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Make It Make Sense

The Washington Post

We’re making sense of an increasingly complex world through reporting, interviews and expert analysis. Join us every weekday.

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  • 21 episodes
  • weekly
  • Avg 34 min
  • English

Episodes 21

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  • September 16 · 45 min

    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 Democrats can regain the trust of middle-class voters.

  • September 7 · 32 min

    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 against progressive prosecutors and whether President Donald Trump deserves credit for the nationwide drop in crime.

  • September 1 · 37 min

    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 disastrous unintended consequences of California's housing policies, the reality of the homelessness crisis and why he believes the artificial intelligence boom will ultimately save the state.

  • August 28 · 34 min

    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, the controversial influence of figures like Hasan Piker and how "woke" culture issues haunt the party.

  • August 21 · 27 min

    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 crime rates, budget challenges, the city’s approach to drug addiction, and the role of artificial intelligence and tech in its recovery.

  • August 17 · 35 min

    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. They examine how an AI market correction could ignite political extremism, critique U.S. fiscal policy under President Donald Trump and discuss what it will take to rebuild the American middle class.

  • August 13 · 27 min

    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 debate over $20 burritos, how tariffs and trade restrictions raise prices, the politics behind food and energy costs, the Trump administration’s mixed record on free trade, the rise of economic populism in bo

  • August 10 · 34 min

    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 what it all means for the 2028 election.Doug Sosnik's Substack: https://opiniontoday.substack.com/

  • August 7 · 33 min

    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 discuss rising democratic socialism, supporting Israel, expanding health care coverage, preserving the filibuster, immigration enforcement, political polarization and rejecting speculation that he may switch

  • August 6 · 32 min

    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, Virginia. They discuss how extremist ideas become normalized through jokes and algorithms, the return of white nationalists to major social platforms, declining trust in media and public institutions, repo

  • August 4 · 38 min

    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 continued struggle with working-class voters. They discuss whether socialist candidates can win outside deep-blue districts; the divide between progressive professionals and working-class Democrats; Alexandria O

  • July 31 · 35 min

    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 Republicans have abandoned small-government conservatism, the use of federal power against universities, Donald Trump’s economic challenges, the political consequences of the Iran war and whether JD Vance ca

  • July 29 · 30 min

    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 globalization and the risks posed by artificial intelligence, as well as the growing rivalry between the United States and China, tensions over Taiwan and whether the war with Iran has strengthened Tehran’s cont

  • July 28 · 37 min

    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, affirmative action after the Supreme Court’s ruling, why more Black men have supported Donald Trump, the political backlash facing higher education and whether government pressure on universities threate

  • July 24 · 29 min

    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 the first $150,000 of income tax-free, whether frustrated Democratic voters could support a Republican, the proper role of government in regulating AI, and what California can learn from the United Kingdo

  • July 23 · 35 min

    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 record in California, and whether democratic socialism is a genuine grassroots movement or a project driven by urban elites.

Showing 1–20 of 21 episodes