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What the Hell Is Going On

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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.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes200Founded7 years ago
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GovernmentPoliticsNews

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Latest Episodes

For many Americans, Operation Absolute Resolve, which brought Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro to trial in New York, was an unexpected New Year’s surprise. For others who have endured the corruption of his regime and watched as American adversaries... more

It is officially 2026, which means America is turning 250 this year. Our question on this semiquincentennial looks back to America’s founding and the constitutional framework that gave birth to our nation. America is the only nation founded not on bl... more

While we celebrate the remarkable achievement of 250 years of the US military being a bulwark of democracy, it is important to understand the intentionally laid foundations on which America’s civil military relations tradition rests. Military deferen... more

The Reagan National Defense Survey has again illuminated the MAGA world: MAGA Republicans are not isolationists, nor are the majority of Americans. Despite what those in Washington assert Americans believe, the latest polling reveals that 64 percent ... more

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Recent Guests

Roger Noriega
Former ambassador to the OAS and former assistant secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs
Vision Americas LLC
Episode: WTH Is Next For Venezuela? Roger Noriega Explains.
Gordon Wood
Emeritus Professor of History at Brown University and renowned historian.
Brown University
Episode: WTH: America 250 Begins! With Professor Gordon Wood.
Kori Schake
Senior Fellow, Director of Foreign and Defense Policy Studies at AEI and author.
American Enterprise Institute
Episode: WTH Is Going On With Civilian Control of the Military? Kori Schake Explains.
Norbert Michel
Vice President and Director of the Cato Institute Center for Monetary and Financial Alternatives.
Cato Institute
Episode: WTH Does Gen Z Think Life Sucks? Norbert Michel Explains.
David Shedd
Former Deputy Director and Acting Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency
Episode: WTH Are We Letting China Steal All Our Secrets? David Shedd Explains.
Scott Lincicome
VP for General Economics at the Cato Institute and lecturer at Duke University Law School.
Cato Institute
Episode: WTH Is Going on With Trump's China Deal? Scott Lincicome Explains.
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.

Hosts

Danielle Pletka
Co-host, commentator on national security and foreign policy issues.
Marc Thiessen
Co-host, commentator on national security and foreign policy issues.

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 737 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 States3 months ago
  • Embarrassingly biased

    Pathetic pandering. Genocide denialism is their new low.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Kronos Employee
    United States5 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 States6 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 States6 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 States7 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Criticism often centers around the hosts' personalities, with some finding them polarizing or overly smug in their presentation.
The blend of humor and serious analysis is noted positively, with many valuing the insightful guest appearances and topic depth.
Listeners appreciate the informative and critical discussions but express concerns about perceived biases in the hosts' attitudes.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#219
United States/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#192
Poland/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#217
Taiwan/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#220
Hong Kong/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

WTH: America 250 Begins! With Professor Gordon Wood.
Q: Why is America considered a creedal nation?
America is defined not by ethnicity but by shared ideals like liberty and equality as expressed in the Declaration of Independence.
WTH Is Going On With Civilian Control of the Military? Kori Schake Explains.
Q: How has the U.S. military been a bulwark of democracy for 250 years?
Kori explains that it is due to the example set by George Washington and the distrust the founders had for a standing army.
WTH Do MAGA Republicans Think on Foreign Policy? Roger Zakheim Explains.
Q: What are the top lines from the new poll regarding American views on foreign policy?
The American people want a strong military, support for allies, and leading with strength in the world.
WTH Does Gen Z Think Life Sucks? Norbert Michel Explains.
Q: How do the lives of Gen Z compare to their parents and grandparents?
According to Norbert Michel, data shows that Gen Z is actually better off financially than previous generations, with higher incomes and more wealth.
WTH Are We Letting China Steal All Our Secrets? David Shedd Explains.
Q: What sparked you to write this book?
The wake-up call of China's efforts to penetrate American industry and the personal experience of having my security file taken.

Audience Metrics

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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?

A comprehensive examination of the most pressing foreign policy and national security issues defines the content. The conversations facilitated by the hosts often feature interviews with policymakers and experts, resulting in informative discussions that blend serious analysis with a conversational tone. Topics include military engagements, trade policies, the dynamics of U.S.-China relations, and sociopolitical shifts in America and abroad, with a particular focus on the implications of these issues for various global contexts. The engaging format and the hosts' knack for addressing complex questions make this a noteworthy choice for listeners interested in current events and political discourse.

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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 Commentary Magazine Podcast
2. The Editors
3. The McCarthy Report
4. The Charles C. W. Cooke Podcast
5. Breaking History

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

What the Hell Is Going On launched 7 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.

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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. Roger Noriega
2. Gordon Wood
3. Kori Schake
4. Norbert Michel
5. David Shedd
6. Scott Lincicome
7. Martin B. Gold
8. Eli Lake

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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