On Point with Meghna Chakrabarti

On Point news analyst Jack Beatty on Philip Roth’s 2004 novel "The Plot Against America," and its parallels with the U.S. today. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

Color can affect our mood, memory and relationship to people and places. How is color being used to design the world around us and shape our feelings? *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

The number of grandparents helping with childcare is going up nationally. According to a 2023 Harris Poll, 42% of working parents rely on grandparents for childcare. What does it mean for the lives of those grandparents and the support they need? *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

In 2011, Siddhartha Mukherjee won the Pulitzer Prize for his biography of cancer, “The Emperor of All Maladies.” Now, he’s back with an update on how our understanding of cancer has advanced -- and what lies ahead. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

OpenAI’s Sora 2 app lets anyone with a smartphone create AI-generated deepfake videos, from phony footage of a corgi rock climbing to fake videos of kids carrying guns in school. Is it time to stop believing our eyes? *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

Jeffrey Goldberg, editor in chief of The Atlantic, joins Meghna at WBUR’s CitySpace to discuss The Atlantic's new project examining America at 250 and the most urgent, complex and challenging questions the country is facing. Then, Goldberg interviews Massachusetts Congressman Jake Auchincloss on topics ranging from the state of the Democratic party to the Trump administration's intentions in Venezuela. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

The quest to define and canonize new words in American English is as old as the country itself. In the new book "Unabridged: the thrill of (and threat to) the modern dictionary," author Stefan Fatsis explores how that quest has changed in the age of the internet. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

On Point news analyst Jack Beatty on the Trump administration’s new national security strategy and what it could mean for U.S. relations with longstanding European allies. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

A government oversight report exposes billions in wasted U.S. aid during Afghanistan’s reconstruction -- highlighting corruption, mismanagement, and the human toll of failed policy. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

The U.S. Department of Justice says it’s prioritizing denaturalization, or stripping foreign-born Americans of their citizenship. How would that process work and what's at stake? *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

The U.S. is ready for war with Venezuela with more than a dozen warships and 15,000 troops now in the region. The Trump Administration says it’s about drugs, but some experts say that's a cover for something else. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

A recent analysis finds the majority of presentations at a big annual education research conference were about things like “resistance,” “safe spaces,” and “identity." But many classroom teachers say they want to learn about student behavior, discipline and mental health. Could this gap be damaging American education? *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

Earlier this fall, there were no rap songs in the Billboard Top 40 for the first time since 1990. Is this just a blip in commercial popularity, or is it a sign that hip-hop is losing its grip on mainstream America? *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

On Point news analyst Jack Beatty on the modern history of the multi-faceted divide between rural and urban America and why it threatens democracy. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

Mark Wolf spent four decades as a judge on the federal bench after being appointed by President Ronald Reagan. But Wolf recently resigned, citing the Trump administration’s “deeply disturbing assault" on the rule of law. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

Christine Kuehn knew hardly anything about her father’s family. But when a mysterious letter reaches her doorstep in 1994, it kicks off a 30-year journey uncovering her family's Nazi history, and their role in the attack on Pearl Harbor. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

American companies are being targeted by foreign spies, ransomware groups and even fake job applicants from North Korea. One cybersecurity firm speaks out about the threats they're seeing and how they're combating them. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

AI is helping doctors treat patients in American hospitals. But many new doctors say they haven’t been trained in how to use it. Now, Stanford University is mandating AI training for all its medical students. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

Meghna recently appeared on this episode of Fake the Nation, joining comedian and host Negin Farsad and comedian/writer Benari Lee Poulton to share their unvarnished takes on topics ranging from why billionaires love owning sports teams, to just what are the best years of your life? Meghna had fun. We hope you enjoy it too. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

The world’s largest music streaming service now lets users to monetize music in which they don’t play or sing a single note. How is AI shaping how we make and profit from music? *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

A stranger holding the door open for you. A friendly wave from a neighbor. An angry driver cuts you off. The new book "The Social Biome" reveals how 'everyday communication connects and shapes us.' *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

Studies show that feeling grateful can make you more patient, honest, generous and even help with your sleep and immune system. Psychologist David DeSteno on how to practice gratitude daily. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

People around the world are reading less. In the U.S., the share of people reading for pleasure dropped by 40% in the last 20 years. Writer James Marriott says that puts democracy in danger. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

Some Obamacare subsidies are set to expire at the end of this year. This could double premiums for many enrollees. How a government subsidy that was intended to be temporary, became something millions of Americans cannot live without. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

Intelligence sharing between the U.S. and its allies has long been a powerful national security tool. But recently, some allies have stopped sharing key intelligence with the United States. What does that mean for U.S. national security? *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

On Point news analyst Jack Beatty on the role that concepts of power, liberty and conspiracy played in the American Revolution. (Inspired by Ken Burns’ PBS documentary series, ‘The American Revolution.’) *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

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

JPMorgan aims to become the first major bank fully powered by AI. What does that mean for the future of banking? *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

Scam ads are flooding Facebook, YouTube and other social media. Tech companies are making billions allowing them. Who's behind all of these online ads? And what can we do about it? *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

Iranian law controls how women dress, what they drive and what they do in public. But now, more women across Iran are rebelling — risking severe fines or up to 10 years in prison. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

Last month, federal prosecutors indicted an NBA coach and current and former professional basketball players in an illegal sports betting scheme. How the FBI's investigation into the gambling ring is shining a light on how the mob has evolved to survive. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

On Point news analyst Jack Beatty on the state of the U.S. economy and what recent polling reveals about the perception gap between President Trump and American workers. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

Speculative investment is up. New financial products are on the market. Billions of dollars are flowing to unproven industries. Has the American economy become one giant casino? *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

American taxpayers are bailing out Argentina to the tune of $20 billion. But what does the U.S. get out of it? And can it really fix Argentina’s economy? *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

On August 1st, 1981, MTV was born. The 24-hour music video channel transformed the music industry and pop culture. Now, MTV is now shutting down many of its international music channels. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

Housing has become so expensive in many places that people can't afford to live where they work. So, some local governments and businesses are helping with down payment costs to attract and keep employees. Is it working? *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

More than 1 in 3 adults in the U.S. don’t get enough sleep, and 12% suffer from chronic insomnia. What’s driving more Americans toward chronically poor sleep, and what can be done about it? *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

On Point news analyst Jack Beatty on a proposed ballot initiative in Montana that could deny corporations the power to spend money on political campaigns. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

Annie Farmer was 16 years old when Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell sexually abused her. What does she want from the Trump administration now? *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

President Trump's supporters say he’s a heaven-sent savior, cracking down on bloated government and unauthorized immigrants. Critics call him authoritarian – targeting political opponents and using the presidency for personal enrichment. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

This week, the Supreme Court will consider the constitutionality of Trump’s tariffs. But the implications are far greater than trade policy. How the ruling could change the scope of presidential power. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

For years, doctors warned parents to keep peanuts away from children until they turn three. But that advice backfired. Experts now say delayed exposure helped cause a peanut allergy surge in the U.S. Lessons for public health from peanut allergy advice. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

Director Guillermo del Toro’s new movie adapts Mary Shelley’s horror classic, Frankenstein. It comes as the world is grappling with a new unpredictable creation: artificial intelligence. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

One year after the election of 2024, On Point news analyst Jack Beatty has analysis of what happened that day and why. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

For 20 years, journalist Katie Herzog tried to stop drinking. But nothing seemed to work. Until she stumbled upon a lesser-known path to sobriety. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

Private equity firms are poised to take over iconic video game maker Electronic Arts in a massive leveraged buyout. What happens when private equity owns the games you play. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

Young adult suicide rates are rising in the U.S. For Americans aged 18 to 27, the rate increased by nearly 20% in the past decade. What’s behind the rise, and what are states doing about it? *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

Rising property tax bills are squeezing homeowners across the country. So, several states are proposing expanded tax relief programs or even the complete repeal of property taxes. How these changes would impact local communities. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

Our muscles power us -- from the tissue that pumps blood from our heart to the tiny fibers that give us goosebumps. How exactly do muscles work — and how can we best strengthen them? *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

On Point news analyst Jack Beatty sees Washington state’s first-in-the-nation social insurance program for long-term care as a portent for the future of the politics of remedy in the U.S. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint