On Point with Meghna Chakrabarti

A personal message from Meghna Chakrabarti about why The Jackpod is taking a short break. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

You’ve heard of 'mom brain.' But how do men’s brains change when they become fathers? *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

The Trump Administration wants more Americans to have babies. It's proposing a $5,000 "baby bonus," among other policies. Would this fix the nation's historically low birth rate? *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

Sam Altman has been called the face of Artificial Intelligence. To many, he remains an enigma. Wall Street Journal reporter Keach Hagey has the inside story on the rise of Sam Altman and his impact on our future. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu got what he wanted this weekend after the U.S. bombed Iran. But Netanyahu says its goals in Iran have not yet been fully achieved. So, what are Israel’s goals in Iran? And what role does the U.S. still play? *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

The late William F. Buckley, Jr. is one of the most important figures of the American right. How did the erudite and dapper Yale man pave the way for President Donald Trump? *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

Recently, On Point explored how Hong Kong has changed five years after China passed its so-called national security law and vastly diminished protest and free speech in Hong Kong. Our colleagues at WBUR’s podcast Endless Thread also took a look at this law. Specifically, how it changed how people in Hong Kong interact digitally — on social media, and in text messages. What happens to online speech when you're unsure how much the government is monitoring your speech, and what the repercussions will be if they don't like it? And if you want to hear more Endless Thread, you can follow our podcast wherever you follow On Point. Show notes: PROFILE: For Jeffrey Ngo, The Fight For Hong Kong is Far From Over(The Hoya) Social Media and the Hong Kong Protests (The New Yorker) Hong Kong protesters join hands in 30-mile human chain (The Guardian) Hong Kong national security law: What is it and is it worrying? (BBC) *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

The Congressional Budget Office estimates the current budget bill will add $3 trillion to the federal deficit over the next decade. On Point wraps up a weeklong exploration of what Trump's budget bill tells us about government spending and our financial future. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

On Point news analyst Jack Beatty on the connections and correlation between President Trump, his most loyal supporters and the popularity of the Fox News Channel. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act will increase defense spending to over $1 trillion for the first time in U.S. history. But will it actually improve U.S. national security? *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

Republicans are proposing significant changes to food assistance, which could impact supplemental nutrition programs for older adults, school lunches and the agriculture industry. What will the cuts mean for hunger and nutrition in the U.S.? *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act is really about one big thing: Taxes. Some conservative economists say it also shows a striking shift in Republican tax policy. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

The 'One Big Beautiful Bill' is making big changes to health care. Getting rid of automatic enrollment to the ACA, cutting premium assistance, adding work requirements for Medicaid. What the budget bill means for health care. *** 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

Between 2019 and 2020, nearly 2 million people took to the streets of Hong Kong to fight legislation that could give Chinese authorities the power to criminalize dissent. It's been 5 years since China passed the so-called national security law. How has Hong Kong changed? *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

On Point news analyst Jack Beatty on how political activist Christopher Rufo became one of the most influential voices in conservative politics today. *** 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

The Trump administration is clamping down on foreign students who want to attend American universities – and the schools that admit them. What that could mean for innovation and enterprise in the U.S. and around the world. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

The White House is demanding that ICE make 3,000 arrests per day – and it's pulling in agents from the FBI and the DEA to help. How Trump's push for mass deportations is reshaping U.S. law enforcement. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

We tend to associate “brainwashing” with cults and hostages, but author and science historian Rebecca Lemov says it can happen to anyone. Her new book “The Instability of Truth" explores the history and science of brainwashing and what it can teach us with misinformation on the rise. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

Trump’s space-based missile defense system. Could it protect the country against a nuclear attack, or is it technically impossible? *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

On Point news analyst Jack Beatty on how the impact of AI in the 21st century could be more disruptive to the workforce than mass production was in the 20th century. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

Israel's government recently voted to ramp up the war in Gaza. A food blockade starved Gazans for months. And critical voices internationally, and within Israel itself, are rising. What do Israel’s government and its people want now in Gaza? *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

Running tests on lab rats, mice and other species is an integral part of biomedical research. Now, some say artificial intelligence and other technologies could soon make the practice obsolete. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

New York City has lost control of its jails. In May, a federal judge ruled that the city’s jails, including Rikers Island, will now be run by a manager who will report directly to the court. What’s next for one of the country’s largest and most notorious facilities? *** 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

YouTube turns 20 this year. The platform now hosts 20 billion videos, and lets basically anyone, anywhere on Earth, create, share and watch. How has YouTube changed us? *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

On Point news analyst Jack Beatty on the Environmental Protection Agency’s new mission under the leadership of its new administrator, Lee Zeldin. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

NBA teams have nearly tripled the number of 3-point attempts since the turn of the century. Fans now say it's hurting the game. Is the NBA taking too many 3s? *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

In an effort to reduce inequality in education outcomes, some school districts are removing honors classes or other programs for high achievers. Some students, parents and teachers say the push to "de-track" or "de-level" classrooms is limiting learning for everyone. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

The Trump administration says it's going to modernize air traffic control equipment. Many administrations before have promised the same thing. So why hasn't it happened? *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

Rebroadcast: Being alone often gets a bad rap. But research shows alone time can actually boost overall well-being, increasing our emotional regulation, contentment and creativity. *** 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

On Point news analyst Jack Beatty assesses what Elon Musk and his Department of Government of Efficiency have achieved as Musk’s appointment as special government employee is due to expire. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

El Salvador was once the murder capital of the world. Now under President Nayib Bukele, it’s safer than Canada. But with 2% of its population locked up -- what is the real cost of this newfound safety? *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

A $400 million jet from Qatar. His own crypto coin. Is President Donald Trump normalizing corruption? *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

No witnesses. No physical evidence. An ironclad alibi. Nevertheless, a Texas jury sentenced Ben Spencer to life in prison for a murder he didn't commit. Journalist and author Barbara Bradley Hagerty shares what it took to set Spencer free. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

AI companies say they are running out of high-quality data to train their models on. But they might have a solution: data generated by artificial intelligence systems themselves. The pros and cons of synthetic data. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

Texas state legislature just passed a bill that would send doctors, teachers, librarians and more to jail if they provide kids with "harmful" materials. But who decides what's harmful, and what's not? *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

On Point news analyst Jack Beatty on the life and experiences of the White House Deputy Chief of Staff and their connection with Trumpism. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

A ceasefire deal has put a pause on conflict between India and Pakistan. But experts say the two nuclear powers have a lot to work out if the Kashmir region is to move toward long-term peace. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

The world's 1.4 billion Catholics have a new pope, Leo XIV. But the church he now leads is far from unified. What does the global Catholic Church want from a new pope -- and can he deliver it? *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

The Biden administration first labeled Venezuelan gang as a multi-national criminal organization. President Trump has now put Tren de Aragua at the center of the debate over immigration and deportation. But will his methods neutralize the threat Tren de Aragua poses to the U.S.? *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

As the U.S. military faces a recruiting crisis, women have been consistent enlistees into America’s armed forces. So why is Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth canceling a program supporting them? *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

The vast majority of Trump’s executive orders have come from The Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025, and the so-called "America First" plan. How the Trump administration is turning Project 2025 and the so-called 'America First' agenda into reality. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

On Point news analyst Jack Beatty on what President Trump does and doesn’t know about U.S. history and what that means for the country today. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

The Trump administration wants to expand the American lumber industry by logging more trees in national forests and raising tariffs on lumber imports. The impact that could have on the domestic timber industry. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

Hurricane Helene devastated western North Carolina last year. President Donald Trump promised North Carolinians he wouldn’t forget them. But recently, Trump's FEMA rejected the state's request for extended relief funding. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

Starting May 7, you will have to have a REAL ID to board a U.S. domestic flight. But so much has changed in the 20 years since Real ID was first proposed, is REAL ID 20 years out-of-date? *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

Millions of healthy children didn't set foot in a classroom for more than a year during the COVID pandemic. Journalist David Zweig says those school closures may have done more harm than good. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint