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Make It Make Sense

The Washington Post
Donald Trump
United States
Iran
Artificial Intelligence
Iran War
NATO
Graham Platner
Data Centers
Gas Prices
Republican Party
Democratic Party
Cuba
Trump
Data Privacy
Tehran
Inflation
Higher Education
Tariffs
Sweden
Thomas Massie

We’re making sense of an increasingly complex world through reporting, interviews and expert analysis. Join us every weekday.

PublishesDailyEpisodes50Founded6 months ago
Number of ListenersCategories
NewsPolitics

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Artwork for Make It Make Sense

Latest Episodes

Is America walking away from the world order it created? In this episode of “Make It Make Sense,” Carine Hajjar talks with Post columnist Fareed Zakaria about the forces reshaping global affairs. They discuss America’s retreat from international lead... more

Can America reject racial preferences without ignoring racial inequality? In this episode of “Make It Make Sense,” Carine Hajjar talks with economist and author Glenn Loury about race, opportunity and ideological diversity in American life. They disc... more

Can California afford to keep going in the same direction? In this episode of “Make It Make Sense,” Kate Andrews talks with gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton about his campaign to overhaul the state’s government and economy. They discuss Californi... more

Is the United States turning into the Golden State? In this episode of “Make It Make Sense,” Kate Andrews talks with historian Victor Davis Hanson about the political and cultural shifts reshaping America. They discuss Christopher Nolan’s take on “Th... more

Key Facts

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People also subscribe to these shows.

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Recent Guests

Steve Hilton
Author, former Fox News host, and Republican candidate for California governor
Campaign for Steve Hilton (California governorship)
Episode: How can California be saved? Ask Steve Hilton.
Victor Davis Hanson
Senior fellow at the Hoover Institution, historian, commentator, and author
Hoover Institution
Episode: Newsom has pushed California to a tipping point
Brad Palumbo
Independent journalist and YouTube creator, host of Brad vs. Everyone
Brad Palumbo / SteamVote fellow
Episode: Why have political double standards gotten worse?
Chelsea Follett
research fellow at the Cato Institute's Center for Global Liberty and Prosperity and the managing editor of humanprogress.org
Cato Institute
Episode: Why doesn’t Europe have AC?
Greg Lukianoff
President of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression
Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression
Episode: Does the right have a cancel culture problem?
Brad Wilcox
Professor of sociology and director of the National Marriage Project at the University of Virginia; author of Get Married, Why Americans Must Defy the Elites, Forge Strong Families, and Save Civilization
University of Virginia / Institute for Family Studies
Episode: Why are marriage rates falling?
Freya India
Author of Girls, Generation Z, and the Commodification of Everything
Author
Episode: Social Media Is Making Girls Unhappy | Freya India
Yuval Levin
Scholar at the American Enterprise Institute
American Enterprise Institute
Episode: Is the president too powerful? A constitutional scholar weighs in.
Liam Donovan
Top Republican strategist at Targeted Victory, former NRSC staffer under John Cornyn
Targeted Victory
Episode: Is this the Democratic tea party? | Liam Donovan

Hosts

Kate Andrews
Host with extensive coverage across political analysis and policy discussions.
Adam O'Neill
Contributor/host bringing policy critique and political analysis.
James Holman
Host leading discussions with a focus on media framing and policy.

Reviews

1.8 out of 5 stars from 63 ratings
  • Hilariously Bad

    Tedious. Under researched. Knee jerk reactionary centrism. I actually can’t believe how little success this podcast has had. Just delete already, you’re making WaPo and the journalists involved look bad

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    bucksin6yeet
    United Statesa month ago
  • lol

    If you delete this now people will forget how embarrassing this show is by the end of the summer

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    jkrau146
    United Statesa month ago
  • Abysmal

    Unlistenable

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Whoever U Want Me 2 B
    Canada2 months ago
  • Excellent jumping off point for political discussion.

    This is a great collection of viewpoints discussing current political topics. It definitely adds to the conversation.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    fueledbymetal
    United States2 months ago
  • All The

    All the negative reviews are correct. Zero stars from me actually.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    EdeTM
    United States2 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Can be polarizing; some episodes feel confrontational or confrontational in tone.
Balanced, hard-hitting policy discussions that challenge conventional narratives.
Strong guest lineup with sharp, informed viewpoints, though pacing can be brisk for new listeners.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#122
United States/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#150
Canada/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#118
France/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#31
Singapore/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#38
India/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#50
Japan/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Why are marriage rates falling?
Q: Do you think that the right is approaching this the right way, I guess? Is there PR, the right PR? Are they talking about this issue correctly?
The hosts discuss how messaging from the conservative side often backfires with younger and more progressive audiences, and the guest emphasizes the need for more balanced, reality-based, and nuanced discussions about marriage that acknowledge both benefits and risks.
Social Media Is Making Girls Unhappy | Freya India
Q: Tell me about your decision to write this book and where the inspiration came from.
I felt that most existing works were either academic or statistics-heavy; I wanted to tell my own, more intimate story of growing up with these apps, to show what it actually feels like to navigate puberty and insecurity in today's online environment.
Why have political double standards gotten worse?
Q: What role do media ecosystems and clip culture play in polarization and the spread of conspiracies?
He explains echo chambers, selective clipping, and the monetization of attention as driving forces that reward sensational claims over cautious analysis, contributing to a cycle where truth takes a back seat to engagement.
Why have political double standards gotten worse?
Q: How did double standards in accountability affect the Platner episode and its broader implications for both parties?
Palumbo notes that Democrats faced criticism for not withdrawing support despite credible abuse allegations, while Republicans highlighted opponents' flaws; this dynamic fuels a race to the bottom where both sides excuse or overlook misconduct as part of political competition.
Why have political double standards gotten worse?
Q: What drives the rise of the left's more radical candidates, and how does that affect mainstream politics?
Brad Palumbo argues there's an ideological drift toward the Democratic Socialists of America and a persona-driven appeal from edgy figures, which creates incentives for parties to shift left and downplay traditional vetting, especially around costly promises like universal healthcare.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Make It Make Sense

What is Make It Make Sense about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show trades brisk, policy-focused analysis across politics, foreign affairs, energy, and health, anchored by a panel of seasoned political thinkers. Episodes frequently dissect U.S. strategy on Iran, domestic economic messaging, media framing, and the implications of political narratives for voters and policymakers. A standout trait is its willingness to challenge conventional wisdom with data-driven debate and sharp, sometimes provocative takes from a rotating roster of hosts and guests, making it a strong fit for listeners who want no-nonsense, issue-driven conversation with real-time relevance.

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How many listeners does Make It Make Sense get?

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Which podcasts are similar to Make It Make Sense?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Make It Make Sense:

1. Reasonably Optimistic
2. The Ezra Klein Show
3. Interesting Times with Ross Douthat
4. The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart
5. The Long Game with Jake Sullivan and Jon Finer

How many episodes of Make It Make Sense are there?

Make It Make Sense launched 6 months ago and published 50 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Make It Make Sense?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

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What guests have appeared on Make It Make Sense?

Recent guests on Make It Make Sense include:

1. Steve Hilton
2. Victor Davis Hanson
3. Brad Palumbo
4. Chelsea Follett
5. Greg Lukianoff
6. Brad Wilcox
7. Freya India
8. Yuval Levin

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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