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What the Hell Is Going On

AEI Podcasts
Donald Trump
Israel
Ukraine
Iran
Joe Biden
Russia
Hamas
Democratic Party
Kamala Harris
United States
American Enterprise Institute
Republican Party
NATO
China
Immigration
Biden Administration
Anti-Semitism
2024 Presidential Election
Hezbollah
Trump Administration

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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NewsGovernmentPolitics

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Latest Episodes

We’re now in the eighth week of a two-week ceasefire with Iran. The Trump Administration is stuck in a holding pattern as Iranian negotiators continue to ignore US redlines and both sides insist on their own superior leverage. The unfortunate reality... more

The United States has poured billions into the United Nations to fund relief works, but not all that money goes where you might think. Years of impunity have allowed murder, rape, kidnapping and fraud to flourish in the UN system, yet the UN Secretar... more

With the 2030 Census fast approaching, battles over redistricting and congressional apportionment continue to take shape. As population shifts continue, driven by migration from blue states to red states and the influx of illegal immigrants into sanc... more

YouTube

Last week, the Supreme Court struck down a Louisiana congressional map in a 6–3 decision tied to a 1986 amendment to Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. As Sarah Isgur explains, “What the Supreme Court has said now for 25 years, whether it's affirmat... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

General Jack Keane
Four-star Army General, Fox News Senior Strategic Analyst, Chairman of the Institute for the Study of War
Institute for the Study of War / Fox News
Episode: WTH Is Going On with Iran? General Jack Keane Explains.
Adam Kaplan
Acting Associate Deputy Inspector General, USAID Office of Inspector General
USAID OIG
Episode: WTH Are Your Tax Dollars Funding Terrorism? Adam Kaplan Explains.
Howard Husock
Senior Fellow in Domestic Policy Studies
American Enterprise Institute
Episode: WTH Do Democrats Really Oppose Deportations? Howard Husock Explains.
Sarah Isgur
Senior editor at The Dispatch; host of Advisory Opinions; editor of SCOTUSblog; ABC News contributor; author of Last Branch Standing
The Dispatch
Episode: WTH: Did the Supreme Court Gut the Voting Rights Act? Sarah Isgur Debunks.
Marc Cancian
Colonel, Senior Advisor, CSIS Defense and Security Program
CSIS
Episode: WTH: Is the Iran War Depleting Key Munitions? Mark Cancian and Chris Park Explain.
Chris Park
Research Associate, CSIS
CSIS
Episode: WTH: Is the Iran War Depleting Key Munitions? Mark Cancian and Chris Park Explain.
David Hale
Ambassador, career diplomat; distinguished diplomatic fellow at the Middle East Institute
Middle East Institute; former U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan, Lebanon, Jordan; Undersecretary for State for Political Affairs
Episode: WTH Is Going On In Lebanon? Ambassador David Hale Explains.
Miad Maleki
Scholar at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies; US Air Force veteran; former associate director for OFAC
Foundation for Defense of Democracies
Episode: WTH: The Iran Blockade? Miad Maleki Explains.
Marc Rutte
Secretary General of NATO
NATO
Episode: WTH Is Going On With NATO? Secretary General Mark Rutte Explains.

Hosts

Danielle Pletka
Host, AEI policy analyst; co-host focused on foreign policy and security issues.
Marc Thiessen
Co-host of the show; AEI policy analyst and prominent political commentator.

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 759 ratings
  • Iran war - 3/19/26

    Great common sense podcast. Go baby go.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Geoplanter
    United States3 months 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 Podcasts
    1
    Marines of 75
    United States4 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 Podcasts
    5
    JWtwobeagles1
    Canada5 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 Podcasts
    5
    GeoConservative
    United States6 months ago
  • Well done

    I listen to every episode

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    PilotBillFromTexas
    United States6 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Thoughtful, data-driven geopolitics with sharp host banter.
Listeners push back on some aggressive takes but value candid analysis.
Polished interviews with high-caliber policy guests.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#250
United States/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#154
Israel/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#183
Japan/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#205
Taiwan/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

WTH Are Your Tax Dollars Funding Terrorism? Adam Kaplan Explains.
Q: How big is the funding at stake and what would you change to fix this?
Kaplan cites billions in aid through UN agencies and urges Congress to condition funding on transparency and vetting, including expanding Inspector General oversight to the UN and tightening the indirect cost rate tracking to prevent fraud and diversion.
WTH Are Your Tax Dollars Funding Terrorism? Adam Kaplan Explains.
Q: Why is the UN's immunity an obstacle to accountability, and what changes do you propose?
The hosts press for reform, with Kaplan describing how privileges and immunities shield information and arguing for a formal agreement to share information at the outset of investigations, followed by the potential for legislation to require vetting and transparency across UN bodies.
WTH Are Your Tax Dollars Funding Terrorism? Adam Kaplan Explains.
Q: Give us the details on what you found about UNRWA staff and Hamas affiliation.
Adam explains that an independent USAID OIG investigation identified multiple cases where UNRWA staff reportedly had Hamas ties or participated in October 7 attacks, and that the UN's own investigators redacted names, prompting further action and congressional scrutiny.
WTH: Did the Supreme Court Gut the Voting Rights Act? Sarah Isgur Debunks.
Q: Before we get into the effects, can you explain the decision and the legal reasoning behind it?
The Court held that using race to draw districts violates the 14th Amendment, and thus section two of the Voting Rights Act is not used to mandate additional majority-minority districts; instead, it is interpreted to prevent racial gerrymandering, focusing on whether race was the deciding factor in district shapes rather than producing a blanket directive.
WTH Is Going On In Lebanon? Ambassador David Hale Explains.
Q: Talk to us about how Lebanon has been caught up in this current conflict and what has brought us to the talks between Israeli and Lebanese leaders?
Ambassador Hale outlines how Iran's influence, the collapse of Syria's regime, and internal Lebanese dynamics have produced a fragile environment where Lebanon's leadership is attempting to reframe relations with Israel through diplomacy and a more proactive U.S. role.

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?

Two seasoned foreign policy voices interview policymakers, generals, diplomats, and analysts to unpack complex security challenges and U.S. strategy abroad. Episodes routinely blend sharp analysis with provocative lines, covering topics from Iran, the Middle East, and NATO to sanctions, elections, and global power dynamics. Noteworthy is the hosts' willingness to push for concrete policy options, often presenting hawkish, decision-forward takes, and drawing on expert guests from AEI, CSIS, and allied institutions. Listeners seeking deeply informed, opinionated, policy-focused conversations about geopolitics and national security will likely find this show highly engaging.

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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 McCarthy Report
3. The Editors
4. Breaking History
5. 3 Martini Lunch – Political Humor & Commentary

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. General Jack Keane
2. Adam Kaplan
3. Howard Husock
4. Sarah Isgur
5. Marc Cancian
6. Chris Park
7. David Hale
8. Miad Maleki

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