On Point with Meghna Chakrabarti
Get ready for your aha moment: Every weekday, host Meghna Chakrabarti pierces your news bubble to expose the whole story. Getting answers to the questions that need to be asked, examining our history and the human condition. No topic is too complicated or off the table. It’s all On Point.
Why expiration dates in America are going bad
Approximately 20% of all food waste in America is linked to confusion over date labels. Now, California is banning most food expiration labeling. So, what do expiration dates really tell us?
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Can math equations solve inequality?
Mathematician Eugenia Cheng wants us to rethink our relationship to math -- and equality. We hear how different paths lead to identical outcomes in math, and how that can help us all in real life.
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Can math equations solve inequality?
Mathematician Eugenia Cheng wants us to rethink our relationship to math -- and equality. We hear how different paths lead to identical outcomes in math, and how that can help us all in real life.
*** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint
How El Paso shaped modern America
For generations, Ellis Island has been America’s great symbol of immigration. But another gateway has shaped the nation just as profoundly: El Paso, Texas. We trace one hundred years of migration, violence and memory along the U.S.–Mexico border.
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The real differences between communism and socialism
Donald Trump says “communism is the greatest threat" facing the U.S. And democratic socialists have won a string of elections across the country. What are the differences between communism and socialism — and why are Americans talking about them now?
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A master magician on how to avoid your blind spots
We all have our blind spots, but with AI and the spread of misinformation, we are more vulnerable to them than ever. Can we learn from a master illusionist on how to avoid falling trap to them?
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Why do we love an underdog?
Sports fans and casual viewers can become obsessed with a good underdog story. But what draws us towards the longshot winners and unlikely success stories?
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Jackpod on hiatus
The Jackpod is taking a short break but we will be back with new episodes as soon as possible. Join the On Point Club for access to other exclusive content.
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How AI is helping fight wildfires
Wildfires have burned hundreds of thousands of acres across the U.S. this summer. Now, firefighters are turning to new technology to help battle blazes, from AI cameras to vegetation-munching robots.
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Is the economy working for everyday Americans?
We sit down with On Point's "money ladies" for tips and tricks on how to manage your finances in difficult times.
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The pill bringing new hope to patients with pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic cancer has long been considered a death sentence. But a revolutionary new treatment has been shown to double survival times.
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Why beef is more expensive than ever
The U.S. produces billions of pounds of commercial beef every year. But it’s getting more and more expensive for Americans to get beef on the table – and for ranchers to raise the cattle it comes from.
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The science behind GLP-1s
Roughly one in eight Americans say they are taking a GLP-1 drug -- and not just for weight loss. Studies show it can help heart disease, sleep apnea, addiction and even brain health. We speak with one of the lead scientists who discovered this gut hormone on how these drugs actually work in our bodies.
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The 'why' behind how we talk
An accent doesn’t just tell someone where you are from – but who you are – your cultural background, race, age and class. How the way we talk tells people more than we think.
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How AI tools are transforming the lives of people with disabilities
For people with disabilities, artificial intelligence tools are helping them see, hear, experience, and move through the world in profound new ways.
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From birthright citizenship to trans rights: The SCOTUS rulings shaping American life
The U.S. Supreme Court left some of its biggest decisions for last this session. Justices delivered a series of major opinions with consequences that will impact nearly every corner of the country.
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Writing Indigenous people back into America’s story
The U.S. is celebrating its 250th birthday this summer. But native people are often left out of America's founding narrative. Does uncovering that history change how we think of the country?
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Get in, we're going on a road trip
A road trip is the iconic American vacation -- with a richer and more complicated history than it may seem. What the American road trip reveals about who we are.
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The Jackpod: Apostle of the common good
On Point news analyst Jack Beatty has been listening to what Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy has been saying in town hall style interviews as he promotes his book, “Crisis of the Common Good.”
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The revolutionary history of Black comedy
From vaudeville to era-defining sitcoms, Black comedy has brought us some of our biggest stars and iconic characters. In the book "Black Out Loud," journalist Geoff Bennett explores how Black comedy has influenced how America sees itself.
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Is the Freedom of Information Act delivering on its promise?
For a democracy to be by the people and for the people, what do the people need to know? The Freedom of Information Act is central to answering that question. What FOIA has uncovered in its 60 years, and what it's up against now.
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The big influence of big sugar
The U.S. is one of the largest sugar producers in the world. And for more than 200 years, the sugar industry has gotten special protections from the government. Why?
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Should fans be able to alter the music they love using AI?
Spotify is set to launch a new tool that will enable subscribers to create cover versions and remixes of their favorite songs – using AI. What that could mean for musicians, their fans and the music on your playlist.
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What makes baseball magic
Curses, superstitions and pre-game rituals have been part of baseball for as long as the game has been around. What’s behind the magical traditions of America’s pastime.
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The Jackpod: Yankee Doodle Caged
On Point news analyst Jack Beatty on why he feels ambivalent about the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
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What does the Iran peace memo mean for the U.S.?
President Trump promised regime change in Iran, no nuclear development and a restabilization of the region. Now that the U.S. and Iran have signed a Memorandum of Understanding, did we get any of that?
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What Frederick Douglass warned us about America
In 1852, Frederick Douglass delivered what many consider the best abolitionist speech of all time. He asked, “What, to the American slave, is your 4th of July?” What makes it such a masterpiece — and what can we take from it today?
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Is there a right (or wrong) way to love America?
As America’s 250th anniversary approaches – the birth of this nation will be celebrated by millions. But what does it mean to be truly patriotic in the U.S.?
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Will a historic sewage spill undo the Chesapeake Bay's restoration?
The oyster is a huge part of coastal culture and economy in the U.S. But a historic sewage spill and climate change could put decades of restoration efforts at risk.
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Meghna Chakrabarti in conversation with American historian Heather Cox Richardson
Meghna sits down with American historian and author of the popular Substack "Letters from an American." They discuss America's 250th birthday, their favorite parts of the Declaration of Independence and optimism about America's potential. Join the On Point Club to hear the full conversation!
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How prediction markets have found their way into American politics
A Google engineer and member of special forces have been arrested for placing illegal bets on prediction markets. And these are just examples of the insider trading that may shape more than the country’s finances.
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The Jackpod: Mindless
On Point news analyst Jack Beatty on the Trump administration’s war on the concept of climate change.
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Is ‘eldest daughter syndrome’ real?
Eldest daughters have a reputation for being Type A and bossy. But they can also do emotional heavy lifting in families. What does science say about how birth order influences our personalities?
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Is it safe for Americans to go into the woods today?
Health Secretary RFK Jr. doesn't think so. That's why the Trump Administration is investing millions of federal dollars to reduce Lyme disease by 25 percent by 2035. But how?
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The real story of birthright citizenship
The Supreme Court will issue its decision on President Trump’s effort to overturn birthright citizenship within days. Historian Heather Cox Richardson with the real story of birthright citizenship.
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How John Quincy Adams went from president to maverick
John Quincy Adams was a one term president. He then entered Congress where he presented so many anti-slavery petitions that Southern Congressmen wanted him out. What that says about how Congress can work.
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How New Mexico's governor got big things done
New Mexico’s Democratic governor Michelle Lujan Grisham has a robust list of progressive achievements – including making her state the first in the U.S. to offer free universal childcare. The outgoing governor shares what her party can learn about how she got it done.
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The Jackpod: Slamming the golden door
On Point news analyst Jack Beatty on the impossibility of White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller’s vision for the U.S. as a nation without immigrants.
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Inside a diminished CDC as it confronts Ebola
The Centers for Disease Control has lost as much as a third of its staff under the Trump administration. How the Ebola outbreak in Africa exposes a weakened CDC.
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A road trip through American history
Historian Beverly Gage hit the road to learn about our country's history. She visited more than 300 historic sites -- from museums and battlefields to roadside attractions. What she learned about how America honors its history.
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