

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

Mar 19, 2020 • 55min
“I’m dealing with a #$%*ing global crisis” (with John Heilemann)
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.
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Mar 16, 2020 • 36min
A Debate, Uncharted Waters, and the Veepstakes Begin
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.
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Mar 12, 2020 • 47min
The Bern Cools and Politics of a Pandemic
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!
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Mar 5, 2020 • 54min
Super Tuesday Recap: And Then There Were Two
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!
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Mar 2, 2020 • 28min
The Fact of the Matter is… Joe is Back!
The Hacks convene in the aftermath of the South Carolina Democratic primary to talk about what Joe Biden’s win might mean for the rest of the race. Did Biden get his Mo-Joe back?
Buttigieg drops out — does this portend the end for Klobuchar and Warren as well?
And what should we be looking for on Super Tuesday?
...All this and more!
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Feb 27, 2020 • 29min
BONUS: How To Vote for the Next President
On this bonus crossover episode, the Hacks join Slate's "How To! With Charles Duhigg" to discuss how to weigh ideology vs. electability and rank the issues that really matter. They talk to an Independent voter who hasn't made up his mind. Can their advice help Anthony—and all of us—make sure our vote counts?
Released February 25, 2020.
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Feb 25, 2020 • 52min
Will the Democratic Party Bern?—On to South Carolina
The Hacks are back for a special post-Nevada, pre-South Carolina pod:
First, Sanders claims his surge has the Democratic establishment worried: can anyone best Bernie or will the Democratic socialist nab the nomination? And what might a Sanders nomination mean for down-ballot races?
The aftermath of Bloomberg's paltry debate performance remains to be seen, but may spell trouble for the billionaire. Will another media blitz move the needle for the former mayor?
As we turn the corner on Nevada and steer to South Carolina, and all eyes are on Joe Biden: will the former Vice President pick up the Joe-mentum he needs or will his debate performance sink expectations?
And in Washington: Donald Trump fires the Acting Director of National Intelligence and appoints the U.S. Ambassador to Germany in his wake. But how much do voters really care about the chaos?
Lastly, the Hacks dive into our mail bag and take listeners’ questions on whether Bloomberg should launch a media assault on Bernie, and how some candidates’ debate prep failed to gird them for the obvious.
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Feb 20, 2020 • 47min
Sin City Slugfest: Democrats Duke it Out
The Hacks are back to break down the latest Democratic debate from Las Vegas, Nevada–
Mike Bloomberg makes his debate stage debut but bombs under a barrage of blows. He may have fallen short on the debate stage at the hands of Elizabeth Warren and others, but will his incoming ad blitzes erase his paltry performance? Plus, Pete Buttigieg takes some of the wind out of Klobuchar’s sails, but will this muddle in the middle ultimately benefit Bernie?
Where are we now? As we lurch toward Super Tuesday, the possibility of a brokered convention seems more real than ever before. What does this mean for the party – and for Democratic prospects against Donald Trump?
And no Holds Barr-ed: the Hacks dive into the chaos from the Justice Department and touch on Trump’s pardon-palooza.
All this, and more.
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Feb 12, 2020 • 51min
Live Free or Die: New Hampshire Votes
The Hacks are back to break down the results out of New Hampshire. Bernie Sanders narrowly edged out Pete Buttigieg in the first in the nation primary. Amy Klobuchar proved that the “Klobusurge” is real after a strong debate performance propelled her to a third place finish in New Hampshire.
As we look towards Nevada and beyond, what do the results from the first two contests mean for Joe Biden and Elizabeth Warren? What do Buttigieg and Klobuchar need to do to continue their momentum in the lead up to Super Tuesday? And with Mike Bloomberg making his debate debut next week, is his path to the nomination suddenly becoming more clear?
The hacks also open up the mail bag and give shout outs to some of their favorite books on the behind-the-scenes of campaign strategery. Finally, they bid adieu to candidates who decided New Hampshire was the end of the road for their campaigns.
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Feb 4, 2020 • 58min
Quality (Out-of) Control: Iowa’s Meltdown and On to New Hampshire
Bleary-eyed and results-less, Murphy and guest hack Robert Gibbs join forces to wade through last night’s Iowa caucus madness.
Are the Iowa caucuses no longer viable? Laden with technical difficulties and “quality control” issues, was the mangled process the nail in the coffin for Iowa’s first-in-the-nation status? Or for caucuses in general?
As the country holds its breath, multiple candidates seize on the opportunity to tout a “victory” speech: to what degree is the real winner’s spotlight diluted? If Buttigieg wins Iowa, but doesn't get to enjoy a big bounce going into New Hampshire, what will it mean for his candidacy? Will Biden crumble if he underperforms expectations?
And on impeachment: Murphy shares his take on former client Sen. Lamar Alexander and the Hacks wade through what happens next.
Lastly, we dive into the mailbag and take listeners’ questions on why Nevada is so often overlooked in the early states' media narrative, and how Murphy feels about the Wall Street Journal’s soft touch on Trump.
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