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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
American Enterprise Institute
Republican Party
United States
NATO
China
Biden Administration
Anti-Semitism
Immigration
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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GovernmentNewsPolitics

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Latest Episodes

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

While we celebrate the US military's accomplishments over the first forty days of the Iran conflict, a less desirable outcome has been the significant expenditure of munitions and reallocation of critical resources to the region. In Last Rounds? Stat... more

On the eve of talks in Washington between leaders in Lebanon and Israel, Beirut has signaled a push to extend the 10-day, U.S.-mediated ceasefire set to expire this Sunday. The ongoing conflict with Iran has put its proxies’ regional struggles into t... more

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

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Recent Guests

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.
Kristen Soltis Anderson
Pollster, author, founding partner of Echelon Insights
Echelon Insights, CNN contributor
Episode: WTH: The Mythical MAGA Split on Iran. Kristen Soltis Anderson Explains.
Michael Leiter
Israeli Ambassador to the United States
State of Israel
Episode: WTH Is Next in Iran? Israeli Ambassador Yechiel (Michael) Leiter Explains.
Chris Miller
Non-resident senior fellow focusing on Russian policy, Eurasia, Ukraine, and technology
American Enterprise Institute (AEI)
Episode: WTH: Spyware on Wheels. Chris Miller Explains the Chinese Threat Inside Your Car.
David Albright
Expert on Iranian nuclear program, founder of the Institute for Science and International Security
Institute for Science and International Security
Episode: WTH: War in Iran. David Albright Explains the Nuclear Threat.

Hosts

Danielle Pletka
Host of the show on this episode
Marc Thiessen
Co-host of the show

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 756 ratings
  • Iran war - 3/19/26

    Great common sense podcast. Go baby go.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Geoplanter
    United States2 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 States3 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
    Canada4 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 States5 months ago
  • Well done

    I listen to every episode

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    PilotBillFromTexas
    United States5 months ago

Listeners Say

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

The show is valued for informative geopolitics discussions and practical policy pointers.
Listeners praise strong guests and deep policy insight, though some criticize tone or bias.
Mixed feedback on host banter; many listeners appreciate the clarity and expertise more than the personality.
Quality interviews and rigorous defense/policy analysis are commonly highlighted positives.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#161
Taiwan/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

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.
WTH Is Going On In Lebanon? Ambassador David Hale Explains.
Q: Give us a lay of the land. What is going on and how does it intersect with the peace talks and the war that's happening nearby in Iran?
The guest explains that Lebanon is a key dimension of Iran's regional strategy, with Hezbollah entrenched in society and the Lebanese state needing to assert sovereignty while coordinating with broader U.S. objectives to deter Iran and advance regional stability.
WTH Is Going On With NATO? Secretary General Mark Rutte Explains.
Q: What explains NATO's relevance today given changing geopolitics and the old global posture?
NATO remains relevant as an alliance of shared values and collective defense; it can be reshaped to better fit current realities, including reallocating resources, updating basing, and ensuring credible defense commitments across Europe and beyond.
WTH: The Mythical MAGA Split on Iran. Kristen Soltis Anderson Explains.
Q: Walk us through your findings and where the MAGA movement is.
Kristen explains that the data shows MAGA voters are not uniformly isolationist; Trump-first voters tend to back the president's Iran policy, and the so-called MAGA split narrative is not strongly supported by the polling, though attitudes can vary by issue and over time.
WTH: Trump's Iran Endgame. General Jack Keane Explains.
Q: Marc, what the hell is going on?
The hosts discuss the ongoing military operation in Iran, the possibility of diplomacy, and how public messaging supports or undermines strategic objectives, with emphasis on preserving leverage while managing expectations.

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?

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.

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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 Editors
3. The McCarthy Report
4. Breaking History
5. What Really Matters with Walter Russell Mead

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 Cancian
2. Chris Park
3. David Hale
4. Miad Maleki
5. Marc Rutte
6. Kristen Soltis Anderson
7. Michael Leiter
8. Chris Miller

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