

Hacks On Tap
Vox Media
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
From the Vox Media Podcast Network
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jun 8, 2022 • 58min
California Scheming (with Dave Wasserman)
Dave Wasserman, US House editor of the Cook Political Report with Amy Walter, joins Axe and Gibbs to discuss the plethora of primaries happening around the country, what the results from recent races tell us about the national political environment, whether any voters will be swayed by the January 6th committee hearings, and how the politics of gun control will play out in suburban areas this fall.
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Jun 1, 2022 • 1h 7min
Swimming Against the Current (with Doug Sosnik)
Doug Sosnik, former senior advisor to President Bill Clinton, joins Gibbs and Murphy to discuss the headwinds Democrats face in the midterms and the importance of narrative storytelling in politics. Plus, the Hacks take a close look at the Senate race in Pennsylvania and dive into the jumbo mailbag.
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May 25, 2022 • 52min
“What Are We Doing?”
The Hacks convene for what was supposed to be an election night recap but instead was an all too familiar discussion on gun violence in America. Axe, Gibbs, and Murphy talk about the latest school shooting in Texas, the politics of gun control, and the results of Tuesday night’s primary races.
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May 18, 2022 • 40min
The MAGA Midterms?
Axe and Murphy break down the results from the primary races in a number of key states in this special edition of Hacks on Tap. They discuss the highly-anticipated Republican Senate race in Pennsylvania, the fate of Congressman Madison Cawthorn and other candidates backed by Trump, how progressive Democratic candidates fared across the country, and ultimately the fact that Trumpism is alive and well.
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May 11, 2022 • 1h 6min
Personality Politics (with Jonathan Martin & Alex Burns)
We’ve reached maximum Hacks capacity this week with not one but two guest Hacks, Jonathan Martin and Alex Burns of The New York Times. They join Axe and Murphy to discuss the MAGA-fication of Republican primary races, the politics of Roe v. Wade, and Martin and Burns’ new book, This Will Not Pass: Trump, Biden, and the Battle for America’s Future.
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May 5, 2022 • 59min
SCOTUS Leaks and Ohio Speaks
Axe, Gibbs, and Murphy followed the bat signal and convened for a special edition of Hacks on Tap. They discuss the results of the Ohio primary election, what JD Vance’s (or is it JP?) victory says about Trump and Trumpism, the bombshell leak out of the Supreme Court, and how the politics of Roe v. Wade will influence voter turnout in the midterms.
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Apr 26, 2022 • 59min
Mouse Trap: DeSantis vs. Disney (with Mark McKinnon)
Mark McKinnon, executive producer and co-host of The Circus, joins Axe and Gibbs to talk about Ron DeSantis’ war with Mickey Mouse, leaked audio of Kevin McCarthy after January 6th, why the midterms will exacerbate polarization in Congress, and what it takes to craft a strong campaign slogan.
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Apr 20, 2022 • 1h 5min
Ping Pong Politics (with Whit Ayres)
Whit Ayres, Republican pollster and strategist, joins Gibbs and Murphy to talk about the power of Trump’s endorsement in primary races, the states to watch this fall, and how our political system has become unstable.
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Apr 13, 2022 • 1h 2min
Some Other Dude Did It (with Paul Begala)
Paul Begala, CNN contributor and former counselor to President Bill Clinton, joins Axe and Murphy to discuss rising consumer prices, the “some other dude did it” defense, Biden’s budding immigration issue, and Trump’s endorsement of Dr. Oz in Pennsylvania.
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Apr 11, 2022 • 3min
Introducing Reflections of History with Jon Meacham
C13 Originals and Pulitzer Prize winner and best-selling author Jon Meacham, co-creators of the 2021 Webby Award-winning Best Podcast Series It Was Said and the acclaimed podcast Hope, Through History, join together again for a brand-new series that will guide listeners through critical moments in our history. Every Monday through Friday, Meacham travels back to impactful events that occurred on that date in history—the birth of a visionary filmmaker, the debut of an iconic athlete, the discovery of a lifesaving cure, a triumphant legal victory. You’ll learn how that event shaped politics, art, culture, sports and science, and why it’s still relevant today.
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