On Point

Snowpack is getting less reliable in American winters. And in many places, that's not just an environmental problem, but an emotional one, too. About: Hosted by Meghna Chakrabarti, On Point is WBUR’s award-winning, daily public radio show and podcast. Its unique combination of original reporting, first-person stories, and in-depth analysis creates an experience that makes the world more intelligible and humane. Deep dives. Original stories. Fresh takes. We’d appreciate your help to better understand On Point's podcast listeners and get your feedback — it’ll take you about 10 minutes or less! Take our survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/onpointpodcast  

The Chinese government is urging women to have more babies -- after decades of a one-child policy. But officials face major pushback from Chinese women themselves. About: Hosted by Meghna Chakrabarti, On Point is WBUR’s award-winning, daily public radio show and podcast. Its unique combination of original reporting, first-person stories, and in-depth analysis creates an experience that makes the world more intelligible and humane. Deep dives. Original stories. Fresh takes. We’d appreciate your help to better understand On Point's podcast listeners and get your feedback — it’ll take you about 10 minutes or less! Take our survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/onpointpodcast  

Over the weekend, the U.S. launched retaliatory strikes against Iranian proxies further raising tensions in the Middle East. How will Iran respond? Dan Byman and Afshon Ostovar join Meghna Chakrabarti. About: Hosted by Meghna Chakrabarti, On Point is WBUR’s award-winning, daily public radio show and podcast. Its unique combination of original reporting, first-person stories, and in-depth analysis creates an experience that makes the world more intelligible and humane. Deep dives. Original stories. Fresh takes. We’d appreciate your help to better understand On Point's podcast listeners and get your feedback — it’ll take you about 10 minutes or less! Take our survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/onpointpodcast  

Last month, the Ingenuity ended its mission as the first aircraft to make an extraterrestrial flight. After nearly three years on Mars, what did it teach us? Teddy Tzanetos and Havard Grip join Meghna Chakrabarti. About: Hosted by Meghna Chakrabarti, On Point is WBUR’s award-winning, daily public radio show and podcast. Its unique combination of original reporting, first-person stories, and in-depth analysis creates an experience that makes the world more intelligible and humane. Deep dives. Original stories. Fresh takes. We’d appreciate your help to better understand On Point's podcast listeners and get your feedback — it’ll take you about 10 minutes or less! Take our survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/onpointpodcast  

The U.S. Supreme Court is hearing an appeal of a Colorado court ruling this week that could keep former President Trump off the ballot. It could profoundly shape the 2024 election -- and American democracy. About: Hosted by Meghna Chakrabarti, On Point is WBUR’s award-winning, daily public radio show and podcast. Its unique combination of original reporting, first-person stories, and in-depth analysis creates an experience that makes the world more intelligible and humane. Deep dives. Original stories. Fresh takes. We’d appreciate your help to better understand On Point's podcast listeners and get your feedback — it’ll take you about 10 minutes or less! Take our survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/onpointpodcast  

From desalination plants in Australia, wastewater recycling plants in Orange County, CA to net zero water buildings in NYC, in his latest book author and engineer David Sedlak looks not at the problems but the solutions. About: Hosted by Meghna Chakrabarti, On Point is WBUR’s award-winning, daily public radio show and podcast. Its unique combination of original reporting, first-person stories, and in-depth analysis creates an experience that makes the world more intelligible and humane. Deep dives. Original stories. Fresh takes. We’d appreciate your help to better understand On Point's podcast listeners and get your feedback — it’ll take you about 10 minutes or less! Take our survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/onpointpodcast  

From the annexation of the Philippines in 1898, to looming confrontation with Iran today, On Point news analyst Jack Beatty on U.S. leadership, vested military interests, and unintended military entanglements. About: Hosted by Meghna Chakrabarti, On Point is WBUR’s award-winning, daily public radio show and podcast. Its unique combination of original reporting, first-person stories, and in-depth analysis creates an experience that makes the world more intelligible and humane. Deep dives. Original stories. Fresh takes. We’d appreciate your help to better understand On Point's podcast listeners and get your feedback — it’ll take you about 10 minutes or less! Take our survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/onpointpodcast  

About a third of students are on track to miss at least 10% of school days this year. Why are students missing school, and how can we bring them back? Scott Hale and Hedy Chang join Meghna Chakrabarti. About: Hosted by Meghna Chakrabarti, On Point is WBUR’s award-winning, daily public radio show and podcast. Its unique combination of original reporting, first-person stories, and in-depth analysis creates an experience that makes the world more intelligible and humane. Deep dives. Original stories. Fresh takes. We’d appreciate your help to better understand On Point's podcast listeners and get your feedback — it’ll take you about 10 minutes or less! Take our survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/onpointpodcast  

The federal government has jurisdiction over immigration matters. In Eagle Pass, the state of Texas has taken over. But what Texas is doing is illegal and could lead to a Constitutional crisis. Rep. Eddie Morales and Stephen Vladeck join Meghna Chakrabarti. Editor's note: On Point reached out to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the White House, Governor Greg Abbott’s office, the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Texas Military Department, and the Texas Attorney General’s Office. All of them either declined our request for an interview or did not respond. About: Hosted by Meghna Chakrabarti, On Point is WBUR’s award-winning, daily public radio show and podcast. Its unique combination of original reporting, first-person stories, and in-depth analysis creates an experience that makes the world more intelligible and humane. Deep dives. Original stories. Fresh takes. We’d appreciate your help to better understand On Point's podcast listeners and get your feedback — it’ll take you about 10 minute

Many of us learned how to do our jobs and connect with colleagues at our first workplace. But after the pandemic normalized remote work, how are young people today getting that professional coming-of-age experience? Cali Williams Yost and Jeffrey Jensen Arnett join Meghna Chakrabarti. About: Hosted by Meghna Chakrabarti, On Point is WBUR’s award-winning, daily public radio show and podcast. Its unique combination of original reporting, first-person stories, and in-depth analysis creates an experience that makes the world more intelligible and humane. Deep dives. Original stories. Fresh takes. We’d appreciate your help to better understand On Point's podcast listeners and get your feedback — it’ll take you about 10 minutes or less! Take our survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/onpointpodcast  

Earlier this month, Florida became the first state to get FDA approval to import cheaper drugs from Canada. But will it work? Nicholas Bagley and Joel Lexchin join Meghna Chakrabarti. About: Hosted by Meghna Chakrabarti, On Point is WBUR’s award-winning, daily public radio show and podcast. Its unique combination of original reporting, first-person stories, and in-depth analysis creates an experience that makes the world more intelligible and humane. Deep dives. Original stories. Fresh takes. We’d appreciate your help to better understand On Point's podcast listeners and get your feedback — it’ll take you about 10 minutes or less! Take our survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/onpointpodcast  

Alabama has carried out the first execution by asphyxiation with nitrogen gas. Kenneth Eugene Smith was executed after a previous attempt involving lethal injection failed. In this episode from January 2023, we heard about that botched execution and how states have been wrestling with how to carry out the ultimate penalty. About: Hosted by Meghna Chakrabarti, On Point is WBUR’s award-winning, daily public radio show and podcast. Its unique combination of original reporting, first-person stories, and in-depth analysis creates an experience that makes the world more intelligible and humane. Deep dives. Original stories. Fresh takes. We’d appreciate your help to better understand On Point's podcast listeners and get your feedback — it’ll take you about 10 minutes or less! Take our survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/onpointpodcast  

Average height in the U.S. has been in decline since about 1980. What’s causing that, and why does it matter? About: Hosted by Meghna Chakrabarti, On Point is WBUR’s award-winning, daily public radio show and podcast. Its unique combination of original reporting, first-person stories, and in-depth analysis creates an experience that makes the world more intelligible and humane. Deep dives. Original stories. Fresh takes. We’d appreciate your help to better understand On Point's podcast listeners and get your feedback — it’ll take you about 10 minutes or less! Take our survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/onpointpodcast  

On Point news analyst Jack Beatty has been reading "The Authoritarian Handbook: 2025," a new report by the bipartisan group Protect Democracy, outlining the promises, powers and plans of Donald Trump as he seeks to return to the White House. About: Hosted by Meghna Chakrabarti, On Point is WBUR’s award-winning, daily public radio show and podcast. Its unique combination of original reporting, first-person stories, and in-depth analysis creates an experience that makes the world more intelligible and humane. Deep dives. Original stories. Fresh takes. We’d appreciate your help to better understand On Point's podcast listeners and get your feedback — it’ll take you about 10 minutes or less! Take our survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/onpointpodcast  

Family members of hostages held by Hamas are furious. They’ve stormed the Israeli parliament, calling for a deal to get the remaining hostages released. But Israel’s war cabinet is split on a path forward. Dahlia Scheindlin and David Makovsky join Meghna Chakrabarti.  About: Hosted by Meghna Chakrabarti, On Point is WBUR’s award-winning, daily public radio show and podcast. Its unique combination of original reporting, first-person stories, and in-depth analysis creates an experience that makes the world more intelligible and humane. Deep dives. Original stories. Fresh takes. We’d appreciate your help to better understand On Point's podcast listeners and get your feedback — it’ll take you about 10 minutes or less! Take our survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/onpointpodcast  

About 40 million Americans have stopped attending a place of worship in the past 25 years. What’s driving it, and what does it tell us about the importance of faith in America? Michael “Mike” Graham and Pastor Jim Davis join Meghna Chakrabarti. About: Hosted by Meghna Chakrabarti, On Point is WBUR’s award-winning, daily public radio show and podcast. Its unique combination of original reporting, first-person stories, and in-depth analysis creates an experience that makes the world more intelligible and humane. Deep dives. Original stories. Fresh takes. We’d appreciate your help to better understand On Point's podcast listeners and get your feedback — it’ll take you about 10 minutes or less! Take our survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/onpointpodcast  

Utah’s Great Salt Lake is the largest salt lake in the Western Hemisphere. Since the 1980s, the lake has shrunk by two-thirds, and is projected to disappear entirely in the next five years. If it does, it will lead to massive environmental, economic and public health issues. Terry Tempest Williams and Ben Abbott join Meghna Chakrabarti. About: Hosted by Meghna Chakrabarti, On Point is WBUR’s award-winning, daily public radio show and podcast. Its unique combination of original reporting, first-person stories, and in-depth analysis creates an experience that makes the world more intelligible and humane. Deep dives. Original stories. Fresh takes. We’d appreciate your help to better understand On Point's podcast listeners and get your feedback — it’ll take you about 10 minutes or less! Take our survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/onpointpodcast  

Polls show Donald Trump dominating the race for the Republican presidential nomination. How does he do it -- and can anyone catch him? Batya Ungar-Sargon, Sarah Longwell and Heather Cox Richardson join Meghna Chakrabarti. About: Hosted by Meghna Chakrabarti, On Point is WBUR’s award-winning, daily public radio show and podcast. Its unique combination of original reporting, first-person stories, and in-depth analysis creates an experience that makes the world more intelligible and humane. Deep dives. Original stories. Fresh takes. We’d appreciate your help to better understand On Point's podcast listeners and get your feedback — it’ll take you about 10 minutes or less! Take our survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/onpointpodcast  

On Point news analyst Jack Beatty discusses the moral character of President Harry Truman, and whether character matters today for presidents or presidential candidates. About: Hosted by Meghna Chakrabarti, On Point is WBUR’s award-winning, daily public radio show and podcast. Its unique combination of original reporting, first-person stories, and in-depth analysis creates an experience that makes the world more intelligible and humane. Deep dives. Original stories. Fresh takes. We’d appreciate your help to better understand On Point's podcast listeners and get your feedback — it’ll take you about 10 minutes or less! Take our survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/onpointpodcast  

No matter how much order, sense, or predictability we try to bring to our lives, uncertainty and the anxiety it can create are always there. But new thinking on uncertainty shows us how it can be a good thing. About: Hosted by Meghna Chakrabarti, On Point is WBUR’s award-winning, daily public radio show and podcast. Its unique combination of original reporting, first-person stories, and in-depth analysis creates an experience that makes the world more intelligible and humane. Deep dives. Original stories. Fresh takes. We’d appreciate your help to better understand On Point's podcast listeners and get your feedback — it’ll take you about 10 minutes or less! Take our survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/onpointpodcast