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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
Inflation Reduction Act
Social Media
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.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes481Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
NewsSociety & Culture

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Artwork for Why Is This Happening? The Chris Hayes Podcast

Latest Episodes

In 2023, a former Marine strangled a homeless Michael Jackson impersonator to death on a New York City subway. The story became national news, as Americans chose sides, either demanding justice for another Black man’s death at the hands of a white ma... more

YouTube

Americans are stressed about a lot. As a result, climate change is often left out of the national conversation. Marine biologist and co-author of the Blue New Deal Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson joins Chris to discuss how transitioning to clean, green e... more

YouTube

Writer and cultural critic Jamilah Lemieux published a collection of personal essays and testimonies called “Black. Single. Mother.” in March. When she joined Chris to talk about her experience of writing the book and then touring the country to prom... more

YouTube

Alex Bores, elected assembly member for the 73rd District of New York, a computer scientist, and co-founder of Who Decides, an effort to align the Democratic message on AI, joins Chris this week. Together, they sort through the Hugging Face incident,... more

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Recent Guests

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
Astra Taylor
writer; co-founded the Debt Collective; activist and organizer
Debt Collective
Episode: ‘End Times Fascism’ with Naomi Klein and Astra Taylor
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
Pablo Torre
Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist, podcaster
Pablo Torre Finds Out
Episode: Will The Sports Bubble Pop? With Pablo Torre
Gil Durán
Journalist, author of The Nerd Reich newsletter
The Nerd Reich
Episode: ’The Nerd Reich’ with Gil Durán
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

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 10.5k 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 States22 days 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 Statesa month 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 States2 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
#242
United States/News
Apple Podcasts
#234
Sweden/News
Apple Podcasts
#246
South Korea/News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

We Have the Climate Solutions with Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson
Q: What role do oceans play in climate solutions?
Oceans are central to the climate system, absorbing heat and carbon, and protecting shorelines; investing in coastal ecosystems and offshore renewables can be part of the solution rather than a distraction.
We Have the Climate Solutions with Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson
Q: How do political dynamics affect climate action today?
Public polling shows a significant portion of voters care about climate and want politicians to discuss it more; messaging needs to connect climate solutions to cost savings and everyday life to mobilize voters.
We Have the Climate Solutions with Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson
Q: What gives you optimism about the pace of the energy transition?
The technology, manufacturing capacity, and economics have aligned to make a rapid transition feasible, with solar and wind becoming the cheapest new energy sources and batteries enabling a reliable grid.
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.

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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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. Strict Scrutiny

How many episodes of this podcast are there?

this podcast launched 8 years ago and published 481 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. Anand Giridharadas
2. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson
3. Jamilah Lemieux
4. Alex Bores
5. Astra Taylor
6. Naomi Klein
7. Pablo Torre
8. Gil Durán

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