On Point with Meghna Chakrabarti

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

Albania’s prime minister has installed a new minister. Only it isn’t human, it’s Artificial Intelligence. What does this signal for the evolution of government administration around the world? *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

Government shutdowns have become an expected reality in American politics. But before 1980 they were pretty much unheard of. The history of government shutdowns in the U.S. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

President Trump insists the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas is holding. But peace between the two sides rests on shaky ground. What aspects of the agreement are encouraging long-term stability, and what aspects are holding it back? *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

Polarization pushes people apart. Writer Chloé Valdary says we can heal deepening divisions by treating each other like human beings, not political abstractions. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

A handful of Democrat says they’re coming for Maine Senator Susan Collins' seat. But first they have to capture the soul of the Democratic party. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

On Point news analyst Jack Beatty argues that Democrats are making a strategic mistake in their demand to extend ACA health care subsidies and its role in the government shutdown. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

Discounted prices will be offered at TrumpRx – a new direct-to-consumer website launching next year. It's a result of deals President Trump recently cut with pharmaceutical giants like Pfizer and AstraZeneca. But who really benefits? *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

Some historians argue that President Trump is using a Stalinist-style playbook to amass power, silence his enemies and suppress science. What Americans should know about notorious Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin's style and political tactics. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

From laptops to learning software, schools invest billions of dollars each year on education technology. But what do we really know about how effective that tech is in the classroom? *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

Sewing, scrapbooking, sports clubs. Many Gen Z’ers are taking up real-world hobbies as an antidote to doomscrolling. Why hobbies make us happy — and how to get one. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

On Point news analyst Jack Beatty on limitarianism: the case against extreme wealth and for a wealth cap. *** 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

In recent speeches to the U.S. military, President Trump has laid out a politicized vision for America's armed forces. How Trump could change what the U.S. military is for, who it serves and who it’s fighting against. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

Prediction markets have long been an under-the-radar way to bet on politics, sports and pop culture. Now, platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket are going mainstream. Why are they getting so popular, and how could they impact the way we predict the future? *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

President Donald Trump’s on-again, off-again tariff strategy has created uncertainty around the world. Can America’s 35 million small businesses stay afloat? *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

From 2021 to 2025, Jake Sullivan served as President Joe Biden's U.S. national security adviser. He had enormous influence on the U.S. response to some of the deadliest conflicts in the world. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

Later this month, the Supreme Court will hear a case that could overturn a key provision of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 that protects against racial discrimination. Without it, some legal experts say states and local jurisdictions would be permitted to effectively silence the votes of millions of people. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

On Point news analyst Jack Beatty on Kristi Noem. How the former South Dakota governor rose to head the Department of Homeland Security and the impact she is having on the agency that’s been described as “too big to manage.” *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

Major League Baseball will add an automated ball-strike system next season. How human judgement is giving way to technology across the sports world, and what that means for players, umpires and fans. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

How can a lawyerly society and an engineering society learn from each other? And what’s at stake if they fail? Author Dan Wang set out to answer those questions about the U.S. and China. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

Charlie Kirk's assassination. The United Healthcare CEO's murder. Several recent high-profile killings seem to have political motivations. What’s driving this — and what can we do about it? *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

Free speech, funding and academic freedom at U.S. colleges are under attack. Princeton President Christopher Eisgruber shares how his university is weathering the storm. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

Meghna recently appeared on this episode of This Old House Radio Hour to talk about her childhood home in Corvallis, Oregon. She has a great time talking about the house, her family, and the American dream. We hope you enjoy it too. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

Host Meghna Chakrabarti and executive producer Jonathan Dyer offer a behind-the-scenes look into how On Point is produced. Recorded in front of a live audience at WBUR CitySpace. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

Las Vegas is in a tourism slump. Hotel occupancy and air travel are down, and many local hospitality employees are experiencing layoffs or cuts in their hours. What's driving this downturn, and can Sin City bounce back? *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

On Point news analyst Jack Beatty on a concept that explains an anomaly in today’s economic news: retail sales are up while other key economic indicators are down. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

From leased property to defense contracts, private space companies have become fully intertwined with public infrastructure. But not everyone’s sold on how intertwined these systems have become. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

Elon Musk says xAI has one of the most powerful supercomputers in the world. It’s located in Memphis, Tennessee and it’s called Colossus. But neighborhood residents say Colossus belches colossal pollution. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

Today, the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals is known as a conservative juggernaut. But that hasn’t always been the case. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

President Trump has issued an Executive Order requiring the Justice Department to prosecute people for burning the American flag. But the Supreme Court has ruled flag burning is free speech. What the debate reveals about the value of national symbols. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

If you have ever found yourself dealing with a threatening person, and instead of fleeing them, you flattered – that’s called fawning. Psychologist Ingrid Clayton on the psychology behind this self-preservation strategy. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

On Point news analyst Jack Beatty on the U.S. vote against a UN resolution backing a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

The Heritage Foundation says it will "identify and target" Wikipedia editors over alleged bias. What does that mean for Wikipedia’s future? *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint