On Point with Meghna Chakrabarti

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. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

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. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

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. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

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.” *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

On Point news analyst Jack Beatty on the Federal Emergency Management Agency as a model of government inefficiency and the prospects for FEMA reform. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

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? *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

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? *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

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. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

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? *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

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. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

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. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

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? *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

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. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

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.   *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

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. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

On Point news analyst Jack Beatty on the rapid expansion of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency under the Trump administration. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

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? *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

For people with disabilities, artificial intelligence tools are helping them see, hear, experience, and move through the world in profound new ways. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

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. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

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? *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

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. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

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. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

“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? *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

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. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

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? *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint