Hacks on Tap with David Axelrod and Mike Murphy

This week the Axe and Murphy were joined by Jonathan Karl, ABC News’s chief Washington correspondent and co-anchor of This Week with George Stephanopoulos. The Hacks delve into the intricacies of Nikki Haley's campaign, Trump's unpredictable nature, the unique dynamics of campaigning from courthouses, the importance of reasonableness, chess with irate chimpanzees, bone spurs, bingo bango bongo, and so much more.

This week, the Hacks gathered to delve into the results and implications of the New Hampshire primary, decoding their significance for the upcoming 2024 political landscape. In his usual fashion, Trump pivots his ire towards Nikki Haley. Biden’s campaign begins stepping up its game, preparing for another battle with Trump. And, most importantly, our beloved Mike Murphy has a special announcement!

Axe, Murphy, and Gibbs convene to discuss the aftermath of the Iowa Caucus. Murphy, our boots-on-the-ground maestro, serves up firsthand accounts from the caucus battlegrounds. While Axe and Gibbs dissect Biden’s messaging problem. The Hacks also discuss crow burgers, building momentum, the romance of politics, what’s cooking in the other early states, dancing bears, tiny knives, and cracked crystal balls. The Hacks also walk the political prediction plank when discussing New Hampshire.

This week our trio of seasoned hacks dives headfirst into the CNN debate, mourns Chris Christie's campaign exit, and anticipates the Iowa Caucus outcomes. The gloves are off as Nikki Haley and DeSantis enter a political brawl, while Trump's town hall takes center stage. Our hacks offer sharp insights on Iowa's weather, candidates' dance moves, and the political intricacies of the great states of Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina. Tune in for a whirlwind tour of the week's political rollercoaster, because when it comes to politics, laughter is the ultimate survival strategy.

In the run-up to the Iowa Caucus, Axe and Murphy were joined by expert Republican pollster Kristen Soltis Anderson. The Hacks dive into polling, discuss Nikki Haley’s blunder, the battle for second in Iowa, the promise of New Hampshire, blimps, blemishes, ugly zippers, and large orange marbles.

Axe, Gibbs, and Murphy convened for their final episode of the year! The Hacks discuss recent polling, the upcoming Iowa Caucus and New Hampshire Primary, the one man Biden campaign, singing off a song sheet, Hunter Biden’s legal troubles, and the battle to be the new lion. Plus, the guys make their 2024 predictions. 

We’ve kept you waiting long enough - here is the post debate Hacknalysis with your pals David Axelrod and Robert Gibbs. 

This week Axe and Murphy were joined by ink stained Hack, Adam Nagourney. Adam is a political reporter for the New York Times and author of “The Times: How the Newspaper of Record Survived Scandal, Scorn, and the Transformation of Journalism”.  The Hacks discuss the upcoming Iowa caucus, the battle brewing between Haley and DeSantis, the cost of Thanksgiving, messages from presidents past, eating crow, and slicing the salami a little too thin. Plus, Murphy dabbles in ventriloquism.

Axe and Murphy have a special Hacksgiving message for you!

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!

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. 

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! 

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!

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!

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. 

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! 

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! 

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!

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. 

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.