Hacks on Tap with David Axelrod and Mike Murphy

Axe and Murphy have a special Hacksgiving message for you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week the Circus comes to town, literally, as the guys are joined by Mark McKinnon and John Heilemann, who created Showtime’s beloved show “The Circus.” The Hacks clown around while juggling a variety of topics, ranging from Biden’s acrobatics around recent poll numbers, Joe Manchin’s disappearing act, the elephants walking on a tight rope (and dropping off it), and Trump’s hare pulling. Tune in for even more puns, and even better analysis! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week Axe, Murphy, and Gibbs convened in the middle of the night to discuss the third GOP debate. The Hacks talk about the winners, the losers, and the battle for second in the Iowa caucus. Tune in to hear them discuss abortion messaging, dime store trump ideas, the royal we, panic polls, losers, and borscht sh!t.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week Axe and Murphy were joined by the inimitable and unbelievable superstar Hackeroo Jonathan Martin. JMart is a senior reporter at POLITICO, and co-author of “This Will Not Pass: Trump, Biden, and the Battle for America’s Future”. The guys break down the new Iowa poll, talk about who is up and who is down, Trump’s power in the GOP, the new Speaker of the House, Pence’s French vanilla problem, Dean Phillips, Israel and Palestine, the UAW strike, chat GPT speeches, and somehow so much more! Tune in!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week Axe and Gibbs were joined by Scott Jennings, a GOP strategist, conservative columnist, and CNN commentator. The Hacks pull back the circus curtains to reveal what’s going on behind the scenes in the speakers battle. The guys discuss the potential candidates, the relationship building across factions, role of democrats, and the commentary from the peanut gallery. The Hacks also discuss border security, Ukraine and Israel funding, Biden’s positioning on Israel, potential presidential Democratic challengers, Trump’s legal woes and plea deals. Plus the guys visit fantasy island while answering your mailbag questions! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week Axe and Murphy were joined by the great John Harwood! Fresh off his ProPublica interview with President Biden, Harwood joined the Hacks in discussing Trump’s ongoing legal drama, the future of the GOP, the politics of old men yelling at clouds, the essential role of the Speaker and the battle for it, Biden’s trip to Israel, FEC reports, unleashing dogs, and dancing on termites! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week Axe and Murphy were joined by one of the greatest Hacks in all of the land, Amy Walter, who is the publisher and editor-in-chief of the Cook Political Report with Amy Walter. The Hacks discuss the Israel-Hamas war, Nikki Haley’s rising status and her foreign policy expertise, FEC reports, Biden’s economic numbers, Ukraine funding, the battle for the Speakership, independent candidate chaos, and so much more. Tune in for the political insight, stay through the whole episode to hear Murphy write/perform a jingle for Biden.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This messy week we have a lot to cover: McCarthy’s battle with Gaetz, the nearly averted shutdown, the great aftermath of the second GOP debate, California Senate — so much stuff we had to bring in the inimitable Jonathan Martin. You may know him from his writing in POLITICO or his classes at Harvard! Make sure to tune in to hear about skullduggery, vendettas, psychic nutritionist political advisors, and so much more!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Late last night, despite all three Hacks feeling a little bit dumber, the guys convened to record a special post debate Hacks on Tap. The Hacks declare their debate winners and losers, and predict who will be on the next debate stage. They also break down Newsom’s new strides, picket line politics, flip floppery, and battery powered boats. Don’t Donald Duck up and skip this episode, it’s a good one!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week Axe and Gibbs were joined by Sarah Longwell, publisher of The Bulwark and host of The Focus Group podcast. The Hacks discuss the upcoming GOP debate, the difficulties and nuances of interviewing Trump, DeSantis and Haley’s viability, aging presidents, nailing jello to walls, and clowns with flame throwers.  Want to hear more from Sarah Longwell? Make sure to listen to The Focus Group podcast, new episodes will be coming out on Saturday! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week Gibbs & Murphy were joined by the great Bill Kristol, who is editor-at-large of The Bulwark. The Hacks discuss Bidens overseas trip, the role of the media, Republicans opening up an impeachment inquiry, and presidential polling around impeachment past. Plus the guys look into their Kristol ball and preview the next GOP debate.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week Axe and Gibbs were joined by Jeff Zeleny, who is the Chief National Affairs Correspondent for CNN. Jeff gives an update on what he has seen on the road in New Hampshire, the Hacks then break down Biden’s communication challenges, new poll numbers and the battle for the GOP nomination.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, Axe and Murphy are joined by Scott Jennings, a GOP strategist, conservative columnist, and CNN commentator. The Hacks discuss Trump’s most recent presidential portrait, his upcoming trial, and how this could impact the nominating process. The guys also talk about pre/post-Trump GOP candidates, post GOP debate performances, identify politics, Biden’s campaign performance, and so much more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The bleary-eyed Hacks convened early this morning to discuss the first GOP debate of the 2024 election and the poll vaulting nature of politics. The guys bloviate about Trump’s absence, Nikki’s breakthrough performance, Ramaswamy’s rising poll numbers, and the candidate responses on abortion, supporting Trump, and January 6th.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Did you miss us? Well, we missed you so much that we decided to convene all three Hacks this week. Axe, Gibbs, and Murphy discuss Trump’s most recent indictment, the guys preview the upcoming GOP debate, set the scene for the Iowa Caucus and New Hampshire Primary, and discuss Hunter Biden’s legal woes. Plus, Murphy gives a dispatch from his hammock in New Hampshire.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Robert Costa, the chief election and campaign correspondent for CBS news, joined Axe and Murphy to discuss the great pageantry of democracy. The Hacks discuss GOP polling and spending, knocking out frontrunners, unprecedented indictments, DeSantis DeSinking, escape valves, medals for democracy, and so much more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This bonkers news week Axe and Gibbs were joined by CNN’s chief political correspondent and anchor of “Inside Politics”. Dana walks us through the newest Trump indictment news, and the Hacks pick her brain on Trump’s messaging, what the indictments mean for 2024, and how the American people will serve as his jury. The Hacks also talk about Manchin campaigning in New Hampshire, Chris Christie qualifying for the GOP debate, Biden’s performance, Pence’s appeal, Faustian bargains, losers, cowards, chickens, and so much more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week Axe and Murphy were joined by former North Dakota Senator and current Director of the Institute of Politics at the University of Chicago, Heidi Heitkamp! The Hacks discuss DeSantis’s bet on Iowa and his courtship of Kim Reynolds, the flipping of abortion as a political issue, Super PAC ads, fundraising number, rural messaging, and the crickets from Biden’s presidential campaign. Plus Heidi gives some Fargo wisdom to her governor and Murphy sneaks in a Gina Raimondo plug! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week Murphy and Gibbs bumped a few former presidents to celebrate their favorite holiday by answering YOUR questions! The guys bloviate about Bidenomics, Enron accounting, chickens in tuxedos, Kevin’s caucus politics, Supreme Court rulings, and supremely delicious political food festivities! Tune in and happy forth to you all! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week Axe was joined by living political legend/greatest Hack of all time James Carville and hat model/co-host of The Circus/also an amazing Hack Mark McKinnon. The guys discuss Christie’s post Covid vendetta against Trump, GOP field elimination and late entries, Trump’s leaked audio, DeSantis’ charisma problem, post-Roe politics, No Labels, breaking glass, and so much more!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices