Go behind the headlines: From the economy and health care to politics and the environment – and so much more – On Point hosts Meghna Chakrabarti and David Folkenflik speak with newsmakers and real people about the issues that matter most. On Point is produced by WBUR for NPR.
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The On Point podcast is an incredibly smart program that dives deep into current issues and provides listeners with comprehensive and well-informed discussions. The host, Magna, is highly knowledgeable on a wide range of topics and her expertise shines through in every episode. I listen to this show daily and often find myself going back into the archives to catch up on past episodes. The programming is truly amazing and I am grateful for the valuable information it provides.
One of the best aspects of this podcast is the host, Magna. She is a skilled interviewer who asks insightful questions and steers the conversations exceptionally well. Her intelligence and ability to navigate complex topics make each episode engaging and thought-provoking. Additionally, the show covers a variety of subjects with a global perspective, allowing listeners to stay informed about what's happening in the world beyond their immediate surroundings. It's like Fresh Air with Terry Gross, but with more focus on politics and a broader worldview.
Another highlight of this podcast is Meghan Chakrabarty, who is brilliant in her guest selection and interviewing skills. The show makes an effort to present a balanced view of issues by inviting guests from diverse perspectives, which I really appreciate. The recent fora discussing the war in Gaza with both Israeli and Palestinian guests exemplify this commitment to balanced reporting. However, one minor issue I have is the excessive adulation of Jack Beatty in the "Jackpod" series. While his knowledge and commentary are valued, it would be better if his contributions were allowed to speak for themselves without excessive praise.
I also want to express my gratitude for having a dedicated weekly show with Jack Beatty as he brings valuable analysis and intelligence to each episode. His presence on the show adds depth and insight that greatly enhances the listening experience. Furthermore, I agree with another listener who shared their plan to leave America if Trump gets elected in 2024. It's reassuring to hear that others are considering similar options, and it's important to keep our options open if undesirable political outcomes arise.
In conclusion, The On Point podcast is an exceptional program that offers deep dives into current issues and keeps listeners well-informed. The host, Magna, is incredibly knowledgeable and skillful in her interviewing style. The show covers a wide range of topics and presents a balanced view of issues, which is highly appreciated. While there may be minor flaws such as excessive praise and occasional meandering in the host's delivery, these are outweighed by the overall quality of the programming. I highly recommend this podcast to anyone seeking intelligent discussions on important topics.
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. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint
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. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint
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. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint
President Trump heaped praise on China's President Xi after their recent summit. While the Chinese leader's rhetoric was much more restrained. A review of the U.S.-China summit from China's perspective. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint
Pope Leo XIV has published his first major document. The encyclical “Magnifica Humanitas” focuses on AI and what the pope calls the “distorting effects of technological power.” *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint
The Declaration of Independence is the founders' vision of America's values – equality, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. How that vision still lives on today. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint
On Point news analyst Jack Beatty on the perils and promise of AI as outlined in the papal encyclical, “Magnifica Humanitas,” and a forthcoming law review paper, “AI and Existential Risk.” *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint
An electric vehicle battery that charges almost as fast as it takes to fill a tank of gas. And it might soon be available almost everywhere except the United States. How China's superfast-charging electric vehicles are leaving American EVs in the dust. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint
Donald Trump plans to use a $1.776 billion fund to compensate anyone he chooses, including people who stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. Some Congressional Republicans are furious. Other critics call it the worst act of presidential corruption in history. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint
Google has a new AI search bar. Instead of links, it gives you AI-synthesized answers. Some say it could be the end of the internet as we know it. *** 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
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
On Point news analyst Jack Beatty memorializes the courage and sacrifice of the Black men and women who served in the U.S. military in World War II. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint
Rachel Entrekin just won one of the hardest ultramarathon races in the world. She ran 253 miles across Arizona, breaking the previous course record by more than two hours. But she's no outlier. At ultra-distances, more and more women are taking the crown. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint
Europe and Asia are facing fuel shortages. The U.S. is in a fuel deficit. Some experts say the Iran War has caused the largest energy security threat in history. And it's about to get worse. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint
A rural county at the edge of the Great Salt Lake. A multimillionaire celebrity businessman. A shadowy state agency. What Box Elder County, Utah's fight over a 40,000-acre data center reveals about America's AI future. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint
Conservative critics say America's elite colleges don't encourage political diversity and have biased admissions. A Yale University commission recently concluded that those critics may be right. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint
The Trump administration has made dramatic changes to the U.S. Forest Service -- closing nearly every regional office and axing its research budget. Some say it's overdue reform. But critics say public lands won't be protected. *** 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 growth of inequality in the U.S. is creating a new political order willing to embrace raising tax rates. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint
From WBUR, here's a new kind of story, one that's all about the big questions and decisions we face. The Midnight Rebellion is a pick-your-own-path podcast set 100 years in the future, where the stakes are nothing less than the planet itself. It's fiction rooted in real science, built for the kids in your life (ages 7 and up) — and the whole family. You're listening to Chapter 1 of The Midnight Rebellion. Each chapter ends with a choice. YOU decide what's next. Choose wisely. And if you liked what you heard, listen to the rest and follow The Midnight Rebellion wherever you get your podcasts. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint
Spirit Airlines, known for cheap flights, suddenly closed earlier this month. Budget airlines seem to do fine in Europe. Why can't they survive in the U.S.? *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint
Since taking office, President Trump's wealth has grown by at least $1.4 billion. There have been overseas real estate projects, a Trump phone that doesn't exist and a Trump-branded cryptocurrency. Conflicts of interest or corruption? *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint
Omer Bartov was born on an Israeli kibbutz, grew up committed to Zionist ideals, and is now professor of holocaust and genocide studies at Brown University. But in his new book, Bartov argues that Zionism has changed and he can no longer support it. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint
Scientists have taken the largest ever image of the Milky Way. The image shows spectacular detail of our home in the universe, and offers scientists a color-coded guide to some of the most mysterious corners of our galaxy. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint
The Republican Party has a highly sophisticated online and social media operation. Meanwhile Democrats focus on their traditional political talking points. Could the Dems take a page out of the GOP's messaging playbook? Democratic influencer Emily Amick sure thinks so. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint
On Point news analyst Jack Beatty has questions about how money is being raised for the Democratic National Committee and Democratic candidates and how that money is being spent. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint
You've heard the phrase "think outside the box." But what if constraints and limitations actually make us happier and more creative? *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint
Dictators and authoritarian leaders often plaster their faces across the country they control. Is this happening in the United States? *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint
The Supreme Court will soon rule on who gets to decide when a product needs a cancer warning – and who can sue if they've been exposed. At the center of the highly politicized debate is America's most successful weedkiller, Roundup. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint
History was made in this year's London marathon when two runners broke the iconic two-hour barrier. Was it the shoes? The nutrition? The training? These specific elite athletes? *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint
Political partisanship is one way to measure how the Supreme Court justices think about how their rulings affect the nation. SCOTUSblog editor Sarah Isgur says another, she believes more important way, has to do with their tolerance for change, with the justices ranging from order-loving institutionalists to true chaos agents. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint
On Point news analyst Jack Beatty on “the unedifying spectacle of self abasement” from the Moscow show trial of the 1930s, to present-day confirmation hearings for Trump nominees. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint
More than half of men under 50 in the U.S. have an open online sports book. Public health experts warn it's easier than ever to get addicted to gambling. Atlantic staff writer McKay Coppins spent a year exploring the world of sports betting, and why the pastime is particularly bad for young men. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint
President Trump is directing the Justice Department to treat beliefs like "anti-Americanism, anti-capitalism, or anti-Christianity" akin to domestic terrorism. Can the president criminalize beliefs? *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint
In 1998, the FDA required folic acid be added to breads and pastas but not corn masa, a staple in Latino communities. Folic acid is known to prevent neural tube birth defects. So, states like California and Alabama are now passing their own mandates. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint
There's a new word floating around Silicon Valley and the AI world: 'tokenmaxxing.' It means consuming as many units of AI as possible and often racking up multibillion dollar bills. What's driving this behavior? *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint
Dean Ball was a top adviser on AI for the Trump White House. He authored its AI policy. But now he says the way the Trump administration is strong-arming tech companies is a foundational threat to the nation. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint
Senior editor Dorey Scheimer has a message about this week's Jackpod and a special ‘behind the scenes' episode of On Point. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint
Why do American kids love chicken nuggets and applesauce, but hate broccoli and brussels sprouts? In her new book “Picky," Helen Veit explores how American children became the fussiest eaters in history. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint
A handful of states from California, Pennsylvania to Maine have tried to adopt a more rehabilitative Scandinavian prison model. But such models have failed to be replicated at large scale. Why? *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint
A mysterious condition can push your blood alcohol level sky-high — even if you haven't had any drinks. What causes auto-brewery syndrome — and what are the legal and medical implications? *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint
Several federal judges have issued opinions saying the Trump administration is flouting the rule of law and the principles of democracy. How effective has the bench been in checking executive power? *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint
President Donald Trump is no stranger to an internet feud. But now, he's taken on a whole new adversary: the Catholic Church. What impact will it have on the country's Catholic electorate? *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint
On Point news analyst Jack Beatty on how authoritarians have co-opted their military and valorized its dead over living experience in the officer corps. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint
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. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint
On stage before an enthusiastic audience of around 900 Seattleites, Mayor Wilson talks with Meghna about housing and homelessness, and also about what it's like to be a Democratic Mayor in the time of President Donald Trump. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint
Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson had no prior political experience. She took over as the city faces an affordability crisis and a homelessness emergency. How's she doing roughly three months into the job? *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint
Former attorney general Pam Bondi refused to appear at a congressional hearing about the Epstein Files. First Lady Melania Trump gave a press conference to deny that she knew about Epstein's abuse. What we're learning about Epstein's connections to powerful people. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint
It's not just phones anymore. More teachers and even entire U.S. school districts are cutting back the time students spend on laptops and other screens. How do students really learn -- and do screens help or hurt? *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint
The U.S. has been spending up to $2 billion every day on the war with Iran. But that's just military expenditure. What's the real, long-term economic toll? *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint
On Point news analyst Jack Beatty has been reading “Politics without Politicians” by political theorist Hélène Landemore, in which she makes the case that randomly selected citizens can make for better government than elected politicians. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint
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