Podcasts by Hacks On Tap
When David Axelrod, Mike Murphy and Robert Gibbs get together to talk politics, it’s not academic. They speak from the perspective gained through hundreds of campaigns for offices from City Hall to the White House. So if you want to know what’s really going on behind the scenes, where strategic decisions are being made, pull up a stool for Hacks on Tap. Incisive, sometimes uproarious and always entertaining, these political warhorses and their guests will give you insights you’ll only get from folks who have spent a lifetime in the political trenches of both parties.
Further podcasts by David Axelrod
Podcast on the topic Politik
All episodes
The RINO Rebellion? (with Amy Walter) from 2022-02-16T00:41:05
Legitimate Political Discourse from 2022-02-09T02:01:56
Eruption of Mt. Orange from 2022-02-02T02:54:03
Reset Report Card (with Jennifer Palmieri) from 2022-01-26T00:14
The Almighty vs The Alternative (with Jonathan Martin) from 2022-01-19T02:02:24
Joltin’ Joe Comes Out Swinging (with Addisu Demissie) from 2022-01-11T23:52:37
The Madman Behind The Curtain from 2022-01-05T01:57:35
Hacky Holidays, Mailbag Edition! from 2021-12-22T03:17:43
GOPuppets (with Steve Bullock) from 2021-12-15T02:40:39
20/24 Vision (with Bill Kristol) from 2021-12-08T00:30:28
Kitten Swipes and Variant Fights (with John Heilemann) from 2021-12-01T00:42:10
Inflation Nation (with Tony Fabrizio) from 2021-11-17T00:40:06
Process Over Substance (with Amy Walter) from 2021-11-10T02:00:15
Dems In Disarray? from 2021-11-03T22:08:05
Off To The Races (with Dave Wasserman) from 2021-10-27T01:12:52
All Roads Go Through Virginia from 2021-10-19T22:12:01
The Shot Clock Ticks from 2021-10-12T23:47:51
Here’s The Deal? from 2021-10-05T23:36:26
Where the Rubber Meets the Road (with John Anzalone) from 2021-09-28T23:32:15
A High-Wire Act (with Jonathan Martin) from 2021-09-21T23:49:11
A New Day For Newsom (with Dana Bash) from 2021-09-16T01:55:58
Can the Golden State Stay Blue? (with Peter Hamby) from 2021-09-07T23:27:49
The Short vs. Long Term (with Bill Kristol) from 2021-08-24T23:50:33
The Collapse of Afghanistan from 2021-08-18T00:04:32
Pugnacious Pols & Bipartisan Bills (with Paul Begala) from 2021-08-11T01:19:41
Mixed Messages (with Mark McKinnon) from 2021-08-04T01:07:19
U.S. House of Horrors (with Jackie Calmes) from 2021-07-28T00:35:17
Baseball Bats and Ghirardelli (with Steve Israel) from 2021-07-21T00:26:15
Texas Hold ‘Em (with Al Franken) from 2021-07-14T01:13:47
A Tale of Two Tracks (with Bill Kristol) from 2021-07-06T23:19:56
Rocky Road (with Stephanie Cutter) from 2021-06-29T23:34:25
Tyranny of the Minority (with Amy Walter) from 2021-06-22T22:29:36
Biden Takes the World Stage (with Howard Wolfson) from 2021-06-15T22:47:48
Infra-STUCK-ure (with Charlie Sykes) from 2021-06-09T00:19:28
Building Bridges (with Jonathan Martin) from 2021-06-01T21:33:26
Jonathan Martin, a national political correspondent for The New York Times, joins Axe and Gibbs to discuss the make or break moment for infrastructure talks, whether a bill to restrict voting in Te...
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Infrastructure Week? (with Rahm Emanuel) from 2021-05-25T23:47:37
Former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel joins Axe and Murphy to discuss the latest twists and turns in the negotiations over infrastructure spending and Biden’s agenda more broadly, the continued GOP inf...
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Inconvenient Truths (with Barbara Comstock) from 2021-05-19T00:19:12
Former Republican Congresswoman Barbara Comstock joins Axe and Murphy to discuss what lies ahead for the GOP after Rep. Liz Cheney’s removal from House leadership, the likelihood that a commission ...
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Weather Vanes & Freedom Fights (with Mark Mellman) from 2021-05-11T23:21:02
Democratic pollster and strategist Mark Mellman joins Gibbs and Murphy to discuss the impending removal of Rep. Liz Cheney from House Republican leadership, what her likely departure says about int...
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The Davos of Bipartisanship (with Karl Rove) from 2021-05-05T01:10:06
Karl Rove, former deputy chief of staff to President George W. Bush and current Fox News contributor and Wall Street Journal columnist, joins Axe and Gibbs to discuss the latest GOP infighting and ...
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Welcome to Fate of Fact from 2021-05-03T07:01
Welcome to a new audio documentary, Fate of Fact, a presentation of Shining City Audio, a C13Originals and Jon Meacham studio. Throughout the course of five episodes in season one, Pulitzer-Prize w...
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America on the Move from 2021-04-29T08:01:53
Axe, Murphy, and Gibbs convene for a special late-night edition of Hacks on Tap after Biden’s first address to Congress. The Hacks discuss Biden’s ambitious agenda as he marks 100 days in office, S...
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Yoda and the Lessons of Power (with Susan Page) from 2021-04-21T00:18
USA TODAY Washington Bureau Chief Susan Page joins Axe and Murphy to discuss Walter Mondale’s legacy, the ongoing negotiations around Biden’s infrastructure proposal, the politics of gun control, a...
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The Ants Go Marching (with Mark McKinnon) from 2021-04-14T00:42
Gibbs and Murphy are joined this week by Mark McKinnon, executive producer and co-host of Showtime’s The Circus. The Hacks discuss the messaging opportunities and challenges ahead for both parties ...
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Infrastructuring (with Will Hurd) from 2021-04-07T01:14:41
Former Texas Congressman Will Hurd joins Axe and Gibbs this week to discuss the battle over the shape and size of Biden’s infrastructure bill, Major League Baseball’s decision to pull the All-Star ...
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Politics of the Possible (with Ron Brownstein) from 2021-03-30T23:56:48
wJournalist and CNN senior political analyst Ron Brownstein joins Axe and Murphy to discuss how the politicization of the pandemic will impact elections in ’22 and ’24, the messaging opportunities ...
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Godzilla & The GOP (with Tony Fabrizio) from 2021-03-23T22:54:02
Veteran Republican pollster and strategist Tony Fabrizio, who served as Trump’s chief pollster in ’16 and ’20, joins Axe and Murphy to discuss his analysis of the five “tribes” that make up the cur...
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Shots In Arms & Checks In Pockets (with Claire McCaskill) from 2021-03-16T23:41:45
Former Missouri Senator and current NBC & MSNBC analyst Claire McCaskill joins Axe and Gibbs to discuss how President Biden’s recovery plan will impact the 2022 midterm elections, the politics of t...
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Voting Rights and Filibuster Fights (with Rahm Emanuel) from 2021-03-10T02:21
Former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel joins Axe and Murphy to discuss the passage of the COVID relief bill in the Senate, the ongoing debate about filibuster reform, and the fight around voting rights....
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When CPACs Attack (with Scott Jennings) from 2021-03-03T01:10
This week, Axe and Murphy are joined by Scott Jennings, a GOP strategist, conservative columnist, and CNN commentator. In the wake of Trump’s first public appearance since leaving office, the Hacks...
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Blanchin’ From Manchin (with Brad Woodhouse) from 2021-02-24T00:32:42
Brad Woodhouse, executive director of Protect Our Care and senior advisor to the DNC, joins Gibbs and Murphy to discuss Ted Cruz’s jaunt to Cancun, the politics surrounding the nomination of Neera ...
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Impeachment: The Sequel (with Bill Kristol) from 2021-02-16T20:59:57
Bill Kristol, editor-at-large of The Bulwark, joins Axe and Murphy to discuss the historic second impeachment trial of former President Trump and what the Senate’s acquittal means for the future of...
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Introducing The Daily Punch from 2021-02-12T14:11:29
Every weekday morning, The Daily Punch brings you inside Capitol Hill, the White House and Washington for an unfiltered look at the key players and stakes of all major issues of the day. People. Po...
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Greene Achers (with Amanda Carpenter) from 2021-02-09T11:00
Axe and Murphy are joined by Amanda Carpenter, a CNN contributor and political columnist for the Bulwark. With the second impeachment trial of former President Trump looming large, the Hacks discus...
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Unity, Not Unanimity (with Heidi Heitkamp) from 2021-02-03T02:37:18
Former North Dakota Senator Heidi Heitkamp, host of The Hot Dish podcast and co-founder and chair of the One Country Project, joins Axe and Gibbs to discuss the politics and strategy behind the COV...
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President Joe Biden from 2021-01-21T02:48
A few hours after Joe Biden became the 46th President of the United States, Axe, Murphy, and Gibbs convened to recap the historic day. The Hacks reflect on President Biden’s inaugural address, bask...
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Pardon Me? (with Rahm Emanuel) from 2021-01-19T03:24:55
Former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel joins Axe and Murphy for the final Hacks of the Trump presidency. With unprecedented security measures in place in the nation’s capital, the Hacks discuss the mess...
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2020: Extra Innings (with John Heilemann) from 2021-01-13T00:51:19
Axe and Murphy sit down with the one and only John Heilemann to try to make sense of this moment. The Hacks discuss some of the dynamics that contributed to the insurrection, the politics of a seco...
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A Republic, If You Can Keep It from 2021-01-07T06:56:37
Axe, Gibbs, and Murphy sit down at the end of a sad and surreal day in American history. As Congress reconvened to finish certifying President-elect Biden’s victory, the Hacks discuss the insurrect...
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Hacky Holidays! from 2020-12-16T02:32:04
With the Electoral College handing Biden what felt like his 17th win, Axe, Murphy, and Gibbs convene for the last time this year to bid adieu to 2020. The Hacks discuss the future of Trumpism, Murp...
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A Most Gracious Loser (with John Heilemann) from 2020-12-09T00:10
Axe and Gibbs are joined by superhack John Heilemann, now the host of his own podcast “Hell & High Water.” The Hacks discuss the ongoing attempt by Trump to subvert our democracy, take a deep dive ...
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Kook D'Etat (with Jennifer Palmieri) from 2020-12-02T02:38:45
Jennifer Palmieri, former White House communications director and host of the podcast “Just Something About Her,” joins Axe and Murphy to discuss Trump’s latest tantrum about election fraud, Biden’...
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Bonjour, Biden Boom from 2020-11-25T04:19:47
Axe, Murphy, and Gibbs gather to give thanks for a start to the formal transition process and for a slew of qualified cabinet picks by President-elect Biden. They also discuss the looming Georgia r...
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My Cousin Rudy from 2020-11-20T07:27:56
Murphy and Gibbs are joined by President-elect Joe Biden's pollster John Anzalone to talk about what the Hell is going on right now (it's all good, don't worry!), review the decisions the Biden cam...
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A White House Held Hostage (with Dave Wasserman) from 2020-11-18T01:48:21
This week, Axe and Murphy are joined by Dave Wasserman of the Cook Political Report. It’s been two weeks since Election Day and the Hacks continue their postmortem with a deep dive into what happen...
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Trump Outrage Fatigue from 2020-11-13T00:26:22
With the election in the rear view mirror (and yes, despite what the president says, it is over!) Axe, Murphy, and Gibbs discuss Trump’s ongoing attempts to undermine the institutions of our democr...
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President-Elect Joe Biden from 2020-11-08T03:31
After election night turned into election week, it’s finally official: Joe Biden is the next President of the United States. Axe, Gibbs, and Murphy discuss the results of this unprecedented campaig...
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Election Day Survival Guide from 2020-11-02T20:23:54
Well Hackaroos, we’ve arrived. Axe, Murphy, and Gibbs sit down for the last time before Election Day to discuss the final moments of the campaign, what to expect on November 3rd, and when we might ...
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We're Rounding The Corner... To Election Day (with Mark McKinnon) from 2020-10-30T02:39:31
Axe and Gibbs are joined by private first class Hackeroo and The Circus' Mark McKinnon to talk about whether Texas will turn blue, what Trump's possible electoral path could be to winning, and the ...
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T-Minus One Week (with Rahm Emanuel) from 2020-10-28T00:10:39
Former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel is back to help Axe and Murphy begin the one week countdown to Election Day. With COVID dominating the airwaves, the Hacks discuss Trump’s continued disregard for ...
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Welcome to Fiasco Season 1 Bush v. Gore from 2020-10-26T07:01
Host Leon Neyfakh transports listeners into the day-to-day reality of our country’s most pivotal historical events, bringing to life the forgotten twists and turns of the past while shedding light ...
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The Final Debate: Mr. Mute vs. Sir Scranton from 2020-10-23T08:36:04
Axe, Gibbs, and Murphy sit down after the final presidential debate, accompanied by some chips and guac, for a late-night edition of snacks-on-tap. The Hacks discuss the night’s biggest moments and...
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Polls Traumatic Stress Disorder (with John Heilemann) from 2020-10-20T23:49:41
With two weeks to go until Election Day, John Heilemann of Showtime’s The Circus is back to help Axe and Murphy break down the latest national polls, Trump’s closing strategy (or lack thereof), and...
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Crazy Uncle POTUS (with Mark Salter) from 2020-10-16T23:02:47
Axe and Gibbs are joined by Mark Salter, longtime political advisor to the late Senator John McCain and author of a new book The Luckiest Man: Life with John McCain. The Hacks recap the dueling tow...
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Repeat After Me: It's Not 2016 (with Amy Walter) from 2020-10-13T23:22
Amy Walter, the national editor of the Cook Political Report, joins Murphy and Gibbs to discuss the impact of the Supreme Court confirmation hearings and the state of the 2020 Presidential race (yu...
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Pencesplaining & Insect Baiting from 2020-10-08T07:44:14
Axe, Gibbs, and Murphy are abuzz with post-debate analysis as they convene for a special late night edition of Hacks on Tap. They break down the night’s biggest moments and discuss whether, in a tu...
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A Cluster on Steroids (with Claire McCaskill) from 2020-10-06T22:36:55
Former Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill joins Axe and Murphy to discuss the physical and metaphorical clusters surrounding President Trump. The Hacks attempt to make sense of Trump’s return to the...
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Hacks on Call from 2020-10-02T18:46
The news that President Trump tested positive for Coronavirus has thrown the campaign—and the country—into a new realm of uncertainty. Axe, Gibbs, and Murphy convene for a special edition of Hacks ...
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Who Is "They" And Where Is This River? (with Charlie Sykes) from 2020-10-02T04:12
Axe and Gibbs spend this episode talking to The Bulwark's Charlie Sykes and in search of this river! Two days after the Cleveland Debacle we sift through the debate one more time, talk about the po...
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Trump's Peaceful Transfer of Glower (with Rahm Emanuel) from 2020-09-25T04:41
Murphy and Gibbs welcome the Honorable Hack/former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel to talk about Trump’s comments on election rigging, what Biden has to do in the upcoming debate next week and more poli...
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SCOTUS Scramble (with Bob Shrum) from 2020-09-22T22:56:54
Axe and Murphy are joined this week by Bob Shrum, longtime political consultant, speechwriter, and strategist. The Hacks discuss the politics of the Supreme Court vacancy and what this means for Re...
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Lowering the Barr from 2020-09-18T00:25:46
Axe is joined by John Heilemann of Showtime’s The Circus, and Matthew Dowd, Chief Political Analyst at ABC and former chief strategist for the Bush 2004 campaign. The Hacks discuss Attorney General...
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The Mellman College of Polling Knowledge (with Mark Mellman) from 2020-09-15T23:47:18
You got a polling question? Well, we got your answer! Murphy and Gibbs tap the voluminous knowledge and experience of super pollster Mark Mellman on battleground states, Latino voters, undecided vo...
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Playing It Down With Bob from 2020-09-11T05:47:32
Gibbs and Murphy are joined by guest hack Joe Trippi. In this episode, they talk about Trump’s 18 (!!!) interviews with Bob Woodward, the polling anxiety that goes with being a Democrat and winning...
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Coward in Chief (with Stephanie Cutter) from 2020-09-09T00:51:04
Axe and Murphy are joined by Stephanie Cutter, a longtime Democratic operative who most recently produced the 2020 Democratic National Convention. They discuss the Atlantic’s reporting that Trump m...
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An Election So Nice, You’ll Want to Vote Twice! (With Mark McKinnon) from 2020-09-04T03:58:04
Gibbs and Axe are joined by the one and only Mark McKinnon, co-host of Showtime’s The Circus and a former Presidential advisor to George W. Bush, who spent the week in the battleground state of Wis...
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Post-Convention Politics & The Dark Force Farce from 2020-09-02T00:18:41
Axe and Murphy are joined this week by Addisu Demissie, former campaign manager for Cory Booker’s presidential run and senior advisor for Joe Biden and the DNC. With both national conventions in th...
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Introducing: It Was Said (w Jon Meacham) from 2020-08-31T04:01
Welcome to It Was Said, a 10-episode limited documentary series looking back on some of the most powerful, impactful and timeless speeches in American history. Join Pulitzer Prize winning and best-...
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Trump's Never Ending Reality Show (With Amanda Carpenter) from 2020-08-28T06:44:08
Guest Hack Amanda Carpenter of CNN and The Bulwark joins Gibbs and Murphy to recap the Trump National Convention. Did the GOP move the needle? What's the next move for Biden and Harris? Is Trump ev...
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MAGA Mission: The RNC Begins from 2020-08-25T23:07:29
Guest Hack John Heilemann of Showtime's The Circus is back this week to help Axe and Murphy recap the first night of the Republican National Convention. The GOP promised a week full of optimism and...
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The Conventions Commence (with Rahm Emanuel) from 2020-08-18T22:10
The day after the debut of the first-ever virtual convention, Axe and Murphy convene to discuss what worked and what didn’t. Joined by former Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel, the Hacks break down the me...
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Executive Disorder (with Paul Begala) from 2020-08-12T02:00
Axe and Murphy are reunited this week and joined by Paul Begala, former counselor to President Clinton and author of the new book, "You're Fired: The Perfect Guide to Beating Donald Trump." The Hac...
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It's Harris! from 2020-08-11T20:25
The veepstakes are finally over and the pick is in: Joe Biden has chosen Senator Kamala Harris as his running mate! In this special addition of Hacks on Tap, Axe, Murphy, and guest Hack Robert Gibb...
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Where’s the Manual for Mayhem? from 2020-08-04T23:15
Murphy is out on assignment this week, but thankfully Alex Wagner and Robert Gibbs are here to fill the void. The Hacks discuss Trump’s unrelenting attacks on mail-in voting and his attempts to und...
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VP Jeebies (with John Heilemann) from 2020-07-29T00:40
This week we’re joined by super Hack John Heilemann, co-host of The Circus on Showtime. It’s no secret that one of Trump’s biggest obstacles to reelection is his own handling of the COVID-19 pandem...
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Fort Bragg-adocious (with Donna Brazile) from 2020-07-22T00:15
Axe and Murphy are joined this week by Democratic political strategist and former acting DNC Chair Donna Brazile. We talk about Trump’s new interview with Fox’s Chris Wallace, POTUS’s alternative r...
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Cognitive Distancing (with Mark McKinnon) from 2020-07-14T22:03
Axe and Murphy are joined by guest hack Mark McKinnon, former presidential adviser and co-host of Showtime’s The Circus. This week we talk Trump’s continuous Covid catastrophe, presidential ad wars...
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Chaos Culture and a Special Senate Deep-Dive (with Amy Walter) from 2020-07-08T00:36:39
The Hacks return for a special Senate deep-dive with The Cook Political Report’s Amy Walter. First, we talk Trump’s new ad offensive, the torqued up grievance war, and how it may play in the 2020 p...
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Pandemic Panic: Trump’s COVID Crack-Up (with John Heilemann) from 2020-07-01T00:03:42
This week the Hacks welcome back John Heilemann of Showtime’s The Circus and The Recount. We cover Covid's resurgence in red states and how it could affect Trump’s reelection bid, mixed messaging f...
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Tirades in Tulsa (with Robert Gibbs) from 2020-06-23T23:51:34
This week, Axe and Murphy are joined by former White House press secretary Robert Gibbs. We talk Trump’s Tulsa tirade and what the smaller-than-anticipated crowd size could mean for the campaign, t...
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The President of Lawlessness and Disorder (with Alex Wagner) from 2020-06-16T23:29
Axe and Murphy are joined this week by Alex Wagner of Showtime’s “The Circus” and CBS News.
Trumpworld is in turmoil as civil rights protests churn nationwide, POTUS’s poll numbers plunge,...
Protests, Polling, and Provisions (with Phil Rosenthal) from 2020-06-09T22:28:54
Joining Murphy at the helm this week is Phil Rosenthal, television writer, producer, and creator of Netflix’s “Somebody Feed Phil.” This week, we talk Trump’s plummeting approval rating amid nation...
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A Nation Grieves and the President Seethes (with Robert Gibbs) from 2020-06-03T00:09:44
Axe and Murphy are joined this week by former Obama White House press secretary Robert Gibbs. We discuss the grief and outrage gripping the nation in the wake of George Floyd’s murder, the suppress...
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Masks and Gaffes (with John Heilemann) from 2020-05-27T00:00:56
Axe and Murphy are joined by guest hack John Heilemann of The Recount and Showtime’s The Circus. This week we unpack the latest polling, what the Hacks think might move persuadable voters, Biden’s ...
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POTUS’s Prescription: Hoaxes and Hydroxy (with Rahm Emanuel) from 2020-05-20T01:26
Guest hack Rahm Emanuel, former Chicago mayor and Chief of Staff to President Obama, joins Axe and Murphy to discuss Trump’s trip down hydroxychloroquine lane, the Democratic party’s messaging prob...
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Prevailin’ or Just Wailin’? (with Robert Gibbs) from 2020-05-12T22:34:36
Axe and Murphy are joined this week by Robert Gibbs, former White House press secretary. This week we talk Trump’s tantrum press briefing, Obama’s criticism of the federal government’s response to ...
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Ain't No Abe Lincoln (with Alex Wagner) from 2020-05-06T01:39:15
The Hacks are joined this week by Alex Wagner, host of Crooked Media’s new podcast “Six Feet Apart” and co-host of Showtime’s The Circus.
We talk Trump’s pivot from running on the economy...
Trump Derails and Clorox Cocktails (with John Heilemann) from 2020-04-28T23:10
Axe and Murphy reunite this week with special guest hack John Heilemann of MSNBC, The Recount, and Showtime’s The Circus. The Hacks talk Trump’s China blame game and the politics of the economy. Pl...
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Open Mic Night and Gov Fights (with Mark McKinnon) from 2020-04-22T00:04:21
Axe and Murphy unite virtually with guest hack Mark McKinnon, former presidential adviser and co-host of Showtime’s The Circus.
This week, we talk POTUS’ push to re-open the economy, the...
Trump's Total Authority (with Rahm Emanuel) from 2020-04-15T02:06
Axe and Murphy return with fellow super-hack and former Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel to talk all the latest, including Trump’s presser meltdown, Obama’s Biden endorsement, the Wisconsin election, and...
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Trump’s Prescription: Mixed Messaging from 2020-04-07T23:30
The Hacks are once again joined by former White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs to break down the latest in a raucous week in DC.
Wisconsin improbably held its primary amid a pandemic, despi...
Reality vs. A Reality Show from 2020-04-01T01:27
This week, Axe and Murphy are joined by former Obama White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs to discuss the latest:
When reality becomes reality TV: Trump’s daily press briefings threate...
A Crisis of Confidence from 2020-03-24T22:50:45
The socially-distanced Hacks reunite virtually to discuss the latest:
Trump twists his tune as the dire COVID-19 consequences take hold. Trump is zeroing in on the pandemic’s economic imp...
“I’m dealing with a #$%*ing global crisis” (with John Heilemann) from 2020-03-19T23:55
The socially-distanced Hacks reunite with special guest John Heilemann of MSNBC, Showtime’s The Circus, and The Recount.
As the gravity of the Coronavirus escalates and the world shudder...
A Debate, Uncharted Waters, and the Veepstakes Begin from 2020-03-16T22:54:29
The Hacks convene the day after what might be the last debate of the primary to share their reactions and analysis. What did Biden and Sanders do well and where did they miss the mark? Will Biden’s...
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The Bern Cools and Politics of a Pandemic from 2020-03-12T00:48:35
Another Super Tuesday is behind us!
Bernie Sanders makes it clear he intends to stay in the race — for now. What does this mean for the upcoming head-to-head debate in Arizona?
What message...
Super Tuesday Recap: And Then There Were Two from 2020-03-05T23:34:48
Turns out Super Tuesday was super exciting. The Hacks spent a day taking it all in and are now ready to sort through the fallout. Where did Biden’s surprise surge come from? Now that the race has n...
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The Fact of the Matter is… Joe is Back! from 2020-03-02T02:11:09
The Hacks convene in the aftermath of the South Carolina Democratic primary to talk about what Joe Biden’s win might mean for the rest of the race. Did Biden get his Mo-Joe back?
Buttigieg drop...
BONUS: How To Vote for the Next President from 2020-02-27T11:00
On this bonus crossover episode, the Hacks join Slate's "How To! With Charles Duhigg" to discuss how to weigh ideology vs. electability and rank the issues that really matter. They talk to an Indep...
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Will the Democratic Party Bern?—On to South Carolina from 2020-02-25T00:15:35
The Hacks are back for a special post-Nevada, pre-South Carolina pod:
First, Sanders claims his surge has the Democratic establishment worried: can anyone best Bernie or will the Democrati...
Sin City Slugfest: Democrats Duke it Out from 2020-02-20T21:03
The Hacks are back to break down the latest Democratic debate from Las Vegas, Nevada–
Mike Bloomberg makes his debate stage debut but bombs under a barrage of blows. He may have fallen sh...
Live Free or Die: New Hampshire Votes from 2020-02-12T20:46:28
The Hacks are back to break down the results out of New Hampshire. Bernie Sanders narrowly edged out Pete Buttigieg in the first in the nation primary. Amy Klobuchar proved that the “Klobusurge” is...
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Quality (Out-of) Control: Iowa’s Meltdown and On to New Hampshire from 2020-02-04T21:04:54
Bleary-eyed and results-less, Murphy and guest hack Robert Gibbs join forces to wade through last night’s Iowa caucus madness.
Are the Iowa caucuses no longer viable? Laden with technical ...
Burisma is the New Benghazi and the Mad Dash to Iowa from 2020-01-28T22:35:28
The Hacks are back this week with a live edition before students at the University of Chicago Institute of Politics. We talk all the latest—
First, John Bolton’s new book coincidentally c...
Impeachy Not-So-Keen and the Iowa Countdown from 2020-01-21T20:14:58
The Hacks are here to talk all the latest:
The impeachment trial launches in the Senate and both sides assume their marks: will it amount to more than Kabuki theater, or will the partisan ...
Duking it Out in Des Moines and the Non-Handshake from Hell from 2020-01-15T20:12:05
The mad dash to the Iowa caucuses are upon us! The Hacks break down the Des Moines Register/CNN Democratic Debate—and pinch-hitting for David this week is the great Robert Gibbs, former White House...
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Hacky New Year!—Iran, Iowa, & Impeachment from 2020-01-07T21:16:52
The Hacks kick off the new decade with all the latest—
President Trump ordered the fatal strike of Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani last week. Was there a strategy behind the move, and to wh...
Merry Debate-mas with a Dash of Joe-mentum from 2019-12-20T09:54:04
The Hacks reunite in Los Angeles, California as the sixth Democratic debate draws to a close.
Joe Biden and Amy Klobuchar overperform the norm: will this newfound Joe-mentum last?
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Jolt’n Joe Biden and Impeachment Day Zero from 2019-12-10T21:14:23
The hacks are here to talk all the latest—
Politics of impeachment: as the impeachment saga continues to unfold, Democrats and Republicans alike continue to politicize the process. How mu...
No Kamalot! Harris Exits and Trump Churns from 2019-12-04T00:30
This week, the Hacks dive into the latest polling out of New Hampshire and size up the state of the race. With the breaking news that Sen. Kamala Harris is dropping out, will other lower-tier candi...
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26: No Kamalot! Harris Exits and Trump Churns from 2019-12-04T00:30
This week, the Hacks dive into the latest polling out of New Hampshire and size up the state of the race. With the breaking news that Sen. Kamala Harris is dropping out, will other lower-tier candi...
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The Great Zzzzebate and Will Impeachment Ignite? from 2019-11-21T20:33:40
The Hacks are back to discuss the latest Democratic debate. With public impeachment hearings sucking up most of the oxygen, did the debate move the needle in the race? Axe and Murphy break down eac...
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Bloomberg or Iceberg?—New Entrants and The Impeachment Show from 2019-11-12T20:42:23
The Hacks huddle to tackle the latest:
The public impeachment hearings kick off this week. Republicans have been auditioning wild arguments in defense of the president—and Jeff Sessions’ n...
Poltergeisty Polls, LJ Dinner Wrap-Up, and Bye-Bye Beto from 2019-11-05T22:10
The Hacks are back this week to talk through the latest:
The famed Liberty and Justice Dinner (formerly known as the Jefferson-Jackson) wrapped last Friday in Iowa: Who stood out, what doe...
al-Baghdadi Issues and Impressions in Iowa from 2019-10-29T20:12
This week, the Hacks talk politics of al-Baghdadi: did Trump overplay the death of the ISIS leader? Will Trump benefit, and will it last?
The timing of Nancy Pelosi's impeachment decision...
The Pierre Affair and Senate Slippage? (with Cory Booker) from 2019-10-22T22:04
This week, the Hacks dive into:
The state of the Senate Republicans: Is Mitt Romney — aka Pierre Delecto — a lone detractor of harbinger of what’s to come? Plus, Lindsay Graham tells Axi...
All's Fair in Love and Warren from 2019-10-16T18:49
The fourth Democratic presidential debate is behind us and the hacks are here to break it all down.
All eyes are on Liz Warren as she gets frontrunner treatment for the very first time: how di...
Great and Unmatched... Wisdom (with John Heilemann) from 2019-10-09T00:03
The Hacks are back from their jaunt to Austin and itching to dig into the latest. Hill Republicans and Democrats alike are in a tizzy over Trump’s call to pull troops out of Syria – but will the mo...
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Hacks Live from Austin with Karl Rove from 2019-09-30T19:05
The Hacks reunite LIVE at the Texas Tribune Festival in Austin, TX. This time, they’re joined by super-hack Karl Rove — former Senior Advisor to President George W. Bush — to break down all the lat...
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Hard Rain from Ukraine and Boarding the Bus with Mayor Pete Buttigieg from 2019-09-24T23:40
From whistleblowers to whistlestops, Axe and Murphy are chewing over the latest call for impeachment, Rep. Joe Kennedy, and new polling out of Iowa. Mayor Pete Buttigieg joins the show from his Not...
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More Debates and 10,000 Takes with Sen. Amy Klobuchar from 2019-09-16T21:31
The Hacks are back after a Democratic debate with no shortage of talking points: Castro put Biden on blast, Betsy from Oklahoma ditched the cap and gown, and Beto brought the passion on guns. Axe a...
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Houston, We Have a Preview from 2019-09-11T23:29
The Hacks are back in the run-up to Thursday’s debate. And the stage in Houston will be packed with TEN candidates—so what does each need to do in order to stand out? In order to keep the cash flow...
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Hats, Prattle, and a Primary Battle with Mark McKinnon from 2019-09-03T21:15
In this week’s episode, Biden flubs the details, but will it ever cross the line with voters? Axe and Murphy also take stock of the rest of the field ahead of the next Democratic debate, what's nex...
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A Hack in Hog Heaven and Trump’s Tempestuous Trip from 2019-08-27T22:20
Axe is back from his stint in the cornfields of Iowa armed with new intel to break down with Murphy. But first – the hacks talk Trump’s erratic behavior at the G7 summit, size up Trump’s new primar...
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Mooch Ado About Something from 2019-08-20T23:22
Axe has returned from his secret mission and is reunited with Murphy as they hash through Trump’s latest poll numbers and his frustration with Fox News. The first Biden TV ad has dropped in Iowa, b...
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Calling All Conspiracies and Let Biden Be Biden from 2019-08-13T20:15
In this week’s episode, Democratic strategist and guest host Paul Begala joins Murphy on the mic to take stock of this week’s news. The hacks talk Jeffrey Epstein’s sudden death and the rise of con...
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Words, Guns, El Paso and Dayton with Rep. Steve Israel from 2019-08-07T21:19:58
After the country was jolted yet again by mass shootings in El Paso and Dayton, the hacks huddle up to talk about the how the President responded, what we should expect from a "Consoler in Chief," ...
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Showdown in Motown from 2019-08-01T09:08
In this week's episode, the Hacks huddle in Detroit in the wake of the second round of Democratic debates. Axe and Murphy share their takes on the Biden-Harris rematch, discuss the progressive-mode...
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May the debate stage be ever in your favor, Sen. Michael Bennet joins the show from 2019-07-23T21:50
This week, Axe and Murphy question whether Bob Mueller’s testimony will have any bearing on the race. Then, we’ll preview the Hunger Games, also known as the second round of Democratic debates. It'...
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Trump's big trap and who ought to wrap from 2019-07-15T23:20
In this week’s episode, Axe and Murphy talk Trump’s strategy behind attacking the progressive freshmen House members, how the latest poll numbers spell potential for Kamala Harris, and whether Pete...
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Warren's huge haul and Steyer's surprise with Jon Favreau from 2019-07-09T22:32:08
This week, the hacks make sense of the newly announced fundraising numbers, talk Biden’s attempt to relaunch, discuss the political impact of Trump’s flip on the census question, and share their th...
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5: The post debate pollercoaster and the art of Beto-busting with Julián Castro from 2019-07-02T20:35:58
This week, the hacks throw on their strategists’ caps and discuss how they would manage the leading campaigns in the wake of the first debates. Axe and Murphy also break down the slew of post-debat...
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4: Recapping the first Democratic debates from 2019-06-28T07:27
The first round of debates is in the books. Who helped themselves the most and who's spending their weekend doing damage control? In this bonus episode of Hacks on Tap, Axe and Murphy parse through...
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3: Double-whammy in Miami: First Democratic debate preview from 2019-06-25T21:41
The hacks talk Biden and Buttigieg’s tough week with race relations [2:52], escalating tensions with Iran [14:48], and preview this week’s Democratic debates [20:14]. Guest hack Stephanie Cutter, d...
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Trump purging pollsters, Dems ducking digital from 2019-06-18T08:00
This week the hacks talk about President Trump's interview on ABC [1:11], Trump's latest polling prospects [6:20], who was helped and who was hurt by the Democratic debate lottery [14:40], and gues...
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1: Biden plays Hyde and go seek, Warren rising in Iowa from 2019-06-11T19:00
In the inaugural episode of Hacks on Tap, the hacks discuss the latest Democratic poll out of Iowa [1:30], the perils of being frontrunner [6:48], Biden's flip on the Hyde Amendment [10:30], the ch...
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Introduction to Hacks on Tap with David Axelrod and Mike Murphy from 2019-06-06T23:14
Throughout the 2020 presidential campaign, battle-tested operatives will be sitting on bar stools along the trail, sharing war stories and unique, sometimes uproarious cuts on the latest developmen...
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