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 | |||
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Latest Episodes
Kicking off our annual What the Hell summer book series, Hussain Abdul-Hussain discusses his new book, "The Arab Case for Israel: And Other Essays from a Distant Conflict". Having grown up in Beirut and in Baghdad surrounded by anti-Israel rhetoric, ... more
America is on track to become a "net mortality society," where deaths outnumber births. As births plummet to almost 25% below replacement, the United States faces a future with a shrinking population, and the consequences extend far beyond the Americ... more
On this episode of WTH Live! Stephen Hadley, Robert O’Brien, and Michèle Flournoy join Marc on the Aspen Security Forum stage to discuss the good, the bad, and the ugly of Trump's foreign policy scorecard. In a frank and bipartisan discussion on what... more
Donald Trump's on again off again deal making with the Iranians has hit another flashpoint this week as exchanges of fire on commercial shipping and US military bases in the region stymied negotiations before their 60 day deadline. Although large-sca... more
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- Could be better
Quite (out)dated perspectives at times. Pletka seems lovely, but I’m not convinced the podcast format plays to her strengths. I’m sorry to say she can be a bit repetitive at times, making the same point ten different ways, which can be grating; Marc seems much better attuned to the changing times, more contemporary.
AEI is pretty pedestrian as a think-tank, and perhaps this is about the most one could realistically hope for. Overall, a little disappointing if I’m honest, but I will keep tuning ... more
Apple Podcasts3Bibliophenia
United Kingdom13 days ago - You must listen to this podcast
I think of all the podcasts I listento each week, this is my favorite and I look forward to it. You need to listen to it if you wanna know more about the Middle East I would hope that in the future they would focus more on China. I think China is our main adversary.
Apple Podcasts5Scholomo ben Yisrael
United States2 months ago - Iran war - 3/19/26
Great common sense podcast. Go baby go.
Apple Podcasts5GeoplanterUnited States5 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 Podcasts1Marines of 75United States6 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
Canada7 months ago
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Apple Podcasts | #176 |  Taiwan/News/Politics |
Apple Podcasts | #181 |  South Korea/News/Politics |
Apple Podcasts | #236 |  Poland/News/Politics |
Apple Podcasts | #250 |  Israel/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?
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.
Where can I find podcast stats for What the Hell Is Going On?
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How many listeners does What the Hell Is Going On get?
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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 McCarthy Report
2. The Commentary Magazine Podcast
3. The Editors
4. The Ricochet Podcast
5. GoodFellows: Conversations on Economics, History & Geopolitics
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. Nick Eberstadt
2. Steve Hadley
3. Robert O'Brien
4. Michèle Flournoy
5. Nick Carl
6. John Yoo
7. Glenn Hubbard
8. David Albright
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