The Jackpod: Dad Gummit!

The Jackpod: Dad Gummit!

Author: WBUR April 6, 2026 Duration: 41:08
On Point news analyst Jack Beatty on how the U.S. Congress serves the financial interests of itself through insider trading. *** 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
Brainwaves: How does a brain stay healthy? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:25
You might think a healthy brain starts and ends in your head – but there are miles and miles of neuron fibers that connect your brain with nearly every corner of your body. Why a healthy brain needs a healthy body. *** T…
The Jackpod: Don’t exhaust your indignation [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:35
On Point news analyst Jack Beatty on who stands to benefit from the so-called Dmitriev package, a reported $12 trillion economic cooperation proposal between the U.S. and Russia. *** Thank you for listening. Help power O…
Brainwaves: What happens between life and death? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:31
A tunnel. A bright light. Reuniting with deceased loved ones. Many people who have near-death experiences have remarkably similar stories. Why? *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here:…
Brainwaves: Is AI actually thinking? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:17
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: 33:43
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: 34:14
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…
What if the polio vaccine becomes optional? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:30
The head of the CDC’s vaccine advisory panel recently said he thinks vaccines for polio and measles should be optional. A fact-check of the Trump administration’s latest moves against mass vaccination. *** Thank you for…
The Jackpod: America’s golden age [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:50
On Point news analyst Jack Beatty on Americans whose recent violent encounters with immigration agents have changed them and their families. Several of them spoke at a recent forum organized by congressional Democrats. *…
Lessons for the U.S. in 'China’s quest to engineer the future' [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:19
How can a lawyerly society and an engineering society learn from each other? And what’s at stake if they fail? Author Dan Wang set out to answer those questions about the U.S. and China. *** Thank you for listening. Help…