On Point

Follow On Point
Share on
Copy link to clipboard

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.

WBUR & NPR


    • Aug 30, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekdays NEW EPISODES
    • 44m AVG DURATION
    • 1,778 EPISODES

    4.2 from 3,250 ratings Listeners of On Point that love the show mention: tom ashbrook, meghna chakrabarti, megna, bring back tom, onpoint, far ranging, i've been a loyal, miss tom, tom always, siegel, host tom, best npr, david brooks, wbur, moderating, two shows, tom is a great, favorite radio, news shows, sears.


    Ivy Insights

    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.



    Search for episodes from On Point with a specific topic:

    Latest episodes from On Point

    Falling Behind: How to talk with boys

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 30, 2025 54:24


    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.

    Falling Behind: 'We're in jail with our emotions'

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 29, 2025 45:50


    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.”

    Falling Behind: Where have all the men gone?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 28, 2025 45:55


    After decades of decline, male teachers now make up less than a quarter of the public-school teaching force. What's driving men away, and what would it take to bring them back? On Point's weeklong series exploring boys and education continues.

    Falling Behind: The opportunity gap

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 27, 2025 46:47


    Data show boys are falling behind in school. Black boys are falling behind the most. What's happening in classrooms that are bucking that trend? On Point's weeklong series exploring boys and education continues.

    Falling Behind: Troublemakers

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 26, 2025 45:22


    'Boys will be boys.' How are perceptions about boys' behavior in the classroom shaping their entire education? It's part two of On Point's weeklong series, "Falling Behind: The Miseducation of America's Boys."

    Falling Behind: Do we treat boys like malfunctioning girls?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 25, 2025 46:32


    Boys fall behind girls in education in the U.S. starting as young as eight years old. Understanding how boys learn is key to knowing why that's happening. It's part one of On Point's weeklong series “Falling Behind: The Miseducation of America's Boys.”

    An African history of Africa with Zeinab Badawi

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 22, 2025 42:37


    Everybody's heard about Ancient Egypt. But just downriver, the kingdom of Kush was one of the most powerful states in the Nile valley. Sudanese-British journalist Zeinab Badawi gives us a lesser-known history of Africa's great historical triumphs.

    Swipe left: Why dating today stinks

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 21, 2025 41:25


    The dating scene can be a frustrating place to be right now. From dating app burnout to the struggle to meet IRL, single folks are fed up. Why modern dating feels so broken and what can be done to fix it.

    Our mental health in the hands of AI

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 20, 2025 43:37


    AI is everywhere, and increasingly, people are turning to it for therapy. What's at stake when we lose that human to human-therapist connection?

    The fall of Florida citrus

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 19, 2025 41:37


    Florida citrus production has dropped more than 90% in the past two decades -- a blow for the state's economy and cultural identity. What's driving the decline of Florida's orange groves, and what can be done about it?

    How 'Blessings and Disasters' shape Alabama

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 18, 2025 43:11


    Alexis Okeowo says Alabama, where she grew up, shows the best and worst of the American experiment. In her new book, "Blessings and Disasters," she wrestles with the state's complicated past.

    How AI is changing the music business

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 15, 2025 44:08


    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?

    The Jackpod: What's wrong with the White House press corps?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 15, 2025 40:03


    On Point news analyst Jack Beatty on how the Trump administration has transformed which reporters get to be in the White House briefing room and travel with the president.

    Should SNAP pay for junk food?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 14, 2025 44:07


    A dozen states are banning people from buying sodas and some sugary snacks using federal food assistance. The effort is part of the “Make America Healthy Again” campaign led by Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Will the restrictions convince people on SNAP to eat less junk food?

    Can public media survive?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 13, 2025 44:13


    The U.S. Congress cut federal funding for public media, shuttering the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. What does that mean for the future of local news across the country?

    How should American colleges measure merit?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 12, 2025 43:09


    The Trump Administration ordered universities to turn over data to prove they're not considering race in admissions. But education expert Richard Kahlenberg argues that for college admissions to look at merit fairly, they need to look at class.

    Does using AI dumb you down?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 11, 2025 44:15


    A recent study shows that people using AI to write for them experience some negative cognitive effects. Why? Because there's something special about what writing does in your brain.

    Is there a better way to manage grizzly bears?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 8, 2025 43:57


    The U.S. House will consider whether grizzly bears in and around Yellowstone National Park should be taken off the endangered species list. How delisting would impact grizzly bears and the people living near them.

    The Jackpod: A bold idea to help Gen Z. And maybe save the Dems

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 8, 2025 39:03


    On Point news analyst Jack Beatty on a wild idea from the '90s that could offer young Americans greater financial security, and how it would benefit Democrats to publicly embrace bold ideas like it.

    What the U.S.-EU trade deal means for you

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 7, 2025 45:48


    After months of wrangling, the U.S. and the EU have reached a trade agreement. The EU made big compromises, like a 15% tariff on most EU exports. How will the deal affect Americans?

    What are 'cool roofs,' and how do they work?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 6, 2025 44:57


    Summers are getting hotter every year. When it comes to adapting to a hotter planet, in the United States, it's cities that are taking the lead. In Atlanta, they've passed a nation-leading "cool roof ordinance."

    The state of America's judiciary with Judge J. Michael Luttig

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 5, 2025 46:35


    The retired conservative federal judge says a war against the judiciary in America has been waged by "a tyrannical wannabe king."

    Famine in Gaza

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 4, 2025 46:33


    Food security levels in the Gaza Strip have reached their most dire levels since the conflict between Hamas and Israel began. Humanitarian experts say immediate action is needed to save hundreds of thousands of people from starvation.

    The healing power of sunlight

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 1, 2025 45:48


    Could sunlight help treat disease? A growing number of studies find potential benefits of UV light therapy for conditions like multiple sclerosis, Type 1 diabetes and Crohn's disease.

    The Jackpod: Strong and wrong

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 1, 2025 35:40


    On Point news analyst Jack Beatty on how Donald Trump projects strength through his lack of inhibition and self-constraint.

    How the Left lost the working class

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 31, 2025 45:53


    A majority of registered voters think the Democrats are out of touch with Americans' everyday concerns according to recent polling. Social inequality scholar Joan Williams discusses her book "Outclassed: How the Left Lost the Working Class – And How to Win Them Back."

    Did Apple empower China?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 30, 2025 46:32


    Financial Times reporter Patrick McGee argues in his new book 'Apple in China' that China wouldn't be the China it is today without Apple.

    A former CDC vaccine adviser has words for RFK Jr.

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 29, 2025 46:38


    Last month, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. fired an influential committee of vaccine advisers to the CDC. What that decision could mean for vaccines and America's public health.

    How the Scopes ‘monkey' trial echoes today

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 28, 2025 45:01


    One hundred years ago, teacher John Scopes was arrested for teaching evolution in a Tennessee public school. His trial became a national sensation. Today, we're still fighting over what should be taught in public schools.

    Are we thinking about AI the wrong way?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 25, 2025 45:17


    AI researcher Ethan Mollick says most public conversation focuses too much on potential AI catastrophes and not enough on making the technology work for people. Mollick says if we don't change that, none of us will be prepared for the near future where “everything will change all at once.”

    The Jackpod: Action Completed This Day

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 25, 2025 45:27


    On Point news analyst Jack Beatty on the Federal Emergency Management Agency as a model of government inefficiency and the prospects for FEMA reform.

    The new crisis in American kids' health

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 24, 2025 46:24


    Mortality rates, mental health conditions, obesity and chronic disease rates are all up significantly in American children. Why are kids in the U.S. so unhealthy?

    What we know about the Epstein files

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 23, 2025 46:31


    Miami Herald reporter Julie K. Brown knows more about the Jeffrey Epstein case than just about anyone. What does she think might be in the files the Trump administration hasn't released?

    How Trump cuts are causing a ‘brain drain' in American science

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 22, 2025 46:33


    The Trump administration is attacking American academic institutions on multiple fronts, including cutting grant funding and targeting foreign exchange programs. That gives other countries a chance to surpass the U.S. in scientific discovery.

    How did being a sports fan get so expensive?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 21, 2025 46:03


    It can cost a fan up to $5,000 a year to follow major sports, between merchandise and game tickets and TV streaming access. Is the pursuit of profit harming sports fans?

    Week of Wonder: Can we save the quietest places in the world?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 18, 2025 46:40


    Our planet's rich nature sounds are disappearing, drowned out by human-made noise. Sound recordist Matt Mikkelsen travels the world, listening to and working to preserve our vanishing soundscapes.

    Week of Wonder: Volcanologist Tamsin Mather on her 'adventures in volcanoland'

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 17, 2025 46:35


    What's it like standing on the slopes of an active, erupting volcano? Volcanologist Tamsin Mather takes us on her journey to some of the world's biggest volcanoes.

    Week of Wonder: The truth about your period

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 16, 2025 44:55


    Menstruation is a definitive experience of a woman's life, and an indicator of her health. So why has period blood or menstrual fluid been largely under-researched?

    Week of Wonder: 'Vivaldi smells like breakfast sausage'

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 15, 2025 46:37


    Smell can trigger memories and influence emotions. New research is giving us insight into how that happens, including why some people can "smell" music and why losing the sense of smell can alert us to what might make us sick.

    smell smells breakfast sausage
    Week of Wonder: The marvelous and misunderstood world of sharks

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 14, 2025 46:34


    Sharks are full of secrets, despite being some of the oldest creatures on the planet. Marine biologist Jasmin Graham has spent a decade studying them — and trying to bring more women of color like her into the field. 

    The GENIUS Act and the Wild West of crypto

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 11, 2025 46:05


    If Congress passes the GENIUS Act, banks will be allowed to issue their own cryptocurrency, as long as it's tied to a stable asset like the dollar. But some economists warn it could have very unstable outcomes.

    The Jackpod: It's going to be everywhere

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 11, 2025 46:23


    On Point news analyst Jack Beatty on the rapid expansion of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency under the Trump administration.

    The Democrats divided over populism

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 10, 2025 45:46


    Zohran Mamdani won New York City's Democratic mayoral primary. He's a self-declared Democratic Socialist with a populist's platform. That's made some Democrats across the country nervous. Is populism the party's path forward?

    How AI tools are transforming the lives of people with disabilities

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 9, 2025 45:55


    For people with disabilities, artificial intelligence tools are helping them see, hear, experience, and move through the world in profound new ways.

    Why American farmers rely on unauthorized workers

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 8, 2025 45:54


    More than 40% of hired farm laborers in the U.S. are immigrants without legal status. President Trump campaigned on a plan for mass deportation. But even he admits -- the country can't survive without many of the undocumented workers he promised to remove.

    The power of the golden share

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 7, 2025 44:24


    When President Trump approved the merger between Nippon Steel and U.S. Steel he demanded a so-called “golden share.” It gives the White House a say in key business decisions. So, what happens when the White House controls a private industry?

    A daughter, a father and a family's struggle with 'American Bulk'

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 4, 2025 46:27


    In the U.S., shopping is almost a religion. For Emily Mester's family, Costco was their Sunday ritual. In her new book, 'American Bulk,' Mester tells the story of how her family struggled with the desire to own everything they possibly could.

    The power of intuition

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 3, 2025 45:17


    Why are some problems best solved by 'trusting our gut?' And how has intuition helped some people make crucial decisions? The role of intuition in perception and action.

    The secrets of super agers

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 2, 2025 46:08


    “Super agers” are people who live well into their 80s without developing chronic diseases, such as cancer, diabetes or cardiovascular issues. What can we learn from them to promote healthier, longer lives?

    The legacy of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 1, 2025 46:38


    Since its creation 14 years ago the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has used its powers to return billions of dollars to defrauded consumers. Now the Trump administration wants to close it. What the CFPB has meant for consumer protection in the U.S.

    Who are the Zizians?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 30, 2025 45:48


    A cult-like group referred to as the Zizians is linked to a string of violent deaths across the U.S. It has its roots in Silicon Valley – and a movement called Rationalism. Who are these groups and what do they believe?

    Claim On Point

    In order to claim this podcast we'll send an email to with a verification link. Simply click the link and you will be able to edit tags, request a refresh, and other features to take control of your podcast page!

    Claim Cancel