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
September 9, 2025 • 62 mins
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, th...
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August 26, 2025 • 63 mins
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 n...
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August 19, 2025 • 69 mins
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.
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August 12, 2025 • 70 mins
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 mi...
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August 5, 2025 • 67 mins
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!
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July 29, 2025 • 65 mins
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 picku...
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July 22, 2025 • 64 mins
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...
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July 15, 2025 • 63 mins
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,...
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July 8, 2025 • 63 mins
This week, Axe and Murphy are joined by Wall Street Journal political reporter Josh Dawsey, co-author of 2024: How Trump Retook the White House and the Democrats Lost America, just released today. They dig into Dawsey’s reporting, the fallout from Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill”, the devastating flash floods in Texas, Biden’s cell phone, spaceships, crayons, and what all of it says about where we’re headed.
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July 1, 2025 • 55 mins
All three Hacks together —- a real Fourth of July miracle. They cover Thom Tillis’ resignation, the big, beautiful bill, the New York mayor’s race, Elon’s tweets, kitchen-table economics, rising star Sarah McBride, the Trump monster, the DOGE monster, and more—because nothing says “patriotism” like chaos, crypto, and meat cuts.
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June 24, 2025 • 68 mins
This week, the Hacks are pulling double duty—two big stories, two top-notch guests. First, Senator Elissa Slotkin—former CIA analyst and Pentagon official—joins to break down U.S. involvement in Iran, Trump’s handling of the strikes, and the rift this is opening inside the Republican Party. Then, the Hacks turn to the city that never sleeps with former U.S. Ambassador to South Africa and longtime New York political heavyweight Patr...
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June 17, 2025 • 63 mins
This week, the Hacks return amid a whirlwind of headlines and rising tensions. Axe and Murphy are joined by the incomparable Maggie Haberman—Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and one of the most trusted chroniclers of American politics. The Hacks dig into the escalating conflict in the Middle East, Trump’s abrupt departure from the G7, the drama unfolding in the New York races, and the latest on Ukraine. Plus: ICE operations in Los...
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June 10, 2025 • 63 mins
This week, Axe and Heilemann are joined by Marc Short—former Chief of Staff to Vice President Mike Pence and Director of Legislative Affairs under President Trump—for a jam-packed conversation. From his front-row seat in the Trump administration, Short reflects on what feels like a political Groundhog Day: National Guard troops on the ground in California. He opens up about working with Stephen Miller, hints at what Mike Pence migh...
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June 6, 2025 • 33 mins
This week, in honor of Mike Murphy’s 30th birthday (don’t fact-check that), we’re serving up a bonus mini-sode! Mike is joined by longtime pod pal JMart to unpack the latest fallout in the bromance no one asked for — Musk and Trump. The Hacks dissect where the relationship went sour, what comes next for the billionaire and the president, and what this high-profile spat means for the future of American politics.
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June 3, 2025 • 60 mins
This week Axe and Murphy were joined by Democratic strategist and political firecracker Lis Smith. The Hacks dive into Sen. Ernst’s weird apology, Elon’s pushback on the ‘big, beautiful bill’, Gov. Wes Moore’s future on the national stage, the New York mayoral race, and so much more. Buckle up!
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May 27, 2025 • 56 mins
The full Hackeroo trio is back in the bunker, wading through a Memorial Day medley of MAGA mayhem. Trump’s at it again — hosting a crypto dinner straight out of “Shark Tank,” taking new aim at Putin, picking trade fights, and going after the Ivy Leagues. Plus, the hacks open up the listener mailbag and dig into your sharpest questions, wildest theories, and most unfiltered takes. Buckle up.
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May 20, 2025 • 58 mins
This week, Murphy and Heilemann are joined by their old pal Jonathan Martin to wade through the flotsam and jetsam of another jam-packed political week. They discuss the new book about Biden has everyone talking—about his legacy, his future, and now the tragic cancer diagnosis at the center of it all. Plus: the price of eggs, Trump’s spin on inflation, the SALT fight, and so much more!
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May 13, 2025 • 61 mins
This week, the Hacks welcome their old friend Rahm Emanuel —- former Chicago mayor, White House chief of staff, U.S. ambassador to Japan, and now CNN political commentator. They taxi down the runway on jet diplomacy, manufacturing strategy, and the challenge of crafting economic messages that actually land. Plus, a deep dive into the old bait-and-switch (and occasional political backstab), Biden’s comms blitz, and the surprisingly ...
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May 6, 2025 • 63 mins
This week, Axe and Heilemann are joined by their old pal—the former senator and current director of the University of Chicago’s Institute of Politics—for a freewheeling conversation on the philosophy (or lack thereof) of Donald Trump. The Hacks break down the so-called “doll economy,” dig into Trump’s latest polling, immigration rhetoric, populist messaging, and yes… the cake eaters.
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April 29, 2025 • 57 mins
This week all three Hacks reunited to cover the first 100 days of the Trump presidency. They dig into the “feral animal cunning” behind Trump’s political instincts, the human toll of his immigration and trade policies, and the raw nerves hit by the latest of tariff uncertainty. And so much more — the Hacks are back!
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