Hacks on Tap with David Axelrod and Mike Murphy

Private first class hackaroo Mark McKinnon, executive producer and co-host of Showtime’s The Circus, joins Axe and Gibbs to talk about the CDC’s messaging mishaps, the New York Attorney General’s finding that Gov. Andrew Cuomo sexually harassed state employees, and how much political currency bipartisanship actually wields. 

Jackie Calmes, national columnist for the Los Angeles Times and author of Dissent: The Radicalization of the Republican Party and Its Capture of the Court, joins Axe and Murphy to discuss the powerful testimony delivered during the opening hearing on the insurrection, the latest bumps in the road for infrastructure negotiations, the impact of the Delta variant on Biden's agenda, and the "Shakespearean" tales playing out around the country.

This week Gibbs and Murphy were joined by former Congressman Steve Israel who graciously shared his expertise as a former Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chair to discuss redistricting, campaign fundraising, and the upcoming 2022 midterms. They also discussed infrastructure negotiations and the (both physical and metaphorical) tools Nancy Pelosi uses to negotiate, Murphy explains his WWII analogy, and more! 

Former Minnesota Senator Al Franken joins Axe and Murphy to discuss the latest lunacy to come out of CPAC, the escalating fight over voting rights and the possibility of a filibuster carve-out, and whether the largest price spike since 2008 will impact negotiations in Congress.

Bill Kristol, editor-at-large of The Bulwark and director of Defending Democracy Together, joins Gibbs and Murphy to discuss efforts to increase vaccination rates amid heightened concerns about the Delta variant, the two-track infrastructure legislation, the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for Vice President Kamala Harris, and the politics of US withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Democratic political strategist and communications expert Stephanie Cutter joins Axe and Murphy to discuss the efforts to save the bipartisan infrastructure deal after Biden’s botched rollout, the early jockeying among ’24 GOP presidential hopefuls to capture the Trump base, and whether Vice President Kamala Harris has been set up for success. Plus, the Hacks discuss the triumph that was the reimagined Democratic National Convention and inauguration celebration, both of which are eligible for Emmy Awards.  

Amy Walter, national editor of the Cook Political Report and a PBS NewsHour contributor, joins Axe and Gibbs to talk about the “political theater” surrounding the voting rights bill, the likelihood that Democrats stay united on infrastructure spending, and how rising crime in New York City has shaped the focus of the city’s mayoral primary. 

Howard Wolfson, Democratic political strategist and former Deputy Mayor of New York City, joins Axe and Murphy to discuss Joe Biden’s first foreign trip as president, why this is a pivotal moment for democracy, and the challenges that remain for a bipartisan infrastructure bill. Plus, the Hacks take a deep dive into New York City’s mayoral race and explore the ways in which the primary is a microcosm of the debate over messaging in the Democratic Party.

Charlie Sykes, Editor at Large of The Bulwark, host of the Bulwark Podcast, and author of “How the Right Lost Its Mind” joined Gibbs and an optimistic Murphy to discuss the overtime infrastructure talks, Senator Manchin and good faith negotiations, Trump’s return to the campaign trail, and what this all means for the 2022 midterms.

Jonathan Martin, a national political correspondent for The New York Times, joins Axe and Gibbs to discuss the make or break moment for infrastructure talks, whether a bill to restrict voting in Texas will reinvigorate the voting rights debate in the Senate, and why 2021 might be the best of times and the worst of times for progressives. Plus, the Hacks discussion Jonathan’s reporting on how races in New Mexico and Arkansas are test cases for both parties ahead of the midterms. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel joins Axe and Murphy to discuss the latest twists and turns in the negotiations over infrastructure spending and Biden’s agenda more broadly, the continued GOP infighting, and whether foreign policy—and the recent conflict between Israel and Hamas—will be a priority for voters in the 2022 midterm elections. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Former Republican Congresswoman Barbara Comstock joins Axe and Murphy to discuss what lies ahead for the GOP after Rep. Liz Cheney’s removal from House leadership, the likelihood that a commission to investigate the Jan. 6 Capitol attack will be established, the politics of unmasking, and how the Supreme Court’s decision to hear an abortion case could impact the midterm elections. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Democratic pollster and strategist Mark Mellman joins Gibbs and Murphy to discuss the impending removal of Rep. Liz Cheney from House Republican leadership, what her likely departure says about internal GOP dynamics, the latest wave of controversial voting laws, and Biden’s proposed tax increase and what it portends for the midterms. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Karl Rove, former deputy chief of staff to President George W. Bush and current Fox News contributor and Wall Street Journal columnist, joins Axe and Gibbs to discuss the latest GOP infighting and Trump’s continued influence on the party, how redistricting will impact the 2022 midterms and beyond, and whether a bipartisan agreement on anything from infrastructure to immigration can be reached in Congress. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to a new audio documentary, Fate of Fact, a presentation of Shining City Audio, a C13Originals and Jon Meacham studio. Throughout the course of five episodes in season one, Pulitzer-Prize winning and best-selling historian, Jon Meacham and esteemed guests, will explore the question of how fear conquered truth, the history and origins of the strong grip misinformation and disinformation have on our politics , and how we got here today. Meacham will trace the roots of America’s prevailing culture of polarization, with an emphasis on why the right has chosen to break with a governing consensus that, however imperfect, was once embodied by the figurative conversation between Franklin Roosevelt and Ronald Reagan. Fate of Fact offers a historically grounded perspective on the forces that led to the presidency of Donald Trump and the insurrection of January 6—an attack on the Capitol and on democracy as grave as any American moment since the Civil War. ​ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoic

Axe, Murphy, and Gibbs convene for a special late-night edition of Hacks on Tap after Biden’s first address to Congress. The Hacks discuss Biden’s ambitious agenda as he marks 100 days in office, Sen. Tim Scott’s rebuttal, the forthcoming “battle of definition,” and whether the president’s case for democracy will prevail. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

USA TODAY Washington Bureau Chief Susan Page joins Axe and Murphy to discuss Walter Mondale’s legacy, the ongoing negotiations around Biden’s infrastructure proposal, the politics of gun control, and their assessment of Biden’s first 100 days. Plus, the Hacks talk about Susan’s new biography of Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Madam Speaker: Nancy Pelosi and the Lessons of Power. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Gibbs and Murphy are joined this week by Mark McKinnon, executive producer and co-host of Showtime’s The Circus. The Hacks discuss the messaging opportunities and challenges ahead for both parties when it comes to Biden’s infrastructure plan, the tragic police shooting in Minnesota, and the GOP pilgrimage to Mar-a-Lago. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Former Texas Congressman Will Hurd joins Axe and Gibbs this week to discuss the battle over the shape and size of Biden’s infrastructure bill, Major League Baseball’s decision to pull the All-Star Game out of Atlanta in response to Georgia’s new controversial voting law, and the political influence of corporate America. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

wJournalist and CNN senior political analyst Ron Brownstein joins Axe and Murphy to discuss how the politicization of the pandemic will impact elections in ’22 and ’24, the messaging opportunities and challenges ahead for Biden around his economic plan, and the ongoing fight over voting rights. Plus, the Hacks dive into Brownstein’s new book Rock Me on the Water: 1974 — The Year Los Angeles Transformed Movies, Music, Television, and Politics. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices