Hacks On Tap

The Hacks are back this week with a live edition before students at the University of Chicago Institute of Politics. We talk all the latest—   First, John Bolton’s new book coincidentally coincides with his willingness to testify before the Senate. If he is indeed called as a witness, how much will it matter – if at all?    Trump defense lawyer Pam Bondi aims her case squarely at the Bidens and Bu...

The Hacks are here to talk all the latest: The impeachment trial launches in the Senate and both sides assume their marks: will it amount to more than Kabuki theater, or will the partisan paradigm pervade? And how much will it matter in November? T minus two weeks until our favorite time of the year: the Iowa caucuses! Polling points to cadre of four frontrunners: under what circumstances could an...

The mad dash to the Iowa caucuses are upon us! The Hacks break down the Des Moines Register/CNN Democratic Debate—and pinch-hitting for David this week is the great Robert Gibbs, former White House Press Secretary under President Obama.    The Hacks tackle Iowa: it’s a race to the finish as four leading candidates vie for the top spot. Gibbs and Murphy draw from their experiences as former campaig...

The Hacks kick off the new decade with all the latest—   President Trump ordered the fatal strike of Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani last week. Was there a strategy behind the move, and to what end? Will the attack play to his base or undermine his pledge to end endless war?    John Bolton says he’ll testify before the Senate during the President’s impeachment trial. But will it move the needle in t...

The Hacks reunite in Los Angeles, California as the sixth Democratic debate draws to a close. Joe Biden and Amy Klobuchar overperform the norm: will this newfound Joe-mentum last? The blows buffet Buttigieg: will he weather the storm? We turn to impeachment: the House of Representatives voted this week to impeach Donald Trump, but his approval rating remains steady. How will the saga unfold, and w...

The hacks are here to talk all the latest—  Politics of impeachment: as the impeachment saga continues to unfold, Democrats and Republicans alike continue to politicize the process. How much — if at all — will this weaken Trump in 2020, and will any senators defect from the party line?  Someone had his Cup o’ Joe! Biden talks tough toward an Iowa voter — did he cross the line, or is this the energ...

This week, the Hacks dive into the latest polling out of New Hampshire and size up the state of the race. With the breaking news that Sen. Kamala Harris is dropping out, will other lower-tier candidates follow suit? Is Bloomberg’s huge ad buy cash well-spent, or will he fail to break through? Will Mayor Pete’s weekend jaunt through the Carolinas move the needle? Plus, Axe and Murphy talk Trump’s v...

The Hacks are back to discuss the latest Democratic debate. With public impeachment hearings sucking up most of the oxygen, did the debate move the needle in the race? Axe and Murphy break down each candidate’s performance and recap the night’s best—and worst—moments. The Hacks also weigh in on the latest impeachment news. Despite some extraordinary testimony, will the Senate vote to convict? Tune...

The Hacks huddle to tackle the latest: The public impeachment hearings kick off this week. Republicans have been auditioning wild arguments in defense of the president—and Jeff Sessions’ new Senate ad suggests this won’t change—what, if anything, will bring Republicans around?  Former Massachusetts governor Deval Patrick and former NYC mayor Michael Bloomberg consider throwing their hats into the...

The Hacks are back this week to talk through the latest: The famed Liberty and Justice Dinner (formerly known as the Jefferson-Jackson) wrapped last Friday in Iowa: Who stood out, what does it mean, and how much will it shake up the race? Poll-a-palooza: Why do Axe and Murphy dub the slew of new polls in early swing states a “wake-up call” for Dems? State of the Senate: a growing number of Republi...

This week, the Hacks talk politics of al-Baghdadi: did Trump overplay the death of the ISIS leader? Will Trump benefit, and will it last? The timing of Nancy Pelosi's impeachment decision strikes Axe and Murphy as peculiar: Why now? What does it mean for 2020? Joe Biden's new 60 Minutes interview featured the side of Biden everyone's been waiting for. Is the former Veep's 'Candidate Protection Pro...

This week, the Hacks dive into:    The state of the Senate Republicans: Is Mitt Romney — aka Pierre Delecto — a lone detractor of harbinger of what’s to come? Plus, Lindsay Graham tells Axios that evidence of a true quid pro quo could change his mind on impeachment, and new data spells potential trouble for some senators up for re-election in 2020.    It’s out of the frying pan and into the fire f...

The fourth Democratic presidential debate is behind us and the hacks are here to break it all down.  All eyes are on Liz Warren as she gets frontrunner treatment for the very first time: how did she fare?  Buttigieg bites back: is this a turning point for the South Bend mayor?  Biden becomes background: can his candidacy sustain steam? Amy brought her A-game: but is this too little, too late?  Wha...

The Hacks are back from their jaunt to Austin and itching to dig into the latest. Hill Republicans and Democrats alike are in a tizzy over Trump’s call to pull troops out of Syria – but will the move resonate with his voting base? Meanwhile the impeachment inquiry has some congressional Republicans wondering if it's time to revolt and bolt. The great John Heilemann joins Axe and Murphy to share in...

The Hacks reunite LIVE at the Texas Tribune Festival in Austin, TX. This time, they’re joined by super-hack Karl Rove — former Senior Advisor to President George W. Bush — to break down all the latest on the impeachment inquiry, alleged Trump transgressions, the 2020 race, and more.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcas...

From whistleblowers to whistlestops, Axe and Murphy are chewing over the latest call for impeachment, Rep. Joe Kennedy, and new polling out of Iowa. Mayor Pete Buttigieg joins the show from his Not-the-Straight-Talk-Express bus tour of Iowa to give his take on impeachment, what he hears from voters out on the trail, and what sets him apart from the other candidates. In the mailbag, the hacks are t...

The Hacks are back after a Democratic debate with no shortage of talking points: Castro put Biden on blast, Betsy from Oklahoma ditched the cap and gown, and Beto brought the passion on guns. Axe and Murphy also touch on the escalating tensions with Iran over the bombing of a Saudi oil refinery and the latest accusations against Justice Brett Kavanaugh. Senator Amy Klobuchar joins the show to talk...

The Hacks are back in the run-up to Thursday’s debate. And the stage in Houston will be packed with TEN candidates—so what does each need to do in order to stand out? In order to keep the cash flowing? In order to maintain top-tier status? In order to avoid getting swallowed-up? Murph and Axe belly-up to the bar and sort through what each campaign’s hacks must be thinking right about now.  Learn m...

In this week’s episode, Biden flubs the details, but will it ever cross the line with voters? Axe and Murphy also take stock of the rest of the field ahead of the next Democratic debate, what's next for the candidates who didn't make the stage, and Trump's half-hearted hurricane watch. Guest hack Mark McKinnon joins the show to talk about Warren's worries with white working-class and black voters,...

Axe is back from his stint in the cornfields of Iowa armed with new intel to break down with Murphy. But first – the hacks talk Trump’s erratic behavior at the G7 summit, size up Trump’s new primary challenge from former U.S. Rep. Joe Walsh, pose a theory as to why the governors in the Democratic race have yet to break through, and unpack Axe’s Iowa interviews with the leading presidential candida...

Axe has returned from his secret mission and is reunited with Murphy as they hash through Trump’s latest poll numbers and his frustration with Fox News. The first Biden TV ad has dropped in Iowa, but does he have what it takes to go the distance? And Anthony Scaramucci joins the Hacks—he’s back in the President’s crosshairs after voicing his opposition to him, and fills us in on his plan to “beat...

In this week’s episode, Democratic strategist and guest host Paul Begala joins Murphy on the mic to take stock of this week’s news. The hacks talk Jeffrey Epstein’s sudden death and the rise of conspiracy theories in politics, how Biden could benefit from leaning into his gaffes, and assess the Democratic candidates’ standings in the race. Guest hack and former White House Communications Director...

After the country was jolted yet again by mass shootings in El Paso and Dayton, the hacks huddle up to talk about the how the President responded, what we should expect from a "Consoler in Chief," and how some Democratic candidates may set themselves apart as they respond to the tragedies. Former Congressman Steve Israel joins the show to talk about the realities of gun politics, why he hopes this...

In this week's episode, the Hacks huddle in Detroit in the wake of the second round of Democratic debates. Axe and Murphy share their takes on the Biden-Harris rematch, discuss the progressive-moderate party divide, highlight Warren and Booker's strong performances, and gauge the impact this round will have on the candidates moving forward. The Hacks also break down the memorable moments: Gabbard...

This week, Axe and Murphy question whether Bob Mueller’s testimony will have any bearing on the race. Then, we’ll preview the Hunger Games, also known as the second round of Democratic debates. It's do or die for candidates stuck at 1%. And, we'll talk to one of those 1 percenters -- Colorado Senator Michael Bennet -- about how he plans to break through and keep the party from "going off a cliff."...