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.
From the Vox Media Podcast Network
Latest episodes
Showing 20 · updated from the feed
Blue It All Up
Three bleary-eyed Hacks convened this morning to dissect the scale and sweep of the 2026 midterms! Axe, Murphy, and Heilemann dive headfirst into the Democratic blue wave
Nov 4 1 h 03 min
The Count of Mar-a-Lago (With Jonathan Martin)
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 extr
Oct 30 59 min
Yes We Flan (with Steve Schale & David Kochel)
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 Florid
Oct 27 1 h 03 min
When Negative Goes Negative (with Sarah Longwell)
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
Oct 23 1 h 01 min
The Juice the Base Play (With Addisu Demissie)
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 Hack
Oct 20 1 h 05 min
Split Happens (with Robert Gibbs and Karl Rove)
This week, Axe and Murphy are joined by not one, but two frequent-flyer Hackeroos: Mr. Texas himself, Karl Rove, and former Hackateer extraordinaire, Robert Gibbs! The gu
Oct 13 1 h 14 min
Wave Watch (with Doug Sosnik and Ron Brownstein)
This week, Axe and Murphy are joined by excellent Hackeroos Doug Sosnik, veteran strategist and professional campaign war-room survivor, and Ron Brownstein, dean of polit
Oct 6 1 h 06 min
For Whom the Poll Tolls (with John Anzalone and David Plouffe)
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
Chart trend
Position in the Politics chart (US), last 90 days.
#1#52#103AugSepOctNov
#8
all-time peak
7
days in the top 10 since Nov 2024
Chart positions
Where Hacks On Tap ranks today in each Apple Podcasts chart (US, Nov 9, 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.
