Hacks on Tap with David Axelrod and Mike Murphy

This week Murphy and Heilemann were joined by a true political legend — a man who’s been Hacking up and down the ballot for more than sixty years — the inimitable Bob Shrum! The Hacks dig into Trump’s ambitions for his big rally tonight, the early rumblings of Trump fatigue, the state of the economy, growing calls to release the boat-strike videos, MTG’s 60 Minutes moment, and so much more! Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP via Getty Images Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Hacks are back! All three Hackeroos convened this week to discuss the Tennessee Special election, retiring members of congress and upcoming filing deadlines, Hegseth's latest, the tragic national guard shooting, the ongoing Russia/Ukraine negotiations, their shared love of corgis, and so much more. Photo by Win McNamee via Getty Images Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In our final episode of the month, Axe and Heilemann were joined by frequent Hack, former congressman, and author Steve Israel. The Hacks dig into the vote to release the Epstein files, MTG’s latest pivot and what’s driving it, primary filing deadlines, winning issues, the midterms landscape, redistricting, and so much more. Plus, we get a sneak peek at Steve’s new book, The Einstein Conspiracy — based on true events, it follows two FBI agents in a high-stakes race against a ruthless undercover operative determined to abduct Albert Einstein, whom Hitler believes holds the key to building the atomic bomb. Have a great Thanksgiving, Hackeroos! Photo by Heather Diehl via Getty Images Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, Axe and Murphy were joined by their new Vox Media colleague and veteran political reporter Astead Herndon. The Hacks dive into the potential end of the government shutdown, the future of Democratic leadership, coalition-building, Border Patrol’s trip to The Bean, Gavin-mania, and so much more! Special thanks to our veteran Hacks on Tap listeners — we’re grateful for your service. Cheers to you today and always! Photo by Daniel Heuer/Bloomberg via Getty Images Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The results are in! Last night Axe and Murphy were joined by the indefatigable chronicler of American politics, Jonathan Martin of Politico. The bleary-eyed Hacks stayed up to unpack the election results, the story the margins told, voter turnout, indicators for the midterms, redistricting, Dick Cheney’s legacy, and so much more! Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty Images Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, Murphy and Heilemann were joined by the great and effervescent Hack, Paul Begala — veteran strategist and former counselor to President Clinton. The Hacks dive into Ballroomageddon, Trump’s not-so-subtle flirting with a third term, his military moves against Venezuela, Canada’s tariff tit-for-tat, early vote numbers out of New York, the budding 2028 Democratic primary field, Indiana’s redistricting — and can you believe it, so much more! Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, Axe and Murphy were joined by Bloomberg’s jack-of-all-trades Howard Wolfson. The Hacks took a bite out of the Big Apple with the New York mayor’s debate, checked in on the New Jersey and Virginia governor’s race cross tabs, dug into California’s Prop 50, unpacked the historic “No Kings” protest, Trump’s latest AI video, the Justice Department’s targeting of ActBlue, and so much more. Photo by Angelina Katsanis-Pool via Getty Images Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, Axe and Heilemann were joined by Rahm Emanuel — former White House Chief of Staff, two-term Mayor of Chicago, ex-Ambassador to Japan, and a true Hack’s Hack. The Hacks dive into the new Gaza peace accord, Trump’s shifting attention to the Russia-Ukraine conflict and his curious relationship with Putin, the optics of the ongoing government shutdown, ICE’s brutality in American cities, and so much more. Photo by Evan Vucci via Pool/Getty Images Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, all three Hacks convened to break down a whirlwind week in politics — from Trump sending troops to Chicago and ICE’s recruitment and tactics, to the contrasting leadership styles of Newsom and Pritzker heading into 2024. They also discuss the shutdown negotiations, Ghislaine’s pardon request, CBS, Prop 50, and a bit of good old-fashioned pearl-clutching. Buckle up! Photo by Jacek Boczarski/Anadolu via Getty Images Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week Murphy and Heilemann were joined by the sharp-witted Charlie Sykes — author of How the Right Lost Its Mind and host of the Substack newsletter and podcast To the Contrary. The Hacks dive into an exhaustingly eventful week: Hegseth’s body-shaming of our troops, Trump declaring a war from within, the chaotic deployment of ICE and the military to U.S. cities, the looming shutdown, Comey’s indictment, and the first crack in Trump’s armor. And so much more! Photo by Alex Wong via Getty Images Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week Axe and Murphy are joined by the formidable Kasie Hunt — anchor of The Arena with Kasie Hunt on CNN, and CNN’s chief national affairs analyst. Together, the Hacks dive into Trump’s UN speech (and his battle with an escalator), the reinstatement of Jimmy Kimmel and Trump’s campaign of fear with the FCC as his megaphone, Charlie Kirk’s memorial service, the looming government shutdown, and so much more! Photo by Alexi J. Rosenfeld via Getty Images Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, Axe and Murphy — still a little under the weather but never short on opinions — are joined by Hack regular and ace political analyst Jonathan Martin of Politico. The Hacks take on a turbulent week in American politics: the assassination of Charlie Kirk, Utah Governor Spencer Cox’s leadership, the rise of rage-bait and true believers, skeleton keys and conspiracy theories, attempts to whitewash U.S. history, and Trump’s royal jaunt to meet the king. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Hacks are back — and better than ever. To kick off our brand-new partnership with the Vox Media Podcast Network, Axe and Murphy are joined by none other than political heavyweight Jen Psaki — former White House press secretary, MSNBC host, and one of the most incisive voices in politics today.Together, the Hacks tackle the week’s political circus: the “Department of War”, Trump’s troop talk in Chicago, redistricting battles, the Epstein birthday book, New York’s mayoral drama, RFK Jr.’s latest — and plenty more! Hacks on Tap is proudly a part of the Vox Media Podcast Network.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Hacks are back! There’s just too much news for us to leave you alone, so we’re pulling up a stool with veteran Hackeroo, Chicago native, former White House chief of staff, and U.S. ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel. The Hacks dive into Trump’s threats to send the National Guard to Chicago, his increasingly loud campaign against mail-in ballots and the 2020 census, the weaponization of the Justice Department, redistricting as a national flashpoint, Big Macs, bridges, and so much more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, Axe and Murphy are joined by the incomparable Hackeroo Ron Brownstein, senior editor at The Atlantic and CNN’s senior political analyst. Together, they unpack Trump’s sit-downs with Putin, Zelensky, and other foreign leaders; the shifting balance of power at home and abroad; the state of the economy and crime; redistricting battles; the latest culture war skirmishes — and plenty more along the way. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, Murphy and Heilemann welcome Paul Begala — longtime Democratic strategist and political hand who’s seen just about everything Washington can throw at you. The Hacks break down Trump’s Beltway power grab and what it means for D.C.’s mayor — and mayors nationwide. They dig into Trump’s “flood the zone” strategy to sidestep the Epstein story, the Texas Democrats’ walkout over redistricting, and how it all could shape the midterm elections. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, Axe and Heilemann are joined by former Congressman Adam Kinzinger — Air Force veteran, author, and one of the most candid voices in Washington. The guys try to help Axe make sense of the Sydney Sweeney controversy, unpack the latest drama at the Department of Defense, and dive into inflation, job numbers, the Texas redistricting adventure, Trump’s foreign frenemies, and so much more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, our two chief windbags, Axe and Murphy, are joined by seasoned Democratic strategist Lis Smith—and author of Any Given Tuesday. The Hacks unpack Trump’s Epstein problem and the surrounding pardon chatter, his scenic detour to Scotland, and the frosty turn in his bromances. They wade into early polling, premature redistricting shenanigans, and take out the crystal ball to scan the House and Senate maps for potential pickup opportunities. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, Murphy and Heilemann are joined by ink-stained Hackeroo Robert Costa—national correspondent for CBS News Sunday Morning and chief Washington analyst for CBS News, as well as co-author of Peril. The Hacks break down Hunter Biden’s recent interview—and yes, a certain Hackeroo got name-checked, much to his surprise (and ours). They dig into the weight of Joe Biden’s legacy as the Democratic primary field begins to stir, the voters feeling left behind, and the Trump economy barreling toward a potential recession. Plus: a six-month check-in on Trump’s second term—who’s in, who’s out, and who’s still clinging to relevance in MAGAland. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, Murphy and Heilemann are joined by the great Frank Lavin—former U.S. Ambassador to Singapore, Reagan’s political director, and a Swiss Army knife of global politics. The Hacks dive into a tidal wave of news: renewed demands for the release of the Epstein list, Trump falling out of vogue with the GOP, Putin calling Trump’s bluff, the political undertones of the World Cup, the New York mayor’s race, and so much more. Plus, don’t miss Frank’s new book, Inside the Reagan White House—a firsthand look at policymaking, politics, and the people behind the scenes of the Reagan Revolution. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices