On Point | Podcast

WBUR

Hosted by Meghna Chakrabarti, On Point is a unique, curiosity-driven combination of original reporting, newsmaker interviews, first-person stories, and in-depth analysis, making the world more intelligible and humane. When the world is more complicated than ever, we aim to make sense of it together. On Point is produced by WBUR.

  • 47 minutes 17 seconds
    Is Kash Patel a modern-day J. Edgar Hoover?

    FBI Director Kash Patel wants to go after President Trump's enemies. That reminds some historians of J. Edgar Hoover, the FBI's notorious first director. But some say Patel wants to weaponize the FBI so completely, even Hoover would disapprove.

    6 March 2025, 8:20 pm
  • 47 minutes 13 seconds
    Is education technology actually helping students learn?

    From laptops to learning software, schools invest billions of dollars each year on education technology. But what do we really know about how effective that tech is in the classroom?

    6 March 2025, 5:05 pm
  • 47 minutes 22 seconds
    How the bond market could check Trump's power

    Bond traders are worried about President Donald Trump’s proposed tax cuts – and the ever-growing national debt. Could the bond market be a check on Trump’s agenda?

    4 March 2025, 5:24 pm
  • 47 minutes 18 seconds
    A meltdown in the White House over Ukraine

    An Oval Office meeting devolved into a televised shouting match Friday. President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of “gambling with World War III” and being ungrateful for U.S. aid. What this unprecedented moment means for the Ukraine war and the world.

    3 March 2025, 7:00 pm
  • 46 minutes 43 seconds
    Weight loss drugs may become harder to get. What does that mean for patients?

    When the FDA declared an Ozempic and Wegovy shortage, business boomed for pharmacies making cheaper, off-brand versions of the weight loss drugs. Now, the FDA is clamping down.

    28 February 2025, 7:00 pm
  • 47 minutes 12 seconds
    Lauren Ober was a juror on a Jan. 6 case. Then, she learned her new neighbors supported Jan. 6 insurrectionists.

    A conversation with journalist Lauren Ober about her experience on that jury, her podcast 'We Live Here Now,' and what Trump's pardons mean.

    27 February 2025, 7:00 pm
  • 46 minutes 3 seconds
    'A clear attempt to intimidate the press'

    Some of President Trump’s lawsuits against media outlets have resulted in big settlements. Critics say that could have a chilling effect on journalists and embolden Trump to sue more.

    26 February 2025, 7:00 pm
  • 46 minutes 47 seconds
    The GOP's plan for the future of Medicaid

    The House Republicans’ budget plan calls for billions of dollars in cuts to Medicaid. Some 72 million Americans rely on the program for their health care. What's next for Medicaid?

    25 February 2025, 7:00 pm
  • 46 minutes 24 seconds
    Where peace talks stand in Ukraine, 3 years into war

    President Trump is promising to end the now three-year long war in Ukraine. But with Ukraine and Europe sidelined in current negotiations – how far off really is peace?

    24 February 2025, 7:00 pm
  • 46 minutes 48 seconds
    Tumult inside Trump's DOJ: What it means for rule of law in the U.S.

    Trump’s Justice Department ordered criminal charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams to be dropped. Multiple federal prosecutors resigned in protest. What do these controversies mean for the future of American law?

    21 February 2025, 7:00 pm
  • 37 minutes 31 seconds
    The Jackpod: Off the mat

    On Point news analyst Jack Beatty on how the Democrats could take a leaf from the British parliamentary system to break out of their opinion poll slump.

    20 February 2025, 10:19 pm
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