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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
Social Media
Electric Vehicles
Inflation Reduction Act
Kamala Harris
Israel
United States
Republican Party
Joe Biden
MSNBC
Covid-19
Clean Energy
Politics
Immigration Policy

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.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes484Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
NewsSociety & Culture

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Artwork for Why Is This Happening? The Chris Hayes Podcast

Latest Episodes

After what seems like years of defeat after defeat, Democrats are still reeling from this week’s midterms results. The party has repainted the House, the Senate, and numerous Governor's mansions and state capitols blue. But how did we get here? Chris... more

This week Americans are voting for thousands of candidates, but one issue has dominated almost everybody’s campaign: affordability. And one thing that millions of Americans have struggled to afford for decades is healthcare. This political moment jus... more

YouTube

Conflict is part of life. Whether with family, at a wedding, or at these midterm elections on November 3, it's unavoidable. Chris invites author and conflict resolution expert Priya Parker to teach us how important fighting is and how crucial it is t... more

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Ken Paxton’s list of scandals keeps growing – from his wife’s tweet last summer (”Today, after 38 years of marriage, I filed for divorce on biblical grounds”) to “Wall Street Journal” reporting last week that he rang in the New Year in Dubai a couple... more

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Recent Guests

Ian Coss
Composer, sound designer and Peabody Award-winning audio journalist
The Big Dig
Episode: Is This America's Next Big Chance to Get Healthcare Right? with Ian Coss
Priya Parker
Author and conflict resolution facilitator, founder of Thrive Lab
Thrive Lab
Episode: Conflict Is Not Sin, with Priya Parker
Adam Serwer
Staff writer at The Atlantic and author of The Cruelty Is the Point
The Atlantic
Episode: Is Donald Trump the Right’s Pinnacle of Manhood? with Adam Serwer
Anand Giridharadas
Author of Man in the Mirror; chronicler of the Jordan Neely case
Author, The Man in the Mirror; The Ink (newsletter)
Episode: Dissecting Our Culture of Dehumanization, with Anand Giridharadas
Ayana Elizabeth Johnson
Marine biologist, leading voice in coastal conservation and climate policy
Urban Ocean Lab; Blue Halo Initiative; co-author of Blue New Deal
Episode: We Have the Climate Solutions with Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson
Jamilah Lemieux
Cultural critic and writer; author of Black Single Mother
Vanity Fair / The Cut / Slate (author)
Episode: The Truth about Black Single Motherhood with Jamilah Lemieux
Alex Bores
Assembly member for New York's 73rd district; computer scientist; AI safety expert
New York Assembly
Episode: 'They Are Scheming' with Alex Bores
Naomi Klein
writer and climate justice scholar; professor at University of British Columbia
University of British Columbia
Episode: ‘End Times Fascism’ with Naomi Klein and Astra Taylor
Astra Taylor
writer; co-founded the Debt Collective; activist and organizer
Debt Collective
Episode: ‘End Times Fascism’ with Naomi Klein and Astra Taylor

Host

Chris Hayes
Host of the show, whose work spans political and social commentary with emphasis on policy, governance, and democracy.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 10.6k ratings
  • Alex Bore ai interview sept 2026

    Correction: Alex is not in congress but is serving in the ny assembly.

    Excellent guest & glad he is in congress! Chris you are great except when you get so excited you talk over your guests which is bad because we can’t make out what your guest said. in this case of very important info and for future epis, please oh please be more cognizant that you aren’t the only listener to your guest and the audience of we listeners need the info your guest is saying.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    midwestBlue
    United Statesa month ago
  • Accountability NOT

    I heard you say the other day that Trump bets that the American voters are idiots.

    That’s a good bet, everyday and twice on Sundays

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Prometheus---
    United States2 months ago
  • Intellectual conversations with Chris Hayes

    I’m always riveted by you and your guests. The sheer amount of information you provide for layman like myself and the knowledge you seem to hold does not go unnoticed. Thank you for your tremendous amount of work you do in service of our country and the world writ large.

    Peace ✌🏽

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Susanyb60
    United States3 months ago
  • 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 States4 months ago
  • Sounds AI generated.

    Awful and created using ai

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Nathan C UK
    United Kingdom4 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Positive reviews often highlight being well-informed and thought-provoking.
Some feedback notes audio editing or pacing could be improved.
Listeners praise the host's curiosity and depth of preparation.
Guests and topics are seen as insightful and timely, though a few episodes spark controversy or strong disagreement.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#85
United States/News
Apple Podcasts
#157
Canada/News
Apple Podcasts
#142
Philippines/News
Apple Podcasts
#199
Brazil/News
Apple Podcasts
#210
New Zealand/News
Apple Podcasts
#214
India/News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Is This America's Next Big Chance to Get Healthcare Right? with Ian Coss
Q: Where do you see this debate now as you watch the national debate?
Coss says the next major challenge is controlling healthcare costs, potentially through public insurance with the negotiating power to bargain with drug companies and hospitals. He cautions that reducing costs entails difficult trade-offs and that reformers may need to choose their battles.
Is This America's Next Big Chance to Get Healthcare Right? with Ian Coss
Q: What is the Romneycare of today, and where is the laboratory for the next time national health reform is possible?
Coss says policymakers should look for the current sources of energy and alignment that could support a practical experiment in healthcare reform, as Massachusetts did before the Affordable Care Act.
Conflict Is Not Sin, with Priya Parker
Q: But just thinking about this final question about do you stay or do you go? And how to figure that out? And are we doing too much exiting?
Parker discusses research on family estrangement and says people need to protect themselves in cases of abuse. She argues that limited skills for raising hurt and repairing relationships can contribute to cutoffs, while recognizing the pain and complexity of estrangement.
Conflict Is Not Sin, with Priya Parker
Q: Talk to me about your own relationship to conflict.
Parker describes herself as conflict-averse, shaped by a family culture of avoiding confrontation. After seeing the losses caused by avoidance, she learned to hold relevant, healthy tension and help others do the same.
Is Donald Trump the Right’s Pinnacle of Manhood? with Adam Serwer
Q: What happens to women generally when they are bombarded with these images and they feel this lack, and what happens with men?
Serwer says women's body-image pressures have often led to self-harm and self-destruction, while insecurity among men is more often directed outward as aggression, including hostility toward women and other groups.

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?

A sharp, policy-forward show that hosts discussions across technology, law, politics, and society, with frequent deep dives into AI, governance, and global affairs. Episodes combine expertise from journalists, scholars, and industry observers to unpack how big forces—from prediction markets and border policy to AI ethics and democratic norms—shape current events and future outcomes. A notable strength is the breadth of guests who bring rigorous analysis and practical implications for business, policy, and culture, making it valuable for listeners who want evidence-based context on complex topics. The show often pairs tough questions with clear takeaways, and it tends to mix investigative reporting with thoughtful explanatory conversations, ... 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. The Best People with Nicolle Wallace
4. Main Justice
5. The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell

How many episodes of this podcast are there?

this podcast launched 8 years ago and published 484 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. Ian Coss
2. Priya Parker
3. Adam Serwer
4. Anand Giridharadas
5. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson
6. Jamilah Lemieux
7. Alex Bores
8. Naomi Klein

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