Rephonic
Artwork for What the Hell Is Going On

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
October 7 Attacks
UNRWA
United States
Defense Industrial Base
Political Prosecution
January 6th Insurrection

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
PoliticsNewsGovernment

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for What the Hell Is Going On

Latest Episodes

The Trump administration continues to focus on achieving peace in the Middle East, navigating a fragile ceasefire and defining the conditions for a Palestinian future. Meanwhile, Putin’s war in Ukraine rages on, marked by stalled negotiations and con... more

After two incredibly long years, we are finally able to celebrate the return of all living Israeli hostages from the hell of Hamas. Absent specifics and relying on a long history of failed “new beginnings” in the Middle East, Trump’s 20-point Peace P... more

More than three years into Putin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, our European allies are reconsidering whether or not frozen Russian assets, totaling $300 billion on the continent, can be used to help Ukraine. As part of a broader brought about by ... more

Two years ago today, Hamas perpetrated the worst massacre of Jewish people since the Holocaust. In this episode of WTH Extra! Dany and Marc discuss Dany’s article in the WTH Substack, Two years after October 7, there is no path to peace. Following Oc... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

The Editors
The EditorsNational Review
The McCarthy Report
The McCarthy ReportNational Review
3 Martini Lunch
3 Martini LunchCurrent events, satire, humor news by Radio America

Recent Guests

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.
Brett Schaefer
Senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute focusing on multilateral treaties, peacekeeping, and the UN.
American Enterprise Institute
Episode: WTH: Trump at the UN. Brett Schaefer 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
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.

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 716 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 States19 days ago
  • Embarrassingly biased

    Pathetic pandering. Genocide denialism is their new low.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Kronos Employee
    United States3 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 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 States4 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
#191
United States/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#76
China/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#171
Finland/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#244
Philippines/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#249
New Zealand/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

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.
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.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

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.

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?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for What the Hell Is Going On, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for What the Hell Is Going On?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for What the Hell Is Going On, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

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 Editors
3. The McCarthy Report
4. The Charles C. W. Cooke Podcast
5. 3 Martini Lunch

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?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for What the Hell Is Going On from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for What the Hell Is Going On?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of What the Hell Is Going On. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

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. Brett Schaefer
3. Rafael Mangual
4. Jay Cost
5. Charlie English
6. Sam Kean
7. Jonathan Horn
8. Zach Cooper

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.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days