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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
Democratic Party
Project 2025
Artificial Intelligence
Trump Administration
Democracy
Social Media
Inflation Reduction Act
Kamala Harris
Israel
Electric Vehicles
Republican Party
Joe Biden
MSNBC
United States
Covid-19
Politics
Immigration Policy
Public Opinion

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.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes462Founded8 years ago
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Society & CultureNews

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Artwork for Why Is This Happening? The Chris Hayes Podcast

Latest Episodes

There’s a lot to unpack about the economic effects of artificial intelligence. It’s clear that artificial intelligence is having a moment (to say the least) and that it has a profound impact on global GDP. But is it just a boom that will bust? Ed Zit... more

David Chalmers, one of the most preeminent philosophers and researchers in cognitive science, argues that nothing prevents machines from becoming truly conscious. Chalmers, who has studied the mind for decades, points out that there is a real possibi... more

Timnit Gebru founded the Distributed AI Research Institute after her high-profile exit from Google’s Ethical AI team. She’s been a vocal critic of the systemic lack of diversity in learning models and the need for more inclusion in the space. Her vie... more

Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing virtually every facet of our lives. While there’s a lot of doom and gloom predictions, what does a future look like if we’re more intentional about using AI to actually better lives? We’re sharing a recordin... more

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Recent Guests

Timnit Gebru
Founder and Executive Director of the Distributed AI Research Institute (DARE Institute)
Distributed AI Research Institute (DARE Institute)
Episode: The AI End Game: The Ethics of AI with Timnit Gebru
Ezra Klein
New York Times columnist and commentator
The New York Times
Episode: AI and the Public Good with Ezra Klein
Alison Gopnik
Distinguished professor of psychology and affiliate professor of philosophy at UC Berkeley; cognitive scientist
UC Berkeley
Episode: The AI End Game: Two-Year-Olds vs. AI with Alison Gopnik
Ethan Mollick
Professor at the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania; AI researcher focusing on education, entrepreneurship and work
Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania
Episode: The AI End Game: How Work is Changing with Ethan Mollick
Derek Thompson
Author and journalist; co-author of Abundance; Atlantic contributor; Substack writer
The Atlantic / Abundance author / Plain English Podcast host
Episode: The AI End Game: Who’s Leading the Way? with Derek Thompson
Molly Crabapple
Author, artist, journalist
Author of Here Where We Live is Our Country
Episode: 'Here Where We Live is Our Country' with Molly Crabapple
Catherine Wilde
Former president and CEO of the Pro Business Partnership for New York City
Pro Business Partnership for New York City
Episode: All In America with NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani
Morris Pearl
Chairman of the board at Patriotic Millionaires
Patriotic Millionaires
Episode: All In America with NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani
Ben McKenzie
Director, actor, and author featured in the documentary Everyone is Lying to You for Money
Director of Everyone is Lying to You for Money
Episode: Crypto and The Golden Age of Scams with Ben McKenzie

Host

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

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 10.5k ratings
  • Alison Gopnik

    Great show, but Alison, the PDF was invented in 1993, not 2000!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    a speck of stardust
    United States24 days ago
  • Amazing Podcast

    I've been listening to this podcast for several months, and I can honestly say I've is amazing and I’ve learned so much. Chris is brilliant and what he says makes so much sense. Love this podcast and Chris Hayes, one of my favorite shows.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    calichicksfca
    United Statesa month ago
  • Edited sloppily

    Cmon man clean it up

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    John Blough
    United States2 months ago
  • I’ve learned so much

    I’ve been listening to this podcast for several years now, and I can honestly say I’ve learned a tremendous amount from Chris Hayes. His curiosity is boundless, and his passion for the work comes through in the depth of his preparation and the thoughtful guests he brings on. I also love the book recommendations at the end of each episode; they’ve introduced me to so many great reads. I only have time to listen to a handful of podcasts each week and WITH is consistently in my rotation.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    felixthecatnine
    United States3 months ago
  • Me Too

    Useful discussion. Too bad Rebecca’s voice is like fingernails on a chalkboard.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    SallyCB
    United States4 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
#133
United States/News
Apple Podcasts
#186
Canada/News
Apple Podcasts
#206
United Kingdom/News
Apple Podcasts
#237
Germany/News
Apple Podcasts
#45
Finland/News
Apple Podcasts
#79
Ireland/News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

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.
The AI End Game: How Work is Changing with Ethan Mollick
Q: Can you walk through the superintelligence idea and what it would mean if it were real?
We discuss that it's not a settled horizon and that there are multiple plausible pathways. Some see a takeoff with rapid, recursive improvements that could transform many domains, while others caution that practical bottlenecks and governance will shape outcomes. The conversation emphasizes staying realistic about timelines and recognizing both the potential for dramatic gains and the risks of misaligned incentives.
The WNBA's "BIG Deal" with Tamika Tremaglio
Q: Why is it important to anchor compensation to gross revenue rather than net revenue?
Gross revenue anchoring ensures players share in the upside of overall league revenue and protects them from spending decisions by owners that could erode profits, which is especially important given large upfront investments in media deals and infrastructure.
The WNBA's "BIG Deal" with Tamika Tremaglio
Q: What drives the current explosive growth of women's sports and the WNBA in particular?
The growth is driven by a combination of long-term investment in women's athletics, increased media attention, a broader fan base, and heightened player branding through NIL, which together raise the value of teams, leagues, and players.

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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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 462 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. Timnit Gebru
2. Ezra Klein
3. Alison Gopnik
4. Ethan Mollick
5. Derek Thompson
6. Molly Crabapple
7. Catherine Wilde
8. Morris Pearl

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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