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.
Latest episodes
Jul 14, 2021 • 1h 1min
Texas Hold ‘Em (with Al Franken)
Former Minnesota Senator Al Franken joins Axe and Murphy to discuss the latest lunacy to come out of CPAC, the escalating fight over voting rights and the possibility of a filibuster carve-out, and whether the largest price spike since 2008 will impact negotiations in Congress.
Jul 6, 2021 • 1h 12min
A Tale of Two Tracks (with Bill Kristol)
Bill Kristol, editor-at-large of The Bulwark and director of Defending Democracy Together, joins Gibbs and Murphy to discuss efforts to increase vaccination rates amid heightened concerns about the Delta variant, the two-track infrastructure legislation, the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for Vice President Kamala Harris, and the politics of US withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Jun 29, 2021 • 59min
Rocky Road (with Stephanie Cutter)
Democratic political strategist and communications expert Stephanie Cutter joins Axe and Murphy to discuss the efforts to save the bipartisan infrastructure deal after Biden’s botched rollout, the early jockeying among ’24 GOP presidential hopefuls to capture the Trump base, and whether Vice President Kamala Harris has been set up for success. Plus, the Hacks discuss the triumph that was the reimagined Democratic National Convention and inauguration celebration, both of which are eligible for Emmy Awards.
Jun 22, 2021 • 59min
Tyranny of the Minority (with Amy Walter)
Amy Walter, national editor of the Cook Political Report and a PBS NewsHour contributor, joins Axe and Gibbs to talk about the “political theater” surrounding the voting rights bill, the likelihood that Democrats stay united on infrastructure spending, and how rising crime in New York City has shaped the focus of the city’s mayoral primary.
Jun 15, 2021 • 1h 7min
Biden Takes the World Stage (with Howard Wolfson)
Howard Wolfson, Democratic political strategist and former Deputy Mayor of New York City, joins Axe and Murphy to discuss Joe Biden’s first foreign trip as president, why this is a pivotal moment for democracy, and the challenges that remain for a bipartisan infrastructure bill. Plus, the Hacks take a deep dive into New York City’s mayoral race and explore the ways in which the primary is a microcosm of the debate over messaging in the Democratic Party.
Jun 9, 2021 • 1h 15min
Infra-STUCK-ure (with Charlie Sykes)
Charlie Sykes, Editor at Large of The Bulwark, host of the Bulwark Podcast, and author of “How the Right Lost Its Mind” joined Gibbs and an optimistic Murphy to discuss the overtime infrastructure talks, Senator Manchin and good faith negotiations, Trump’s return to the campaign trail, and what this all means for the 2022 midterms.
Jun 1, 2021 • 1h 2min
Building Bridges (with Jonathan Martin)
Jonathan Martin, a national political correspondent for The New York Times, joins Axe and Gibbs to discuss the make or break moment for infrastructure talks, whether a bill to restrict voting in Texas will reinvigorate the voting rights debate in the Senate, and why 2021 might be the best of times and the worst of times for progressives. Plus, the Hacks discussion Jonathan’s reporting on how races in New Mexico and Arkansas are test cases for both parties ahead of the midterms.
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May 25, 2021 • 1h 1min
Infrastructure Week? (with Rahm Emanuel)
Former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel joins Axe and Murphy to discuss the latest twists and turns in the negotiations over infrastructure spending and Biden’s agenda more broadly, the continued GOP infighting, and whether foreign policy—and the recent conflict between Israel and Hamas—will be a priority for voters in the 2022 midterm elections.
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May 19, 2021 • 1h 6min
Inconvenient Truths (with Barbara Comstock)
Former Republican Congresswoman Barbara Comstock joins Axe and Murphy to discuss what lies ahead for the GOP after Rep. Liz Cheney’s removal from House leadership, the likelihood that a commission to investigate the Jan. 6 Capitol attack will be established, the politics of unmasking, and how the Supreme Court’s decision to hear an abortion case could impact the midterm elections.
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May 11, 2021 • 1h 6min
Weather Vanes & Freedom Fights (with Mark Mellman)
Democratic pollster and strategist Mark Mellman joins Gibbs and Murphy to discuss the impending removal of Rep. Liz Cheney from House Republican leadership, what her likely departure says about internal GOP dynamics, the latest wave of controversial voting laws, and Biden’s proposed tax increase and what it portends for the midterms.
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