What the Hell Is Going On
What the Hell Is Going On, hosted by Danielle Pletka and Marc Thiessen of the American Enterprise Institute, interviews policymakers and experts on foreign policy and security. The show has 200 episodes released roughly every seven days, typically 55 to 60 minutes long. Estimated downloads are 5,000 to 25,000 per episode, with a rate of $90 to $625 per episode.
A 200-episode policy show reaching an engaged, older national security audience
- Weekly episodes of roughly an hour with recurring interviews of policymakers and experts
- Apple Podcasts rating of 4.4 from 629 ratings, with 493 five-star reviews
- Publisher is the American Enterprise Institute, a established research organization
Brand fit report
Content
- Formats
- interview, co-hosted banter, book discussion
- Tone
- informative, irreverent
- Language
- English
- Production
- Clean, edited audio
- Typical length
- 50 to 60 minutes
Audience
Commercial
- Brands seen
- American Enterprise Institute
- Categories promoted
- None yet
- Affiliate links
- No
No sponsor mentions found in the feed; the American Enterprise Institute is the publisher and owner of the show.
Suitability GARM Brand Safety Floor + Suitability
Family friendly
Episodes cover war, Iran, Ukraine and nuclear programs, such as 'WTH Is Going On with Iran? General Jack Keane Explains.', and are openly political in subject, though not explicit.
We classify content, never people. No age, gender, ethnicity, religion or political views are inferred about the creator. Audience figures are estimates unless marked verified. Creators can correct anything on their profile.
Where to listen
| Platform | Link |
|---|---|
| Website | www.aei.org/tag/what-the-hell-podcast/ |
| Apple Podcasts | podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1467993804 |
| RSS feed | feeds.captivate.fm/aei-what-the-hell-is-going/ |
Benchmark score: 93 / 100
Public rule, same for everyone. How it works.
Recent episodes
| Episode | Date | Length |
|---|---|---|
| WTH Is China Spying Through LinkedIn? With Luke Jacobus. | 2026-10-15 | 51 min |
| WTH: Will AI End Humanity? Chris Miller Explains. | 2026-10-08 | 56 min |
| WTH: Jason Miyares on Five Easy Ways to Wreck a State. | 2026-10-01 | 59 min |
| WTH Is Going on with Trump at the United Nations? Brett Schaefer Expla | 2026-09-24 | 1 h 6 min |
| WTH Are We Doing To Replenish Our Weapons Stockpiles? Anduril’s Chris | 2026-09-17 | 1 h 6 min |
| WTH Live! Remembering 9/11 25 Years Later with Stephen Hadley and J.D. | 2026-09-11 | 1 h 1 min |
Last six episodes from the show's feed, latest 4 days ago, a new one about every 7 days.
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.
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About What the Hell Is Going On
What the Hell Is Going On is a weekly podcast from the American Enterprise Institute, hosted by Danielle Pletka and Marc Thiessen. Each episode of roughly 55 to 60 minutes features interviews with policymakers and experts on foreign policy and security, according to the show's RSS feed and website. The feed lists 200 episodes released about every seven days, with a recent run of summer book recommendation episodes.
The show has an Apple Podcasts rating of 4.4 from 629 ratings, as listed on Apple Podcasts. Its audience is estimated, not published, at 5,000 to 25,000 downloads per episode, skewing toward older listeners in the United States. No sponsors were found in the feed; the publisher is the American Enterprise Institute.
A host-read mid-roll would be priced at an estimated $90 to $625 per episode. The show suits defense technology, policy organizations and book publishers looking to reach an informed policy audience.
Written from the show's public RSS feed, its Podcast Index listing and episode titles. Numbers updated 2026-10-19. What the Hell Is Going On can edit or remove this page at any time.
Questions about What the Hell Is Going On
How much does What the Hell Is Going On charge for a podcast sponsorship?
Based on an estimated 5,000 to 25,000 downloads per episode, a host-read mid-roll is estimated at $90 to $625 per episode. Rates are estimates derived from listener signals, not published prices.
What is What the Hell Is Going On about?
The show, from the American Enterprise Institute, features Danielle Pletka and Marc Thiessen interviewing policymakers and experts on foreign policy and security challenges.
How do I contact What the Hell Is Going On about sponsoring an episode?
The show's contact email unlocks on Starbooked for $0.80. Boosted shows can be booked through Starbooked.
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