On Point

For the first time in U.S. history, a former president may be charged with a serious crime. We discuss the legal and political fallout of the possible indictment of Donald Trump.

In America we have the wealth and the know-how to end poverty, so why don’t we? Sociologist Matthew Desmond seeks answers in his new book “Poverty, By America.”

Just three weeks after the catastrophic earthquake in Turkey, reconstruction was already underway. Turkey’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has promised to rebuild in one year. But is racing to rebuild the right answer? Evren Aydoğan, Divya Chandrasekhar and Jared Maslin join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Teen mental health is declining, particularly among girls. The pressure of social media is often cited as a leading cause. But that’s not the full story behind the mental health of teenage girls in the U.S.

The collapse of Silicon Valley Bank marks the second largest bank failure in America’s history. Some say a 2018 rollback on bank regulations helped cause it. What happens when so-called mid-sized banks also get too big to fail?

Computer brain interfaces used to be the stuff of science fiction. Now, headphones and earbuds with sensors that can read your brain waves – and sell your data – are hitting the market. Experts say it’s the time to establish rules of the road.

A Texas lawsuit attempting to ban the abortion pill could undermine how the FDA approves drugs. If the plaintiffs succeed, experts say the pharmaceutical industry could be thrown into chaos -- leaving past and new drugs also on the chopping block. Glenn Cohen and Eva Temkin join Meghna Chakrabarti. 

Emily Fobert is a research fellow at the University of Melbourne in Australia. In the lab, Emily studies how light pollution affects marine life.

Earth needs darkness just as much as it needs light. Human light pollution is pushing back the dark, which is changing the natural world, and could be hurting us, too. Johan Eklöf joins Meghna Chakrabarti.

The State of Missouri controlled the St. Louis police force from the Civil War until a decade ago. Now Republican state politicians want that power back. We explore the struggle for control of the police between the city and state.

Professor Nico Smit specializes in aquatic parasitology at Northwestern University in South Africa. Many years ago, while working on his Ph.D., Smit ran across something special in the coastal waters off South Africa: a tongue-replacing parasite.

Parasites. Cause of human disease. Big on the yuck-factor. It's easy to think of them as doing no good -- but researchers say that's the wrong way to think of these essential creatures.

Barbara Brandon-Croft is the first Black female cartoonist to be nationally syndicated. Her comic strip, “Where I’m Coming From,” ran from 1991 to 2005 and featured nine Black women who talk about everything from racism, politics, friendship to love.

Following a scathing independent report last year, Britain is shutting down its leading gender identity clinic. We talk about what lead to the closure, and how the debate over “gender affirming care” is unfolding in the United Kingdom. Hannah Barnes joins Meghna Chakrabarti.

More studies are finding that natural immunity from COVID can be as protective as vaccination. U.S. health leaders knew this in 2021 — but most didn’t publicly acknowledge it. Why? Dr. Chris Murray and Dr. Paul Offit joins Meghna Chakrabarti.

Injustice in America’s for-profit justice system. When profit becomes the point, families become targets of the very justice system that is meant to protect everyone.

When dozens of companies in the U.K. experimented with a four-day work week, employers and employees loved it. Could a four-day work week work in the United States? Juliet Schor, Matthew Bidwell and Shawn Noratel join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Florida governor Ron DeSantis is making changes to public K-12 education. How are his policies and politics impacting Florida classrooms? Jeff Solochek joins Meghna Chakrabarti.

In July 2022, Florida Governor DeSantis signed Florida House Bill 1467. It requires all schoolbooks to be reviewed by a district employee holding an educational media specialist certificate, to ensure the books are grade level appropriate and free of pornography. Shortly after the bill went into effect, videos started popping up on social media of empty school bookshelves. Brian Covey, who posted a video of those empty bookshelves, joins Meghna Chakrabarti.

The international community responded to Russia's invasion of Ukraine with harsh sanctions. But a year later, Russia is still fighting in Ukraine. Have sanctions failed? Adam Smith, Frank Vogl and Sergey Aleksashenko join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Thirty years ago, a secret dinner at the Pentagon led to a flurry of consolidation in the defense industry. We hear the story of that so-called "last supper" and what it means for the Pentagon's $800 billion budget today. Norman Augustine and Rep. John Garamendi join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Millions of Americans sell their blood plasma every year. It’s part of a global, multibillion dollar business. But what is plasma really used for? Kathleen McLaughlin and Dr. Morey Blinder join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Since the 1950s, the number of occupations requiring a state license has ballooned. Who benefits, who loses when one in four workers in America need a license to do their job?

100 years ago, average life expectancy in the U.S. was 47. Today, it's closer to 80 -- and lots of people are using those extra 30 years to reinvent themselves. Tom Andrew, Chip Conley and Sara-Lawrence-Lightfoot join Anthony Brooks.

When a train carrying hazardous materials derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, residents were forced to evacuate. Industry critics say lax safety regulations and industry lobbyists set the stage for this disaster.

Contemporary political battles have put school classrooms at the center of a debate about race and our country’s history. How should American educators be teaching the history of slavery? Danielle Allen and David Blight join Kimberly Atkins Stohr.

Since Russia invaded Ukraine one year ago this week – nearly 8,000 civilians have been killed, 11,000 injured and millions displaced. We hear from Ukrainians about their year of living through war.

It’s been nearly a year since Russia invaded Ukraine. Both sides are preparing for new offensives. Can NATO keep its promise to stand with Kyiv for as long as it takes?

Amazon is no longer content with being your go-to retailer, streaming service, or smart speaker. The trillion-dollar company now wants to be your doctor’s office and your pharmacy.

There is more child sexual abuse content online than ever before. And not just on the dark web, but on platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Snapchat. What can the major tech companies do to stop it?

A deal with the Netherlands and Japan marks America’s latest effort to curb China’s semiconductor production. National security, meets economic rivalry, meets trade war geo-politics.

Before the shooting down of more unidentified aerial objects over the past few days, there was the China spy balloon. That gave us a rare glimpse into spycraft between the U.S. and China. What have we learned?

The federal government asked the seven Colorado River Basin states for a plan to cut water. All came to an agreement – except California. Now the federal government may have to step in. How will the West adapt as the Colorado River runs dry? Jennifer Pitt, Bart Fisher and Kathryn Sorensen join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Congress recently, and quietly, gave the FDA the power to prohibit off-label uses of medical devices. What’s behind that change and what it could mean for prescription medication? Zachary Brennan, Randall Stafford and Brad Thompson join Meghna Chakrabarti.

In the 1980s, a lawyer devised a tax dodge that would save the ultra-rich millions. In the 1990s, Congress stepped in to make the maneuver even more lucrative. We hear how the ultra-rich avoid paying taxes.

Populism, border politics and primaries. In this podcast special, On Point news analyst Jack Beatty highlights key moments from President Biden's second State of the Union address.

American English has many forms. It’s evolved over 400 years to match this country’s dynamic history. Humanities professor Ilan Stavans says that because it’s so adaptable, American English can unify our fractured nation. Ilan Stavans joins Meghna Chakrabarti.

The Taliban promised they would honor Afghan women's rights. Instead, they have banned women from universities, even required covering the faces of female mannequins. Mina, Najia Naseem and Rangina Hamidi join Meghna Chakrabarti.

One in five Americans now live with their parents, grandparents, or adult children -- all under one roof. It's a remarkable change from a few generations ago. Ammylou Daludado, Michelle Singletary and Hope Harvey join Meghna Chakrabarti.

John Reynolds has lived in Yosemite National Park his entire life. In this 'First person' diary, he shares how living in nature helps him maintain a sense of awe.

How do you find deep happiness? Researcher Dacher Keltner says the answer is to find everyday wonder.

The banality of evil. That was Hannah Arendt's famous observation during the trial of Adolf Eichmann, the ‘architect of the Holocaust.’ Now, there's evidence that Eichmann's evil was anything but banal. Yariv Mozer and Bettina Stangneth join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Special police units like the now-disbanded SCORPION team in Memphis are common around the country. Police chiefs say they’re essential for fighting crime. Critics say their elite status and lack of accountability is a recipe for abuse.

A recent edition of On Point explored the role of patriarchal power in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and the consequences of that for Mormon women in abusive relationships. Currently, only men in the Mormon Church get to ascend the religious hierarchy. Kate Kelly founded the group Ordain Women roughly a decade ago to try to change that.

This month, a Utah man murdered his wife, and their five children, and his mother-in-law, before killing himself. That’s sparked a conversation among Mormon women about power and safety in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

In the 1980s, the world came together to ban CFCs, commonly used chemicals that were destroying the atmosphere’s ozone layer. Are there lessons we can apply to tackling climate change? Paul Newman and David Victor join Meghna Chakrabarti.

House Republicans are getting down to business, drafting legislation to spend more money on border control, less on the IRS. Hardliners are calling for radical changes to social security and Medicare. How will the GOP advance its agenda in the House? Rep. Gary Palmer, Scott MacFarlane and Philip Wallach join Kimberly Atkins Stohr.

Over 40 million adults in America suffer from an anxiety disorder. But anxiety, the emotion, has an evolutionary purpose: It helps us prepare for an uncertain future. Tracy Dennis-Tiwary and Marc Brackett join Kimberly Atkins Stohr.

Until recently Bruno Lozano was the mayor of Del Rio, Texas. Once seen as a rising star in the Democratic party, he’s now a fierce critic of President Biden’s handling of the southern border.

Almost every major company in the U.S. requires their employees to participate in diversity, equity and inclusion training. But is DEI training achieving what it aims to do? Frank Dobbin, Robert Livingston and Chloé Valdary join Anthony Brooks.

So far, the presidency of Joe Biden has seen some big legislative successes, but a disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan. With a new Republican House majority determined to block his agenda, what’s next for the Biden presidency?

College enrollment is down across the nation. Demographic changes are largely driving that. What does the decline mean for the future of small colleges?

In Europe there are ‘dementia villages’ where residents can live freely despite their memory loss. Could that work here in the United States? Iris Van Slooten and Dr. Tia Powell join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Representative George Santos has lied about almost every aspect of his life. How do uncontrolled fabulists get that way -- going way beyond the little fibs we all tell -- to cutting all ties with the truth?

The American Academy of Pediatrics has released new guidelines to tackle the obesity epidemic. They’re calling for family counseling, early treatment with drugs and even surgery. Can pediatricians turn the epidemic around?

In 2012, horrified by the Sandy Hook school shooting, stay-at-home mom Shannon Watts founded Moms Demand Action. It’s now one of the largest anti-gun violence groups in the nation. Shannon Watts joins Meghna Chakrabarti.

The nation’s first gun insurance mandate took effect this year in San Jose, California. Gunowners in the city are required to have liability insurance, or they'll be fined a minimum of $250. But can insurance actually curb gun violence?

Fast fashion retailers like Shein sell t-shirts for less than $5 apiece. This business model, along with social media, fuels an erosion in the quality of clothing at every level. What price are we really paying for super-affordable fashion? Danielle Vermeer and Mandy Lee join Meghna Chakrabarti.

The population of planet Earth reached 8 billion people late last year. By the year 2100, we're headed for 2 billion more. What does that mean for us and our planet? Elizabeth Hadly is a professor of biology at Stanford University, and director of the Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve in California's Santa Cruz Mountains. For four decades, she's been an eyewitness to dramatic changes in the plant and animal kingdoms caused by human beings.

In the early 1800s, the human population hit 1 billion. As of late last year, human population 8 billion. And by the end of the century, it’s expected to top ten billion. What does that mean for humanity and the environment? Jennifer Sciubba and William Rees join Meghna Chakrabarti.

ChatGPT is one of the most sophisticated AI chat bots ever released. With just a few prompts, it can write almost anything. Daniel Herman, a high school English teacher in Berkeley, California, has some ideas about how ChatGPT might find its way into his classroom.

ChatGPT is one of the most sophisticated AI chatbots ever released. A high school teacher says it writes better than some students. But what happens when we can't tell the difference between computer and human-generated writing?

After a series of botched executions, Alabama could soon begin executing death row incarcerated people using lethal gas. Oklahoma, Mississippi, Missouri, California, Wyoming and Arizona have legalized execution by lethal gas. We hear why.

First person: The Indigenous peoples of the Americas have been using psychedelics for thousands of years. Colonization and extermination ripped away their right to use psychedelics for generations.

When psychedelic drugs were banned by federal law in 1970, it ended a debate over who should have access to them. Now that debate has been reignited. Amy Lynn McGuire joins Meghna Chakrabarti.

Aging might be reversible. Harvard researcher and biotech founder Dr. David Sinclair theorizes in his New York Times best-selling book, “Lifespan,” that aging doesn’t have to be inevitable.

The GOP has taken back the House. But with a fractious caucus, and an ascendant far-right wing, how will Republicans run the House and what do they want to achieve in the new Congress? Sarah Longwell joins Meghna Chakrabarti.

Americans spend almost $100 billion a year on state lotteries. Why do so many states receive just a fraction of that money? Jonathan D. Cohen joins Meghna Chakrabarti.

The Money Ladies are back. Michelle Singletary and Rana Foroohar will be our guides for what to watch for in your personal finance and national economy this year.

Rebroadcast: Trees are on the move. Because of climate change, the world’s forests are heading north. What does this mean for us and our survival? Ben Rawlence joins Meghna Chakrabarti.

Rebroadcast: For antitrust reformers, the size and power of companies like Google and Facebook represent more than a threat to consumer welfare. It’s the final episode in our series “More than money." Matt Stoller, Jack Beatty and Carl Shapiro join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Rebroadcast: From Robert Bork's "consumer harm" to Lina Khan's "democratic harm," we discuss the ideas that drive the government's approach to antitrust regulation. Daniel Crane, Barry Lynn and Jack Beatty join Meghna Chakrabarti.

The nineteenth century saw the rise of great monopolies. Americans pushed back. What changed?  We discuss lessons learned from antitrust action in the Gilded Age with Jack Beatty and Charles Postel.

Rebroadcast: Microsoft wanted to acquire Activision-Blizzard for almost $70 billion. Is the mega-merger a new kind of monopoly?

Rebroadcast: Our series "More than money" is an exploration of the hidden power of monopolies in the U.S. Part I looks at how corporate monopolies dominate the beef industry. "It's failed consumers on one end of the supply chain, and it's failed the American family farmer and rancher on the other." Bill Bullard, Claire Kelloway and Jack Beatty join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Many of us turn to music to feel better. But music can also help us physically heal. Studies show music can affect our blood pressure and our heart rate – and even help us manage pain.

For the first time in American history, Congress has referred a former president for criminal prosecution. Will the Justice Department bring charges against Donald Trump?

Disgraced FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried was one of the biggest proponents of a philanthropic movement called effective altruism. Where does the movement go from here? Molly White and Richard Chappell join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Americans are spending more time alone and less time with friends, according to a Census Bureau survey. We hear what's behind the drop in time spent with friends, and why it’s important to reverse the trend.

Before she was a teenager, Achut Deng escaped civil war in South Sudan and life in a Kenyan refugee camp. Until recently, she carried that secret history with her.

The 2022 World Cup wraps up this weekend in Qatar when Argentina plays France in the final. Nico Cantor is a soccer broadcaster, primarily for CBS Sports. He’s doing Spanish language commentary for Fútbol de Primera at this World Cup.

Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene will be a potent force in the Republican Controlled House. What will she do with her influence? Robert Draper and Tia Mitchell join Meghna Chakrabarti.

In the third installment of our podcast-only series Remarkable Science, we talk with journalist, author and National Geographic fellow Dan Buettner. He's spent more than a decade analyzing 'Blue Zones' — five places where people live the longest, healthiest lives.

There is a new bankruptcy tactic being used to shield executives from accountability. Non-debtor releases give corporate leaders -- like the Sackler family and Harvey Weinstein -- immunity from lawsuits for life. Mike Spector and Clifford White III join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Social psychologist Jonathan Haidt says America is in trouble. He sees it on college campuses and through social media. Haidt joins Meghna Chakrabarti to discuss democracy, social media and how to fix America's 'ailing' institutions.

A California entrepreneur says he's building affordable homes in South Central LA at half the usual cost. How? By saying no to public funding. Martin Muoto and Mike Loftin join Meghna Chakrabarti.

When referring to Christians, politicians and the media are often focusing on one group -- politicized evangelicals. But, in truth, they are a small slice of the broad spectrum of American Christianity. Jonathan Tran and Jua Robinson join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Former FBI chief J. Edgar Hoover. He hated the American left. Demonized and investigated his critics. But what did the rest of America think about him? Beverly Gage joins Meghna Chakrabarti.

In 2017, the battle to retake Mosul from ISIS razed the city to the ground. Approximately 10,000 civilians died. Their families have spent the past five years trying to bring their city back. Ali Baroodi, Maria Rita Acetoso and Sarhang Hamasaeed join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Hawaii’s Mauna Loa volcano is erupting for the first time in nearly four decades. A new generation of researchers equipped with new technology are observing the primal forces that continue to shape the planet.

Across China, remarkable public demonstrations against the country’s zero COVID policy. Could this mark the surfacing of deeper discontent in Chinese society? Dr. Yangyang Cheng joins Meghna Chakrabarti.

Huge numbers of kids are struggling to read. Why? Because literacy curriculum used in thousands of classrooms doesn’t work. Emily Hanford joins Meghna Chakrabarti.

Studies show a majority of Americans believe other Americans mostly look out for themselves. With trust on the decline, can it be rebuilt? Robert Putnam and Jack Beatty join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Trust is essential for survival, for relationships, for a civilized society. But trust needs an ally. We hear why building trust needs a good dose of healthy skepticism, too. Sanford “Sandy” Goldberg, Jack Beatty and Julia Jordan-Zachery join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Brazilians have low levels of institutional trust. They also have low levels of trust in each other. Why? Chayenne Polimédio and Rafael Ioris join Meghna Chakrabarti.

What happens in our brains when we trust someone? Neuroscientists explain how our brains process trust, and why it's worth the risk. Jamil Zaki and Oriel FeldmanHall join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Rebroadcast: Jane Goodall formed incredible bonds with chimpanzees in the wild. But were those bonds similar to what we humans experience as trust?

The fragile beauty of the monarch butterfly. Can they be saved?

From February to May 2020, almost 12 million American women lost their jobs compared to 9 million men, according to Pew Research. But new analysis finds that gender was not the main driver behind those pandemic job losses for women.

Zac Zaki and Tom Schueman join us to talk about the friendship they forged in Afghanistan, and what it took to get Zaki out of Kabul.

Journalist Putsata Reang has reported on many wars. Her own life is defined by the war her family escaped. “What did I owe my mother for giving me life?" The question gripped Reang when she decided to tell her mother that she's gay.

Congress has tried for years to reign in this ticketing monopoly. Will Taylor Swift Fans make all the difference? Krista Brown and Andre Barlow join Kimberly Atkins Stohr.

Last year at this time, retailers had high demand, but stock was in short supply. This year, that’s turned on its head. So, what does that mean for consumers? G. Tony Bell and Alla Valente join Kimberly Atkins Stohr.

Rebroadcast: An 'invisible epidemic' is causing suffering in millions of women. It affects memory, concentration, balance. We discuss traumatic brain injuries in survivors of domestic violence. Eve Valera and Rachel Ramirez join Meghna Chakrabarti.

A new word was coined to describe the economy in the fall of 2020: She-cession. Neat, but maybe too convenient. Claudia Goldin joins Meghna Chakrabarti.

In a country that’s increasingly polarized – many voters in the midterms said it doesn’t have to be that way. We hear what ticket splitting tells us about what American voters are looking for.

Elon Musk borrowed billions to buy Twitter. Now he has to figure out how to pay all that back. But there’s just one problem. Nilay Patel and Sen. Ed Markey join Anthony Brooks. 

In a world where we emphasize productivity and even celebrate busyness, is constant fatigue inevitable? Or – can we learn and practice meaningful rest? Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith joins Meghna Chakrabarti.

Are cultural and economic forces changing boyhood, manhood and fatherhood? Richard Reeves says yes, and that many men and boys are struggling.

Children’s hospitals across the U.S. are being overwhelmed by the respiratory infection RSV. Can it be contained, and how? Dr. Meghan Bernier and Saad Omer join Meghna Chakrabarti.

The biggest test of U.S. democracy since Jan. 6, 2021. What do the midterm election results tell us about Americans' belief in democracy and the direction of the nation? Heather Cox Richardson, Stephen Henderson, Tom Bonier, Lisa Desjardins and Jack Beatty join Meghna Chakrabarti.

After a year of catastrophic weather events, nations have gathered for the COP27 climate conference. The picture is grim, but some climate scientists say they’re encouraged by progress the world has made. David Wallace-Wells joins Meghna Chakrabarti.

Important ballot measures are at play in the midterms. In some states, voters are being asked to consider limiting their own right to put citizen-sponsored initiatives on future ballots. Neil Volz, Chris Melody Fields Figueredo and Josh Visnaw join Meghna Chakrabarti.

The Biden Administration wants to make higher ed more affordable. Why aren't colleges and universities doing more themselves to make getting a degree less expensive? Eric Kelderman and Mitch Daniels join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Press one. Press two. Try to find a human, but you can’t. Welcome to the nightmare that is customer service. Jeannie Walters and Jared Spool join Meghna Chakrabarti.

An open-air drug market is thriving San Francisco’s Tenderloin neighborhood. We explore what's behind it. Randy Shaw, Leighton Woodhouse and Sam Quinones join Meghna Chakrabarti.

The Supreme Court set a precedent for affirmative action more than 40 years ago. Now that precedent hangs in the balance as the court considers it again.

The midterms are right around the corner, and both parties are talking all about the economy. What message will win with voters? Natasha Korecki, Jon Ralston, Bente Birkeland and Chad Livengood join Anthony Brooks.

Britain is on Prime Minister number three, in just the past two months. What's going on with Britain's conservative party, and with the nation they've been elected to lead? Emily Maitlis and Jack Beatty join Meghna Chakrabarti.

For years, legal activists fought to free their client ... an elephant. Earlier this year, the state's highest court rejected that argument. But the question's now out there: If corporations can have some personhood rights, why not animals, too? David Scheel and Richard Cupp join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Puerto Rico is recovering from Hurricane Fiona which hit last month. It’s also still recovering from Hurricane Maria, which hit more than 5 years ago. So, what’s holding back Puerto Rico’s recovery?  Adi Martinez-Roman and Deepak Lamba-Nieves join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Timothy Snyder says Russian President Vladimir Putin is vulnerable at home, as Russian men leave to avoid being sent to fight in Ukraine. Dmitry Grigoriev is Russian man living in Georgia to avoid mobilization. He shares his story.

Russia invaded Ukraine eight months ago, seemingly unprepared for the fight Ukraine would put up. Scholar Timothy Snyder answers the question: How will the war in Ukraine end?

More than a million Black Americans fought for the United States in World War II. They fought for a double victory: over fascism and over racism. But their fight would continue long after the war ended. Matthew Delmont joins Kimberly Atkins Stohr.

The U.S. dollar is soaring against other currencies, adding to fears of a global financial meltdown. When that happened in 1985, governments took action. Could that happen today? Kenneth Rogoff and Jean-Claude Trichet join Kimberly Atkins Stohr.

Corporations facing massive litigation are using a new legal strategy to avoid liability. It’s known as the Texas two-step. Step one: create a subsidiary and transfer a few assets and all the lawsuits. Step two: The subsidiary files for bankruptcy. Rob Rasmussen, Mike Spector and Leigh O'Dell join Kimberly Atkins Stohr.

Chess is an ancient game of grand masters, now being upended in the digital domain. To add to the upheaval, grand master Hans Niemann has been accused of cheating in more than 100 games. Danny Rensch, Levy Rozman and Anna Cramling join Meghna Chakrabarti.

If the U.S. is to be less reliant on global supply chains, businesses and consumers are going to have to change expectations. Rana Foroohar joins us to discuss what it'll really take to rebuild the economy at "home." Rana Foroohar and Jack Beatty join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Political analysts call the Hispanic vote a ‘sleeping giant.’ Most still vote Democratic, but the GOP is gaining ground. We'll listen to Hispanic voters from across the country. Rick Sanchez, Veronica Lopez, Iris Ramos-Jones and Doni Curkendall join Meghna Chakrabarti.

In the likely final hearing of the January 6th House Committee, the members laid out their key findings – detail after detail. Eric Cortellessa, Elaine Kamarck, Sarah Longwell and Jack Beatty join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Who is least likely to vote in the midterms next month? Young Americans. But are politicians any more likely to listen to young Americans if they don't turn up at the ballot box? Fana Haile-Selassie, Tinisee Buckman and Troy Simpson join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Key parts of our economy and defense rely on imports from China. President Biden wants to end that dependence. On the flipside, President Xi has been trying to untangle China’s economy from ours for years. How’s that working out? Hung Tran and Elaine Dezenski join Meghna Chakrabarti.

A California entrepreneur says he's building affordable homes in South Central LA at half the usual cost. How? By saying no to public funding. Martin Muoto and Mike Loftin join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Chile is a democracy that fell into dictatorship for nearly two decades. What were the warning signs? Robert Funk, Peter Siavelis and Heraldo Muñoz join Meghna Chakrabarti.

In its last term the Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade, limited the authority of the EPA and expanded gun rights. In its new term, the court faces decisions on voting rights, affirmative action, gay rights. Amy Howe, Carolyn Shapiro and Erwin Chemerinsky join Kimberly Atkins Stohr.

Portraits are about far more than pencil or paint. But for most of our nation’s history, Black Americans were denied that public honor. Now, with a collection of 145 portraits of America’s iconic and unsung Black heroes -- one artist is setting out to change that. George McCalman joins Kimberly Atkins Stohr.

Long COVID is generally defined as having symptoms that persist for more than four weeks. Hanna Tripp has lived with COVID symptoms since March 2020, just as the pandemic began. Hear her story in today's 'First person' diary.

Thousands of Americans suffer from long COVID, and doctors still don’t understand it. But researchers who’ve spent decades studying Chronic Fatigue Syndrome say they have some answers. Dr. David Putrino and Dr. Lucinda Bateman join Kimberly Atkins Stohr.

Republicans have a chance to take back the U.S. House and Senate in November’s midterm elections. We sit down with conservative voters across the nation to hear what’s on their minds.

Women across Iran have taken to the streets after the death of a young woman in police custody. Their government says it will ‘mercilessly confront’ them: dozens have been killed. Neither side is backing down: what’s next for the women of Iran?

In Texas, large social media platforms may soon lose the right to moderate their own content. We discuss NetChoice v. Paxton – and how a Texas law could impact First Amendment rights and content moderation online. Alan Rozenshtein and Julie Owono join Kimberly Atkins Stohr.

In Mexico, more than a dozen journalists have been murdered a year, every year, for two decades. In 2012, Regina Martinez was one of them. One reporter wanted to know why. Katherine Corcoran joins Kimberly Atkins-Stohr.

Only one city in the U.S. has supervised drug injection sites to combat overdose deaths. We discuss a life-saving solution that’s seemingly too controversial. Peter Davidson and Ronda Goldfein join Kimberly Atkins Stohr.

Millions of climate refugees are expected to move north from the South and West in years to come. The mayor of Buffalo, New York says they’ll be welcome. Maria Agosto, Matt Hauer and Beth Gibbons join Kimberly Atkins Stohr.

Every day, U.S. border patrol drops off hundreds of Venezuelan refugees in downtown El Paso. From then on, they’re the city’s responsibility. But why? Uriel Garcia, Molly O'Toole and Niurka Meléndez join Kimberly Atkins Stohr.

Post-World War II, there was something seen as even worse than being a communist in U.S. politics: being gay. We discuss how lives and careers were lost through decades of bipartisan homophobia. James Kirchick joins Meghna Chakrabarti.

With Russia’s military setbacks in Ukraine, there’s been increasingly open criticism of President Putin and his war. We examine Putin's pressure points. Nikolas Gvosdev and Olga Ivshina join Kimberly Atkins Stohr.

Law journalist Dahlia Lithwick profiles female lawyers and judges who challenged the Trump administration in her new book, 'Lady Justice.'

Many Silicon Valley companies want their software engineers to live for their jobs. And they offer them everything from meals to dry cleaning to spiritual coaches. But is the office really the place to find a life’s worth of fulfillment? Carolyn Chen and Lauren Padron join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Jane Goodall formed incredible bonds with chimpanzees in the wild. But were those bonds similar to what we humans experience as trust? It's the first episode of our series "Essential trust."

Jackson, Mississippi hasn't had safe drinking water for weeks. The city's mayor says the problem's decades in the making. That makes Jackson a lesson for the entire country. Donna Ladd, Aaron Packman and Catherine Coleman-Flowers join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Our series of podcast-only episodes called Remarkable Science features conversations with scientists about their work, recorded in front of a virtual audience at WBUR’s CitySpace venue in Boston. Dr. Jennifer Nuzzo, director of the Pandemic Center at Brown University, and Dr. Albert Ko, professor of public health and epidemiology and medicine at Yale, explore how we should all go about living in a time of outbreaks, pandemics and other infectious threats.

President Biden's $37 billion anti-crime plan includes funding to hire 100,000 more police. What's actually in the plan? Richard Rosenfeld and Elie Mystal join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Russia has cut off energy supplies to Europe. It's causing a crisis. How long can Europe hold on? Suriya Jayanti and Tim McPhie join Meghna Chakrabarti.

The midterms are coming, and your TV's already been flooded with campaign ads. But do the ads even work? Do they sway voters at all? Christopher Warshaw and Dan Bayens join Meghna Chakrabarti.

This year, Congress actually came up with a solution to help the U.S. Postal Service. A bipartisan bill passed that's the biggest financial reform of the Post office in 20 years. What's been fixed?  Jacob Bogage and Paul Steidler join Meghna Chakrabarti.

One decade and 6,000 pages of documents later, the Bin Laden papers have upended our understanding of al-Qaida. Nelly Lahoud joins Meghna Chakrabarti.

Some school libraries have been forced to remove controversial books. The threat now is on public libraries, where some communities have recently taken another step -- they've voted to defund their local libraries. Deborah Caldwell-Stone, Patrick Sweeney and George M. Johnson join Meghna Chakrabarti.

The COVID-19 pandemic completely upended children’s lives as they knew it. What did they lose? We talk to a longtime education reporter about how the pandemic changed her view of public education. Anya Kamenetz joins Meghna Chakrabarti.

In Douglas Rushkoff’s latest book: “Survival of the Richest," we hear how the tech elite are planning to escape the destruction they had a hand in creating.

The life of a digital influencer. Primp. Place product. Post. And cha-ching! But… that’s not all. “There is such an incredible amount of labor, much of that remains concealed behind the scenes." Brooke Erin Duffy and Ayana Lage join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Phones. TVs. Computers, everywhere inside. But outside, how can we help kids see the forest beyond the screens? Steven Rinella joins Meghna Chakrabarti.

For decades, scholar Randall Kennedy has been writing about race, culture and the law. “We are certainly much further from the racial promised land than I had thought that we were," he says. Randall Kennedy joins Meghna Chakrabarti.

Mass grief. Mass outrage. Seemingly everywhere. But can we also learn to share in each other’s joy? Eve Ekman, Shelly Gable and Amelie, an On Point listener, join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Steven Salaita was a rising star in the field of American Indian studies. In the fall of 2012, he applied for a job at the University of Illinois. Then, he lost everything. “I had taken to Twitter and other forms of social media to condemn Israel’s bombardment of the Gaza Strip in Palestine," Salaita remembers. "And suddenly, I got an email out of the blue informing me that the job offer had been pulled." Academic freedom on American campuses. Keith Whittington joins Meghna Chakrabarti.

Whales migrate along routes thousands of miles long - oceanic superhighways - that also happen to be corridors of human disruption. We discuss the fight to protect whale superhighways. Kerri Seger and Michael J. Moore join Meghna Chakrabarti.

On the most recent episode of On Point, we talked about Serena Williams' retirement. Or, as she calls it, 'an evolution away from tennis.' Williams's decision brings to light the challenges for professional athletes who retire after being successful in sports their whole lives. We talked to former NFL wide receiver Markus Wheaton. He played in the league for six seasons.

After 23 Grand Slam singles and 27 years on tour, Serena Williams says this U.S. Open will be her last. Williams says she’s “evolving away from tennis.” But what does that mean for athletes who have dedicated their lives to pursuing greatness in a sport? William C. Rhoden and Kensa Gunter join Kimberly Atkins Stohr.

It’s Independence Day in Ukraine. Official celebrations have been canceled. But the fact that there’s an independent Ukraine at all is celebration enough for Ukrainians. President Zelenskyy is vowing to fight on. What lies ahead for Ukraine? Tanya Kozyreva, Michael Kofman and Olga Ivshina join Kimberly Atkins Stohr.

Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy knows what it’s like to fly with presidents. Kimberly Atkins Stohr hears about his life in American politics.

Donald Trump's supporters are unleashing a torrent of criticism of the FBI after agents searched Mar-a-Lago. What impact is it having? Andrew McCabe and Dennis Lormel join Kimberly Atkins Stohr.

Author Salman Rushdie remains in critical condition after a brutal knife attack last week. We'll look at the long history of the price people pay to defend free speech. Jacob Mchangama joins Meghna Chakrabarti.

In 2013, Meghna Chakrabarti spoke with Salman Rushdie, on the tail end of his book tour for Joseph Anton. Today, in this podcast special, we're resurfacing the 2013 Radio Boston interview with Rushdie.

Why are wages what they are? We talk about the myths that help set wages in the modern economy. Jake Rosenfeld and Larry Mishel join Meghna Chakrabarti.

We look closely at swing state Ohio, and what the midterms Senate race there says about the appeal of Trumpism nationwide. Gary Abernathy, Haley BeMiller and Jack Beatty join Meghna Chakrabarti. 

A new study finds that the standard recommendation of two-and-a-half hours a week of exercise may not be enough. You might need twice as much exercise to live a long, healthy life. NiCole Keith and Dr. Eddie Phillips join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Zac Zaki and Tom Schueman join Meghna Chakrabarti to talk about the friendship they forged in Afghanistan, and what it took to get Zaki out of Kabul.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley had written a letter of resignation. In it, he accused former President Donald Trump of betraying the country. But Milley never sent the letter. That's according to a stunning report in the New Yorker magazine. Susan Glasser and Peter Baker join Meghna Chakrabarti.

The nation's meatpacking companies skirted COVID safety regulations. And they did it with the White House's help, according to a little known Congressional report. So how’d they get away with it? Michael Grabell and Debbie Berkowitz join Meghna Chakrabarti.

1996. The last Taiwan Straights crisis. China's was badly outmatched by the U.S. So what's the Chinese military capable of now? Oriana Skylar Mastro and Bonny Lin join Meghna Chakrabarti.

The federal government is spending big to usher in an electric vehicle future. What ideas can make sure the money is well spent? Samantha Houston and Alexander Laska join Meghna Chakrabarti.

From the deck of the Starship Enterprise, to the storied parquet of the NBA -- Nichelle Nichols and Bill Russell changed how the world saw Black Americans. We remember the legacies of these two pioneers. Angelique Fawcette and Marc J. Spears join Meghna Chakrabarti.

In a truly open society, all ideas can flourish -- even those that tear down democracies. New technologies help those ideas spread. So, are fragile democracies the norm? Zac Gershberg, Sean Illing and Jack Beatty join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Youth suicide has been on the rise across the United States. And for young people between the ages of 5 and 12, the suicide rate for Black children is nearly double that of white children. Tami Charles and Kevin Simon join Meghna Chakrabarti.

The typical teen body clock and the typical school start time are out of synch. California is pushing back the start of the high school day. Other districts already have. Did it work? Lisa L. Lewis joins Meghna Chakrabarti.

First person: Jose Luis Alvarez, co-founder of Forests for Monarchs, and Martha Askins, a retired lawyer, discuss the beauty of the monarch butterfly and conservation efforts to save them. 

Every year, migratory monarch butterflies travel thousands of miles. But for decades, their population has been declining. Now, the monarchs are endangered. We discuss how to save the endangered monarch butterfly. Orley “Chip” Taylor and Wendy Caldwell join Meghna Chakrabarti.

You’ve seen the pharma ads saying depression may be caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain. But for years, doctors have known that's not entirely true. A big new study confirms that, and it’s come as a shock to patients. Daniel Carlat joins us.

A new bill proposes critical updates to the Electoral Count Act of 1887, but is it enough to prevent another Jan. 6th? Matthew Seligman, Derek Muller and Jack Beatty join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Franklin Leonard is founder of The Black List, a company and production studio that searches for the best screenplays that aren't getting attention from Hollywood execs. In a pod exclusive, Leonard joins Meghna Chakrabarti for a special live event at KPCC's Public Radio Palooza series in Pasadena, California.

Monkeypox is spreading across the country, with numbers rising. COVID was supposed to be a wake up call for American public health. So how did this happen? Aaron Gettinger and Dr. Ali Khan join Meghna Chakrabarti.

There were more than 560 homicides in Philadelphia last year. Now, some elected officials are calling for the return of a controversial policing tactic: stop-and-frisk. Sammy Caiola, Shira Scheindlin and Councilman Isaiah Thomas join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Amanda Ripley is a journalist, and even she, like millions of Americans, decided to turn off the news. So what needs to change? Ripley has an answer, and it begins with giving people hope. Joe Segal, Amanda Ripley and David Bornstein join Meghna Chakrabarti.

The James Webb Space Telescope has sent back its first images. We'll discuss the deepest glimpse into the story of the universe human kind has ever had. Catherine Espaillat and Steve Finkelstein join Meghna Chakrabarti.

As its series of hearings wraps up, what has the January 6 committee revealed about Donald Trump and the attack on the Capitol? Rep. Jamie Raskin, Rosalind Helderman and Jack Beatty join Kimberly Atkins Stohr.

During the 2020 Presidential campaign, Joe Biden called himself a “transition candidate.” But transition to bring America where? Mike Lux, Jonathan Lemire and Jack Beatty join Kimberly Atkins Stohr.

In several countries, elected politicians are making deals with violent militias. Is America next? Rachel Kleinfeld and Bill Kristol join Kimberly Atkins Stohr.

In decisions involving state funding for religious schools and prayer on a high school football field the conservative majority on the Supreme Court says it is defending religious liberty. But for some, that seems more like an attack. Linda Greenhouse and Michael McConnell join Kimberly Atkins Stohr.

Omicron BA.5 is the new dominant COVID strain in the U.S. New mutations. A new set of questions. Dr. Ashish Jha, Professor Marlene Wolfe and Dr. Amesh Adalja join Kimberly Atkins Stohr.

The banality of evil. Hannah Arendt's famous observation during the trial of Adolf Eichmann, the ‘architect of the Holocaust.’ There's new evidence that Eichmann's evil was anything but banal. Yariv Mozer and Bettina Stangneth join Meghna Chakrabarti.

“America never would have gotten into this mess if it weren’t for me and my friends.” That's how Tim Miller begins his new book "Why We Did It." Tim Miller and Sarah Isgur join Meghna Chakrabarti to discuss how “normal” Republican staffers paved the road to Trump.

Decades before QAnon, far-right conspiracists were already pushing a conservative political agenda. We discuss the history of far-right populism – from the John Birch Society to Trumpism. Edward Miller and Jack Beatty join Anthony Brooks.

Some Republicans say state legislatures should have the power to override federal elections. The Supreme Court is taking up a case that could make that the law of the land. We hear why some say that would imperil our democracy. Bertrall Ross, Dan Vicuña and Dallas Woodhouse join Anthony Brooks.

Analysts studying recent mass shootings say there's a previously unrecognized pattern. It begins in the darkest corners of the internet. We discuss the online training ground for mass shooters. Alex Newhouse and Emmi Conley join Meghna Chakrabarti.

The crypto market is in meltdown, with $2 trillion lost so far. Could it pave the way to new regulations? Hester Peirce and Molly White join Meghna Chakrabarti.

A pandemic program that worked, but was eliminated anyway. We hear what's behind the end of the universal free school meals program. Lisa Davis, Teresa Brown and Krista Ruffini join Meghna Chakrabarti.

On Point senior editor speaks with Democratic Senator Ed Markey of Massachusetts and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg about the actions the federal government could take to improve the airline industry.

A pilot shortage exacerbated by pandemic staff cuts and a mandatory retirement age has led to thousands of flight delays and cancellations. After a $50-plus billion bailout during the pandemic, why does airline service seem even worse? William J. McGee joins Meghna Chakrabarti.

The Supreme Court upended 40 years of deference to agencies like the EPA. They've ruled that the EPA can't aggressively regulate carbon emissions. But the ruling could curb the reach of almost every regulatory agency in the country. Christine Todd Whitman, Lisa Graves, Paul DeCamp and Christopher Wright join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Rebroadcast: Historian Jon Grinspan says Americans in the past fought to fix democracy. But what does that mean for Americans today? "Many of our problems have, if not identical moments in the past, parallels and similar tendencies in our democracy across time.” Jon Grinspan and Jack Beatty joined Meghna Chakrabarti.

Who's to blame for America's polarized politics? The government? The media? Special interests? Tom Nichols says the problem is 'all of us.' Tom Nichols and Jack Beatty join Meghna Chakrabarti.

As January 6th rioters closed in on the Capitol, the Trump White House did nothing. Cassidy Hutchinson, former senior aide to then White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows went to Meadows' office and found him scrolling on his phone. Chris Whipple, Alan Rozenshtein and Jack Beatty join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Unlike when Roe was first decided in the 1970s, women needing abortions now are more likely to be women of color who are already mothers. How will losing access to abortions alter their lives? Kwajelyn Jackson, Fatima Goss Graves and Janai Nelson join Meghna Chakrabarti.

What if you could taste the world’s electrical fields? Hear vibrations in a leaf? Or see magnetic currents guiding you home? Science writer Ed Yong helps us perceive the world the way animals do – through eyes, ears, antennae and more.

Record-high gas prices. Interest rate hikes. A tight jobs market. Inflation at a 40-year high. We discuss the confusing state of the American economy. Rana Foroohar joins Meghna Chakrabarti.

The January 6th select committee is continuing to pick apart the events and forces that led up to the attack on the Capitol. After weeks two of hearings, what have we learned about Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election? Andrea Bernstein, Ilya Marritz and Jack Beatty join Kimberly Atkins Stohr.

50 years ago, Title IX outlawed sex-based discrimination at federally funded schools. But in collegiate level sports, you’d be pushed to know it. Donna Lopiano and Lori Bullock join Kimberly Atkins Stohr.

COVID reinfections were considered rare in 2020, but emerging variants have now made them increasingly likely. We discuss what we now know about COVID-19. Akiko Iwasaki and Dr. H. Cody Meissner join Kimberly Atkins Stohr.

U.S. aid is helping Ukraine in its ongoing battle with Russian invaders. But ongoing conflict comes with a risk. As war drags on ... is it time to talk compromise? Anne Applebaum, Steven Simon and Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze join Kimberly Atkins Stohr.

Despite their differences of opinion, the nine justices of the U.S. Supreme Court have always regarded mutual trust as a pillar of their establishment. But the leak of a draft ruling has rocked that. So is the court forever changed? Dahlia Lithwick, Amy Howe and Carolyn Shapiro join Kimberly Atkins Stohr.

Will artificial intelligence replace doctors? It's the final episode in our series “Smarter health." Dr. Sumeet Chugh and Stacy Hurt join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Summer 2020. The worldwide COVID death toll had hit half a million. And the Greek government had a decision to make. How could the nation open up to tourists while also keeping COVID under control in Greece? In this podcast extra, On Point senior editor Dorey Scheimer talks with professor Hamsa Bastani. Bastani helped develop 'Eva,' an AI algorithm that helped Greece curb COVID.

The Western megadrought. This year, it's brought early, record-breaking wildfires to New Mexico. The drought is forcing permanent ecosystem changes. Can there be longterm solutions? Mayor Louie Trujillo and John D’Antonio join Meghna Chakrabarti.

For decades, the NRA has said that America's astronomical rate of gun violence is "the price we pay for freedom." We'll look at that creed, and how it may be the most powerful force in the American debate about guns. Frank Smyth and Pat McCrory join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Congress's January 6th select committee is broadcasting its hearings directly to Americans. But with partisan gaps widening, and fewer people saying Trump is responsible for the attack on Congress, can the hearings break through with the American people? Lisa Desjardins, Steven Levitsky and Jack Beatty join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Phones. TVs. Computers, everywhere inside. But outside, how can we help kids see the forest beyond the screens? Steven Rinella joins Meghna Chakrabarti.

Health care is heavily regulated. But can the FDA effectively regulate AI in health care? It's episode three of our series “Smarter health."   Elisabeth Rosenthal, Finale Doshi-Velez and Yiannos Tolias join Meghna Chakrabarti.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives enforces gun laws already on the books. How can enforcement happen when the very agency charged with doing so are handicapped by Congress? Champe Barton and David Chipman joins Meghna Chakrabarti.

Many Silicon Valley companies want their software engineers to live for their jobs. And they offer them everything from meals to dry cleaning to spiritual coaches. But is the office really the place to find a life’s worth of fulfillment? Carolyn Chen and Lauren Padron join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Mass grief. Mass outrage. Seemingly everywhere. But can we also learn to share in each other’s joy? Eve Ekman, Shelly Gable and Amelie, an On Point listener, join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Admiral James Stavridis knows what it takes to make decisions in battle. Stavridis says the things needed to make good decisions in war are not that different from what's needed to make good decisions in everyday life. He'll tell us about it.

AI, ethics, your care. It's episode II of our special series “Smarter health." Glenn Cohen and Yolonda Wilson join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Post-World War II, there was something seen as even worse than being a communist in U.S. politics: being gay. We discuss how lives and careers were lost through decades of bipartisan homophobia. James Kirchick joins Meghna Chakrabarti.

Texas used to have some of the strictest gun laws in America. But since they were relaxed, there have several mass shootings across the state. We talk to Texans about the laws they've stripped away. Rep. Joe Moody and Michael Cargill join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Justice Samuel Alito’s draft opinion on abortion shows the Supreme Court could overturn Roe v. Wade on the basis that abortion is “not deeply rooted in the nation’s history and traditions.” We look at the fragility of unenumerated rights. Kenji Yoshino and Jack Beatty join Meghna Chakrabarti.

REBROADCAST: Burn pits in Afghanistan and Iraq. Vast piles of U.S. military waste set alight, pouring smoke into the air that U.S. soldiers would breathe. Why were they ignored for so long? Megan Stack, Le Roy Torres and Dan Brewer join Meghna Chakrabarti.

American health care is complex. Expensive. Hard to access. Could artificial intelligence change that? It's the first episode in our series 'Smarter health.' Dr. Ziad Obermeyer joins us.

It’s estimated that more than 60,000 people live on the streets and in the parks of Los Angeles. Or put another way – 20% of all unhoused Americans – are in LA. Can the city find a way to house everyone who calls LA home? Heidi Marston and Rachel Estrada join Kimberly Atkins Stohr.

Following the mass shooting of 19 elementary school children in Uvalde, Texas yesterday, we ask what will it take for us to find the political will to prevent these kind of events from being a uniquely American experience. Lee Drutman, Daniel Webster and Jack Beatty join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Life with robots once seemed possible only in science fiction. But today, scientific advances in artificial intelligence and robotics have ensured that robots are a part of our everyday lives. On May 13, the Day of AI, we brought together a panel of experts to talk about the future of AI and robots. This is the first installment of our series Remarkable Science -- featuring conversations with scientists about their discoveries, recorded in front of an audience at WBUR’s CitySpace venue.

Since the start of the war, we’ve listened to voices from Ukraine. As the war grinds on, how do Ukrainians see things? Ivan Gomza, Olga Buzunova and Mariana Budjeryn join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Great replacement theory -- the erroneous belief that there's an effort underway to 'replace native-born Americans with immigrants for electoral gains.' That fear has moved from the fringes to the mainstream. As many as one in three Americans say they believe it. Jeffery Robinson and Ricky Jones join Meghna Chakrabarti.

The U.S. spends more on health care than any other country in the world. But Americans are not as healthy as people living in other rich nations. Could artificial intelligence change all that? Starting Friday, May 27th, On Point presents a four-part series: 'Smarter health: Artificial intelligence and the future of American health care.'

Trees are on the move. Because of climate change, the world’s forests are heading north. What does this mean for us and our survival? Ben Rawlence joins Meghna Chakrabarti.

The a national baby formula shortage. The reason? Corporate monopolies, poor quality control and federal regulation. Matt Stoller joins Meghna Chakrabarti.

In an archive edition of On Point: As American conservatives meet for their conference in Budapest, we learn more about why they're gathering to hear Viktor Orban. Jack Beatty and Kim Scheppele join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Journalist Putsata Reang has reported on many wars. Her own life is defined by the war her family escaped.  “What did I owe my mother for giving me life?" The question gripped Reang when she decided to tell her mother that she's gay. Putsata Reang joins Meghna Chakrabarti.

Different religions in America have different answers to the question of when life begins. If the government adopts one definition of life when it comes to abortion access, is it restricting the free practice of all other beliefs? Elizabeth Reiner Platt and Rabba Sara Hurwitz join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Rebroadcast: If you consult three doctors and get three different opinions, that’s an example of what Nobel Prize-winning psychologist Daniel Kahneman and his colleagues call “noise.” How do you decide what to do when professionals don’t agree? We’ll cut through the noise and exploring human judgment. Daniel Kahneman and Olivier Sibony join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Youth suicide has been on the rise across the United States. And for young people between the ages of 5 and 12, the suicide rate for Black children is nearly double that of white children. Tami Charles and Kevin Simon join Meghna Chakrabarti.

For more than 40 years, millions of tons of Uranium ore were mined from Navajo lands to make nuclear weapons. Thousands of workers were exposed to deadly radiation. Those workers are about to lose funding to cover their health costs. Phil Harrison and Amber Crotty join Meghna Chakrabarti.

In Shanghai, the long near total lockdown has meant empty streets, food insecurity, and rising anger and dissent. So why is China still pursing its iron clad COVID-zero strategy?  Don Weinland, Dr. Yangyang Cheng and Yanzhong Huang join Meghna Chakrabarti.

In the United States, Roe v. Wade is on the brink of being overturned. But across Latin America, abortion access is expanding. Why is the United States going in the opposite direction from much of the world on abortion rights? Michelle Oberman, Cora Fernandez Anderson and Jack Beatty join Meghna Chakrabarti.

More than half the world's population experienced a headache disorder in the past year. Why? Dr. Amaal J. Starling and Dr. Peter Goadsby join Meghna Chakrabarti.

In a podcast extra, Meghna Chakrabarti reflects on a 2017 conversation with Sarah Weddington, the Texas attorney who successfully argued Roe v. Wade 44 years ago.

The U.S. is approaching a grim milestone – one million dead from COVID-19. Millions more Americans trying to figure out how to live life without the person they loved. We remember those we've lost to COVID. Micki McElya and Marisa Renee Lee join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Politics feels like a centrifugal force, pushing, tearing American democracy apart. So what glue can hold us together? Yascha Mounk and Jack Beatty join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Florida property insurance is a hot mess. One word: Litigation. In fact, more than 75% of all property insurance lawsuits in the United States originate in Florida. Mark Friedlander and Jeff Brandes join Meghna Chakrabarti.

The Biden Administration has delayed the restart of student loan repayments. We discuss the federal government's role in causing and fixing the problem of high student loan debt. Josh Mitchell and Beth Akers join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Intensity. Drama. Speed. Americans are falling in love with Formula One racing. However, is the new motor sports fandom real, or driven by a Netflix algorithm? Drew Lawrence and Carlos Serra join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine has pushed the Nordic nations toward NATO. How will it change European security? Emma Ashford, Heli Hautala and Wess Mitchell join Meghna Chakrabarti.

NATO expansion in the '90s. U.S. Defense Secretary Les Aspin asked in 1993: "How do you deal with the question of membership?" Ultimately, the Clinton administration's answer to that question may have had more to do with domestic politics than international alliances. Mary Elise Sarotte and Charles Kupchan join Meghna Chakrabarti.

From Nazi Germany to Mussolini’s Italy, fascists worked to repress the rights of women by restricting education and abortion rights. Now, there are echoes of that past again. Anne Wingenter and Erica Chenoweth join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Social psychologist Jonathan Haidt says America is in trouble. He sees it on college campuses and through social media. Haidt joins Meghna Chakrabarti to discuss democracy, social media and how to fix America's 'ailing' institutions.

While you were tending to your quarantine sourdough starter, Chinese YouTube star Li Ziqi was growing mushrooms, making peach blossom crowns and listening to the sound of blooming roses. Join Amory Sivertson and Ben Brock Johnson in their podcast 'Endless Thread' as they explore Li Ziqi, and why millions of isolated people worldwide have been drawn to the quiet intricacy and beauty of her videos. 

Some states and local law enforcement agencies have taken it upon themselves to develop their own firearm hand-in laws that they can effectively enforce. That’s happened in California, Washington state, Colorado and Lafourche Parish, Louisiana. On Point producer Paige Sutherland has more on what's happening in Louisiana and the gap in America's gun laws.

The House committee investigating the January 6 insurrection will soon make public what they’ve found. Congressional historian Ray Smock says the stakes are high. Kimberly Atkins Stohr hosts a discussion on the next phase of the Jan. 6 investigation with Betsy Woodruff Swan, Raymond Smock and Jack Beatty.

Georgia, once solid red, is looking more purple than ever. We hear the inside story of Georgia’s shift left, and what it can teach Democrats nationwide. Greg Bluestein joins Kimberly Atkins Stohr.

A controversial immigration policy meant to keep COVID-19 out of the U.S. is set to end next month. But despite claims of the policy causing a humanitarian crisis, U.S. lawmakers claim lifting Title 42 will cause a different crisis here at home.  Eleanor Acer, Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, Harold Koh and Monette Zard join Kimberly Atkins Stohr.

Last Tuesday, President Joe Biden declared genocide was taking place in Ukraine. "I called it genocide because it’s become clearer and clearer that Putin is just trying to wipe out the idea of even being able to be a Ukrainian," the president said. But is Biden right? We discuss the politics of calling the Russian invasion of Ukraine a genocide and the investigations to prove it. Kate Cronin-Furman and Eugene Finkel join Kimberly Atkins Stohr.

Personal fitness for women used to be considered unladylike. That all changed with fitness pioneers like Lotte Berk and Judi Sheppard Missett. But look closer and there’s much more to the story than jazz shoes and leg warmers. Danielle Friedman and Jessica Rihal join Kimberly Atkins Stohr.

When three friends went on a rum-fueled rampage one night deep in the Nevada desert, they never expected the trouble they would find themselves in a week later. The men broke into a remote unit of Death Valley National Park known as Devil's Hole — a mysterious flooded cave that happens to be home to the one of the rarest fish on Earth, and one that's critically endangered too. This episode, based on Paige Blankenbuehler's High Country News feature, is a bite-size crime story starring an obscure species of tiny fish, and some hedonistic humans who stepped a little too far over the line, and suffered some big consequences. Last Seen host Nora Saks dives into the fraught relationship between humans and nature, and the long arm of the law intended to protect our most vulnerable species.

Water bottles. Shopping bags. Computers. Medical equipment. Food containers. We're living in an invisible miasma of microplastics. What's it doing to human health? Erica Cirino and Heather Leslie join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Ambassador Bill Taylor has been the top U.S. diplomat in Ukraine twice, most recently under President Trump. He joins Meghna Chakrabarti to discuss how the United States’ relationship with Ukraine is changing.

According to the White House, billionaires in America pay income tax at a rate that’s just half that of the average worker. President Biden is proposing taxing the unrealized gains of the richest Americans — assets the wealthy haven’t yet cashed out on. Steve Rosenthal joins Meghna Chakrabarti.

Online attacks and harassments have become a fact of life for many women online. Can it be stopped? Nina Jankowicz joins Meghna Chakrabarti.

There's an unprecedent number of intercepted audio coming out of the Russia-Ukraine war. How is it changing what's happening in Ukraine? John Scott-Railton and Andrei Soldatov join Meghna Chakrabarti.

WBUR, the home of On Point, makes a handful of podcasts you may not have heard before, and we want to change that. So, we’re continuing with our weekend playlist of other podcasts made at WBUR. Today: An episode from 'Endless Thread' — about a battle between astronomers over a somewhat unassuming rock.

An effort to get guns out of the hands of abusive boyfriends failed again in Congress. We discuss the story behind the two-decades old fight to close the so-called “boyfriend loophole."

Last year, Liz Shuler became the first ever woman elected president of the country's largest labor union. She joins us to talk about where the labor movement is headed.

Jennifer and Tyrone Harris had $230,000 of debt. But after four years, they paid down their debt entirely. How did they do it?

For 25 years, Michelle Singletary has dished out personal finance guidance at the Washington Post. Who did she turn to for advice?

America doesn't have enough teachers. The Biden administration is calling for states to spend and recruit more. Will that work? Linda Darling-Hammond joins Meghna Chakrabarti.

A Russia-Ukraine peace agreement. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy wants concrete security guarantees. Would Russia accept? Ret. Lt. Gen. Donald Kerrick, Max Seddon and Dr. Cindy Wittke join Meghna Chakrabarti.

WBUR, the home of On Point, makes a handful of podcasts you may not have heard before, and we want to change that. Every Sunday for the next month, we’ll drop one of our favorite episodes of a WBUR podcast in this feed. First up: An episode from the new season of 'Last Seen.' Amory Sivertson traces the enigmatic life of Jack Murphy, or "Murph the Surf," who pulled off the biggest jewel heist in New York City history.

The James Webb Space Telescope is NASA, the European Space Agency and the Canadian Space Agency's most ambitious space observatory ever. A million miles away from Planet Earth, it is designed to look back to the beginnings of the universe. In this 'First Person,' we hear from Robert Gonsalves, creator of the phase retrieval imaging technique now being used by the James Webb Space Telescope.

Peering deeper into the universe than we ever have before. We hear the remarkable story of the James Webb Space Telescope. Marcia J. Rieke and Nikole Lewis join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Influential voices on the American far-right, such as white nationalist Nick Fuentes, are genuflecting to Russia. How close, and how dangerous is the far-right's Russian relationship? Jason Blazakis, Natalia Antelava and Jack Beatty join Meghna Chakrabarti.

In January, South Korea had about 4,500 new COVID cases a day. By mid-March, that number ballooned to over 400,000. But at the same time, South Korea has one the lowest COVID death rates in the world. So, how are they doing that?  Sangmi Cha and Jerome Kim join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Ethiopia’s government has turned the northern Tigray region into a virtual prison. Five million people. No way in. No way out. No food, no medicine, no electricity. How long can the world look the other way? Etana Dinka, Hayelom Mekonen and Ephraim Isaac join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Alexander Vindman and Lawrence Wilkerson have unique histories that have brought them to two different views on what the U.S. and Europe must do as Russia continues its attack on Ukraine. We hear from them both. Ret. Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman and Ret. Col. Larry Wilkerson join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Whales migrate along routes thousands of miles long - oceanic superhighways - that also happen to be corridors of human disruption. We discuss the fight to protect whale superhighways. Ari Friedlaender joins Meghna Chakrabarti.

A legislative proposal in Missouri would make it illegal for a woman to cross state lines to receive a legal abortion. Restricting a woman's freedom of movement. Is it the next step in states that continue to tighten abortion access? Tessa Weinberg, Dr. Colleen McNicholas and Mary Elizabeth Coleman join Meghna Chakrabarti.

For millions of Ukrainians who have not -- and cannot -- leave their cities, how are they enduring life in a warzone? Alevtina Kakhidze and Ivan Gomza join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Big rhetoric around three simple words. But what would a "no-fly zone" really mean in the skies over Ukraine? John Kornblum and Lt. Gen. David Deptula join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson would be the first former public defender on a bench full of former prosecutors and corporate lawyers. What difference would that make on the highest court in the land? Nancy Gertner and Benjamin Barton join Meghna Chakrabarti.

The U.S. and NATO have warned Beijing not to back its ally. What China chooses to do now will have worldwide implications for years to come. We talk about it. Tong Zhao, Dr. Yangyang Cheng and Oriana Skylar Mastro join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Dr. Celine Gounder is a senior fellow and editor-at-large for public health at Kaiser Health News. She shares where the U.S. struggles in talking about the pandemic, and what we can do to fix it.

COVID, two years later. We discuss building trust and lessons for leaders who will face the next pandemic. Richard Tofel and Jack Beatty join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Sanctions are squeezing Russia’s economy, but not its wealthiest. We look at how the global financial system enables oligarchy, and how to fix it. Louise Shelley and Oliver Bullough join Meghna Chakrabarti.