On Point | Podcast

Texas state legislature just passed a bill that would send doctors, teachers, librarians and more to jail if they provide kids with "harmful" materials. But who decides what's harmful, and what's not?

Transcribed - Published: 16 May 2025

On Point news analyst Jack Beatty on the life and experiences of the White House Deputy Chief of Staff and their connection with Trumpism.

Transcribed - Published: 15 May 2025

A ceasefire deal has put a pause on conflict between India and Pakistan. But experts say the two nuclear powers have a lot to work out if the Kashmir region is to move toward long-term peace.

Transcribed - Published: 15 May 2025

The world's 1.4 billion Catholics have a new pope, Leo XIV. But the church he now leads is far from unified. What does the global Catholic Church want from a new pope -- and can he deliver it?

Transcribed - Published: 14 May 2025

The Biden administration first labeled Venezuelan gang as a multi-national criminal organization. President Trump has now put Tren de Aragua at the center of the debate over immigration and deportation. But will his methods neutralize the threat Tren de Aragua poses to the U.S.?

Transcribed - Published: 13 May 2025

As the U.S. military faces a recruiting crisis, women have been consistent enlistees into America’s armed forces. So why is Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth canceling a program supporting them?

Transcribed - Published: 12 May 2025

The vast majority of Trump’s executive orders have come from The Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025, and the so-called "America First" plan. How the Trump administration is turning Project 2025 and the so-called 'America First' agenda into reality.

Transcribed - Published: 9 May 2025

On Point news analyst Jack Beatty on what President Trump does and doesn’t know about U.S. history and what that means for the country today.

Transcribed - Published: 8 May 2025

The Trump administration wants to expand the American lumber industry by logging more trees in national forests and raising tariffs on lumber imports. The impact that could have on the domestic timber industry.

Transcribed - Published: 8 May 2025

Hurricane Helene devastated western North Carolina last year. President Donald Trump promised North Carolinians he wouldn’t forget them. But recently, Trump's FEMA rejected the state's request for extended relief funding.

Transcribed - Published: 7 May 2025

Starting May 7, you will have to have a REAL ID to board a U.S. domestic flight. But so much has changed in the 20 years since Real ID was first proposed, is REAL ID 20 years out-of-date?

Transcribed - Published: 6 May 2025

Starting May 7, you will have to have a REAL ID to board a U.S. domestic flight. But so much has changed in the 20 years since Real ID was first proposed, is REAL ID 20 years out-of-date?

Transcribed - Published: 6 May 2025

Millions of healthy children didn't set foot in a classroom for more than a year during the COVID pandemic. Journalist David Zweig says those school closures may have done more harm than good.

Transcribed - Published: 5 May 2025

President Trump believes that if you're born in the United States, you should not automatically be a citizen. Historian Heather Cox Richardson says Trump is willfully misinterpreting American history and the Constitution.

Transcribed - Published: 2 May 2025

On Point news analyst Jack Beatty on the centrality of the rule of law in the U.S. And the findings of a Pew Research poll that 88% of Americans believe that President Trump should follow Supreme Court orders.

Transcribed - Published: 1 May 2025

Austin, Texas was known as a funky, liberal haven in a deep red state. Now, there’s big tech money pouring in and huge growth. How has life changed there?

Transcribed - Published: 1 May 2025

Flamin' Hot Cheetos, Skittles, Mountain Dew Baja Blast. These foods all contain petroleum-based synthetic food dyes the FDA wants to phase out by the end of next year. Will the ban change American eating habits?

Transcribed - Published: 30 April 2025

The Tesla Takedown protests have been mostly peaceful, but there have been a few incidents of vandalism and even property destruction. Now, Elon Musk and his allies are calling the entire protest movement "domestic terrorism." Is that a fair label?

Transcribed - Published: 29 April 2025

Tariffs, mortgage rates, clashes with the fed – all make for uncertainty in the economy. On Point’s “Money Ladies” Michelle Singletary and Rana Foroohar join us to talk about your money, the global economy and America’s future.

Transcribed - Published: 28 April 2025

Will AI devastate humanity or uplift it? Philosopher Christopher DiCarlo's new book examines how we can navigate when AI surpasses human capacity.

Transcribed - Published: 25 April 2025

The immigration status of Afghans who helped the U.S. government is in jeopardy under the latest Trump crackdowns. How that impacts Afghan refugees and their families already in the U.S. and those stuck abroad.

Transcribed - Published: 24 April 2025

Harvard University is suing the White House. What the university’s clash with the Trump Administration means for the rest of higher education.

Transcribed - Published: 23 April 2025

As the Trump Administration looks to cut government spending, many Indigenous communities say they’re losing vital public services. It could be a violation of long-standing treaties between tribes and the federal government.

Transcribed - Published: 22 April 2025

With more than 60% of Americans taking a prescription drug, there are increasing questions about how these medicines are approved, how they're kept safe and how they’re priced. In a new book, Harvard’s Dr. Jerry Avorn argues the drugs we take have been compromised by profits.

Transcribed - Published: 21 April 2025

Teenage boys are experiencing increasing rates of loneliness and suicidal thoughts -- which is having a direct impact on their achievement in school. How can schools address that? The final part in On Point’s special series “Falling Behind: The Miseducation of America’s Boys.”

Transcribed - Published: 18 April 2025

After decades of decline, male teachers now make up less than a quarter of the public-school teaching force. What’s driving men away, and what would it take to bring them back? On Point’s weeklong series exploring boys and education continues.

Transcribed - Published: 17 April 2025

Data show boys are falling behind in school. Black boys are falling behind the most. What’s happening in classrooms that are bucking that trend? On Point’s weeklong series exploring boys and education continues.

Transcribed - Published: 16 April 2025

'Boys will be boys.' How are perceptions about boys’ behavior in the classroom shaping their entire education? It’s part two of On Point’s weeklong series, "Falling Behind: The Miseducation of America's Boys."

Transcribed - Published: 15 April 2025

Boys fall behind girls in education in the U.S. starting as young as eight years old. Understanding how boys learn is key to knowing why that’s happening. It's part one of On Point’s weeklong series “Falling Behind: The Miseducation of America’s Boys.”

Transcribed - Published: 14 April 2025

Spotify promised independent artists a new revenue stream, and listeners exposure to new music. In the new book 'Mood Machine,' music journalist Liz Pelly examines how the streaming giant has shaped our listening habits.

Transcribed - Published: 11 April 2025

A White House executive order seeks to eliminate “improper anti-American ideology” and promote "American greatness" at the nation’s museums. What Trump's recent attacks on the Smithsonian mean for how Americans understand their shared history.

Transcribed - Published: 10 April 2025

On Point news analyst Jack Beatty on who’s been advising President Trump on his tariff policies.

Transcribed - Published: 10 April 2025

A new On Point special series explores why America’s boys are falling behind in school, and what can be done about it. Hear the first episode on Monday, April 14 in your podcast feed.

Transcribed - Published: 9 April 2025

Many on the political right accuse the left of policing what people can and can't say. Now, the Trump administration is cracking down on words related to diversity and inclusion. Has a so-called 'woke right' replaced the so-called 'woke left?'

Transcribed - Published: 9 April 2025

From pandemic inflation to the impact of tariffs the price of groceries is getting a lot of attention. But who decides what we pay -- and why?

Transcribed - Published: 8 April 2025

The National Weather Service has been around for more than 150 years – their mission is explicitly to provide forecasts and warnings to protect lives and property. Experts warn that its hollowing out could have long-lasting implications.

Transcribed - Published: 7 April 2025

President Trump has signed several Executive Orders targeting law firms who have challenged his agenda or hired his political enemies. Many in the legal community worry about the impact this could have on the overall legal system.

Transcribed - Published: 4 April 2025

On Point news analyst Jack Beatty on Donald Trump’s musings about being president for a third term and what paths might exist for that to happen.

Transcribed - Published: 3 April 2025

The merchant marines are sometimes referred to as the "fourth arm of national defense." So what does a shortage mean for American security?

Transcribed - Published: 3 April 2025

They used to work in now-shuttered regional social security offices, or protecting our National Parks or nuclear security. Then President Trump, Elon Musk and DOGE terminated their positions -- and thousands more.

Transcribed - Published: 1 April 2025

Escalating trade wars, disputes with allies, group chats with top U.S. officials' attack plans. What does the second Trump administration look like from China?

Transcribed - Published: 31 March 2025

Dozens of Afghan women studying abroad are terrified of being sent back to Afghanistan if the State Department cancels their U.S.-funded scholarships. In this archive episode from September last year, Afghan women reveal what it's like to live under Taliban rule.

Transcribed - Published: 29 March 2025

On Point news analyst Jack Beatty looks ahead to April 2nd, what the Trump administration has dubbed Liberation Day, when an array of reciprocal tariffs go into effect.

Transcribed - Published: 27 March 2025

Conspiracy theorists believe more than $400 billion of gold is missing from Fort Knox. President Trump says he will visit Kentucky with Elon Musk to see if the gold is there. Some economists and historians say this tells us more about the economy in general than security of gold resources.

Transcribed - Published: 27 March 2025

Mortgage finance giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have been under government conservatorship since 2008. President Trump wants to privatize them. But what could that mean for America's mortgage market?

Transcribed - Published: 26 March 2025

Americans throw away more than 15 billion pounds of electronic waste every year. In his new book 'Waste Wars,' Alexander Clapp reveals how millions of pounds of our trash get shipped around the world, making a few people rich and many people sick.

Transcribed - Published: 25 March 2025

Masayoshi Son is pouring billions of dollars into U.S. artificial intelligence and flexing his ties to President Donald Trump. Who is this Japanese billionaire and what does he want?

Transcribed - Published: 24 March 2025

On Point news analyst Jack Beatty on emerging angst and growing protests over the Trump administration, far from the centers of political power in Washington D.C.

Transcribed - Published: 20 March 2025

Journalist Natasha Hakimi Zapata's book “Another World is Possible” explores what the U.S. could learn about ways to tackle issues such as inequality, health care and homelessness from innovative solutions deployed abroad.

Transcribed - Published: 20 March 2025

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth vowed to reshape the Pentagon. How the Trump Administration is making sweeping changes to the U.S. armed services, just two months into its term.

Transcribed - Published: 19 March 2025