Podcasts by The Axe Files with David Axelrod

The Axe Files with David Axelrod

David Axelrod, the founder and director of the University of Chicago Institute of Politics, and CNN bring you The Axe Files, a series of revealing interviews with key figures in the political world. Go beyond the soundbites and get to know some of the most interesting players in politics.

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 558 — Walter Massey from 2023-11-23T09:00

Dr. Walter Massey is a uniquely accomplished and fascinating American. Raised in the segregated South, Walter became one of only a handful of Black physicists in the 1960s and went on to hold leade...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 557 — Amb. David Pressman from 2023-11-16T09:00

Ambassador David Pressman has spent decades working on human rights, from positions at the White House to years as a human rights lawyer and nonprofit leader. He is continuing to fight for human ri...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 556 — Obama 15-Year Anniversary Special      from 2023-11-09T09:30

This week, we’re bringing you a special episode of The Axe Files. In honor of the 15th anniversary of President Barack Obama’s historic election, David assembled a group of key players who made the...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 555 — McKay Coppins from 2023-11-02T08:30

Journalist McKay Coppins has been linked to Sen. Mitt Romney since he covered Romney’s 2012 presidential campaign. As a fellow Mormon from Massachusetts, McKay was seen as a “Mormon whisperer” by h...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 554 — Ilana Dayan from 2023-10-26T08:30

Israeli journalist Ilana Dayan has anchored "Uvda,” the leading investigative news program on Israeli TV, for 30 years. She joined David this week to talk about the first 24 hours after Hamas attac...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 553 — Walter Isaacson from 2023-10-19T08:30

Writer Walter Isaacson grew up in a family full of engineers and spent his spare time making radios and televisions sets. While he became a journalist and author instead, his interest in technology...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 552 — David French from 2023-10-12T08:30

David French has held many roles: religious-liberties attorney, army officer, writer and political commentator, and outspoken critic of Donald Trump. French joined David to talk about the dissonanc...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 551 — Lawrence Wright from 2023-09-28T09:00

As a child, journalist and writer Lawrence Wright cherished his summer visits to the library with his mother when he would load up cardboard boxes with books to devour. His love of reading evolved ...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 550 — Susan Rice from 2023-09-21T09:00

After a decades-long career in public service spanning three presidential administrations, Susan Rice left her post as President Biden’s domestic policy advisor in May 2023. Rice joined David to ta...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 549 — Gov. Jay Inslee from 2023-09-14T08:30

After decades in public office and a 2019 run for president focused on fighting climate change, Washington Governor Jay Inslee recently announced he would not seek reelection in 2024. Gov. Inlsee j...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 548 — Scott Galloway from 2023-09-07T08:30

Born in California to immigrant parents, Scott Galloway says that he’s the product of an America willing to invest in unremarkable people. While Scott has made a name for himself as an entrepreneur...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 547 — Amb. Oksana Markarova from 2023-08-31T08:30

Ukrainian Ambassador Oksana Markarova grew up during the downfall of the Soviet Union. She spent much of her career helping rebuild Ukraine’s economy after the country became independent, working i...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 546 — Sally Yates from 2023-08-24T08:30

Former US Deputy Attorney General and Attorney General for the Northern District of Georgia Sally Yates has been mostly quiet about the indictments facing former President Donald Trump—the man who ...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 545 — Arthur Brooks from 2023-08-17T09:00

Arthur Brooks has held many roles in his life: professional French horn player in Barcelona, leader of the American Enterprise Institute, and now a professor of happiness at Harvard. The author and...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 544 — John Podesta from 2023-08-10T08:30

John Podesta was looking forward to retirement when he got a call from the Biden administration asking him to serve as the senior adviser to the President for clean energy innovation and implementa...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 543 — John King from 2023-08-03T08:30

After seven years as the host of CNN’s “Inside Politics,” John King is stepping away from the anchor desk and returning to his reporter roots, traveling the country to talk to Americans across the ...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 542 — Adrian Perkins from 2023-07-27T08:30

After graduating from Harvard Law School, Adrian Perkins decided to forgo the traditional job at a top-tier law firm, instead opting to return to his hometown of Shreveport, Louisiana as a candidat...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 541 — Sen. Tammy Baldwin from 2023-07-20T08:30

As a child, Sen. Tammy Baldwin suffered a months-long illness, leaving her with a preexisting condition that made obtaining health insurance impossible. The experience inspired her to pursue public...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 540 — Jon Meacham from 2023-07-13T08:30

Historian and writer Jon Meacham’s most recent book, “And There Was Light: Abraham Lincoln and the American Struggle,” dives deep into Lincoln and the why behind the actions of America’s 16th presi...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
The Axe Files presents The Assignment with Audie Cornish from 2023-07-06T07:30

This week The Axe Files team is sharing an episode of CNN’s The Assignment with Audie Cornish. One year after Roe v Wade was overturned by the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision, we were wondering: wha...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 539 — Supervisor Bill Gates from 2023-06-29T08:30

Lifelong Republican Bill Gates was working as a lawyer and serving on the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors in Arizona’s most populous county when the 2020 election upended his life. Maricopa Co...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
The Axe Files presentsThe Assignment with Audie Cornish from 2022-12-22T09:30

This week The Axe Files team is sharing an episode of CNN’s The Assignment with Audie Cornish. Each week Audie pulls listeners out of their digital echo chambers to hear from the people who actuall...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 515 — Dr. Anthony Fauci from 2022-12-15T09:30

After 54 years at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Dr. Anthony Fauci will step down from his role at the end of 2022. While he has worked on a spectrum of infectious diseases, including HIV...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 514 — Wes Moore from 2022-12-08T09:30

When Maryland Governor-elect Wes Moore was 3 years old, he watched his father collapse in front of him. Losing his father at a young age greatly impacted Moore’s life. He acted out at school, was s...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 513 — Mike Pence from 2022-12-01T09:30

Former Vice President Mike Pence has centered his career around his Christian faith and conservative beliefs. Most recently, he spent four years serving alongside former President Donald Trump, who...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Best of The Axe Files: Anderson Cooper from 2022-11-24T09:30

This Thanksgiving, we're revisiting a conversation with Anderson Cooper from October 2021. Anderson is now a well-known CNN anchor and host of the new podcast, All There Is with Anderson Cooper, bu...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 512 — Sen. Alex Padilla from 2022-11-17T09:30

Just months after graduating from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with a degree in engineering, California Senator Alex Padilla was drawn to politics, outraged by a state ballot initiativ...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 511 — Speaker Rusty Bowers from 2022-11-10T09:30

Rusty Bowers, Speaker of the Arizona House of Representatives, is a Mormon and conservative Republican. He is also a sculptor and painter with a love of the outdoors who likes to sketch satirical d...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 510 — Major Garrett from 2022-11-03T08:30

Journalist Major Garrett caught the journalism bug early, chasing fire trucks down the street in search of a story as a kid. He has since spent his career as a Congressional and White House corresp...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
509 — Rep. Liz Cheney from 2022-10-27T08:30

In the span of 15 months, Rep. Liz Cheney went from House GOP conference chair to losing her primary by more than 30 points. Her fall within the Republican Party began with her vote to impeach Pres...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 508 — Maggie Haberman from 2022-10-20T08:30

Journalist Maggie Haberman began covering Donald Trump as a reporter for the New York tabloids in the early 2000s. Now at The New York Times, Maggie rose to national prominence churning out scoops ...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 507 — Cody Keenan from 2022-10-13T08:30

In high school, Cody Keenan wanted to be an orthopedic surgeon. But a challenging college chemistry course led him to pursue a degree in political science instead. He got his start working in the m...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 506 — Doug Jones from 2022-10-06T08:30

While in law school, former Alabama Senator Doug Jones skipped class to watch the trial of Robert Chambliss, convicted in 1977 for his role in the deadly 1963 Birmingham church bombing, which kille...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 505 — Beth Macy from 2022-09-29T08:30

When journalist and author Beth Macy first pitched a book about the opioid crisis in 2014, her publisher and editor rejected the idea. But Beth kept following the story, publishing “Dopesick: Deale...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 504 — Chris Wallace from 2022-09-22T08:30

Chris Wallace spent 18 years at the helm of Fox News Sunday, surprising viewers when he announced his resignation on-air in December 2021. Now at CNN with a new show streaming on HBO Max, Wallace h...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 503 — Rep. Adam Kinzinger from 2022-09-15T08:30

Rep. Adam Kinzinger was one of just 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach former President Donald Trump following the January 6 insurrection. After deciding to not seek reelection in 2022, Rep....

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
The Axe Files presents Offline with Jon Favreau from 2022-09-08T08:30

This week we’re sharing a conversation between Jon Favreau, host of Offline, a podcast from Crooked Media, and Ev Williams, co-founder and former CEO of Twitter. The two discuss Twitter’s early yea...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
The Axe Files presents Hell&High Water with John Heilemann from 2022-09-01T08:30

This week The Axe Files team is sharing an episode of Hell&High Water with John Heilemann. This episode features a conversation with David Axelrod and was recorded in New York City in December 2021...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
The Axe Files presents Morning Brew’s Imposters from 2022-08-25T08:30

In 2020, Alexis Ohanian, Co-Founder of Reddit&Founder of Seven Seven Six, broke ties with the $10 billion-dollar company he helped to build as an act of protest during the Black Lives Matter moveme...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 502 — Henry Kissinger from 2022-08-18T08:30

As a young boy, former Secretary of State and National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger and his family escaped Nazi Germany; later, as a soldier with the US military, he helped liberate the Ahlem c...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 501 — Jason Kander from 2022-08-11T08:30

Ten years after serving in Afghanistan, Jason Kander was a rising star in the Democratic Party, testing the waters for a presidential run. In 2018, he shocked the political world when he ended his ...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 500 — John Legend from 2022-08-04T08:30

At 15, musician John Legend wrote an essay proclaiming he would one day become a famous singer and use his platform to advance civil rights. His words ended up being particularly prescient; he has ...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Best of The Axe Files: Sen. Bernie Sanders from 2022-07-28T08:30

As we prepare for the 500th episode of The Axe Files, we take a look back at the show’s very first episode featuring Sen. Bernie Sanders. David spoke with Sen. Sanders in September 2015, just a few...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 499 — David Chalian from 2022-07-21T08:30

When David Chalian was in first grade, he memorized the names of all the US presidents—in reverse chronological order. His interest in politics was second only to his love of theater. Chalian later...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 498 — Gov. Jared Polis from 2022-07-14T08:30

By the time Colorado Gov. Jared Polis was 16, he was already enrolled at Princeton University. At 23, he became a millionaire after selling the business he started in his college dorm, and at 25, h...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 497 — Sen. Chris Murphy from 2022-07-07T08:30

Sen. Chris Murphy caught the political bug early; he was first elected to the Connecticut state legislature at age 25 while still in law school. He eventually served three terms as a US Congressman...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 496 — Kellyanne Conway from 2022-06-30T08:30

Kellyanne Conway made history as the first woman to run a Republican campaign for president when she helped Donald Trump win in 2016—a far cry from her days packing blueberries at a farm in New Jer...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 495 — Rep. Fred Upton from 2022-06-23T08:30

After more than three decades representing his Michigan hometown in Congress, Rep. Fred Upton announced his retirement in a speech on the House floor in April 2022. He joined David to talk about hi...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 494 — John Dean from 2022-06-16T08:30

John Dean, former counsel to President Richard Nixon, was directly involved in covering up the Watergate break-in. But he has also been credited with taking down Nixon, thanks to his critical testi...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 493 — Arne Duncan and Curtis Toler from 2022-06-09T08:30

Former US Secretary of Education and CEO of Chicago Public Schools Arne Duncan now spends his days focused on stopping gun violence in his hometown of Chicago through his organization, Chicago CRED...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 492 — Gov. Pete Ricketts from 2022-06-02T08:30

Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts tried to get out of applying to the University of Chicago, as his father wanted, by pretending to forget about the application. His ruse didn’t work, and he ended up...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 491 — Chris Krebs from 2022-05-26T08:30

Chris Krebs was a champion pole vaulter and spent time as a scuba instructor before getting into infrastructure risk management. He ended up as the director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure ...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 490 — Rep. Jackie Speier from 2022-05-19T08:30

Rep. Jackie Speier got her start in politics working for Rep. Leo Ryan, then a California state Assemblyman. But what started as a high school assignment ended on an airstrip in Guyana, where Rep. ...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 489 — Shaka Senghor from 2022-05-12T08:30

Growing up, Shaka Senghor wanted to be a doctor. But at age 14, he ran away from his unstable home. By 19, he was in prison. While in prison, he began unravelling his past, seeking to understand ho...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 488 — Al Franken from 2022-05-05T08:30

Al Franken has been in the public eye for decades, first as a comedian and then as a senator from Minnesota. Since he resigned from the Senate in 2018 amid sexual harassment allegations—that he has...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 487 — Amb. Michael McFaul from 2022-04-28T08:30

As a high school student in Montana, Ambassador Michael McFaul became interested in Russian affairs while working on a debate team assignment concerning trade sanctions on the Soviet Union. He firs...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 486 — Sarah Longwell from 2022-04-21T08:30

Inspired by the stacks of books in her parents’ home, Republican strategist Sarah Longwell once thought she might become a poet. But at Kenyon College, she found herself more captivated by politica...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 485 — Maria Ressa from 2022-04-14T08:30

Nobel Prize-winning journalist Maria Ressa faces 100 years in prison stemming from what she says are illegitimate charges, but that hasn’t stopped her mission of exposing political malfeasance and ...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 484 — Anne Applebaum from 2022-04-07T08:30

This week’s episode comes from a conversation at the Disinformation and the Erosion of Democracy Conference, co-hosted by the University of Chicago Institute of Politics and The Atlantic. Journalis...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 483 — Tony Fabrizio from 2022-03-31T08:30

Growing up, GOP pollster Tony Fabrizio spent time helping out at his grandfather’s produce stand in Brooklyn, selling everything from watermelons to Christmas trees. While he was always interested ...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 482 — Amb. Marie Yovanovitch from 2022-03-24T08:30

Growing up the child of Eastern European and German immigrants, former US Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch strived to fit in. Learning to navigate other cultures ultimately proved useful dur...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 481 — Erin Burnett from 2022-03-17T08:30

CNN anchor Erin Burnett grew up on a farm in a small town in eastern Maryland, but her career has taken her around the world, covering major events from the Arab Spring in Cairo to the Bataclan sho...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 480 — Frank Bruni from 2022-03-10T09:30

One morning in 2017, journalist Frank Bruni woke up to altered vision— he had lost sight in his right eye during the night. As he grappled with this new reality, he began reevaluating his expectati...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 479 — Bianna Golodryga from 2022-02-24T09:30

Growing up in Texas, Bianna Golodryga begged her immigrant parents to avoid speaking Russian in front of her friends for fear of not fitting in. She soon came to appreciate her background, becoming...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 478 — Lotfullah Najafizada from 2022-02-17T09:30

When he was 5 years old, Afghan journalist Lotfullah Najafizada watched as rockets landed in his front yard. He and his family moved around the country to escape conflict, but after the fall of the...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 477 — Sen. Jon Tester from 2022-02-10T09:15

More than 100 years ago, Sen. Jon Tester’s grandfather arrived in Montana, where he homesteaded a vast stretch of farmland. Sen. Tester still makes time to farm that land today, saying his tractor ...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 476 — Ian Bremmer from 2022-02-03T09:30

In 1998, Eurasia Group founder Ian Bremmer made a name for himself when he successfully predicted the collapse of the Russian ruble. Since then, Bremmer has turned offering his political science in...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 475 — Rt. Hon. Gordon Brown from 2022-01-27T09:15

The Rt. Hon. Gordon Brown grew up the son of a minister in an industrial Scottish town before ascending the ranks of Britain’s Labour Party to eventually serve as Prime Minister. Since leaving offi...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 474 — Amb. Andrew Young from 2022-01-20T09:30

After graduating from college, Andrew Young had a moment of extreme clarity while standing at the top of a mountain. He suddenly realized that “everything has a purpose,” and he proceeded to channe...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 473 — Barton Gellman from 2022-01-13T09:30

Journalist Barton Gellman has been questioning power and authority since, as editor of the school paper, he sued his high school for censorship. He has made a career of shining a spotlight on the u...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 472 — Rep. Jamie Raskin from 2022-01-06T09:00

Maryland Congressman Jamie Raskin rose to national prominence when he led the second impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump in January 2021, a proceeding that took place just weeks afte...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Best of The Axe Files: Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern from 2021-12-30T09:30

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has already faced a series of unprecedented crises during her four year tenure in the nation’s highest office. This week, we revisit our June 2021 conversa...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Best of The Axe Files: Jen Psaki from 2021-12-23T09:30

This week, we revisit our May 2021 conversation with White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki. Psaki didn’t envision herself returning to the White House after serving as Communications Director under...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 471 — Rep. Elissa Slotkin from 2021-12-16T09:30

Michigan Rep. Elissa Slotkin intended to pursue international development work, but watching the twin towers fall on 9/11 as a graduate student in New York changed the trajectory of her career. Rep...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 470 — Gen. Stanley McChrystal from 2021-12-09T09:30

After more than three decades in the military, including overseeing joint special operations and leading the war in Afghanistan, retired Gen. Stanley McChrystal has learned a thing or two about ris...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 469 — Marc Short from 2021-12-02T09:30

A longtime Republican operative, Marc Short served as both White House director of legislative affairs and chief of staff to Vice President Mike Pence during the Trump administration. He joined Dav...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 468 — Chris Christie from 2021-11-22T09:30

Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie considers Donald Trump a friend, but he has been outspoken against the former president’s insistence that the 2020 election was stolen. He is now consideri...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 467 — Rep. Pramila Jayapal from 2021-11-18T09:30

Rep. Pramila Jayapal came to the US for college at just 16 years old. She found success in finance, nonprofits and activism before deciding to take her fight to politics. She joined David to talk a...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 466 — Fiona Hill from 2021-11-11T09:30

Growing up in England’s distressed coal country, there weren’t many opportunities for bright, ambitious people like Fiona Hill. Through hard work and some lucky breaks, Fiona rose to deputy assista...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Presenting Margins of Error from 2021-11-04T08:30

This week, we’re bringing you an episode of CNN’s Margins of Error. It's been a year since Americans waited on edge to find out the winner in the strangest election of our lifetimes. CNN’s Harry En...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 465 — Russell Moore from 2021-10-28T08:30

Public theologian Russell Moore has long encouraged evangelical Christians to focus on practicing religion rather than engaging in culture wars, something he found increasingly difficult under form...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 464—Anderson Cooper from 2021-10-21T08:30

Anderson Cooper is now a well-known CNN anchor, but he got his start in journalism armed with just a camcorder and a fake press pass. Cooper is also part of the storied Vanderbilt family, which he ...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 463—Evan Osnos from 2021-10-14T08:30

When journalist Evan Osnos returned to the US in 2013 after eight years in China, he experienced somewhat of a culture shock. He found the underpinnings of the country shaken, so he set off to find...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 462 — Robert Costa from 2021-10-07T08:30

Journalist Robert Costa is known for his in-depth reporting on former president Donald Trump and for co-authoring a new book with legendary journalist Bob Woodward, but his first claim to fame was ...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 461 — Monica Lewinsky from 2021-09-30T08:30

Monica Lewinsky has been many things: White House intern, media punching bag, writer, anti-bullying activist, and now, producer. She talked to David about her upbringing and her parents' tumultuous...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Presenting Total Recall: California's Political Circus from 2021-09-23T08:30

This week we’re bringing you an episode of CNN's Total Recall: California’s Political Circus. You probably remember that Arnold Schwarzenegger was elected Governor of California. But do you remembe...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 460 — Ken Burns from 2021-09-16T08:30

Documentary filmmaker Ken Burns can pinpoint the exact moment he knew he wanted to be a storyteller. After witnessing his father cry during a film, he understood the power of an impactful story. Th...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 459 — Clarissa Ward from 2021-09-09T08:30

Twenty years ago, as Clarissa Ward watched the 9/11 attacks unfold on television, she experienced a profound sense of shock and shame that she did not have a better grasp on what was happening in t...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 458 — Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman from 2021-09-02T08:30

After a behind-the-scenes career in the military that led to the National Security Council, retired Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman found himself thrust into the spotlight as a key witness in the first ...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 457 — Dr. Leana Wen from 2021-08-26T08:30

Dr. Leana Wen has become a leading voice offering straightforward guidance on the Covid-19 pandemic, but her journey to professional prominence was anything but simple. Her family left China—where ...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 456 — Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi from 2021-08-19T08:30

Shortly after coming to America, Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi’s family hit a financial rough patch. For a time, the family lived in public housing and relied on food stamps, a boost that instilled in R...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 455 — Anne Applebaum from 2021-08-12T08:30

Journalist Anne Applebaum began her career as a stringer in Poland in the late 1980s reporting on the fall of communism, an assignment that led her to drive to Germany when she heard the Berlin Wal...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 454 — Amy Walter from 2021-08-05T08:30

Cook Political Report editor-in-chief and publisher Amy Walter grew up in a bipartisan household. Her mother was a Democrat, and her father was a Republican, a dynamic that her mother said primed A...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Best of The Axe Files: Megan Rapinoe from 2021-07-29T08:30

With the Tokyo Olympics under way, we revisit a conversation from 2020 with Megan Rapinoe, captain of the U.S. women’s national soccer team and Olympic gold medalist. At the time, Rapinoe was skept...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 453 — Stephanie Cutter from 2021-07-22T08:30

Democratic strategist Stephanie Cutter says she has a fearless streak. This fearlessness gave her the confidence to walk into Gov. Mario Cuomo’s office asking for a job in her early twenties and to...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 452 — John Anzalone from 2021-07-15T08:30

John Anzalone first met President Joe Biden while working as a field organizer in Iowa on Biden’s 1988 presidential campaign. Thirty-three years later, John was the top pollster for Biden’s 2020 ca...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 451 — Ben Rhodes from 2021-07-08T08:30

Ben Rhodes thought he wanted to pursue creative writing, but witnessing the 9/11 terrorist attacks as a graduate student at New York University altered his career path. He joined the 2008 Obama cam...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 450 — Nathan Law from 2021-07-01T08:30

As an architect of Hong Kong’s pro-democracy Umbrella Movement, Nathan Law first tried to keep his activism a secret from his mother. But before long she saw police arresting him at a protest on li...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 449 — Surgeon General Vivek Murthy from 2021-06-24T08:30

Surgeon General Vivek Murthy was picking up his dry cleaning in Brooklyn when he got a call from the Obama administration asking if he was interested in the job. He wavered at first, but realized i...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 448 — Cecile Richards from 2021-06-17T08:30

Growing up was a political affair for activist Cecile Richards. She spent time stuffing envelopes at her family’s dining room table and got in trouble in high school for protesting the Vietnam War....

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 447 — Rep. Liz Cheney from 2021-06-07T08:30

When Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney was a little girl, she and her sister would spend Saturday mornings watching cartoons in the West Wing while their father, former Vice President Dick Cheney, served as ...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 446 — Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern from 2021-06-03T08:30

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has already faced a series of unprecedented crises during her almost four year tenure in the nation’s highest office. The young, progressive Prime Minister...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 445 — Heather McTeer Toney from 2021-05-27T08:30

Growing up in the Mississippi Delta, much of Heather McTeer Toney’s life was tied to the environment, from food and agriculture to the levees holding back the Mississippi River. But it wasn’t until...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 444 — Justin Amash from 2021-05-20T08:30

Growing up as the son of a Palestinian refugee and a Syrian immigrant, former Rep. Justin Amash developed an early appreciation for the opportunities and freedoms America offered. His views on what...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 443 — Sally Yates from 2021-05-13T08:30

Sally Yates was born into a family of lawyers. She followed suit, entering private practice before becoming a federal prosecutor, which began a 27 year career at the Department of Justice. As Deput...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 442 — Jen Psaki from 2021-05-06T09:00

Press Secretary Jen Psaki didn’t envision herself returning to the White House after serving as Communications Director under President Obama, but when President Joe Biden asked her to join his tea...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 441 — Speaker John Boehner from 2021-04-29T09:00

As the second oldest of 12 siblings growing up in a two-bedroom house, former Republican House Speaker John Boehner learned early on how to wrangle a large, chaotic group of people. After catching ...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 440 — Amb. Linda Thomas-Greenfield from 2021-04-22T09:00

US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield grew up in the small, segregated Louisiana town of Baker. After watching a group of Peace Corps volunteers who showed up in Baker for training, Thoma...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 439 — Jamie Dimon from 2021-04-15T09:00

Jamie Dimon assumed the roles of CEO and Chairman of JPMorgan Chase in 2005 and 2006 respectively, just before the onset of the Great Recession. He's been widely credited with steering the bank saf...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 438 — Sen. Tammy Duckworth from 2021-04-12T09:00

When Senator Tammy Duckworth was shot down over Iraq while serving in the US Army, she did not notice at first that her legs were mostly gone, destroyed by the blast. After countless surgeries and ...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 437 — Bud Selig from 2021-04-08T09:00

Growing up, former Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig was enamored with baseball, thanks primarily to his mother’s love of the game. After a brief stint selling cars, he jumped into the M...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 436 — Rev. Dr. William Barber from 2021-04-01T09:00

Growing up as the son of an ordained minister, Rev. Dr. William Barber didn’t want to be a preacher. But during his senior year of college he reconsidered, and after a long talk with his father, he...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 435 — Kara Swisher from 2021-03-25T09:00

While using an early iteration of email in the 1990s, tech journalist Kara Swisher, host of the podcasts “Sway” and “Pivot,” had a feeling the internet was about to become a giant story. She jumped...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 434 — Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms from 2021-03-18T09:00

For Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, the last year was full of unexpected challenges and opportunities. She has led her city through the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, and when summer social justice...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 433 — Tim Alberta from 2021-03-11T10:00

Journalist Tim Alberta got his first taste of Washington, DC straight out of undergrad as an intern for The Wall Street Journal. Since then, he has become a plugged-in political reporter, with a pa...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 432 — Rep. Joe Neguse from 2021-03-04T10:00

Rep. Joe Neguse first became interested in politics at a young age, inspired by his immigrant parents’ lesson to give back to the country that had welcomed them from Eritrea. He joined student gove...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 431 — Fareed Zakaria from 2021-02-26T01:41:37

As the Covid-19 pandemic spread across the US and much of the country hunkered down under stay-at-home orders, journalist, author and CNN host Fareed Zakaria was already thinking about the future. ...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 430 — Heidi Heitkamp from 2021-02-18T10:00

While former US Senator Heidi Heitkamp was growing up in Mantador, North Dakota, her family made up one tenth of the town’s population. She took the lessons she learned from her small-town upbringi...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 429 — Daniel Goldman from 2021-02-11T20:01:32

After more than a decade working as a federal prosecutor and legal analyst, Daniel Goldman became a household name in 2020 for his role as lead counsel for the House in the first impeachment trial ...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 428 — Andrew McCabe from 2021-02-04T10:00

Former FBI deputy director Andrew McCabe didn’t always plan to become an agent, but while interning at the Department of Justice he found himself obsessed with intricate details in case records. Th...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 427 — Rep. Adam Kinzinger from 2021-01-28T10:00

Rep. Adam Kinzinger, a sixth-term Congressman from Illinois, recently found himself in the spotlight after he called for former President Trump’s removal from office following the January 6 attack ...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 426 — Doris Kearns Goodwin from 2021-01-21T21:12

Historian Doris Kearns Goodwin found she had a knack for storytelling as a child, recounting baseball games inning-by-inning for her father when he’d return home from work. The Pulitzer Prize-winni...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 425 — Joe Scarborough from 2021-01-14T10:00

Joe Scarborough had his first media experience hosting a call-in show on public access television to raise his political profile during a run for Congress. He won that 1994 Congressional race and h...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 424 — Rep. Ayanna Pressley from 2021-01-07T10:00

Rep. Ayanna Pressley got her start in progressive politics at a young age, watching as her mother fought for tenants’ rights as an organizer in Chicago. When Rep. Pressley left college to care for ...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Silence is Not an Option: Black to the Future from 2020-12-31T10:00

This week we’re bringing you an episode of Silence is Not an Option, a CNN podcast hosted by Don Lemon. A record number of Black candidates ran for office this year, representing not only their con...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Best of the Axe Files: Tony Blinken from 2020-12-24T10:00

Antony "Tony" Blinken, President-elect Joe Biden’s nominee for Secretary of State, first met Biden more than 15 years ago when he served as staff director for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 423 — Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez from 2020-12-17T10:00

U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez took the House by storm when she beat out 10-term incumbent Rep. Joe Crowley, winning on a staunchly progressive platform. She is often portrayed as the embodimen...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 422 — Dan Rather from 2020-12-10T10:00

As a young reporter, Dan Rather was no stranger to getting the story by any means necessary, whether that meant sneaking off to use the office phone at Lyndon B. Johnson’s ranch or chaining himself...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 421 — Abby Phillip from 2020-12-03T10:00

Growing up, journalist Abby Phillip wanted to be a heart surgeon. But a college service trip through the South caused Abby to reconsider. Inspired by reporters of the civil rights era, she turned h...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 420 — Sen. Mitt Romney from 2020-11-19T10:00

After failing to win the presidency in 2012, Senator Mitt Romney suggested he might be done with national politics for good. But after a move to Utah, the two-time presidential candidate, former Ma...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 419 — Gov. Andrew Cuomo from 2020-11-12T10:00

Governor Andrew Cuomo was just over a year into his third term as Governor of New York when Covid-19 first reached his state. While he was a well-known political figure before, his daily press brie...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 418 — David Plouffe from 2020-11-09T23:30

David Plouffe is a veteran Democratic political strategist who served as Barack Obama’s 2008 campaign manager and later as senior advisor to President Obama. Just days after the 2020 race was calle...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 417 — Jon Meacham from 2020-11-02T10:00

As a child, historian Jon Meacham would find artifacts from Civil War battles while playing in the Chattanooga hills. To him, history was always tangible. He liked finding the line from the past to...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 416 — Mandy Patinkin from 2020-10-29T10:30

Mandy Patinkin may be a well-known, award-winning actor and singer on the big screen and stage, but these days he’s trying out a new medium: social media. During the Covid-19 pandemic, Mandy has be...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 415 — Nina Totenberg from 2020-10-26T09:00

As a young reporter, Nina Totenberg once got a tip about a robbery underway at the local bank. When she called the bank to confirm, one of the burglars answered the phone. Her career has since take...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 414 — Susan Page from 2020-10-22T09:00

As a high school senior facing college applications, Susan Page had a choice to make. Should she follow her passion for playing the oboe and go to music school? Or should she allow her love of jour...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 413 — Peter Baker and Susan Glasser from 2020-10-19T11:00

Journalists Peter Baker and Susan Glasser met while working together at The Washington Post. While they spent long hours together in the newsroom investigating the Monica Lewinsky scandal, they did...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 412 — Amb. John Bolton from 2020-10-15T09:00

As a young man, Ambassador John Bolton often found himself as the lone conservative in a sea of anti-Vietnam War liberals, whether at his private Baltimore prep school or during his years at Yale. ...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 411 — Bob Costas from 2020-10-12T09:00

Sports broadcaster Bob Costas loved baseball from an early age. As a kid, Bob would sit in his father’s car, tuning the radio to find baseball games taking place hundreds of miles from his home on ...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 410 — Sen. Sherrod Brown from 2020-10-08T09:00

Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown announced his first campaign for public office as a college senior at a one dollar-per-plate fundraiser in a Yale dining hall. He won that race and joined the Ohio state ...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 409 — Nicolle Wallace from 2020-10-05T09:00

Nicolle Wallace, host of MSNBC’s Deadline: White House got into Republican politics partly by chance. After a brief stint in broadcast news, she applied to work for both a Democratic and Republican...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 408 — Tim O'Brien from 2020-10-01T09:00

Journalist Tim O’Brien took a winding path to reporting. He built bridges in Peru, studied karate in Japan, taught in New York City, and earned three graduate degrees before landing in journalism f...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 407 — Sen. Bernie Sanders from 2020-09-28T09:00

Senator Bernie Sanders first got involved in social justice movements as a University of Chicago student fighting against segregated housing. Today Sen. Sanders is one of the most recognizable figu...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 406 — Jeff Daniels from 2020-09-24T09:00

Growing up in small-town Michigan, Jeff Daniels seemed destined to join the family lumber business. But after a teacher spotted his acting talent, his life took a turn down a different path. Jeff’s...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Best of the Axe Files: Michael Phelps from 2020-09-21T09:00

Everybody knows Michael Phelps as the most decorated Olympian of all time. Phelps’ hard work, determination, athleticism, and competitive drive were on full display in the pool as the world watched...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 405 — Nikole Hannah-Jones from 2020-09-17T09:00

When Nikole Hannah-Jones was a high school student at a predominantly white school in Waterloo, Iowa, she complained to a teacher that the school newspaper wasn’t covering stories that mattered to ...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Best of the Axe Files: Vladimir Kara-Murza from 2020-09-14T11:00

Vladimir Kara-Murza was just 10 years old during the Russian Democratic Revolution in 1991. Witnessing a revolution was a formative experience that led to a lifetime of pro-democracy activism. In 2...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 404 — Brian Stelter from 2020-09-10T09:00

Brian Stelter, CNN chief media correspondent and host of Reliable Sources, got his start in journalism at a young age. At just 8 years old he would call up the local news station after a blizzard t...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 403 — Chasten Buttigieg from 2020-09-03T09:00

Chasten Buttigieg rose to national prominence in 2019 as the husband of presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg. He quickly gained attention for his role as the only LGBTQ+ spouse on the campaign tra...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Best of the Axe Files: Khizr Khan from 2020-08-31T09:00

One of the most moving speakers at the 2016 Democratic National Convention was Khizr Khan, who felt compelled to address a national audience after then-candidate Donald Trump’s attacks on Muslims a...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 402 — Rep. Jim Clyburn from 2020-08-27T09:00

When Rep. Jim Clyburn was growing up in the 1940s and 50s in segregated South Carolina, his parents had an important message for him: study hard, work hard and dream big. That lesson stayed with Re...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 401 — Jonathan Karl from 2020-08-24T09:00

Jonathan Karl was a young reporter for the New York Post when he first interviewed Donald Trump in 1994, following a tip that the newly married Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley were staying a...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 400 — Speaker Nancy Pelosi from 2020-08-20T09:00

For the 400th episode of The Axe Files, David is joined by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. Pelosi has never been a stranger to politics—her father served in Congress and later became the mayor o...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Best of the Axe Files: Sen. Kamala Harris from 2020-08-17T09:00

When David sat down with Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA) in March of 2017, the last thing she wanted to do was discuss whether she would be a candidate for higher office in 2020. Now, as Joe Biden’s r...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 399 — Tina Tchen from 2020-08-13T09:00

Tina Tchen, CEO and President of TIME'S UP, didn’t set out to become a champion for women’s rights. But in 1978 she fell into a job in Springfield, Illinois, which happened to be at the center of t...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 398 — Rep. Karen Bass from 2020-08-06T09:00

Rep. Karen Bass is a fifth-term Democratic Congresswoman from California and the Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus. Watching the Civil Rights movement as a child first sparked Rep. Bass’ inte...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Best of the Axe Files: Justice Sonia Sotomayor from 2020-08-03T09:00

This week we revisit our November 2018 conversation with Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor. She joined David to discuss her remarkable personal journey from the Bronx to the highest court in th...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 397 — Gov. Larry Hogan from 2020-07-30T09:00

Maryland Governor Larry Hogan grew up around politics—his father was the first Congressional Republican to call for former president Richard Nixon’s impeachment—but spent decades in business before...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 396 — Dr. Anthony Fauci from 2020-07-23T21:38:47

In his position as director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, Dr. Anthony Fauci has become a prominent figure in the fight against Covid-19. He joins David to talk about ...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Best of The Axe Files: Theo Epstein from 2020-07-20T09:00

We revisit our January 2017 conversation with Theo Epstein, President of the Chicago Cubs. He joins David to share why he fell in love with baseball at a young age, how he became general manager of...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 395 — Erik Larson from 2020-07-16T09:00

Erik Larson is a best-selling narrative non-fiction author. His latest book, The Splendid and the Vile, chronicles British Prime Minister Winston Churchill’s first year in office during Germany’s b...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Best of The Axe Files: Rep. John Lewis from 2020-07-13T09:00

This week we revisit our July 2017 conversation with civil rights leader and Georgia Congressman John Lewis. He joins David in Atlanta for a special televised edition of The Axe Files to talk about...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 394 — Atul Gawande from 2020-07-09T09:00

Atul Gawande is a surgeon, bestselling author and writer for The New Yorker. He joins David to talk about how Trump has misled the public in responding to the Coronavirus pandemic, why it “will be ...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Best of The Axe Files: Lin-Manuel Miranda from 2020-07-06T09:00

When Lin-Manuel Miranda first picked up Ron Chernow’s autobiography of Alexander Hamilton, he didn’t know much about the former Treasury Secretary. He didn’t yet know he was an immigrant, and he ha...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 393 — Shannon Watts from 2020-07-02T09:00

Shannon Watts is the founder of Moms Demand Action, an advocacy group dedicated to ending gun violence. She joins David to talk about how she became an unlikely founder of a grassroots organization...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Yang Speaks to The Axe Files from 2020-06-29T08:00

In this crossover edition of The Axe Files, David joins entrepreneur and former Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang on his new podcast Yang Speaks. They talk about the future of the Democ...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 392 — Jon Stewart from 2020-06-25T09:00

Jon Stewart is a comedian, writer, director, and former host of The Daily Show. He joins David to talk about President Trump’s out-of-touch messaging, the pervasiveness of systemic racism and inequ...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Best of The Axe Files: Mitch Landrieu from 2020-06-22T09:00

This week we revisit our July 2017 conversation with former New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu. He joins David to talk about his father’s journey in public service and his efforts to promote racial j...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 391 — Charlie Sykes from 2020-06-18T09:00

Charlie Sykes is a longtime conservative commentator and the founder and editor-at-large of The Bulwark. He joins David to talk about his father’s roots in Democratic politics, the growing politici...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 390 — Bakari Sellers from 2020-06-15T09:00

Bakari Sellers is a political commentator, attorney, and former South Carolina state representative. He joins David to talk about how growing up in a rural South Carolina community shaped his life’...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Best of The Axe Files: Bryan Cranston from 2020-06-11T09:00

We revisit our April 2019 conversation with Bryan Cranston, actor, producer, director, and screenwriter. He joins David to talk about finding truth in acting, challenges posed by inhabiting larger-...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Best of The Axe Files: Ta-Nehisi Coates from 2020-06-08T09:00

This week we revisit our October 2017 conversation with author and journalist Ta-Nehisi Coates. He joins David to talk about his upbringing in Baltimore, his career in journalism, race relations in...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 389 — Mark Cuban from 2020-06-04T09:00

Mark Cuban is an entrepreneur, television personality, and owner of the Dallas Mavericks. He joins David to discuss the origins of his entrepreneurial spirit, what he learned from his early failure...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Best of The Axe Files: Bryan Stevenson from 2020-06-01T09:00

This week we revisit our December 2018 conversation with Bryan Stevenson: civil rights activist, lawyer, and founder of the Equal Justice Initiative, a non-profit organization that provides legal a...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 388 — Ezra Klein from 2020-05-28T09:00

Ezra Klein is a journalist and co-founder of Vox, where he currently serves as the editor-at-large. He joins David to talk about his evolution from obscure blogger to national political commentator...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Best of The Axe Files: Admiral William McRaven from 2020-05-25T09:00

In honor of Memorial Day we revisit our September 2019 conversation with Admiral William McRaven, retired U.S. Navy SEAL who served as the commander of U.S. Special Operations from 2011 to 2014. He...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 387 — Gene Sperling from 2020-05-21T09:00

Gene Sperling is the former Director of the National Economic Council under Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama. He joins David to share how his parents’ fight for racial and economic justice ...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 386 — Mayor Lori Lightfoot from 2020-05-18T09:00

Chicago mayor Lori Lightfoot joins David to talk about managing the COVID crisis and its disproportionate impact on communities of color, the consequences of federal misdirection, and the possibili...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 385 — Mary Kay Henry from 2020-05-14T09:00

Mary Kay Henry is the president of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), an organization of more than 2 million union members in health care, the public sector, and beyond. She joins Da...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Best of The Axe Files: Aaron Sorkin from 2020-05-11T09:00

We revisit our May 2019 conversation with Aaron Sorkin: screenwriter, director, producer, and playwright. He joins David to talk about the qualities that make a great speechwriter, how writing for ...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 384 — Gayle Smith from 2020-05-07T09:00

Gayle Smith is the president and CEO of the ONE Campaign and the former administrator of the US Agency for International Development (USAID). She joins David to talk about her two decades spent in ...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 383 — Megan Rapinoe from 2020-05-04T09:00

Megan Rapinoe, captain of the U.S. women’s national soccer team, joins David to talk about growing up in a small conservative town, finding and forging her identity, her decorated soccer career and...

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Ep. 382 — Cecilia Mun?oz from 2020-04-30T09:00

Cecilia Muñoz is the former Director of Intergovernmental Affairs in the Obama administration and currently serves as Vice President for Public Interest Technology and Local Initiatives at New Amer...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Best of The Axe Files: Jose? Andre?s from 2020-04-27T09:00

We revisit our 2018 conversation with world-renowned chef and humanitarian José Andrés. He joins David to talk about becoming a United States citizen, his passion for cooking, his crisis relief eff...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 381 — Stacey Abrams from 2020-04-23T09:00

Stacey Abrams, former Georgia gubernatorial nominee and founder of Fair Fight 2020, joins David to talk about inequities in Georgia's public health infrastructure, voter suppression and her efforts...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Best of The Axe Files: Steve Kerr from 2020-04-20T09:00

We revisit our 2016 conversation with Steve Kerr, head coach of the Golden State Warriors. He sits down with David to discuss his upbringing in the Middle East, the qualities of exceptional athlete...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 380 — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer from 2020-04-16T09:00

Gretchen Whitmer is the 49th governor of Michigan. She joins David to talk about leading her state during the COVID-19 pandemic and her assessment of the federal response, as well as her journey in...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 379 — Chris Christie from 2020-04-13T19:19

Chris Christie, former governor of New Jersey, joins David to talk about what he’s learned throughout his thirty-year career in law and politics, his relationship with President Trump, what advice ...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Best of The Axe Files: Tom Hanks from 2020-04-09T09:00

We revisit our 2017 Axe Files episode with Oscar-winning actor Tom Hanks, who joins David to talk about how he parlayed an early love of drama into a career, his most memorable roles, sexual harass...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Best of The Axe Files: Doris Kearns Goodwin from 2020-04-06T09:00

This week, we revisit our November 2016 conversation with Pulitzer Prize-winning presidential historian Doris Kearns Goodwin. She joins David to talk about why storytelling is important in politics...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 378 — Dr. Sanjay Gupta from 2020-04-02T09:00

Dr. Sanjay Gupta is a neurosurgeon, professor, and the Chief Medical Correspondent for CNN. He joins David to share his insights into the present crisis, his assessment of the government’s response...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 377 — Gerald Butts from 2020-03-30T09:00

Gerald Butts is the former chief adviser and strategist to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. He joins David to talk about the early friendship he forged with Trudeau as college debate partners, what h...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 376 — Ron Klain from 2020-03-23T09:00

Ron Klain is the former Chief of Staff to Vice President Joe Biden and served as the Ebola Response Coordinator in 2014 under President Obama. He joins David to talk about the COVID-19 crisis: rele...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 375 — Denis McDonough from 2020-03-16T08:00

Denis McDonough is the former White House Chief of Staff and former Deputy National Security Advisor under President Barack Obama. As the world faces the reality of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pande...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 374 — Rep. Abigail Spanberger from 2020-03-09T08:00

Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) joins David to discuss her career as a CIA operations officer and federal law enforcement agent, the series of events that drove her to run for public office in 2018,...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 373 — Andrew Gillum from 2020-03-05T09:00

Andrew Gillum is the former Mayor of Tallahassee, Florida and the 2018 Florida Democratic gubernatorial nominee. He joins David to talk about the state of the 2020 Democratic primary in the afterma...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 372 — Paul Krugman from 2020-03-02T10:00

Paul Krugman is a Nobel Prize-winning economist and Op-Ed columnist for The New York Times. He joins David to talk about why he decided to pursue a career in economics, the qualities that make a gr...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 371 — Adam Frankel from 2020-02-24T09:00

Adam Frankel is a former senior speechwriter for President Barack Obama. He joins David to discuss his new memoir, “The Survivors: A Story of War, Inheritance, and Healing.” The book is a remarkabl...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 370 — Abdul El-Sayed from 2020-02-20T13:26

Abdul El-Sayed is a public health expert, former Health Commissioner of the City of Detroit, progressive activist, and former Michigan Democratic gubernatorial candidate. He joins David to talk abo...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 369 — Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn from 2020-02-17T09:00

Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn are Pulitzer-Prize winning authors and journalists. They join David for a live edition of The Axe Files to talk about how their families’ immigrant stories inform...

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Ep. 368 — Rep. Adam Schiff from 2020-02-13T09:00

Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) is the Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee and served as lead House manager in the Senate impeachment trial of Donald Trump. He joins David to share his assessment ...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 367 — Michele Norris from 2020-02-10T09:00

Michele Norris, former host of NPR’s All Things Considered, joins David to talk about how her family’s firsthand experience with housing discrimination shaped her world view, her struggle as a fled...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 366 — David Gergen from 2020-02-06T09:00

David Gergen is a former presidential adviser and CNN political commentator. He joins David to talk about how Trump’s State of the Union could shape his reelection chances, the electoral challenges...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 365 — Judd Apatow from 2020-02-03T09:00

Judd Apatow is a filmmaker, writer, and comedian. He joins David to talk about how his parents’ divorce helped fuel his interest in comedy, his struggles with anxiety at the height of his career, t...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 364 — Fusion GPS (Glenn Simpson and Peter Fritsch) from 2020-01-30T09:00

Glenn Simpson and Peter Fritsch are the co-founders of Fusion GPS, the private research firm behind the Steele “Trump-Russia” dossier. Simpson and Fritsch join David to discuss their joint roots as...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 363 — John Heilemann from 2020-01-27T09:00

John Heilemann is a journalist, author, television commentator, editor-in-chief of The Recount, and host of Showtime’s The Circus. He joins David fresh from a swing through Iowa to share his assess...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 362 — Heather McGhee from 2019-12-30T08:05

Heather McGhee is the former president of Demos, a non-profit progressive think tank devoted to racial justice. She joins David to talk about her upbringing in the South Side of Chicago, the evolut...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 361 — Sarah Hurwitz from 2019-12-23T08:05

Sarah Hurwitz, former head speechwriter for First Lady Michelle Obama and senior speechwriter for President Barack Obama, joins David to discuss her early career in politics, the art of speechwriti...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 360 – Richard Stengel from 2019-12-16T08:05

Richard Stengel is the former Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs and former managing editor of Time. He joins David to talk about his collaboration with Nelson Mandela...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 359 – Andrew Yang from 2019-12-05T22:13

Entrepreneur and Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang joins David for a live edition of The Axe Files to discuss why he abandoned a career in law to build his own business, how rapid techn...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 358 – Gary Cohn from 2019-12-02T08:05

Gary Cohn served as the Director of the National Economic Council and chief economic advisor to President Trump. He joins David to talk about how an early dyslexia diagnosis shaped his drive to suc...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 357 – Amb. Dennis Ross from 2019-11-25T08:05

Dennis Ross is a diplomat and author with over four decades of experience in Middle East policy. He joins David to talk about his service under six presidential administrations, how the political c...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 356 – Samantha Power from 2019-11-18T08:05

Samantha Power, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, joins David to talk about the journey from her childhood in Ireland to the halls of the U.N. — and the trials she faced along the way. ...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 355 – Cindy McCain (TV) from 2019-11-10T01:00

Cindy McCain joins David for a special televised edition of the Axe Files on CNN to discuss President Trump and the state of the Republican party, her advocacy on human trafficking issues, the toll...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 354 – Dikembe Mutombo from 2019-11-04T08:05

NBA Hall of Famer and humanitarian Dikembe Mutombo joins David for a conversation about his upbringing in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, how an international science competition ultimately s...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 352 – Admiral Michael Mullen from 2019-10-22T07:05

Admiral Mike Mullen, formerly the 17th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, joins David to discuss President Trump’s decision to pull U.S. troops out of Syria, the state of our alliances today, h...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 351 – Harry Reid (TV) from 2019-10-14T15:40

Harry Reid, former U.S. Senator from Nevada and Senate Majority Leader, sits down with David in Las Vegas, NV for a special televised edition of The Axe Files. In this extended version of the conve...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 350 – Gov. Gina Raimondo from 2019-10-07T07:05

Gina Raimondo, governor of Rhode Island and Chair of the Democratic Governors Association, joins David to talk about how her father’s early job loss moved her to enter public service, what Democrat...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 349 – Admiral William McRaven from 2019-09-30T07:05

Admiral William McRaven is a retired U.S. Navy SEAL who served as the commander of U.S. Special Operations from 2011 to 2014. He joins David to talk about his foray into military service, his disag...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 348 — George Will from 2019-09-23T07:05

Conservative commentator and columnist George Will discusses how Trump has dismantled political norms and whether a return to civility is possible. He answers whether the Democrats and Speaker Pelo...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 347 – Eric Holder (TV) from 2019-09-15T00:00

Former Attorney General Eric Holder joins David on the CNN edition of the Axe Files to discuss potential impeachment proceedings, his advice for 2020 candidates, the long-term implications of Trump...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
The Axe Files Goes to Iowa from 2019-08-25T00:00

For this month’s episode of the Axe Files on CNN, we took the show on the road and traveled across Iowa during a whirlwind week of campaigning at the state fair and beyond. We spoke with candidates...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 342 — Will Hurd from 2019-07-29T07:00

Rep. Will Hurd joins David Axelrod from his congressional office Washington, D.C. office for an episode of The Axe Files. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 340 — Pete Buttigieg (TV) from 2019-07-14T00:00

Pete Buttigieg, 2020 Democratic presidential candidate and mayor of South Bend, Indiana, joins David for a televised edition of The Axe Files on CNN. He makes the case for why his executive experie...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 338 - David Remnick from 2019-07-01T07:00

David Remnick is a journalist, author, and editor of The New Yorker magazine. He joins the show to talk about the New Yorker’s feature on Hunter Biden, covering Russia as a young reporter for the W...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Hacks on Tap – Double-Whammy in Miami: Dem Debate Preview from 2019-06-25T21:43:32

Hacks on Tap is the latest podcast from David Axelrod, giving listeners weekly insight into the 2020 presidential race. This week the hacks talk Biden and Buttigieg’s tough week with race relations...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Robert Gates (TV) from 2019-06-09T00:52:17

Former Secretary of Defense and CIA Director Robert Gates joins David for the Axe Files on CNN to discuss his long career serving eight presidents, his thoughts on global tensions and America’s sta...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Bonus: Fiasco, from Leon Neyfakh from 2019-05-30T08:00

In this debut episode of Fiasco: how the largely forgotten race between Al Gore and George W. Bush roiled Florida long before anyone had ever heard of a hanging chad.   For more from "Fiasco", go ...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 327 – Janet Napolitano from 2019-05-16T07:00

Janet Napolitano is the former Secretary of Homeland Security and two-term Governor of Arizona. She joins the show to talk about her long career in both law and politics, including her role in Anit...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 326 - Sen. Cory Booker (TV) from 2019-05-12T00:00

The New Jersey Senator and Democratic Presidential candidate joins David for The Axe Files on CNN in this extended conversation about his career in politics and the issues driving his run for the p...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 325 — Bill Burns from 2019-05-09T07:00

Bill Burns is the former Ambassador to the Russian Federation under President Obama and currently serves as the President of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. He joins David to talk a...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Bonus: Deep Background with Noah Feldman from 2019-05-09T01:00

Asha Rangappa, a former FBI agent and the former dean of admissions at Yale Law School, gives us a unique perspective on the college admissions scandal. To learn more about how CNN protects listen...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 324 — Jason Rezaian from 2019-05-06T07:00

Jason Rezaian is an author, CNN contributor, and opinion writer for the Washington Post. In 2014, while working in Iran as the Tehran bureau chief for the Post, he and his wife were detained by the...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 323 — James Carville from 2019-05-02T07:00

James Carville is a Democratic political strategist best known for his work as the lead strategist of Bill Clinton’s 1992 presidential campaign. He joins David to talk about how growing up in segre...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 322 — Bryan Cranston from 2019-04-29T07:00

Bryan Cranston is an actor, producer, director, and screenwriter best known for his roles on Breaking Bad, Malcolm in the Middle, and Seinfeld. He joins David to talk about acting as a catharsis, w...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Bonus: Trevor Noah from 2019-04-26T07:00

Trevor Noah and David Kibuuka discuss the fire at Notre Dame and the ethics of philanthropy before being joined by Tiger Woods biographer Jeff Benedict to discuss one of the greatest comebacks in s...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 321 - Valerie Jarrett from 2019-04-23T07:00

Valerie Jarrett, former senior advisor to President Barack Obama, sits down with David for a live taping of “The Axe Files” at the University of Chicago. Born in Iran to American parents, she discu...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
The Axe Files from 2019-04-22T07:05

For more of The Axe Files, go to LuminaryPodcasts.com.  To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 320 — Rep. Jan Schakowsky from 2019-04-18T08:00

Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky is the U.S. Representative for Illinois's 9th district, a position she's held since 1999. She joins David to talk about her start in politics as a grassroots organizer,...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 319 — Beto O'Rourke (TV) from 2019-04-14T00:00

Former Texas congressmen Beto O’Rourke joins David on CNN to talk about his vision for the country, growing up as the son of a larger-than-life Texas politician, what the reality of life is like on...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Special Announcement from The Axe Files from 2019-04-10T18:19

We’re happy to announce that the Axe Files is joining the Luminary podcast network! Go to luminary.link/theaxefiles and sign up before April 22 to get your first three months for free and only $6.9...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 318 - Tommy Vietor from 2019-04-08T08:00

Tommy Vietor is the former National Security Council spokesman under President Obama and current host of Pod Save the World on the Crooked Media network. He joins David to talk about his journey on...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 317 - Peter Roskam from 2019-04-01T08:00

Peter Roskam is a former Republican congressman from Illinois. He joins David to talk about how he was caught up in the 2018 Democratic wave, what initially drew him into politics, the pathway to a...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 316 — Alex Kotlowitz from 2019-03-25T08:00

Journalist and author Alex Kotlowitz joins David to talk about his award-winning book on kids growing up in the Chicago housing projects, the mental toll writing that book took on him personally, t...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 315 — Jeb Bush (TV) from 2019-03-17T00:00

Former Governor Jeb Bush joins the Axe Files on CNN to talk about the Bush family legacy of public service, Trump’s impact on the 2016 Republican primary, his personal connection to the issue of im...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 314 - Alyssa Mastromonaco from 2019-03-11T08:00

Alyssa Mastromonaco is an author and served as Barack Obama's deputy Chief of Staff for Operations in the White House. She joins David to talk about her early experience interning for Bernie Sander...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 313 - Sen. Elizabeth Warren (TV) from 2019-03-03T02:00

Elizabeth Warren is the Senator from Massachusetts and a Democratic presidential candidate. She joins David for the Axe Files on CNN in this extended conversation about her life, her candidacy, and...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 312 - Bill Kurtis from 2019-02-28T15:01

Legendary broadcast journalist and news anchor Bill Kurtis joins the show to talk about the history he's witnessed from his many years covering the news, from being threatened by Charles Manson to ...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 311 - Claire McCaskill from 2019-02-25T09:00

Claire McCaskill, former Democratic U.S. Senator from Missouri, joins David to talk about the 2018 midterms race she narrowly lost in a state swept by Donald Trump by nearly 19 points in 2016. She ...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 310 - Michael Smerconish from 2019-02-21T09:00

Michael Smerconish, is a journalist and host of the eponymous ‘Smerconish’ on CNN, as well as the host of “The Michael Smerconish Program” on SiriusXM’s POTUS channel. He joins David to talk about ...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 309 — Lisa Madigan from 2019-02-18T09:00

Lisa Madigan is the former State Attorney General for Illinois. She joins the show to talk about teaching in South Africa during the rise of the anti-apartheid movement, the Jason Van Dyke case in ...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 308 — Kirsten Powers from 2019-02-14T09:00

Kirsten Powers is an author, columnist for USA Today, and frequent contributor on CNN. She joins David to discuss her far-flung upbringing in Alaska, the personal struggles which she discussed open...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 307 — Nate Silver from 2019-02-11T13:33

Nate Silver, statistician and founder of FiveThirtyEight, joins David to talk about how his early love of sports fused with a passion for statistical modeling, the bridge from sports modeling to pr...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 306 — Rep. Hakeem Jeffries from 2019-02-07T09:00

Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) is the head of the House Democratic Caucus. He joins the show to discuss his reaction to the State of the Union address, how Democrats plan to respond, what he's ...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 305 - Josh Shapiro from 2019-02-04T21:05

Josh Shapiro, Attorney General of Pennsylvania, joins David to discuss the Pennsylvania grand jury report revealing child sex abuse by Catholic priests and the elaborate cover-up scheme—one of the ...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 304 — John Delaney from 2019-01-31T16:04

Former Congressman and Democratic Presidential candidate John Delaney joins the show to talk about his journey from a blue collar family to the founder of two publicly traded companies, his candida...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 303 - David Leonhardt from 2019-01-28T09:00

David Leonhardt, author and op-ed columnist for The New York Times, joins David to discuss the state of the American economy, Democratic hopes in 2020, the prospect of impeachment, and much more. ...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 302 - Stanley McChrystal from 2019-01-24T09:00

Stanley McChrystal is a retired four-star general in the U.S. Army who led America’s Joint Special Operations Command and NATO forces in the War in Afghanistan. He joins David to share his view of ...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 301 — John Kerry (TV) from 2019-01-20T01:00

Former Secretary of State John Kerry joins David for a televised version of the Axe Files to discuss the state of American foreign policy under Donald Trump, whether he’s considering a run for the ...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 300 - Sherrilyn Ifill from 2019-01-17T09:00

Sherrilyn Ifill is the President and Director-Counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund. She joins David to talk about how growing up in the heat of the civil rights movement inspired...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 299 - Miguel Cervantes from 2019-01-14T09:00

Miguel Cervantes, star of the blockbuster Hamilton play in Chicago, sits down with David to talk about the years he spent auditioning prior to landing the leading role, the cultural phenomenon the ...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 298 - Ivo Daalder from 2019-01-10T09:00

Ivo Daalder is the President of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs and the former U.S. ambassador to NATO. He joins David to talk about the decline of American influence abroad and current vacuu...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 297 - Gov. J.B. Pritzker from 2019-01-07T09:00

J.B. Pritzker, governor-elect of Illinois, joins David to discuss the unique challenges facing the state and his priorities moving forward, what surprised him upon meeting Donald Trump during the D...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 296 - Rep. Eric Swalwell from 2018-12-20T09:00

Congressman Eric Swalwell represents California's 15th district and serves on the House Intelligence Committee. He joins the show to discuss the House investigation into Russia's meddling in the 20...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 295 — Howard Wolfson from 2018-12-17T09:00

Howard Wolfson is the former Deputy Mayor of New York City, counselor to former NYC mayor Michael Bloomberg, co-chief strategist and communications director on Hillary Clinton’s 2008 presidential c...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 294 — Al Hunt from 2018-12-13T09:00

Political journalist Al Hunt, formerly of the Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg, joins David to discuss his time covering Watergate, similarities and differences between Trump and Nixon in light of...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 293 — Rahm Emanuel (TV) from 2018-12-09T01:00

Rahm Emanuel, mayor of Chicago, joins David for a televised edition of the Axe Files to discuss how Democrats should take on the Trump administration, the biggest challenges of leading the Windy Ci...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 292 — Bryan Stevenson from 2018-12-06T09:00

Bryan Stevenson is a lawyer, activist, author, and founder/executive director of the Equal Justice Initiative, a non-profit organization that provides legal aid to prisoners lacking effective repre...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 291 — Jeff Zucker from 2018-12-03T09:00

Jeff Zucker, president of CNN, sits down with David to talk about how a rejection from Harvard Law School paved the way for his meteoric rise as a media executive; his break up with NBC; the health...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 290 — Amanda Carpenter from 2018-11-29T09:00

Amanda Carpenter is a conservative commentator, author, and former senior communications advisor and speechwriter to Senator Ted Cruz. She sits down with David to discuss the challenges of being ra...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 289 — Chris Dodd from 2018-11-26T09:00

Chris Dodd is the former and longest-serving U.S. Senator from Connecticut. He joins David to talk about the influence of his late father, Sen. Thomas Dodd; the formative friendships he forged and ...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 288 — Barack Obama (Live) from 2018-11-20T20:00

Former President of the United States Barack Obama sits down with David in Hyde Park for a special live taping of the Axe Files. Their conversation touches on the Obamas' life in the Hyde Park comm...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 287 - Sonia Sotomayor from 2018-11-18T01:00

Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor joins David on the Axe Files on CNN to discuss the shifting dynamics on the bench after Brett Kavanaugh’s bitter confirmation battle, her personal ties to Puer...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 286 — Mark Salter from 2018-11-15T09:00

Mark Salter is a longtime advisor and speechwriter to Senator John McCain. He joins David to talk about the early literary influences that shaped both his and his late boss’s political philosophies...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 285 — Gloria Borger from 2018-11-12T09:00

Gloria Borger is a political pundit, journalist, and columnist who currently commentates as a chief political analyst for CNN. She sits down with David the day after Tuesday’s midterm elections to ...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 284 — Jen Psaki from 2018-11-08T09:00

Jen Psaki is the former White House Communications Director and White House Deputy Press Secretary under President Obama. She joins David after the midterms to discuss the implications of the resul...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 283 - Arnold Schwarzenegger from 2018-11-04T00:00

Bodybuilder, actor, and former Governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger joins David for the Axe Files on CNN to talk about his rise from a humble Austrian village to an American cultural icon a...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 282 — Steve Brill from 2018-11-01T08:00

Author and journalist Steve Brill joins David to talk about his new project NewsGuard, which uses journalism to fight fake news, as well as his long career in business and journalism. To learn ...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 281 — Steve Schmidt from 2018-10-29T08:00

Steve Schmidt is former Republican campaign strategist, who notably ran the 2008 John McCain campaign for the presidency. Since the election of Donald Trump he has left the Republican Party to beco...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 280 - Jonah Goldberg from 2018-10-25T08:00

Jonah Goldberg is an author and columnist for the National Review. He joins David to discuss his roots in journalism, how a family tragedy shaped his view on the War on Drugs, and his criticisms of...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 279 — Jeff Weaver from 2018-10-22T08:00

Jeff Weaver was the campaign manager for Senator Bernie Sanders' 2016 presidential campaign. He joins the show to discuss Sanders' unique appeal to voters, what it was like to run against Hillary C...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 278 — Mary Katharine Ham from 2018-10-18T08:00

Mary Katharine Ham is a journalist and conservative commentator on CNN. She joins David to discuss fake news, Nikki Haley, the cultural issues dividing the country, and the Republican Party's Faust...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 277 — Khizr Khan from 2018-10-15T08:15

Khizr Khan is a Gold Star father best known for his iconic speech at the 2016 Democratic National Convention honoring his late son, Humayan Khan, a U.S. Army captain killed in the Iraq War. He join...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 276 — Ana Navarro from 2018-10-11T07:50

Ana Navarro, GOP strategist and political commentator for CNN, joins David to talk about how her Nicaraguan upbringing shapes her view of U.S. immigration policy, the impact of the evolving landsca...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 275 — Steven Pearlstein from 2018-10-08T08:00

Steven Pearlstein is a Pulitzer Prize-winning business and economics columnist for The Washington Post. He joins David to chat about his beginnings in business writing, how to interpret the country...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 274 - Chuck Todd from 2018-10-04T08:22

Chuck Todd is a longtime political journalist and current host of NBC's Meet the Press. He joins David to talk about his father’s struggle with alcoholism and the impact of his premature death; the...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 273 — Gov. Steve Bullock from 2018-10-01T08:00

Montana Governor Steve Bullock joins the show to discuss the Brett Kavanaugh hearings, how Democrats can win back voters in rural states, his work on the opiod epidemic, money in politics, and more...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 272 — Roberta Jacobson from 2018-09-27T08:00

Roberta Jacobson is an American diplomat who served as the U.S. Ambassador to Mexico until May of 2018. She joins David to discuss the diplomatic tension between the U.S. and Mexico, the Trump admi...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 271 — Peter Sagal from 2018-09-24T08:00

Peter Sagal is the author of The Incomplete Book of Running and host of NPR's Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me. He joins David to discuss a variety of topics including getting passed on by the Harvard Lam...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 270 — Bob Shrum from 2018-09-20T08:00

Bob Shrum is a longtime Democratic campaign strategist and speechwriter. He joins David to discuss his new Institute for the Political Future, volunteering for Citizens for Kennedy as a college stu...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 269 — Deval Patrick (TV) from 2018-09-16T00:00

Deval Patrick, former Governor of Massachusetts and civil rights lawyer, author, and businessman, sits down for a special televised edition of The Axe Files on CNN. He talks with David about his up...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 268 — Susan Glasser from 2018-09-13T08:00

Susan Glasser is a preeminent political journalist with nearly three decades of reporting experience spanning foreign policy, domestic politics, and war correspondence. She joins David to talk abou...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 267 — Jon Lovett from 2018-09-10T08:00

Pod Save America co-host and former speechwriter for President Barack Obama Jon Lovett joins the show to talk about the art of speechwriting, his experience working with Hillary Clinton prior to jo...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 266 — Austan Goolsbee from 2018-09-03T08:00

Former Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers Austan Goolsbee joins David to discuss the major economic policy decisions under Bush and Obama, the ongoing trade negotiations with Mexico, how ...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 265 — Rep. Mike Quigley from 2018-08-27T08:00

Mike Quigley is the U.S. Representative for Illinois’s 5th congressional district, serving on the House Intelligence and Appropriations Committees. He joins David to talk about the importance of lo...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 264 — Dean Baquet&Marty Baron from 2018-08-19T00:00

Dean Baquet and Marty Baron, the Executive Editors of the New York Times and the Washington Post respectively, join David for the Axe Files on CNN to discuss the challenges of covering the Trump pr...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 263 — Ace Smith from 2018-08-13T08:00

Averell “Ace” Smith is a political opposition researcher whose career has spanned campaigns for Kamala Harris, Jerry Brown, and the Clintons. He sits down with David to talk about the ways in which...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 262 — Judy Woodruff from 2018-08-06T08:00

Judy Woodruff is a longtime broadcast journalist and current anchor and managing editor of the PBS NewsHour. Judy sits down with David to talk about the regional blind spots afflicting network news...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 261 - Anne Burke from 2018-08-02T08:00

Part two of our Special Olympics series. Anne Burke, founder of the Special Olympics and a Supreme Court Justice in Illinois for the First Judicial District, joins David to talk about how coming to...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 260 - Tim Shriver from 2018-07-30T08:31

Part one of this week’s two episode series honoring the 50th anniversary of the Special Olympics. Timothy Shriver is the Chairman of the Special Olympics and son of legendary public servants Eunice...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 259 — Mitch Landrieu (TV) from 2018-07-22T00:00

Former New Orleans mayor Mitch Landrieu rejoins the show in this extended version of a conversation from the Axe Files on CNN. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 258 — Dan Pfeiffer from 2018-07-16T08:00

Dan Pfeiffer is a former Senior Advisor to Barack Obama, co-host on the Pod Save America podcast, and author of the book Yes We (Still) Can: Politics in the Age of Obama, Twitter, and Trump. He joi...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 257 — John King Jr. from 2018-07-09T08:00

John King Jr., U.S. Secretary of Education under President Obama, sits down with David to talk about losing his parents at a young age, the impact of the Trump administration's affirmative action r...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 256 — Nneka Jones Tapia from 2018-07-02T11:00

Dr. Nneka Jones Tapia is a clinical psychologist who in 2015 became the Executive Director of the Cook County Jail, the largest jail in America. She was the first mental health professional to run ...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 255 — Mike Barnicle from 2018-06-28T09:00

MSNBC contributor and former columnist Mike Barnicle. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 254 — Sen. Marco Rubio from 2018-06-24T00:00

Senator Marco Rubio, the son of Cuban immigrants, joins David for the Axe Files on CNN to discuss the ongoing battle at the border, the Trump administration’s zero tolerance policy, the Mueller inv...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 253 — John Farrell from 2018-06-21T08:00

John Farrell, award-winning presidential historian and journalist, joins David to chat about why local newspapers now struggle for survival, his work on the Boston Globe’s famous ‘Spotlight’ team, ...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 252 — Rachel Maddow from 2018-06-18T08:00

Rachel Maddow, host of MSNBC’s The Rachel Maddow Show, joins David to talk about growing up as a liberal activist in a conservative town, her unique philosophy on newscasting in the Trump era, and ...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 251 — Ray Mabus from 2018-06-14T08:00

Ray Mabus, former U.S. Secretary of the Navy and Governor of Mississippi, joins David to talk about his upbringing in the heart of the South during the Civil Rights movement, what Mississippi‘s shi...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 250 — Tom Donilon from 2018-06-11T08:00

Tom Donilon, former National Security Adviser to Barack Obama, chats with David Axelrod about his experience running President Jimmy Carter’s delegate operation during Ted Kennedy’s 1980 convention...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 249 — Ronan Farrow from 2018-06-07T09:00

Ronan Farrow is a Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter for The New Yorker, former State Department official under President Barack Obama, and author of the new best-selling book War on Peace: The End of...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 248 — Savannah Guthrie from 2018-06-04T12:28

Savannah Guthrie is a journalist, attorney, and co-anchor of the NBC News morning show Today. She recently sat down with David to talk about the impact of losing her father at a young age, how her ...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 247 — James Clapper from 2018-05-31T09:00

James Clapper is the former Director of National Intelligence and the author of a new book, Facts and Fears: Hard Truths from a Life in Intelligence. His long career in military intelligence spans ...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 246 — Sally Yates from 2018-05-27T00:00

Former Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates, in an extended conversation with David Axelrod from the Axe Files TV show on CNN, talks about her formative experiences in the law as well as her tenure ...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 245 — Michael McFaul from 2018-05-24T09:00

Michael McFaul is the former U.S. ambassador to Russia and author of the book "From Cold War to Hot Peace," which chronicles U.S.-Russia relations during the Obama administration. He joins David Ax...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 244 — Steve Israel from 2018-05-21T09:00

Former congressman and novelist Steve Israel joins the show to discuss his new book on the gun lobby, the future of gun reform, the Democratic Party's chances of retaking the House, and more. To l...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 243 — José Andrés from 2018-05-17T09:00

Renowned chef and humanitarian José Andres joins David to talk about his love of cooking, the political situation in Catalonia, his disaster relief efforts in Puerto Rico, and much more. To learn ...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 242 - Tom Price from 2018-05-14T09:00

Former HHS Secretary Tom Price on his path to politics and healthcare in America. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 241 - Jeffrey Toobin from 2018-05-10T09:00

Staff writer for the New Yorker Jeffrey Toobin joins David to talk about working as a prosector in the Oliver North trial, covering the O.J. trial as a journalist, the Mueller investigation, and mo...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 240 - Vladimir Kara-Murza from 2018-05-07T09:00

Journalist and Russian Pro-Democracy activist Vladimir Kara-Murza discusses Putin’s Russia, the Magnitsky Act, hope for a democratic Russia, and more..To learn more about how CNN protects listener ...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 239 - Kelly Ayotte from 2018-05-03T09:00

Former Senator from New Hampshire Kelly Ayotte discusses her decision not to endorse Donald Trump, her early career as a prosecutor, counseling Neil Gorsuch during his confirmation process, and mor...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 238 - Michael Avenatti from 2018-04-30T09:00

Michael Avenatti, the high-profile attorney representing Stormy Daniels, joins David to chat about how the loss of his father’s job when he was a teenager fueled his own ambitions, his passion for ...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 237 - Tom Perriello from 2018-04-26T09:00

Former Congressman Tom Perriello joins David for a conversation on the direction of the Democratic Party, big ideas for 2021 and beyond, lessons he learned in Sierra Leone, and more. To learn more...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 236 - Mark Murray from 2018-04-23T09:09

Senior Political Editor at NBC News Mark Murray joins David to discuss the nationalization of politics, Paul Ryan's departure from Congress, what's in store for Republicans during the 2018 midterm ...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 235 - Gov. John Hickenlooper from 2018-04-19T09:01

Governor John Hickenlooper of Colorado joins David to discuss the hardships of governing under a Republican administration, the legalization of marijuana in Colorado, his bipartisan blueprint to fi...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 234 - Zalmay Khalilzad from 2018-04-16T11:57:24

Former U.N. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad joins David to discuss his childhood in Afghanistan, what went wrong after the invasion of Iraq in 2003, the future of conflict in the Middle East, and more....

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 233 - Ed Miliband from 2018-04-12T09:00

Labour MP and former party leader Ed Miliband joins David to discuss the political climate in Britain, his ongoing battle with Rupert Murdoch, lessons from his 2015 defeat, and more. To learn more...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 232 - Stephanie Schriock from 2018-04-09T09:00

President of Emily's List Stephanie Schriock joins David to discuss how growing up in a mining community influenced her politics, her groundbreaking work on the Howard Dean campaign in 2004, and th...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 231 - Major Garrett from 2018-04-05T09:00

Major Garrett, Chief White House Correspondent with CBS News, chats with David about the most important story he ever covered, his time at Fox News, the sources of friction in Trump's White House, ...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 230 - Charles Barkley from 2018-04-01T01:00

NBA Hall of Famer and TV analyst Charles Barkley joins David to talk about his journey from the segregated South to the NBA, why Trump-era politics “disgust” him, and whether NCAA athletes should g...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 229 - Andrea Mitchell from 2018-03-29T09:00

Andrea Mitchell, anchor and Chief Foreign Affairs Correspondent for NBC News, joins David for a conversation about upheaval in Trump's State Department and the new dynamics that will govern Trump's...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 228 - Michael Phelps from 2018-03-26T20:11:23

Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps joins David to talk about what it took to become the most decorated Olympic athlete of all time, his battles with depression, and more. To learn more about how...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 227 - Chris Cuomo from 2018-03-22T08:00

CNN television host Chris Cuomo joins David for a wide-ranging conversation on his decision to go into journalism, how his family name held him back, his father's legacy, and more. To learn more a...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 226 - Peter Wehner from 2018-03-19T09:00

Pete Wehner, author and former speechwriter for George W. Bush, joins David to discuss Trump's relationship with the Evangelical movement and the weaponization of faith in politics. To learn more ...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 225 - Ana Marie Cox from 2018-03-15T10:00

Ana Marie Cox, host of the podcast "With Friends Like These," joins David at South By Southwest to discuss her career in journalism from Wonkette to MTV and how an attempted suicide seven years ago...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 224 - Jon Favreau (Live) from 2018-03-12T09:00

Pod Save America host Jon Favreau joins David for a live show in Austin to discuss his time as a speechwriter for Barack Obama, looking ahead to 2020, the future of progressive politics, and more. ...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 223 - Jay Roach from 2018-03-08T11:00

Film director and producer Jay Roach joins David to talk about his transition from directing comedies to political films, #TimesUp in Hollywood, converting to Judaism, and more. To learn more abou...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 222 - Sen. Jeff Flake from 2018-03-04T01:00

Arizona Senator Jeff Flake joins David for the Axe Files on CNN to discuss what drove him out of the Senate, how his Mormonism informs his views on the Muslim ban, whether he thinks Trump will face...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 221 - Jay Carney from 2018-03-01T11:00

Former White House spokesman Jay Carney joins David to talk about covering an attempted coup in Russia, how the job of press secretary has changed under Trump, his current role at Amazon, and much ...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 220 - Michael Gerson from 2018-02-26T11:00

Washington Post columnist Michael Gerson joins the show to talk about his battle with cancer, a wake-up call for the GOP, his work on PEPFAR, and much more. To learn more about how CNN protects li...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 219 - Mayor Marty Walsh from 2018-02-22T11:00

Boston mayor Marty Walsh joins the show to talk about his past struggles with addiction, labor unions in the 21st century, his commitment to DACA recipients, gun control, and more. To learn more a...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 218 - Lawrence O'Donnell from 2018-02-19T12:00

Lawrence O'Donnell, journalist and host of MSNBC's The Last Word, joins David to discuss his rough encounter with the Boston Police Department, the car accident that changed his life, his work on T...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 217 - Jake Tapper from 2018-02-15T18:00:07

Journalist and CNN anchor Jake Tapper joins the show to talk about cartooning at Dartmouth, his date with Monica Lewinsky that helped launch his journalism career, moderating the second Republican ...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 216 - Anthony Scaramucci from 2018-02-12T18:01:59

Former White House Communications Director Anthony Scaramucci joins David to talk about is upbringing on Long Island, how the economy has impacted communities like his home town, what went wrong du...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 215 - Prime Minister Justin Trudeau from 2018-02-08T01:40:25

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau joins David at the University of Chicago Institute of Politics' fifth anniversary celebration for a conversation on growing up as the son of a prime minister...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 214 - Whoopi Goldberg from 2018-02-04T01:00

Award-winning actress, activist, and talk show host Whoopi Goldberg joins David for the Axe Files on CNN to talk about her personal history with President Trump, her thoughts on the #MeToo movement...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 213 - Sen. Mark Warner from 2018-02-02T10:00

Virginia Senator Mark Warner reacts to the State of the Union address, discusses the latest developments in the Russia investigation, and shares his thoughts on the economic challenges that will de...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 212 - McKay Coppins from 2018-01-29T11:00

McKay Coppins, author and staff writer for The Atlantic, joins David to talk about his bizarre journey with candidate Donald Trump, Mitt Romney's Mormonism, his recent profile of Mike Pence, and mo...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 211 - David Gregory from 2018-01-25T11:00

Journalist and CNN political analyst David Gregory joins the show to discuss his interview with Joe Biden, covering the Bush administration, his career after Meet the Press, the OJ trial, and more....

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 210 - Ross Douthat from 2018-01-22T11:00

New York Times columnist Ross Douthat joins David to discuss his faith, why Trump loves the New York Times, Trump's brand of racism, and much more.To learn more about how CNN protects listener priv...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 209 - Norm Ornstein from 2018-01-18T13:43:17

Author and resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute Norm Ornstein joins David to discuss the impact of mental illness in his life, the prospect of political reform post-Trump, the loss...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 208 - Condoleezza Rice from 2018-01-14T01:00

Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice joins the Axe Files on CNN to discuss her tenure in the Bush administration, foreign policy under the Trump administration, her advice for Oprah, and much...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 207 - John Bouman from 2018-01-11T11:00

John Bouman, president of the Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law, joins David to discuss fighting poverty through the court system, the prospect of welfare reform under President Trump,...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 206 - Rep. Cheri Bustos from 2018-01-08T11:00

Illinois Congresswoman Cheri Bustos joins David to talk about representing a district that voted for Trump, how Democrats can reach out to rural white voters, why pushing for impeachment is a mista...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 205 - Jake Sullivan from 2018-01-04T11:00

Jake Sullivan, senior policy advisor to Hillary Clinton's 2016 election campaign, chats with David about his role in negotiating the Iran nuclear agreement, the Steele dossier, deconstructing the C...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 204 - Adam Nagourney from 2018-01-01T11:00

Los Angeles Bureau Chief for the New York Times Adam Nagourney joins David to talk about his lifelong love of politics, journalism in New York City, Trump's relationship with the New York Times, an...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 203 - Card. Blase Cupich from 2017-12-21T11:00

Cardinal Blase Cupich, archbishop of the Archdiocese of Chicago, joins David to talk about his journey to the highest levels of the Catholic church, visiting Puerto Rico in aftermath of Hurricane M...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 202 - Laura Haim from 2017-12-18T19:08

Laura Haim, journalist and former communications strategist for Emmanuel Macron, joins David to talk about the state of democracy in Europe, covering conflicts around the globe, what she saw in Don...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 201 - Rick Santorum from 2017-12-14T11:00

Former Senator from Pennsylvania Rick Santorum joins David to talk about his years in both the House and Senate, his path to his Catholic faith, his views on President Trump, and the consequences o...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 200 - Ed Gillespie from 2017-12-11T22:27:27

Former Chair of the RNC Ed Gillespie joins the Axe Files to talk about his failed bid for Governor of Virginia, the controversial ads he ran during that race, the candidacy of Roy Moore and the sta...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 199 - Eric Garcetti from 2017-12-07T11:00

Mayor of Los Angeles Eric Garcetti joins David to talk about the potential impact of the tax bill on his city, the way forward for the Democratic party, his own political future, and much more. To...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 198 - Preet Bharara from 2017-12-04T11:00

Former U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara joins David to discuss the latest in the Russia investigation, Michael Flynn's decision to plead guilty to lying to the FBI, controversial appointments the federa...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 197 - Tom Hanks from 2017-12-03T01:00

Oscar-winning actor Tom Hanks joins David to talk about how his career began, films as a part of historical record, the sexual harassment scandals in Hollywood, his views on the Trump presidency, a...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 196 - Pete Souza from 2017-11-30T11:00

Former Chief White House Photographer Pete Souza chats with David about serving under two presidents, his first encounter with Barack Obama, working as a photojournalist during the war in Afghanist...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 195 - David Sanger from 2017-11-27T11:00

Chief Washington Correspondent of The New York Times David Sanger joins the show to talk about how we arrived at the crisis point with North Korea, the new frontier of cyber warfare, and the state ...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 194 - Steve Kerr from 2017-11-26T03:00

Head coach of the Golden State Warriors Steve Kerr rejoins David for the Axe Files on CNN to talk about his life, his struggles with chronic pain, and his political activism following the election ...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 193 - Kathleen Sebelius from 2017-11-22T18:57:23

Former HHS Secretary and two term Governor of Kansas Kathleen Sebelius discusses her family's legacy in politics, sexual harassment in America, and the future of Obamacare under the Trump administr...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 192 - Donna Brazile from 2017-11-20T11:00

Democratic strategist Donna Brazile sit down with David to discuss her early work with Rev. Jesse Jackson, moving up through the ranks of the Democratic Party, systemic issues in the DNC, the accus...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 191 - Tony Blair from 2017-11-16T11:00

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair joins David in London to talk about the implications of Brexit, the Trump/Brexit connection, his dealings since stepping away from British politics, and mor...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 190 - Christiane Amanpour from 2017-11-13T11:00

CNN Chief International Correspondent Christiane Amanpour joins David in London to discuss growing up in Iran during the revolution, her experience covering the first Gulf War, her relationship wit...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 189 - Fred Hochberg from 2017-11-09T11:00

Former Export-Import Bank Chairman Fred Hochberg chats with David about the evolution of gay and transgender rights issues, his replacement at EXIM, trade issues in the United States, and more. To...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 188 - Susan E. Rice from 2017-11-06T11:00

Ambassador Susan E. Rice joins David to talk about lessons learned from Rwanda to Syria, the threat from North Korea, the need for American leadership in the world, the Tuskegee Airmen, and much mo...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 187 - Gov. Terry McAuliffe from 2017-11-02T10:00

Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe joins David to talk about the races in Virginia, his winning formula in a Southern state, what Democrats need to focus on in 2018, the Mueller investigation, and m...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 186 - Bakari Sellers from 2017-10-30T10:00

Former South Carolina State Representative Bakari Sellers joins the show to talk about his family's involvement in the Civil Rights Movement, the Orangeburg Massacre, politics in the South, voting ...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 185 - Karen Tumulty from 2017-10-26T10:00

Washington Post political correspondent Karen Tumulty joins David to talk about growing up in military family, Trump's controversial call with a military widow, the many changes in the field of jou...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 184 - David Miliband from 2017-10-23T10:00

David Miliband, President and CEO of the International Rescue Committee, joins the show to talk about the refugee crisis, the forces shaping European politics, his work at the IRC, and more. To le...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 183 - Ta-Nehisi Coates from 2017-10-19T10:00

Author and writer for The Atlantic Magazine Ta-Nehisi Coates sits down with David to talk about his upbringing in Baltimore, his early forays into journalism, race and politics in America, his refl...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 182 - Sen. Michael Bennet from 2017-10-16T10:00

Colorado Senator Michael Bennet chats with David about securing the future of our democracy, making tough choices as a a school superintendent in Denver, his work on the DREAM Act, and more. To le...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 181 - Rep. Nancy Pelosi from 2017-10-14T23:00

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi joins the Axe Files once again to talk about her negotiations with President Trump on the Dreamers, the allegations against Harvey Weinstein, her hopes for women ...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 180 - David Rubenstein from 2017-10-12T10:00

Financier and philanthropist David Rubenstein joins David to talk about his modest beginnings in Baltimore, working in the White House for Jimmy Carter, the importance of civic education, and more....

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 179 - David Litt from 2017-10-09T10:00

Former Obama speechwriter David Litt discusses his early days as a field organizer for Obama in 2008, his botched interview with the CIA, and other lessons learned during his ongoing career in poli...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 178 - Jason Kander from 2017-10-05T13:07:27

Jason Kander, Missouri politician and veteran of the war in Afghanistan, joins David to discuss gun control in the wake of the massacre in Las Vegas, charting a path forward in the Middle East, fig...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 177 - Jeff Roe from 2017-10-02T10:00

Republican campaign strategist Jeff Roe sits down with David to talk about working his way up in politics, the defeat of Luther Strange in Alabama, the urgency in the White House to notch a policy ...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 176 - Jim Baker from 2017-09-30T23:00

James A. Baker III, Chief of Staff to Ronald Reagan, joins David to talk about decision-making in the aftermath of an assassination attempt on Reagan, the ongoing anthem protests in the NFL, imposi...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 175 - Bill Bradley from 2017-09-28T10:00

Former Senator and Hall of Fame basketball player Bill Bradley talks with David about fighting for a player's union in the NBA, the prospect of tax reform, creating compromise in the Senate, and mo...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 174 - Gayle King from 2017-09-25T10:00

CBS This Morning host Gayle King sits down with David to discuss her formative years in Turkey, the divisions in America today, her friendship with Oprah, raising two kids as a working mom, and mor...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Special Episode - David Axelrod from 2017-09-21T06:00

The tables have turned as David joins hosts Katie Couric and Brian Goldsmith on the Katie Couric podcast to talk about his career in politics and journalism, what the election of Donald Trump means...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 173 - Rep. Seth Moulton from 2017-09-18T10:00

Congressman Seth Moulton sits down with David to talk about his military service, President Trump's shortcomings as commander-in-chief, the situation in North Korea, helping more veterans get elect...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 172 - Sen. Joe Donnelly from 2017-09-14T10:00

Senator Joe Donnelly joins David to talk about the challenge of making tough votes in Congress, why he thinks the Dream Act will get to the Senate floor, the opioid crisis, the future of the Democr...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 171 - Gov. Jay Inslee from 2017-09-11T10:00

Washington Governor Jay Inslee sits down with David to talk about the DACA decision, the importance of electing more Democratic governors, the future of the green economy, climate change, and more....

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 170 - Sen. Patty Murray from 2017-09-07T10:00

Washington Senator Patty Murray joins David to discuss President Trump's brinkmanship in North Korea, the importance of female leadership in Congress, and her path from a mom in tennis shoes to the...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 169 - Don Rose from 2017-09-04T10:00

Don Rose, legendary Chicago political consultant and former press secretary to Martin Luther King Jr., joins David to talk about his role in the civil rights movement from a very early age, how he ...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 168 - Penny Pritzker from 2017-08-28T10:00

Former U.S. Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker joins David to talk about her family's humble beginnings, what Trump's proposed immigration policies could mean for the country, the future of our econ...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 167 - Rahm Emanuel from 2017-08-17T10:00

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel reacts to Trump's controversial statements on Charlottesville, discusses the city's lawsuit over the Trump administration's immigration policies, shares his advice for th...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 166 - Rep. Luis Gutierrez from 2017-08-14T10:00

Congressman Luis Gutierrez discusses his formative years in Puerto Rico, his political education in Chicago alongside Harold Washington, and his hopes and fears for immigration policy under the Tru...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 165 - Gary Hart from 2017-08-07T10:00

Former Senator Gary Hart joins David to talk about his rural roots in Kansas, his torpedoed presidential campaign, the implications Russia investigation for the Trump presidency, and how it feels t...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 164 - Rep. Adam Kinzinger from 2017-07-31T19:00

Congressman Adam Kinzinger joins David to discuss his early forays into politics as a college student, Trump's strained relationship with Congress, the evolving threat in North Korea, and more. To...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 163 - Mitch Landrieu from 2017-07-24T10:00

New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu talks about his family's deep political roots in the South, rebuilding New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, his decision to remove Confederate monuments from his ci...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 162 - Rep. John Lewis from 2017-07-15T03:00

Congressman John Lewis joins David in Atlanta to talk about his experiences during the Civil Rights Movement, how far America has come on the issue of race, his views on President Donald Trump, and...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 161 - George Stephanopoulos from 2017-07-10T10:00

Chief Anchor for ABC News George Stephanopoulos chats with David about his previous career in politics, the Trump administration's tense relationship with the press, and what the appointment of a S...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 160 - Sen. Cory Booker from 2017-07-03T10:00

Sen. Cory Booker joins David to talk about his humbling experiences in Newark, racism in America, his mindset ahead of the 2020 presidential election, and more. To learn more about how CNN protect...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 159 - Dana Bash from 2017-06-26T21:00

CNN Chief Political Correspondent Dana Bash sits down with David to discuss the Senate health care bill, her experience covering the 9/11 attacks from Capitol Hill, and the roots of political gridl...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 158 - Bill Daley from 2017-06-22T10:00

Bill Daley, former White House chief of staff to President Obama and Secretary of Commerce under President Clinton, chats with David about his father's and his brother's tenures as mayors of Chicag...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 157 - Steven Greenhouse from 2017-06-19T10:00

Former labor correspondent for The New York Times Steven Greenhouse joins David to discuss the gig economy, the decline of unions, and his message for journalists in the Trump era. To learn more a...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 156 - Bob Dold from 2017-06-15T10:00

Former Rep. Bob Dold talks with David about being a Republican in a blue district, running a business during the recession, and the problems a Trump administration poses for moderate Republicans. ...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 155 - Sen. Elizabeth Warren from 2017-06-12T20:26:57

Sen. Elizabeth Warren joins David to talk about the myriad challenges facing the middle class in the 21st century, her ongoing battles in the Senate, and her new book "This Fight is Our Fight." To...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 154 - Geoffrey Stone from 2017-06-08T10:00

Geoffrey Stone, University of Chicago law professor and author, speaks with David Axelrod about his impressions of his former law school student, James Comey; the likelihood that Roe v. Wade will b...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 153 - Sen. Tom Cotton from 2017-06-05T10:00

Sen. Tom Cotton, Republican from Arkansas, talks with David Axelrod about why he decided to join the Army and what he learned during his deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan; his assessment of the e...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 152 - Alfredo Corchado from 2017-06-01T10:00

Alfredo Corchado, author and journalist at the Dallas Morning News, talks with David Axelrod about the two chance encounters that inspired him to pursue a career in journalism, the dangers he and o...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 151 - Brian Deese from 2017-05-29T10:00

Brian Deese, former senior advisor to President Obama, talks with David Axelrod about the instrumental role Deese played in the 2009 auto bailout, the consequences associated with rolling back fina...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 150 - Grover Norquist from 2017-05-25T10:00

Grover Norquist, political advocate and president of Americans for Tax Reform, talks with David Axelrod about how he envisioned his anti-tax pledge as a young boy, his hopes for tax reform under th...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 149 - Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand from 2017-05-22T10:00

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand talks with David about how her faith helps her forge relationships in Congress, how the Democratic Party can rebuild after the 2016 election, and what she thinks about the l...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 148 - Tony Blinken from 2017-05-18T10:00

Former Deputy Secretary of State Tony Blinken discusses spending his formative years overseas, how his experiences during the Kosovo War impacts his understanding of the Syrian conflict, and the di...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 147 - Gov. Jerry Brown from 2017-05-14T02:00

Jerry Brown, the governor of California, talks with David Axelrod about the lessons he's learned from a remarkable career in American politics, his advice for an embattled President Trump, what the...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 146 - Chelsea Handler from 2017-05-11T10:00

Chelsea Handler, comedian and creator of the Netflix show "Chelsea," sits down with David Axelrod to discuss the work she's doing on behalf of Syrian refugees, why the election of Donald Trump comp...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 145 - Jennifer Granholm from 2017-05-08T10:00

Jennifer Granholm, former governor of Michigan, talks with David Axelrod about her searing experiences while governing through an economic crisis, why she thinks the Democratic Party needs to devel...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 144 - Gov. John Kasich from 2017-05-04T10:00

John Kasich, the governor of Ohio and former presidential candidate, talks with David Axelrod about his working-class upbringing in McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania; his assessment of the opening months ...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 143 - Rep. Ro Khanna from 2017-05-01T10:00

Rep. Ro Khanna, congressman from California, talks with David Axelrod about the need for the Democratic Party to develop an effective economic message that resonates in every part of the country, w...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 142 - Shailagh Murray from 2017-04-27T10:00

Shailagh Murray, former senior advisor to President Obama, talks with David Axelrod about the decades she spent as a journalist before transitioning into government service, the changing nature of ...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 141 - Dan Shapiro from 2017-04-24T10:00

Dan Shapiro, the former ambassador to Israel during the Obama administration, talks with David Axelrod about the prospects for Middle East peace, his assessment of the State Department's performanc...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 140 - Rep. Adam Schiff from 2017-04-20T10:00

Adam Schiff, congressman from California and leading Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, talks with David Axelrod about his committee's investigation into possible connections between the...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 139 - Lisa Monaco from 2017-04-17T10:00

Lisa Monaco, the former homeland security adviser to President Obama, talks with David Axelrod about what she thinks are the greatest threats facing America today, why the Trump administration's tr...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 138 - Jason Benetti from 2017-04-13T10:00

Jason Benetti, play-by-play man for the Chicago White Sox, joins David to discuss how he overcame the effects of cerebral palsy to become a television broadcaster, his hopes and fears for people wi...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 137 - Jim Sciutto from 2017-04-10T10:00

Jim Sciutto, CNN's chief national security correspondent, talks with David Axelrod about the impact his Jesuit education had on his worldview, the complex nature of the U.S.-China relationship, the...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 136 - Ben Smith from 2017-04-06T10:00

Ben Smith, the editor-in-chief of BuzzFeed, talks with David Axelrod about BuzzFeed's approach to journalism and how he responds to the organization's critics, why Donald Trump has reenergized the ...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 135 - Sen. John McCain from 2017-04-02T02:00

Senator John McCain talks with David Axelrod about the threat Russia poses to Western democracies, why he is more worried now about America than he has ever been before, what he misses most about h...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 134 - Joe Maddon from 2017-03-30T10:00

Joe Maddon, manager of the World Series Champion Chicago Cubs, joins David before Opening Day to talk about his working class upbringing in Pennsylvania, his path towards an unconventional leadersh...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 133 - Julián Castro from 2017-03-27T10:00

Julián Castro, the former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, talks with David Axelrod about why Housing and Urban Development programs are important to rural and urban communities and shou...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 132 - Wendy Sherman from 2017-03-23T10:00

Wendy Sherman, the former lead negotiator on the Iran nuclear deal, talks with David Axelrod about how her experience in social work prepared her for a career in politics and international diplomac...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 131 - Jackie Calmes from 2017-03-20T10:00

Jackie Calmes, the veteran newspaper reporter, talks with David Axelrod about the pressures journalists face covering President Trump, her concerns for the future of the news business, her experien...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 130 - Michael Froman from 2017-03-16T10:00

Michael Froman, the former U.S. Trade Representative, talks with David Axelrod about why technology and not free trade poses the biggest threat to middle class jobs and wages in America; what the U...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 129 - Pete Buttigieg from 2017-03-13T10:00

Pete Buttigieg, the mayor of South Bend, Indiana, talks with David Axelrod about Donald Trump’s appeal in communities like South Bend; how urban economies can thrive amid the challenges posed by gl...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 128 - Sen. Kamala Harris from 2017-03-09T11:00

Kamala Harris, the newly-elected senator from California, talks with David Axelrod about the prospects for criminal justice reform legislation in Congress, why she believes President Trump’s Suprem...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 127 - Kasim Reed from 2017-03-06T11:00

Kasim Reed, the mayor of Atlanta, talks with David Axelrod about why President Trump often criticizes big cities like Atlanta, why Democrats must work through their internal differences and unite a...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 126 - Madeleine Albright from 2017-03-02T11:00

Madeleine Albright, the former Secretary of State, speaks with David Axelrod about her experiences as a young political refugee in the 1940s and how that shapes her view of President Trump’s travel...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 125 - Jeffrey Goldberg from 2017-02-27T11:00

Jeffrey Goldberg, editor in chief of The Atlantic magazine, talks with David Axelrod about the prospects for Middle East peace during the Trump administration, the demands of leading a news organiz...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 124 - Bill Kristol from 2017-02-23T11:00

Bill Kristol, the neoconservative commentator and founder of The Weekly Standard, talks with David Axelrod about his experiences as Dan Quayle’s chief of staff, the unnerving first month of the Tru...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 123 - Corey Lewandowski from 2017-02-20T11:00

Corey Lewandowski, the campaign manager to Donald Trump throughout the Republican primary, talks with David Axelrod about the career he led prior to becoming a figure in national politics, his resp...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 122 - Mike Leavitt from 2017-02-16T11:00

Mike Leavitt, former governor of Utah, talks with David Axelrod about the Republican path forward on the Affordable Care Act, the health care lessons he learned serving as President Bush’s Health a...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 121 - Nancy-Ann DeParle from 2017-02-13T11:00

Nancy-Ann DeParle, one of the lead authors of the Affordable Care Act, talks with David Axelrod about Republican efforts to repeal Obamacare, the consequences for people and for the health insuranc...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 120 - J.D. Vance from 2017-02-09T11:00

J.D. Vance, author of the bestselling book Hillbilly Elegy, talks with David Axelrod about what it was that attracted working class voters to President Trump, why he’s so concerned by the clusterin...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 119 - Matt Bai from 2017-02-06T11:00

Matt Bai, the national political columnist for Yahoo! News, talks with David Axelrod about the intersection between politics, media, and celebrity; the media’s role in Donald Trump’s political rise...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 118 - Carl Bernstein from 2017-02-02T11:00

Legendary journalist Carl Bernstein talks with David Axelrod about his memories as a young copy boy at The Washington Star, the details of the landmark reporting he did that exposed the Watergate c...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 117 - Natalie Jaresko from 2017-01-30T11:00

Natalie Jaresko, Ukraine's former Finance Minister, chats with David Axelrod about her Ukrainian-American upbringing in Chicago, how Russia’s violation of international norms could portend global u...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 116 - Cody Keenan from 2017-01-26T11:00

Cody Keenan, former chief speechwriter to President Obama, talks with David Axelrod about his evolution from intern in the speechwriting department of the 2008 Obama presidential campaign to becomi...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 115 - Cecile Richards from 2017-01-23T11:00

Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood, talks with David Axelrod about growing up in deep-red Texas as the daughter of prominent Democratic activists, the gains made in women’s health ove...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 114 - Thomas Friedman from 2017-01-19T11:00

Thomas Friedman, three-time Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist for The New York Times, talks with David Axelrod about the prospects for the Middle East peace process in the Trump era, the rapid chang...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 113 - Theo Epstein from 2017-01-16T11:00

Theo Epstein, president of baseball operations for the World Series champion Chicago Cubs, chats with David about growing up in Massachusetts, becoming general manager of the Boston Red Sox at only...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 112 - Chris Wallace from 2017-01-12T11:00

Chris Wallace, the longtime journalist and host of Fox News Sunday, talks with David Axelrod about why Ronald Reagan’s 1980 presidential campaign was the best he ever covered; why he thinks the Oba...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 111 - John Brennan from 2017-01-09T11:00

John Brennan, the outgoing CIA Director, talks with David Axelrod about the consequences that could arise from devaluing the intelligence community, the Russian hack into the Democratic National Co...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 110 - Sean Spicer from 2017-01-05T11:00

Sean Spicer, incoming White House Press Secretary and Communications Director for Donald Trump, talks with David Axelrod about what he hopes to achieve in his new job, Trump’s skepticism toward the...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 109 - Mark Shriver from 2017-01-02T11:00

Mark Shriver, the author and children’s rights advocate, talks with David Axelrod about the enduring legacies his parents left on the nation and on the wider world, why losing a Congressional race ...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 108 - President Barack Obama from 2016-12-26T11:00

President Barack Obama sits down with David Axelrod to discuss their shared history together, how President Obama managed to stay grounded during turbulent moments of his childhood and adolescence,...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 107 - Eli Attie from 2016-12-22T11:00

Eli Attie, writer for The West Wing and former political speechwriter, talks with David Axelrod about how he went from being a speechwriter to writing television scripts for one of the most notable...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 106 - Tammy Duckworth from 2016-12-19T11:00

Tammy Duckworth, the U.S. Senator-elect from Illinois, talks with David Axelrod about her childhood in Southeast Asia, the harrowing day in Iraq when the helicopter she was co-piloting came under a...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 105 - Denis McDonough from 2016-12-15T11:00

Denis McDonough, the White House Chief of Staff, talks with David Axelrod about how growing up in a house with ten brothers and sisters was good preparation for life, why he thinks it would prove d...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 104 - Alex Castellanos from 2016-12-12T11:00

Alex Castellanos, longtime Republican consultant, talks with David Axelrod about his childhood experiences in Cuba, the importance of storytelling and authenticity in politics, why he thinks Donald...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 103 - Sen. Harry Reid from 2016-12-08T11:00

Harry Reid, the Senate Minority Leader, sits down with David to talk about the changes he’s seen in Washington during his 34 years there, what he views as the greatest professional joy of his life,...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 102 - Davis Guggenheim from 2016-12-05T11:00

Academy Award-winning director Davis Guggenheim chats with David about the growing negativity of political media, working with Al Gore on An Inconvenient Truth, and the shared pathology between D.C...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 101 - Alex Wagner from 2016-12-01T11:00

Alex Wagner, the journalist and political commentator, talks with David Axelrod about her early exposure to politics as the daughter of a Democratic field organizer, what lessons the news media and...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 100 - Doris Kearns Goodwin from 2016-11-28T11:00

Doris Kearns Goodwin, the Pulitzer Prize-winning historian, talks with David Axelrod about her love of baseball, the power of storytelling in politics, why being tested by adversity is an important...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 99 - Steve Kerr from 2016-11-23T19:00

Steve Kerr, head coach of the Golden State Warriors, sits down with David to discuss his upbringing in the Middle East, his father’s assassination in Beirut, his reaction to President-elect Trump’s...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 98 - Larry Summers from 2016-11-21T11:00

Larry Summers, U.S. economist and former Treasury Secretary, talks with David Axelrod about growing up in a family of renowned economists, shares his view of what did and did not cause the financia...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 97 - Douglas Alexander from 2016-11-17T11:00

Douglas Alexander, former British Labour politician and U.K. Cabinet Minister, chats with David Axelrod about how the closure of a car plant ignited his interest in politics, Britain’s decision to ...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 96 - Michael Morell from 2016-11-14T11:00

Michael Morell, the former acting director of the CIA, reflects on George W. Bush and Barack Obama after serving both presidents for years; shares his harrowing experience of being with President B...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 95 - Van Jones from 2016-11-10T11:00

Van Jones, political activist and CNN commentator, talks with David about Tuesday’s election results and the cultural chasm that exists in America, his childhood in rural Tennessee and the importan...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 94 - John Weaver from 2016-11-07T11:00

John Weaver, veteran Republican strategist, talks to David about how he sees the election unfolding and what the result will mean for governing in Washington, what he thinks John Kasich will do nex...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 93 - DeRay Mckesson from 2016-11-03T10:00

DeRay Mckesson, one of the most prominent leaders in the Black Lives Matter movement, talks to David about his decision to endorse Hillary Clinton’s candidacy, his organization’s work to end police...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 92 - Carl Hulse from 2016-10-31T10:00

Carl Hulse, chief Washington correspondent for The New York Times, reflects on how Congress has changed during his years covering the institution, discusses what Paul Ryan’s political future may ho...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 91 - Sec. John Kerry from 2016-10-27T10:00

Secretary of State John Kerry talks to David about his service in Vietnam, why he chose to concede quickly after losing the 2004 presidential election, and his time in the U.S. Senate and how the i...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 90 - Tim Kaine from 2016-10-24T10:00

Tim Kaine, the Democratic Vice Presidential nominee and senator from Virginia, talks to David about his experience doing missionary work in Honduras with the Jesuits and the liberation theology he ...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 89 - John Heilemann from 2016-10-20T10:00

John Heilemann, co-managing editor of Bloomberg Politics and best-selling author of Game Change, talks with David about Trump’s electoral end game, his own short but momentous stint as a political ...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 88 - Ron Brownstein from 2016-10-17T10:00

Ron Brownstein, columnist at The Atlantic and longtime political journalist, talks to David about working for Ralph Nader in the 1970s, the intersection between Hollywood and Washington, and the de...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 87 - Maureen Dowd from 2016-10-13T10:00

Maureen Dowd, Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist for The New York Times, talks with David about growing up in Washington, D.C., how newsrooms have changed since she became a journalist in the 1970s, ...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 86 - Gary Johnson from 2016-10-10T10:00

Gary Johnson, the Libertarian Party candidate for president, talks with David about his foreign policy vision, the Johnson administration’s approach to illegal drugs, and his infamous Aleppo moment...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 85 - Fareed Zakaria from 2016-10-06T10:00

Fareed Zakaria talks to David about some of the most intractable problems around the globe—including how America should respond to the social and political upheaval in the Middle East, and to escal...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 84 - Lin-Manuel Miranda from 2016-10-03T10:00

Lin-Manuel Miranda, creator of the hit Broadway musical "Hamilton," talks to David about what he learned from meeting Stephen Sondheim in high school, what would surprise the Founders about our pol...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 83 - Tom Brokaw from 2016-09-29T10:00

Tom Brokaw, the legendary NBC News journalist, talks to David about his humble roots in South Dakota, covering the last days of the Nixon White House, the experience of being a news anchor during n...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 82 - Barney Frank from 2016-09-26T10:00

Barney Frank, longtime former congressman from Massachusetts, talks with David about his involvement in the civil rights movement, the challenges he faced as a gay man in public life in the 1970s, ...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 81 - Michael Steele (Live) from 2016-09-22T10:00

Michael Steele, former chairman of the Republican National Committee, talks with David about the three years he spent in a Catholic seminary, his first job in politics working for Washington, D.C.,...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 80 - Karl Rove from 2016-09-19T10:00

Karl Rove, former White House senior adviser and deputy chief of staff, and the mastermind behind President George W. Bush’s two presidential campaigns, sits down with David to discuss his early pa...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 79 - EJ Dionne from 2016-09-15T10:00

EJ Dionne, long-time op-ed columnist for The Washington Post and author of “Why the Right Went Wrong", chats with David about his start in journalism, the Catholic Church under Pope Francis, what D...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 78 - Peter Hart from 2016-09-12T10:00

Peter Hart, a veteran U.S. pollster who has helped produce the NBC-Wall Street Journal poll for the last three decades, speaks to David about the odds of Donald Trump winning in November, what he t...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 77 - Caroline Kennedy from 2016-09-08T10:00

Caroline Kennedy, U.S. Ambassador to Japan, sits down with David to discuss her memories of the White House, her mother’s strength in the wake of her father’s death, her wide-ranging career from th...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 76 - Graham Moore from 2016-09-06T10:00

Academy Award-winning screenwriter of 'The Imitation Game' Graham Moore sits down with David to discuss what motivated him to speak publicly about his struggles with mental illness, why he likes wr...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 75 - Fr. Michael Pfleger from 2016-08-29T10:00

Father Michael Pfleger, senior pastor at Saint Sabina Church and social activist on Chicago's South Side, sits down with David to discuss violence and police accountability in Chicago and across th...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 74 - Robert Gibbs from 2016-08-22T12:00

Robert Gibbs, former White House press secretary for President Obama, sits down with David to discuss his childhood in Alabama, his experience working for Sen. Fritz Hollings, Obama's 2008 campaign...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 73 - Sec. Tom Vilsack from 2016-08-15T10:00

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack joins David to talk about his humble beginnings in Iowa, his relationship with Hillary Clinton, the Democratic Party's struggles in rural America, and more...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 72 - Deval Patrick from 2016-08-08T10:00

Former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick joins David to discuss his upbringing in Chicago, his experience studying in Darfur, police-community relations, and more. To learn more about how CNN prote...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 71 - John Dickerson from 2016-08-01T15:03:33

John Dickerson, host of “Face the Nation,” sits down with David at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia to talk about the genesis of the Trump campaign, the death of real news, his ne...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 70 - Paul Simon from 2016-07-28T10:00

Legendary musician Paul Simon sits down with David at the DNC in Philadelphia to chat about the 1970 breakup of Simon&Garfunkel, this fall's presidential election, and why he’s not retiring just ye...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 69 - SE Cupp from 2016-07-25T10:00

SE Cupp, CNN commentator and conservative columnist, talks to David about why she won’t vote for Donald Trump in November, her time as a professional ballet dancer when she was a teenager, her batt...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 68 - Mark McKinnon from 2016-07-21T10:00

Mark McKinnon, a veteran GOP strategist who was chief media advisor for President George W. Bush’s campaigns in 2000 and 2004, sits down with David at the Republican national convention in Clevelan...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 67 - Hugh Hewitt from 2016-07-18T10:00

Hugh Hewitt, columnist and radio host of "The Hugh Hewitt Show," talks to David about his time as a young researcher to President Richard Nixon, how he went from describing Trump as a “stage-IV can...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 66 - Jeffrey DeLaurentis from 2016-07-14T10:00

Jeffrey DeLaurentis, chief of mission at the U.S. Embassy in Havana, Cuba, sits down with David to discuss his career at the State Department, his three posts in Cuba, the Obama administration’s pu...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 65 - Newton Minow from 2016-07-11T10:00

Newton Minow, former chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, sits down with David to discuss the clandestine role he and his agency played during the Cuban missile crisis, his personal r...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 64 - Maggie Haberman from 2016-07-07T10:00

Maggie Haberman, presidential campaign correspondent at The New York Times, chats with David about her family’s journalism background, her time on the City Hall beat, what it was like covering 9/11...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 63 - Paul Begala from 2016-07-04T09:44

Paul Begala, adviser to the pro-Hillary Clinton Super PAC Priorities USA, talks to David about his loss to Hank the Hallucination at the University of Texas, his years working for President Bill Cl...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 62 - Sen. Susan Collins from 2016-06-30T10:00

Sen. Susan Collins, Republican from Maine, chats with David about her two decades on Capitol Hill, her relationship with Hillary Clinton, why she is not yet ready to endorse Donald Trump, and more....

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 61 - Isaac Lee from 2016-06-27T10:00

Isaac Lee, chief news and digital officer of Univision News and CEO of Fusion, chats with David about his grandfather fighting the Nazis and later moving to Colombia, the death threats Lee received...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 60 - Sen. Al Franken from 2016-06-23T09:42

Minnesota Senator Al Franken talks with David about his journey from comedian to politician, his work on mental health issues, Congressional dysfunction, the Orlando shooting, and more. To learn m...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 59 - Bill Walton from 2016-06-20T16:12

Bill Walton, one of the 50 greatest players in NBA history and former basketball announcer for ABC, ESPN, and NBC, chats with David about the importance of leadership, what he learned playing for J...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 58 - Beth Myers from 2016-06-13T10:00

Beth Myers, who served as senior adviser to Mitt Romney on his 2008 and 2012 presidential campaigns, sits down with David to discuss her wide-ranging career from working with Karl Rove in Texas to ...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 57 - Tim Phillips from 2016-06-09T09:58:19

Tim Philips, president of Americans for Prosperity, chats with David about growing up in South Carolina, his admiration of Ronald Reagan, and leading the conservative advocacy movement. To learn m...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 56 - Tom Harkin from 2016-06-06T10:00

Tom Harkin, retired Democratic senator from Iowa, sits down with David to discuss his four decades in Congress, his work on the Americans with Disabilities Act, his take on the 2016 presidential ra...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 55 - Jeff Greenfield from 2016-06-03T14:06

Jeff Greenfield, an award-winning journalist who writes for the Daily Beast and Politico, chats with David about what it was like working for Robert F. Kennedy before his assassination in 1968, his...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 54 - Eric Holder from 2016-05-30T10:00

Former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder sits down with David at the University of Chicago Institute of Politics to discuss his childhood in New York City, his tenure at the Justice Department, his...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 53 - Ilana Dayan from 2016-05-26T10:00

Leading Israeli news anchor Ilana Dayan chats with David about her career as a reporter in Israel, her thoughts on Prime Minister Benjamin “Bibi” Netanyahu, U.S.-Israeli relations, and the prospect...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 52 - Katie Couric from 2016-05-23T10:41

Katie Couric, global anchor for Yahoo News, sits down with David in her New York apartment to discuss her wide-ranging journalism career from 9/11 to “The Today Show” to her 2008 interview with Sar...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 51 - Samantha Power from 2016-05-19T09:37:18

Samantha Power, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, chats with David in New York about growing up in Ireland, how she went from a sports reporter at Yale to writing a Pulitzer Prize-winning book...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 50 - Michael Nutter from 2016-05-16T10:00

Michael Nutter, former mayor of Philadelphia, speaks with David about going from nightclub disc jockey to City Council representative to mayor of the country’s fifth-largest city, his views on how ...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 49 - Jon Stewart (Live) from 2016-05-10T19:43:55

Jon Stewart, comedian, author, and former host and executive producer of "The Daily Show," chats with David in Rockefeller Chapel at the University of Chicago to talk about Donald Trump and the 201...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 48 - Anderson Cooper from 2016-05-09T10:00

Journalist and host of CNN’s “AC360” Anderson Cooper talks with David about his new book, becoming a self-appointed embed in Burma and Somalia, Donald Trump’s relationship with the media, and more....

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 47 - Frank Bruni from 2016-05-05T10:00

Frank Bruni, author and columnist for the New York Times, chats with David about his long and diverse career in journalism from New York to Detroit to Rome, Donald Trump's odds of winning the gener...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 46 - Patrick Kennedy from 2016-05-02T10:00

Patrick Kennedy, former Democratic congressman from Rhode Island and son of the late Sen. Ted Kennedy, chats with David about growing up in the Kennedy family, his battle with mental illness and ad...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 45 - Arthur Brooks from 2016-04-28T10:00

Arthur Brooks, president of the American Enterprise Institute and author of “The Conservative Heart,” chats with David about his time living in Europe, the U.S. Immigration debate, how to combat th...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 44 - Mike Murphy from 2016-04-25T10:00

Republican strategist Mike Murphy sits down with David at the Institute of Politics to discuss his time at Georgetown as a member of the College Republicans, his time on the McCain campaign’s Strai...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 43 - David Plouffe from 2016-04-21T10:00

David Plouffe, former campaign manager for President Obama and currently a top adviser at Uber, chats with David Axelrod about his start in politics working for Sen. Tom Harkin in Iowa, Obama’s ele...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 42 - Ben Rhodes from 2016-04-18T10:00

Ben Rhodes, President Obama’s deputy national security advisor for strategic communications and speechwriting, speaks with David about his road to the White House, the role of Saudi Arabia in 9/11,...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 41 - Ron Fournier from 2016-04-14T11:00

National Journal Political Columnist Ron Fournier sits down with David to talk about his new book, "Love That Boy," and the lessons he learned raising an autistic son, as well as his time covering ...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 40 - Abner Mikva from 2016-04-11T10:00

Abner Mikva, a 60-plus year veteran of politics and public service, including stints in the Illinois statehouse, Congress, and the Federal Court of Appeals, joins David to examine his journey throu...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 39 - Sen. Amy Klobuchar from 2016-04-07T10:00

Democratic Senator from Minnesota Amy Klobuchar joins David to talk about her unconventional path to public service, her father's struggles with alcoholism, the battle over the Supreme Court nomina...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 38 - Jamie Kalven from 2016-04-04T01:31

Jamie Kalven, the award–winning journalist who broke the Laquan McDonald story in Chicago, speaks with David about the sexual assault on his wife, the city’s rampant gun violence, and what can be d...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 37 - Dan Balz from 2016-03-27T22:54:35

Dan Balz, political reporter at The Washington Post, sits down with David to discuss his start in journalism at the University of Illinois, his career covering politics, and his thoughts on the 201...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 36 - Ron Klain from 2016-03-20T18:58

The refusal of Senate Republicans to consider President Obama's Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland until after the 2016 election is an "unprecedented" move, says former Obama Administration offi...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 35 - Mark Leibovich from 2016-03-14T04:00

Mark Leibovich, the chief national correspondent for The New York Times Magazine and author of "This Town," chats with David about his start in journalism, his nearly two decades living in Washingt...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 34 - Trent Lott from 2016-03-07T00:00:04

Former Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott chats with David about his upbringing in Mississippi, his cheerleading days at Ole Miss, his concerns with the historic gridlock seen today in Congress, and...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 33 - Lindsey Graham from 2016-03-03T00:00:04

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) spends his Super Tuesday talking with David on Capitol Hill about why he opposes GOP frontrunner Donald Trump, why he thinks the Republican Party is falling apart, and ho...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 32 - Erick Erickson from 2016-02-29T00:00

Conservative commentator Erick Erickson sits down with David to discuss his childhood abroad, his opposition to GOP frontrunner Donald Trump, and his stance on the ongoing debate over whether Repub...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 31 - Gov. Jon Huntsman from 2016-02-22T14:10

Former Republican presidential nominee Jon Huntsman chats with David about his time as governor of Utah, ambassador of China, and 2012 GOP hopeful, as well as his views on the 2016 race, including ...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 30 - Joe Trippi from 2016-02-15T14:17:14

Joe Trippi, Democratic campaign strategist, media consultant, and FOX News contributor, chats with David about his work on the tech-savvy Howard Dean campaign of 2004, his assessment of the 2016 De...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 29 - Joel Benenson from 2016-02-08T15:56:10

Joel Benenson, senior strategist for Hillary Clinton, chats with David in Manchester, New Hampshire, about his journey from working for a beer distributor in New York to being a top campaign strate...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 28 - Jonathan Martin from 2016-02-04T16:37:52

New York Times chief political correspondent Jonathan Martin sits down with David in Manchester, New Hampshire, to discuss his journalism career and the upcoming Granite State primary, including Do...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 27 - Juliet Macur from 2016-01-28T20:03:24

Juliet Macur, a Sports of the Times columnist at The New York Times, chats with David about her father's amazing journey from a Nazi concentration camp to New Jersey, her widely acclaimed book on L...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 26 - Jennifer Jacobs from 2016-01-28T03:17:10

Jennifer Jacobs, the chief political reporter for The Des Moines Register, speaks with David about the uniqueness of the Iowa caucus process, how candidates on both sides of the aisle are faring he...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 25 - Patti Solis Doyle from 2016-01-24T20:08:34

Patti Solis Doyle, the first Hispanic woman to lead a presidential campaign, chats with David about her family's immigration to the U.S. from Mexico, the 17 years she spent working for Hillary Clin...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 24 - Sen. Dick Durbin from 2016-01-18T15:30:51

Sen. Dick Durbin, a Democrat from Illinois, speaks with David about his start in politics, his toughest votes in Congress, his support for Hillary Clinton's presidential bid, and the legacy that Pr...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 23 - Stuart Stevens from 2016-01-14T20:46:24

Republican political strategist, media consultant, and writer Stuart Stevens, currently a Visiting Fellow at the University of Chicago Institute of Politics, chats with David about his upbringing i...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 22 - Arne Duncan from 2016-01-11T15:16:36

Arne Duncan, who stepped down as U.S. Secretary of Education at the start of this year, chats with David about his childhood in Hyde Park, his tenure as a member of the president's cabinet, and the...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 21 - Mary Kay Henry from 2016-01-07T14:58:16

Mary Kay Henry, international president of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), sits down with David to discuss her leadership of the 2.1 million member union, her concerns about Repub...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 20 - Aneesh Chopra from 2016-01-04T16:21:39

Aneesh Chopra, former U.S. Chief Technology Officer, chats with David about his work for the Obama Administration, his run for lieutenant governor of Virginia, the importance of innovation, and mor...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 19 - Sec. Thomas Perez from 2015-12-28T15:12:22

U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas Perez talks with David about his work with the Obama administration, the Department's efforts to help disabled workers, and more. To learn more about how CNN protect...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 18 - Husain Haqqani from 2015-12-21T15:48:11

Husain Haqqani, former Pakistani ambassador to the United States, talks with David about the U.S. foreign policy struggles in Pakistan, his imprisonment at the hands of the Pakistani army, his view...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 17 - Joakim Noah from 2015-12-14T14:54:08

Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah sits down with David to discuss Chicago's gun violence problems, race relations in America, and his Noah's Arc Foundation, helping children through arts and sports....

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 16 - Sen. Claire McCaskill from 2015-12-10T15:06:52

Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Missouri, chats with David about her time on Capitol Hill, the Laquan McDonald case in Chicago, and her thoughts on the 2016 presidential candidates. To learn more about h...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 15 - Reihan Salam from 2015-12-07T18:39:58

Reihan Salam, executive editor of National Review, chats with David about the future of the Republican Party, the debate over immigration reform, and more. To learn more about how CNN protects lis...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 14 - Sheriff Tom Dart from 2015-12-03T15:48:47

Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart, who oversees the nation's largest single site jail, speaks with David about his path to public service, Chicago's reaction to the Laquan McDonald shooting, the current...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 13 - Spike Lee from 2015-11-30T15:02:08

Spike Lee, one of the leading African-American filmmakers of all time, speaks with David about his new movie on Chicago gun violence CHI-RAQ, race relations in the U.S., and his love of the New Yor...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 12 - David Maraniss from 2015-11-23T16:28:43

David Maraniss, an associate editor at The Washington Post and author of six best-selling books, sits down with David Axelrod to discuss his acclaimed new book Once in a Great City: A Detroit Story...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 11 - Jon Favreau from 2015-11-16T15:36:10

Jon Favreau, former Director of Speechwriting for President Obama, speaks with David about his nerve-racking first meeting with his future boss, what it was like writing speeches in the White House...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 10 - Mark Holden from 2015-11-09T15:56:37

Mark Holden, senior vice president and general counsel at Koch Industries, chats with David about working with the Koch brothers and their push for criminal justice reform. To learn more about how...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 9 - Jorge Ramos from 2015-11-02T16:01:12

Jorge Ramos, anchor for Univision and Fusion, talks to David Axelrod about his incident with Donald Trump in Iowa last summer, his assessment of the GOP's chances of winning the Latino vote, and hi...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 8 - Eliot Spitzer from 2015-10-29T14:59:18

Former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer discusses his work as the Sheriff of Wall Street, his 2008 resignation, and his opinion of 2016 presidential contenders such as Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. ...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 7 - Jessica Yellin from 2015-10-26T15:35:20

Jessica Yellin, former chief White House correspondent for CNN and current Fellow at the University of Chicago Institute of Politics, talks to David about her career in journalism, how covering pol...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 6 - Rep. Nancy Pelosi from 2015-10-19T15:33:53

House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi chats with David about her childhood in Baltimore, her tenure as Speaker of the House, and President Obama's legacy. To learn more about how CNN protects liste...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 5 - Mitt Romney from 2015-10-16T02:12

2012 Republican presidential nominee and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney sits down with David Axelrod in San Diego to chat about his childhood in Michigan, his assessment of the 2016 race for...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 4 - Alastair Campbell from 2015-10-12T13:43:56

Alastair Campbell, former spokesman for Tony Blair and author of the new book Winners and How They Succeed, talks with David about his career as a journalist, his alcoholism and nervous breakdown, ...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 3 - Capt. Mark Kelly from 2015-10-08T14:28:14

Mark Kelly speaks with David about his reaction to the campus shooting in Roseburg, Ore., the assassination attempt in Tucson, Ariz., that his wife, ex-congresswoman Gabby Giffords, survived in 201...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 2 - Matthew Dowd from 2015-10-05T22:50:12

Matthew Dowd, former chief strategist for George W. Bush's 2004 presidential campaign and current ABC News political analyst and visiting Fellow at the University of Chicago Institute of Politics, ...

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The Axe Files with David Axelrod
Ep. 1 - Sen. Bernie Sanders from 2015-09-28T22:59:52

Sen. Sanders tells David about his childhood in Brooklyn, his presidential campaign, and his stance on selfies. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

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