WBUR

On Point with Meghna Chakrabarti

News EN ↓ 400 episodes

Get ready for your aha moment: Every weekday, host Meghna Chakrabarti pierces your news bubble to expose the whole story. Getting answers to the questions that need to be asked, examining our history and the human condition. No topic is too complicated or off the table. It’s all On Point.

Author

WBUR

Category

News

Podcast website

www.wbur.org

Latest episode

Jul 10, 2026

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Episodes

The 'universal language' of rhythm 20.03.2026

Rhythm. It's so much more than the backbone of music – it’s essential to how our brains function. Whether you think you've got it or not, why rhythm is a fundamental part of your everyday life. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

Why Trump wants to ‘take’ Cuba 19.03.2026

As the war with Iran becomes more entrenched, President Donald Trump now says he thinks he’ll “have the honor of taking Cuba.” What does that mean and what’s at stake? *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

The view of the Iran war from abroad 18.03.2026

U.S. allies say they won't commit military aid to the war in Iran, and some foreign analysts say the U.S. lacks strategy. The view of the war from the international community. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

Iran's new leader: 'His father on steroids' 17.03.2026

Iran’s new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei took control after his father's assassination. What we know about the elusive new leader and his vision for Iran. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

Israel’s endgame in Iran 16.03.2026

Israel and the U.S. are fighting the Iran war together — but they may not have the same goals. What’s Israel’s strategy? *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

How to find glory in the ordinary 13.03.2026

Terry Tempest Williams writes about finding beauty in unexpected places, animals, plants, memories and moments. She shows us how to do that in today's increasingly chaotic world. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

The Jackpod: The power of example and the example of power 13.03.2026

On Point news analyst Jack Beatty on the moral character of American leaders from George Washington to Donald Trump and what that means for the moral character of the nation. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

How big will the Iran war price shock be? 12.03.2026

The gas pump is just the first place you’ll pay more because of the U.S.-Israel-Iran war. How might commodities, financial markets, fertilizer and food also be impacted? *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

Why Iran wants a long war 11.03.2026

Iran’s strategy, according to experts, is to keep widening the war with the U.S. and Israel and make it last as long as possible. Why? *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

Is the U.S. fighting a war without rules? 10.03.2026

Military rules of engagement exist to specify 'who' and 'what' can be attacked. But Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says the U.S. is fighting Iran without "stupid" rules of engagement. So, what rules are American forces following? *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

Who will profit off of ICE’s new detention warehouses? 09.03.2026

The Trump administration has a $38 billion plan to convert commercial warehouses into massive detention centers for people facing deportation. Inside the Trump administration's massive expansion of detention facilities around the country. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

Why 'KPop Demon Hunters' is everywhere 06.03.2026

'KPop Demon Hunters' is one of the biggest movies on Netflix. It’s also an Oscar nominee that’s spawned chart-topping singles. How K-pop and K-culture became an irresistible global phenomenon. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

The Jackpod: The founders’ worst fears 06.03.2026

On Point news analyst Jack Beatty on the corrupting influence of the president’s power to wage war, and the failure of the 1973 War Powers Resolution to check that power. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

The one thing driving U.S. job growth 05.03.2026

The U.S. added some 130,000 jobs in January. Almost all of those jobs were in just one sector: Health care. Why aren’t jobs growing anywhere else? *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

Why regime change in Iran isn't so simple 04.03.2026

U.S. and Israeli strikes killed Iran’s Supreme Leader along with other top Iranian security officials. But Iran experts say that the Islamic Republic will not fall so quickly. What to know about the deep-rooted infrastructure of the Iranian regime. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

The Trump administration's war against legal immigration 03.03.2026

The Trump administration is publicly cracking down on illegal immigration. Behind the scenes, the White House is also fighting a war against legal immigration. How the administration is working to grind immigration to a halt. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

Why the Pentagon wants AI without guardrails 02.03.2026

A very public contract dispute exposes the ethical debate over how the U.S. military should use AI going forward. Anthropic vs. the Pentagon and what it means for U.S. citizens. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

What really happened to Amelia Earhart? 27.02.2026

Legendary aviator Amelia Earhart and her plane vanished in 1937. Today, explorers are still venturing into the unknown to solve the mystery of her disappearance. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

The Jackpod: Hold the tiger 27.02.2026

On Point news analyst Jack Beatty on the lack of justification for, and potential consequences of, a U.S. military strike in Iran. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

The Epstein class: What the files reveal about the global elite 26.02.2026

Politicians, top business leaders, high-ranking professors, royalty. A select network of global ultra-elites, and how they paved the way for Epstein himself. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

Celebrating Ramadan while living in fear 25.02.2026

Muslims around the world are celebrating the holy month of Ramadan. But for immigrant communities in the U.S., those celebrations are being tempered by fears of ICE. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

Where are Ukraine's abducted children? 24.02.2026

Tens of thousands of Ukrainian children have been abducted by Russian forces in the past four years of war.  They have been placed in Russian re-education camps, adopted by Russian families, or sent for military training. What will it take to get them back? *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

A stress test for the midterms 23.02.2026

President Trump wants congress to pass the SAVE Act, requiring would-be voters to prove they are citizens. He’s called for Republicans to nationalize voting and even mused that the midterms should be canceled. What that all means for the midterms. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

Why you can't get that jingle out of your head 20.02.2026

We all know jingles – those catchy tunes that have advertised products for decades from candy to car insurance. But how do they work, and more importantly, are they having a comeback? *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

The Jackpod: Two cheers for the filibuster 20.02.2026

On Point news analyst Jack Beatty on the threat to voting rights posed by the SAVE Act, requiring proof of citizenship to vote. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

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