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What the Hell Is Going On

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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

Yesterday marked the fourth anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Four years of war in which Russian forces have occupied roughly one and a half percent of Ukraine’s territory at the cost of approximately half a million lives. Our guest, Frede... more

Blame it on American individualism or a political aversion to regulation, but the United States has become a striking outlier in its failure to regulate the assisted reproductive technology industry. As a result, individuals from other countries have... more

In addition to the media blitz over Greenland triggered by President Trump, American presidents going back a century have agreed on the strategic importance of the island due to its fundamental geography, proximity, and critical sea lines. China and ... more

Kremlinology has made its way east as analysts try to make sense of dramatic PLA purges under Xi Jinping. The CCP regime appears to be clearing house, but what does it all mean? Should there be a reconsideration of a Taiwan contingency for China? Is ... more

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Recent Guests

Charles Hilu
Reporter for The Dispatch.
The Dispatch
Episode: WTH Does a Chinese Billionaire Need 100 American Children? Charles Hilu Explains.
Alexander Gray
CEO of American Global Strategies, former deputy assistant to the president and NSC chief of staff.
American Global Strategies
Episode: WTH Do We Need Greenland? Alexander Gray Explains.
John Garnaut
Founder of Garnaut Global, expert in Chinese elite politics.
Garnaut Global
Episode: WTH Is Going on with the CCP Purge in China? John Garnaut Explains.
Michael Tory
Co-founder and chairman of the financial advisory firm Ondra Partners
Ondra Partners
Episode: WTH Can’t Putin Afford to Fail in Ukraine? Michael Tory Explains How He Will.
Ralph Reed
Founder and chairman of the Faith and Freedom Coalition, and chairman and CEO of Century Strategy.
Faith and Freedom Coalition
Episode: WTH Is Christian Zionism? Ralph Reed Has the Gospel.
Michael Rubin
Senior fellow at AEI, specializing in Iran and the broader Middle East.
American Enterprise Institute
Episode: WTH Is Going On In Iran? Michael Rubin Explains.
Roger Noriega
Former ambassador to the OAS and former assistant secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs
Vision Americas LLC
Episode: WTH Is Next For Venezuela? Roger Noriega Explains.
Gordon Wood
Emeritus Professor of History at Brown University and renowned historian.
Brown University
Episode: WTH: America 250 Begins! With Professor Gordon Wood.
Kori Schake
Senior Fellow, Director of Foreign and Defense Policy Studies at AEI and author.
American Enterprise Institute
Episode: WTH Is Going On With Civilian Control of the Military? Kori Schake Explains.

Hosts

Danielle Pletka
Co-host, commentator on national security and foreign policy issues.
Marc Thiessen
Co-host, commentator on national security and foreign policy issues.

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 742 ratings
  • 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 States19 days 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
    Canada2 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 States2 months ago
  • Well done

    I listen to every episode

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    PilotBillFromTexas
    United States3 months ago
  • 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 States5 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Criticism often centers around the hosts' personalities, with some finding them polarizing or overly smug in their presentation.
The blend of humor and serious analysis is noted positively, with many valuing the insightful guest appearances and topic depth.
Listeners appreciate the informative and critical discussions but express concerns about perceived biases in the hosts' attitudes.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#112
Ukraine/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#206
Hong Kong/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

WTH Does a Chinese Billionaire Need 100 American Children? Charles Hilu Explains.
Q: What are some of the proposed legislative solutions to address this issue?
There are bills in Congress aimed at making surrogacy contracts void between American surrogates and foreign nationals from countries of concern like China and Russia.
WTH Does a Chinese Billionaire Need 100 American Children? Charles Hilu Explains.
Q: What is the situation with Xu Bo and why are so many children being born through surrogacy in the U.S.?
Xu Bo, a Chinese billionaire, has fathered over 100 children in the U.S. through surrogacy due to the legal surrogacy market here, which is largely unregulated compared to other countries.
WTH Is Going on with the CCP Purge in China? John Garnaut Explains.
Q: What are your thoughts on the U.S.-China relations in light of these purges?
John discusses how these military purges might affect Xi's military strategy, particularly regarding Taiwan and perceptions of vulnerability.
WTH Is Going on with the CCP Purge in China? John Garnaut Explains.
Q: Why is this acceleration of the purge happening?
John indicates that the purges intensified when Xi believed he had outplayed the U.S. on tariffs, enabling him to act with less vulnerability.
WTH Is Going on with the CCP Purge in China? John Garnaut Explains.
Q: Tell us your analysis. First of all, what is happening and why it's happening?
John explains the deeply rooted traditions of the Chinese Communist Party and connects current purges to historical precedents set by Mao and Stalin.

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 comprehensive examination of the most pressing foreign policy and national security issues defines the content. The conversations facilitated by the hosts often feature interviews with policymakers and experts, resulting in informative discussions that blend serious analysis with a conversational tone. Topics include military engagements, trade policies, the dynamics of U.S.-China relations, and sociopolitical shifts in America and abroad, with a particular focus on the implications of these issues for various global contexts. The engaging format and the hosts' knack for addressing complex questions make this a noteworthy choice for listeners interested in current events and political discourse.

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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. Breaking History
4. The Remnant with Jonah Goldberg
5. Uncommon Knowledge

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. Charles Hilu
2. Alexander Gray
3. John Garnaut
4. Michael Tory
5. Ralph Reed
6. Michael Rubin
7. Roger Noriega
8. Gordon Wood

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