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What the Hell Is Going On

AEI Podcasts

200 episodes

The American Enterprise Institute’s Danielle Pletka and Marc Thiessen address the questions we’re all asking in their podcast, “What the Hell Is Going On?” In conversational, informative and irreverent episodes, Pletka and Thiessen interview policymakers and experts, asking tough, probing questions about the most important foreign policy and security challenges facing the world today.

Episodes page 1 of 4

  1. WTH Is Europe on Fire? With Dr. Dominic Green.

    · 1 h 04 min · Episode 395 · Explicit

    In this episode, Dr. Dominic Green joins us from the United Kingdom to discuss mounting protests and violence raging across Europe. It’s been a tumultuous month in France in particular, with Paris and other cities…

  2. WTH Is China Spying Through LinkedIn? With Luke Jacobus.

    · 51 min · Episode 394 · Explicit

    We are joined by Luke Jacobus, one of AEI’s own, to highlight how China’s spies leverage the LinkedIn networking platform to recruit Americans to pass them sensitive knowledge. MSS agents use artificial intelligence to…

  3. WTH: Will AI End Humanity? Chris Miller Explains.

    · 56 min · Episode 393 · Explicit

    In this episode, we are joined by Chris Miller for a clear-minded and sobering discussion of the future of AI. The geopolitical competition between the United States and China in the field of artificial intelligence is…

  4. WTH: Jason Miyares on Five Easy Ways to Wreck a State.

    · 59 min · Episode 392 · Explicit

    Jason Miyares, former attorney general for the state of Virginia, joins us to discuss Virginia’s hard political shift leftward — skyrocketing taxes, sanctuary cities — and the impact of these policies on its eight…

  5. WTH Is Going on with Trump at the United Nations? Brett Schaefer Explains.

    · 1 h 06 min · Episode 391 · Explicit

    In honor of NYC’s least favorite week, we are joined by Brett D. Schaefer to analyze the ongoing United Nations General Assembly meeting. How the hell is this institution serving American interests? Together with…

  6. WTH Are We Doing To Replenish Our Weapons Stockpiles? Anduril’s Chris Brose Explains.

    · 1 h 06 min · Episode 390 · Explicit

    What the hell is happening with U.S. defense technology? Chris Brose, the President and Chief Strategy Officer of defense tech firm Anduril joins us to talk about how private defense companies are innovating and…

  7. WTH Live! Remembering 9/11 25 Years Later with Stephen Hadley and J.D. Crouch.

    · 1 h 01 min · Episode 389 · Explicit

    On the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, we hosted a live recording of the podcast, What the Hell Is Going On?, featuring former National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley and former Deputy National…

  8. WTH Is Happening With Midterms? With Josh Kraushaar.

    · 1 h 05 min · Episode 388 · Explicit

    In our back-to-school episode, we welcome the return to D.C. by diving straight into the upcoming midterm elections. Who the hell is running? What the hell do they believe in? Where the hell are particularly crucial…

  9. WTH Should I Read This Summer? "Subversion and Seduction" by Audrye Wong.

    · 43 min · Episode 387 · Explicit

    What the hell is Beijing doing to seduce Washington? Join us for the last in our summer book series for a discussion with Dr. Audrye Wong for a conversation about her new book, Subversion and Seduction: China’s…

  10. WTH Should I Read This Summer? "Israel on Trial" by Roy Altman

    · 53 min · Episode 386 · Explicit

    In the third part of our What The Hell summer reading series, Judge Roy Altman joins us for a discussion on the questions posed in his book, “Israel on Trial: Examining the History, the Evidence, and the Law.” What the…

  11. WTH Should I Read This Summer? "Twenty Times I Almost Died" by John Spencer

    · 53 min · Episode 385 · Explicit

    In the second edition of our What the Hell summer reading series, John Spencer shares stories from his latest book, “Twenty Times I Almost Died: Life Lessons from the Edge of Survival.” From fighting swarms of killer…

  12. WTH Should I Read This Summer? "The Arab Case for Israel" by Hussain Abdul-Hussain.

    · 52 min · Episode 384 · Explicit

    Kicking off our annual What the Hell summer book series, Hussain Abdul-Hussain discusses his new book, "The Arab Case for Israel: And Other Essays from a Distant Conflict". Having grown up in Beirut and in Baghdad…

  13. WTH Are Americans Not Having Babies? Nicholas Eberstadt Explains.

    · 1 h 01 min · Episode 383 · Explicit

    America is on track to become a "net mortality society," where deaths outnumber births. As births plummet to almost 25% below replacement, the United States faces a future with a shrinking population, and the…

  14. WTH LIVE! From the Aspen Security Forum: WTH Is Going On with Trump's Foreign Policy? Stephen Hadley, Robert O'Brien, and Michèle Flournoy Explain.

    · 42 min · Episode 382 · Explicit

    On this episode of WTH Live! Stephen Hadley, Robert O’Brien, and Michèle Flournoy join Marc on the Aspen Security Forum stage to discuss the good, the bad, and the ugly of Trump's foreign policy scorecard. In a frank…

  15. WTH Is Going On (Again) With the Ceasefire in Iran? Nicholas Carl Explains.

    · 57 min · Episode 381 · Explicit

    Donald Trump's on again off again deal making with the Iranians has hit another flashpoint this week as exchanges of fire on commercial shipping and US military bases in the region stymied negotiations before their 60…

  16. WTH: America's 250th! John Yoo on the Supreme Court in 2026.

    · 1 h 03 min · Episode 380 · Explicit

    As the United States celebrates the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, fundamental questions about the Constitution and the balance of power are once again at the center of American politics. John…

  17. WTH: Is Trump Right to Fear Global Depression? Economist Glenn Hubbard Debunks.

    · 52 min · Episode 379 · Explicit

    President Trump has publicly speculated that resuming military operations against Iran could trigger an economic catastrophe, warning of soaring gas prices and even a global depression. It is rumored that senior…

  18. WTH Is the State of the Iranian Nuclear Program? David Albright Explains.

    · 1 h 01 min · Episode 378 · Explicit

    Over the weekend, the United States signed a memorandum of understanding with Iran to begin negotiations on a nuclear deal. To understand what a good deal would entail, it is important to assess the status of Iran's…

  19. WTH: Turning the Tide in Ukraine. George Barros Explains.

    · 1 h 05 min · Episode 377 · Explicit

    While the world’s attention has been fixed on the war in Iran, the battlefield in Ukraine has largely shifted in Kyiv’s favor. ISW’s George Barros joins us to explain how Ukrainian innovations in drone warfare,…

  20. WTH Is Trump Doing In Iran? Miad Maleki Explains.

    · 1 h 06 min · Episode 376 · Explicit

    In his relentless pursuit of a deal with Iran, Donald Trump has now returned to military escalation, resuming combat operations and warning that the United States will seize Iran’s key oil export hub on Kharg Island.…

  21. WTH Is Going On with Iran? General Jack Keane Explains.

    · 1 h 21 min · Episode 375 · Explicit

    We’re now in the eighth week of a two-week ceasefire with Iran. The Trump Administration is stuck in a holding pattern as Iranian negotiators continue to ignore US redlines and both sides insist on their own superior…

  22. WTH Are Your Tax Dollars Funding Terrorism? Adam Kaplan Explains.

    · 1 h 06 min · Episode 374 · Explicit

    The United States has poured billions into the United Nations to fund relief works, but not all that money goes where you might think. Years of impunity have allowed murder, rape, kidnapping and fraud to flourish in…

  23. WTH Do Democrats Really Oppose Deportations? Howard Husock Explains.

    · 51 min · Episode 373 · Explicit

    With the 2030 Census fast approaching, battles over redistricting and congressional apportionment continue to take shape. As population shifts continue, driven by migration from blue states to red states and the influx…

  24. WTH: Did the Supreme Court Gut the Voting Rights Act? Sarah Isgur Debunks.

    · 56 min · Episode 372 · Explicit

    Last week, the Supreme Court struck down a Louisiana congressional map in a 6–3 decision tied to a 1986 amendment to Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. As Sarah Isgur explains, “What the Supreme Court has said now for…

  25. WTH: Is the Iran War Depleting Key Munitions? Mark Cancian and Chris Park Explain.

    · 1 h 05 min · Episode 371 · Explicit

    While we celebrate the US military's accomplishments over the first forty days of the Iran conflict, a less desirable outcome has been the significant expenditure of munitions and reallocation of critical resources to…

  26. WTH Is Going On In Lebanon? Ambassador David Hale Explains.

    · 1 h 01 min · Episode 370 · Explicit

    On the eve of talks in Washington between leaders in Lebanon and Israel, Beirut has signaled a push to extend the 10-day, U.S.-mediated ceasefire set to expire this Sunday. The ongoing conflict with Iran has put its…

  27. WTH: The Iran Blockade? Miad Maleki Explains.

    · 1 h 01 min · Episode 369 · Explicit

    One week after claims of an "Iranian victory", with Tehran supposedly leveraging the Strait of Hormuz and outmaneuvering Donald Trump, the narrative has shifted. U.S. and allied naval forces have applied sustained…

  28. WTH Is Going On With NATO? Secretary General Mark Rutte Explains.

    · 39 min · Episode 368 · Explicit

    Against the backdrop of Operation Epic Fury and President Trump’s frustration with military support from NATO allies, Secretary General Mark Rutte visited Washington to discuss the alliance’s evolving burden sharing.…

  29. WTH: The Mythical MAGA Split on Iran. Kristen Soltis Anderson Explains.

    · 1 h 04 min · Episode 367 · Explicit

    The story from mainstream media is that the core of MAGA is "split" on the war with Iran, strikes in Venezuela, the Houthis, and other Trump 2.0 international policies. This supposed "MAGA schism" over foreign policy…

  30. WTH Is Next in Iran? Israeli Ambassador Yechiel (Michael) Leiter Explains.

    · 55 min · Episode 366 · Explicit

    Operation Roaring Lion, now in its fourth week, has been a striking display of military coordination between the United States and Israel. Building on the success of decapitating Iran’s senior leadership, crippling its…

  31. WTH: Trump's Iran Endgame. General Jack Keane Explains.

    · 1 h 04 min · Episode 365 · Explicit

    Three weeks into Operation Epic Fury, we share cautious optimism with General Jack Keane on the current state of our military operation in Iran. News of Donald Trump's negotiations with Tehran and an extended partial…

  32. WTH Extra! Defining Victory in Iran. Dany and Marc Discuss.

    · 43 min · Episode 364 · Explicit

    On this episode of WTH Extra! Dany and Marc discuss their recent pieces on the war in Iran and the media coverage that has followed. Marc writes for the Post, What is the definition of victory in Iran? There are three.…

  33. WTH: Spyware on Wheels. Chris Miller Explains the Chinese Threat Inside Your Car.

    · 49 min · Episode 363 · Explicit

    Our WTH saga on Chinese espionage continues with a new installment on the technology inside your car. Chris Miller details “Huawei on wheels”: the security threat posed by Chinese EVs, whose sensors, cameras,…

  34. WTH: War in Iran. David Albright Explains the Nuclear Threat.

    · 1 h 17 min · Episode 362 · Explicit

    Over the weekend, President Trump launched Operation Epic Fury, the most ambitious US military operation in decades. In the wake of the 2025 12-Day War, Iran again worked to reconstitute its nuclear weapons program and…

  35. WTH: Four Years of Putin's War in Ukraine. Frederick W. Kagan Illuminates.

    · 1 h 12 min · Episode 361 · Explicit

    Yesterday marked the fourth anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Four years of war in which Russian forces have occupied roughly one and a half percent of Ukraine’s territory at the cost of approximately half a…

  36. WTH Does a Chinese Billionaire Need 100 American Children? Charles Hilu Explains.

    · 52 min · Episode 360 · Explicit

    Blame it on American individualism or a political aversion to regulation, but the United States has become a striking outlier in its failure to regulate the assisted reproductive technology industry. As a result,…

  37. WTH Do We Need Greenland? Alexander Gray Explains.

    · 1 h 02 min · Episode 359 · Explicit

    In addition to the media blitz over Greenland triggered by President Trump, American presidents going back a century have agreed on the strategic importance of the island due to its fundamental geography, proximity,…

  38. WTH Is Going on with the CCP Purge in China? John Garnaut Explains.

    · 53 min · Episode 358 · Explicit

    Kremlinology has made its way east as analysts try to make sense of dramatic PLA purges under Xi Jinping. The CCP regime appears to be clearing house, but what does it all mean? Should there be a reconsideration of a…

  39. WTH Can’t Putin Afford to Fail in Ukraine? Michael Tory Explains How He Will.

    · 50 min · Episode 357 · Explicit

    With regime change brewing in Venezuela, Cuba, and Iran, and the Russian war of attrition still marching on, Cold War déjà vu shapes our understanding of what happens when regimes do fall and offers a hopeful…

  40. WTH Is Christian Zionism? Ralph Reed Has the Gospel.

    · 58 min · Episode 356 · Explicit

    The so-called “pro-Israel lobby” in Washington, D.C., has long been a target for antisemites and for fringe voices on both sides of the aisle. Contrary to conventional wisdom, however, support for Israel in the United…

  41. WTH Is Going On In Iran? Michael Rubin Explains.

    · 1 h 04 min · Episode 355 · Explicit

    The world is watching as protests rage across Iran amid nationwide internet blackouts, state-sponsored propaganda, and lethal security force crackdowns. Despite reports suggesting that hundreds, possibly thousands,…

  42. WTH Is Next For Venezuela? Roger Noriega Explains.

    · 1 h 05 min · Episode 354 · Explicit

    For many Americans, Operation Absolute Resolve, which brought Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro to trial in New York, was an unexpected New Year’s surprise. For others who have endured the corruption of his regime and…

  43. WTH: America 250 Begins! With Professor Gordon Wood.

    · 53 min · Episode 353 · Explicit

    It is officially 2026, which means America is turning 250 this year. Our question on this semiquincentennial looks back to America’s founding and the constitutional framework that gave birth to our nation. America is…

  44. WTH Is Going On With Civilian Control of the Military? Kori Schake Explains.

    · 1 h 12 min · Episode 352 · Explicit

    While we celebrate the remarkable achievement of 250 years of the US military being a bulwark of democracy, it is important to understand the intentionally laid foundations on which America’s civil military relations…

  45. WTH Do MAGA Republicans Think on Foreign Policy? Roger Zakheim Explains.

    · 53 min · Episode 351 · Explicit

    The Reagan National Defense Survey has again illuminated the MAGA world: MAGA Republicans are not isolationists, nor are the majority of Americans. Despite what those in Washington assert Americans believe, the latest…

  46. WTH Does Gen Z Think Life Sucks? Norbert Michel Explains.

    · 57 min · Episode 350 · Explicit

    If you were in your twenties and could choose to be born at any point in human history, would you be insane to choose any other time to be alive than right now? Our guest says yes, and the statistics back him up.…

  47. WTH Are We Letting China Steal All Our Secrets? David Shedd Explains.

    · 1 h 03 min · Episode 349 · Explicit

    Over the last decade, China has carried out the largest illicit transfer of capital, innovation, data, and technology in human history. One of the most overlooked elements of this heist is the role of industrial…

  48. WTH Is it: Insubordination or Sedition? John Yoo Explains.

    · 57 min · Episode 348 · Explicit

    Between the pardoned turkeys and those running loose on Capitol Hill, controversy over insubordination and sedition seem to be on the menu this holiday. The six Democrats who posted a video addressed to service members…

  49. WTH Is Going on With Trump's China Deal? Scott Lincicome Explains.

    · 1 h 00 min · Episode 347 · Explicit

    For Donald Trump, China has served as a major justification for economic protectionism, highlighting our dependencies and need to onshore products with national security implications. But that’s the talk. The reality…

  50. WTH Would Any Republican Consider Ending the Filibuster? Martin Gold Explains.

    · 1 h 13 min · Episode 346 · Explicit

    The legislative filibuster is one of the most important guardrails against the tyranny of the majority that exists in the United States Senate. Despite this critical function, both parties have, at various times,…

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