On Point

When unusual winter storms battered the South this year, the people of Jackson, Mississippi lost clean drinking water for almost a month. Jackson is just one of many American communities relying on a century-old water supply system. We discuss America’s fragile water infrastructure – and how to fix it.

At least 400 people have been charged for the Capitol insurrection. Former lead prosecutor Michael Sherwin says those charges could soon include sedition. Over two months later, what have we learned about the preparation behind the breach of the Capitol? Mary McCord and Ryan Reilly join Meghna Chakrabarti. 

Rich and middle-income countries have received nearly all of the available COVID-19 vaccines so far. Now there’s a push for pharmaceutical companies to waive vaccine patents so poorer countries can make their own. The fight over intellectual property, and how to vaccinate the world. Madhavi Sunder, Rachel Silverman and Anne McDonald Pritchett join Meghna Chakrabarti. 

In Massachusetts and Rhode Island, the language of the Mashpee Wampanoag was wiped out more than a century ago. But in the mid-1990s, an effort began to revive and reinvigorate the language: the Wôpanâak Language Reclamation Project.

Melanie Roderick is a teacher with the Wôpanâak Language Reclamation Project. In this radio diary, she walks us through the history of the Wampanoag language.

President Biden's American Rescue Plan contains massive spending measures for Native American communities. What will it take to turn the dollars into actual transformation?

We discuss the connection between rising violence now, and America's history of anti-Asian discrimination. Kelly Yang, Doris Chang and Sung Yeon Choimorrow join Meghna Chakrabarti. 

In the 1980s, Ronald Reagan said: “The nine most terrifying words in the English language are, 'I’m from the government and I’m here to help.'”

Four decades later, President Biden says: "Help is on the way." Is Reaganomics dead? One of President Reagan's top economic advisors tells us, "Yes, and good riddance." Bruce Bartlett, Jack Beatty and Lee Drutman join Meghna Chakrabarti.

The western U.S. is no stranger to drought. But this isn't any dry spell. More than 70% of the West is exceptionally parched. Could it be a permanent change? Brad Udall and Colby Pellegrino join Meghna Chakrabarti.

How Is The Biden Administration Approaching A Surge Of Migrant Children At The Border   Crisis At The Border: What's The Biden Administration's Response?

Crisis At The Border: What's The Biden Administration's Approach? 

Crisis At The Border:

NFTs, or non-fungible tokens are shaking up the art world. So much so that one piece of crypto art recently auctioned for more than $69 million. We explore what non-fungible tokens are, and why they’re disrupting the future of digital art. Terry Nguyen, Matt Kane and Blake Gopnik join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Is homeownership now a luxury? We talk to Redfin CEO Glenn Kelman, and our favorite money ladies, Rana Foroohar and Michelle Singletary, about how the pandemic economy is impacting the American housing market. Glenn Kelman, Rana Foroohar and Michelle Singletary join Meghna Chakrabarti.

The Biden administration's $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan. We talk about the lesser-known aspects of the plan, from farming to health care. Lisa DesJardins, Lloyd Wright and Jonathan Cohn join Meghna Chakrabarti.

March 11th marks the one year anniversary of the WHO declaring COVID-19 a global pandemic.

And in our regular hour, we talked with MIT professor Sherry Turkle about how society has changed over a year of COVID.

In this special podcast exclusive, we continue the conversation about what we've learned about humanity and empathy over the course of the pandemic.

March 11, 2020 marks the day the WHO declared COVID-19 a pandemic. A year later, what has humanity learned about itself? We discuss humanity, empathy and the pandemic year. Sherry Turkle and Michael Yassa join Meghna Chakrabarti.

On today's program, we discussed the filibuster in the U.S. Senate.

There's a sense that the filibuster has been part of the procedures of the Senate since time immemorial. So we wanted to ask a historian whether or not that's true.

In this radio diary, Dan Holt, associate historian in the Senate Historical Office, walks us through U.S. Senate and filibuster history.

The fight over the filibuster. Does the filibuster bring better solutions to the country’s biggest problems, or no solutions at all? Adam Jentleson, Rich Arenberg and Jack Beatty join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Vaccine passports. They give those vaccinated against COVID-19 access to places the unvaccinated can't get into -- gyms, bars, schools. It's a tool for public health in a pandemic, and a tool to curb civil liberties. Can the two be balanced? Nita Farahany and Ruth Faden join Meghna Chakrabarti.

The Biden administration says racial justice is a top priority. But what does equity mean when it comes to government policy? We explore the overlap -- and tensions -- between equity and equality in America. Robert Patterson and Mike Gonzalez join Meghna Chakrabarti.

President Joe Biden once said Saudi Arabia would pay for the brutal killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. But now as president, Biden is taking a softer approach. Is it time to reassess the U.S.-Saudi relationship? If so, is the Biden administration willing to do it?  Robin Wright, Bernard Haykel and Dr. Khalid Aljabri join Meghna Chakrabarti.

For years, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has said the company didn’t need unions.

But between pandemic safety concerns and a president said to be the most pro-union since FDR, could an Amazon warehouse in Alabama be the tipping point for unions in America? Steven Greenhouse, Karen Weise and Michael Foster join Meghna Chakrabarti. 

What happens when people can't post cash bail? They're stuck in jail. For months. In some cases, years, before they ever get to trial. Recently, Illinois became the first state to eliminate cash bail. What kind of system should states have instead? Christine Scott-Hayward and Sharone Mitchell join Meghna Chakrabarti.

17-year-old Allure and her mother live in Newark, New Jersey. They're just one of the millions of American families whose lives could be transformed if a child poverty proposal passes in Washington.

"How can all this stress be on one person?" Allure says. "She makes it happen though. I don't know how, but she makes it happen."

There's a potentially historic push to reduce child poverty in this country, with bipartisan agreement that something could be done. But will politics get in the way of a real solution? Jamila Michener and Angela Rachidi join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Nursing homes in crisis. Is it time to rethink how they work? We talk about alternative models for nursing homes and how to build a better long-term care system in the U.S. Katie Smith Sloan, Jack Beatty and Howard Gleckman join Meghna Chakrabarti.

October 2020. Investigators say more than a dozen men spent months training to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer. It was, legal experts agree, an act of domestic terrorism. So was the deadly insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on January 6 this year. 

After decades fighting an international war on terrorism, the U.S. turns its attention home. What will a battle against domestic terrorism look like? Rep. Abigail Spanberger and Elizabeth Neumann join Meghna Chakrabarti. 

To solve a puzzle, you never just look at one piece of it. So why do we try to tackle the most complex problems of modern life in such a piecemeal fashion? From pandemics to politics, we discuss whether shifting to so-called "systems thinking" unlock hidden solutions to the world's biggest problems. Zeynep Tufekci joins Meghna Chakrabarti.

Facebook hits delete on the news in Australia in response to regulation. Should the platform hold this level of power? And what could the standoff mean for journalism on social media worldwide? Elizabeth Renieris, Jeff Jarvis and Elizabeth Dwoskin join Meghna Chakrabarti. 

Vaccine distribution, across the U.S. and the globe, is ramping up. But new variant cases are rising in the United States, waits for the vaccine are long, and most of us just want to know -- how will this pandemic end? Tara C. Smith, Angela Rasmussen and Ananya Banerjee join Kimberly Atkins. 

Democrats in Congress are pushing to revive earmarking, a process that will allow legislators to direct federal spending to their districts. They see it as a way to push policies forward. But earmarks also come with baggage. We discuss the history and ethics of earmarking, and whether it can help break the gridlock in Congress. Jeffrey Lazarus and William Galston join Kimberly Atkins.

Texas is the biggest energy producing state in the U.S. But this week’s frigid weather crashed the system. So what happened? We look into the state's vulnerable power grid and how we make it better. Yasmine Smith, Joshua Rhodes and Emily Grubert join Kimberly Atkins.

On today's program, we talked about the decades-long debate over whether Washington, D.C. should be granted statehood and the new energy behind that push. We also revisited a moment that reflects a bit of the character of the city of Washington, D.C.

On January 6th, as pro-Trump extremists headed toward the Capitol, they were met by D.C. resident Peter Tracey, who told them exactly what he thought of them. His neighbor, Shawntia Humphries responded from her car.

The video of Peter and Sean went viral. And it sparked a friendship between the two residents of D.C. In this radio diary, Peter and Shawntia describe what they saw that day.

"I hope in my lifetime I never see anything like that again, because D.C. is a welcoming, diverse place. We have our problems. ... But we respect each other."

More people live in Washington, D.C. than in Wyoming or Vermont. But without statehood, residents of D.C. have no voting member in Congress. We discuss the new push by Democrats to make D.C. the 51st state. George Derek Musgrove, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton and Rep. Dusty Johnson join Anthony Brooks.

The back to school debate rages on amidst the pandemic. While some large school districts reopen for in-person learning, some say we’re not ready. Will new guidance from the CDC change the conversation? Matt Barnum, Benjamin P. Linas and Randi Weingarten join Anthony Brooks.

Some Republican politicians oppose liberalizing access to the ballot. They’re pushing legislation to restrict the right to vote as Democrats fight back. We discuss the battle for the ballot. Alex Keyssar, Quardricos Driskell and Michelle Ugenti-Rita join Anthony Brooks.

The Senate voted to acquit former President Donald Trump. We discuss what it means for the Republican party and the nation. Michael Whatley, Norman Ornstein and Jack Beatty join Anthony Brooks. 

In this radio diary, clinical psychologist Steven Taylor discusses his book "The Psychology of Pandemics" and shares how the coronavirus pandemic parallels past pandemics.

"People will have lingering psychological problems, but most people will bounce back to their surprise and delight," Taylor says.

"And I'm expecting that they will be a short-lived period of hyper sociability, a kind of mini roaring '20s as people just bounce back and you say, 'Oh, yay, this is over.'"

A year of COVID, economic downturns and poisonous politics. So how are you doing? Really. We discuss the pandemic's impact on collective mental health. Dr. Luana Marques and Dr. Kevin Simon join Meghna Chakrabarti.

The 'California exodus.' From big tech to everyday Americans, many are leaving California. What's driving the state's record low population growth? Lauren Hepler and Adam J. Fowler join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Communicating the risks of a disease like COVID is a huge challenge, especially when information is new and changing, and the media is tilted toward emphasizing negative risks.

Did experts and leaders get the message right when the pandemic began? Are they getting it right now? David Ropeik, Zeynep Tufekci and Jennifer Nuzzo join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Millions of farmers are protesting in India. What's driving them? And what does it reveal about India? Mandakini Gahlot and Vikas Rawal join Meghna Chakrabarti.

The second impeachment trial of Donald Trump begins tomorrow. It's the first-ever trial of a former president. What's at stake? Kate Shaw, Lisa DesJardins and Jack Beatty join Meghna Chakrabarti.  

How does the world see America’s insurrection, the election and lies that preceded it, and the politics that followed it? What do they see, that Americans can’t see ourselves?

Indi Samarajiva lives in Colombo, Sri Lanka. He's worried that Americans aren't worried enough about what's happening to U.S. democracy.

The rally before the attack on the Capitol. Who funded it? How much did they spend? Who are they funding now? We talk dark money and the insurrection. Meredith McGehee and Mike Spies join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Social media platforms have immense power, from shutting down voices to amplifying what we see. But is that singular power perilous to democracy? Shoshana Zuboff, Guillaume Chaslot and Ramesh Srinivasan join Meghna Chakrabarti.

What would an anthem for the U.S. Space Force sound like? Well, cue the Voices of Freedom, a Miami, Florida music group.

Brothers Miguel and Federico Arango formed Voices of Freedom to sing and play patriotic music for U.S. military veterans.

So when the U.S. Space Force was created, Miguel and Federico knew immediately what their next composition had to be.

The U.S. Space Force, a new military branch, celebrated its first birthday last month. But what exactly is its mission? We find out. Todd Harrison and Joan Johnson-Freese join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Redditors banded together to rock the stock market. What does GameStop actually tell us about wealth, power and how Wall Street works? Alexis Goldstein and Jacob Frenkel join Meghna Chakrabarti.

The Senate is split 50-50. The power center of gravity? Democrat Joe Manchin. How will he wield his influence? Professor Robert Rupp, Belinda Biafore, Jack Beatty and Sahil Kapur join Meghna Chakrabarti.

President Joe Biden's new bar for the COVID vaccine rollout: 200 million doses by summer. But what about people who hope to get the vaccine now? What can the government really do to speed up distribution? Dr. Julie Morita and Dr. Ashish Jha join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Online school. Virtual playdates. Video games. What does it mean for children that more and more of their world is now mediated through a screen? After the pandemic, how will they transition back? Anya Kamenetz and Natasha Burgert join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Avril Haines, the director of National Intelligence, says the DNI must work in a way that is "ethical, is wise, is lawful and effective." What does her work supporting the Obama administration's drone program say about what she thinks is ethical and effective? Rita Siemion and Chris Whipple join Meghna Chakrabarti.

In 1995, three white soldiers shot and killed a Black couple in Fayetteville, North Carolina. George Reed was an Army CID supervisor assigned to the case. Over 25 years later, the details are still fresh in his mind.

Nearly 20% of people charged in connection with the Capitol attack have some sort of military background. How far-reaching is extremism in the United States military? Col. Jeff McCausland and Heidi Beirich join Meghna Chakrabarti.

President Biden’s $1.9 trillion COVID economic relief plan is on the table. We talk about President Biden's first big legislative push. Erica Werner, Lily Roberts, Kevin Mumford and Rep. Hakeem Jeffries join Meghna Chakrabarti.

The transition in the White House has taken place. Is the nation capable of change? How do historians look upon this moment? We hear their long view of this extraordinary month. Lisa Tetrault, Peniel Joseph and John McWhorter join Meghna Chakrabarti.

President Joe Biden signs 17 executive orders in his first hours in office. We dig into what they say, where Biden might succeed and what policies will meet resistance. Barbara Perry, Kimberly Atkins and Matt Viser join Meghna Chakrabarti.

President Joe Biden carries a rosary in his pocket and attends Mass regularly. How does his faith inform his politics? And where does Biden's Catholicism land in the spectrum of American Catholic belief? Massimo Faggioli and Jack Beatty join Meghna Chakrabarti.

On election night 2008, photojournalist Matt Mendelsohn went to the Lincoln Memorial and took a picture of the people gathered there -- the quiet moment the photograph captures is almost impossible to imagine now, given the nation’s current politics.

Mendelsohn’s photograph eventually came into the hands of Congressman John Lewis, who gave a copy of it to President Obama as an inauguration present. The picture hung outside Obama’s White House office for the next eight years.

In this radio diary, Mendelsohn tells us how this photo came to be.

In its final days of power, the Trump administration is making last minute policy changes on the environment, foreign policy and national security. How will these moves influence the first weeks of the Biden administration? Karen DeYoung and Leon Panetta join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Los Angeles is experiencing a devastating coronavirus surge. On Saturday, LA County became the first county to reach 1 million cases since the start of the pandemic. 

The pandemic is having an economic impact, too. On Monday's show, we turn back to Sean Knibb, owner of Knibb Design interiors and Flowerboy Project, a cafe and flower shop in Venice, California.

Knibb says the cafe has become a comforting community hub, even as the coronavirus spreads, touching his employees lives, his family’s life and the neighborhood itself.

Los Angeles county is one of the hottest COVID hotspots in the U.S. right now. Every minute, on average, 10 more people test positive. Can Los Angeles get control of the surge? Dr. Elaine Batchlor and Anne Rimoin join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Listener voices drive On Point. We get many voicemails, emails and social media messages with thoughts, concerns and questions.

Today, as a pod exclusive, we share some of your messages about insurrection and impeachment.

Got a comment, question or thought for us? Call our voicemail line at 617-353-0683. We look forward to hearing from you! 

We bring back guests from our voter roundtable series to hear how they're thinking through insurrection and impeachment. Can Americans talk with each other across political divides? 

Lucas Johnson, Lupe Harpster, Mike Richards, Bella D’Alacio, Daniele Anderson, Vadim Ostrovsky and Matt Powell join Meghna Chakrabarti.

America's racist roots were on display as pro-Trump extremists paraded the confederate flag in the Capitol on Jan. 6th. We discuss race, racism and the role it played in last week's attack on the Capitol. Keisha Blain, Brittany Packnett Cunningham and Jemar Tisby join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Pro-Trump extremists breached the Capitol, attacked police and called for the Vice President's execution. Now, national security experts see an even bigger danger. Are we facing domestic insurgency? And if we are, how can we heal as a nation?  Ret. Col. Lawrence Wilkerson, Frank Figliuzzi and David Kilcullen join Meghna Chakrabarti. 

House Democrats introduce an article of impeachment. What should accountability look like in the aftermath of the attack on the Capitol? Rep. Jason Crow, Rep. Ruben Gallego, Olivia Troye and Kate Shaw join Meghna Chakrabarti. 

Right-wing extremists plotted their Capitol insurrection openly on social media. So, what are they saying they'll do next? And this time, will law enforcement pay attention? David Ignatius, Alexandra Levine, and Daniel J. Jones join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Republican Mitch McConnell sends a warning to party rebels. Rioters attack the Capitol. Democrats win the Senate. We make sense of a historic week. Jack Beatty, Rose Scott and Heather Cox Richardson join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Calls grow for the president's removal, from top Democrats and at least one Republican. In a special edition of On Point, we make sense of chaos and insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. How can we restore the health of our democracy? Stephen Henderson, David Blight and Jason Stanley join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Yesterday, a mob descended on the United States Capitol. The world witnessed the consequences of rhetoric that subverts the truth and incites violence. We discuss what yesterday’s chaos means for our democracy. Matt Fuller, Jennifer Horn, Timothy Snyder, Rep. Raul Ruiz and Kwame Rose join Meghna Chakrabarti.

As President Trump continues his efforts to overturn the results of the presidential election, Hagel joins On Point senior editor Dorey Scheimer for an extended conversation on the presidency, military and how to strengthen American democracy.

"You cannot allow yourself to be degraded in any way by partisanship and politics," Hagel says, speaking directly to military members. "You’ve got to stay above it all. Because you’re better than that."

President Donald Trump is attempting to subvert the will of the voters and overturn his election loss. But is he considering using the military to do so? We have an extended conversation with former defense secretary William Cohen about the presidency, military and how to strengthen American democracy. William Cohen joins Meghna Chakrabarti.

The pandemic could end in 2021, if enough Americans get vaccinated. But many don't want to. We take a look at what's driving that fear, and what it will take to overcome COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. Dr. Georges Benjamin, Ben Brock Johnson and Amory Sivertson join Meghna Chakrabarti. 

The winners in Georgia’s runoff election will tilt the balance of power in the U.S. Senate. So, what is a runoff election anyway and why don’t all states do it? Experts say it’s all rooted in racism and just another way to disenfranchise. We take a look. Paula Reid, Jack Beatty, Adrienne Jones and Cal Jillson join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Across 2020, we heard your stories: from health care workers to an unemployed mom to a journalist who was tear-gassed. Meghna Chakrabarti listens back to some favorite radio diaries.

What has become of the common good? Political theorist Michael Sandel traces how meritocracy went from a satiric idea in the 1950s to a bedrock of American culture – and what we might have lost in its ascendance.

We talk with entrepreneur and author Margaret Heffernan about how we can best survive -- and even embrace -- the chaos of a pandemic.

Over her decades-long career, racism has never been far from journalist Michelle Singletary’s experience in the newsroom. Now, she’s confronting misconceptions around race. Michelle Singletary joins Meghna Chakrabarti.

In December 2019, historian Tim Snyder got so sick he almost died. Snyder says his hospital experience taught him about the powerful relationship between health and liberty in the United States. Timothy Snyder joins Meghna Chakrabarti.

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 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.

Today, we wanted to share a small gift — an On Point holiday present, if you will.

Last week, we explored the mutual benefit of kindness: how being kind to others not only helps the recipient of that, but also the giver. And when we reached out to you for your stories of kindness, so many of you had something to share.

Take a listen to these stories of kindness that celebrate how good humanity can be when we want to.

In a year defined by the pandemic, protests and politics, we look back on 2020 with journalists from around the country.

What Environmentalists Think Of Biden's Climate Cabinet

Congress passed an economic relief deal. Will it measure up to needs? We discuss how politics caused a massive surge in American poverty. James Sullivan and Rev. William Barber join Meghna Chakrabarti.

It’s been a landmark year for science. How did the science community do it — and at what cost? Ed Yong and Jennifer Doudna join Meghna Chakrabarti. 

Can Biden's national security and foreign policy team convince the world that the U.S. deserves to sit at the head of the table?

Allyson Cook is a 23. She’s a grad student at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.

And since the pandemic began, she’s been volunteering for something called the Get Connected program at the Northwood long-term care facility.  "This was an opportunity for volunteers to reach out to seniors … just asking if they were interested or not," Allyson says.

Among those 80 seniors, Ally met a woman who was 60 years her senior. Charlotte Rose Burns is 83, and the duo quickly became friends, talking on the phone often. Then one day, they decided to meet. In today's radio diary, hear the story of the kindness of a phone call.

Christine Sheil's mother suffered from dementia. To be closer to her mom, Christine volunteered to play music in her mother's assisted living facility. But it was Christine who also needed support. So she kept volunteering. We explore the science behind the mutual benefits of kindness. Christine Sheil and Nancy Sin join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Republicans made inroads among Latinos this election – the same voters that Democrats also believe are key to the future of their party. We talk with Democrat Vicente Gonzalez about the lessons he says his party needs to learn. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez and Rep. Raul Ruiz join Meghna Chakrabarti.

The pandemic has been rife with ethical dilemmas: from patient care to vaccine distribution nationwide. We discuss how to think through the ethical implications of COVID-19. Yolonda Wilson and Akilah Jefferson Shah join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Amal Mattu is an emergency physician at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore. He’s been an emergency physician for more than 25 years. And in those 25 years, he says the ER has consistently delivered ethical, potentially life-or-death challenges. Then the pandemic happened. In this radio diary, we discuss the ethical complications of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dec. 14 marks the day electors from 50 states meet to certify election results. The states have already certified their votes. But key Republicans are still filing lawsuits to overturn the result. We discuss the democracy stress test and what happens next. Bertrall Ross and Jason Stanley join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Jonathan Nez, president of the Navajo Nation, speaks with Meghna Chakrabarti about the current coronavirus wave in Navajo Nation and why it's much more dire than the first COVID outbreak this spring.

President-elect Joe Biden announced his health care team this week. We check out their credentials and ask if they’re up to the task of pushing back the pandemic and pushing forward health care in America. Elisabeth Rosenthal, Kathleen Sebelius and Dr. Rajesh Gandhi join Meghna Chakrabarti.

On today's show, we spoke with the student journalists who discovered State Police had used a training manual with quotations from Adolf Hitler. In this web exclusive, Meghna Chakrabarti follows up with Sadiqa Reynolds, president and CEO of the Louisville Urban League, for an extended interview about policing, racism and what this reporting says about America.

In Kentucky, a high school newspaper uncovered a disturbing story. For years, the State Police had used a training manual celebrating quotations from Adolf Hitler. Today, the student journalists share the whole story with us. Satchel Walton, Cooper Walton and Sadiqa Reynolds join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Not that long ago, Megan Bates, Craig Bates, their two sons and the rest of Melbourne, Australia emerged from one of the longest, most restrictive COVID-19 lockdowns anywhere in the world.

In this radio diary, we hear from Megan and Craig about their experiences in lockdown, and why it was worth it.

"We need[ed] to sacrifice in the short-term to gain the long-term back -- and to gain our lives. And it worked.” That's how the Australians beat back the COVID pandemic to just a few cases across the entire country. We discuss how Australia did it, and lessons for the U.S. Dina Rosendorff and Jim Mangia join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Section 230 protects internet companies from liability for publishing offensive material. Now, there's a move to do something to change section 230. How would it change the internet? Emma Llansó joins Meghna Chakrabarti.

There's energy and pushback over a big Democratic policy proposal: forgiving student loan debt. We discuss the debate over student loan forgiveness. Naomi Zewde and Beth Akers join Meghna Chakrabarti.

President-Elect Joe Biden has named his new economic team. What do they need to do to help Americans, and are they the team to accomplish it? Rana Foroohar, Michelle Singletary and Jack Beatty join Meghna Chakrabarti. 

Loretta Ross is a Black feminist, activist and scholar. One of her biggest concerns now? The pervasiveness of callout culture. We hear why Professor Ross wants to call people in instead of calling people out. Loretta Ross and Alicia Garza join Meghna Chakrabarti. 

At the start of the pandemic, Dr. Ala Stanford started hearing from her Black friends that they were not able to get coronavirus tests. She decided to change that by founding the Black Doctors COVID-19 Consortium.

Listen to hear more about how Dr. Stanford is tackling racial health inequity amid the pandemic.

Dr. David Satcher grew up in the segregated south. He went on to serve as the 16th U.S. surgeon general and director of the CDC. We talk to him about race, health and the pandemic. Dr. David Satcher joins Meghna Chakrabarti.

The U.S. health care system relies on tens of thousands of workers -- nurses, doctors, lab technicians, porters, food service workers, sanitation workers and many more.

But in the midst of the pandemic, what is it about health care that’s keeping them there? We talk with two health care workers about the support they need and their experiences on the frontlines of the pandemic.

Nine months. 13 million cases. More than 260,000 deaths. How are health care workers doing? We talk with nurses about what they've seen, and how they've endured. Juan Anchondo, Mary Jo Kelly and Ellen Arigorat join Meghna Chakrabarti.

The dawn of 2020 saw a record number of American children experiencing homelessness. For many of those million-plus children, school was the most reliable place in their life. So what happens when schools close, and education goes remote? Barbara Duffield, Kerri Tobin and Melissa Douglas join Meghna Chakrabarti. 

Journalist Chris Whipple speaks with Meghna Chakrabarti about the challenging road ahead for President-elect Joe Biden, restoring the CIA and his new book "The Spymasters."

What we can learn from Dwight Eisenhower's life and leadership. Susan Eisenhower and Jack Beatty join Meghna Chakrabarti.

We take a look at who Biden has picked to lead, and what the choices say about the administration that's taking shape. Tyler Pager, Aisha C. Mills and Martha Kumar join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Election 2020 again proved there's a problem with polling. But when it comes to understanding the electorate, are there any better options? We discuss the problems with polling, and how to fix it. Natalie Jackson joins Meghna Chakrabarti.

Matthew Sheffield started his career as a conservative blogger. He says many Americans don’t understand how powerful right-wing media really is -- or how damaging it is to American democracy. Now, he says he wants to free people from it. Matthew Sheffield, Nicole Hemmer and Eliana Johnson join Meghna Chakrabarti. 

Earlier this month, Joe Biden addressed the nation for the first time as president-elect. Biden will be the second Catholic president in the nation’s history, and he referenced his Catholic faith by invoking a particular hymn.

The hymn draws from Psalm 91 in the Bible. But it was composed by Father Jan Michael Joncas, a priest, artist-in-residence and research fellow in Catholic studies at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota. We speak with Father Joncas about the story behind 'On Eagle's Wings.'

President Trump has fired several top level members of his administration in the past couple of weeks. So what else can we expect from the president in his remaining days in office? Jack Beatty, Suzanne Spaulding and Kori Schake join Meghna Chakrabarti.

The Tongass National Forest in Southeast Alaska is one of the largest intact temperate rainforests left in the world. And as a national forest, the land serves many purposes. Now, the Trump administration wants to open up half the forest to logging and development. We'll discuss the complex story of a forest's future. Joel Jackson and John Schoen join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Early data shows that two COVID-19 vaccines are over 90% effective. So what’s next? Dr. Jennifer Dillaha, Julie Swann and William Schaffner join Meghna Chakrabarti to explain the vaccine’s journey from testing to public distribution.

Wherever the war on drugs was on the ballot this year, the war on drugs lost. In some states, voters approved measures to legalize recreational or medical marijuana. Beau Kilmer, Kassandra Frederique and Haven Wheelock join Meghna Chakrabarti to discuss the drug-related ballot measures that passed on Election Day and the shift in American drug policy.

South Dakota family doctor Tom Dean knows his community well -- he's been in practice there for 42 years. And he's seen a lot in that time. But nothing like COVID. We get a South Dakota family physician's message for his patients, his community and his state. Dr. Tom Dean, Jackie Hendry and Nick Wendell join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Ahmed Al-Zubaidi of Beaverton, Oregon joined us back in late September. Ahmed was born in Iraq, and he became a U.S. citizen just days before first coming on On Point. Since joining us in September, Ahmed has kept a close eye on the presidential election -- and welcomed a new son on Election Day itself.

Much of the GOP in Washington is torn on whether to acknowledge Joe Biden as president-elect. What are the consequences for the country? Meghna Chakrabarti looks at a week of presidential transition and Republican intransigence with Timothy Naftali, Tim Alberta and Jack Beatty.

Historian Ruth Ben-Ghiat studies authoritarian regimes, like Italy under Mussolini. Can a democracy pry itself out of a strongman's grip? Ruth Ben-Ghiat and Brendan Nyhan join Meghna Chakrabarti.

This year, we've talked to some of the top scientists and doctors in the country about the pandemic. We pull them back together for a meeting of our own task force to hear their advice for the Biden team. Angie Rasmussen, Kathleen Sebelius, Dr. Michael Mina and Dr. Ali Khan join Meghna Chakrabarti.

"I believe at our best, America’s a beacon for the globe." So declared President-elect Joe Biden. But what does the world really think of the American example now? Does the international community see the U.S. as the leader it once was? Simon Kuper and Patrick Gathara join Meghna Chakrabarti. 

Elizabeth Saunders served five years in the U.S. Navy. And last Tuesday, she served her country again, by being a poll worker in Tulsa, Oklahoma. In this radio diary, we hear about Elizabeth's experience as a poll worker during a tumultuous election.

Election 2020 has a winner. So what did we learn? We look at the long-term impact of the 2020 presidential election, and what America can do to heal. Danielle Allen, Ret. Col. Larry Wilkerson and Michael Kruse join Meghna Chakrabarti.

The race for the presidency presses on, as Trump doubles down on baseless claims about election fraud. We sort through this historic week, and look ahead at what’s to come. Ron Suskind, Jack Beatty and Beverly Gage join Meghna Chakrabarti. 

On Sunday, President Donald Trump made clear what he planned to do following the end of voting. Court battles have marked this entire election season. We look at the latest litigation around the 2020 presidential election. Bertrall Ross, Paula Reid and Jeannie Suk Gersen join Meghna Chakrabarti.

The day after election day. What tallies are known? Where are votes still being counted? We discuss the latest in the race for the White House and Senate and what's next in this historic moment for the United States. Luis Carrasco, Luis Hernandez, Rose Scott, Jack Beatty and Stephen Henderson join Meghna Chakrabarti. 

San Francisco is the second densest city in the country. It also has the lowest coronavirus death rate compared to any other major city in the United States, according to San Francisco Mayor London Breed. On Point producer Dorey Scheimer speaks with Mayor Breed about the city's response to the coronavirus pandemic. 

Regardless of election outcomes, one thing is certain: the coronavirus pandemic is surging. We talk about what to expect in the pandemic's next phase. Ed Yong and Catherine Hill join Meghna Chakrabarti.

In this podcast extra, Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy joins producer Dorey Scheimer to talk election 2020 and the race for the Senate.

We discuss close Senate races and the impact they'll have on national governance.

For many health care workers, a new coronavirus spike means they’ve barely had a moment to step back from the first wave of cases this spring. The memories of that “first wave” are still fresh and raw. In this segment, we hear from Emma Rome, ER nurse, about what the current coronavirus surge means for health care workers.

Campaigns make their last stand. The Supreme Court weighs in on ballot deadlines. Coronavirus numbers skyrocket. We make sense of the week's news. Molly Ball, Molly Beck, Richard Hasen and Jack Beatty join Meghna Chakrabarti.

The United States has fought against authoritarian governments. Does that mean it can't happen here? Matthew MacWilliams and Larry Bartels join Meghna Chakrabarti. 

Both campaigns agree -- the road to the White House runs through the Tar Heel state. In our final voter roundtable, we hear from voters in North Carolina. VonGretchen Pough, Bill Poole, Brandon Beavers and Jack Beatty join Meghna Chakrabarti.

On today's show, we were joined by our favorite finance experts Michelle Singletary and Rana Foroohar to check in on our country’s economy, seven months into the pandemic.

And whenever we talk to those two, we’re reminded that the struggles of the COVID economy aren’t just about the numbers. It’s also about the lived experiences. In this segment, we hear two stories about the economic impact of the pandemic.

How is our economy doing seven months into the pandemic? And with winter on its way, are we prepared to handle the slew of challenges that will come with it? We talk about the state of our economy. Rana Foroohar and Michelle Singletary join Meghna Chakrabarti.

On Point's Dorey Scheimer speaks with Ukraine’s Minister for Foreign Affairs about Russian disinformation campaigns, mistakes made by the media, and why democracies are particularly vulnerable to election interference.    

The anatomy of a disinformation campaign. How does a bad faith post get mistaken for the truth? We talk about how the tentacles of disinformation reach into millions of homes. Nina Jankowicz and Secretary Frank LaRose join Meghna Chakrabarti.

David Pettee used to take regular morning walks around Fresh Pond Reservoir in Cambridge, Massachusetts. David had cancer, and the walks brought him hope and peace. David died on September 13th. Today, in remembrance, we invite you to listen again.

Days before the end of voting — COVID infections are climbing. What are the campaigns focusing on, and what does that tell us about their vision for the future? Jack Beatty, Julie Rovner and Lisa Lerer join Meghna Chakrabarti.

865,000. That's the number of women pushed out of the workforce last month. It’s a consistent downward trajectory for women in this pandemic. We heard from women all around the country, many of them struggling and all of them grappling with what this 'shecession' means for their future.

The 'shecession.' More women are losing their jobs than men. What's the long-term impact on families? C. Nicole Mason and Alicia Modestino join Meghna Chakrabarti.

On this week's voter roundtable, we hear from people affected by COVID-19. How do they feel about President Trump’s response to the pandemic? David Dahlstrom, Denise Carr and Lupe Harpster join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Worried about voting integrity -- or what happens after your ballot is cast? We discuss what we know about the integrity of the votes cast by America's 538 electors. Barton Gellman, Jason Harrow and Bertrall Ross join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Voting is one of the most essential rights of any democratic citizen. We take a look at the various forms of voter suppression we see across the country, and discuss how it's affecting American democracy ahead of the November presidential election. Theodore Johnson, Harmeet Dhillon and Joshua Douglas join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Everlean Rutherford arrived at her early polling location in Cobb County, Georgia at around 10 in the morning. She didn't leave until it was her turn to cast her vote — almost 10 hours later.

This week, a split screen on the future of American democracy. From early voting to Amy Coney Barrett's confirmation hearings, we make sense of the week's news. Jack Beatty, Stephen Henderson and Meg Kinnard join Meghna Chakrabarti.

The Department of Homeland Security says white nationalism is a major domestic terrorism threat. Is that, coupled with distrust in the electoral system, a recipe for political violence in November? Mary B. McCord, Devin Burghart and Eric K. Ward join Meghna Chakrabarti.

We check in with voters from the sunshine state about the issues that matter to them as they weigh their options before the election. Laura Herbek, Mike Richards and Robin Reshard join Meghna Chakrabarti.

With the help of two historians, we take a look back at the 1960 presidential race between Senator John F. Kennedy and Vice President Richard Nixon.

Cofer Black, the CIA's counterterrorism chief from 1999 to 2002, talks about the months leading up to 9/11, and the Bush administration's failure to act on an 'unprecedented' amount of intelligence warning of Al-Qaida's domestic threat.

Why is it that sometimes Presidents know that there is a danger to the wellbeing of Americans, and still do nothing? We talk with people who were in the room in 2001 and 2020. Chris Whipple and Olivia Troye join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Ahead of her confirmation hearing on Monday, we'll talk about Amy Coney Barrett's record on women's rights — and where the definition of feminism diverges for some women. Erika Bachiochi and Fatima Goss-Graves join Meghna Chakrabarti.

We'll look at how the President's diagnosis — and his cavalier response — has tinged almost everything that happened this week. Paula Reid, Kimberly Atkins and Jack Beatty join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Cozy Etta Bryant weathered breast cancer and decades of racism before passing away from COVID-19 this year. Her granddaughter remembers her life and legacy.

Over her decades-long career, racism has never been far from journalist Michelle Singletary’s experience in the newsroom. Now, she’s confronting misconceptions around race. Michelle Singletary joins Meghna Chakrabarti.

Every Wednesday, we’ve been listening to voters across the country. This week: younger voters, who are casting their ballots for the first time. What are their hopes and dreams for the country they’ll inherit? Garion Frankel, Bella D'Alacio and Jacob Cuenca join Meghna Chakrabarti.

You’re walking along a river bank in an American city. All of a sudden, you bump into … an art gallery. Artist Lloyd Williams has set up a small outdoor gallery next to the Charles River in Boston.

Steven Gupton teaches health science at the James E. Shepard IB Magnet Middle school in Durham, North Carolina. Students still aren’t back in the classroom, and some of his students weren’t showing up for their remote classes. So, last week, Steven decided to visit his students at their homes to make sure they’re doing OK.

Millions of kids are learning remotely. A big change. Is it also an opportunity? Hilary Hughes, Stephanie Renee Jones and Chandra Hampson join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Mixed signals and information from the White House. Uncertainty around the truth of the president's health. A former adviser to the White House COVID-19 taskforce discusses her own time in the Trump White House, and what President Trump's coronavirus diagnosis means for the United States. Olivia Troye joins Meghna Chakrabarti.

President Trump's positive coronavirus diagnosis throws the country into another cycle of uncertainty. We talk about how to understand this moment, and what to expect next. Paula Reid, Olivia Troye and Michael Mina join Meghna Chakrabarti.

The pandemic has taken a toll on all aspects of life, including romantic relationships. We’ll dig into what’s keeping couples together or breaking them apart. Ashley Fetters and Dr. Lexx Brown-James join Jane Clayson.

America witnesses a presidential debate like no other. The Supreme Court nominee tours Capitol Hill. And thousands more jobs are lost due to the pandemic. We review the week’s news. Nancy Cordes, Jack Beatty and Karen Tumulty join Jane Clayson.

We've got some big news! Starting October 5, On Point will be reimagined into a single hour of highly produced, narrative radio.

What’s revealed in President Trump’s tax records – about the man, his businesses and tax code itself. Adam Davidson, Dan Alexander and Dorothy Brown join Meghna Chakrabarti.

More than 1 million dead around the world due to the coronavirus. We look at where the pandemic is headed in major nations such as India and Brazil. Terrence McCoy, Dr. Adeola Oyenubi and Jean Dreze join Meghna Chakrabarti.

President Trump and Joe Biden faced off in the first general election debate Tuesday. The candidates fielded questions on the pandemic, race and violence in the U.S., and more. We tally up the night's wins and losses. McKay Coppins, Jane Coaston and Nick Castele join Meghna Chakrabarti.

It’s the latest in our series of voter roundtables – and this time we talk with a politically divided family in suburban Atlanta. Kelly Feyock, Chloe Feyock, Paige Feyock and Sophia Feyock join Meghna Chakrabarti.

The best friends behind the podcast “Call Your Girlfriend.” Their new book details what it takes to maintain long distance friendships. Aminatou Sow and Ann Friedman join Meghna Chakrabarti.

A Kentucky state police report contradicts the Kentucky Attorney General, and police bodycam footage shows officers potentially violating investigation procedures. New details are forcing more questions about power, propaganda and what justice might look like for Breonna Taylor. Errin Haines, Keisha Blain and Darcy Costello join Meghna Chakrabarti.

We're six months and more than 200,000 deaths into the coronavirus pandemic. We check in with an epidemiologist and a virologist about the latest on COVID-19. Tara Smith and Angie Rasmussen join Meghna Chakrabarti.

President Trump is moving swiftly to replace Justice Ginsburg. We take a close look at how his nominee Amy Coney Barrett will push the court rightward and what it means for the future of the country. Amy Howe, Kate Shaw and Jonathan Adler join Meghna Chakrabarti.

The story of a Boston Globe reporter who decided to document his life with prostate cancer via a new – and very personal – podcast. Mark Shanahan, Dr. Mark Pomerantz and Tom Farrington join Anthony Brooks.

How Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s death and the grand jury decision about Breonna Taylor’s killing shaped this week – and might shape years to come. Kimberly Atkins, John Harris and David Savage join Anthony Brooks.

Kelita Butler didn’t know what TikTok would do for her cosmetics business when she made an account in May. But by the time President Trump threatened to ban the app in the U.S., she couldn’t imagine life without it.

Election Day is fewer than six weeks away. But concerns around the election persist: Will it be safe to vote in person? How will states execute a variety of voting methods? Can we have faith in the legitimacy of the election results? We tackle those issues and more. Jena Griswold, Kim Wyman and Bertrall Ross join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Who owns TikTok? And what does that mean for you? We untangle the money and politics behind the fight to control the global social media giant. Louise Matsakis and Samm Sacks join Meghna Chakrabarti.

“We have been studying Washington politics and Congress for more than 40 years, and never have we seen them this dysfunctional.” Norm Ornstein wrote that back in 2012. Eight years later, does Ornstein think there’s any way for the U.S. to regain institutional and political stability? We ask him. Norm Ornstein and Jack Beatty join Meghna Chakrabarti.

In this week's voter roundtable, we talk with newly naturalized U.S. citizens. How do they feel as they prepare to vote for president for the first time? Ahmed Al-Zubaidi, Fabiola Landeros, Violeta Cruz Perez and Vadym Ostrovsky join Meghna Chakrabarti.

We talk about where we are in the development of a coronavirus vaccine and what we know about the criteria for making a vaccine public. Andrew Joseph, Natalie Dean and Dr. Eric Topol join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Power is up for grabs in the Senate this November and a Supreme Court vacancy is only escalating the stakes of key races. We talk about how Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s death could have an impact on races in Maine, North Carolina, Colorado and Arizona. Anthony Brooks, Steve Mistler, Dan Shea and Seung Min Kim join Meghna Chakrabarti.

We discuss the political response to Ginsburg’s death, and what it reveals about the fragility of U.S. institutions. How is American democracy being tested now? Anne Applebaum and Stephen Henderson join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Remembering Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Her work in the 1970s proved that the Constitution prohibits gender discrimination and that equality between the sexes ought to be an affirmative American right. We talk with women in law today about how Ginsburg changed the nation. Nancy Gertner, Kathleen Peratis, Barbara McQuade and Laura Brill join Meghna Chakrabarti.

We talk to campus leaders around the country about a challenging semester for college students. 

Wildfires rage in the West, as Hurricane Sally slams the Gulf Coast. We take that up and more in our week in review. Anita Kumar, Sewell Chan and Lisa DesJardins join Jane Clayson.

Millions of Americans still haven’t yet received their benefits after being laid off during the pandemic. Denise Mines is one of them. First thing she did after being furloughed: followed all of the steps to get her unemployment benefits. Should have been pretty easy, right?

What we can learn from Dwight Eisenhower's life and leadership. Susan Eisenhower and Jack Beatty join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Six months after the pandemic caused a historic number of Americans to lose their jobs, millions still haven’t gotten their unemployment benefits. We take a look at why. Clio Chang and Pamela Herd join Meghna Chakrabarti.

A mathematician turns gender into a math problem. We hear how math can help us rethink ingrained conceptions of gender. Eugenia Cheng joins Meghna Chakrabarti.

We talk with a roundtable of military veterans about the presidential election. What qualities are most essential in a commander in chief? What role does -- and what role should -- the U.S. military play in protecting American democracy?

What has become of the common good? Political theorist Michael Sandel traces how meritocracy went from a satiric idea in the 1950s to a bedrock of American culture – and what we might have lost in its ascendance.

The West Coast is facing some of the worst wildfires in its history. We take a look at the role of forest management in helping control these fires. Monica Samayoa, John Bailey and Gov. Jay Inslee join Meghna Chakrabarti.

From sending our kids back to school to flying on an airplane, we talk about how to make informed decisions during a pandemic. Emily Oster joins Meghna Chakrabarti.

As we look forward to potentially unprecedented numbers of mail-in ballots in November, should we be preparing for an election night that drags on longer than normal? Noah Oppenheim and Margaret Sullivan join Meghna Chakrabarti.

We look at a 14-mile stretch of the U.S.-Mexico border. What does a border mean in an interconnected world? DW Gibson, Nicole Ramos, Serge Dedina and Stan Rodriguez join Anthony Brooks.

The 2020 campaign heats up. The Senate takes up a pared down COVID-19 relief bill. And evidence that the president knew the threat of the coronavirus in February. All that and more in our week in review. Jack Beatty, Monica Alba and Kimberly Atkins join Anthony Brooks.

We discuss the lessons of the classic novel “Lord of the Flies.” Should humans be living by the notion of survival of the fittest — or survival of the kindest? Rutger Bregman and Jack Beatty join Meghna Chakrabarti.

A rebroadcast of our conversation with legendary civil rights activist Bob Moses and historian Taylor Branch on the history that’s being made in 2020.

We talk with entrepreneur and author Margaret Heffernan about how we can best survive -- and even embrace -- the chaos of a pandemic.

Next in our voter roundtable: Wisconsin. What do voters in Wisconsin want from elected officials? How are the recent events in Kenosha affecting their vote? Randy Schmidt, Cassi Mennenoh and Alexis Arnold join Meghna Chakrabarti.

In December 2019, historian Tim Snyder got so sick he almost died. Snyder says his hospital experience taught him about the powerful relationship between health and liberty in the United States. Timothy Snyder joins Meghna Chakrabarti.

Russia is attempting to interfere with the presidential election yet again. What’s Moscow doing this time? Jack Delaney, Miles Taylor and Nina Jankowicz join Meghna Chakrabarti.

We look back on the life and work of the great American writer and thinker James Baldwin. Eddie Glaude, Jr. joins Meghna Chakrabarti.

Det. Sgt. Heather Taylor joins us 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. Det. Sgt. Heather Taylor joined Meghna Chakrabarti.

60 years ago, Jane Goodall first began her close observations of Tanzania’s chimpanzees. Equipped with simple binoculars, a notebook and patience, she transformed the way the world understood primates and wildlife. She joins us to look back on her legacy, and discuss the urgent challenges around climate and conservation. Jane Goodall joins Anthony Brooks.

The electoral college has been a fixture of American democracy -- and criticism -- since the nation’s founding. We’ll explain why it endures. Alex Keyssar, Tara Ross and Jack Beatty join Anthony Brooks.

College students across the country are returning to campuses for the first time since the pandemic hit. But some campuses closed almost as soon as they opened. We look at how the decisions are being made to reopen higher ed. Andy Thomason, Holden Thorp and Caroline Anders join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Sports teams and athletes around the country held strikes last week to stand up against racial injustice. We talk about this moment in sports activism, and its history and future. Howard Bryant, Amira Rose Davis and Etan Thomas join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Fiscal policy in a pandemic. We discuss why COVID-19 is giving a bigger voice to economists with very different ways of looking at the deficit. Stephanie Kelton, Joseph Stiglitz and Jack Beatty join Meghna Chakrabarti.

We talk with more voters. This time, Democrats. Some are all in on Joe Biden. Others will be holding their noses at the ballot box. What do Democratic voters want for -- and from -- their candidate? Rodrigo Gomez-Carlin, Melissa Brant and Andrea McCoy join Meghna Chakrabarti.

It’s been 15 years since Hurricane Katrina devastated our country. And while many of us remember the storm as an acute moment in history, a new book is making a case that the lead-up to Katrina made its impacts inevitable. We talk about the structural issues that affected our recovery from Katrina, and what more needs to be done. Sarah Broom, Andy Horowitz and Jarvis DeBerry join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Across the country this summer, we’ve seen vigilante militants incite violence at protests for racial justice. We talk to a former FBI agent who went undercover with right-wing militants in the 1990s about the groups' overlap with law enforcement. Michael German, Jonathan Levinson and LaFleur Stephens-Dougan join Meghna Chakrabarti.

An announcement from the White House could expand rapid COVID-19 testing significantly as President Trump boasts about U.S. testing capacity. Harvard epidemiologist Dr. Michael Mina joins Meghna Chakrabarti to lay out the testing failures so far, and discuss how rapid tests could help get our lives back to normal in the pandemic.

We’ll drop down in several different cities around the country with our reporters’ roundtable for an update on protests and the pandemic, and to see how the after effects of the political conventions are playing out across America. LaToya Dennis, Luis Carrasco, Molly Peterson and Rose Scott join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Wall Street Journal editor Gerald Seib has been a fly on the wall of the Republican Party over the past 40 years. He joins us to unspool the history that led up to President Trump’s election in 2016, and chart the course of the GOP into the future. Gerald Seib, Oren Cass and Mindy Finn join Jane Clayson.

President Trump defies the Hatch Act at the Republican Convention. The Gulf Coast is slammed by one of the most powerful storms in decades. And a police shooting in Wisconsin rocks communities across the country. All that and more in our weekly news roundup. Jane Coaston, Mary Bruce and Paula Reid join Jane Clayson.

We’ll talk to the mayor of Kansas City and others about the challenges to running their cities now. Protests, coronavirus, unemployment — we’ll discuss the way forward at the local level. Quinton Lucas and David Holt join Meghna Chakrabarti.

We’re talking to voters who cast their ballots for Donald Trump in 2016. Four years later, they explain the issues they care about, what they think of the job President Trump has done, and how they’ll vote this time around. Cheryl Johnson, Matt Powell and Tommy Stallings join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Does a nation in the midst of an historic pandemic and deep political division still need satire? We'll ask veteran satirist Samantha Bee, who joins Meghna Chakrabarti.

We’ll look at Vice President Mike Pence – his record as VP, and his role in the Trump re-election campaign. Michael D'Antonio joins Meghna Chakrabarti.

Postmaster general Louis DeJoy has maintained under oath that his changes to the U.S. Postal Service have nothing to do with President Trump’s reelection. We talk about why it’s still significant that the president is going after a public institution, and the state of our democracy. Lisa Rein and Susan Stokes join Meghna Chakrabarti.

The GOP will not roll out a new party platform ahead of the 2020 presidential race, instead opting to declare fealty to President Trump’s agenda. So, what does the Republican Party stand for now? Tim Alberta joins Meghna Chakrabarti.

Last week, a Senate committee outlined the Trump 2016 campaign's ties to Russia, and a Russian opposition leader was hospitalized in a potential poisoning. We'll talk Vladimir Putin's strategy of power. Masha Gessen and Mark Mazzetti join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Today marks day one of the Republican National Convention; what can we expect from President Trump as he makes his case for a second term? Philip Rucker, Steve Harrison, Julia Terruso and Matt Mackowiak join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Columnist E.J. Dionne has called on progressives and moderates in the Democratic party to unite under what he calls a banner of decency, dignity and democracy. Does he think that’s happened? E.J. Dionne and Charlene Carruthers join Jane Clayson.

A historic Democratic convention. Furor over the postal service. And universities thrown off course by COVID-19. It’s our weekly news roundup. Karen Travers, Elizabeth Landers and Laura Barrón-López join Jane Clayson.

The Prince George’s County jail in Maryland allegedly puts people with COVID-19 into cells dirty with body fluids. Staff throw supplies through the door. Many people at the jail haven’t been convicted. In fact, they haven’t even had their trials yet. So now, they’re taking the jail to court. Alfonso Diantignac, Katie Chamblee-Ryan, Aisha Braveboy and Marguerite Lanaux join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Joe Biden is officially the Democratic party’s presidential nominee. We look back at Biden’s political career, from his election to the senate at age 29, to his first run for president, and beyond. Phil Freedman, Steven Levingston, Jack Beatty and Jennifer Senior join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Foreign policy is in the Democratic platform, but it’s not a big talking point at the party convention. Maybe it should be. We talk with global analysts about why any plan to rebuild the U.S. internally might also rely on restoring the nation’s position internationally. Stephen Walt and Dr. Leslie Vinjamuri join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Who are the team of advisors and confidants that would influence a Biden presidency? We talk about the rising Democratic luminaries in the foreground, and the lobbyists hovering in the background. Aisha C. Mills, Robert Kuttner, Rep. Jim Clyburn and Sen. Cory Booker join Meghna Chakrabarti.

We look back at the last century of voting and examine how women and women of color have impacted our politics. Errin Haines, Lisa Tetrault and Adele Logan Alexander join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Day two of the Democratic National Convention. We examine the party’s platform in detail. From ideas on controlling the pandemic to resuscitating the economy, what’s the Democratic vision for America? And is it achievable? Kimberly Atkins, Brittany Packnett Cunningham, Brad DeLong and Rep. Ro Khanna join Meghna Chakrabarti.

The federal eviction moratorium has expired, yet a staggering number of Americans still can’t make rent during the pandemic. Without a safety net, are renters barreling toward an eviction crisis? Emily Benfer, Josephine Lee, Latisha Gonzalez and Tiana Caldwell join Meghna Chakrabarti.

The media and political conventions have long had a symbiotic relationship, with the RNC and DNC offering era-defining TV moments like Goldwater at the Cow Palace, and Obama’s star-making speech in 2004. This year it will all be on screens, with no uproarious applause. We talk about why that matters. David Folkenflik, Bakari Sellers and Dan Rather join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Kamala Harris on the Democratic presidential ticket. Congress stalled over stimulus package negotiations. All that and more in our weekly news roundup. Molly Ball, Monica Alba and Jack Beatty join Jane Clayson.

Three hosts of the breakout podcast “Teenager Therapy” give us a peek into their world with a discussion about the pandemic and the state of the nation. Gael Aitor, Mark Hugo and Isaac Hurtado join Anthony Brooks.

As N.H. voters head to the polls, we look back at the history of the state's outsized influence in presidential elections and whether it’s time to loosen the Granite State's grasp on primary politics. Lauren Chooljian, Jack Beatty and Megan Messerly join Meghna Chakrabarti.

Colorado is pushing a lot of boundaries and buttons lately. On fracking, gun law, marijuana, secession. We catch up with Colorado

From Tampa, Mitt’s big night. Paul Ryan’s debut. Isaac’s deep water and the Democrats rev up. Our weekly news roundtable goes behind the headlines.

“Inside Job” director Charles Ferguson on Wall Street now, and the crisis still to be addressed.

Health care and the high court. A JetBlue freak-out. The Trayvon Martin story grows. Our weekly news roundtable goes behind the headlines.

Rick Santorum now ties or leads Mitt Romney in national polls. Is he the anti-Romney, the anti-Obama? We’ll look at “Mr. Faith and Family.”

The body count surges in Syria. The US closes its embassy. Russia and China have the West fuming over their UN veto. Where is this headed?

The dream and reality of living off the land. A novice farmer tells his story.

Budget showdown in Washington. A major 9-11 trial is sent to Guantanamo. A full airliner rips open in flight. Our weekly news roundtable goes behind the headlines.

A new telling of the life of Malcolm X, from a biographer who’s already gone.

A new Republican budget plan would mean revolutionary changes for Medicare and Medicaid — for the old and poor and the country’s finances. We’ll look at what’s on the table.

Buying back your own privacy. The high cost of keeping your personal information personal.

A government shutdown looms as Democrats and Republicans fight over big budget cuts on Capitol Hill. We’ll dive in.

Scandal, succession, and investment icon Warren Buffet at 80.

Every president since Richard Nixon has vowed to get the U.S. off imported oil. We’ll take a tough look at the latest plan — President Obama’s.

College basketball’s March Madness makes millions – but not for the players. We’ll tap into the hot debate over sharing the NCAA spoils.

New York Times correspondent Anthony Shadid on being captured by Gadhafi forces and what’s ahead for Libya.