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Artwork for Why Is This Happening? The Chris Hayes Podcast

Why Is This Happening? The Chris Hayes Podcast

MS NOW, Chris Hayes
Donald Trump
Climate Change
Artificial Intelligence
Democratic Party
Project 2025
Trump Administration
Democracy
Electric Vehicles
Social Media
Inflation Reduction Act
Kamala Harris
Israel
United States
Republican Party
Joe Biden
MSNBC
Covid-19
Politics
Immigration Policy
Supreme Court

Every week Chris Hayes asks the big questions that keep him up at night. How do we make sense of this unprecedented moment in world history? Why is this (all) happening? This podcast starts to answer these questions. Writers, experts, and thinkers who are also trying to get to the bottom of them join Chris to break it all down and help him get a better night’s rest.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes471Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
NewsSociety & Culture

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Why Is This Happening? The Chris Hayes Podcast

Latest Episodes

This was the first summer that Chris and his family took their annual road trip in an electric vehicle through the Midwest. It was doable, but not without some challenges. Where are we with regards to EVs in the U.S. and where do we go from here? Pat... more

There’s no question that Trump’s 2024 win was in large part driven by chaos at the border. He still polls best in this area even as approval rates fall in other areas like inflation. There’s a lot to discuss about why this is the case. Ken Salazar is... more

YouTube

It seems like you can bet on anything nowadays and like you can make a wager on practically everything. Examples of the proliferation of this can be seen everywhere from service members betting on insider knowledge, to people making bets on sports ga... more

The World Cup is captivating to watch not just for the sports element, but also for the profound global tensions that it highlights. From intense matches between former colonial powers and the nations they once colonized, to heavy concerns about corr... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Patrick George
Wall Street Journal Detroit Bureau Chief, covers auto industry and manufacturing
The Wall Street Journal
Episode: Where Do EVs Go From Here? with Patrick George
Ken Salazar
Former U.S. Secretary of the Interior, former U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, former U.S. Senator
Borderlands author
Episode: The 'Broken' U.S. Border with Ken Salazar
Bobby Allyn
Technology correspondent at NPR
NPR
Episode: The Betting Craze with Bobby Allyn
Ayman Mohyeldin
Journalist and broadcaster, soccer enthusiast
MSN Now
Episode: Soccer as a ‘Universal Language’ with Ayman Mohyeldin
Melissa Murray
Law professor at NYU, author
New York University
Episode: Strict Scrutiny x WITHpod SCOTUS Review Crossover
Leah Litman
Law professor at University of Michigan, author
University of Michigan
Episode: Strict Scrutiny x WITHpod SCOTUS Review Crossover
Kate Shaw
Law professor at University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
Episode: Strict Scrutiny x WITHpod SCOTUS Review Crossover
Heidi Blake
Investigative reporter for The New Yorker who wrote Andrew Tate's Empire of Abuse
The New Yorker
Episode: Andrew Tate’s “Empire of Abuse” with Heidi Blake
Alex Wagner
Host of Runaway Country on Crooked Media; MS Now Senior Political Analyst
Crooked Media / Ms. Now
Episode: The ‘Hellish Cauldron’ of American Politics with Alex Wagner

Host

Chris Hayes
Host of Why Is This Happening? The Chris Hayes Podcast

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 10.5k ratings
  • This pod & Chris Hayes are the best!

    Excellent podcast, Chris is excellent at giving us epis that open our minds. Sometimes I think i am not interested in this but I start listening and I end up saying to myself, whoa, that was so interesting! Love this pod and chris is the best!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    midwestBlue
    United Statesa month ago
  • Sounds AI generated.

    Awful and created using ai

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Nathan C UK
    United Kingdom2 months ago
  • A favorite podcast

    This AI series has been so helpful. My instincts about all aspects of AI are validated. “From Boom to Bust” reveals how the industry is eating its own tail. Thank you, Chris, for helping unpack the confusion and hype. I always enjoy your podcasts.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    UberTrailseeker
    United States2 months ago
  • First year law associates at law firms

    Important to note that Big Law is a sort of pyramid scheme in which the bottom layer of young associates MAKE the bulk of the profit that is funneled up to partners. If they were somehow replaced by AI agents, clients would have a level of cost transparency that would destroy that system. Maybe the billing model could change but there is no way to make it as profitable for partners at the top, so huge disincentive to change.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    djsentimental
    United States2 months ago
  • AI series is phenomenal

    Every one of the shows is so good and has such great information. The boom to bust so far is my favorite. Very much worth a listen!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    photogmomma
    United States2 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Some reviews note inconsistent audio or editing quality and occasional challenging pacing.
A few listeners call out heavy promotional segments or ad reads impacting listening flow.
Overall, the feedback emphasizes credibility, thoughtfulness, and timely topics as key strengths.
Listeners praise the host's curiosity and preparation, and the consistently strong lineup of guests.
Feedback highlights appreciation for in-depth, nuanced discussions that connect ideas to real-world policy and outcomes.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#82
United States/News
Apple Podcasts
#111
Canada/News
Apple Podcasts
#128
Australia/News
Apple Podcasts
#51
New Zealand/News
Apple Podcasts
#180
Belgium/News
Apple Podcasts
#181
South Africa/News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The 'Broken' U.S. Border with Ken Salazar
Q: What is your understanding of the truth of the phrase, the border is broken?
He cites humanitarian crises, drug trafficking, gun violence, and port inefficiencies as facets of a broken system, and argues for modernization through joint planning, technology, and a regional approach rather than walls alone.
The 'Broken' U.S. Border with Ken Salazar
Q: Are there things that you think, just to start out with, that people outside of that region don't understand about that region and its dynamics and its culture and its politics?
Salazar explains that most of the country misunderstands the historical permeability of the border, the cultural and economic links across the border, and the deep roots of Mexican-American life; he emphasizes the need for better education about the real dynamics and for a North American framework that reflects shared history and mutual interests.
The AI End Game: Boom to Bust? with Ed Zitron
Q: What makes this AI boom different from past technology booms like the metaverse or NFTs?
The hosts discuss that unlike the metaverse or NFTs, AI has tangible, immediate cost drivers (compute and GPUs) and a more opaque path to profitability, with subsidized pricing models masking true economics and heavy debt financing fueling expansion—creating greater systemic risk if profitability fails to materialize.
AI and the Public Good with Ezra Klein
Q: I guess my first question to you is, what's your read on the politics of AI right now?
The politics are bad on multiple levels because there has to be political decisions about whether AI harms are mitigated and whether AI goods can be harnessed; without a clear public agenda, investment and innovation will swing toward whoever has money and power, not toward the public good.
The AI End Game: Two-Year-Olds vs. AI with Alison Gopnik
Q: How should we understand this concept of intelligence?
Gopnik explains that intelligence is not a single, fixed quantity but a set of diverse cognitive capacities that trade off with each other, and that human intelligence is deeply tied to social and environmental context, learning through exploration, and interaction with the outside world.

Audience Metrics

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show centers on big questions at the intersection of society, politics, technology, and culture, inviting authors, academics, policymakers, and journalists to unpack how global events shape everyday life. Recent conversations skew toward AI and the future of work, democratic governance, economic policy, energy geopolitics, and social movements, with guests ranging from Wharton scholars to national journalists and policy analysts. The format tends to balance data-driven analysis with historical context and real-world implications, often highlighting regulatory considerations, equity, and the business of public goods. Listeners can expect thoughtful, in-depth discussions that aim to illuminate complexity and connect ideas to policy and ev... more

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Which podcasts are similar to this podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:

1. All In with Chris Hayes
2. The Rachel Maddow Show
3. Main Justice
4. The Best People with Nicolle Wallace
5. The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell

How many episodes of this podcast are there?

this podcast launched 8 years ago and published 471 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 this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Patrick George
2. Ken Salazar
3. Bobby Allyn
4. Ayman Mohyeldin
5. Melissa Murray
6. Leah Litman
7. Kate Shaw
8. Heidi Blake

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