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
  • ‘America, América' with Greg Grandin
    Apr 22 2025

    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 Yale and the author of “America, América: 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.

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    58 mins
  • ‘Being Jewish After the Destruction of Gaza’ with Peter Beinart
    Apr 15 2025

    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

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    55 mins
  • 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
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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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