Why Is This Happening? The Chris Hayes Podcast

David Chalmers, one of the most preeminent philosophers and researchers in cognitive science, argues that nothing prevents machines from becoming truly conscious. Chalmers, who has studied the mind for decades, points out that there is a real possibility of AI creating a next stage of intelligence that is even capable of redesigning itself. He joins WITHpod to discuss what consciousness is and the possibility of AI systems becoming fully conscious.

Transcribed - Published: 2 June 2026

Timnit Gebru founded the Distributed AI Research Institute after her high-profile exit from Google’s Ethical AI team. She’s been a vocal critic of the systemic lack of diversity in learning models and the need for more inclusion in the space. Her view is that because AI so heavily relies on human input, it largely mirrors pervasive biases inherent in society. What needs to be done to change that? She joins WITHpod to discuss what, in her view, large language models are missing.

Transcribed - Published: 26 May 2026

We’re sharing a recording of Chris and the New York Times’ Ezra Klein’s discussion at the Center for American Progress 2026 CAP IDEAS conference.

Transcribed - Published: 20 May 2026

Tech billionaires love to claim that artificial intelligence is getting smarter by the day. But according to cognitive scientist and UC Berkeley professor Alison Gopnik, a typical two-year-old routinely outsmarts the most advanced AI models. She joins WITHpod to discuss how children vs. AI learn and why AI, in many cases, still falls behind human capabilities.

Transcribed - Published: 19 May 2026

Ethan Mollick, New York Times bestselling author and professor at Wharton, joins WITHpod to discuss the practical application, adoption, and transformative impact of AI on work.

Transcribed - Published: 12 May 2026

The unified class project of billionaires is doing to white collar workers what globalization and neoliberalism did to blue collar workers. And artificial intelligence is only exacerbating this trend. Derek Thompson is a contributing writer for The Atlantic, co-author of “Abundance,” and has written extensively about the political power of the wealthy. He joins Chris Hayes to kick off our new special miniseries, The AI End Game: Power, Profit and Progress.

Transcribed - Published: 5 May 2026

We’re excited to announce a new special WITHpod series, "The AI End Game: Power, Profit, and Progress." AI – and coverage of it – is everywhere. But what is artificial intelligence, really, beyond the buzzword? Each week, we’ll be joined by preeminent experts on AI and its effects to help make sense of this revolutionary time in history.

Transcribed - Published: 30 April 2026

Author and artist Molly Crabapple joins to discuss her latest New York Times Bestselling book “Here Where We Live is Our Country: The Story of the Jewish Bund."

Transcribed - Published: 28 April 2026

We’re sharing a bonus episode of Chris’ sit-down with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani for a special edition of “All In.” In this town hall special, held at the Bronx Children's Museum, they discuss how Mamdani has been able to speak to people on both sides politically, his vision for the city and what it could mean for bigger national ideas.

Transcribed - Published: 25 April 2026

Actor and director Ben McKenzie joins to discuss his new documentary “Everyone is Lying to You for Money.”

Transcribed - Published: 21 April 2026

Jon Lee Anderson, a staff writer at The New Yorker, joins WITHpod to discuss the Trump administration’s threats to Cuba, how the current U.S. relationship with Cuba compares to the past and more.

Transcribed - Published: 14 April 2026

Investigative journalist Antonia Juhasz joins to discuss the impact the war in Iran is having on oil, why she says fossil fuels are being used as weapons of war and more.

Transcribed - Published: 7 April 2026

Tamika Tremaglio, former executive director of the National Basketball Players Association, joins to discuss WNBA labor negotiations, why revenue sharing based on gross matters more than net, mental health pressures in the league and more.

Transcribed - Published: 31 March 2026

Robert Pape, a professor of political science at the University of Chicago, discusses the war in Iran, the lack of logistical consideration on the U.S. part and more.

Transcribed - Published: 24 March 2026

David Bier, director of immigration studies at the Cato Institute, joins WITHpod to discuss the ways in which legal paths to immigration have been interrupted, coalitional cross pressures and more.

Transcribed - Published: 17 March 2026

Zack Beauchamp, senior correspondent at Vox, joins WITHpod to discuss Democratic backsliding, the role of protests in stopping dictators and lessons that can be learned from Brazil, South Korea and Poland.

Transcribed - Published: 10 March 2026

Gideon Lewis-Kraus, staff writer at The New Yorker, joins to discuss discuss how ClaudeAI works, automation’s threat to knowledge work and more.

Transcribed - Published: 3 March 2026

Greg Grandin, author of “America, América: A New History of the New World,” on a revolutionary concept of the “New World” and why we should rethink American and Latin American history.

Transcribed - Published: 24 February 2026

Rebecca Traister joins WITHpod to discuss the trajectory of MeToo, how this moment represents a recapitulation of the first MeToo movement and more.

Transcribed - Published: 17 February 2026

A preview of “MS NOW Presents: Clock It” – your invitation to Symone Sanders Townsend and Eugene Daniels’s weekly groupchat.

Transcribed - Published: 12 February 2026

Chris sits down with author and social psychologist Jonathan Haidt to discuss the attention economy in this moment.

Transcribed - Published: 10 February 2026

Introducing “Clock It,” a new podcast posted at the intersection of culture and politics from Symone Sanders Townsend and Eugene Daniels.

Transcribed - Published: 5 February 2026

Transcribed - Published: 3 February 2026

C. Thi Nguyen, a philosophy professor at the University of Utah and the author of “The Score: How to Stop Playing Somebody Else's Game," joins to discuss why we’ve gamified so many things and more.

Transcribed - Published: 27 January 2026

Jacob Soboroff, Senior Political and National Reporter for MS NOW, joins WITHpod to discuss his new book, "Firestorm: The Great Los Angeles Fires and America’s New Age of Disaster."

Transcribed - Published: 20 January 2026

Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) joins to discuss his new energy plan, reaction to Venezuela and more.

Transcribed - Published: 13 January 2026

A special invitation from Rachel Maddow.

Transcribed - Published: 9 January 2026

Tim Lee, a journalist and the founder of Understanding AI, joins to discuss advancements in autonomous tech, the impact on jobs, safety concerns and more.

Transcribed - Published: 6 January 2026

Happy New Year! Given the holidays, we're re-sharing one of our most memorable conversations. Jia Tolentino, a staff writer at The New Yorker, joins WITHpod to discuss how AI is changing our perception of the world, how online content can make us more likely to detach from reality and more.

Transcribed - Published: 30 December 2025

Journalist Tim Mak joins WITHpod to discuss what life has been like for him living in Kyiv, what he sees as a possible way forward politically and more.

Transcribed - Published: 23 December 2025

Journalist Ebtihal Mubarak joins WITHpod to discuss what’s been driving this trend, relations with the U.S., the role that Saudi Arabia’s entertainment industry plays in perceptions of the country and more.

Transcribed - Published: 16 December 2025

Benjamin Wallace-Wells, a staff-writer at The New Yorker, joins to discuss the marked rise of political violence in the U.S., what it means for the way politicians engage with constituents and more.

Transcribed - Published: 9 December 2025

Author and journalist David Sirota joins to discuss historical parallels to the present moment, corruption being normalized and more.

Transcribed - Published: 2 December 2025

Rachel Maddow’s new podcast “Burn Order” is out now! Listen to a special preview.

Transcribed - Published: 1 December 2025

Jonathan Cohn, senior national correspondent at The Bulwark, to discuss what’s driving higher prices, biggest inflection points since the Affordable Care Act was passed and what he sees as the most viable next steps.

Transcribed - Published: 25 November 2025

Rachel Maddow’s new podcast “Burn Order” drops 12/1. Listen to the trailer now!

Transcribed - Published: 24 November 2025

Memo Torres, a multimedia journalist and the director of engagement at LA TACO, joins WITHpod to discuss immigration raids consistently ramping up in Los Angeles and beyond, the impact of civilian intervention, how enforcement strategy has changed and more.

Transcribed - Published: 18 November 2025

South America expert Benjamin Gedan, joins WITHpod to discuss the U.S.' relationship with Venezuela, recent strikes, thoughts on regime changes, military pressure ratcheting up and more.

Transcribed - Published: 11 November 2025

Journalist Jasper Nathaniel, who has spent time in the West Bank, joins WITHpod to discuss key inflection points in the region, his thoughts on formal annexation, observations of the response from Israel Defense Forces troops and more.

Transcribed - Published: 4 November 2025

Author and journalist Beth Macy joins WITHpod to discuss how Urbana, Ohio has changed from the time she grew up there, themes that connect other rural American cities, thoughts on having civil discussions despite political differences, the nationalization of politics and more.

Transcribed - Published: 28 October 2025

Sarah Goodyear and Doug Gordon, co-hosts of the “War on Cars” podcast and co-authors of “Life After Cars: Freeing Ourselves from the Tyranny of the Automobile," join WITHpod to discuss the politics of cars, the impact cars have on children, the planet and more.

Transcribed - Published: 21 October 2025

Jen Psaki’s podcast “The Blueprint” is back with more on how the Dems can fight and win again! Listen to an excerpt now.

Transcribed - Published: 15 October 2025

Mary McCord, Executive Director of the Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection and a Visiting Professor of Law at Georgetown University Law Center, joins WITHpod to discuss the legal and ethical implications of this alarming trend – and what it means for democracy.

Transcribed - Published: 14 October 2025

“The Blueprint with Jen Psaki” is back with another season on how the Democrats can fight and win again.

Transcribed - Published: 8 October 2025

Professor Richard Grinker, a cultural anthropologist and director of The George Washington University Institute for Ethnographic Research, joins Chris Hayes to discuss how autism has become a political obsession.

Transcribed - Published: 7 October 2025

Pulitzer-Prize winning journalist Trymaine Lee joins WITHpod to discuss three themes in the book: the long and bloody history of African Americans and guns; his work as a chronicler of gun violence and his own life story.

Transcribed - Published: 30 September 2025

Climate, energy and emerging tech expert Costa Samaras joins to discuss what's rapidly leading to an electricity crisis.

Transcribed - Published: 23 September 2025

Rob Malley and Hussein Agha, co-authors of "Tomorrow Is Yesterday: Life, Death, and the Pursuit of Peace in Israel/Palestine," join to discuss why the Israeli–Palestinian peace process hasn't been successful and what they anticipate lies ahead.

Transcribed - Published: 16 September 2025

Graham Platner, a marine and army veteran and oyster farmer, joins WITHpod to talk about his run for U.S. Senate in Maine.

Transcribed - Published: 9 September 2025

Erica Chenoweth, a political scientist at Harvard, joins to discuss historical and contemporary strategies for protesting, democratic backsliding, global comparisons and more.

Transcribed - Published: 2 September 2025