
Why are American children such picky eaters?
Why do American kids love chicken nuggets and applesauce, but hate broccoli and brussels sprouts? In her new book “Picky," Helen Veit explores how American children became the fussiest eaters...

Why is the U.S. reluctant to adopt the Scandinavian prison model?
A handful of states from California, Pennsylvania to Maine have tried to adopt a more rehabilitative Scandinavian prison model. But such models have failed to be replicated at large scale....

How can you be drunk without drinking?
A mysterious condition can push your blood alcohol level sky-high — even if you haven’t had any drinks. What causes auto-brewery syndrome — and what are the legal and medical...

Why conservative judges think Trump has gone too far
Several federal judges have issued opinions saying the Trump administration is flouting the rule of law and the principles of democracy. How effective has the bench been in checking executive...

Trump vs. the Pope
President Donald Trump is no stranger to an internet feud. But now, he’s taken on a whole new adversary: the Catholic Church. What impact will it have on the country’s...
Support WBUR

The Jackpod: Death becomes them
On Point news analyst Jack Beatty on how authoritarians have co-opted their military and valorized its dead over living experience in the officer corps.

The 'why' behind how we talk
An accent doesn’t just tell someone where you are from – but who you are – your cultural background, race, age and class. How the way we talk tells people...

Seattle mayor Katie Wilson: The full conversation
On stage before an enthusiastic audience of around 900 Seattleites, Mayor Wilson talks with Meghna about housing and homelessness, and also about what it’s like to be a Democratic Mayor...

Seattle's new socialist mayor has big plans
Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson had no prior political experience. She took over as the city faces an affordability crisis and a homelessness emergency. How's she doing roughly three months into...

New questions for the Epstein files investigation
Former attorney general Pam Bondi refused to appear at a congressional hearing about the Epstein Files. First Lady Melania Trump gave a press conference to deny that she knew about...

The teachers pushing back on screens in schools
It's not just phones anymore. More teachers and even entire U.S. school districts are cutting back the time students spend on laptops and other screens. How do students really learn...

The real cost of the war with Iran
The U.S. has been spending up to $2 billion every day on the war with Iran. But that’s just military expenditure. What’s the real, long-term economic toll?

The Jackpod: Democracy by lottery
On Point news analyst Jack Beatty has been reading “Politics without Politicians” by political theorist Hélène Landemore, in which she makes the case that randomly selected citizens can make for...

What happened to shame in politics?
Shame is a powerful feeling that can keep behavior in check. So what happens when political leaders feel no shame at all?

How China's superfast charging cars are leaving American EV’s in the dust
An electric vehicle battery that charges almost as fast as it takes to fill a tank of gas. And it might soon be available almost everywhere except the United States....

What are Israel's goals in Lebanon?
So far, more than a million people have been forcibly displaced by Israel’s invasion of southern Lebanon. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says eradicating Hezbollah is critical for Israeli security. But...

What happens when religious fundamentalists come to power? (Part Two)
Military service members are filing a flood of complaints about religious justifications for the U.S. war in Iran. How Christian extremism came to influence the Trump administration and offer moral...

What happens when religious fundamentalists come to power? (Part One)
Shia fundamentalism has come to define Iran’s place in the Middle East and the world. And that wasn’t an accident. How Iranian leaders use Shia Islam to exert their power.

The Jackpod: Dad Gummit!
On Point news analyst Jack Beatty on how the U.S. Congress serves the financial interests of itself through insider trading.

From the archive: History-making astronaut Christina Koch
NASA astronaut Christina Koch is making history as the first woman to travel around the moon as a crew member on the Artemis II mission. It’s not the first time...