Make It Make Sense

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 self-image among young women.

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 are reshaping American politics.

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 would take to bring Russia back to the negotiating table.

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 Trumpism.

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 whether fears of a Chinese AGI takeover are just hype.

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 regime, how Lebanon factors into the negotiations and what the ultimate costs and benefits could be fo...

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 and why the promise of liberation remains unfulfilled.

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 on their angst.

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 transformed into a polarizing event. The guests examine the friction between competing "America 250" and "F...

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.

‘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 President Donald Trump.

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 of an apolitical justice system.

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.

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 Golden State's political landscape, including whether the GOP can capture the governor's mansion and if S...

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.

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 this alliance.

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.

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.

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 toward a midterms disaster.

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.

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 Talarico's polished strategy in Texas and Spencer Pratt’s AI-fueled mayoral run in Los Angeles. Are voter...

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 actually worthwhile. Also, can the Strait of Hormuz be opened without total war? And why is Gen Z agains...

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.

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?

An upcoming Washington Post Opinions show. Stay tuned. 00:00 - Monologue 02:49 - Affordability gets worse as Iran war drags 16:36 - Trump AI meme angers MAGA 28:22 - Who really pays taxes in America?