What the Hell Is Going On
AEI PodcastsThe 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.
| Publishes | Weekly | Episodes | 200 | Founded | 7 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | GovernmentNewsPolitics | |||
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Latest Episodes
One week after claims of an "Iranian victory", with Tehran supposedly leveraging the Strait of Hormuz and outmaneuvering Donald Trump, the narrative has shifted. U.S. and allied naval forces have applied sustained pressure, effectively constraining I... more
Against the backdrop of Operation Epic Fury and President Trump’s frustration with military support from NATO allies, Secretary General Mark Rutte visited Washington to discuss the alliance’s evolving burden sharing. Moving away from American codepen... more
The story from mainstream media is that the core of MAGA is "split" on the war with Iran, strikes in Venezuela, the Houthis, and other Trump 2.0 international policies. This supposed "MAGA schism" over foreign policy challenges Trump's coalition of A... more
Operation Roaring Lion, now in its fourth week, has been a striking display of military coordination between the United States and Israel. Building on the success of decapitating Iran’s senior leadership, crippling its navy, and degrading its ability... more
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Reviews
- Iran war - 3/19/26
Great common sense podcast. Go baby go.
Apple Podcasts5Geoplanter
United Statesa month ago - Unfollowing b/c Pletka is Awful
Marc is fantastic and the only reason I listened to this show at all is because of him, but I am unsubscribing. Pletka is pretentious and utterly off putting. She even thinks hard-working taxpayers should pay for NPR. Put a decent person in her place and I will subscribe again.
Apple Podcasts1Marines of 75United States2 months ago - Very informing
Great guest today with insight on Venezuela and foreign policy in general . Guests such as this will keep you in the rotation, despite Pletka’s brain dead anti Trump mewlings
Apple Podcasts5JWtwobeagles1
Canada3 months ago - Superior material
I love this podcast and it has become one of my favorites. I lead a constitutional conservative forum in my community and this podcast has inspired and informed material that I have used. Please keep up the great work, including interviews and conversations. You may not know it, but you’re helping me out!
Apple Podcasts5GeoConservativeUnited States4 months ago - Well done
I listen to every episode
Apple Podcasts5PilotBillFromTexasUnited States5 months ago
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Chart Rankings
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Apple Podcasts | #156 |  India/News/Politics |
Apple Podcasts | #230 |  Colombia/News/Politics |
Apple Podcasts | #232 |  Hong Kong/News/Politics |
Apple Podcasts | #236 |  Taiwan/News/Politics |
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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 sharp, policy-forward conversation on foreign policy and national security led by two AEI-affiliated hosts. Episodes feature high-profile policy wonks and subject-matter experts, delivering bold takes, historical context, and practical policy ideas. The show tends to favor strong American leadership, robust alliances, and candid debates about geopolitical challenges, often with provocative, opinionated delivery. This combination attracts listeners who want rigorous analysis with a conservative-leaning slant and insider Washington perspectives, along with accessible explainers on complex issues.
Where can I find podcast stats for What the Hell Is Going On?
Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for What the Hell Is Going On. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to What the Hell Is Going On and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.
How many listeners does What the Hell Is Going On get?
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What are the audience demographics for What the Hell Is Going On?
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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 Commentary Magazine Podcast
2. Breaking History
3. The McCarthy Report
4. The Editors
5. FDD Morning Brief
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. Marc Rutte
2. Kristen Soltis Anderson
3. Michael Leiter
4. Chris Miller
5. David Albright
6. Charles Hilu
7. Alexander Gray
8. John Garnaut
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