Why Is This Happening? The Chris Hayes Podcast

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Chris Hayes, MSNBC & NBCNews THINK
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142.6K - 237.6K listeners Neutral 4.6 rating 9505 reviews 390 episodes USA
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30s Ad: $4,182 - $4,753 60s Ad: $4,943 - $5,513 CPM Category: Society & Culture
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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. “Why is this Happening?” is presented by MSNBC and NBCNews Think.

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Recent Hosts, Guests & Topics

Here's a quick summary of the last 5 episodes on Why Is This Happening? The Chris Hayes Podcast.

Hosts

Chris Hayes

Previous Guests

Greg Grandin
Greg Grandin is the C. Vann Woodard Professor of History at Yale University. He is a prominent historian known for his work on U.S. history and its connections to Latin America. Grandin is the author of several influential books, including 'America, Amrica: A New History of the New World,' which explores the historical narratives surrounding the Americas and challenges conventional understandings of U.S. identity and its role in the Western hemisphere.
Peter Beinart
Peter Beinart is a prominent author and political analyst known for his writings on American politics and Jewish identity. He is the author of several books, including 'Being Jewish After the Destruction of Gaza: A Reckoning.' Beinart writes 'The Beinart Notebook' on Substack and serves as an MSNBC analyst. He is also the editor-at-large of Jewish Currents, where he explores issues related to Judaism and contemporary politics.
Ezra Klein
Ezra Klein is a prominent journalist, author, and political commentator. He is the host of The Ezra Klein Show podcast and a columnist for New York Times Opinion. Klein is known for his insightful analysis of political and social issues, and he co-authored the book 'Abundance' with Derek Thompson, which explores themes of opportunity and innovation in modern society.
John Green
John Green is an American author and YouTube content creator, best known for his novels such as 'The Fault in Our Stars' and 'Looking for Alaska'. He is also the co-creator of the YouTube channel Vlogbrothers, which he co-hosts with his brother Hank Green. Green's work often explores themes of illness, mortality, and the complexities of human relationships. He is an advocate for various social issues, including education and global health, and has been involved in initiatives to improve healthcare access and awareness.
Beverly Gage
Beverly Gage is a historian at Yale University and the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of 'G-Man: J. Edgar Hoover and the Making of the American Century.' She specializes in American political history, particularly the history of the FBI and its influence on American society and politics.

Topics Discussed

Latin America European outpost history identity democratic backsliding hemispheric history Gaza American Judaism Peter Beinart war Jewish identity new story innovation opportunity stagnation dystopia liberals progress MAGA America abundance tuberculosis global health disparities healthcare inequities foreign aid disease of poverty FBI J. Edgar Hoover Beverly Gage politicization Kash Patel Trump institutional power historical precedent

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Episodes

Here's the recent few episodes on Why Is This Happening? The Chris Hayes Podcast.

0:00 57:57

America, Amrica' with Greg Grandin

Hosts
Chris Hayes
Guests
Greg Grandin
Keywords
Latin America European outpost history identity democratic backsliding hemispheric history

The United States is pretty intertwined with Latin America. So why has it historically been seen as more of a European outpost as opposed to a nation in the Western hemisphere that is part of the broader Americas? Our guest this week points out that there are other ways to understand the history and identity of the U.S., aside from the narrative that is so often a part of contemporary discourse. Greg Grandin is the C. Vann Woodard Professor of History at Yaleand the author of America, Amrica: A New History of the New World. He joins WITHpod to discuss rethinking our conceptions of the New World, democratic backsliding in the U.S., why he says we should rethink hemispheric history and more.

0:00 55:05

‘Being Jewish After the Destruction of Gaza’ with Peter Beinart

Hosts
Chris Hayes
Guests
Peter Beinart
Keywords
Gaza American Judaism Peter Beinart war Jewish identity new story

We’re now a year and a half into the war in Gaza. Our guest this week has spent a lot of time thinking and writing about all that has unfolded. Peter Beinart is the author of numerous books including his latest, “Being Jewish After the Destruction of Gaza: A Reckoning” and writes “The Beinart Notebook” on Substack. He’s also an MSNBC analyst and the editor-at-large of “Jewish Currents.” He joins WITHpod to discuss what the war in Gaza has revealed about American Judaism, why he says Jews must tell a new story, what his vision of the future is and more.

And ICYMI, an exciting announcement: “Why Is This Happening? The Chris Hayes Podcast” is now on YouTube! Watch at msnbc.com/withpod.

Plus, we're nominated for a Webby Award! Please vote for us and your other favorite MSNBC podcasts by April 17th:

Why Is This Happening? With Chris Hayes in the Podcasts - Interview/Talk Show category:https://vote.webbyawards.com/PublicVoting#/2025/podcasts/shows/interviewtalk-show

Into America: Uncounted Millions in the Podcasts - News & Politics category:https://vote.webbyawards.com/PublicVoting#/2025/podcasts/limited-series-specials/news-politics

Prosecuting Donald Trump in the Podcasts - Crime & Justice category:https://vote.webbyawards.com/PublicVoting#/2025/podcasts/shows/crime-justice

0:00 1:11:08

How Process is Killing Progress with Ezra Klein

Hosts
Chris Hayes
Guests
Ezra Klein
Keywords
innovation opportunity stagnation dystopia liberals progress MAGA America abundance

Why has America's 20th century vision of innovation and opportunity transformed into a stagnant and stunted dystopian reality? Our guest this week claims that “the crisis that’s clicking into focus now has been building for decades” and it’s all because we haven’t been following building enough. Ezra Klein is host of The Ezra Klein Show podcast, a columnist for New York Times Opinion and the author of “Abundance,” which he co-wrote with Derek Thompson. He joins WITHpod to discuss how liberals have failed on progress, how they can shift gears in MAGA America, and how we might reimagine abundance for everyone.

And an exciting announcement: “Why Is This Happening? The Chris Hayes Podcast” is now on YouTube! Watch at msnbc.com/withpod.

Plus, we're nominated for a Webby Award! Please vote for us and your other favorite MSNBC podcasts by April 17th:

Why Is This Happening? With Chris Hayes in the Podcasts - Interview/Talk Show category: https://vote.webbyawards.com/PublicVoting#/2025/podcasts/shows/interviewtalk-show

Into America: Uncounted Millions in the Podcasts - News & Politics category: https://vote.webbyawards.com/PublicVoting#/2025/podcasts/limited-series-specials/news-politics

Prosecuting Donald Trump in the Podcasts - Crime & Justice category: https://vote.webbyawards.com/PublicVoting#/2025/podcasts/shows/crime-justice
 

0:00 55:06

Why ‘Everything is Tuberculosis’ with John Green

Hosts
Chris Hayes
Guests
John Green
Keywords
tuberculosis global health disparities healthcare inequities foreign aid disease of poverty

Tuberculosis is the deadliest infectious disease in the world. Why does something that’s curable still kill millions every year? And what does this illustrate about global health disparities? John Green is the author of “Everything Is Tuberculosis: The History and Persistence of Our Deadliest Infection.” Green is also the co-creator of Vlog brothers, which he co-hosts with his brother Hank Green. He joins WITHpod to discuss why tuberculosis is seen as a disease of poverty, what the disease exposes about healthcare inequities, concerns about the Trump administration retracting foreign aid and more.

0:00 50:50

Weaponization of the FBI from Hoover to Trump 2.0 with Beverly Gage

Hosts
Chris Hayes
Guests
Beverly Gage
Keywords
FBI J. Edgar Hoover Beverly Gage politicization Kash Patel Trump institutional power historical precedent

J. Edgar Hoover is one of the most polarizing figures in U.S. history. And the seeds he planted as the decades long founding director of the FBI continue to shape much of today’s conservative political landscape. Kash Patel, who now leads the FBI, has openly vowed to find ways to punish Trump’s political enemies. While that’s appalling, it’s not the first time an FBI director has used abused institutional power. There’s a lot of historical precedent that we can compare and contrast with the current moment. Beverly Gage is a historian at Yale University and the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of “G-Man: J. Edgar Hoover and the Making of the American Century.” She joins WITHpod to discuss Hoover’s influence, the politicization of the FBI, the abuse of its power, the FBI in Trump 2.0 and more.

Ratings

Global:
4.6 rating 9505 reviews

USA

4.6 ratings 8900 reviews

Canada

4.6 ratings 354 reviews

Australia

4.6 ratings 103 reviews

UK

4.5 ratings 97 reviews

New Zealand

4.5 ratings 24 reviews

Ireland

4.3 ratings 15 reviews

South Africa

5.0 ratings 11 reviews

Singapore

5.0 ratings 1 reviews