Hacks On Tap

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

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

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

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

This week, Axe and Murphy are joined by former Obama White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs to discuss the latest:   When reality becomes reality TV: Trump’s daily press briefings threaten to sweep reality under the rug in a barrage of disinformation. Is Trump’s tactic an effective one?   Where’s Joe?—In the throes of a pandemic, it seems impossible for Biden to forge a platform of his own. Could Biden's empathetic message be seen as the antidote to Trump, or will the general election simply be a referendum on the president?   The Hacks dive beneath the toplines in new polling from the Washington Post and Fox News—what might these breakdowns tell us about turnout patterns in 2020?   And Murphy, Axe, and Gibbs reach into the mail bag and field listeners’ questions on whether free market health care works, gubernatorial leadership, and the potential for election postponement. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The socially-distanced Hacks reunite virtually to discuss the latest:   Trump twists his tune as the dire COVID-19 consequences take hold. Trump is zeroing in on the pandemic’s economic impact, but will this messaging be effective, and is it smart?   Biden’s buzz abates as coronavirus coverage rightfully continues to dominate news cycles. Axe and Murphy put on their campaign hats and offer strategic advice for the presumptive Democratic nominee: how should he position himself during a nationwide crisis of confidence?    Lastly, the Hacks tackle listeners’ questions on whether they think Trump will use the pandemic as an excuse to dodge debates with Biden, and whether reporters should be more aggressive during press briefings. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The socially-distanced Hacks reunite with special guest John Heilemann of MSNBC, Showtime’s The Circus, and The Recount.    As the gravity of the Coronavirus escalates and the world shudders to a halt, where do we go from here? What does it mean for what’s left of the Democratic primary and beyond?   In the wake of another round of primaries on Tuesday, Bernie’s chance at nabbing the nomination dwindles even further. Will he bow out any time soon, and what becomes of his loyal base?   Reality cuts through the bubble of bull%^&*: from fanning conspiracies last week to a ‘wartime’ stature this week, President Trump pivots on the pandemic. As markets crash and the global economy collapses, what will this mean for him politically?    Lastly, the Hacks-plus-Heilemann dive into the mailbag and answer listeners’ questions on how Biden overcame organizational weaknesses, Bernie and Warren’s fight for the Left, VP Pence’s role as virus czar, and voter turnout trends.    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Hacks convene the day after what might be the last debate of the primary to share their reactions and analysis. What did Biden and Sanders do well and where did they miss the mark? Will Biden’s promise to choose a woman as his running mate change the game? And with COVID-19 rightfully dominating the news, where does the race go from here? Tune in to hear the latest from Hacks on Tap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Another Super Tuesday is behind us! Bernie Sanders makes it clear he intends to stay in the race — for now. What does this mean for the upcoming head-to-head debate in Arizona? What message does Biden need to send to Sanders’ supporters in order to gain their support? Axe and Murphy dive into the data from last night's contests to see what, if anything, the turnout may portend for the general election. Plus, the Hacks talk politics of the Coronavirus. We also take listeners' questions on the newfangled wave of support for Joe Biden and why some candidates seem more "likable" when they drop out of the race. Tune in! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Turns out Super Tuesday was super exciting. The Hacks spent a day taking it all in and are now ready to sort through the fallout. Where did Biden’s surprise surge come from? Now that the race has narrowed to two, what’s the path forward for both candidates? Are the Democrats still facing the prospect of a contested convention? Plus, Axe and Murphy open the mail bag to take listeners’ questions. Tune in to hear all this and more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices