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On Point

WBUR

Go behind the headlines: From the economy and health care to politics and the environment – and so much more – On Point hosts Meghna Chakrabarti and David Folkenflik speak with newsmakers and real people about the issues that matter most. On Point is produced by WBUR for NPR.

Go behind the headlines: From the economy and health care to politics and the environment – and so much more – On Point hosts Meghna Chakrabarti and David Folkenflik speak with newsmakers and real people about the issues that matter most. On Point is produced by WBUR for NPR.

Location:

Boston, MA

Networks:

WBUR

NPR

Description:

Go behind the headlines: From the economy and health care to politics and the environment – and so much more – On Point hosts Meghna Chakrabarti and David Folkenflik speak with newsmakers and real people about the issues that matter most. On Point is produced by WBUR for NPR.

Language:

English

Contact:

On Point Radio 890 Commonwealth Avenue, 3rd Floor Boston, MA 02215 1 800 423 8255

Listen on a live station
Episodes

How The Pandemic Is Changing The Way We Experience Art

8/3/2020
We talk the arts during the pandemic. What gives art meaning? Is it the shared experience of taking it in? What impact does physical distancing have on our consumption and appreciation of art, both performance and visual?Helen Molesworth, Melinda Lopez and Richard Nelson join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Duration:00:46:30

Cities That Heal: How The Coronavirus Pandemic Could Change Urban Design

8/3/2020
In the age of coronavirus, can we design cities that heal? We talk with an architect and urban planner about how better urban design could improve human health. Matt Murphy and Ken Greenberg join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Duration:00:46:11

Inside The Fraught Return Of Pro Sports Amid The Pandemic

7/31/2020
Some professional sports are back, but the fans in the stands aren’t. We’ll look at how the games are being played, and if the seasons can continue. Jason Gay, Jessica Mendoza, Bill Littlefield and Ben Golliver join Jane Clayson.

Duration:00:46:52

Week In The News: Coronavirus Updates, Stimulus Plan, Funeral Of John Lewis

7/31/2020
The U.S. COVID death toll rises above 150,000. Congress debates another round of stimulus funding. Congressman John Lewis is laid to rest. It’s all in our week in review. Julie Pace, Betsy Woodruff Swan and Hayes Brown join Jane Clayson.

Duration:00:47:20

Sergeant Heather Taylor On Ethics And Inequality In Policing

7/30/2020
Det. Sgt. Heather Taylor joins Meghna Chakrabarti to talk about being a Black woman in law enforcement, the violence she’s experienced in her own life, and how that’s shaped her views and hopes for her career and country.

Duration:00:46:45

Coronavirus Economy: What We Know About The GOP Stimulus Package

7/30/2020
$600 unemployment checks are about to stop. Congressional Republicans have put forward a stimulus plan. We’ll dig into the details. Claudia Sahm, Kenneth Rogoff and Heather Caygle join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Duration:00:47:11

James Baldwin's Lessons For America

7/29/2020
We look back at the life and work of the great American writer and thinker James Baldwin. Eddie Glaude joins Meghna Chakrabarti.

Duration:00:47:36

Unpacking The Legality Of The Federal Crackdown In Portland

7/29/2020
We discuss the federal presence in Portland, Oregon, as questions rise about the legality of DHS actions. What’s legal, what’s still unsettled, and who gets to decide? Jeh Johnson and Barbara McQuade join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Duration:00:47:42

What It Takes To Develop A COVID-19 Vaccine

7/28/2020
Vaccine development is complicated. We break down the process from testing to distribution, and bring you the latest on the leading contenders for a COVID-19 vaccine. Caroline Chen, Florian Krammer and Dr. Stanley Perlman join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Duration:00:47:33

This 'War Game' Maps Out What Happens If The President Contests The Election

7/28/2020
Did the president mean it when he told Fox News recently he might not accept the election results in November? What might happen if the results of the presidential election are contested? Former government officials from both parties held a “war game” to think through the consequences. We hear what they discovered. Rosa Brooks, Ret. Col. Larry Wilkerson and Jack Beatty join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Duration:00:47:22

Being A Working Mom Is Hard. The Pandemic Made It Even Harder.

7/27/2020
We know that mothers are often disproportionately responsible for housework and childcare. And that’s even more challenging if you’re working. Now, the pandemic has made parents working from home and children attending online classes the new norm. So how has it affected the lives working moms? Jessica Calarco and Dani McClain join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Duration:00:47:21

How To Make Classrooms Safe For Learning In A Pandemic

7/27/2020
From new ventilation systems to Plexiglass barriers, we’ll talk with a public health professor and “healthy building” expert on what changes can make our school buildings ready for kids to go back into the classroom. Joseph Allen and Luvelle Brown join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Duration:00:47:28

Rev. Jesse Jackson, Sr. On His Friend And Fellow Civil Rights Leader John Lewis

7/24/2020
We sat down with contemporaries of the late Rep. John Lewis, including Rev. Jesse Jackson, Sr., who spoke about his close friendship with Lewis, their work together as student organizers, and much more. Read a transcript of the conversation and listen along.

Duration:00:47:33

Is Trump's GOP The Party Of The "Forgotten" American — Or Of The Super Rich?

7/24/2020
The rise of Donald Trump on the political stage is the culmination of a seemingly inconvenient electoral coupling: big money interests and a more extreme right-wing populace of blue collar voters. Does the GOP represent “forgotten” Americans? Or does it represent the superrich? Jacob Hacker and Jack Beatty join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Duration:00:47:34

Week In The News: Feds Deployed In Chicago, Coronavirus Spikes, John Lewis' Passing

7/24/2020
It’s our weekly news roundup. The president orders Federal law enforcement to Chicago and changes his mind on mask-wearing, Washington orders China’s Houston consulate shut, and civil rights icon John Lewis' passing. Plus, the latest on the pandemic and the 2020 election. Luis Carrasco, Anie Karni, and Susan Page join Jane Clayson.

Duration:00:47:34

How The Pandemic And Trump's Efforts To Exclude Undocumented Immigrants Could Complicate The 2020 Census

7/23/2020
On Tuesday, President Trump signed a memorandum that calls to restrict undocumented immigrants from counting towards House representation. But the power to make that decision, the Constitution says, belongs to Congress. So what impact will his demand have? Hansi Lo Wang and Thomas Saenz join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Duration:00:47:35

Unidentified Federal Officers Are Scooping Up Protesters In Portland. Are Other Cities Next?

7/23/2020
Unidentified federal law enforcement officers are scooping up protesters in Portland and detaining them in unmarked vehicles. They were sent to quell protests, but many say their presence is only fanning the flames. We'll discuss the legality of a president using federal force in U.S. cities, and what it means for our democracy. Timothy Snyder and Ryan Haas join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Duration:00:47:34

The Rare, Elusive Spirit Bears Of British Columbia

7/22/2020
Kermode bears, also known as spirit bears, are incredibly elusive. They live only in one section of British Columbia’s central coast, and a new study indicates the gene that turns their fur white is even rarer than previously thought. We’ll talk to two researchers from the study about the quest to protect and preserve the Great Bear Rainforest. Christina Service and Doug Neasloss join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Duration:00:47:36

Can Schools Open Safely During A Pandemic? Looking Abroad For Answers

7/22/2020
School districts across the US are struggling with how – even if – to open this fall. But schools in many countries overseas have already opened. We’ll look to see what lessons we can learn to help with our own school reopenings. Emmi Sarvikivi, Ronit Calderon-Margalit, Brandon Guthrie, Simon Denyer, Emiliana Vegas and Gretchen Vogel join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Duration:00:47:36

Could Baby Bonds Help Reduce Wealth Inequality In America?

7/21/2020
At the birth of this nation, Thomas Paine called for government baby bonds — savings bonds for every child born. The idea has been given a fresh coat of paint and is being proposed as a low cost government program to tackle the vast inequality in today’s America. Darrick Hamilton, Wendy Jones, Oren Cass and Sen. Cory Booker join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Duration:00:47:35

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