Why Is This Happening? The Chris Hayes Podcast

By: Chris Hayes MSNBC & NBCNews THINK
  • Summary

  • 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.
    2019 NBC News
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Episodes
  • How Process is Killing Progress with Ezra Klein
    Apr 8 2025

    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

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    1 hr and 11 mins
  • Why ‘Everything is Tuberculosis’ with John Green
    Apr 1 2025

    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.

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    55 mins
  • Weaponization of the FBI from Hoover to Trump 2.0 with Beverly Gage
    Mar 25 2025

    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.

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    51 mins

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The Absolute Best!!

This is my favorite episode!!! Joy Reid delivered & Chris Hayes was there for it!

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Informative and engaging.

Enjoyed learning more about the congresswoman. late forties M news connoisseurs. Thank Chris & Ilhan

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AWESOME understanding of Filibuster & Congress

Great conversation about the filibuster in Congress from the history of it to how it works currently. It just opened my eyes about it all it was so confusing beforehand to me & now I have such a better understanding.. I'd like to hear even more about it & what it's doing to current Senate issues. Also what it takes to stop it & what it will do if other party comes into control... will Democrats be screwed! Thanks Chris ... AWESOME conversation!!

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can't wait to hear all the episodes

Love Rachael! I am ready to devour each new episode! While savoring each and every twist and turn!

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