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 | PoliticsGovernmentNews | |||
Listen to this Podcast
Latest Episodes
Three weeks into Operation Epic Fury, we share cautious optimism with General Jack Keane on the current state of our military operation in Iran. News of Donald Trump's negotiations with Tehran and an extended partial ceasefire require us to carefully... more
On this episode of WTH Extra! Dany and Marc discuss their recent pieces on the war in Iran and the media coverage that has followed. Marc writes for the Post, What is the definition of victory in Iran? There are three. Dany writes in the WTH Substack... more
Our WTH saga on Chinese espionage continues with a new installment on the technology inside your car. Chris Miller details “Huawei on wheels”: the security threat posed by Chinese EVs, whose sensors, cameras, microphones, and radars can transmit data... more
Over the weekend, President Trump launched Operation Epic Fury, the most ambitious US military operation in decades. In the wake of the 2025 12-Day War, Iran again worked to reconstitute its nuclear weapons program and its missile arsenal. These thre... more
Key Facts
Similar Podcasts
People also subscribe to these shows.
Recent Guests
Hosts
Reviews
- Iran war - 3/19/26
Great common sense podcast. Go baby go.
Apple Podcasts5Geoplanter
United States8 days 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 Statesa month 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 States3 months ago - Well done
I listen to every episode
Apple Podcasts5PilotBillFromTexasUnited States4 months ago
Listeners Say
Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.
Chart Rankings
How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.
Apple Podcasts | #139 | United States/News/Politics |
Apple Podcasts | #85 |  Philippines/News/Politics |
Apple Podcasts | #149 |  Israel/News/Politics |
Apple Podcasts | #180 |  South Africa/News/Politics |
Apple Podcasts | #202 |  Poland/News/Politics |
Apple Podcasts | #230 |  New Zealand/News/Politics |
Talking Points
Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.
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?
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?
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 McCarthy Report
2. The Commentary Magazine Podcast
3. The Editors
4. Breaking History
5. The Charles C. W. Cooke Podcast
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.
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. Chris Miller
2. David Albright
3. Frederick W. Kagan
4. Charles Hilu
5. Alexander Gray
6. John Garnaut
7. Michael Tory
8. Ralph Reed
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.