Why Is This Happening? The Chris Hayes Podcast

Sasha Issenberg, author of 'The Lie Detectives,' dives into the world of winning campaigns in the disinformation age. Topics include combating false narratives, navigating political misinformation, managing disinformation in campaigns, and the impact of foreign manipulation. A deep dive into the challenges of disinformation in elections and insights on navigating the complex information landscape.

Eddie S. Glaude Jr., a distinguished professor, discusses the historical lineage and efficacy of protests, emphasizing the need to rethink mobilization and avoid 'outsourcing' change. Topics include inflection points in mass movements, student protests at Morehouse University, radical facets of historical protests, critiques of leadership, and the importance of virtue ethics in democracy.

David Roberts, founder of the Volts podcast, discusses the Biden administration's climate actions, potential rollbacks under Trump, and the importance of this moment. They explore Texas' renewable energy leadership, political challenges in energy policies, and the impact of uncapped tax credits on clean energy investment. The conversation emphasizes the urgency of transitioning to clean energy to meet climate targets.

Author and national voting rights correspondent Ari Berman discusses his book 'Minority Rule' with Chris Hayes, exploring the right-wing's assault on democracy, flaws in the U.S. Constitution's founding era, John Calhoun's legacy of white supremacy, and challenges to democracy including voter suppression and gerrymandering.

Author and founder of abortioneveryday.com, Jessica Valenti, discusses the potential overturning of Roe v. Wade under Biden's term, the status of abortion laws across states, the risks faced by individuals seeking reproductive care, nuances of abortion laws, the battle for reproductive rights under different administrations, and the future of abortion laws and political impact.

MSNBC legal correspondent Lisa Rubin discusses the Trump trial, flaws in the legal system, and key figures involved. Topics include jurisdictional disputes, David Packer's role, media influence, and judicial handling of Trump's legal issues.

Tech expert Meredith Whittaker discusses the rise of AI, concerns about user privacy, and the need for tech companies to move away from monetizing user surveillance. Topics include the evolution of tech, inefficiencies of surveillance-based ad tech, hidden costs of AI models, and the power play of cloud business.

Kimberly Clausing, tax expert, discusses Trump vs. Biden tax policies, implications of tax cuts for wealthy elites, corporate tax rates and profit shifting challenges, IRS funding implications, and the impact of tax policies on different income groups. Clausing also highlights the evolution of tax policies under Presidents Biden and Trump, emphasizing changes in tax rates, poverty reduction efforts, and clean energy investments.

Immigration expert Aaron Reichlin-Melnick delves into the differences between Trump and Biden's immigration policies, including border enforcement and the asylum system. They discuss the impact of Title 42, border crossings, and bipartisan efforts for reform. Reichlin-Melnick highlights challenges in legal immigration, resource constraints, and the need for comprehensive solutions.

Our guest this week was thrown in jail and fired from his job after social media posts he made about Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7th. Meir Baruchin, 62, is an Israeli history and civics teacher who was held in solitary confinement for four days after posts he made denouncing the war in Gaza. There was an adjudicated process in which he was later found to be wrongly fired from his job in the central Israeli city of Petah Tikv. He was later reinstated. Baruchin joins WITHpod to discuss the political persecution he says he’s faced, the intense suffering he’s witnessed, the ongoing legal process he’s experienced and more. UPDATE: Since publishing this episode, Baruchin was granted a permanent injunction against the Ministry of Education and the municipality of Petah Tikva, which will allow him to continue teaching and physically re-enter his classes.