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What the Hell Is Going On

AEI Podcasts
Joe Biden
Donald Trump
Ukraine
Israel
2024 Presidential Election
Hamas
New Hampshire Primary
Russia
China
14th Amendment
Nikki Haley
Palestinians
American Democracy
Republican Party
UNRWA
October 7 Attacks
Defense Industrial Base
United States
January 6th Insurrection
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
PoliticsGovernmentNews

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Latest Episodes

On this episode of WTH Extra! Dany and Marc discuss Marc’s column, Democrats shut down the government to protect covid spending, not Obamacare. In the umpteenth government shutdown in recent memory, Democrats have decided that permanent COVID subside... more

President Trump’s speech before the General Assembly has sparked debate over its style and substance, raising questions about UN organizations that do not serve American interests. As we continue to foot its ever-growing bill, the United Nations syst... more

On this episode of WTH, Dany and Marc discuss the assassination of conservative activist and founder of Turning Point USA, Charlie Kirk. The problem of political violence in America has only worsened since its uptick in 2020 with compounding factors ... more

According to major news outlets, the capital of the free world is under federal occupation by Donald Trump. Here in D.C., the 30-day public emergency has expired and Pam Bondi’s “takeover” of the MPD has ended, but National Guard troops aren’t going ... more

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Recent Guests

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
Sam Kean
New York Times bestselling author and science writer
Episode: WTH Should I Read This Summer? "Dinner with King Tut: How Rogue Archeologists are Re-creating the Sights, Sounds, Smells, and Tastes of Lost Civilizations" by Sam Kean
Jonathan Horn
Author and historian focused on American history and military figures.
Episode: WTH Should I Read This Summer? "The Fate of the Generals: MacArthur, Wainwright, and the Epic Battle for the Philippines" by Jonathan Horn
Zach Cooper
China expert and military strategist, and author of the book Tides of Fortune: The Rise and Decline of Great Militaries
American Enterprise Institute
Episode: WTH Should I Read This Summer? "Tides of Fortune: The Rise and Decline of Great Militaries" by Zack Cooper
Matti Friedman
Jerusalem based columnist for The Free Press, award-winning journalist, and author of four nonfiction books
The Free Press
Episode: WTH Is Responsible for Hunger in Gaza? Matti Friedman Explains.
Dominic Green
Fellow at the Royal Historical Society and columnist.
Wall Street Journal, Washington Examiner
Episode: WTH Is Britain Throttling Free Speech? Dominic Green Explains.
Seth Mandel
Senior editor of Commentary Magazine, writes on Israel and anti-Semitism.
Commentary Magazine
Episode: WTH: Will New York Elect a Communist Mayor? Seth Mandel Explains.

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 711 ratings
  • Embarrassingly biased

    Pathetic pandering. Genocide denialism is their new low.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Kronos Employee
    United States2 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 States3 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 States3 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 States4 months ago
  • Great guests, but Danny is an issue

    I have been a loyal listener since 2022 and have learned a lot from the podcast. Over the past year Danny has become more irritating to listen to. She comes off as an elitist and sounds very condescending most of the time. It’s obvious she is a very wealthy Washington insider who can’t relate to people outside of the beltway. She and her type are part of the problem in this country. Plan to stop listening if it doesn’t improve.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Podprova
    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
#242
United States/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#75
Spain/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#76
Poland/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#145
Philippines/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#207
Poland/News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

WTH: Trump's Capital Crime Crackdown. Rafael Mangual Explains.
Q: What is the current crime situation in Washington, D.C. and how does it compare to the historical trends?
Rafael Mangual explains that D.C. has experienced a spike in serious violence in recent years, but that the administration's intervention has led to significant decreases in crime.
WTH Is the Path Out of the Wilderness for the Democratic Party? Jay Cost Explains.
Q: What would the Democrats need to do to regain power?
They need to confront their unpopular beliefs, move back towards the center, and improve their connection with working-class voters.
WTH Is the Path Out of the Wilderness for the Democratic Party? Jay Cost Explains.
Q: What do you see as the Democratic Party's problems nationwide?
A major issue is how they've alienated young minority men, leading to a decline in support.
WTH Is the Path Out of the Wilderness for the Democratic Party? Jay Cost Explains.
Q: What is going on with the Democratic Party?
Their big problem is the last four years of governance and failures to control inflation, leaving them perceived as incompetent.
WTH There Is No "State of Palestine". Elliott Abrams Explains.
Q: So what is the Jordanian option?
Creating a Palestinian entity under Jordanian control that allows for self-rule but maintains security provisions.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
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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?

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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 McCarthy Report
2. The Editors
3. The Commentary Magazine Podcast
4. The Charles C. W. Cooke Podcast
5. The Remnant with Jonah Goldberg

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?

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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. Rafael Mangual
2. Jay Cost
3. Charlie English
4. Sam Kean
5. Jonathan Horn
6. Zach Cooper
7. Matti Friedman
8. Dominic Green

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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