Best Adam Axelrod Podcasts (2025)

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Anne Applebaum with Madeleine Brand | Autocracy Inc.: The Siege on Democracy 58:16

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17h ago58:16

58:16

Pulitzer Prize–winning historian Anne Applebaum joins journalist Madeleine Brand for a timely and urgent conversation about Applebaum’s latest book, Autocracy, Inc.: The Dictators Who Want to Run the World. Together, they explore the growing network of authoritarian regimes, the methods they use to consolidate power, and the global threats they pos…

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Ceasefire Abroad, Crossfire at Home (with Rahm Emanuel) 1:10:37

3d ago1:10:37

1:10:37

This week, Axe and Heilemann were joined by Rahm Emanuel — former White House Chief of Staff, two-term Mayor of Chicago, ex-Ambassador to Japan, and a true Hack’s Hack. The Hacks dive into the new Gaza peace accord, Trump’s shifting attention to the Russia-Ukraine conflict and his curious relationship with Putin, the optics of the ongoing governmen…

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Interviews with Judiciary Committee Chairman Rep. Jim Jordan; Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly; Former National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan 43:08

5d ago43:08

43:08

On CNN’s State of the Union, Dana Bash presses House Judiciary Committee Chairman Rep. Jim Jordan over President Trump pressure on the Justice Department to go after his political opponents. They also discuss ICE’s aggressive tactics and Trump firing federal workers en masse. Next, Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly sits down with Dana to discuss Democrat’…

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Miguel Santana, Rabbi Jill Jacobs, and David Leonhardt with Patt Morrison | Raids, Rights, and Reckonings: America's Immigration Crossroads 1:26:55

7d ago1:26:55

1:26:55

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Orbánized Crime 1:07:45

10d ago1:07:45

1:07:45

By Vox Media

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Interviews with Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker; National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett; Democratic Sen. Ruben Gallego; Democratic Congresswoman Debbie Dingell and Republican Congressman Buddy Carter ... 42:42

12d ago42:42

42:42

On CNN’s State of the Union, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker joins Jake Tapper to respond to the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown in Chicago and plans to deploy National Guard troops there against his will. Then, top Trump economic adviser Kevin Hassett joins Jake to discuss Trump’s handling of the shutdown and his threats to fire federal wor…

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From Watergate to Water-Weight (with Charlie Sykes) 1:03:48

17d ago1:03:48

1:03:48

This week Murphy and Heilemann were joined by the sharp-witted Charlie Sykes — author of How the Right Lost Its Mind and host of the Substack newsletter and podcast To the Contrary. The Hacks dive into an exhaustingly eventful week: Hegseth’s body-shaming of our troops, Trump declaring a war from within, the chaotic deployment of ICE and the milita…

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Prospects for Israeli-Palestinian Peace: Lessons from Oslo & Trump’s 20-Point Plan 1:00:45

16d ago1:00:45

1:00:45

An important discussion with former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and former Palestinian National Authority Foreign Minister Nasser Al-Kidwa. They will analyze why Oslo failed and discuss what can be done today to restart the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. The conversation will be moderated by Professor Kenneth A. Bamberger (UC Berkeley) a…

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Interviews with Speaker Mike Johnson; Democratic Sen. Chris Van Hollen; Former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe 43:23

19d ago43:23

43:23

On CNN’s State of the Union, House Speaker Mike Johnson joins Jake to discuss the looming government shutdown and what will be on the table when Trump hosts Democratic leaders at the White House. Jake also presses Johnson over the Comey indictment and Trump publicly pressuring the Justice Department to go after his political opponents. Then, former…

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Julio Frenk with Larry Mantle | Can America's Universities Survive the Current Assault? 57:32

21d ago57:32

57:32

Can America's Universities Survive the Current Assault? A Conversation with UCLA Chancellor Julio Frenk

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Unindefinetly (with Kasie Hunt) 1:03:30

24d ago1:03:30

1:03:30

This week Axe and Murphy are joined by the formidable Kasie Hunt — anchor of The Arena with Kasie Hunt on CNN, and CNN’s chief national affairs analyst. Together, the Hacks dive into Trump’s UN speech (and his battle with an escalator), the reinstatement of Jimmy Kimmel and Trump’s campaign of fear with the FCC as his megaphone, Charlie Kirk’s memo…

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Interviews with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, SenatorJohn Fetterman, Senator Markwayne Mullin, Representative Jasmine Crockett 44:15

26d ago44:15

44:15

On CNN's State of the Union, Dana Bash presses Chuck Schumer on whether Democrats will shut down the government. John Fetterman responds to Schumer and discusses whether Democrats can win back the Senate in 2026. Senator Markwayne Mullin responds to Trump increasing pressure on the DOJ to investigate his political enemies. Congresswoman Jasmine Cro…

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David Frum with Patt Morrison | America's Democracy: Where Do We Go From Here? 56:43

29d ago56:43

56:43

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I’m right, you’re wrong (with Jonathan Martin) 1:05:24

1M ago1:05:24

1:05:24

This week, Axe and Murphy — still a little under the weather but never short on opinions — are joined by Hack regular and ace political analyst Jonathan Martin of Politico. The Hacks take on a turbulent week in American politics: the assassination of Charlie Kirk, Utah Governor Spencer Cox’s leadership, the rise of rage-bait and true believers, ske…

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Interviews with Utah Gov. Spencer Cox; Republican Senator James Lankford; Democratic Rep. Sarah Elfreth and Republican Rep. Kevin Kiley 41:19

1M ago41:19

41:19

On CNN’s State of the Union, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox joins Dana Bash on the latest in the investigation into Charlie Kirk’s assassination, as well as his appeal to Americans to turn away from political violence. Then, Republican Senator and pastor James Lankford joins Dana to discuss the rise in political violence and what responsibility lawmakers ha…

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Aluf Benn with Warren Olney | Israel in Crisis: Can the Two State Solution Be Resurrected? 58:18

1M ago58:18

58:18

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Uninviting Mr. Rogers (with Jen Psaki) 1:02:46

1M ago1:02:46

1:02:46

The Hacks are back — and better than ever. To kick off our brand-new partnership with the Vox Media Podcast Network, Axe and Murphy are joined by none other than political heavyweight Jen Psaki — former White House press secretary, MSNBC host, and one of the most incisive voices in politics today.Together, the Hacks tackle the week’s political circ…

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Interviews with Florida Surgeon General Joe Ladapo; Doctor Paul Offit; White House Border Czar Tom Homan 44:43

1M ago44:43

44:43

On CNN's State of the Union, Jake Tapper presses FL Surgeon General on him not conducting any study before calling to lift vaccine mandate. Doctor Paul Offit responds. And White House Border Czar Tom Homan says sanctuary cities across America will be seeing immigration raids this week. Our panelists Rep. Kim Schrier, Scott Jennings, Xochitl Hinojos…

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Micromanagement: The Silent Threat to Engineering Teams 38:53

1M ago38:53

38:53

Micromanagement is one of the most damaging patterns in engineering leadership, yet it often goes unnoticed until morale, productivity, and innovation have already been compromised. In this episode, Slava and Adam examine how micromanagement undermines trust and autonomy in engineering teams, creating bottlenecks and stifling collaboration. Rather …

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Mary Ziegler with Patt Morrison | The Politics of Control: Abortion, Power, and How Abortion Shapes American Politics 56:55

1M ago56:55

56:55

Mary Ziegler is a Professor of Law at the University of California, Davis School of Law and a leading legal historian specializing the struggle over reproductive health policy in the United States from 1945 to present. A 2023 Guggenheim Fellow, she is recognized as one of the foremost authorities on the history of the U.S. abortion debate. She is t…

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Interviews with White House Senior Director for Counterterrorism Sebastian Gorka; Minnesota Congresswoman Ilhan Omar; Ambassador Cindy McCain 43:56

2M ago43:56

43:56

On CNN’s State of the Union, Brianna Keilar and White House Senior Director for Counterterrorism Sebastian Gorka spar over right-wing claims about the prevalence of mass shootings by transgender people. Next, Minnesota Congresswoman Ilhan Omar joins to respond and discuss how her community is dealing with the aftermath of the Minneapolis school sho…

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Mike Mullen with Warren Olney | War, Peace and the American Future: Insights From a Former Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff 56:56

2M ago56:56

56:56

Recorded live on August 27, 2025: Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen joins Warren Olney for War, Peace and the American Future, a wide-ranging conversation on U.S. leadership, global security, and the challenges ahead.

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Soldiers Field (with Rahm Emanuel) 1:03:08

2M ago1:03:08

1:03:08

The Hacks are back! There’s just too much news for us to leave you alone, so we’re pulling up a stool with veteran Hackeroo, Chicago native, former White House chief of staff, and U.S. ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel. The Hacks dive into Trump’s threats to send the National Guard to Chicago, his increasingly loud campaign against mail-in ballots a…

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Ani Mishra: Effective Cross-functional Collaboration 39:32

2M ago39:32

39:32

Our guest, Ani Mishra – engineering manager at DoorDash – unpacks what it really means to drive cross-functional collaboration as an engineering manager. Ani’s core message: shipping products isn’t just about writing code, it’s about orchestrating diverse disciplines—product, design, data science, operations, and business strategy—so that together …

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Interviews with Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, Former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel 41:36

2M ago41:36

41:36

On CNN's State of the Union, Democratic House Leader Hakeem Jeffries discusses with Dana Bash New York's redistricting plans, the party's loss of voters, and the President reviewing exhibits within the Smithsonian museums. Former Chicago Mayor and U-S Ambassador Rahm Emanuel slams President Trump's new plans to send troops into Chicago and reacts t…

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Alexander Vindman with Madeleine Brand | How the West Deceived Itself About Russia and Betrayed Ukraine 1:00:20

2M ago1:00:20

1:00:20

Lt. Col. (Ret.) Alexander Vindman joins journalist Madeleine Brand for an America at a Crossroads conversation on U.S. foreign policy, democracy, and global security. Subscribe for more conversations.

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Strongmen, Weak Deals (with Ron Brownstein) 1:09:59

2M ago1:09:59

1:09:59

This week, Axe and Murphy are joined by the incomparable Hackeroo Ron Brownstein, senior editor at The Atlantic and CNN’s senior political analyst. Together, they unpack Trump’s sit-downs with Putin, Zelensky, and other foreign leaders; the shifting balance of power at home and abroad; the state of the economy and crime; redistricting battles; the …

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Interviews with US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff; Former Vice President Mike Pence 41:26

2M ago41:26

41:26

On CNN’s State of the Union, US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff joins Jake to discuss what he says was “substantial progress” in the Trump-Putin summit in Alaska. Then, Trump’s former vice president Mike Pence joins Jake to react to Trump rolling out the red carpet for Putin. Next, CNN Political Commentators Bakari Sellers, Brad Todd, Kristen Soltis An…

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Driving Lasting Change in Engineering Organizations with Manju Abraham 54:35

2M ago54:35

54:35

In this episode, Manju Abraham – veteran engineering leader at NetApp, Delphix, and HPE – shares hard-earned lessons on driving real change in engineering organizations. Manju reminds us that 70% of change efforts fail not because of poor plans, but because people never truly buy in. Manju’s core message: change doesn’t start with strategy, it star…

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Ron Brownstein with Larry Mantle | Life During Wartime: Politics in an Age of Convulsion 57:10

2M ago57:10

57:10

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Monumental Power Grab (with Paul Begala) 1:10:20

2M ago1:10:20

1:10:20

This week, Murphy and Heilemann welcome Paul Begala — longtime Democratic strategist and political hand who’s seen just about everything Washington can throw at you. The Hacks break down Trump’s Beltway power grab and what it means for D.C.’s mayor — and mayors nationwide. They dig into Trump’s “flood the zone” strategy to sidestep the Epstein stor…

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CNN Goes on the Road with Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders; Interview with US Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker 42:28

2M ago42:28

42:28

On CNN’s State of the Union, Dana Bash travels to Wheeling, West Virginia for an exclusive interview with Sen. Bernie Sanders. They discuss his push to bring his progressive message to red states, the Democratic Party’s struggles with working-class voters, the escalating showdown over redistricting in red and blue states, the situations in Ukraine …

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Jonathan Weisman with Madeleine Brand | American Antisemitism: Being Jewish in the Age of Trump 58:48

2M ago58:48

58:48

Recorded live on August 6, 2025, veteran journalist Jonathan Weisman joins Madeleine Brand for a powerful conversation on rising antisemitism in America, Jewish identity, and the political climate in the age of Trump. Part of the America at a Crossroads series. 🎥 Subscribe for weekly conversations: youtube.com/channel/UCL_7hJyHHmrRruxix3V1mCA 📩 Lea…

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Drawn Out Democracy (with Adam Kinzinger) 1:07:48

2M ago1:07:48

1:07:48

This week, Axe and Heilemann are joined by former Congressman Adam Kinzinger — Air Force veteran, author, and one of the most candid voices in Washington. The guys try to help Axe make sense of the Sydney Sweeney controversy, unpack the latest drama at the Department of Defense, and dive into inflation, job numbers, the Texas redistricting adventur…

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EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin; Colorado Gov. Jared Polis and Former BLS Commissioner William Beach 41:27

3M ago41:27

41:27

On CNN’s State of the Union, after President Trump abruptly fired the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics over a weak jobs report, her predecessor William Beach – also appointed by Trump – tells Kasie Hunt Trump’s actions are “groundless” and “damaging.” Then, Kasie presses EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin over his push to gut the government’s abili…

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Bill Kristol with Patt Morrison | Speaking Out and Speaking Up: Bill Kristol on the State of the Nation 58:38

3M ago58:38

58:38

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From Glasgow With Grift (with Lis Smith) 1:05:11

3M ago1:05:11

1:05:11

This week, our two chief windbags, Axe and Murphy, are joined by seasoned Democratic strategist Lis Smith—and author of Any Given Tuesday. The Hacks unpack Trump’s Epstein problem and the surrounding pardon chatter, his scenic detour to Scotland, and the frosty turn in his bromances. They wade into early polling, premature redistricting shenanigans…

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Rep. Sen. Markwayne Mullin, WH Budget Director Russel Vought and Dem. Sen. Mark Kelly 44:05

3M ago44:05

44:05

Republican Senator Markwayne Mullin discusses the Epstein controversy with Jake Tapper and what it will take for the Trump administration to move on from the crisis. White House Budget Director Russ Vought tells Jake Tapper about plans for another recissions package and the tools the administration might use to achieve spending cuts. Democratic Sen…

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Paul Maslin and Mike Murphy with Patt Morrison | What Does Washington's Chaos Portend for the 2026 Midterms? 58:01

3M ago58:01

58:01