A stress test for the midterms

A stress test for the midterms

Author: WBUR February 24, 2026 Duration: 35:34
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

Each weekday, On Point with Meghna Chakrabarti cuts through the noise of the 24-hour news cycle to bring clarity and depth to the stories that matter. Produced by WBUR, this daily news podcast is built on the conviction that understanding requires more than headlines. Meghna Chakrabarti guides conversations that dig into the roots of current events, connecting today’s debates to historical context and the broader human experience. You’ll hear thoughtful interviews with experts, journalists, and people directly affected by the issues, all aimed at answering the pressing questions that often go unasked. The approach is rigorous but accessible, tackling complex subjects-from politics and science to culture and ethics-without shying away from nuance. It’s a space where multiple perspectives are examined, not just presented, fostering a more complete picture of our world. Tuning in feels less like being talked at and more like being part of a necessary, informed discussion. For anyone feeling overwhelmed by fragmented news sources, this podcast offers a reliable, substantive hour of analysis that respects the listener’s intelligence and curiosity. The result is a consistently engaging program that doesn’t just report what’s happening, but explains why it matters.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

On Point with Meghna Chakrabarti
Podcast Episodes
Are we witnessing the death of expertise? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:58
Analyst Tom Nichols says the Trump administration is fundamentally incompetent. And he says there’s been a systematic erosion of expert trust for years — which is dangerous for American democracy. *** Thank you for liste…
The Jackpod: The ties that bind [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:13
On Point news analyst Jack Beatty on Trump's ties to Jeffrey Epstein and Russia and how it might explain the administration's agenda. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/g…
The 'universal language' of rhythm [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:42
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 listenin…
Why Trump wants to ‘take’ Cuba [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:49
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…
The view of the Iran war from abroad [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:01
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 P…
Iran's new leader: 'His father on steroids' [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:16
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 do…
Israel’s endgame in Iran [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:53
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 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:09
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 O…
The Jackpod: The power of example and the example of power [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:59
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 Po…
How big will the Iran war price shock be? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:11
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 b…