Inside the AI surveillance state

Inside the AI surveillance state

Author: WBUR February 4, 2026 Duration: 36:19
From your online browsing habits to traffic cameras on your commute, data about you is everywhere. And with AI, companies can gather, store and share detailed information about you faster than ever. *** 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
Has Trump's erratic behavior gone too far? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:56
President Donald Trump's fixation on Greenland is alienating some Congressional Republicans and American allies. Has Trump's erratic behavior crossed a line? *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a d…
Trump wants to cap credit card interest. Can he? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:20
President Trump says he wants to cap credit card interest at 10%. What it could mean for Americans' credit card debt. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint
DOGE didn't save taxpayers $1 trillion, after all [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:05
According to recent reporting, DOGE fell short of its goals to save taxpayers $1 trillion and streamline government processes. So what did we get from the agency? *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by makin…
America is polarized. Could this writer's new approach fix it? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:39
Polarization pushes people apart. Writer Chloé Valdary says we can heal deepening divisions by treating each other like human beings, not political abstractions. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making…
Minnesota’s mining fight has global consequences [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:22
One of America’s largest deposits of copper, nickel and cobalt is deep underground near the Boundary Waters in northeastern Minnesota. It’s never been mined. Now, the Trump administration is pushing to change that. *** T…
The Jackpod: Gouged [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:32
On Point news analyst Jack Beatty on the scourge of price gouging for captive customers at places like airports, concerts and sporting events. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: w…
How the U.S. could 'lose the 21st century' over Greenland [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:56
President Trump says he wants to "take" Greenland. If he does, he will be effectively attacking Denmark, a NATO ally. How Trump's imperialism could destroy one of America's oldest and most important alliances. *** Thank…
Following the money on the Biden-era infrastructure bill [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:41
The Biden Administration's infrastructure act promised more than $1.2 trillion dollars to build up the country. More than five years later, what was built and what never got started? *** Thank you for listening. Help pow…
If Trump broke international law, so what? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:08
Many legal experts say the Trump administration's attack on Venezuela broke international law. But Trump doesn’t seem to care. What does that say about the strength of international law? *** Thank you for listening. Help…