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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
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.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes478Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
NewsSociety & Culture

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Artwork for Why Is This Happening? The Chris Hayes Podcast

Latest Episodes

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

Is the apocalyptic mood in our culture today just in our imagination, or are we witnessing the rise of a dangerous new political reality? Naomi Klein and Astra Taylor co-authored ‘End Times Fascism: And the Fight for the Living World' to help answer ... more

The valuations for sports teams have increased exponentially in recent years. It’s almost an understatement to say that sports is big business. What does this mean for the mechanics of sports operations? Pablo Torre is a Pulitzer-prize winning journa... more

Silicon Valley was once viewed as a center-left stronghold where tech founders partnered with Democrats to push clean energy and digital innovation. But today, the world’s most powerful tech titans in many cases are bankrolling right-wing authoritari... more

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Recent Guests

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
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
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

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
  • 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 States3 months ago
  • Sounds AI generated.

    Awful and created using ai

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Nathan C UK
    United Kingdom3 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 States4 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 States4 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
#184
United States/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?

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. The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell

How many episodes of this podcast are there?

this podcast launched 8 years ago and published 478 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. Alex Bores
2. Naomi Klein
3. Astra Taylor
4. Pablo Torre
5. Gil Durán
6. Patrick George
7. Ken Salazar
8. Bobby Allyn

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