The Jackpod: Off the mat

The Jackpod: Off the mat

Author: WBUR February 21, 2025 Duration: 37:31
On Point news analyst Jack Beatty on how the Democrats could take a leaf from the British parliamentary system to break out of their opinion poll slump. *** 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
The healing power of sunlight [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:48
Could sunlight help treat disease? A growing number of studies find potential benefits of UV light therapy for conditions like multiple sclerosis, Type 1 diabetes and Crohn’s disease. *** Thank you for listening. Help po…
The Jackpod: Strong and wrong [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:40
On Point news analyst Jack Beatty on how Donald Trump projects strength through his lack of inhibition and self-constraint. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint
How the Left lost the working class [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:53
A majority of registered voters think the Democrats are out of touch with Americans' everyday concerns according to recent polling. Social inequality scholar Joan Williams discusses her book "Outclassed: How the Left Los…
Did Apple empower China? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:32
Financial Times reporter Patrick McGee argues in his new book 'Apple in China' that China wouldn’t be the China it is today without Apple. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.…
A former CDC vaccine adviser has words for RFK Jr. [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:38
Last month, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. fired an influential committee of vaccine advisers to the CDC. What that decision could mean for vaccines and America’s public health. *** Thank you for listening. Help pow…
How the Scopes ‘monkey’ trial echoes today [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:01
One hundred years ago, teacher John Scopes was arrested for teaching evolution in a Tennessee public school. His trial became a national sensation. Today, we’re still fighting over what should be taught in public schools…
Are we thinking about AI the wrong way? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:17
AI researcher Ethan Mollick says most public conversation focuses too much on potential AI catastrophes and not enough on making the technology work for people. Mollick says if we don’t change that, none of us will be pr…
The Jackpod: Action completed this day [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:27
On Point news analyst Jack Beatty on the Federal Emergency Management Agency as a model of government inefficiency and the prospects for FEMA reform. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation…
The new crisis in American kids' health [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:24
Mortality rates, mental health conditions, obesity and chronic disease rates are all up significantly in American children. Why are kids in the U.S. so unhealthy? *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by makin…
What we know about the Epstein files [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:31
Miami Herald reporter Julie K. Brown knows more about the Jeffrey Epstein case than just about anyone. What does she think might be in the files the Trump administration hasn't released? *** Thank you for listening. Help…