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What the Hell Is Going On

AEI Podcasts
Joe Biden
Donald Trump
Ukraine
Israel
Hamas
New Hampshire Primary
Russia
China
14th Amendment
2024 Presidential Election
Nikki Haley
Palestinians
American Democracy
Republican Party
October 7 Attacks
UNRWA
Economy
United States
Defense Industrial Base
Political Prosecution

The American Enterprise Institute’s Danielle Pletka and Marc Thiessen address the questions we’re all asking in their podcast, “What the Hell Is Going On?” In conversational, informative and irreverent episodes, Pletka and Thiessen interview policymakers and experts, asking tough, probing questions about the most important foreign policy and security challenges facing the world today.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes200Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
NewsPoliticsGovernment

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Latest Episodes

For Donald Trump, China has served as a major justification for economic protectionism, highlighting our dependencies and need to onshore products with national security implications. But that’s the talk. The reality is more dismal: a less-than-hawki... more

The legislative filibuster is one of the most important guardrails against the tyranny of the majority that exists in the United States Senate. Despite this critical function, both parties have, at various times, entertained the idea of eliminating t... more

The fever swamps of the alt-right have crept upstream. Fringe figures are making their way onto increasingly mainstream platforms, spreading ideological contagion to impressionable young audiences. Having long covered the creeping antisemitism of the... more

Europe’s center of gravity has shifted eastward, and few political leaders stand out as capable of leading the necessary changes to revitalize, rather than regulate, the aging West. The Washington Post’s new editorial vision hopes to address these co... more

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Recent Guests

Martin B. Gold
Expert on congressional rules and parliamentary strategy with 50 years of experience.
Capitol Counsel, LLC
Episode: WTH Would Any Republican Consider Ending the Filibuster? Martin Gold Explains.
Eli Lake
Veteran journalist and host of Breaking History podcast
The Free Press
Episode: WTH: How Do We Keep Neo-Nazis Out of the Conservative Movement? Eli Lake Explains.
Adam O'Neal
Opinion editor at The Washington Post and veteran correspondent with a background covering Europe.
The Washington Post
Episode: WTH: Is Europe Lost? Adam O'Neal Explains.
General Jack Keane
Retired four-star general and former Vice Chief of Staff of the US Army, Chairman of the Institute for the Study of War, Fox News Senior Strategic Analyst.
Institute for the Study of War
Episode: WTH Is Next for Ukraine and Israel? General Jack Keane Explains.
Dan Senor
Co-host of Call Me Back and former Senior Advisor to the Romney campaign.
Elliott Capital Management
Episode: WTH Is Happening With Middle East Peace? Dan Senor Explains.
Stephen Rademaker
Senior Counselor at Covington and Burling, former national security expert
Covington and Burling
Episode: WTH Could Ukraine do with $300 Billion Russian Dollars? Stephen Rademaker Explains.
Rafael Mangual
Nick Ohnell Fellow at the Manhattan Institute and contributing editor of City Journal
Manhattan Institute
Episode: WTH: Trump's Capital Crime Crackdown. Rafael Mangual Explains.
Jay Cost
Gerald R. Ford non-resident senior fellow
American Enterprise Institute
Episode: WTH Is the Path Out of the Wilderness for the Democratic Party? Jay Cost Explains.
Charlie English
London-based nonfiction writer and author of The CIA Book Club
Episode: WTH Should I Read This Summer? "The CIA Book Club: The Secret Mission to Win the Cold War with Forbidden Literature" by Charlie English

Hosts

Marc Thiessen
Co-host of the podcast with experience in political commentary and foreign policy analysis.
Danielle Pletka
Co-host with a background in political analysis, focusing on foreign affairs and security issues.

Reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars from 726 ratings
  • Pletka is Awful

    Marc is fantastic and the only reason I listen to this show at all is because of him. Pletka is pretentious and utterly off putting. I often just delete the show because I don't want to listen to her arrogance. She even thinks hard-working taxpayers should pay for NPR. Put a decent person in her place and I will listen every day.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Marines of 75
    United States2 months ago
  • Embarrassingly biased

    Pathetic pandering. Genocide denialism is their new low.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Kronos Employee
    United States4 months ago
  • Will New York Elect a Communist Mayor? Seth Mandel Explains, Jul 17, 2025

    I thought I knew a lot about Mamdani but l learned about his “let's just send social workers” instead of the NYPD. How devastating this will be for domestic abuse victims! Great episode.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Violets-of-dawn
    United States4 months ago
  • Host’s smugness a major detriment

    If the hosts weren’t so unlikeable, this might be a worthwhile podcast.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    JoeMac7345
    United States4 months ago
  • Good but one huge problem

    Whoever the Dani chick is, is utterly irritating. When she is on, I will not listen. Good grief, this lady is awful.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Textdgh
    United States5 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Some reviews note concerns about the hosts coming across as elitist or condescending, affecting the enjoyment of the podcast.
Listeners appreciate the informed discussions and insights from engaging guests, reflecting a strong interest in nuanced political analysis.
While many appreciate the irreverent style, some feedback highlights dissatisfaction with perceived biases in content or presentation.
Overall, the podcast is viewed as beneficial for those interested in right-leaning perspectives on global issues.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#85
Israel/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#140
Taiwan/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#187
China/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#216
New Zealand/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

WTH Would Any Republican Consider Ending the Filibuster? Martin Gold Explains.
Q: Can you explain to people what the filibuster is and the history behind it?
Martin Gold explains that the filibuster is a parliamentary tool that allows the minority the right to debate and amend legislation, serving as an essential check on the majority.
WTH Is Happening With Middle East Peace? Dan Senor Explains.
Q: What do you think actually happens next?
There are concerns about how disarmament and demilitarization will happen in Gaza, especially given Hamas's actions.
WTH Could Ukraine do with $300 Billion Russian Dollars? Stephen Rademaker Explains.
Q: What happens? I don't think Putin says uncle.
I think Putin believes he can win this war despite the pressure, but additional pressure needs to be brought to bear.
WTH Could Ukraine do with $300 Billion Russian Dollars? Stephen Rademaker Explains.
Q: Do you agree with my assessment as to why that is happening?
Yes, it's probably not coincidental that the Europeans have reconsidered whether the frozen Russian assets are a potential source of funding to help resolve the Ukraine crisis.
WTH: Trump at the UN. Brett Schaefer Explains.
Q: What are the implications of Trump's UN speech?
Trump's speech criticized the UN, indicating a potential reevaluation of the US relationship with the organization.

Audience Metrics

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About What the Hell Is Going On

What is What the Hell Is Going On about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This podcast features dynamic conversations that engage with pressing issues related to foreign policy, security, and current political events. The hosts, with their engaging style, frequently invite experts and policymakers to discuss complex topics and provide insight into global affairs. Noteworthy episodes grapple with themes like crime and policing under different administrations, the challenges facing the Democratic Party, and the intricacies of international relations concerning Israel and Iran. Given the hosts' backgrounds and the caliber of their guests, the content tends to be both informative and provocative, appealing particularly to those interested in conservative viewpoints on international issues.

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How many listeners does What the Hell Is Going On get?

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How many subscribers and views does What the Hell Is Going On have?

To see how many followers or subscribers What the Hell Is Going On has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to What the Hell Is Going On?

These podcasts share a similar audience with What the Hell Is Going On:

1. The Commentary Magazine Podcast
2. The McCarthy Report
3. The Editors
4. Breaking History
5. The Big Ben Show

How many episodes of What the Hell Is Going On are there?

What the Hell Is Going On launched 6 years ago and published 200 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 What the Hell Is Going On?

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.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for What the Hell Is Going On?

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What guests have appeared on What the Hell Is Going On?

Recent guests on What the Hell Is Going On include:

1. Martin B. Gold
2. Eli Lake
3. Adam O'Neal
4. General Jack Keane
5. Dan Senor
6. Stephen Rademaker
7. Rafael Mangual
8. Jay Cost

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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