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Make It Make Sense

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

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

PublishesDailyEpisodes58Founded7 months ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PoliticsNews

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Artwork for Make It Make Sense

Latest Episodes

Can San Francisco’s turnaround offer a model for other American cities? In this episode of “Make It Make Sense,” Kate Andrews talks with San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie about his efforts to move the city beyond years of concerns over crime, homeless... more

Is the massive investment in artificial intelligence creating a catastrophic economic bubble? In this episode of “Make It Make Sense,” Damir Marusic sits down with Impact Theory co-founder Tom Bilyeu to break down the risks of AI-driven debt, shadow ... more

How much of America’s affordability crisis is being driven by government policy? In this episode of “Make It Make Sense,” James Hohmann talks with Scott Lincicome, the Cato Institute's vice president of general economics about the policies keeping ev... more

Are the 2026 midterms shaping up to be a massive blue wave, or will severe polarization keep the government divided? In this episode of "Make It Make Sense," James Hohmann and former White House political director Doug Sosnik break down the changing ... more

Key Facts

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Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Scott Lincicome
Vice President at the Cato Institute
Cato Institute
Episode: Why the right is fighting about $20 burritos
Doug Sosnik
senior advisor at the Brunswick Group; former White House political director
Brunswick Group
Episode: Democrats have a 2028 problem
James Hohmann
Host conducting the interview
The Washington Post
Episode: Democrats have a 2028 problem
John Fetterman
U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania
United States Senate
Episode: John Fetterman’s warning to the Democratic Party
Elle Reeve
Correspondent for CNN and author of Black Pill
CNN
Episode: How conspiracy theories took over
Ruy Teixeira
Non-resident senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute; political analyst
American Enterprise Institute
Episode: Why Democrats Keep Losing Working-Class Voters | Ruy Teixeira
Michael Knowles
Political commentator and host of The Michael Knowles Show
The Daily Wire
Episode: Michael Knowles on why the left's populist rebrand won't work
Fareed Zakaria
Foreign policy expert, journalist, and author; host of CNN's Fareed Zakaria, GPS
CNN, GPS
Episode: Fareed Zakaria: Is America losing the world?
Glenn Loury
Brown University Merton P. Stoltz Professor Emeritus of the Social Sciences, economist known for race and inequality analysis
Brown University
Episode: Did DEI break colleges?

Hosts

Kate Andrews
Host of ongoing discussions on current affairs
Carine Hajjar
Host of the show, introducing guests and guiding discussion

Reviews

1.7 out of 5 stars from 82 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 States2 months 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 States2 months ago
  • Abysmal

    Unlistenable

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Whoever U Want Me 2 B
    Canada3 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 States3 months ago
  • All The

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

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    EdeTM
    United States3 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Some reviews criticize perceived bias and pacing, but others praise its thoughtful, data-driven analysis.
A few listeners view it as a strong jumping-off point for political discussion and ideas.
Listeners note the show offers nuanced, policy-focused conversations with diverse guest voices.
Positive feedback highlights fresh viewpoints beyond mainstream coverage and helpful context for policy understanding.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#246
Japan/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Why the right is fighting about $20 burritos
Q: How much do you pay for a burrito?
Around $12 at Chipotle for a typical burrito, with delivery sometimes pushing the price to about $20, illustrating how distribution channels and location change the cost experience for consumers.
How conspiracy theories took over
Q: Do mainstream institutions bear responsibility for the online radicalization trend, and where should accountability lie?
There is a recognition that trust in media and institutions has collapsed, and accountability should be shared among media, platforms, and political actors who amplify or normalize extremist content, while preserving free speech and preventing overreach in reporting.
How conspiracy theories took over
Q: What's changed in the past nine years since Charlottesville that worsened online radicalization, and are there meaningful efforts to combat it?
The guest highlights how online spaces have intensified and globalized radicalization, with the internet acting as a persistent echo chamber that feeds attention-driven, sensational content. There are attempts to push back via moderation and debunking, but the overall ecosystem remains skewed toward engagement and polarization, making it harder to provide balanced information.
Fareed Zakaria: Is America losing the world?
Q: How should the U.S. handle China moving forward, especially with AI and security threats?
He recommends identifying low-hanging, mutually beneficial areas for cooperation (stability, non-use of AI for terrorism, etc.), building coalitions with allies to deter aggression (especially around Taiwan), and cautiously managing competition to avoid a race to the bottom.
Fareed Zakaria: Is America losing the world?
Q: I want you to explain the world order to me. Do we still need a rules-based international order?
Zakaria traces the order back to World War II and argues it created open markets and major power cooperation, but notes erosion due to U.S. nationalism and shifting alliances; he emphasizes a possible new model where the U.S. and allies share burdens while preserving core rules and stability.

Audience Metrics

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About Make It Make Sense

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

A weekday politics and current affairs program that combines on-the-record reporting, expert analysis, and dynamic interviews with journalists, policy analysts, and political commentators. Episodes span domestic policy, electoral strategy, free-speech and higher-ed debates, and international affairs, often pairing data-driven takes with historical context to illuminate complex issues. A notable strength is the willingness to host a broad spectrum of perspectives—from liberal to conservative—within a Washington Post–anchored framework, which can yield nuanced conversations for listeners evaluating policy and media narratives.

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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. Interesting Times with Ross Douthat
3. The Ezra Klein Show
4. The Opinions
5. Radio Atlantic

How many episodes of Make It Make Sense are there?

Make It Make Sense launched 7 months ago and published 58 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?

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What guests have appeared on Make It Make Sense?

Recent guests on Make It Make Sense include:

1. Scott Lincicome
2. Doug Sosnik
3. James Hohmann
4. John Fetterman
5. Elle Reeve
6. Ruy Teixeira
7. Michael Knowles
8. Fareed Zakaria

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