Washington Post's New Podcast 'Make It Make Sense' Struggles with Low Viewership and Criticism

The Washington Post has launched Make It Make Sense, a new flagship podcast under its opinion section, but the show is already facing criticism for its dull content and minimal public engagement.

The podcast officially debuted on Monday, following reports that the opinion section had invested $80,000 in building a new podcast studio. The show is hosted in rotation by opinion editor Adam O’Neal, deputy opinion editor James Hohmann, and columnists including Carine Hajjar, Kate Andrews, Dominic Pino, and Jason Willick—most of whom are recent hires as part of the section’s shift under ownership by Jeff Bezos.

Despite over 20 episodes since its late-February launch and 186 videos on YouTube, the podcast’s dedicated YouTube channel has only 515 subscribers. Its launch trailer, posted on The Washington Post’s main YouTube channel—which boasts 2.85 million subscribers—has garnered just 1,400 views as of Wednesday afternoon.

Podcast ratings are similarly underwhelming. On Apple Podcasts, the show has received only four ratings, averaging 2.3 stars out of five. The most positive review, cited by 404 Media’s Jason Koebler, reads:

“This is bad and the people making it should feel bad.”

The podcast’s video content, produced in the newly built studio, has also struggled. A video posted Tuesday has only 217 views, while videos with triple-digit view counts are likely driven by negative engagement, according to Koebler.

The Studio and Format

The $80,000 investment was allocated specifically for video equipment, not the studio itself, which features wood paneling, a bar, couches, a small framed American flag print, and a larger framed image of a cowboy on horseback behind the hosts’ couch.

The format of the show has been described as resembling an unscripted print editorial board meeting. Hosts sit on the couch under the wood paneling and cowboy image, casually discussing topics such as:

• Why weed may be more dangerous than commonly believed
• Media inaccuracies surrounding Covid-19
• What to do with racist statues
• Criticisms of Twitch streamer Hasan Piker

Koebler’s transcription of one video revealed hosts struggling with basic facts, such as whether any sitting president has attended a Supreme Court oral argument. One host responded, “I think so. I think,” while another concluded, “This is bad.”

Broader Context and Criticism

The Washington Post’s video push, including Make It Make Sense, appears to be failing publicly, mirroring struggles at other billionaire-funded prestige media outlets that rely on similar models. Critics argue the content lacks depth, while engagement metrics remain microscopic. The financial backing, they suggest, may be driven more by ideological motives than a commitment to fostering a vibrant marketplace of ideas.