On Point

George Packer On America's 'Unwinding'

New Yorker writer George Packer's inside history of the great unwinding of America's 20th century way of life and where we stand now.

The North American Energy Revolution

North America as the new fossil fuel powerhouse. We'll look at the blessing, the curse and how it may reshape geopolitics and energy politics.

Burt Bacharach

The wizard of pop. From "Raindrops" to "Walk On By." Burt Bacharach joins us with his new memoir of a life in music.

A New Way To Care For Patients With Dementia

How an Arizona retirement home has found a kinder, gentler way to take care of patients with dementia.

Fantastic Creatures And Their Future

The mother of all diversity: nature. Her most fantastic creatures and how they're faring now.

Rationing In Our Future?

A new book says rationing--of food, energy and more--is in our future. We hear the case, and the pushback.

'Gatsby' On The Big Screen

"The Great Gatsby" is back. On the big screen. We'll revisit the tale, from F. Scott Fitzgerald to Leonardo DiCaprio.

Weight-Loss Surgeries: Does Success Offset Controversy?

Big Chris Christie, New Jersey governor, has had weight-loss surgery. We'll look at the buzz and controversy around gastric bypass surgery, lapbands and more.

E.O. Wilson On 'Letters To A Young Scientist'

Bees disappearing. Cicadas coming out. A new generation of scientists coming up. We'll talk with super-biologist E.O. Wilson about our future and nature.

What Can Libraries Do To Survive In The Digital Age?

The future of the library in the digital age.

The Once And Future 'Iliad'

Homer's "Iliad" made new. A one-man performance brings the ancient tale home for modern men and women.

How Global Tourism Changes The World

Here comes the big travel season. We look at how global tourism is changing the world.

String Quartet 'Brooklyn Rider'

The string quartet that plays the world. Brooklyn Rider.

Kids And Food Allergies

Why do so many kids have food allergies? We explore cutting-edge treatments and impact on families, schools and more.

Sharon Olds On Poetry And Divorce

Poems about her divorce just won Sharon Olds a Pulitzer Prize. She joins us.

A Texas Battle Over Higher Education

A battle at the University of Texas over the future of higher education. And whether job training will trump everything else.

The Brain As An Analogy Machine

How humans think. The human brain as an analogy machine.

Inside North Korea With 'The Orphan Master's Son'

Inside North Korea. We talk with the Pulitzer-Prize winning author of "The Orphan Master's Son."

'The End Of Big'

The end of big: does technology spell the end of big companies, big institutions, big politics? And is David the new Goliath?

Isabel Allende On Her New Novel: 'Maya's Notebook'

Bestselling author Isabel Allende's novel of a Chilean grandmother saving a granddaughter who's down and out in Las Vegas.

The Brothers Tsarnaev

We'll look deep into their worlds for clues, motives, and the latest on the investigation.

Understanding The Terrorist Threat

We're on the scene with the very latest developments on the Boston bombing aftermath and hunt. Top experts and reporters join us.

Bostonians Reflect On The Marathon Bombings

Writers Dennis Lehane, Anita Sheve, musician Amanda Palmer and more on the heart of Boston after the marathon bombings.

Balancing Security, Risk: What The Boston Marathon...

How much risk are we willing to run? How much security do we want to have?

The Boston Marathon Bombing

We'll look at what's known, what's not and the unfolding investigation.

The Transformation Of The CIA

From spymasters to killing machines, New York Times Reporter Mark Mazzetti on the CIA's transformation, and its chilling impact on how we fight wars.

Week In The News: Guns, Immigration, North Korea

Maybe a gun deal. Maybe an immigration deal. And who knows on North Korea? Our weekly news roundtable goes behind the headlines.

Sex And The Arab World

Sex and the Arab world. Shereen El Feki takes us from behind the Saudi veil to the rough streets of Cairo.

A Second Look At Capitalism

A big second look at capitalism. How it's worked over time. How it hasn't. And whether it's run its course.

Jackie Robinson And The New Movie '42?

Jackie Robinson broke the color line in Major League Baseball. The new movie "42" tells the story. The director is with us.

Poetry And Spirituality At Death's Door

The editor of Poetry magazine on poetry and spirituality at death's door.

Are Antibiotics In Our Meat Breeding Superbugs?

Antibiotics and the meat we eat. The volumes are huge. Maybe breeding superbugs. We look for a better way.

Letters, E-Mail, Texts — What's Next?

Letters are dead. E-mail outdated. Text messages so pass?. What's going on with how we communicate?

BioShock Infinite And The Future Of Gaming

?"BioShock Infinite". The latest, biggest, brainiest video game of all. We'll talk to the creator and ask where games are going.

On Point In Nashville: Obamacare Rollout

On Point goes to Nashville — big medical center — to look at the rollout of the Affordable Care Act — Obamacare.

Asperger Love

Teenage love with Asperger's Syndrome. Connecting when it's not easy.

Jobs And New Graduates

Jobs and new graduates. We look at personal and national strategies for putting our young to work.

Genius Babies

The internet headline was "engineering genius babies" out of China. Not true. But the reality is very interesting. We'll check it out.

The Rise And Fall Of Phil Spector

A look at the rise and fall of Phil Spector, creator of the "wall of sound."

The Rise and Fall of Phil Spector

Syria And Chemical Weapons

Syria and chemical weapons. Where is the red line? What if it's crossed?

Week In The News: Obama In Israel, Prison Chief Shot,...

President Obama in Israel. Colorado's prison chief, shot. The Iraq War, ten years on. Our weekly news roundtable goes behind the headlines.

The Fate Of Gun Reform

Three months after Sandy Hook. Will gun reform be gutted in the U.S. Senate? Is it happening right now?

Private Drones In American Skies

Drones on top of drones. New, commercial drones take off. Some say our skies will be dark with privately-owned drones.

John James Audubon And 'The Birds Of America.'

Into the woods. How John James Audubon hunted, pinned, and painted his masterpiece, "The Birds of America."

Big Tax Breaks, John James Audubon

As Congress tightens the national budget belt, big corporations are getting monster tax breaks, with the help of high paid lobbyists. And John James Audubon And ‘The Birds Of America.’ How John James Audubon hunted, pinned, and painted his masterpiece, “The Birds of America.”

Looking Back At The Iraq War

Ten years after the American invasion of Iraq, we weigh the price and lessons of the war that followed.

The Jeanie Johnston: The Legendary Irish Famine Ship

For St. Patrick's Day, the story of the legendary tall-masted ship - the Jeanie Johnston - that brought thousands of Irish from famine to America.

Week in News and The Irish Famine Ship

Pope Francis. Paul Ryan and dueling budgets. The Steubenville rape case goes to trial. Our weekly news roundtable goes behind the headlines. And for St. Patrick’s Day, the story of the legendary tall-masted ship – the Jeanie Johnston – that brought thousands of Irish from famine to America.

Money and the White House: On Point

Barack Obama was a controversial pathbreaker in putting big private money in campaign politics. Now he’s doing it in the White House. We investigate. And then America’s first feminist. The 19th century’s journalist, critic, transcendentalist, adventurer, Margaret Fuller.

Small Knives And The TSA's New Strategy

The TSA's new strategy on airline security: Small knives are OK and so are "trusted" passengers. But who makes that list? And how?

New York's Sugary Drink Ban Struck Down

A judge strikes down New York's ban on big sugary drinks. What do we do about American obesity?

Picking A Pope and Sugary Drinks

The cardinals sit down in Rome. The conclave begins. We look at the politics and prayer of choosing a new pope. A judge strikes down New York’s ban on big sugary drinks. What do we do about American obesity?

Environmentalism's Next Generation

A new generation of "climate activists" are ready to raise Hell over the Keystone Pipeline and more. We hear from them.

The Iditarod: 'The Last Great Race'

Mushers, majestic huskies, and more: we go to the Iditarod.

The Week in News and The Iditarod: On Point

Week In The News: Obama And The GOP, Chavez, Filibuster Obama breaks bread with the GOP. Hugo Chavez. HIV baby cured. And The Iditarod: ‘The Last Great Race’- Mushers, majestic huskies, and more: we go to the Iditarod.

Behind The Dow's High

The Dow hit a record high. What's behind the jump? And what's the big picture economic message?

Alabama And The Voting Rights Act

The Supreme Court heard a challenge to the Voting Rights Act. Is it still needed? We ask Shelby County, Alabama.

The Death Of Hugo Chavez And The Future of Venezuela

Hugo Chavez, dead at 58. We’re looking at what’s ahead for Venezuela. Then we'll take a look at Alambama and the voting rights act. The Supreme Court heard a challenge to the Voting Rights Act. Is it still needed? We ask Shelby County, Alabama.

What's Next For Syria

More refugees pouring out of Syria, more promises of aid for the rebels, and more fears that the radicals will win this fight. We take stock.

Inside America's Gun Culture

We're looking inside America's gun culture.

The Sequester and America's Gun Culture

The first workweek under sequester begins. We’re touching down around the country, and in Washington for the impact and where this goes. And then we’re looking inside America’s gun culture.

Wearable Tech And Augmented Reality

Technology you will wear. Google's glasses. Apple's iWatch. And "augmented reality" on its way.

Goodbye Pope and Augmented Reality

Pope Benedict’s last day. We’re looking at challenges for the Catholic Church and ahead to the conclave. And technology you will wear. Google’s glasses. Apple’s iWatch. And “augmented reality” on its way.

Yahoo's Ban On Working From Home

Yahoo! CEO and new mom Marissa Mayer - says no more working from home for her staff. But wait, wasn't that the future?

The Circus: Past And Future

Acrobat Duncan Wall ran away to join the circus, and found the circus has changed. He's with us.

Dr. Ben Carson and The Circus, Past and Future

We’re talking to neurosurgeon, Obama health care critic and new darling of the American conservative movement, Dr. Ben Carson. And Acrobat Duncan Wall ran away to join the circus, and found the circus has changed. He’s with us.

Manufacturing Innovation

The call for federal investment in new manufacturing innovation hubs across the country. Would they make the U.S. more competitive? Should we spend the money? Where?

The Oscars

Will Daniel Day-Lewis get crowned for his Honest Abe? Will Hushpuppy tame the beasts of the academy? On Point looks at this year's best work in film and the Oscars.

Week In The News: Sequestration, Immigration, And...

Sequester debate. Immigration backlash. A new hard line on Chinese hacking and theft. Our weekly news roundtable goes behind the headlines. And will Daniel Day-Lewis get crowned for his Honest Abe? Will Hushpuppy tame the beasts of the academy? On Point looks at this year’s best work in film and the Oscars.

The Feminine Mystique At 50

The Feminine Mystique at 50. We'll talk with women about the book, Betty Friedan, what's changed, what hasn't, and women now.

Indiana Farmer Takes Seed-Giant Monsanto To Supreme Court

An Indiana farmer takes his case against Monsanto seed control to the U.S. Supreme Court.

The Cost Of Prison Farmers v Monsanto

States fed up with high prison costs and mandatory sentencing move to change. Must the U.S. be number one in prisoners? And an Indianan Farmer Takes Seed-Giant Monsanto To Supreme Court

Sequestration And What It Means For The U.S.

Sequestration is on its way. The next budget cliff. We'll look at what all those cuts would mean for the country.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and Basketball...

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau under attack. We’re looking at who’s attacking what, and why. From tennis to soccer to the NBA, the surprising history of why we play ball.

Week In The News: State Of The Union, Pope Out,...

State of the Union. Papal shocker. California's ex-cop nightmare. Our weekly news roundtable goes behind the headlines.

A Near Miss: Fending Off Asteroids

A huge asteroid brushes by planet Earth Friday. Closer than our own satellites. We'll look at our very close call, and asteroid defense.

Vocational High Schools, and Avoiding Asteroids

The President’s call to remake a wing of high-school on German lines. Vocational training for the high-tech jobs of the future. And a huge asteroid brushes by planet Earth Friday. Closer than our own satellites. We’ll look at our very close call, and asteroid defense.

President Obama's State Of The Union Address

The State of the Union. President Obama makes his case. We talk about the President's agenda, Congress, and the road ahead.

The Secret World Of Scientology

Uncovering the secret inner world of Scientology with Pulitzer prize-winning author Lawrence Wright.

Sequestration And The American Airlines And US Airways...

The Obama Administration, Drone Strikes, And The Law

The Obama administration's argument on drone warfare. Even against Americans. We push deeper on drones, killing, and the law.

The Obama Administration, Drone Strikes, And The Law

The Obama administration’s argument on drone warfare. Even against Americans. We push deeper on drones, killing, and the law. And in our second hour, a Survey Of American Relationships And Love

Week In The News: Drones, John Brennan, Sequester Talk

Drones and a CIA nominee. Post office cutbacks. Big dance on the budget. Our weekly news roundtable goes behind the headlines.

Tough Times For Older Workers

Tough times for older workers. Many can't retire or find a job. We'll look at boomers and more in the bust.

Education Lessons From Top and Older Workers

Finland and South Korea top the charts in a new global education ranking. But with very different philosophies. We’re looking at what the US – ranked number 17 – can learn. Plus, tough times for older workers. Many can’t retire or find a job. We’ll look at boomers and more in the bust.

Adderall On Campus: Use And Abuse

A drug prescribed for ADHD is all over college campuses now. We're looking at the use and abuse of Adderall.

The History Of Ninjas

Japan's old politics by other means — the real, thousand-year history of the ninja.

After the Storm and the History of Ninjas

New York’s governor wants Superstorm Sandy victims to move off the coast. We’ll look at when and where to rebuild. Japan’s old politics by other means — the real, thousand-year history of the ninja.

Egypt In Crisis

Egypt in crisis. A "collapse of the state" warning, and what comes next.

Marriage At The Movies

Why marriage doesn't work for Hollywood. The troubled history of going the distance on the silver screen.

Week in the News and Marriage in the Movies

Immigration. Gabby Giffords on guns. Chuck Hagel in the hot seat. An Israeli air strike in Syria. Our weekly news roundtable goes behind the headlines. Why marriage doesn’t work for Hollywood. The troubled history of going the distance on the silver screen.

Hillary Clinton's Legacy And Future

Thinking about Hillary Clinton: we're looking to the legacy and future of the outgoing Secretary of State.

The GOP Regroups and Hillary Clinton’s Legacy And Future

Rebranding the GOP. Republican insiders on regrouping for their party’s future. And, thinking about Hillary Clinton: we’re looking to the legacy and future of the outgoing Secretary of State.

Gay In America: A Roundtable

Gay in America, now. We're talking with gay Americans from across the country about changing attitudes and their lives.

The New Push For Immigration Reform

The big new push for immigration reform. We're looking at what's on the table and the path ahead.

Cyberbullying And Sexual Shaming

When cyberbullying turns into sexual shaming, with one teen who decided to tell her peers it's got to stop.

Monday's Show

The U.S. Department of Education is telling schools they must include students with disabilities in sports. How will that work? And in the second hour, Cyberbullying And Sexual Shaming

Week In The News: Inauguration, Clinton Hearings, Women...

Obama 2.0. Hillary in the hot seat. Women cleared for combat. Our weekly news roundtable goes behind the headlines.

The Dreamliner Grounded And Boeing's Future

Boeing Dreamliners are grounded all over the world. The American super plane in trouble. We're looking at Boeing's misstep.