On Point with Meghna Chakrabarti

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

Congress has overhauled the federal student loan system, including big changes on borrowing caps and loan restrictions. Education experts say this will up the demand for private loans. So, what does that mean for student borrowers? *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

President Trump's order to attack a Venezuelan boat on drug smuggling suspicions has alarmed some Republican lawmakers. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

Charlie Kirk helped shape conservative politics over the last decade. His assassination raises a question for all Americans: Can anything turn back the rising tide of political violence in America? *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

A growing number of young people say their mental health diagnosis is an important part of their identity. But by medicalizing imperfection – could young people be losing what makes them uniquely human? *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

The Jackpod is on hiatus this week. But in the meantime: Send us topics or ideas you want to hear on The Jackpod via the On Point VoxPop app. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

For decades, kids in St. Louis County caught crawdads in Coldwater Creek, made mudpies, went swimming -- and were exposed to nuclear waste. Hear the story of how St. Louis became a dumping ground for radioactive waste generated by the Manhattan Project. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

The trucking industry, and more broadly the freight industry, still hasn't fully recovered from the business impacts of COVID. What's behind that? *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

River Selby served as a hotshot – an elite wildland firefighter. Selby shares the reality of the life and work of firefighters trying to save America’s western forests. And how despite fire seasons getting longer and longer, fewer people want to join hotshot crews. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

One in 31 American children have autism spectrum disorder, according to the CDC. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has vowed to find the cause. But experts are skeptical. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

The Humvee is an American military icon. Yet the Department of Defense has announced the vehicle’s retirement. What does this say about our shifting military priorities? *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

On Point news analyst Jack Beatty on President Trump’s marathon cabinet meeting, how his cabinet addresses him, and what that says about his presidency. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

President Trump demanded cuts from private businesses. Blacklisted major law firms. And threatened companies to invest more in America. The uncertain legal landscape for U.S. businesses today. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

AI is doing students’ homework, writing their essays -- and probably replacing a lot of their future jobs. Is it time to rethink what schools are for? *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

Pulitzer Prize-winning historian David Blight says President Donald Trump is attacking American history and scholarship for political ends. Blight says it’s time for historians to fight back. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

AI is playing a larger role in the job hunting and hiring process. It helps job seekers fine-tune their resumes and cover letters, and employers winnow down applicants. But the new technology isn’t getting it all right. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

A bonus episode in our series "Falling Behind: The Miseducation of America's Boys." Dr. Kevin Simon, attending pediatric psychiatrist at Boston Children’s Hospital, shares his experience and expertise in a conversation recorded on stage at WBUR CitySpace. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

Teenage boys are experiencing increasing rates of loneliness and suicidal thoughts -- which is having a direct impact on their achievement in school. How can schools address that? The final part in On Point’s special series “Falling Behind: The Miseducation of America’s Boys.” *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint