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 entertaining, these political warhorses and their guests will give you insights you’ll only get from folks who have spent a lifetime in the political trenches of both parties.
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Latest episodes
Showing 20 · updated from the feed
For Whom the Poll Tolls (with John Anzalone and David Plouffe)
#23 trending · All Podcasts
This week, Axe and Murphy are joined by not one, but two all-star Hackeroos: veteran Democratic pollster John Anzalone and former Obama campaign manager and White House s
Sep 29 1 h 03 min
Pressing His Luck (with Whit Ayers)
This week, Murphy and Heilemann are joined by Whit Ayres, president of North Star Opinion Research and veteran Republican polling Hack. The Hacks dive into the nation’s m
Sep 22 1 h 05 min
Above the Fold (with Julie Pace)
This week, the Hacks are joined by recently inducted Hackeroo Julie Pace, senior vice president and executive editor of The Associated Press! The Hacks dive into the batt
Sep 15 1 h 02 min
The Final Sprint
The Hacks are back! This week, all three Hackeroos convened to dive into the post-Labor Day sprint to the midterms. The guys discuss Trump’s potential war chest and the r
Sep 8 1 h 04 min
The Hacks Present: Stay Tuned with Preet
Neuroscientist, philosopher, and Making Sense podcast host Sam Harris joins Preet Bharara to examine why good-faith debate has become so difficult—and what that breakdown
Sep 1 1 h 30 min
Oh Canada! (With Jonathan Martin)
This week Axe and Murphy were joined by loyal Hackeroo, food savant, and incredibly talented journalist Jonathan Martin! The Hacks head north to unpack the latest battle
Aug 25 1 h 10 min
Running on Empty (with Ron Brownstein)
This week Axe and Murphy were joined by Bloomberg Opinion columnist, CNN senior political analyst, and certified Hackeroo Ron Brownstein. The Hacks dive into this week in
Aug 18 1 h 07 min
Goat Rodeo (with Addisu Demissie)
Late last night, three bleary-eyed Hacks convened to discuss the results—or what we had of them—from yesterday’s Midwestern primaries. Axe and Heilemann were joined by le
Aug 12 1 h 03 min
The Midwest Strikes Back
This week the Hacks are reunited! All three Hackeroos are back together to break down the Michigan primary results and what they could mean for the midterms. They also di
Aug 5 1 h 02 min
The Cannibal King (with Jonathan Martin)
This week Murphy and Heilemann welcome back Hack frequent flier and POLITICO's Jonathan Martin. The Hacks break down the White House Correspondents' Dinner, the latest on
Jul 28 1 h 14 min
Iran Out of Patience (with Maggie Haberman)
This week Axe and Murphy were joined by Maggie Haberman, one of the sharpest and most deeply sourced reporters covering Trump and the White House. The Hacks dive into her
Jul 21 1 h 05 min
Lust but Verify (with Jonathan Freedland)
This week, Axe and Heilemann are joined by a Hack from across the pond and all-around political savant, Jonathan Freedland. Jonathan is a Guardian columnist, host of Poli
Jul 14 1 h 06 min
PAC to the Future (with Elie Honig)
The Hacks are back, and this week Axe and Murphy are joined by CNN’s senior legal analyst, former federal prosecutor, and resident translator of legalese into English, El
Jul 7 1 h 03 min
250 and Counting (with Jonathan Martin)
This week Axe and Murphy were joined by Hacks frequent flier and POLITICO’s own JMart. The Hacks break down negotiations between the White House and the Hill, take stock
Jun 30 1 h 04 min
From the Garden to the Polls (with Lis Smith)
This week Axe and Murphy were joined by veteran Democratic strategist, political advisor, and proud Knicks fan Lis Smith. The Hacks break down the races in today’s New Yo
Jun 23 1 h 06 min
West Wing, Right Hook (with Jen Psaki)
This week Axe and Heilemann were joined by political heavyweight and MS NOW’s Jen Psaki. The Hacks step into the octagon to break down Trump's 80th birthday UFC spectacle
Jun 16 54 min
Too Big To Deny (with Adam Kinzinger)
This week Axe and Murphy were joined by Air National Guard veteran, former Illinois Congressman, and January 6th Committee member Adam Kinzinger. The Hacks dive into Trum
Jun 9 57 min
The Golden State of Play (with Ron Brownstein)
This week Axe and Murphy were joined by the great Ron Brownstein—veteran journalist, Bloomberg Opinion columnist, and CNN senior political analyst. The Hacks dive into Tr
Jun 2 1 h 09 min
Fool’s Cubic Zirconia (with Sarah Longwell)
This week Axe and Heilemann were joined by were joined by focus group guru and Bulwark legend, Sarah Longwell. The Hacks dive into the Texas primary results, California’s
May 27 1 h 16 min
Strait to the Point (with Jonathan Martin)
This week Murphy and Heilemann are joined by Hacks regular and budding food influencer Jonathan Martin to dig into Trump’s latest polling, the un-bullsh!table issues actu
May 19 1 h 13 min
Chart trend
Position in the Politics chart (US), last 90 days.
#1#57#112JulAugSep
#8
all-time peak
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days in the top 10 since Nov 2024
Chart positions
Where Hacks On Tap ranks today in each Apple Podcasts chart (US, Sep 30, 2026).
A curated, balanced selection of Apple Podcasts reviews.
Weekly must listen! Informative and intelligently funny.
Trekker1962 · Jul 2026
I really enjoyed this podcast when it was Gibbs instead of Heilemann. I just don’t think Heilemann is a good fit. He goes on too long, doesn’t know when to let others jump in; doesn’t let conversations advance or jokes end; his questions take longer to ask than the answer to give.
Ultimately it feels like his goal is to hear his own voice as much as possible versus to facilitate a conversation that is interesting for the listener. I had hoped this would resolve itself and Heilemann would be coached over time but it’s been a few months and still the same. I hope something changes before I give up on listening .
LauraMC20-18 · Dec 2024
I’ve been listening to all episodes since this show began. I’m a huge fan of Axelrod and Murphy. Lately, though, it’s become difficult to listen. I think two hacks at a time was perfection. Axe and Murph knew how to time things and it worked. With three it is constant interruption, jokes getting lost, and jockeying for time on mic. Can you not go back to two at a time?
e-frances · Nov 2024
This is my favorite podcast and after all these years, it’s like listening to my family. That said, ever since John Heilemann started, I feel like I’m listening to my family after two too many cups of coffee. Heilemann needs to meditate before each recording. His ideas are excellent but he’s always revving, and I believe it’s making everyone rev too. The rhythm is never quite right anymore.
......".........." · Nov 2024
Why bother to have guests when you ask them 3 minute questions and then cut them off after 10 seconds of trying to answer? Heilemam, who thinks he’s a comedian, is the biggest offender, with Axelrod, equally unfunny, not far behind. If you cut the lame attempts at humor and just give us your political insight, and allow your guests to speak, I would live to resubscribe.
drewski21a · May 2026
We strive to present a balanced view by showing a diverse range of reviews from Apple Podcasts.
Here you find the Apple Podcasts chart positions of Hacks On Tap, its latest episodes to listen to directly, and reviews from listeners. Rankings are updated daily for the United States.
