Hacks On Tap

This week, Axe and Heilemann are joined by fan favorite and all-around cool guy Jonathan Martin! The Hacks kick things off with a front-line report from Mike Murphy on the LA wildfires, unpacking the implications for the city and the state’s future. They also dive into the status of Trump’s nominees, the business world cozying up to Trump, Biden’s evolving legacy, and the escalating drama within T...

Happy New Year, Hackeroos! Axe and Murphy rang in the new year with a journalism icon, the incomparable Jonathan Alter. Author of His Very Best: Jimmy Carter, A Life, Alter joins the Hacks to reflect on the passing of President Carter and the extraordinary legacy he leaves behind. The Hacks also delve into the Biden transition, Trump’s ongoing legal battles, what to expect from his appointments an...

‘Twas a night filled with headlines, and all through the pod, Not a topic was skipped—not even David’s odd plod. Drones in the skies, with surveillance to show, And scandals aplenty that continue to grow. Trump’s lawsuits piled like stockings with care, While inaugural donations danced through the air. Inflation will be “slashed,” or so Trump has claimed, And RFK vowed, with no hint of delay, To m...

This week, Murphy and Heilemann were joined by expert Hack and pollster to the stars, John Anzalone. The Hacks dissect Trump’s Meet the Press interview, defy political gravity to forecast Trump’s future appointments, and ponder the fate of bipartisanship in a second Trump era. Plus, the guys tackle campaign loyalty, the screaming January 6th jail birds, and the state of the Democratic bench. Learn...

This week, Axe and Heilemann are joined by former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie! The Hacks dive into Christie’s unique insights as Donald Trump’s former Transition Team Chairman to explore what a second Trump term might look like: which cabinet picks are likely to stick, and which ones are simply Trump’s way of flipping the bird. Plus, the guys unpack the Hunter Biden pardon drama and ask Chr...

Happy Hacksgiving, Hackeroos! As Axe bastes his turkey to perfection, Murphy and Heilemann carved out time this morning to talk about the true meaning of Thanksgiving—tariffs (the world’s most romantic word), moronomics, and the latest recipe for chaos courtesy of Trump’s cabinet picks. Plus, the stuffing-filled scrum for DNC leadership. We’re so grateful for all of you, our faithful listeners—wit...

This week, Axe and Murphy are joined by international Hack savant Jonathan Martin. The trio dives into Trump’s nomination circus, ranking his picks by sheer audacity and dissecting their broader implications. They also tackle the fight for DNC chair, the unraveling of democratic norms, and a potential political clash as wild as two tomcats in a pillowcase. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit p...

This week, the Hacks report from the esteemed Institute of Politics at the University of Chicago. They sift through the aftermath of the election to analyze the strategies of both the Trump and Harris campaigns, Trump’s proposed appointments, the battle for leadership, and what these developments mean for the next four years and beyond. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/ad...

Well folks, we have our results. Axe, Murphy, and Heilemann dive into the numbers and break down what this means for the next four years. They also explore the dynamics of both campaigns, analyzing shifting polling trends, key battleground states, and the broader political landscape to offer their insights on what the next chapter in American politics will hold. Learn more about your ad choices. V...

On the eve of the election, the excitement is palpable as voters get ready to cast their ballots. The Hacks gather for one last huddle, dissecting the campaign’s vibe shift, Trump’s latest missteps, and the buzz from the new Iowa Seltzer poll. They recap the whirlwind of the past ten days and Murphy throws in a bold prediction. Tune in to find out what they’re thinking—and don’t forget to make you...

Happy Saturday, Hackeroos! This morning, the Hacks gathered for a pre-Election spectacular you won’t want to miss! They recorded a double minisode, diving into topics like candy a$$ draft dodgers, closing arguments, and Elon’s payolas. Plus, they explore the final paid media spots from both campaigns. Tune in for all the insights! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoice...

With the election just a week away, the political landscape is like a reality show finale—full of drama, plot twists, and a few surprise guest stars! Axe, Murphy, and Heilemann dissect Trump’s tumultuous NYC rally, compare the enemies list versus the to-do list, explore the art of channeling the negative force, discuss Beyoncé (!), analyze Trump’s Joe Rogan interview, delve into Michelle Obama’s i...

Well, Hackeroos, we’re just two weeks away from the big showdown! Axe, Murphy, and Heilemann are really getting to the shaft of things as they discuss the final sprint of the Harris and Trump Campaign. The Hacks discuss Trump’s obsession with Arnold Palmer, Harris’s Fox News interview, Trump losing energy, the blue wall thesis, nose holding republicans, campaign messaging, early mail vote counts,...

Hack-A-Doodle-Doo! We are three weeks out from election day, so Axe & Murphy have enlisted their favorite political whiz, Ron Brownstein, the human encyclopedia of hackfoolery! The Hacks break down the state of the race, dissect Harris’s messaging hits and misses, and explore how the popular vote, Senate, and House races could differ from the top of the ticket. They’ll introduce you to a lovely ha...

This week, Heilemann and Murphy were joined by the esteemed and remarkably flexible Mike Bender, NYT political correspondent and author of Frankly, We Did Win This Election: The Inside Story of How Trump Lost. The Hacks break down murder genes, Harris’s media blitz, take bets on whether there will be another presidential debate, moments of crazy strength, being in the zone, wiggly flip-flopping, a...

Three bleary-eyed, bloviating Hacks convened this morning to dissect the VP debate. The Hacks leave no stone unturned, exploring everything from electric vehicle politics to eyeliner choices—because it's all fair game, as long as the leading man isn’t upstaged. Tune in to hear about manatee killer instincts, Vance’s early debate wins, Walz’s underdog finish, a slick yet sloppy tie, and so much mor...

This week Axe and Murphy were joined Alyssa Farah Griffin, host of The View and former Trump White House communications staffer. The Hacks dive into poll-a-palooza, viral pet songs, Trump’s internal messaging battle, radioactive candidates, and so much more. Buckle up! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, Axe and Murphy were joined by The Ragin' Cajun himself. They explored the latest political developments, including another assassination attempt on Trump, the case Kamala Harris and her team need to make, and a thorough analysis of the economy and Bidenomics. They also previewed the upcoming documentary that chronicles Carville’s career and the battles he’s fought—because if anyone know...

In a caffeine-fueled fever dream, three overworked faux doctors gathered this morning to dissect last night’s presidential debate. Join us as our "medical experts" administer a thorough post-mortem on the debate’s highs and lows: from the subtle art of baiting former presidents to whether your furry friends are in danger from political shrapnel. We’ll also diagnose the hot-button issues, dissect t...

This morning the Hacks gathered bright and early just for you, to dish out a can’t-miss debate preview. As the post-convention sugar high fades and a fresh New York Times poll shakes up the race, the Hacks dive into the high-stakes drama of the upcoming debate. They break down how each camp is gearing up for the spotlight, what we can expect from the moderators, and much more. Plus, in a truly sci...

Happy post-Labor Day campaign sprint to all who celebrate! The Hacks gathered this morning to dissect the Harris & Walz interview, figure out who's taken the toughest swings at Mike Pence, and take a deep dive into how abortion might shake up this election. They also discuss Trump’s struggle to stay on message, his strong man schtick, the battle for Pennsylvania, and cross pollinating between swin...

This bleary-eyed morning, the Hacks gathered to dish out their final takes on the Democratic National Convention. They tackled Kamala’s speech, Trump’s misdialed thoughts on Kamala’s speech, where the campaigns go from here, RFK dropping out, Chicago being an extraordinary host city, and so much more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Hacks are LIVE from the iconic Chicago institution, Manny’s Deli! Join Axe, Heilemann, and Murphy as they dig into Biden’s speeches—yes, both of them—and take a deep dive into the highs and lows of the other speakers' performances. They’ll be serving up hot takes—make that hot latkes—on filibustering, whether the messaging hit the mark, and, of course, how many times Murphy plans to cast his v...

Axe and Murphy kick off this week's episode with an exciting announcement that’s sure to shake things up! After the big reveal, they dive into Trump’s glitchy X interview, the evolving role of social media in this election cycle and what it means for the future of politics, check in on polling, Kamalamentum, and Walz Weirdness. With the DNC convention headed to our beloved Chicago, the guys share...

*Disclaimer: The Executive Producer of this podcast is from the great state of Minnesota.* This oh for cute week Axe and Murphy were joined by the great John Anzalone. In exciting but not at all predictable news, Minnesota has once again produced a Vice Presidential candidate. The Hacks discuss how Minnesota is the best state in the union, dontcha know, Walz’s unparalleled experience with state (a...