

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 9, 2020 • 46min
Protests, Polling, and Provisions (with Phil Rosenthal)
Joining Murphy at the helm this week is Phil Rosenthal, television writer, producer, and creator of Netflix’s “Somebody Feed Phil.” This week, we talk Trump’s plummeting approval rating amid nationwide protests, what Joe Biden needs to do to from now until November, what the latest polling could portend for the general election, and more. We also talk about the politics of food and how a meal can bring people together, especially on the campaign trail. Finally, Murphy answers listener questions on closed party primaries and which states might the likeliest bellwethers on election night.
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Jun 3, 2020 • 60min
A Nation Grieves and the President Seethes (with Robert Gibbs)
Axe and Murphy are joined this week by former Obama White House press secretary Robert Gibbs. We discuss the grief and outrage gripping the nation in the wake of George Floyd’s murder, the suppression of peaceful protestors at Trump’s behest, how the politics of the moment have shifted, Joe Biden’s attempt to take the wheel, and more. The Hacks also take listener’s questions about Trump’s relationship with Twitter, the youth vote, and what polls portend for Trump.
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May 27, 2020 • 1h
Masks and Gaffes (with John Heilemann)
Axe and Murphy are joined by guest hack John Heilemann of The Recount and Showtime’s The Circus. This week we unpack the latest polling, what the Hacks think might move persuadable voters, Biden’s most recent gaffe and how it might impact the veepstakes, convention apprehension, and more. Plus, we answer listener questions on campaign strategy, Arizona's potential to flip from red to blue, and the likelihood of Trump swapping out VP Pence for Nikki Haley.
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May 20, 2020 • 57min
POTUS’s Prescription: Hoaxes and Hydroxy (with Rahm Emanuel)
Guest hack Rahm Emanuel, former Chicago mayor and Chief of Staff to President Obama, joins Axe and Murphy to discuss Trump’s trip down hydroxychloroquine lane, the Democratic party’s messaging problem, ‘Obamagate,’ and more. Plus, Axe, Murphy, and Rahm answer listener questions on Trump’s teflon approval ratings, the effectiveness of negative campaign ads, and what young people can do to get involved in politics and public service.
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May 12, 2020 • 58min
Prevailin’ or Just Wailin’? (with Robert Gibbs)
Axe and Murphy are joined this week by Robert Gibbs, former White House press secretary. This week we talk Trump’s tantrum press briefing, Obama’s criticism of the federal government’s response to COVID-19, the state of various Senate races, and more. The Hacks also answer listener questions on the odds that Michelle Obama returns to the political arena and why betting markets often differ from the polls — and which to believe.
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May 6, 2020 • 1h 3min
Ain't No Abe Lincoln (with Alex Wagner)
The Hacks are joined this week by Alex Wagner, host of Crooked Media’s new podcast “Six Feet Apart” and co-host of Showtime’s The Circus.
We talk Trump’s pivot from running on the economy to running from the economy, and the wild comparison he made between himself and President Lincoln. The Hacks also discuss Axe & David Plouffe’s New York Times op-ed in which they give advice to Team Biden, developments in the Tara Reade sexual assault allegations, and the state of play in competitive Senate races.
Axe, Murphy, and Wagner sift through the mail bag and answer listeners’ questions on the potential impact of Justin Amash’s third-party bid, a possible drawback in selecting a sitting governor as Biden’s VP, and what kind of role Trump might play in the Republican Party after his presidency comes to an end.
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Apr 28, 2020 • 1h 2min
Trump Derails and Clorox Cocktails (with John Heilemann)
Axe and Murphy reunite this week with special guest hack John Heilemann of MSNBC, The Recount, and Showtime’s The Circus. The Hacks talk Trump’s China blame game and the politics of the economy. Plus, they discuss what Biden can and should be doing to define himself in the campaign—so Trump doesn't do it for him. Finally, they take listeners’ questions on the Veepstakes, Mike Bloomberg’s war chest, and Democratic populism.
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Apr 22, 2020 • 1h 4min
Open Mic Night and Gov Fights (with Mark McKinnon)
Axe and Murphy unite virtually with guest hack Mark McKinnon, former presidential adviser and co-host of Showtime’s The Circus.
This week, we talk POTUS’ push to re-open the economy, the latest general election polling and what it could portend for November. We also break down Biden’s new ad and debate whether news networks should air Trump’s daily press briefings.
Finally, we sort through the mail bag and answer listeners’ questions on Elizabeth Warren as a potential vice presidential pick, why Murphy and McKinnon don’t consider Trump a conservative, and which political movies the Hacks deem their favorites.
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Apr 15, 2020 • 52min
Trump's Total Authority (with Rahm Emanuel)
Axe and Murphy return with fellow super-hack and former Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel to talk all the latest, including Trump’s presser meltdown, Obama’s Biden endorsement, the Wisconsin election, and more.
We reach into the mail bag and take listeners’ questions on Biden’s vice presidential pick, Trump’s removal of the Coronavirus fund watchdog, and what happens if Trump refuses to leave office.
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Apr 7, 2020 • 56min
Trump’s Prescription: Mixed Messaging
The Hacks are once again joined by former White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs to break down the latest in a raucous week in DC.
Wisconsin improbably held its primary amid a pandemic, despite the governor’s attempt to postpone it. Could this set a precedent for November?
Axe, Murphy, and Gibbs discuss the ousting of yet another White House press secretary and what this means for the administration.
Plus, they discuss the probability of a virtual convention and what more, if anything, the Biden campaign should be doing right now.
Tune in to hear all this and more!
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