PODCAST · news
Make It Make Sense
by The Washington Post
We’re making sense of an increasingly complex world through reporting, interviews and expert analysis. Join us every weekday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
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Kat Timpf: The right has an affordability problem
Why are younger Americans turning toward socialism, and what does that say about the political choices facing both parties? In this episode of “Make It Make Sense,” Carine Hajjar talks with comedian, author and “Gutfeld!” co-host Kat Timpf about her libertarian worldview, the affordability and...
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Brian Schimpf: Drone warfare is changing everything
How is artificial intelligence changing modern warfare, and what does it mean for the U.S. military? In this episode of “Make It Make Sense,” Damir Marusic talks with Anduril co-founder and CEO Brian Schimpf about rogue AI, autonomous weapons, the company’s Lattice platform and the Pentagon’s…
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Andy Beshear: Why Democrats need to talk about God again
How does Andy Beshear see the future of the Democratic Party and American politics? In this episode of “Make It Make Sense,” Kate Andrews talks with the Kentucky governor about his new book, President Donald Trump, health care, the national debt, school choice, the role of faith in public life…
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Jared Polis: Why school choice is a no brainer
How did Colorado become one of the country’s top states for education? And should other states follow its lead? In this episode of “Make It Make Sense,” Kate Andrews talks with Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) about school choice, universal pre-K, Trump’s new education tax credit, alternatives to...
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Should America ban superintelligent AI? | Ro Khanna
Should Washington ban superintelligence and establish strict safety standards for advanced AI? In this episode of "Make It Make Sense," Carine Hajjar sits down with Rep. Ro Khanna (D-California) to discuss federal AI oversight, wealth taxes, Hasan Piker's influence on the Democratic Party and how...
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Is crime really down?
As murder rates plummet to a 20-year low, why are so many American cities still grappling with disorder? In this episode of "Make It Make Sense," Carine Hajjar sits down with Manhattan Institute fellow Heather Mac Donald to explore "teen takeovers," the root causes of urban anarchy, pushback...
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Jason Oppenheim: L.A.’s mansion tax is a disaster
Is Los Angeles's progressive "mansion tax" actually destroying the city's real estate market and worsening the housing crisis? In this episode of "Make It Make Sense," Kate Andrews talks with Jason Oppenheim, star of Netflix's "Selling Sunset" and founder of the Oppenheim Group, about the...
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Why a former Democratic operative thinks the party needs a reckoning
What sparked the rise of progressive candidates within the Democratic Party? In this episode of "Make It Make Sense," Kate Andrews talks with Evan Barker, author of "Nothing Left: Confessions of a Democratic Operative," about why the establishment hasn’t been able to stop DSA-aligned candidates,...
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Mayor Daniel Lurie on how San Francisco got back on track
Can San Francisco’s turnaround offer a model for other American cities? In this episode of “Make It Make Sense,” Kate Andrews talks with San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie about his efforts to move the city beyond years of concerns over crime, homelessness and public disorder. They discuss falling...
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Will the AI bubble break American politics?
Is the massive investment in artificial intelligence creating a catastrophic economic bubble? In this episode of “Make It Make Sense,” Damir Marusic sits down with Impact Theory co-founder Tom Bilyeu to break down the risks of AI-driven debt, shadow banking and fast-depreciating GPU hardware.…
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Why the right is fighting about $20 burritos
How much of America’s affordability crisis is being driven by government policy? In this episode of “Make It Make Sense,” James Hohmann talks with Scott Lincicome, the Cato Institute's vice president of general economics about the policies keeping everyday costs high. They discuss the viral…
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Democrats have a 2028 problem
Are the 2026 midterms shaping up to be a massive blue wave, or will severe polarization keep the government divided? In this episode of "Make It Make Sense," James Hohmann and former White House political director Doug Sosnik break down the changing working-class vote, the rise of the DSA and…
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John Fetterman’s warning to the Democratic Party
Can Democrats embrace their progressive wing without putting key Senate seats at risk? In this episode of “Make It Make Sense,” Kate Andrews talks with Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pennsylvania) about Abdul El-Sayed’s Michigan primary victory and the battle over the Democratic Party’s future. They...
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How conspiracy theories took over
How does online extremism escape the internet and enter American politics? In this episode of “Make It Make Sense,” Kate Andrews talks with CNN correspondent and “Black Pill” author Elle Reeve about the evolution of online radicalization since the 2017 Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville,...
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Why Democrats Keep Losing Working-Class Voters | Ruy Teixeira
Is the rise of democratic socialism helping — or hurting — the Democratic Party? In this episode of “Make It Make Sense,” James Hohmann and Ruy Teixeira, co-author of “The Emerging Democratic Majority,” examine the growing influence of the Democratic Socialists of America and the party’s…
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Michael Knowles on why the left's populist rebrand won't work
Is the old political divide giving way to a new populist era? In this episode of “Make It Make Sense,” Carine Hajjar talks with conservative commentator Michael Knowles about the forces reshaping both major parties ahead of the midterms. They discuss the rise of democratic socialism, whether...
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Fareed Zakaria: Is America losing the world?
Is America walking away from the world order it created? In this episode of “Make It Make Sense,” Carine Hajjar talks with Post columnist Fareed Zakaria about the forces reshaping global affairs. They discuss America’s retreat from international leadership, the political backlash against...
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Did DEI break colleges?
Can America reject racial preferences without ignoring racial inequality? In this episode of “Make It Make Sense,” Carine Hajjar talks with economist and author Glenn Loury about race, opportunity and ideological diversity in American life. They discuss the decline of the Black Lives Matter era,...
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How can California be saved? Ask Steve Hilton.
Can California afford to keep going in the same direction? In this episode of “Make It Make Sense,” Kate Andrews talks with gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton about his campaign to overhaul the state’s government and economy. They discuss California’s high cost of living, his proposal to make…
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Newsom has pushed California to a tipping point
Is the United States turning into the Golden State? In this episode of “Make It Make Sense,” Kate Andrews talks with historian Victor Davis Hanson about the political and cultural shifts reshaping America. They discuss Christopher Nolan’s take on “The Odyssey,” the war with Iran, Gavin Newsom’s...
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Why have political double standards gotten worse?
Are double standards becoming the norm in American politics? In this episode of “Make It Make Sense,” Carine Hajjar and Brad Polumbo, an independent journalist and YouTube creator, break down the growing fractures on both the left and the right. They discuss recent Senate races involving Graham...
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Why doesn’t Europe have AC?
Is AC a luxury or a necessity? In this episode of "Make It Make Sense," Cato Institute research fellow Chelsea Follett joins James Hohmann to discuss Europe's cultural and regulatory resistance to air conditioning. The conversation explores the dangers of modern "degrowthism" and climate…
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Does the right have a cancel culture problem?
Is higher education too powerful to ignore? In this episode of "Make It Make Sense," Jason Willick sits down with Greg Lukianoff, president and CEO of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, to unpack the escalating war over campus free expression, Title IX and the Trump...
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Why are marriage rates falling?
Why are young adults increasingly rejecting marriage despite clear data showing it leads to greater happiness and financial success? In this episode of "Make It Make Sense," Kate Andrews and Carine Hajjar sit down with Brad Wilcox, sociology professor at the University of Virginia and a fellow at...
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Social Media Is Making Girls Unhappy | Freya India
In this episode of “Make It Make Sense,” Kate Andrews sits down with Freya India, author of "Girls: Generation Z and the Commodification of Everything." They explore the challenges of coming of age in a chronically online era, discussing how constant digital access affects mental health and...
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Is the president too powerful? A constitutional scholar weighs in.
How did Congress become weaker and what does that mean for U.S. government today? In this episode of “Make It Make Sense,” host Damir Marusic talks with American Enterprise Institute scholar Yuval Levin about Congress’s decline, recent Supreme Court decisions and how technology and polarization…
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Inside Ukraine’s fight to survive
Is there an end in sight for the Russia-Ukraine war? In this episode of “Make It Make Sense,” Kate Andrews asks Damir Marusic and Dominic Pino what they saw on the ground in Ukraine. They also discuss how Kyiv is employing drone warfare, why Vladimir Putin has resisted a peace deal and what it...
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Is this the Democratic tea party? | Liam Donovan
Is the Democratic Party having its tea party moment? In this episode of “Make It Make Sense,” James Hohmann talks with Liam Donovan, political strategist and a president at Targeted Victory, about the rise of Democratic populism, its effects on the midterms and how it compares to the rise of...
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Who is winning the AI battle?
Whoever controls artificial intelligence will win the 21st century. In this episode of “Make It Make Sense,” James Hohmann talks with Kyle Chan, a foreign policy fellow at the Brookings Institution, about the AI race between the United States and China, how Beijing is deploying the technology and...
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Did Trump achieve his goals in Iran?
What would a new Iran deal mean for the United States?In this episode of “Make It Make Sense,” Carine Hajjar sits down with Behnam Ben Taleblu, senior director of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies’ Iran program. They discuss whether a new agreement would strengthen or appease the Iranian...
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What happens next in Iran?
What is the state of Iranian society following years of extreme tension? In this episode of "Make It Make Sense," Opinion Editor Adam O'Neal sits down with Jason Rezaian, The Washington Post's director of press freedom initiatives, to examine the devastating impact of conflict on Iran's citizens...
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Why Gen Z hates capitalism
Has Gen Z completely given up on capitalism — and America? In this episode of "Make It Make Sense," James Hohmann sits down with columnist and “Reasonably Optimistic” host Megan McArdle to explore why young voters are turning to socialism and how politicians like Zohran Mamdani are capitalizing…
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Did Trump make America’s 250th about himself?
As the nation approaches its 250th anniversary next month, has a bipartisan celebration of independence become a casualty of political division? On this Episode of "Make It Make Sense," host Kate Andrews joins James Hohmann and Damir Marusic to break down how America’s upcoming milestone has...
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Are Graham Platner's scandals helping him?
Are Graham Platner's controversies actually helping him in the Maine Senate race? In this episode of "Make It Make Sense," Kate Andrews talks with Carine Hajjar about Platner's rise, his refusal to drop out amid multiple scandals, and why Democrats are still standing behind him. Hosted on Acast....
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D.C. has a ‘teen takeover’ problem
‘Teen takeovers’ are becoming a defining issue in the D.C. mayoral race. In this episode of “Make It Make Sense,” James Hohmann and Rob Gebelhoff break down where the candidates stand on crime and policing, how they may approach the National Guard in D.C., and whether they’ll work with or against...
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Was Trump’s ‘weaponization fund’ doomed from the start?
Was President Donald Trump's "Anti-Weaponization Fund" doomed to fail from the start? In this episode of "Make It Make Sense," Kate Andrews, Jason Willick and Damir Marusic discuss the rise and fall of the $1.776 billion fund while exploring whether "lawfare" has fundamentally changed the ideal…
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Did Trump win the late-night comedy battle?
Did President Donald Trump kill late-night television shows, or did comedy podcasts simply beat them at their own game? In this episode of "Make It Make Sense," James Hohmann, Carine Hajjar and Damir Marusic explore the massive cultural shift in comedy during the Trump era. Hosted on Acast. See...
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What happens in California after Gavin Newsom?
With Gavin Newsom's era as California governor ending, could Tom Steyer be the Democrat to step up? Or will skyrocketing costs and crime finally break the party's grip on California? In this episode of "Make It Make Sense," Carine Hajjar, Jason Willick and James Desio explore the future of the...
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Is America a Christian nation? A conversation with Bishop Barron.
In this episode of "Make It Make Sense," Adam O'Neal sits down with Bishop Robert Barron to discuss Christian nationalism, the role of Catholicism in America and whether Pope Leo is positioned as the "anti-Trump" pope. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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What's behind Zohran Mamdani's mass appeal?
Zohran Mamdani successfully built an unlikely coalition of progressives and the professional managerial class, but what ideological shifts made this possible? In this episode of "Make It Make Sense," Sagnik Basu and Zineb Riboua break down how the rise of third-worldism in Western culture fueled...
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Why data centers don't deserve so much hate
The hysteria around artificial intelligence and data centers is growing, but are the public's worst fears warranted? In this episode of "Make It Make Sense," James Hohmann, Jason Willick and Dominic Pino debunk the biggest myths about the technology's impacts on jobs and the environment. Hosted…
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Will the Ukraine war force Putin's exit?
Has the Ukraine war done more damage to Russia than we've heard? In this episode of "Make It Make Sense," Adam O’Neal sits down with David Ignatius to discuss how the war is going, what Ukraine's future holds and what Russia would look like without Vladimir Putin. Hosted on Acast. See...
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What Thomas Massie's loss means for MAGA
After Thomas Massie's primary defeat, what does the future hold for the GOP and the MAGA movement? In this episode of "Make It Make Sense," Kate Andrews, James Hohmann and Robert Gebelhoff discuss the political cost of breaking from President Donald Trump and whether Republicans are speeding…
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Why Bernie Sanders is wrong about Sweden
Why do progressives like Sen. Bernie Sanders love Scandinavia so much? In this episode of "Make It Make Sense," Damir Marusic, Adam O'Neal and Dominic Pino debunk the myth of the Swedish socialist utopia. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Graham Platner is forcing Dems to change
Are voters rejecting career politicians? The 2026 midterms are already being shaken up by populist firebrands and antiestablishment outsiders. In this episode of "Make It Make Sense," Kate Andrews, Carine Hajjar and James Desio break down Graham Platner’s controversial momentum in Maine, James...
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Has the U.S. lost the Iran war?
This episode of "Make It Make Sense," moderated by James Hohmann, asks a critical geopolitical question on where the United States stands with Iran. Damir Marusic and Carine Hajjar debate whether the U.S. has achieved its strategic objectives and if pursuing a new diplomatic deal with Tehran is...
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Should you be worried about hantavirus?
The hantavirus outbreak has reminded many about the mistakes of covid-19. In this episode, hosts Adam O'Neal, James Hohmann, Carine Hajjar and Kate Andrews discuss whether the confirmed cases on the Hondius cruise ship should cause concern — or if the media and public are overreacting. Hosted on...
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Are colleges undermining education with easy A's?
An upcoming Washington Post Opinions show. Stay tuned.00:00 - Monologue 02:36 - Are colleges undermining education with easy A's? 17:41 - How does cannabis affect the human brain? 27:14 - Will Americans be able to make whiskey at home? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Affordability gets worse as Iran war drags
An upcoming Washington Post Opinions show. Stay tuned.00:00 - Monologue02:49 - Affordability gets worse as Iran war drags16:36 - Trump AI meme angers MAGA28:22 - Who really pays taxes in America? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Trump ally Viktor Orban loses in Hungary
An upcoming Washington Post Opinions show. Stay tuned.00:00 - Monologue03:13 - Trump ally Viktor Orban loses in Hungary19:29 - Trump sends Navy to blockade the Strait of Hormuz33:51 - Will Eric Swalwell step down after accusations? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Make It Make Sense have?
Make It Make Sense currently has 66 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Make It Make Sense about?
We’re making sense of an increasingly complex world through reporting, interviews and expert analysis. Join us every weekday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
How often does Make It Make Sense release new episodes?
Make It Make Sense has 66 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
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Make It Make Sense is created and hosted by The Washington Post.
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