The New England Patriots: whether you love or hate them, the Pats have captured this country's attention like no other franchise. On The Point, Mindy Todd interviews Glenn Stout and Richard A. Johnson , the authors of a new, complete, and lavishly illustrated book entitled " The Pats: an illustrated History of the New England Patriots ."

The 2016 election of Donald Trump brought into sharp focus how divided we’ve become as nation. What’s at the root of our political differences? Why are the two political parties becoming more polarized and what does it mean for the future of our country?

WCAI News Director Steve Junker hosts a roundup of some of the top local and regional news of the week, including: a move to modify water quality regulations in Barnstable draws town-wide attention, some Wellfleet residents have concerns about an extension to the Rail trail, and a popular observation tower on the mid-Cape’s highest hill is closed for repairs.

It’s been a holiday tradition for 15 years: the Christmas Cavalcade Benefit for the Homeless . It’s an opportunity to enjoy some of the region’s best musicians playing their seasonal favorites while supporting the services and programs of the Housing Assistance Corporation . We talk with musician Fred Boak, Anne Van Vlec, Chief Development Officer at HAC and enjoy some of the highlights from last year’s Cavalcade performance.

It's our monthly BOOKS show on The Point, and the theme is the American West. Kathryn Eident hosts. She is joined by Jill Erickson of the Falmouth Public Library , and author Peter Abrahams .

Should you stay in your home in retirement? We’ve heard a lot about people wanting to “age in place.” Is that the best personal and financial decision? Penelope Tzougros is a financial advisor who has helped many plan for how and where to live in retirement. We talk with her about her new book Y our Home Sweet Home: How to Decide Whether You Should Stay or Move in Retirement , and the questions we should be asking ourselves as we plan where we’ll live in retirement.

Philip Hoare is fascinated by the sea. He swims in it every day, regardless of the season. He studies the creatures who call the sea home: those living and those found dead along the shore. He muses about the relationship humans have with the sea, and he writes about it all, beautifully. We talk with him about his lifelong fascination with the sea and his new book RisingTideFallingStar .

Milk Street Host Christopher Kimball invites a bevy of guests to Talk Turkey. Reporter Sandip Roy desperately seeks turkey in Calcutta; tea-rubbed maple turkey; The Sporkful's Dan Pashman on Thanksgiving anxiety; holiday call-ins with Sara Moulton; the myth of triptophan with Dr. Aaron Carroll; The New Yorker's Adam Gopnik on his first Thanksgiving in 1980 in New York; J. Kenji Lopez-Alt on make-ahead mashed; and wine expert Stephen Meuse says Burgundy wines are best for the holiday table.

Four in five Americans say they have gambled at least once in their lives. Almost every state in the country offers some form of legalized gambling. Once thought of as a compulsion rather than an addiction, research in the past two decades has dramatically improved neuroscience's working model of how the brain changes when an addiction develops.

It’s Thanksgiving week and the start of the season of giving. It’s also the time of year when nonprofits and community organizations make their annual appeal for donations. But giving isn’t limited to writing a check: there are a number of ways we can give back to community organizations, and enjoy the good feelings that result.