Does the U.S. need a $1.5 trillion defense budget?

Does the U.S. need a $1.5 trillion defense budget?

Author: WBUR July 29, 2026 Duration: 38:55
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is asking Congress for a record amount of money, $1.5 trillion, as the U.S.-Israel war with Iran continues. What do those taxpayer dollars pay for? *** 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: 50

On Point with Meghna Chakrabarti
Podcast Episodes
Brainwaves: Is AI actually thinking? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:45
The rate at which artificial intelligence is able to replicate human behavior has increased in recent years. Does that mean it's thinking like us? In the third episode of "Brainwaves," what artificial intelligence teache…
Brainwaves: Are you in there? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:41
Consciousness is how we are able to feel, dream and imagine. And yet -- scientists haven't figured out how consciousness definitively works. What we know, what we don’t and what that tells us about our brains. *** Thank…
Brainwaves: Why is the brain such a mystery? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:48
The brain is the organ that makes us who we are. It’s our conduit between reality and thought. But somehow, we’ve only scratched the surface in understanding how the brain actually works. *** Thank you for listening. Hel…
The Jackpod: Fixing the past to save the future [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:37
On Point news analyst Jack Beatty has an epiphany: Retrofitting should be the defining goal of our civilization. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint
It wasn't just Lewis and Clark [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:30
Lewis and Clark became American legends. But they didn’t explore the West alone. A new book profiles the forgotten members of the Corps of Discovery and their remarkable stories. *** Thank you for listening. Help power O…
Are we thinking about the Israel-Hamas conflict all wrong? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:12
Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib is a pro-Palestinian, anti-Hamas expert who grew up in Gaza City. He says a realistic path to peace in the Middle East requires different thinking. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by…
Should states decide what kids read in school? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:07
Texas has a new statewide mandatory reading list for all public school students -- with whole books on the curriculum. Should other states follow suit? *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donatio…
How socialism shaped Wisconsin [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:48
Wisconsin elected the first-ever socialist member of Congress in 1910, and Milwaukee was run by socialist mayors for some 50 years. Now, a Democratic socialist is leading a primary race for Wisconsin governor. *** Thank…
Why ABC says the FCC is attempting censorship [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:22
President Trump has called ABC "the worst" and "the most biased network." Now the FCC is threatening to cancel the broadcast licenses of eight ABC TV stations. ABC says that's "retaliation." *** Thank you for listening.…
The Jackpod: The politics of us against them [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:36
On Point news analyst Jack Beatty on how “affective polarization” and partisan hatred has come to define American political culture. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/gi…