to understand about the story China tells about itself. Tong Zhao, Dr. Yangyang Che...
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High Conflict And How To Free Yourself From It from 2021-04-12T11:30:32
Investigative journalist Amanda Ripley wanted to understand the sources of human conflict. So she studied it for more than four years. She detected a strong pattern to the most intractable confl...
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Your Questions On COVID Variants, Answered from 2021-04-09T11:53:53
Variants. They're all over the news. We push beyond the headlines and answer everything you want to know about COVID variants. Tara C. Smith, Angela Rasmussen and Mary Jo Ondrechen join Meghna C...
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How To Prevent America's Looming Fertility Crisis from 2021-04-08T11:37:53
For decades, sperm counts in Western countries have been in sharp decline. Researcher Shanna Swan joins Meghna Chakrabarti to tell us why, and what needs to be done to stop what could soon be a ...
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Could Raising Corporate Taxes Help Rebuild U.S. Infrastructure? from 2021-04-07T11:35:52
Biden's $2 trillion plan to rebuild the nation’s infrastructure. How does he say he'll get it done? By raising corporate taxes. We discuss corporations, taxation and American infrastructure. Pam...
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'I'm Just Going To Keep Working': One American's Story Navigating A Broken Retirement System from 2021-04-06T13:48:51
Saving for a comfortable retirement -- beyond Social Security -- almost always works best when you start saving early, and then continue to save throughout your entire working life. But as you'l...
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Millions Of Americans Can't Save For Retirement. These Economists Have A Plan To Change That from 2021-04-06T12:13:53
A pair of economists from either side of the aisle have a plan to help the millions of low income Americans who can't save for retirement. We talk about it. Teresa Ghilarducci and Kevin Hassett ...
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The Chauvin Trial And The Re-traumatizing Experience Of Remembering from 2021-04-05T12:17:50
The trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin enters its second week. We talk about what’s unfolded thus far in the courtroom, and how Minneapolis and the Black community are resp...
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Why Science Says Your Best Years Are Yet To Come from 2021-04-02T14:15:43
New studies show that even in the midst of a pandemic that disproportionately took older lives, people over 50 were generally mentally better off, more resilient -- possibly even happier. We hea...
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'Life's Edge': Science Writer Carl Zimmer's Search For What It Means To Be Alive from 2021-04-01T13:47:48
Scientists to this day can’t define what life is. For every definition, there’s an animal, a plant -- something that breaks the rules. So how does science answer that? Writer Carl Zimmer joins M...
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What Arizona's Push To Limit Mail-In Voting Reveals About Voting Rights Nationwide from 2021-03-31T12:25:52
Georgia's new election law isn't the only major voting change in the works. We look at efforts in Arizona to limit how people vote by mail. Jeremy Duda, Michelle Ugenti-Rita, Jack Beatty, Bertra...
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Solving The Mystery Of The Pandemic's Origin Story from 2021-03-30T12:23:51
Scientists investigating the pandemic still can't pinpoint the exact origin of the coronavirus that caused it. The WHO is poised to report on its search — but some are skeptical about their conc...
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Should A President Need Congressional Approval To Declare War? from 2021-03-29T12:07:55
We hear from Democratic and Republican representatives who want to change how the United States goes to war.
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The Jackson, Mississippi Water Crisis And America's Fragile Water System from 2021-03-26T11:49:57
When unusual winter storms battered the South this year, the people of Jackson, Mississippi lost clean drinking water for almost a month. Jackson is just one of many American communities relying...
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Insurrection To Prosecution: What We Know About The Capitol Riot from 2021-03-25T11:25:56
At least 400 people have been charged for the Capitol insurrection. Former lead prosecutor Michael Sherwin says those charges could soon include sedition. Over two months later, what have we lea...
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Vaccine Patents, Global Equity And How To Vaccinate The World from 2021-03-24T11:56:04
Rich and middle-income countries have received nearly all of the available COVID-19 vaccines so far. Now there’s a push for pharmaceutical companies to waive vaccine patents so poorer countries ...
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First Person: Keeping The Wampanoag Language Alive from 2021-03-23T14:48:46
In Massachusetts and Rhode Island, the language of the Mashpee Wampanoag was wiped out more than a century ago. But in the mid-1990s, an effort began to revive and reinvigorate the language: the Wô...
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First Person: Keeping The Wampanoag Language Alive from 2021-03-23T14:48:46
In Massachusetts and Rhode Island, the language of the Mashpee Wampanoag was wiped out more than a century ago. But in the mid-1990s, an effort began to revive and reinvigorate the language: the...
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American Rescue Plan: Is It A Turning Point For Native American Communities? from 2021-03-23T11:56:22
President Biden's American Rescue Plan contains massive spending measures for Native American communities. What will it take to turn the dollars into actual transformation? Dante Desiderio, Dr. ...
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What The Georgia Shootings Reveal About Anti-Asian Racism In The U.S. from 2021-03-22T11:53:48
We discuss the connection between rising violence now, and America's history of anti-Asian discrimination. Kelly Yang, Doris Chang and Sung Yeon Choimorrow join Meghna Chakrabarti.
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Is Reaganomics Dead? from 2021-03-19T12:49:57
In the 1980s, Ronald Reagan said: “The nine most terrifying words in the English language are, 'I’m from the government and I’m here to help.'”
Four decades later, President Biden says: ...
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America's West Faces A Megadrought. What's The Solution? from 2021-03-18T12:11:52
The western U.S. is no stranger to drought. But this isn't any dry spell. More than 70% of the West is exceptionally parched. Could it be a permanent change? Brad Udall and Colby Pellegrino join...
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Children At The Border: What's Biden Doing To Address The Crisis? from 2021-03-17T11:32:23
There's a surge of migrant children crossing the southern border.
When it comes to immigration, a long-term challenge besets a new administration. We discuss what the Biden administration...
How Non-Fungible Tokens Are Digitally Disrupting The Future Of Art from 2021-03-16T11:55:52
NFTs, or non-fungible tokens are shaking up the art world. So much so that one piece of crypto art recently auctioned for more than $69 million. We explore what non-fungible tokens are, and why the...
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Homeownership As A Luxury Good? The Pandemic's Impact On The Housing Market from 2021-03-15T12:06:36
Is homeownership now a luxury? We talk to Redfin CEO Glenn Kelman, and our favorite money ladies, Rana Foroohar and Michelle Singletary, about how the pandemic economy is impacting the American hou...
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A Look At Lesser-Known Parts Of The COVID Relief Bill, From Farming To Health Care from 2021-03-12T11:55:54
The Biden administration's $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan. We talk about the lesser-known aspects of the plan, from farming to health care. Lisa DesJardins, Lloyd Wright and Jonathan Cohn join ...
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Pod Extra: Sherry Turkle On What A Year Of COVID Teaches Us About Empathy from 2021-03-11T15:31:18
March 11th marks the one year anniversary of the WHO declaring COVID-19 a global pandemic.
And in our regular hour, we talked with MIT professor Sherry Turkle about how society has change...
What We've Learned From A Pandemic Year from 2021-03-11T12:39:05
March 11, 2020 marks the day the WHO declared COVID-19 a pandemic. A year later, what has humanity learned about itself? We discuss humanity, empathy and the pandemic year. Sherry Turkle and Michae...
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Radio Diary: A Walk Through The History Of The Filibuster from 2021-03-10T15:24:50
On today's program, we discussed the filibuster in the U.S. Senate.
There's a sense that the filibuster has been part of the procedures of the Senate since time immemorial. So we wanted t...
Inside The Fight To Reform The Senate Filibuster from 2021-03-10T11:37:52
The fight over the filibuster. Does the filibuster bring better solutions to the country’s biggest problems, or no solutions at all? Adam Jentleson, Rich Arenberg and Jack Beatty join Meghna Chakra...
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Vaccine Passports: Public Health Tool, Or Invasion Of Civil Liberties? from 2021-03-09T11:59:51
Vaccine passports. They give those vaccinated against COVID-19 access to places the unvaccinated can't get into -- gyms, bars, schools. It's a tool for public health in a pandemic, and a tool to cu...
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Exploring The Difference Between Equity And Equality In America from 2021-03-08T12:17:54
The Biden administration says racial justice is a top priority. But what does equity mean when it comes to government policy? We explore the overlap -- and tensions -- between equity and equality i...
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What The Future Holds For The U.S. Relationship With Saudi Arabia from 2021-03-05T11:49:52
President Joe Biden once said Saudi Arabia would pay for the brutal killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. But now as president, Biden is taking a softer approach. Is it time to reassess the U.S.-S...
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Amazon's Union Tipping Point from 2021-03-04T12:29:58
For years, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has said the company didn’t need unions.
But between pandemic safety concerns and a president said to be the most pro-union since FDR, could an Amazon ...
How Illinois Eliminated Cash Bail from 2021-03-03T12:17:51
What happens when people can't post cash bail? They're stuck in jail. For months. In some cases, years, before they ever get to trial. Recently, Illinois became the first state to eliminate cash ba...
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Radio Diary: 'How Can All This Stress Be On One Person?' from 2021-03-02T15:34:43
17-year-old Allure and her mother live in Newark, New Jersey. They're just one of the millions of American families whose lives could be transformed if a child poverty proposal passes in Washington...
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Congress Could Lift Millions Of Children Out Of Poverty. Will Politics Get In The Way? from 2021-03-02T12:05:53
There's a potentially historic push to reduce child poverty in this country, with bipartisan agreement that something could be done. But will politics get in the way of a real solution? Jamila Mich...
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Rethinking How We Approach Long-Term Care In The U.S. from 2021-03-01T12:02:38
Nursing homes in crisis. Is it time to rethink how they work? We talk about alternative models for nursing homes and how to build a better long-term care system in the U.S. Katie Smith Sloan, Jack ...
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The Threat At Home: How The U.S. Will Confront Domestic Terrorism from 2021-02-26T11:59:52
October 2020. Investigators say more than a dozen men spent months training to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer. It was, legal experts agree, an act of domestic terrorism. So was the deadl...
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Using 'Systems Thinking' To Make Sense Of The World, From Pandemics To Politics from 2021-02-25T11:37:52
To solve a puzzle, you never just look at one piece of it. So why do we try to tackle the most complex problems of modern life in such a piecemeal fashion?
From pandemics to politics, we discus...
Why Facebook Turned Off The News In Australia from 2021-02-24T12:30:11
Facebook hits delete on the news in Australia in response to regulation. Should the platform hold this level of power? And what could the standoff mean for journalism on social media worldwide? Eli...
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From Variants To Vaccines: The Future Of COVID-19 from 2021-02-23T11:49:52
Vaccine distribution, across the U.S. and the globe, is ramping up. But new variant cases are rising in the United States, waits for the vaccine are long, and most of us just want to know -- how wi...
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What's Behind The Push To Revive Congressional Earmarks from 2021-02-22T12:07:49
Democrats in Congress are pushing to revive earmarking, a process that will allow legislators to direct federal spending to their districts. They see it as a way to push policies forward. But earma...
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How Texas's Power Grid Failed from 2021-02-19T12:11:58
Texas is the biggest energy producing state in the U.S. But this week’s frigid weather crashed the system. So what happened? We look into the state's vulnerable power grid and how we make it better...
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Radio Diary: Insurrection — And A Viral Moment Of Empathy from 2021-02-18T15:54:42
On today's program, we talked about the decades-long debate over whether Washington, D.C. should be granted statehood and the new energy behind that push. We also revisited a moment that reflects a...
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Inside The Push To Make Washington, D.C. The 51st State from 2021-02-18T12:01:50
More people live in Washington, D.C. than in Wyoming or Vermont. But without statehood, residents of D.C. have no voting member in Congress. We discuss the new push by Democrats to make D.C. the 51...
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What The Science Says About How To Reopen Schools from 2021-02-17T11:49:50
The back to school debate rages on amidst the pandemic. While some large school districts reopen for in-person learning, some say we’re not ready. Will new guidance from the CDC change the conversa...
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The Battle For The Ballot from 2021-02-16T11:47:52
Some Republican politicians oppose liberalizing access to the ballot. They’re pushing legislation to restrict the right to vote as Democrats fight back. We discuss the battle for the ballot. Alex K...
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Trump's Acquittal: What It Means For The Republican Party from 2021-02-15T11:59:52
The Senate voted to acquit former President Donald Trump. We discuss what it means for the Republican Party and the nation. Michael Whatley, Norman Ornstein and Jack Beatty join Anthony Brooks.
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'People Will Bounce Back': How COVID-19 Parallels Past Pandemics from 2021-02-12T12:28:45
In this radio diary, clinical psychologist Steven Taylor discusses his book "The Psychology of Pandemics" and shares how the coronavirus pandemic parallels past pandemics.
"People will ha...
How You're Doing: The Pandemic's Impact On Mental Health from 2021-02-12T12:05:51
A year of COVID, economic downturns and poisonous politics. So how are you doing? Really. We discuss the pandemic's impact on collective mental health. Dr. Luana Marques and Dr. Kevin Simon join Me...
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'California Exodus': Why Are So Many People Leaving The Golden State? from 2021-02-11T11:48:03
The 'California exodus.' From big tech to everyday Americans, many are leaving California. What's driving the state's record low population growth? Lauren Hepler and Adam J. Fowler join Meghna Chak...
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Risk And COVID-19: Are We Talking About It All Wrong? from 2021-02-10T11:53:49
Communicating the risks of a disease like COVID is a huge challenge, especially when information is new and changing, and the media is tilted toward emphasizing negative risks.
Did expert...
Why India's Farmers Are Protesting from 2021-02-09T12:01:51
Millions of farmers are protesting in India. What's driving them? And what does it reveal about India? Mandakini Gahlot and Vikas Rawal join Meghna Chakrabarti.
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What's At Stake In Trump's Second Impeachment Trial from 2021-02-08T11:53:51
The second impeachment trial of Donald Trump begins tomorrow. It's the first-ever trial of a former president. What's at stake? Kate Shaw, Lisa DesJardins and Jack Beatty join Meghna Chakrabarti.
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Radio Diary: The Consequences Of America's 'Stupid Coup' from 2021-02-05T15:09:01
How does the world see America’s insurrection, the election and lies that preceded it, and the politics that followed it? What do they see, that Americans can’t see ourselves?
Indi Samaraj...
First Person: The Consequences Of America's 'Stupid Coup' from 2021-02-05T14:09:01
How does the world see America’s insurrection, the election and lies that preceded it, and the politics that followed it? What do they see, that Americans can’t see ourselves?
Indi Samaraj...
Following The Money Behind The Capitol Insurrection from 2021-02-05T11:43:50
The rally before the attack on the Capitol. Who funded it? How much did they spend? Who are they funding now? We talk dark money and the insurrection. Meredith McGehee and Mike Spies join Meghna Ch...
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The Perilous Power Of Social Media Platforms from 2021-02-04T11:49:52
Social media platforms have immense power, from shutting down voices to amplifying what we see. But is that singular power perilous to democracy? Shoshana Zuboff, Guillaume Chaslot and Ramesh Srini...
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Radio Diary: Inside The Composition Of A Space Force Anthem from 2021-02-03T12:44:12
What would an anthem for the U.S. Space Force sound like? Well, cue the Voices of Freedom, a Miami, Florida music group.
Brothers Miguel and Federico Arango formed Voices of Freedom to sin...
Space Force Is Here To Stay. But What Is Its Mission? from 2021-02-03T11:55:51
The U.S. Space Force, a new military branch, celebrated its first birthday last month. But what exactly is its mission? We find out. Todd Harrison and Joan Johnson-Freese join Meghna Chakrabarti.
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What The GameStop Saga Reveals About Wall Street from 2021-02-02T11:47:51
Redditors banded together to rock the stock market. What does GameStop actually tell us about wealth, power and how Wall Street works? Alexis Goldstein and Jacob Frenkel join Meghna Chakrabarti.
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How Democrat Joe Manchin Might Sway The Power Of A Split Senate from 2021-02-01T12:23:49
The Senate is split 50-50. The power center of gravity? Democrat Joe Manchin. How will he wield his influence? Professor Robert Rupp, Belinda Biafore, Jack Beatty and Sahil Kapur join Meghna Chakra...
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What The U.S. Can Do To Speed Up COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution from 2021-01-29T11:44:36
President Joe Biden's new bar for the COVID vaccine rollout: 200 million doses by summer. But what about people who hope to get the vaccine now? What can the government really do to speed up distri...
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Avril Haines And The Future Of America's Drone Wars from 2021-01-27T11:49:49
Avril Haines, the director of National Intelligence, says the DNI must work in a way that is "ethical, is wise, is lawful and effective." What does her work supporting the Obama administration's dr...
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Murder At Fort Bragg: Investigating White Supremacy Within Military Ranks from 2021-01-26T14:40:45
In 1995, three white soldiers shot and killed a Black couple in Fayetteville, North Carolina. George Reed was an Army CID supervisor assigned to the case. Over 25 years later, the details are still...
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Extremism In The Military And How To Root It Out from 2021-01-26T12:54:25
Nearly 20% of people charged in connection with the Capitol attack have some sort of military background. How far-reaching is extremism in the United States military? Col. Jeff McCausland and Heidi...
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What's In Biden's COVID Economic Relief Plan? from 2021-01-25T12:29:50
President Biden’s $1.9 trillion COVID economic relief plan is on the table. We talk about President Biden's first big legislative push. Erica Werner, Lily Roberts, Kevin Mumford and Rep. Hakeem Jef...
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Historians Reflect On The White House Presidential Transition from 2021-01-22T11:41:59
The transition in the White House has taken place. Is the nation capable of change? How do historians look upon this moment? We hear their long view of this extraordinary month. Lisa Tetrault, Peni...
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What To Know About The First Executive Orders Of The Biden Administration from 2021-01-21T11:50:26
President Joe Biden signs 17 executive orders in his first hours in office. We dig into what they say, where Biden might succeed and what policies will meet resistance. Barbara Perry, Kimberly Atki...
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How Joe Biden's Catholic Faith Informs His Politics from 2021-01-20T15:05:50
President Joe Biden carries a rosary in his pocket and attends Mass regularly. How does his faith inform his politics? And where does Biden's Catholicism land in the spectrum of American Catholic b...
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How This Photojournalist Captured Barack Obama's Favorite Election 2008 Photo from 2021-01-19T12:30:51
On election night 2008, photojournalist Matt Mendelsohn went to the Lincoln Memorial and took a picture of the people gathered there -- the quiet moment the photograph captures is almost impossible...
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Inside The Last-Minute Policy Shifts Of The Trump Administration from 2021-01-19T11:37:51
In its final days of power, the Trump administration is making last minute policy changes on the environment, foreign policy and national security. How will these moves influence the first weeks of...
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Radio Diary: How One Cafe Maintains Community Amid LA's COVID Surge from 2021-01-18T15:58:45
Los Angeles is experiencing a devastating coronavirus surge. On Saturday, LA County became the first county to reach 1 million cases since the start of the pandemic.
The pandemic is havin...
In LA, 10 People Test Positive For COVID-19 Every Minute. What's Behind The Surge? from 2021-01-18T11:55:49
Los Angeles county is one of the hottest COVID hotspots in the U.S. right now. Every minute, on average, 10 more people test positive. Can Los Angeles get control of the surge? Dr. Elaine Batchlor ...
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Mailbag: Your Voicemails On Insurrection, Impeachment And Democracy from 2021-01-15T13:24:23
Listener voices drive On Point. We get many voicemails, emails and social media messages with thoughts, concerns and questions.
Today, as a pod exclusive, we share some of your messages a...
Voter Roundtable: Americans Talk Across Political Divides from 2021-01-15T12:07:49
We bring back guests from our voter roundtable series to hear how they're thinking through insurrection and impeachment. Can Americans talk with each other across political divides?
Lucas...
The Racist Roots Of The Capitol Insurrection from 2021-01-14T11:47:52
America's racist roots were on display as pro-Trump extremists paraded the confederate flag in the Capitol on Jan. 6th. We discuss race, racism and the role it played in last week's attack on the C...
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How To Quell A Domestic Insurgency from 2021-01-13T11:49:57
Pro-Trump extremists breached the Capitol, attacked police and called for the Vice President's execution. Now, national security experts see an even bigger danger. Are we facing domestic insurgency...
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Insurrection And Its Aftermath: What Should Accountability Look Like? from 2021-01-12T11:37:49
House Democrats introduce an article of impeachment. What should accountability look like in the aftermath of the attack on the Capitol? Rep. Jason Crow, Rep. Ruben Gallego, Olivia Troye and Kate S...
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Online Extremists And Law Enforcement: Lessons From The Capitol Hill Insurrection from 2021-01-11T12:37:51
Right-wing extremists plotted their Capitol insurrection openly on social media. So, what are they saying they'll do next? And this time, will law enforcement pay attention? David Ignatius, Alexand...
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Making Sense Of The Week: Pro-Trump Riot At Capitol, Democrats Win Senate from 2021-01-08T13:25:48
Republican Mitch McConnell sends a warning to party rebels. Rioters attack the Capitol. Democrats win the Senate. We make sense of a historic week. Jack Beatty, Rose Scott and Heather Cox Richardso...
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As Calls For Trump's Removal Increase, What Happens Next? from 2021-01-07T20:23:50
Calls grow for the president's removal, from top Democrats and at least one Republican. In a special edition of On Point, we make sense of chaos and insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. How can we res...
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Chaos At The Capitol: Insurrection And What It Means For America from 2021-01-07T12:47:50
Yesterday, a mob descended on the United States Capitol. The world witnessed the consequences of rhetoric that subverts the truth and incites violence. We discuss what yesterday’s chaos means for o...
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'Stay Above It': Ex-Defense Secretary Hagel's Call To Protect The Nation from 2021-01-06T16:13:14
As President Trump continues his efforts to overturn the results of the presidential election, Hagel joins On Point senior editor Dorey Scheimer for an extended conversation on the presidency, mili...
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Former Defense Secretary William Cohen On How Trump's Push To Overturn The Election Threatens Democracy from 2021-01-06T11:43:51
President Donald Trump is attempting to subvert the will of the voters and overturn his election loss. But is he considering using the military to do so? We have an extended conversation with forme...
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Vaccine Mistrust And How To Overcome It from 2021-01-05T11:29:50
The pandemic could end in 2021, if enough Americans get vaccinated. But many don't want to. We take a look at what's driving that fear, and what it will take to overcome COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy....
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The Racial History Of Georgia's Runoff Elections from 2021-01-04T13:09:47
The winners in Georgia’s runoff election will tilt the balance of power in the U.S. Senate. So, what is a runoff election anyway and why don’t all states do it? Experts say it’s all rooted in racis...
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On Point's Year In Radio Diaries from 2021-01-01T12:25:14
Across 2020, we heard your stories: from health care workers to an unemployed mom to a journalist who was tear-gassed. Meghna Chakrabarti listens back to some favorite radio diaries.
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The Trap Of Meritocracy from 2020-12-31T12:17:48
What has become of the common good? Political theorist Michael Sandel traces how meritocracy went from a satiric idea in the 1950s to a bedrock of American culture – and what we might have lost in ...
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How To Embrace The Uncertainty Of A Pandemic from 2020-12-30T12:01:51
We talk with entrepreneur and author Margaret Heffernan about how we can best survive -- and even embrace -- the chaos of a pandemic.
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Confronting Misconceptions Around Race With Michelle Singletary from 2020-12-29T12:11:59
Over her decades-long career, racism has never been far from journalist Michelle Singletary’s experience in the newsroom. Now, she’s confronting misconceptions around race. Michelle Singletary join...
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'Our Malady': Historian Timothy Snyder On America's Health Care Problem from 2020-12-28T11:53:50
In December 2019, historian Tim Snyder got so sick he almost died. Snyder says his hospital experience taught him about the powerful relationship between health and liberty in the United States. Ti...
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The Rare, Elusive Spirit Bears Of British Columbia from 2020-12-25T11:37:50
Kermode bears, also known as spirit bears, are incredibly elusive. They live only in one section of British Columbia’s central coast, and a new study indicates the gene that turns their fur white i...
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Pod Extra: Your Stories of Kindness from 2020-12-24T14:31
Today, we wanted to share a small gift — an On Point holiday present, if you will.
Last week, we explored the mutual benefit of kindness: how being kind to others not only helps the recipi...
Pandemic, Protests And Politics: Year In Review from 2020-12-24T11:47:50
In a year defined by the pandemic, protests and politics, we look back on 2020 with journalists from around the country. Rose Scott, Stephen Henderson, Jackie Fortiér and Shane Dixon Kavanaugh join...
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What Environmentalists Think Of Biden's Climate Cabinet from 2020-12-23T11:26:01
President-elect Joe Biden has named his new environment team. But what can they realistically achieve -- and are they ambitious enough? Evan Weber, Lisa DeVille and Shalanda Baker join Meghna Chakr...
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Congress, COVID And Poverty In America from 2020-12-22T12:06
Congress passed an economic relief deal. Will it measure up to needs? We discuss how politics caused a massive surge in American poverty. James Sullivan and Rev. William Barber join Meghna Chakraba...
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The 'Covidization' Of Science from 2020-12-21T11:48:01
It’s been a landmark year for science. How did the science community do it — and at what cost? Ed Yong and Jennifer Doudna join Meghna Chakrabarti.
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President-Elect Biden Says America Is Back. Is That True? from 2020-12-18T12:02:01
President-elect Joe Biden says ‘America first’ is history. But is the U.S. as world leader history, too? We discuss Biden's foreign policy team and America's place on the world stage. Peter Beinart...
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Radio Diary: The Kindness Of A Phone Call from 2020-12-17T13:40:46
Allyson Cook is a 23. She’s a grad student at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
And since the pandemic began, she’s been volunteering for something called the Get Conne...
What Democratic Rep. Vicente Gonzalez Wants His Party To Know About Latino Voters from 2020-12-16T11:47:50
Republicans made inroads among Latinos this election – the same voters that Democrats also believe are key to the future of their party. We talk with Democrat Vicente Gonzalez about the lessons he ...
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From Patient Care To Vaccine Distribution: The Ethical Dilemmas Of The Pandemic from 2020-12-15T12:17:49
The pandemic has been rife with ethical dilemmas: from patient care to vaccine distribution nationwide. We discuss how to think through the ethical implications of COVID-19. Yolonda Wilson and Akil...
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'Did I Do The Right Thing?': An ER Doctor On Ethics Of The Pandemic from 2020-12-15T12:10:49
Amal Mattu is an emergency physician at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore. He’s been an emergency physician for more than 25 years. And in those 25 years, he says the ER has co...
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The Electoral College Vote, And What Happens Next from 2020-12-14T11:53:57
Dec. 14 marks the day electors from 50 states meet to certify election results. The states have already certified their votes. But key Republicans are still filing lawsuits to overturn the result. ...
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Radio Diary: Navajo Nation's Coronavirus Surge from 2020-12-11T15:48:45
Jonathan Nez, president of the Navajo Nation, speaks with Meghna Chakrabarti about the current coronavirus wave in Navajo Nation and why it's much more dire than the first COVID outbreak this spring.
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Biden's Health Care Team: How Will They Tackle The Pandemic? from 2020-12-11T11:19:53
President-elect Joe Biden announced his health care team this week. We check out their credentials and ask if they’re up to the task of pushing back the pandemic and pushing forward health care in ...
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Pod Extra: Sadiqa Reynolds On Policing, Breonna Taylor And More from 2020-12-10T15:43:04
On today's show, we spoke with the student journalists who discovered State Police had used a training manual with quotations from Adolf Hitler.
In this web exclusive, Meghna Chakrabarti follo...
In Kentucky, Student Journalists Uncover Nazi Imagery In Police Training from 2020-12-10T11:55:52
In Kentucky, a high school newspaper uncovered a disturbing story. For years, the State Police had used a training manual celebrating quotations from Adolf Hitler. Today, the student journalists sh...
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Radio Diary: A Family's Lessons From Australia's Coronavirus Lockdown from 2020-12-09T12:42:17
Not that long ago, Megan Bates, Craig Bates, their two sons and the rest of Melbourne, Australia emerged from one of the longest, most restrictive COVID-19 lockdowns anywhere in the world.
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How Australia Beat COVID-19 from 2020-12-09T12:42:10
"We need[ed] to sacrifice in the short-term to gain the long-term back -- and to gain our lives. And it worked.” That's how the Australians beat back the COVID pandemic to just a few cases across t...
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Section 230: Big Tech's Legal Shield, And The Future Of The Internet from 2020-12-08T11:23:51
Section 230 protects internet companies from liability for publishing offensive material. Now, there's a move to do something to change section 230. How would it change the internet? Emma Llansó jo...
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Canceling Student Loan Debt: Is It Possible? from 2020-12-07T11:47:50
There's energy and pushback over a big Democratic policy proposal: forgiving student loan debt. We discuss the debate over student loan forgiveness. Naomi Zewde and Beth Akers join Meghna Chakrabarti.
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Can Biden's Economic Team Reverse The Pandemic Economy? from 2020-12-04T11:59:49
President-Elect Joe Biden has named his new economic team. What do they need to do to help Americans, and are they the team to accomplish it? Rana Foroohar, Michelle Singletary and Jack Beatty join...
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Why Scholar Loretta Ross Is 'Calling In' Callout Culture from 2020-12-03T12:25:49
Loretta Ross is a Black feminist, activist and scholar. One of her biggest concerns now? The pervasiveness of callout culture. We hear why Professor Ross wants to call people in instead of calling ...
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Radio Diary: A Doctor's Mission To End COVID-19 Racial Health Inequities from 2020-12-02T14:10:46
At the start of the pandemic, Dr. Ala Stanford started hearing from her Black friends that they were not able to get coronavirus tests. She decided to change that by founding the Black Doctors COVI...
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Race, Health And The Pandemic With Dr. David Satcher from 2020-12-02T12:07:48
Dr. David Satcher grew up in the segregated south. He went on to serve as the 16th U.S. surgeon general and director of the CDC. We talk to him about race, health and the pandemic. Dr. David Satche...
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Radio Diary: On The Frontlines from 2020-12-01T14:22:54
The U.S. health care system relies on tens of thousands of workers -- nurses, doctors, lab technicians, porters, food service workers, sanitation workers and many more.
But in the midst of...
Nurses Share Stories From The Coronavirus Surge from 2020-12-01T11:47:59
Nine months. 13 million cases. More than 260,000 deaths. How are health care workers doing? We talk with nurses about what they've seen, and how they've endured. Juan Anchondo, Mary Jo Kelly and El...
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The Education Crisis Facing Homeless Students from 2020-11-30T12:12
The dawn of 2020 saw a record number of American children experiencing homelessness. For many of those million-plus children, school was the most reliable place in their life. So what happens when ...
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'Spymasters' Author Chris Whipple On Presidential Transition, Future Of The CIA from 2020-11-27T11:37:52
Journalist Chris Whipple speaks with Meghna Chakrabarti about the challenging road ahead for President-elect Joe Biden, restoring the CIA and his new book "The Spymasters."
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In 'How Ike Led,' Reflections On Eisenhower's Political Legacy from 2020-11-26T12:13:52
What we can learn from Dwight Eisenhower's life and leadership. Susan Eisenhower and Jack Beatty join Meghna Chakrabarti.
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Presidential Transition: What We Know About Biden's Cabinet Picks from 2020-11-25T12:11:59
We take a look at who Biden has picked to lead, and what the choices say about the administration that's taking shape. Tyler Pager, Aisha C. Mills and Martha Kumar join Meghna Chakrabarti.
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The Problem With Polling — And How To Fix It from 2020-11-24T11:53:49
Election 2020 again proved there's a problem with polling. But when it comes to understanding the electorate, are there any better options? We discuss the problems with polling, and how to fix it. ...
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How Right-Wing Media Fuels The Political Divide from 2020-11-23T11:47:51
Matthew Sheffield started his career as a conservative blogger. He says many Americans don’t understand how powerful right-wing media really is -- or how damaging it is to American democracy. Now, ...
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Radio Diary: 'On Eagle's Wings' from 2020-11-20T13:00:48
Earlier this month, Joe Biden addressed the nation for the first time as president-elect. Biden will be the second Catholic president in the nation’s history, and he referenced his Catholic faith b...
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What To Expect From The Final Days Of The Trump Presidency from 2020-11-20T12:09:47
President Trump has fired several top level members of his administration in the past couple of weeks. So what else can we expect from the president in his remaining days in office? Jack Beatty, Su...
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'Where Forest Meets The Sea': The Uncertain Future Of The Tongass National Forest from 2020-11-19T11:49:50
The Tongass National Forest in Southeast Alaska is one of the largest intact temperate rainforests left in the world. And as a national forest, the land serves many purposes. Now, the Trump adminis...
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From Testing To Distribution: The Logistics Behind COVID-19 Vaccines from 2020-11-18T11:43:50
Early data shows that two COVID-19 vaccines are over 90% effective. So what’s next? Dr. Jennifer Dillaha, Julie Swann and William Schaffner join Meghna Chakrabarti to explain the vaccine’s journey ...
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Why Voters Are Rejecting The War On Drugs from 2020-11-17T12:03:50
Wherever the war on drugs was on the ballot this year, the war on drugs lost. In some states, voters approved measures to legalize recreational or medical marijuana. Beau Kilmer, Kassandra Frederiq...
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'Protect Each Other': A Doctor's Message From The Coronavirus Surge from 2020-11-16T11:55:50
South Dakota family doctor Tom Dean knows his community well -- he's been in practice there for 42 years. And he's seen a lot in that time. But nothing like COVID. We get a South Dakota family phys...
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Radio Diary: A New American Citizen — And A New Son from 2020-11-13T13:00:48
Ahmed Al-Zubaidi of Beaverton, Oregon joined us back in late September. Ahmed was born in Iraq, and he became a U.S. citizen just days before first coming on On Point.
Since joining us in Septe...
Week In The News: Divisions Deepen Over Presidential Transition from 2020-11-13T11:55:50
Much of the GOP in Washington is torn on whether to acknowledge Joe Biden as president-elect. What are the consequences for the country? Meghna Chakrabarti looks at a week of presidential transitio...
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What The 'Strongmen' Of History Reveal About Modern Politics from 2020-11-12T16:25:53
Historian Ruth Ben-Ghiat studies authoritarian regimes, like Italy under Mussolini. Can a democracy pry itself out of a strongman's grip? Ruth Ben-Ghiat and Brendan Nyhan join Meghna Chakrabarti.
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The On Point Coronavirus Task Force from 2020-11-11T11:31:50
This year, we've talked to some of the top scientists and doctors in the country about the pandemic. We pull them back together for a meeting of our own task force to hear their advice for the Bide...
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The Global View Of Election 2020 from 2020-11-10T11:47:50
"I believe at our best, America’s a beacon for the globe." So declared President-elect Joe Biden. But what does the world really think of the American example now? Does the international community ...
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Radio Diary: The Civic Duty Of A Poll Worker from 2020-11-09T13:06:44
Elizabeth Saunders served five years in the U.S. Navy. And last Tuesday, she served her country again, by being a poll worker in Tulsa, Oklahoma. In this radio diary, we hear about Elizabeth's expe...
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After 2020: The Election's Long-Term Impact On Democracy from 2020-11-09T11:59:51
Election 2020 has a winner. So what did we learn? We look at the long-term impact of the 2020 presidential election, and what America can do to heal. Danielle Allen, Ret. Col. Larry Wilkerson and M...
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Week In The News: Where The Race For The White House Stands from 2020-11-06T15:01:55
The race for the presidency presses on, as Trump doubles down on baseless claims about election fraud. We sort through this historic week, and look ahead at what’s to come. Ron Suskind, Jack Beatty...
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A Look At The Court Battles Of The 2020 Presidential Election from 2020-11-05T11:47:50
On Sunday, President Donald Trump made clear what he planned to do following the end of voting. Court battles have marked this entire election season. We look at the latest litigation around the 20...
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What We Know About Election 2020 Results from 2020-11-04T11:47:49
The day after election day. What tallies are known? Where are votes still being counted? We discuss the latest in the race for the White House and Senate and what's next in this historic moment for...
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Pod Extra: San Francisco Mayor On Her City's Coronavirus Response from 2020-11-03T14:25:09
San Francisco is the second densest city in the country. It also has the lowest coronavirus death rate compared to any other major city in the United States, according to San Francisco Mayor London...
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What To Expect From The Coronavirus Pandemic's Next Phase from 2020-11-03T12:19:49
Regardless of election outcomes, one thing is certain: the coronavirus pandemic is surging. We talk about what to expect in the pandemic's next phase. Ed Yong and Catherine Hill join Meghna Chakrab...
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Pod Extra: Sen. Chris Murphy On The Race For The Senate from 2020-11-02T14:28:49
In this podcast extra, Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy joins producer Dorey Scheimer to talk election 2020 and the race for the Senate.
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What To Know About Key Senate Races, From Maine To Georgia from 2020-11-02T11:37:50
The White House isn't the only thing on the ballot. Also at stake: control of the United States Senate, from Georgia to Maine. We discuss close Senate races and the impact they'll have on national ...
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Coronavirus Surge: What It Means For Health Care Workers from 2020-10-30T12:58:42
For many health care workers, a new coronavirus spike means they’ve barely had a moment to step back from the first wave of cases this spring. The memories of that “first wave” are still fresh and ...
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Week In The News: Election Latest, Coronavirus, Supreme Court And More from 2020-10-30T11:41:51
Campaigns make their last stand. The Supreme Court weighs in on ballot deadlines. Coronavirus numbers skyrocket. We make sense of the week's news. Molly Ball, Molly Beck, Richard Hasen and Jack Bea...
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America's Authoritarian Threat from 2020-10-29T12:13:50
The United States has fought against authoritarian governments. Does that mean it can't happen here? Matthew MacWilliams and Larry Bartels join Meghna Chakrabarti.
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What's On The Minds Of North Carolina Voters from 2020-10-28T11:41:51
Both campaigns agree -- the road to the White House runs through the Tar Heel state. In our final voter roundtable, we hear from voters in North Carolina. VonGretchen Pough, Bill Poole, Brandon Bea...
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Faces Of The Coronavirus Economy from 2020-10-27T13:52:54
On today's show, we were joined by our favorite finance experts Michelle Singletary and Rana Foroohar to check in on our country’s economy, seven months into the pandemic.
And whenever we ...
The State Of The Economy, 7 Months Into The Pandemic from 2020-10-27T11:55:51
How is our economy doing seven months into the pandemic? And with winter on its way, are we prepared to handle the slew of challenges that will come with it? We talk about the state of our economy....
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Extended Cut: A Look Inside A Russian Disinformation Campaign from 2020-10-26T13:05:25
On Point's Dorey Scheimer speaks with Ukraine’s Minister for Foreign Affairs about Russian disinformation campaigns, mistakes made by the media, and why democracies are particularly vulnerable to e...
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Anatomy Of An Election Disinformation Campaign from 2020-10-26T11:43:50
The anatomy of a disinformation campaign. How does a bad faith post get mistaken for the truth? We talk about how the tentacles of disinformation reach into millions of homes. Nina Jankowicz and Se...
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Radio Diary: In Troubled Times, Finding Peace In A Simple Routine from 2020-10-23T12:34:51
David Pettee used to take regular morning walks around Fresh Pond Reservoir in Cambridge, Massachusetts. David had cancer, and the walks brought him hope and peace. David died on September 13th. To...
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Week In The News: Final Campaign Stretch As COVID-19 Infections Climb from 2020-10-23T11:59:50
Days before the end of voting — COVID infections are climbing. What are the campaigns focusing on, and what does that tell us about their vision for the future? Jack Beatty, Julie Rovner and Lisa L...
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Faces Of The 'Shecession' from 2020-10-22T13:35:29
865,000. That's the number of women pushed out of the workforce last month. It’s a consistent downward trajectory for women in this pandemic. We heard from women all around the country, many of the...
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'Shecession': The Pandemic's Impact On Women In The Workforce from 2020-10-22T12:17:51
The 'shecession.' More women are losing their jobs than men. What's the long-term impact on families? C. Nicole Mason and Alicia Modestino join Meghna Chakrabarti.
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Voter Roundtable: Voices Of Americans Hit Hard By COVID-19 from 2020-10-21T12:29:50
On this week's voter roundtable, we hear from people affected by COVID-19. How do they feel about President Trump’s response to the pandemic? David Dahlstrom, Denise Carr and Lupe Harpster join Meg...
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Safeguarding The Electoral Vote from 2020-10-20T12:13:50
Worried about voting integrity -- or what happens after your ballot is cast? We discuss what we know about the integrity of the votes cast by America's 538 electors. Barton Gellman, Jason Harrow an...
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Election 2020's Voter Suppression Reality from 2020-10-19T12:42:04
Voting is one of the most essential rights of any democratic citizen. We take a look at the various forms of voter suppression we see across the country, and discuss how it's affecting American dem...
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Radio Diary: A Georgia Voter Recounts Her Early Voting Experience from 2020-10-16T13:46:40
Everlean Rutherford arrived at her early polling location in Cobb County, Georgia at around 10 in the morning. She didn't leave until it was her turn to cast her vote — almost 10 hours later.
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Week In The News: Barrett Confirmation Hearing, Early Voting from 2020-10-16T12:07:51
This week, a split screen on the future of American democracy. From early voting to Amy Coney Barrett's confirmation hearings, we make sense of the week's news. Jack Beatty, Stephen Henderson and M...
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How Political Violence Threatens U.S. Elections from 2020-10-15T12:11:51
The Department of Homeland Security says white nationalism is a major domestic terrorism threat. Is that, coupled with distrust in the electoral system, a recipe for political violence in November?...
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Florida Voters On The 2020 Election from 2020-10-14T12:13:52
We check in with voters from the sunshine state about the issues that matter to them as they weigh their options before the election. Laura Herbek, Mike Richards and Robin Reshard join Meghna Chakr...
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Radio Diary: JFK, Nixon And The 1960 Presidential Election from 2020-10-14T11:58:52
With the help of two historians, we take a look back at the 1960 presidential race between Senator John F. Kennedy and Vice President Richard Nixon.
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Radio Diary: The CIA's Former Counterterrorism Chief Remembers The Lead Up To 9/11 from 2020-10-13T17:17:08
Cofer Black, the CIA's counterterrorism chief from 1999 to 2002, talks about the months leading up to 9/11, and the Bush administration's failure to act on an 'unprecedented' amount of intelligence...
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First Person: The CIA's Former Counterterrorism Chief Remembers The Lead Up To 9/11 from 2020-10-13T15:17:08
Cofer Black, the CIA's counterterrorism chief from 1999 to 2002, talks about the months leading up to 9/11, and the Bush administration's failure to act on an 'unprecedented' amount of intelligence...
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What The President Knew — And Why He Didn't Act from 2020-10-13T13:25:51
Why is it that sometimes Presidents know that there is a danger to the wellbeing of Americans, and still do nothing? We talk with people who were in the room in 2001 and 2020. Chris Whipple and Oli...
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What Amy Coney Barrett's Supreme Court Nomination Means For Women's Rights from 2020-10-12T12:19:51
Ahead of her confirmation hearing on Monday, we'll talk about Amy Coney Barrett's record on women's rights — and where the definition of feminism diverges for some women. Erika Bachiochi and Fatima...
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Week In The News: The President's Coronavirus Diagnosis from 2020-10-09T12:56:23
We'll look at how the President's diagnosis — and his cavalier response — has tinged almost everything that happened this week. Paula Reid, Kimberly Atkins and Jack Beatty join Meghna Chakrabarti.
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Radio Diary: A Beloved Grandmother's Gift Of A Better Life from 2020-10-08T13:12:46
Cozy Etta Bryant weathered breast cancer and decades of racism before passing away from COVID-19 this year. Her granddaughter remembers her life and legacy.
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What Young Voters Want From Their First Ballot from 2020-10-07T13:45:27
Every Wednesday, we’ve been listening to voters across the country. This week: younger voters, who are casting their ballots for the first time. What are their hopes and dreams for the country they...
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Radio Diary: Inside Artist Lloyd Williams' River Bank Art Gallery from 2020-10-07T12:22:49
You’re walking along a river bank in an American city. All of a sudden, you bump into … an art gallery. Artist Lloyd Williams has set up a small outdoor gallery next to the Charles River in Boston.
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Radio Diary: Teaching Students Remotely, Checking Up In Person from 2020-10-06T13:07
Steven Gupton teaches health science at the James E. Shepard IB Magnet Middle school in Durham, North Carolina. Students still aren’t back in the classroom, and some of his students weren’t showing...
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Rethinking Education For The Pandemic Age from 2020-10-06T12:44:52
Millions of kids are learning remotely. A big change. Is it also an opportunity? Hilary Hughes, Stephanie Renee Jones and Chandra Hampson join Meghna Chakrabarti.
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'People Rolled Their Eyes': A Look Inside The White House Pandemic Response from 2020-10-05T15:36:55
Mixed signals and information from the White House. Uncertainty around the truth of the president's health. A former adviser to the White House COVID-19 taskforce discusses her own time in the Trum...
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Coronavirus Reaches The White House from 2020-10-05T12:09:51
President Trump's positive coronavirus diagnosis throws the country into another cycle of uncertainty. We talk about how to understand this moment, and what to expect next. Paula Reid, Olivia Troye...
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The Pandemic's Impact On Love And Relationships from 2020-10-02T14:29:51
The pandemic has taken a toll on all aspects of life, including romantic relationships. We’ll dig into what’s keeping couples together or breaking them apart. Ashley Fetters and Dr. Lexx Brown-Jame...
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Week In The News: Trump And Coronavirus, Presidential Debate, Supreme Court from 2020-10-02T13:59:51
America witnesses a presidential debate like no other. The Supreme Court nominee tours Capitol Hill. And thousands more jobs are lost due to the pandemic. We review the week’s news. Nancy Cordes, J...
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An Announcement From On Point from 2020-10-01T15:00:38
We've got some big news! Starting October 5, On Point will be reimagined into a single hour of highly produced, narrative radio.
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What President Trump's Taxes Reveal from 2020-10-01T13:55:50
What’s revealed in President Trump’s tax records – about the man, his businesses and tax code itself. Adam Davidson, Dan Alexander and Dorothy Brown join Meghna Chakrabarti.
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A Look At The Global Impact Of Coronavirus from 2020-10-01T13:41:52
More than 1 million dead around the world due to the coronavirus. We look at where the pandemic is headed in major nations such as India and Brazil. Terrence McCoy, Dr. Adeola Oyenubi and Jean Drez...
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1st Trump-Biden Presidential Debate: A Recap from 2020-09-30T14:17:44
President Trump and Joe Biden faced off in the first general election debate Tuesday. The candidates fielded questions on the pandemic, race and violence in the U.S., and more. We tally up the nigh...
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Voter Roundtable: Politically Divided Family Talks Election 2020 from 2020-09-30T13:55:49
It’s the latest in our series of voter roundtables – and this time we talk with a politically divided family in suburban Atlanta. Kelly Feyock, Chloe Feyock, Paige Feyock and Sophia Feyock join Meg...
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In 'Big Friendship,' Best Friends Share How To Stay Close For The Long Haul from 2020-09-29T14:11:51
The best friends behind the podcast “Call Your Girlfriend.” Their new book details what it takes to maintain long distance friendships. Aminatou Sow and Ann Friedman join Meghna Chakrabarti.
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Power, Propaganda And What Justice Might Look Like For Breonna Taylor from 2020-09-29T13:53:51
A Kentucky state police report contradicts the Kentucky Attorney General, and police bodycam footage shows officers potentially violating investigation procedures. New details are forcing more ques...
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6 Months, 200,000 Deaths: Taking Stock Of The Pandemic In The U.S. from 2020-09-28T14:13:52
We're six months and more than 200,000 deaths into the coronavirus pandemic. We check in with an epidemiologist and a virologist about the latest on COVID-19. Tara Smith and Angie Rasmussen join Me...
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What To Know About The Future Of The Supreme Court from 2020-09-28T14:01:51
President Trump is moving swiftly to replace Justice Ginsburg. We take a close look at how his nominee Amy Coney Barrett will push the court rightward and what it means for the future of the countr...
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In 'Mr. 80 Percent,' An Intimate Portrayal Of Surviving Prostate Cancer from 2020-09-25T14:00:11
The story of a Boston Globe reporter who decided to document his life with prostate cancer via a new – and very personal – podcast. Mark Shanahan, Dr. Mark Pomerantz and Tom Farrington join Anthony...
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Week In The News: RBG, Supreme Court, Breonna Taylor from 2020-09-25T13:46:20
How Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s death and the grand jury decision about Breonna Taylor’s killing shaped this week – and might shape years to come. Kimberly Atkins, John Harris and David Savage join Antho...
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For This Small Business Owner, A TikTok Ban Could Pack A Big Impact from 2020-09-24T15:04:38
Kelita Butler didn’t know what TikTok would do for her cosmetics business when she made an account in May. But by the time President Trump threatened to ban the app in the U.S., she couldn’t imagin...
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From Mail-In Voting To The Ballot Box: Tackling Questions About Election Security from 2020-09-24T14:05:49
Election Day is fewer than six weeks away. But concerns around the election persist: Will it be safe to vote in person? How will states execute a variety of voting methods? Can we have faith in the...
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What A TikTok Deal Means For The Global Internet from 2020-09-24T13:49:49
Who owns TikTok? And what does that mean for you? We untangle the money and politics behind the fight to control the global social media giant. Louise Matsakis and Samm Sacks join Meghna Chakrabarti.
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Political Scholar Norm Ornstein On What's At Stake In 2020 from 2020-09-23T14:07:51
“We have been studying Washington politics and Congress for more than 40 years, and never have we seen them this dysfunctional.” Norm Ornstein wrote that back in 2012. Eight years later, does Ornst...
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Voter Roundtable: New U.S. Citizens Share Their Election Plans from 2020-09-23T13:43:51
In this week's voter roundtable, we talk with newly naturalized U.S. citizens. How do they feel as they prepare to vote for president for the first time? Ahmed Al-Zubaidi, Fabiola Landeros, Violeta...
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What To Know About Coronavirus Vaccine Development from 2020-09-22T14:12:01
We talk about where we are in the development of a coronavirus vaccine and what we know about the criteria for making a vaccine public. Andrew Joseph, Natalie Dean and Dr. Eric Topol join Meghna Ch...
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How RBG's Death Could Impact Key Senate Races from 2020-09-22T13:49:50
Power is up for grabs in the Senate this November and a Supreme Court vacancy is only escalating the stakes of key races. We talk about how Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s death could have an impact ...
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What The Political Response To RBG's Death Reveals About America from 2020-09-21T14:11:50
We discuss the political response to Ginsburg’s death, and what it reveals about the fragility of U.S. institutions. How is American democracy being tested now? Anne Applebaum and Stephen Henderson...
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Remembering Ruth Bader Ginsburg from 2020-09-21T13:53:51
Remembering Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Her work in the 1970s proved that the Constitution prohibits gender discrimination and that equality between the sexes ought to be an affirmative American r...
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Pandemic Semester: A Conversation With Student Journalists, Leaders from 2020-09-18T14:01:52
We talk to campus leaders around the country about a challenging semester for college students.
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Week In The News: Wildfires, Hurricane Sally, Bahrain, Barr And More from 2020-09-18T13:47:50
Wildfires rage in the West, as Hurricane Sally slams the Gulf Coast. We take that up and more in our week in review. Anita Kumar, Sewell Chan and Lisa DesJardins join Jane Clayson.
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Radio Diary: When The Unemployment Benefits Never Come from 2020-09-17T14:54:47
Millions of Americans still haven’t yet received their benefits after being laid off during the pandemic. Denise Mines is one of them. First thing she did after being furloughed: followed all of th...
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Pandemic Unemployment: What Happens When Benefits Never Arrive? from 2020-09-17T13:38:31
Six months after the pandemic caused a historic number of Americans to lose their jobs, millions still haven’t gotten their unemployment benefits. We take a look at why. Clio Chang and Pamela Herd ...
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Election Roundtable: What Military Veterans Want In A President from 2020-09-16T14:01:50
We talk with a roundtable of military veterans about the presidential election. What qualities are most essential in a commander in chief? What role does -- and what role should -- the U.S. militar...
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Lessons Of The Pacific Northwest Wildfires from 2020-09-15T14:05:51
The West Coast is facing some of the worst wildfires in its history. We take a look at the role of forest management in helping control these fires. Monica Samayoa, John Bailey and Gov. Jay Inslee ...
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Economist Emily Oster On How We Can All Make Better Pandemic Decisions from 2020-09-14T14:05:54
From sending our kids back to school to flying on an airplane, we talk about how to make informed decisions during a pandemic. Emily Oster joins Meghna Chakrabarti.
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The Media's Role In Calling An Election from 2020-09-14T13:50:09
As we look forward to potentially unprecedented numbers of mail-in ballots in November, should we be preparing for an election night that drags on longer than normal? Noah Oppenheim and Margaret Su...
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'14 Miles': A Look At The U.S.-Mexico Border, And The Lives Defined By It from 2020-09-11T14:25:50
We look at a 14-mile stretch of the U.S.-Mexico border. What does a border mean in an interconnected world? DW Gibson, Nicole Ramos, Serge Dedina and Stan Rodriguez join Anthony Brooks.
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Week In The News: Woodward Book, West Coast Wildfires, Coronavirus Updates from 2020-09-11T14:17:51
The 2020 campaign heats up. The Senate takes up a pared down COVID-19 relief bill. And evidence that the president knew the threat of the coronavirus in February. All that and more in our week in r...
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Survival Of The Kindest: Can Our Better Nature Help Build A Better World? from 2020-09-10T14:43:52
We discuss the lessons of the classic novel “Lord of the Flies.” Should humans be living by the notion of survival of the fittest — or survival of the kindest? Rutger Bregman and Jack Beatty join M...
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America's Reckoning With Racism: The History Already Made In 2020 from 2020-09-10T14:29:50
A rebroadcast of our conversation with legendary civil rights activist Bob Moses and historian Taylor Branch on the history that’s being made in 2020.
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Election Roundtable: Where Wisconsin Voters Stand from 2020-09-09T15:38:20
Next in our voter roundtable: Wisconsin. What do voters in Wisconsin want from elected officials? How are the recent events in Kenosha affecting their vote? Randy Schmidt, Cassi Mennenoh and Alexis...
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The Threat To U.S. Elections from 2020-09-08T14:47:51
Russia is attempting to interfere with the presidential election yet again. What’s Moscow doing this time? Jack Delaney, Miles Taylor and Nina Jankowicz join Meghna Chakrabarti.
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James Baldwin's Lessons for America from 2020-09-07T14:55:51
We look back on the life and work of the great American writer and thinker James Baldwin. Eddie Glaude, Jr. joins Meghna Chakrabarti.
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Sergeant Heather Taylor On Ethics And Inequality In Policing from 2020-09-07T14:43:49
Det. Sgt. Heather Taylor joins us to talk about being a Black woman in law enforcement, the violence she’s experienced in her own life, and how that’s shaped her views and hopes for her career and ...
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A Conversation With Jane Goodall from 2020-09-04T14:06:50
60 years ago, Jane Goodall first began her close observations of Tanzania’s chimpanzees. Equipped with simple binoculars, a notebook and patience, she transformed the way the world understood prima...
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Should The Electoral College Exist? from 2020-09-04T13:25:51
The electoral college has been a fixture of American democracy -- and criticism -- since the nation’s founding. We’ll explain why it endures. Alex Keyssar, Tara Ross and Jack Beatty join Anthony Br...
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What To Know About College Reopening In A Pandemic from 2020-09-03T14:37:52
College students across the country are returning to campuses for the first time since the pandemic hit. But some campuses closed almost as soon as they opened. We look at how the decisions are bei...
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The History And Future Of Sports Activism from 2020-09-03T14:23:49
Sports teams and athletes around the country held strikes last week to stand up against racial injustice. We talk about this moment in sports activism, and its history and future. Howard Bryant, Am...
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Rethinking America's 'Deficit Myth' With Economist Stephanie Kelton from 2020-09-02T14:21:36
Fiscal policy in a pandemic. We discuss why COVID-19 is giving a bigger voice to economists with very different ways of looking at the deficit. Stephanie Kelton, Joseph Stiglitz and Jack Beatty joi...
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Election Roundtable: What Democratic Voters Want From Biden from 2020-09-02T14:11:51
We talk with more voters. This time, Democrats. Some are all in on Joe Biden. Others will be holding their noses at the ballot box. What do Democratic voters want for -- and from -- their candidate...
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What We Learned — And What We Didn't — From Hurricane Katrina from 2020-09-01T13:49:51
It’s been 15 years since Hurricane Katrina devastated our country. And while many of us remember the storm as an acute moment in history, a new book is making a case that the lead-up to Katrina mad...
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What's The Connection Between Civilian Militias And The Police? from 2020-09-01T13:35:51
Across the country this summer, we’ve seen vigilante militants incite violence at protests for racial justice. We talk to a former FBI agent who went undercover with right-wing militants in the 199...
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Could Rapid Testing Help Life Return To Normal? from 2020-08-31T14:13:50
An announcement from the White House could expand rapid COVID-19 testing significantly as President Trump boasts about U.S. testing capacity. Harvard epidemiologist Dr. Michael Mina joins Meghna Ch...
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After Conventions, Natural Disasters And More Protests, Checking In Across The Country from 2020-08-31T13:55:51
We’ll drop down in several different cities around the country with our reporters’ roundtable for an update on protests and the pandemic, and to see how the after effects of the political conventio...
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Tracing The Path Of The Modern GOP, From Reagan To Trump from 2020-08-28T14:19:48
Wall Street Journal editor Gerald Seib has been a fly on the wall of the Republican Party over the past 40 years. He joins us to unspool the history that led up to President Trump’s election in 201...
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Week In The News: The RNC, Hurricane Laura, Protests In Wisconsin from 2020-08-28T13:59:49
President Trump defies the Hatch Act at the Republican Convention. The Gulf Coast is slammed by one of the most powerful storms in decades. And a police shooting in Wisconsin rocks communities acro...
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How Mayors Are Handling The Crises Facing Their Cities from 2020-08-27T13:35:53
We’ll talk to the mayor of Kansas City and others about the challenges to running their cities now. Protests, coronavirus, unemployment — we’ll discuss the way forward at the local level. Quinton L...
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They Voted For Trump In 2016. Will They Do It Again In 2020? from 2020-08-27T13:13:51
We’re talking to voters who cast their ballots for Donald Trump in 2016. Four years later, they explain the issues they care about, what they think of the job President Trump has done, and how they...
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Samantha Bee On Satirizing A Political System In Crisis from 2020-08-26T14:11:47
Does a nation in the midst of an historic pandemic and deep political division still need satire? We'll ask veteran satirist Samantha Bee, who joins Meghna Chakrabarti.
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Vice President Mike Pence: What Do We Know About The President's Right-Hand Man? from 2020-08-26T13:41:47
We’ll look at Vice President Mike Pence – his record as VP, and his role in the Trump re-election campaign. Michael D'Antonio joins Meghna Chakrabarti.
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The President Versus The Post Office from 2020-08-25T13:28:22
Postmaster general Louis DeJoy has maintained under oath that his changes to the U.S. Postal Service have nothing to do with President Trump’s reelection. We talk about why it’s still significant t...
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The GOP Won't Introduce A New Party Platform For 2020. So What Does It Stand For? from 2020-08-25T13:11:51
The GOP will not roll out a new party platform ahead of the 2020 presidential race, instead opting to declare fealty to President Trump’s agenda. So, what does the Republican Party stand for now? T...
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From Interference Abroad To Repression At Home: Examining Vladimir Putin's Power Plays from 2020-08-24T13:55:48
Last week, a Senate committee outlined the Trump 2016 campaign's ties to Russia, and a Russian opposition leader was hospitalized in a potential poisoning. We'll talk Vladimir Putin's strategy of p...
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Ahead Of The Republican Convention, Anticipating President Trump's Pitch For A Second Term from 2020-08-24T13:31:52
Today marks day one of the Republican National Convention; what can we expect from President Trump as he makes his case for a second term? Philip Rucker, Steve Harrison, Julia Terruso and Matt Mack...
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Columnist E.J. Dionne On How To Unite The Democratic Party from 2020-08-21T14:53:49
Columnist E.J. Dionne has called on progressives and moderates in the Democratic party to unite under what he calls a banner of decency, dignity and democracy. Does he think that’s happened? E.J. D...
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Week In The News: DNC, Colleges And Coronavirus, USPS And More from 2020-08-21T13:29:52
A historic Democratic convention. Furor over the postal service. And universities thrown off course by COVID-19. It’s our weekly news roundup. Karen Travers, Elizabeth Landers and Laura Barrón-Lópe...
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Portrait Of An Outbreak: How Coronavirus Spread In The Prince George's County Jail from 2020-08-20T14:07:49
The Prince George’s County jail in Maryland allegedly puts people with COVID-19 into cells dirty with body fluids. Staff throw supplies through the door. Many people at the jail haven’t been convic...
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Joe Biden, The Candidate: A History Of A Long And Winding Political Career from 2020-08-20T13:41:49
Joe Biden is officially the Democratic party’s presidential nominee. We look back at Biden’s political career, from his election to the senate at age 29, to his first run for president, and beyond....
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Election 2020: America's Foreign Policy Future from 2020-08-19T13:47:49
Foreign policy is in the Democratic platform, but it’s not a big talking point at the party convention. Maybe it should be. We talk with global analysts about why any plan to rebuild the U.S. inter...
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A Look At The Possible Advisors Of A Biden Presidency from 2020-08-19T13:25:51
Who are the team of advisors and confidants that would influence a Biden presidency? We talk about the rising Democratic luminaries in the foreground, and the lobbyists hovering in the background. ...
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100 Years Later: The Complicated History Of The Women's Suffrage Movement from 2020-08-18T13:43:49
We look back at the last century of voting and examine how women and women of color have impacted our politics. Errin Haines, Lisa Tetrault and Adele Logan Alexander join Meghna Chakrabarti.
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DNC, Day Two: A Look At The Democratic Party Platform from 2020-08-18T13:23:49
Day two of the Democratic National Convention. We examine the party’s platform in detail. From ideas on controlling the pandemic to resuscitating the economy, what’s the Democratic vision for Ameri...
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Is An Eviction Crisis On The Horizon? from 2020-08-17T13:53:49
The federal eviction moratorium has expired, yet a staggering number of Americans still can’t make rent during the pandemic. Without a safety net, are renters barreling toward an eviction crisis? E...
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What To Expect From The Political Conventions Of A Pandemic from 2020-08-17T13:37:50
The media and political conventions have long had a symbiotic relationship, with the RNC and DNC offering era-defining TV moments like Goldwater at the Cow Palace, and Obama’s star-making speech in...
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Week In The News: Biden-Harris Ticket, Stimulus Stalled, COVID-19 Latest from 2020-08-14T13:24:31
Kamala Harris on the Democratic presidential ticket. Congress stalled over stimulus package negotiations. All that and more in our weekly news roundup. Molly Ball, Monica Alba and Jack Beatty join ...
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The Hosts Of 'Teenager Therapy' Want To Help You Feel Less Alone from 2020-08-06T14:35:49
Three hosts of the breakout podcast “Teenager Therapy” give us a peek into their world with a discussion about the pandemic and the state of the nation. Gael Aitor, Mark Hugo and Isaac Hurtado join...
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How New Hampshire Got Its Primary And Held On Tight from 2020-02-11T13:37:49
As N.H. voters head to the polls, we look back at the history of the state's outsized influence in presidential elections and whether it’s time to loosen the Granite State's grasp on primary politi...
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Colorado's Polka-Dotted Middle Way from 2013-11-21T10:00:38
Colorado is pushing a lot of boundaries and buttons lately. On fracking, gun law, marijuana, secession. We catch up with Colorado
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Week In The News: Romney and Ryan and Issac from 2012-08-31T10:00:14
From Tampa, Mitt’s big night. Paul Ryan’s debut. Isaac’s deep water and the Democrats rev up. Our weekly news roundtable goes behind the headlines.
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Predator Nation from 2012-05-23T10:00:16
“Inside Job” director Charles Ferguson on Wall Street now, and the crisis still to be addressed.
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Week In The News: Health Care, Trayvon Developments, JetBlue from 2012-03-30T10:00:04
Health care and the high court. A JetBlue freak-out. The Trayvon Martin story grows. Our weekly news roundtable goes behind the headlines.
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Examining Rick Santorum from 2012-02-15T10:00:11
Rick Santorum now ties or leads Mitt Romney in national polls. Is he the anti-Romney, the anti-Obama? We’ll look at “Mr. Faith and Family.”
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Crisis In Syria from 2012-02-07T10:00:18
The body count surges in Syria. The US closes its embassy. Russia and China have the West fuming over their UN veto. Where is this headed?
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Back To The Farmland from 2011-04-08T11:00:08
The dream and reality of living off the land. A novice farmer tells his story.
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Week In The News from 2011-04-08T10:00:24
Budget showdown in Washington. A major 9-11 trial is sent to Guantanamo. A full airliner rips open in flight. Our weekly news roundtable goes behind the headlines.
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Reimagining Malcolm X from 2011-04-07T11:00:47
A new telling of the life of Malcolm X, from a biographer who’s already gone.
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Ryan's Plans For Medicare And Medicaid from 2011-04-07T10:00:22
A new Republican budget plan would mean revolutionary changes for Medicare and Medicaid — for the old and poor and the country’s finances. We’ll look at what’s on the table.
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Paying For Privacy from 2011-04-06T11:00:35
Buying back your own privacy. The high cost of keeping your personal information personal.
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Risking A Government Shutdown from 2011-04-06T10:00:25
A government shutdown looms as Democrats and Republicans fight over big budget cuts on Capitol Hill. We’ll dive in.
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Warren Buffett's Investment Dynasty from 2011-04-05T11:00:16
Scandal, succession, and investment icon Warren Buffet at 80.
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President Obama's Energy Plan from 2011-04-05T10:00:47
Every president since Richard Nixon has vowed to get the U.S. off imported oil. We’ll take a tough look at the latest plan — President Obama’s.
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College Basketball And Money: Should Players Get A Cut? from 2011-04-04T11:00:57
College basketball’s March Madness makes millions – but not for the players. We’ll tap into the hot debate over sharing the NCAA spoils.
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The NYT's Anthony Shadid On His Captivity In Libya from 2011-04-04T10:00:49
New York Times correspondent Anthony Shadid on being captured by Gadhafi forces and what’s ahead for Libya.
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