Hacks On Tap

By 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... more

4.7

76537,653 ratings

Download on the App Store

Download on the App Store

Get it on Google Play

FAQs about Hacks On Tap:

How many episodes does Hacks On Tap have?

The podcast currently has 343 episodes available.

Hacks On Tap episodes:

July 01, 2025 Burgers, Bills & Billionaires
All three Hacks together —- a real Fourth of July miracle. They cover Thom Tillis’ resignation, the big, beautiful bill, the New York mayor’s race, Elon’s tweets, kitchen-table economics, rising star Sarah McBride, the Trump monster, the DOGE monster, and more—because nothing says “patriotism” like chaos, crypto, and meat cuts.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
...more
56min
June 24, 2025 Diplomacy & Dem Primaries (with Senator Elissa Slotkin and Fmr. Amb. Patrick Gaspard)
This week, the Hacks are pulling double duty—two big stories, two top-notch guests. First, Senator Elissa Slotkin—former CIA analyst and Pentagon official—joins to break down U.S. involvement in Iran, Trump’s handling of the strikes, and the rift this is opening inside the Republican Party. Then, the Hacks turn to the city that never sleeps with former U.S. Ambassador to South Africa and longtime New York political heavyweight Patrick Gaspard. They dig into the New York mayor’s race, the ins and outs of ranked choice voting, and how generational divides, political comebacks, and a post-MeToo reckoning are reshaping the city’s politics.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
...more
1h 9min
June 17, 2025 Chain Reactionaries (with Maggie Haberman)
This week, the Hacks return amid a whirlwind of headlines and rising tensions. Axe and Murphy are joined by the incomparable Maggie Haberman—Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and one of the most trusted chroniclers of American politics. The Hacks dig into the escalating conflict in the Middle East, Trump’s abrupt departure from the G7, the drama unfolding in the New York races, and the latest on Ukraine. Plus: ICE operations in Los Angeles, the horrific assassinations in Minnesota, rising political polarization and violence, and what 2026, 2028—and yes, even tomorrow—might bring.

--

If you want to honor Melissa and Mark Hortman, please read this note from their children on how to honor their parents:

Plant a tree.
Visit a local park and make use of their amenities, especially a bike trail.
Pet a dog. A golden retriever is ideal, but any will do.
Tell your loved ones a cheesy dad joke and laugh about it.
Bake something — bread for Mark or a cake for Melissa, and share it with someone.
Try a new hobby and enjoy learning something.
Stand up for what you believe in, especially if that thing is justice and peace.

Hope and resilience are the enemy of fear. Our parents lived their lives with immense dedication to their fellow humans. This tragedy must become a moment for us to come together. Hold your loved ones a little closer. Love your neighbors. Treat each other with kindness and respect. The best way to honor our parents’ memory is to do something, whether big or small, to make our community just a little better for someone else.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
...more
1h 4min
June 10, 2025 Executive Disorder (with Marc Short)
This week, Axe and Heilemann are joined by Marc Short—former Chief of Staff to Vice President Mike Pence and Director of Legislative Affairs under President Trump—for a jam-packed conversation. From his front-row seat in the Trump administration, Short reflects on what feels like a political Groundhog Day: National Guard troops on the ground in California. He opens up about working with Stephen Miller, hints at what Mike Pence might have planned next, and weighs in on the future of the Republican brand in a post-Trump era. Plus, the Hacks take on the national debt, the GOP’s tug-of-war between cultural and economic messaging, Elon Musk’s latest pivots, and peek into the crystal ball for today’s primaries.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
...more
1h 4min
June 06, 2025 X Marks the Feud (with Jonathan Martin)
This week, in honor of Mike Murphy’s 30th birthday (don’t fact-check that), we’re serving up a bonus mini-sode! Mike is joined by longtime pod pal JMart to unpack the latest fallout in the bromance no one asked for — Musk and Trump. The Hacks dissect where the relationship went sour, what comes next for the billionaire and the president, and what this high-profile spat means for the future of American politics.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
...more
34min
June 03, 2025 Musk, Mayors, and Moore (with Lis Smith)
This week Axe and Murphy were joined by Democratic strategist and political firecracker Lis Smith. The Hacks dive into Sen. Ernst’s weird apology, Elon’s pushback on the ‘big, beautiful bill’, Gov. Wes Moore’s future on the national stage, the New York mayoral race, and so much more. Buckle up!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
...more
1h 1min
May 27, 2025 Vladdy Issues
The full Hackeroo trio is back in the bunker, wading through a Memorial Day medley of MAGA mayhem. Trump’s at it again — hosting a crypto dinner straight out of “Shark Tank,” taking new aim at Putin, picking trade fights, and going after the Ivy Leagues. Plus, the hacks open up the listener mailbag and dig into your sharpest questions, wildest theories, and most unfiltered takes. Buckle up.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
...more
57min
May 21, 2025 Bivalves & Bipartisanship (with JMart)
This week, Murphy and Heilemann are joined by their old pal Jonathan Martin to wade through the flotsam and jetsam of another jam-packed political week. They discuss the new book about Biden has everyone talking—about his legacy, his future, and now the tragic cancer diagnosis at the center of it all. Plus: the price of eggs, Trump’s spin on inflation, the SALT fight, and so much more!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
...more
59min
May 14, 2025 Planes, Popes & PR (with Rahm Emanuel)
This week, the Hacks welcome their old friend Rahm Emanuel —- former Chicago mayor, White House chief of staff, U.S. ambassador to Japan, and now CNN political commentator. They taxi down the runway on jet diplomacy, manufacturing strategy, and the challenge of crafting economic messages that actually land. Plus, a deep dive into the old bait-and-switch (and occasional political backstab), Biden’s comms blitz, and the surprisingly spiritual side of the Windy City.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
...more
1h 2min
May 06, 2025 Dolls, Tariffs & Polls
This week, Axe and Heilemann are joined by their old pal—the former senator and current director of the University of Chicago’s Institute of Politics—for a freewheeling conversation on the philosophy (or lack thereof) of Donald Trump. The Hacks break down the so-called “doll economy,” dig into Trump’s latest polling, immigration rhetoric, populist messaging, and yes… the cake eaters.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
...more
1h 4min

FAQs about Hacks On Tap:

How many episodes does Hacks On Tap have?

The podcast currently has 343 episodes available.

More shows like Hacks On Tap

Conversations with Bill Kristol by Bill Kristol

Conversations with Bill Kristol

1,974 Listeners

The Axe Files with David Axelrod by The Institute of Politics & CNN

The Axe Files with David Axelrod

7,586 Listeners

Pod Save America by Crooked Media

Pod Save America

87,324 Listeners

The Bulwark Podcast by The Bulwark

The Bulwark Podcast

12,056 Listeners

The Al Franken Podcast by The Al Franken Podcast

The Al Franken Podcast

8,582 Listeners

The Mona Charen Show by The Bulwark

The Mona Charen Show

1,334 Listeners

Politics War Room with James Carville & Al Hunt by Politicon

Politics War Room with James Carville & Al Hunt

4,026 Listeners

Impolitic with John Heilemann by Audacy | Puck

Impolitic with John Heilemann

4,662 Listeners

The Focus Group Podcast by The Bulwark

The Focus Group Podcast

2,523 Listeners

Shield of the Republic by The Bulwark

Shield of the Republic

469 Listeners

On with Kara Swisher by Vox Media

On with Kara Swisher

3,321 Listeners

The Next Level by The Bulwark

The Next Level

3,010 Listeners

George Conway Explains It All (To Sarah Longwell) by The Bulwark

George Conway Explains It All (To Sarah Longwell)

3,464 Listeners

Bulwark Takes by The Bulwark

Bulwark Takes

768 Listeners

To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes by Charlie Sykes

To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes

701 Listeners