Hacks On Tap

Hacks On Tap

When David Axelrod and Mike Murphy get together to talk politics, it’s not academic. They speak from the perspective gained through hundreds of campaigns for offices from City Hall to the White House. So if you want to know what’s really going on behind the scenes, where strategic decisions are being made, pull up a stool for Hacks on Tap. Incisive, sometimes uproarious and always entertaining, these political warhorses and their guests will give you insights you’ll only get from folks who have spent a lifetime in the political trenches of both parties.

  • 1 hour 3 minutes
    Russian Roulette (with Sarah Longwell & Patrick Gaspard)
    Heilemann’s flying solo this week, but fear not! In the absence of Axe & Murphy, Heilemann is joined by two Hacks renowned for their razor-sharp analysis and impeccable wit: Sarah Longwell and Ambassador Patrick Gaspard. Together, they break down Trump’s presser with Macron, the latest in the Russia-Ukraine saga, the fine art of hiding behind empathy, Elon’s latest 4D chess move (or tantrum?), playing possum, and much more!
    25 February 2025, 10:18 pm
  • 1 hour 2 minutes
    Vladdy Knows Best (with Rahm Emanuel)
    Hack-a-doodle-doo! This week, Axe and Murphy are joined by a familiar face—former regular and now former Ambassador, the great Rahm Emanuel. The Hacks dive into inflation, Trump’s backchannel talks with Putin, DOGE intrusions, the kitten caucus, Eric Adams’ legal troubles, and much more!
    19 February 2025, 12:20 am
  • 1 hour 4 minutes
    Make America Gulf Again (with Jonathan Martin)
    Forget the Super Bowl—Trump’s Gulf of America is the real spectacle this week. Murphy and Heilemann are joined by the expert Hackeroo and savant, Jonathan Martin, to break it all down. JMart dives into his latest POLITICO piece on USAID, while the Hacks dissect Trump’s shade-throwing at JD Vance, looming court battles, Elon Musk’s latest rampage, and a whole lot of political mayhem. Buckle up!
    11 February 2025, 10:47 pm
  • 1 hour 7 minutes
    Elon and Order (with Kaitlan Collins)
    In this completely normal, not-at-all bonkers week, Axe and Murphy were joined by White House expert and CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins—who is making her long-overdue Hacks debut. The Hacks break down Elon Musk’s latest antics, mouse traps for Democrats, tariffs, Trump’s cabinet scorecard, the state of the modern Democratic Party, Canada (yes, really), and the ongoing demolition of political norms.
    4 February 2025, 11:49 pm
  • 1 hour 9 minutes
    The Death of Norms (with Robert Costa)
    This week, Murphy and Heilemann are joined by the great, pen-stained hack, Robert Costa. The Hacks dive into Trump’s first week in office, his aggressive approach to mass deportations, the political impact of his January 6th pardons, outrage exhaustion, security concerns, upcoming nomination votes, CHIPS, tariffs, and so much more. It’s an open-mic-night presidency, and we’re here to walk you through it!
    29 January 2025, 1:44 am
  • 1 hour 11 minutes
    A Tale of Two Speeches
    Three bleary eyed, unpardonable Hacks convened this morning to walk you through yesterday’s circus. They discuss Trump overconsumption, Biden’s pardons, Trumps pardons, setting expectations, the atomic clock of grifting, changing the constitution, and so much more.
    22 January 2025, 12:12 am
  • 1 hour 9 minutes
    Trending Right (with Jonathan Martin)
    This week, Axe and Heilemann are joined by fan favorite and all-around cool guy Jonathan Martin! The Hacks kick things off with a front-line report from Mike Murphy on the LA wildfires, unpacking the implications for the city and the state’s future. They also dive into the status of Trump’s nominees, the business world cozying up to Trump, Biden’s evolving legacy, and the escalating drama within Trump’s inner circle.
    15 January 2025, 12:10 am
  • 1 hour 12 minutes
    Hackzpah (with Jonathan Alter)
    Happy New Year, Hackeroos! Axe and Murphy rang in the new year with a journalism icon, the incomparable Jonathan Alter. Author of His Very Best: Jimmy Carter, A Life, Alter joins the Hacks to reflect on the passing of President Carter and the extraordinary legacy he leaves behind. The Hacks also delve into the Biden transition, Trump’s ongoing legal battles, what to expect from his appointments and campaign promises, and the ever-changing role of social media in our democracy—along with the responsibility social media executives bear in shaping it.
    7 January 2025, 11:59 pm
  • 1 hour 4 minutes
    End of Year Hack Fest
    ‘Twas a night filled with headlines, and all through the pod,
    Not a topic was skipped—not even David’s odd plod.
    Drones in the skies, with surveillance to show,
    And scandals aplenty that continue to grow.
    Trump’s lawsuits piled like stockings with care,
    While inaugural donations danced through the air.
    Inflation will be “slashed,” or so Trump has claimed,
    And RFK vowed, with no hint of delay,
    To make Big Pharma ads completely go away.
    So gather around for sharp wit and good cheer—
    It’s the wildest wrap-up, the last pod of the year!
    17 December 2024, 11:39 pm
  • 1 hour 2 minutes
    The Ol' Razzle Dazzle (with John Anzalone)
    This week, Murphy and Heilemann were joined by expert Hack and pollster to the stars, John Anzalone. The Hacks dissect Trump’s Meet the Press interview, defy political gravity to forecast Trump’s future appointments, and ponder the fate of bipartisanship in a second Trump era. Plus, the guys tackle campaign loyalty, the screaming January 6th jail birds, and the state of the Democratic bench.
    10 December 2024, 10:05 pm
  • 1 hour 11 minutes
    Pardon Politics (with Chris Christie)
    This week, Axe and Heilemann are joined by former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie! The Hacks dive into Christie’s unique insights as Donald Trump’s former Transition Team Chairman to explore what a second Trump term might look like: which cabinet picks are likely to stick, and which ones are simply Trump’s way of flipping the bird. Plus, the guys unpack the Hunter Biden pardon drama and ask Christie for his thoughts on the Kushner ambassadorship—an ironic twist, given their history.
    3 December 2024, 11:53 pm
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