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The Axe Files with David Axelrod - Podcast on CNN Audio
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Go beyond the soundbites and get to know some of the most interesting players in politics.</h2> <div class="services"> <follow-button-wc class="follow-button">Follow</follow-button-wc> <div class="share-sheet follow-sheet" id="follow-sheet"> <div class="sheet-menu"> <div class="sheet-close" id="follow-sheet-close"></div> <div class="sheet-title">Follow</div> <ul class="service-icons"> <li class="service-wrapper"> <a href="https://link.chtbl.com/FGxTkOV2" tabindex="0" target="_blank" class="service light amazon" title="Amazon"> <span>Amazon</span> </a> </li><li class="service-wrapper"> <a href="https://link.chtbl.com/dwx-LpmX" tabindex="0" target="_blank" class="service light apple" title="Apple Podcasts"> <span>Apple Podcasts</span> </a> </li><li class="service-wrapper"> <a href="https://link.chtbl.com/MmHtmnKi" tabindex="0" target="_blank" class="service light audacy" title="Audacy"> <span>Audacy</span> </a> </li><li class="service-wrapper"> <a href="https://link.chtbl.com/vd_UVy2a" tabindex="0" target="_blank" class="service light iheart" title="iHeart Radio"> <span>iHeart Radio</span> </a> </li><li class="service-wrapper"> <a href="https://link.chtbl.com/Mfw3HRSE" tabindex="0" target="_blank" class="service light pandora" title="Pandora"> <span>Pandora</span> </a> </li><li class="service-wrapper"> <a href="https://link.chtbl.com/mXFvWbDv" tabindex="0" target="_blank" class="service light rss" title="RSS"> <span>RSS</span> </a> </li><li class="service-wrapper"> <a href="https://link.chtbl.com/yjMY-uJG" tabindex="0" target="_blank" class="service light spotify" title="Spotify"> <span>Spotify</span> </a> </li><li class="service-wrapper"> <a href="https://link.chtbl.com/SgXV7TyO" tabindex="0" target="_blank" class="service light tunein" title="TuneIn"> <span>TuneIn</span> </a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <share-button-wc> <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" width="24" height="24" viewBox="0 0 24 24"><defs><path id="share-a" d="M16.5,11.0000188 C16.914,11.0000188 17.25,11.3360188 17.25,11.7500188 L17.25,11.7500188 L17.25,20.7500188 C17.25,21.1640188 16.914,21.5000188 16.5,21.5000188 L16.5,21.5000188 L1.5,21.5000188 C1.086,21.5000188 0.75,21.1640188 0.75,20.7500188 L0.75,20.7500188 L0.75,11.7500188 C0.75,11.3360188 1.086,11.0000188 1.5,11.0000188 C1.914,11.0000188 2.25,11.3360188 2.25,11.7500188 L2.25,11.7500188 L2.25,20.0000188 L15.75,20.0000188 L15.75,11.7500188 C15.75,11.3360188 16.086,11.0000188 16.5,11.0000188 Z M8.4531375,0.71965625 C8.7497625,0.42678125 9.2308875,0.42678125 9.5275125,0.71965625 L9.5275125,0.71965625 L9.6073875,0.79878125 L9.6073875,0.79878125 L9.6077625,0.79915625 L14.7700125,5.89578125 C14.9620125,6.08553125 15.0538875,6.36715625 14.9668875,6.62103125 C14.7628875,7.21878125 14.0728875,7.32865625 13.6900125,6.95065625 L13.6900125,6.95065625 L9.7498875,3.12490625 L9.7498875,15.4999063 C9.7498875,15.8749063 9.3748875,16.2499063 8.9998875,16.2499063 C8.6248875,16.2499063 8.2498875,15.8734063 8.2498875,15.4999063 L8.2498875,15.4999063 L8.2498875,3.12490625 L4.2906375,6.95065625 C3.9643875,7.27278125 3.4153875,7.24090625 3.1333875,6.85465625 C2.9121375,6.55128125 2.9773875,6.12565625 3.2451375,5.86165625 L3.2451375,5.86165625 L8.3725125,0.79915625 C8.3725125,0.79878125 8.3725125,0.79878125 8.3728875,0.79878125 Z"></path></defs><g fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"><rect width="24" height="24"></rect><use fill="#E6E6E6" transform="translate(3 1)" xlink:href="#share-a"></use></g></svg> </share-button-wc> </div> </div> <div><img class="coverart" id="top-coverart" src="/audio/static/images/podcasts/axe-files/square-m.b07e3e57.jpg" alt=""/></div> </div> </section> <section class="middle cnn-app-margin-zero" id="middle-section"> <div class="episodes" id="episodes"> <audio-player-wc class="episode" src="https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/chrt.fm/track/E31CC9/swap.fm/track/2nzGkisFXQswLYT5s325/traffic.megaphone.fm/WMHY8527170134.mp3?updated=1732153121" data-position="0" data-type="podcast" data-guid="d46c0144-9f76-11ee-84b4-2b62828150be"> <a href="/audio/podcasts/axe-files/episodes/d46c0144-9f76-11ee-84b4-2b62828150be" slot="title" tabindex="0">Ep. 602 — Chris LaCivita</a> <a href="/audio/podcasts/axe-files" slot="author" target="_blank">The Axe Files with David Axelrod</a> <div slot="description">Chris LaCivita, GOP campaign pro and mastermind behind some of the party’s most ruthless yet effective political ads, says he focuses on a simple mandate—getting his boss elected. In the weeks following his successful stint as co-manager of Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign, the former Marine joined David to talk about his upbringing in the Pittsburgh area; how his military experience informs his campaign work; what made Trump’s 2024 campaign different from 2016 and 2020; and his take on the impact of trans rights, abortion, and Joe Biden on the 2024 presidential race.</div> <div slot="date">Nov 21, 2024</div> <time slot="eplength">65 mins</time> <picture> <source srcset="/audio/static/images/podcasts/axe-files/square-m.b07e3e57.jpg" data-type="medium"> <source srcset="/audio/static/images/podcasts/axe-files/square-l.3b8ca8f6.jpg" data-type="large"> <source srcset="/audio/static/images/podcasts/axe-files/square.1979e12d.jpg" data-type="original"> </picture> </audio-player-wc> <audio-player-wc class="episode" src="https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/chrt.fm/track/E31CC9/swap.fm/track/2nzGkisFXQswLYT5s325/traffic.megaphone.fm/WMHY8291927959.mp3?updated=1731543901" data-position="1" data-type="podcast" data-guid="d4141aec-9f76-11ee-84b4-b7d0968cda3f"> <a href="/audio/podcasts/axe-files/episodes/d4141aec-9f76-11ee-84b4-b7d0968cda3f" slot="title" tabindex="0">Ep. 601 — John Anzalone</a> <a href="/audio/podcasts/axe-files" slot="author" target="_blank">The Axe Files with David Axelrod</a> <div slot="description">Democratic pollster John Anzalone wants voters to know that pollsters are not prognosticators. Instead, they use their findings to help craft strategy and messaging, and John has some advice for the Democratic Party after the 2024 election. He joined David to talk about the over saturation of lower quality polling, the need for Democrats to retool their economic message and focus on the American Dream, what hurt Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign, and what Democrats can learn from their deep bench of future leaders.</div> <div slot="date">Nov 14, 2024</div> <time slot="eplength">60 mins</time> <picture> <source srcset="/audio/static/images/podcasts/axe-files/square-m.b07e3e57.jpg" data-type="medium"> <source srcset="/audio/static/images/podcasts/axe-files/square-l.3b8ca8f6.jpg" data-type="large"> <source srcset="/audio/static/images/podcasts/axe-files/square.1979e12d.jpg" data-type="original"> </picture> </audio-player-wc> <audio-player-wc class="episode" src="https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/chrt.fm/track/E31CC9/swap.fm/track/2nzGkisFXQswLYT5s325/traffic.megaphone.fm/WMHY6881562011.mp3?updated=1730337290" data-position="2" data-type="podcast" data-guid="d3bbec0a-9f76-11ee-84b4-6fa019be99c7"> <a href="/audio/podcasts/axe-files/episodes/d3bbec0a-9f76-11ee-84b4-6fa019be99c7" slot="title" tabindex="0">The Axe Files: The 600th Episode</a> <a href="/audio/podcasts/axe-files" slot="author" target="_blank">The Axe Files with David Axelrod</a> <div slot="description">This week, The Axe Files reaches a milestone: 600 episodes. For this anniversary show, CNN’s Anderson Cooper sat down with David to talk about the origins of The Axe Files, some of the most memorable moments from the podcast, what David has learned about people and politics through the show, and what David will be watching for on election night.</div> <div slot="date">Oct 31, 2024</div> <time slot="eplength">69 mins</time> <picture> <source srcset="/audio/static/images/podcasts/axe-files/square-m.b07e3e57.jpg" data-type="medium"> <source srcset="/audio/static/images/podcasts/axe-files/square-l.3b8ca8f6.jpg" data-type="large"> <source srcset="/audio/static/images/podcasts/axe-files/square.1979e12d.jpg" data-type="original"> </picture> </audio-player-wc> <audio-player-wc class="episode" src="https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/chrt.fm/track/E31CC9/swap.fm/track/2nzGkisFXQswLYT5s325/traffic.megaphone.fm/WMHY4053297993.mp3?updated=1729733189" data-position="3" data-type="podcast" data-guid="d36251fe-9f76-11ee-84b4-43f3bc2873c7"> <a href="/audio/podcasts/axe-files/episodes/d36251fe-9f76-11ee-84b4-43f3bc2873c7" slot="title" tabindex="0">Ep. 599 — Charlamagne tha God</a> <a href="/audio/podcasts/axe-files" slot="author" target="_blank">The Axe Files with David Axelrod</a> <div slot="description">Charlamagne tha God—born Lenard McKelvey—got his start in radio by chance, but once he started, he was hooked. He now co-hosts The Breakfast Club, a nationally syndicated morning show reaching millions of listeners each month. He talked to David about growing up in a small town in South Carolina, addressing his mental health and how it changed his relationship to his father, working his way up in radio to his current role and what makes The Breakfast Club work, and his thinking on the 2024 presidential election and his frustration with the narrative around Black voters.</div> <div slot="date">Oct 24, 2024</div> <time slot="eplength">63 mins</time> <picture> <source srcset="/audio/static/images/podcasts/axe-files/square-m.b07e3e57.jpg" data-type="medium"> <source srcset="/audio/static/images/podcasts/axe-files/square-l.3b8ca8f6.jpg" data-type="large"> <source srcset="/audio/static/images/podcasts/axe-files/square.1979e12d.jpg" data-type="original"> </picture> </audio-player-wc> <audio-player-wc class="episode" src="https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/chrt.fm/track/E31CC9/swap.fm/track/2nzGkisFXQswLYT5s325/traffic.megaphone.fm/WMHY9035315995.mp3?updated=1729129127" data-position="4" data-type="podcast" data-guid="d309b012-9f76-11ee-84b4-b34e6a3227f9"> <a href="/audio/podcasts/axe-files/episodes/d309b012-9f76-11ee-84b4-b34e6a3227f9" slot="title" tabindex="0">Ep. 598 — John King</a> <a href="/audio/podcasts/axe-files" slot="author" target="_blank">The Axe Files with David Axelrod</a> <div slot="description">CNN’s John King loves being an anchor, but looking back on the past few presidential elections, he felt he was missing something from inside his Washington, D.C. bubble. So, he decided to get back on the road, traveling from state to state and talking to people on the ground in the lead up to the 2024 election with his All Over the Map project. John joined David to talk about how Donald Trump is using immigration to try to build support in the suburbs, if abortion on the ballot will lead to ticket splitting, Washington’s disconnect from the rest of the country, and where the 2024 election stands today. (For more from All Over the Map, click here.)</div> <div slot="date">Oct 17, 2024</div> <time slot="eplength">65 mins</time> <picture> <source srcset="/audio/static/images/podcasts/axe-files/square-m.b07e3e57.jpg" data-type="medium"> <source srcset="/audio/static/images/podcasts/axe-files/square-l.3b8ca8f6.jpg" data-type="large"> <source srcset="/audio/static/images/podcasts/axe-files/square.1979e12d.jpg" data-type="original"> </picture> </audio-player-wc> <audio-player-wc class="episode" src="https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/chrt.fm/track/E31CC9/swap.fm/track/2nzGkisFXQswLYT5s325/traffic.megaphone.fm/WMHY2247770630.mp3?updated=1728524793" data-position="5" data-type="podcast" data-guid="d2b2228e-9f76-11ee-84b4-0bba31e697e0"> <a href="/audio/podcasts/axe-files/episodes/d2b2228e-9f76-11ee-84b4-0bba31e697e0" slot="title" tabindex="0">Ep. 597 — Ilana Dayan</a> <a href="/audio/podcasts/axe-files" slot="author" target="_blank">The Axe Files with David Axelrod</a> <div slot="description">Ilana Dayan, a prominent Israeli journalist, spoke with David last fall, just days after the October 7 massacre in Israel perpetrated by Hamas. One year later, David checked in with Ilana to talk about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s staying power, reporting on Gaza, recognizing the US’s political calculations in its dealings with Israel, the need for both war and diplomacy in the Middle East, and what happens next between Israel and Iran.</div> <div slot="date">Oct 10, 2024</div> <time slot="eplength">63 mins</time> <picture> <source srcset="/audio/static/images/podcasts/axe-files/square-m.b07e3e57.jpg" data-type="medium"> <source srcset="/audio/static/images/podcasts/axe-files/square-l.3b8ca8f6.jpg" data-type="large"> <source srcset="/audio/static/images/podcasts/axe-files/square.1979e12d.jpg" data-type="original"> </picture> </audio-player-wc> <audio-player-wc class="episode" src="https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/chrt.fm/track/E31CC9/swap.fm/track/2nzGkisFXQswLYT5s325/traffic.megaphone.fm/WMHY7879416346.mp3?updated=1727904935" data-position="6" data-type="podcast" data-guid="d200c2a0-9f76-11ee-84b4-3b65c3299443"> <a href="/audio/podcasts/axe-files/episodes/d200c2a0-9f76-11ee-84b4-3b65c3299443" slot="title" tabindex="0">Ep. 596 — Secretary Janet Yellen</a> <a href="/audio/podcasts/axe-files" slot="author" target="_blank">The Axe Files with David Axelrod</a> <div slot="description">Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has been thinking about the economy since she was a young girl in the working-class neighborhood of Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, keenly attuned to how broader economic trends impacted the employment of her neighbors. Once she took her first economics class in college, she was hooked. She has since spent her career moving between academic and government roles, including many years at the Federal Reserve. Secretary Yellen joined David to talk about the barriers women face in finance, the economic implications of immigration, China and tariffs, and why government intervention in the financial system is necessary.</div> <div slot="date">Oct 3, 2024</div> <time slot="eplength">64 mins</time> <picture> <source srcset="/audio/static/images/podcasts/axe-files/square-m.b07e3e57.jpg" data-type="medium"> <source srcset="/audio/static/images/podcasts/axe-files/square-l.3b8ca8f6.jpg" data-type="large"> <source srcset="/audio/static/images/podcasts/axe-files/square.1979e12d.jpg" data-type="original"> </picture> </audio-player-wc> <audio-player-wc class="episode" src="https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/chrt.fm/track/E31CC9/swap.fm/track/2nzGkisFXQswLYT5s325/traffic.megaphone.fm/WMHY9666219276.mp3?updated=1727313414" data-position="7" data-type="podcast" data-guid="d1a80f02-9f76-11ee-84b4-17224c17a88d"> <a href="/audio/podcasts/axe-files/episodes/d1a80f02-9f76-11ee-84b4-17224c17a88d" slot="title" tabindex="0">Ep. 595 — Kasie Hunt</a> <a href="/audio/podcasts/axe-files" slot="author" target="_blank">The Axe Files with David Axelrod</a> <div slot="description">As a child, journalist Kasie Hunt eagerly awaited the arrival of “Time” magazine each week. She loved current events, which eventually piqued her interest in national security and journalism. She joined David to talk about growing up in a post-war period and watching 9/11 puncture that feeling of safety, covering Jan. 6 as a Capitol Hill reporter, what advice she would give a young campaign journalist, starting a new job at CNN while learning she had a brain tumor, and what she learned from that life-altering experience.</div> <div slot="date">Sep 26, 2024</div> <time slot="eplength">68 mins</time> <picture> <source srcset="/audio/static/images/podcasts/axe-files/square-m.b07e3e57.jpg" data-type="medium"> <source srcset="/audio/static/images/podcasts/axe-files/square-l.3b8ca8f6.jpg" data-type="large"> <source srcset="/audio/static/images/podcasts/axe-files/square.1979e12d.jpg" data-type="original"> </picture> </audio-player-wc> <audio-player-wc class="episode" src="https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/chrt.fm/track/E31CC9/swap.fm/track/2nzGkisFXQswLYT5s325/traffic.megaphone.fm/WMHY5243759319.mp3?updated=1726702494" data-position="8" data-type="podcast" data-guid="d14f7e0a-9f76-11ee-84b4-63d6cd3cc560"> <a href="/audio/podcasts/axe-files/episodes/d14f7e0a-9f76-11ee-84b4-63d6cd3cc560" slot="title" tabindex="0">Ep. 594 — Amb. Roger Carstens</a> <a href="/audio/podcasts/axe-files" slot="author" target="_blank">The Axe Files with David Axelrod</a> <div slot="description">At 11 years old, Roger Carstens, already an avid news consumer, was struck by stories of genocide in Cambodia. He resolved that when he grew up, he would work to alleviate human suffering. That mission took him to the Army and jobs in the non-profit sector and government, including his current role as the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs. In this job, Amb. Carstens works tirelessly to bring home Americans wrongfully detained across the globe. He talked with David about what keeps him up at night, the importance of entering negotiations with humility, his journey with spirituality, and his focus on the families of the hostages he works to free.</div> <div slot="date">Sep 19, 2024</div> <time slot="eplength">66 mins</time> <picture> <source srcset="/audio/static/images/podcasts/axe-files/square-m.b07e3e57.jpg" data-type="medium"> <source srcset="/audio/static/images/podcasts/axe-files/square-l.3b8ca8f6.jpg" data-type="large"> <source srcset="/audio/static/images/podcasts/axe-files/square.1979e12d.jpg" data-type="original"> </picture> </audio-player-wc> <audio-player-wc class="episode" src="https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/chrt.fm/track/E31CC9/swap.fm/track/2nzGkisFXQswLYT5s325/traffic.megaphone.fm/WMHY5152095607.mp3?updated=1726074976" data-position="9" data-type="podcast" data-guid="d0f74488-9f76-11ee-84b4-9789c2d8681c"> <a href="/audio/podcasts/axe-files/episodes/d0f74488-9f76-11ee-84b4-9789c2d8681c" slot="title" tabindex="0">Ep. 593 — DeMar DeRozan</a> <a href="/audio/podcasts/axe-files" slot="author" target="_blank">The Axe Files with David Axelrod</a> <div slot="description">DeMar DeRozan is a six-time NBA All Star and an Olympic gold medalist. But perhaps the defining legacy of his career will be his decision to speak out about his struggles with depression and mental health. He joined David to talk about growing up in Compton, California, surrounded by both gang violence and a strong, loving family; basketball as an escape; his drive to excel; the importance of speaking out about mental health; and his new book, “Above the Noise: My Story of Chasing Calm.”</div> <div slot="date">Sep 12, 2024</div> <time slot="eplength">63 mins</time> <picture> <source srcset="/audio/static/images/podcasts/axe-files/square-m.b07e3e57.jpg" data-type="medium"> <source srcset="/audio/static/images/podcasts/axe-files/square-l.3b8ca8f6.jpg" data-type="large"> <source srcset="/audio/static/images/podcasts/axe-files/square.1979e12d.jpg" data-type="original"> </picture> </audio-player-wc> <div class="load-more-wrapper" id="load-more-wrapper"> <load-more-wc class="load-more" id="load-more" aria-role="link" tabindex="0" aria-label="Show more episodes" 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