Is NASCAR a monopoly?
Basketball legend Michael Jordan’s automotive racing team 23XI is suing NASCAR, alleging the organization is an illegal monopoly. The case could make waves across the entire sport.
Episodes
On Point | Podcast
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.
Episodes
The Jackpod: Where the roads lead
On Point news analyst Jack Beatty on the numerous ways Donald Trump has sided with Russian President Vladimir Putin since re-entering the White House.
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.
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?
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?
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.
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.
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.
'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.
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?
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?
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?
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.
Inside the effort to dismantle the Department of Education
The Trump administration has cut Education Department spending by hundreds of millions of dollars over the past few weeks. What does that mean for the department's future?
The truth about testosterone therapy
Prescriptions for testosterone have tripled in recent years, as some social media fitness influencers claim the hormone is a miracle cure for men. But who really benefits from testosterone therapy? And what are the risks?
What it's like to live in fear of being deported
President Trump is promising to remove millions of people who are in the U.S. without legal status. That promise is creating fear among migrants, even those here legally. We head to immigrant communities in Wisconsin to talk about the effects of looming mass deportations.
The consequences of declining vaccination rates
Childhood vaccination rates are declining. Doctors worry that could lead to a resurgence of diseases such as measles, polio and whooping cough.
The Jackpod: The child is father of the man
On Point news analyst Jack Beatty looks back at Elon Musk's traumatic childhood as a lens through which to understand the world view of the planet’s richest man.
Are Chinese commercial drones a threat to national security?
The Chinese-owned drone company DJI controls over 75% of the commercial U.S. drone market. Lawmakers say that its presence in the sky threatens American national security.
How will we power the AI boom?
Just one query to ChatGPT takes as much energy as powering a lightbulb for some 20 minutes. As AI balloons, so does its demand for electricity. That's driving tech companies to increase their demand for fossil fuels.
How Russell Vought's 'radical constitutionalism' could spark a constitutional crisis
Russell Vought, head of Trump's Office of Budget and Management, believes the president has the power to completely dismantle any aspect of the federal government he chooses. Bipartisan leaders say Trump and Vought are trying to provoke a constitutional crisis.
How the richest person in the world is reshaping Washington
Elon Musk is rapidly dismantling or taking control of government agencies during President Trump’s first weeks in power. But is he or Trump in control?
This doctor says he can make AI in health care safer
Artificial intelligence is growing fast. And it’s changing how doctors provide care for their patients. How do you make sure these new AI tools are safe? Dr. Brian Anderson says he has an answer.
Why are headlights brighter than they used to be?
If you feel like car headlights have gotten too bright, you’re not alone. The National Highway Traffic Administration receives more consumer complaints about headlight brightness than any other topic. How did this happen? And can we fix it?
The Jackpod: Calamity howler
On Point news analyst Jack Beatty on President Trump’s pick for OMB director, Russell Vought. What Vought believes about rule of law in American democracy, and whether that could push the nation to ‘a post-constitutional moment.'
Do estranged parents have the legal right to be loved by their kids?
“Reunification therapy” is a practice designed to rebuild connection between an estranged parent and their child. It's often court ordered -- and forces the child to spend time with the estranged parent and cut off contact with the preferred parent entirely. Forced reunification -- but at what cost?
How ending foreign aid could damage U.S. national security
The Trump Administration is halting all foreign aid and dismantling the United States Agency for International Development, the world’s largest single donor. And while USAID should be scrutinized for how it uses taxpayer funding, its supporters say destroying a federal agency doesn't '[promote] the national interest.'
Should we farm octopuses for food?
The octopus is highly intelligent. It’s also a favorite food of humans around the world. In Spain, a proposed octopus farm claims it could raise a million animals per year for eating. That's sparking protests, and possible bans here in the United States.
Big banks are suing the Fed over stress tests
After the 2008 financial collapse, the government required big banks to undergo annual stress tests. Now, those banks are suing to overhaul the stress tests. What does that mean for the stability of the financial system?
The Jackpod: Everything a president does, teaches
On Point news analyst Jack Beatty on the politics of cruelty in the second Trump presidency