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PODCAST

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

news politics

All Episodes

63:29

Iraqozuela (with Ron Brownstein)

Hacks On Tap ·

2026/01/06

Happy New Year, Hackeroos — did we miss anything over the break? Luckily, Axe and Murphy reconvened bright and early with veteran journalist, columnist for Bloomberg Opinion, and senior political analyst for CNN, Ron Brownstein. The Hacks dig into Trump’s Venezuela takeover rhetoric and the politics of oil, Tim Walz bowing out of Minnesota’s gubernatorial race, rising health care costs and what they could mean for the midterms, and Pete Hegseth’s attacks on Mark Kelly’s military record — and so much

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67:20

New Year's Special: On with Kara Swisher

Hacks On Tap ·

2025/12/30

Happy New Year, Hackeroos! While the guys are taking a well-earned break with family, we’re bringing you a great conversation from our friend Kara Swisher’s podcast, On with Kara Swisher.Kara is joined by Beth Macy, a veteran newspaper reporter and author who has spent decades covering rural America, and Jacob Silverman, an investigative journalist focused on tech power and corruption. Together, they explore how two seemingly opposite forces—Silicon Valley billionaires and the rural poor—have

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66:54

End of Year Show

Hacks On Tap ·

2025/12/16

The Hacks convene to sum up a year of very normal politics. The guys dive into Indiana Republicans’ rebuke of Trump’s redistricting plan, the tragic deaths of Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner, rising health-care premiums headed into 2026, the state of the Trump economy, and what it all means for 2026 and beyond.From our Hacks on Tap family to yours, thank you for another year, and we wish you a happy holiday season and a healthy new year. Photo by Kaiti Sullivan/Bloomberg via Getty

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65:52

The Canary in the Keystone Mine (with Bob Shrum)

Hacks On Tap ·

2025/12/09

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

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60:12

Wag the Dog

Hacks On Tap ·

2025/12/03

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

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66:48

Irrational exuberance (with Steve Israel)

Hacks On Tap ·

2025/11/18

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

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69:03

Trumplated Age (with Astead Herndon)

Hacks On Tap ·

2025/11/12

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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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54:17

Post-Election Hack-a-Thon (with Jonathan Martin)

Hacks On Tap ·

2025/11/05

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

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69:34

The Wreckening (with Paul Begala)

Hacks On Tap ·

2025/10/28

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

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63:24

No Sleep Till City Hall (with Howard Wolfson)

Hacks On Tap ·

2025/10/21

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

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70:37

Ceasefire Abroad, Crossfire at Home (with Rahm Emanuel)

Hacks On Tap ·

2025/10/14

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

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67:45

Orbánized Crime

Hacks On Tap ·

2025/10/07

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

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63:48

From Watergate to Water-Weight (with Charlie Sykes)

Hacks On Tap ·

2025/10/01

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

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63:30

Unindefinetly (with Kasie Hunt)

Hacks On Tap ·

2025/09/23

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

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65:24

I’m right, you’re wrong (with Jonathan Martin)

Hacks On Tap ·

2025/09/16

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

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62:46

Uninviting Mr. Rogers (with Jen Psaki)

Hacks On Tap ·

2025/09/09

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 —

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63:08

Soldiers Field (with Rahm Emanuel)

Hacks On Tap ·

2025/08/26

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

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69:59

Strongmen, Weak Deals (with Ron Brownstein)

Hacks On Tap ·

2025/08/19

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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70:20

Monumental Power Grab (with Paul Begala)

Hacks On Tap ·

2025/08/12

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.

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67:48

Drawn Out Democracy (with Adam Kinzinger)

Hacks On Tap ·

2025/08/05

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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