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What the Hell Is Going On

AEI Podcasts
Donald Trump
Iran
Israel
Ukraine
Joe Biden
Russia
Hamas
Democratic Party
United States
Kamala Harris
American Enterprise Institute
NATO
Republican Party
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
Number of ListenersCategories
PoliticsNewsGovernment

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Latest Episodes

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

As the United States celebrates the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, fundamental questions about the Constitution and the balance of power are once again at the center of American politics. John Yoo joins to examine the Supreme C... more

President Trump has publicly speculated that resuming military operations against Iran could trigger an economic catastrophe, warning of soaring gas prices and even a global depression. It is rumored that senior officials within the administration ar... more

Over the weekend, the United States signed a memorandum of understanding with Iran to begin negotiations on a nuclear deal. To understand what a good deal would entail, it is important to assess the status of Iran's nuclear weapons program following ... more

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Recent Guests

Nick Carl
Assistant Director of the Critical Threats Project, AEI fellow; Iran analyst
American Enterprise Institute
Episode: WTH Is Going On (Again) With the Ceasefire in Iran? Nicholas Carl Explains.
David Albright
Founder and President of the Institute for Science and International Security
Institute for Science and International Security
Episode: WTH Is the State of the Iranian Nuclear Program? David Albright Explains.
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.

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 762 ratings
  • 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 Podcasts
    5
    Scholomo ben Yisrael
    United Statesa month ago
  • Iran war - 3/19/26

    Great common sense podcast. Go baby go.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Geoplanter
    United States4 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 States5 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
    Canada6 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 States7 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
#135
Hong Kong/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#243
Brazil/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#248
Denmark/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

WTH Is Going On (Again) With the Ceasefire in Iran? Nicholas Carl Explains.
Q: How effective was the initial 40-day bombing campaign against Iran's capabilities?
The campaign significantly reduced Iran's missile and drone firing rates and constrained their ability to wage large-scale attacks, though it did not completely eliminate their capabilities.
WTH Is Going On (Again) With the Ceasefire in Iran? Nicholas Carl Explains.
Q: What is driving Iran to disrupt the ceasefire and continue pressuring the Strait of Hormuz?
Iran aims to secure permanent control over the Strait as a strategic bargaining chip and to deter rivals, leveraging recognition and economic leverage to strengthen its regional standing.
WTH: America's 250th! John Yoo on the Supreme Court in 2026.
Q: Could the Court be packed, and what would that mean for democracy?
Packing the Court is portrayed as a radical move that would undermine the constitutional framework and balance of power, potentially triggering a broader series of destabilizing reforms.
WTH: America's 250th! John Yoo on the Supreme Court in 2026.
Q: Is birthright citizenship at risk, and what are the possible congressional responses?
While there is disagreement over interpretation, the majority opinion maintains birthright citizenship with limited carve-outs, and Congress could legislate to adjust the policy, though such changes would face legal and political hurdles.
WTH: America's 250th! John Yoo on the Supreme Court in 2026.
Q: What does the recent Court term imply for presidential power and the administrative state?
It suggests a move toward restoring presidential control over independent agencies and rolling back a century of delegated authority, but opinions about how far the Court should push this control vary among the justices and scholars.

Audience Metrics

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

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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. Breaking History
3. The McCarthy Report
4. The Editors
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. Nick Carl
2. David Albright
3. General Jack Keane
4. Adam Kaplan
5. Howard Husock
6. Sarah Isgur
7. Marc Cancian
8. Chris Park

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