Hacks On Tap

When David Axelrod, Mike Murphy, and John Heilemann 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. From the Vox Media Podcast Network

Episodes

The Hacks Present: Stay Tuned with Preet

September 1, 2026 • 90 mins

Neuroscientist, philosopher, and Making Sense podcast host Sam Harris joins Preet Bharara to examine why good-faith debate has become so difficult—and what that breakdown has done to American politics.They discuss social media’s fragmentation of the information landscape and declining trust in the press and public institutions. They also consider Donald Trump’s resilience in the face of scandal, the different stan...

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Oh Canada! (With Jonathan Martin)

August 25, 2026 • 70 mins

This week Axe and Murphy were joined by loyal Hackeroo, food savant, and incredibly talented journalist Jonathan Martin! The Hacks head north to unpack the latest battle with our neighbor, eh, before tapping JMart’s insights on the key races shaping up around the country. They dig into the chaos heading into the midterms, Trump’s massive war chest, stolen pens, “he would never do that” stock, and so much mor...

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Running on Empty (with Ron Brownstein)

August 18, 2026 • 67 mins

This week Axe and Murphy were joined by Bloomberg Opinion columnist, CNN senior political analyst, and certified Hackeroo Ron Brownstein. The Hacks dive into this week in the political circus — from military misadventures and ballroom loyalty tests to surging gas prices, plummeting poll numbers, and everything in between. Photo by Brandon Bell via Getty Images. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adc...

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Goat Rodeo (with Addisu Demissie)

August 12, 2026 • 63 mins

Late last night, three bleary-eyed Hacks convened to discuss the results—or what we had of them—from yesterday’s Midwestern primaries. Axe and Heilemann were joined by legendary Democratic Hackeroo Addisu Demissie to break down the lessons from last week in Michigan and this week in Wisconsin and Minnesota. The Hacks dig into what it all means for the midterms, the evolving dynamics of the DSA within the Democrati...

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The Midwest Strikes Back

August 5, 2026 • 62 mins

This week the Hacks are reunited! All three Hackeroos are back together to break down the Michigan primary results and what they could mean for the midterms. They also dive into the latest from Virginia and Wisconsin, Murphy's EV road trip, and so much more—but you've waited long enough. Photo by JEFF KOWALSKY / AFP via Getty Images Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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The Cannibal King (with Jonathan Martin)

July 28, 2026 • 74 mins

This week Murphy and Heilemann welcome back Hack frequent flier and POLITICO's Jonathan Martin. The Hacks break down the White House Correspondents' Dinner, the latest on the war with Iran, the state of the midterms, DNC drama, and JMart's conversation with Rahm Emanuel—including a very important review of Chicago tavern-style pizza. Plus, the wet hot DSA summer, and so much more! Photo by Mandel NGAN / AFP via Getty Image...

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Iran Out of Patience (with Maggie Haberman)

July 21, 2026 • 65 mins

This week Axe and Murphy were joined by Maggie Haberman, one of the sharpest and most deeply sourced reporters covering Trump and the White House. The Hacks dive into her new book, Regime Change: Inside the Imperial Presidency of Donald Trump, and her remarkable reporting on the origins of Trump’s war with Iran, his focus heading into the midterms, and why he remains fixated on the 2020 election. The guys also check in o...

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Lust but Verify (with Jonathan Freedland)

July 14, 2026 • 66 mins

This week, Axe and Heilemann are joined by a Hack from across the pond and all-around political savant, Jonathan Freedland. Jonathan is a Guardian columnist, host of Politics Weekly America, and co-host of Unholy, the podcast covering Israel and the Middle East. The Hacks dive into the biggest stories of the week, including the sudden passing of Senator Lindsey Graham and the political legacy he leaves behind, T...

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PAC to the Future (with Elie Honig)

July 7, 2026 • 63 mins

The Hacks are back, and this week Axe and Murphy are joined by CNN’s senior legal analyst, former federal prosecutor, and resident translator of legalese into English, Elie Honig. The Hacks dive into the fallout from Graham Platner’s exit from the Maine Senate race, check in on a handful of key contests, and unpack the role—and controversy—surrounding AIPAC money in Democratic primaries. Then they put Elie t...

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250 and Counting (with Jonathan Martin)

June 30, 2026 • 64 mins

This week Axe and Murphy were joined by Hacks frequent flier and POLITICO’s own JMart. The Hacks break down negotiations between the White House and the Hill, take stock of the midterm landscape, and reflect on the great pageant of American democracy as the nation marks its 250th birthday. Photo by Al Drago via Getty Images Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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From the Garden to the Polls (with Lis Smith)

June 23, 2026 • 66 mins

This week Axe and Murphy were joined by veteran Democratic strategist, political advisor, and proud Knicks fan Lis Smith. The Hacks break down the races in today’s New York primary, along with several other key races across the country. They also discuss AI companies influencing campaign races, the latest twists with JD’s Iran deal, the White House reflecting pool ecosystem, and so much more! Photo by Gary Hershorn v...

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West Wing, Right Hook (with Jen Psaki)

June 16, 2026 • 54 mins

This week Axe and Heilemann were joined by political heavyweight and MS NOW’s Jen Psaki. The Hacks step into the octagon to break down Trump's 80th birthday UFC spectacle at the White House and the controversy that followed, the administration's shadowboxing over Iran, and whether the economy is headed for a knockout victory or headed to the mat. Okay, that's enough puns. They also discuss possible contenders for the next pre...

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Too Big To Deny (with Adam Kinzinger)

June 9, 2026 • 57 mins

This week Axe and Murphy were joined by Air National Guard veteran, former Illinois Congressman, and January 6th Committee member Adam Kinzinger. The Hacks dive into Trump’s claims of election meddling in the Los Angeles mayoral race, his growing paranoia and sleepiness, the state of the Maine race, the ongoing war with Iran, the Chicago Bears leaving their beloved Chicago voter fans, and so much more! Photo by Al Bello vi...

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The Golden State of Play (with Ron Brownstein)

June 2, 2026 • 69 mins

This week Axe and Murphy were joined by the great Ron Brownstein—veteran journalist, Bloomberg Opinion columnist, and CNN senior political analyst. The Hacks dive into Trump's preparations for America250, the affordability crisis and the impact of tariffs in key swing states, today's California primary, and the latest developments in races in Maine and Texas—and so much more. Photo by Kyle Grillot/Bloomberg via ...

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Fool’s Cubic Zirconia (with Sarah Longwell)

May 27, 2026 • 76 mins

This week Axe and Heilemann were joined by were joined by focus group guru and Bulwark legend, Sarah Longwell. The Hacks dive into the Texas primary results, California’s governors and LA’s mayoral race, the release of the DNC 2024 autopsy report, and so much more! Photo by Brandon Bell via Getty Images Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Strait to the Point (with Jonathan Martin)

May 19, 2026 • 73 mins

This week Murphy and Heilemann are joined by Hacks regular and budding food influencer Jonathan Martin to dig into Trump’s latest polling, the un-bullsh!table issues actually shaping the race, and preview key upcoming primaries. Photo by Majid Saeedi via Getty Images "Sad Trio" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Learn ...

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Race to the Bottom (with Addisu Demissie)

May 12, 2026 • 65 mins

This week Axe and Murphy were joined by ace political wizard and veteran Democratic campaign manager Addisu Demissie. The Hacks dive into Trump’s new inflation numbers, Rubio and Vance vying for the chance to run in 2028, the escalating redistricting arms race, and AOC’s future. And of course, with Addisu in the room, we check in on his home state of California and the key races shaping the political landscape there. ...

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The Cost of Not Listening (with Dave Wasserman)

May 5, 2026 • 69 mins

This week Axe and Murphy are joined by the man who has seen it all—and has seen enough—Dave Wasserman of the Cook Political Report. The Hacks dive into Donald Trump’s frustrations with voters, the latest polls and money advantages shaping the map, and—of course with Wasserman in the mix—a deep dive into key races, redistricting battles, and what it all means for the midterms. Photo by Tom Williams/C...

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Tired of Being Tired (with John King)

April 28, 2026 • 69 mins

This week, Axe and Murphy were joined by one of the all-time greats, John King of CNN. The Hacks dive into the White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting and the broader conversation around political rhetoric and violence, Trump’s ballroom ambitions, exhausted voters, redistricting battles, the California governor’s primary—and much more as we head into the midterms just six months out. Photo by Al Drago...

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The Liquor Cabinet (with Jonathan Martin)

April 21, 2026 • 70 mins

This week, Murphy and Heilemann were joined by frequent Hacks flyer and host of On the Road, Politico’s Jonathan Martin! The Hacks dive into U.S./Iran negotiations, Vance’s foreign policy woes, chaos and turnover in the Trump cabinet, and check in on the Virginia, California, and Kentucky races. And so much more! Photo by Stefani Reynolds/Bloomberg via Getty Images Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoic...

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Hacks On Tap

Episodes

.css-14f5ked{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:2;overflow:hidden;}The Hacks Present: Stay Tuned with Preet

.css-r6mb8g{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:1;overflow:hidden;}Oh Canada! (With Jonathan Martin)

Running on Empty (with Ron Brownstein)

Goat Rodeo (with Addisu Demissie)

The Midwest Strikes Back

The Cannibal King (with Jonathan Martin)

Iran Out of Patience (with Maggie Haberman)

Lust but Verify (with Jonathan Freedland)

PAC to the Future (with Elie Honig)

250 and Counting (with Jonathan Martin)

From the Garden to the Polls (with Lis Smith)

West Wing, Right Hook (with Jen Psaki)

Too Big To Deny (with Adam Kinzinger)

The Golden State of Play (with Ron Brownstein)

Fool’s Cubic Zirconia (with Sarah Longwell)

Strait to the Point (with Jonathan Martin)

Race to the Bottom (with Addisu Demissie)

The Cost of Not Listening (with Dave Wasserman)

Tired of Being Tired (with John King)

The Liquor Cabinet (with Jonathan Martin)

Popular Podcasts

The Hacks Present: Stay Tuned with Preet

Oh Canada! (With Jonathan Martin)