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Hacks On Tap

Vox Media
Donald Trump
Kamala Harris
Republican Party
Joe Biden
Democratic Party
Trump
Trump Administration
2024 Presidential Election
Nikki Haley
Economy
Ukraine
Midterm Elections
Inflation
Political Strategy
Elon Musk
Tariffs
Michigan
Economic Policies
Biden Administration
Biden

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 the White House. So if you want to know what’s really going on behind the scenes, where strategic decisions are being made, pull up a stool for Hacks on Tap. Incisive, sometimes uproarious and always... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes401Founded7 years ago
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PoliticsNewsNews Commentary

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Artwork for Hacks On Tap

Latest Episodes

The Hacks are back, and with the midterms around the corner, it’s tricks, treats, and toss-ups! Axe and Murphy are joined by Hacks frequent flyer, political reporter extraordinaire, and master of the campaign trail, Jonathan Martin! With Election Day... more

The Hacks are back! With the clock ticking down to the midterms, Murphy and Heilemann are joined by not one, but two brilliant Hackeroos: Democratic strategist and Florida political guru Steve Schale and veteran Republican strategist and Iowa politic... more

The Hacks are back — and so soon! Axe, Murphy, and Heilemann are joined by legendary Republican strategist, focus group whisperer, Bulwark publisher, and author of How to Eat an Elephant: One Voter at a Time, Sarah Longwell! The Hacks dive headfirst ... more

This week, all three Hackeroos are joined by Democratic strategist, campaign trail veteran, and a man who knows his way around an electoral map, Addisu Demissie! The Hacks take stock of the key races across the country as the midterms enter the home ... more

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Recent Guests

Sarah Longwell
Republican strategist, publisher of The Bulwark, and author of How to Eat an Elephant: One Voter at a Time
The Bulwark
Episode: When Negative Goes Negative (with Sarah Longwell)
Addisu Demissie
Democratic strategist, campaign veteran, and former campaign manager for Cory Booker
Episode: The Juice the Base Play (With Addisu Demissie)
Karl Rove
Living legend, columnist for the Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal
Episode: Split Happens (with Robert Gibbs and Karl Rove)
Robert Gibbs
Original founding hack, former White House Press Secretary
Former White House staff
Episode: Split Happens (with Robert Gibbs and Karl Rove)
Ron Brownstein
Longtime observer of American politics, Bloomberg and CNN contributor
Brownstein's platform; Bloomberg/CNN
Episode: Wave Watch (with Doug Sosnik and Ron Brownstein)
Doug Sosnik
Former political director in the Clinton White House
Substack; political consultancy
Episode: Wave Watch (with Doug Sosnik and Ron Brownstein)
David Plouffe
Former campaign manager and political strategist
Former Obama campaign staff
Episode: For Whom the Poll Tolls (with John Anzalone and David Plouffe)
John Anzalone
Pollster and political analyst
Wall Street Journal poll discussion participant
Episode: For Whom the Poll Tolls (with John Anzalone and David Plouffe)
Whit Ayres
Former president of the American Association of Political Consultants, legendary Republican pollster
North Star Opinion Research
Episode: Pressing His Luck (with Whit Ayers)

Hosts

David Axelrod
Host with deep campaign and political strategy background; affiliated with Vox Media / Hacks On Tap.
Mike Murphy
Seasoned political consultant and strategist; frequent co-host.
John Heilemann
Co-host and journalist; brings investigative and media analysis.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 10k ratings
  • Spot on

    You guys are the coolest. I love how you use intelligence and humor to make your points.

    Long time listener from Michigan and a former republican

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Willowethan
    United States25 days ago
  • Came back after a while

    Nothing special here, low enthusiasm and too many ads. Ok if none of your other pol podcasts have released anything new

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    TV Food and Drink
    United Statesa month ago
  • Get rid of John H.

    Heilemann repeats himself so much that he is not listenable. He sounds insipid. His verbal habits come across as attempts to fill time.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    GenX Business Owner
    United Statesa month ago
  • Come on guys

    Appreciate your insight as always, but am disappointed to hear you throw out that Hasan Piker is saying antisemitic things. Actually look at what he says, dudes. If you listen to him for like 2 minutes or actually read these quotes, it’s easy to understand that he is being willfully misinterpreted. You don’t need to play into that. His whole point is that conflating Jews with the state of Israel is antisemitic, which is not controversial.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Baguettebarb
    United States2 months ago
  • No, thanks, Preet

    A fan of the show and moderate - but providing moral and ethical reasons that other moderates can't hold their well founded beliefs is poisonous for moderation.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Krampus -
    United States2 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Some listeners perceive tone as energetic or confrontational at times, with strong personalities on display.
Guests consistently bring high-level expertise and insider perspective.
Content is deeply informed by campaign experience and political campaigning realities.
Conversation mixes sharp analysis with humor and storytelling.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#204
United States/Top Podcasts
Apple Podcasts
#9
United States/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#31
United States/News
Apple Podcasts
#22
Canada/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#43
United Kingdom/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#59
Canada/News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Juice the Base Play (With Addisu Demissie)
Q: Do you think Barack Obama's presence will make a difference in Michigan, and will Abdul El-Sayed listen to his advice?
Demissie expects Obama to help validate El-Sayed with Black voters, base Democrats, and potentially skeptical Jewish voters. He is less certain El-Sayed will take advice, saying the candidate tends to seize opportunities to win an argument even when doing so may be politically unwise.
The Juice the Base Play (With Addisu Demissie)
Q: If you were a Republican in a plus-eight district or state, would you want Donald Trump campaigning there while talking about things voters do not care about?
Demissie says no, but argues Republicans have few alternatives after heavy advertising failed to change the numbers. Trump may energize the base, yet his appearances could reinforce concerns among undecided and soft Republican voters about prices and the economy.
When Negative Goes Negative (with Sarah Longwell)
Q: Are you just bullish that Democrats are going to rampage through this midterm, Sarah?
Longwell says focus groups show a major enthusiasm gap: many Republican voters dislike their candidates, feel dissatisfied with Trump, and have little they want to defend. She expects depressed Republican enthusiasm to constrain turnout, while emphasizing that the outcome depends on voter turnout.
When Negative Goes Negative (with Sarah Longwell)
Q: Sarah, what, tell me what your thoughts are here.
Longwell condemns the ad as deeply depraved, noting that Acton was abused as a child and had been estranged from the woman featured in the ad for decades. She says the ad's initial framing alone repulsed voters, and the broader story made the damage worse.
Split Happens (with Robert Gibbs and Karl Rove)
Q: What is the best use of political advertising money heading into the midterms?
Early money is generally more effective; waiting too long to spend can reduce impact and cost efficiency, especially in a highly partisan environment.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Hacks On Tap

What is Hacks On Tap about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show offers sharp, insider-style political analysis from veterans who have run campaigns and covered national politics. Episodes typically feature roundtable discussions among the hosts, interspersed with long-form conversations with prominent guests—from former politicians and strategists to top journalists—covering U.S. elections, governance, campaign strategy, messaging, and the evolving media landscape. Across episodes, listeners see a blend of practical campaigning insights, data-driven takes, and candid commentary on how the political world actually operates behind the headlines. Notable traits include a willingness to challenge conventional wisdom, a focus on coalition-building and primary dynamics, and a flair for storytelling ... more

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How many listeners does Hacks On Tap get?

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Which podcasts are similar to Hacks On Tap?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Hacks On Tap:

1. Impolitic with John Heilemann
2. The Bulwark Daily
3. The Focus Group Podcast
4. The Next Level
5. Politics War Room with James Carville & Al Hunt

How many episodes of Hacks On Tap are there?

Hacks On Tap launched 7 years ago and published 401 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Hacks On Tap?

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What guests have appeared on Hacks On Tap?

Recent guests on Hacks On Tap include:

1. Sarah Longwell
2. Addisu Demissie
3. Karl Rove
4. Robert Gibbs
5. Ron Brownstein
6. Doug Sosnik
7. David Plouffe
8. John Anzalone

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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