Episode 605 — Ambassador Rahm Emanuel The Ax File with David Axelrod
This week marks a big moment as the final episode of The Ax Files. We hope you find these conversations as eye-opening and thought-provoking as we do. I will miss sharing my stories with you every week. In the final episode, David spoke with his friend Rahm Emanuel, the U.S. Ambassador to Japan, who is finishing up his term overseas. Known for his brash and outspoken demeanor, some questioned his standing as a diplomat for a country known for order and civility. But there was nothing wrong with Amb. Emmanuel.…See moreThey put their own ideas into their work and came to love Japan as well. He joined David to talk about his time in Japan, China, and the importance of America’s relationships in the Indo-Pacific region. His thoughts on the situation in the Middle East. Where the 2024 presidential election will go down in history. And what happens next when he gets home?
December 19, 2024
Episode 604 — Scott Jennings The Ax File with David Axelrod
Scott Jennings is best known as CNN’s conservative firebrand. Although Scott has a deep background in Republican politics, from working for George W. Bush to being named as a candidate for President Donald Trump’s press secretary, he considers himself a journalist at heart. Scott joins David to talk about his early days in radio news, his childhood in rural Kentucky, his formative relationship with Sen. Mitch McConnell, his role at CNN, what he sees as the need for conservative voices in mainstream media, and the friendship Scott and David share.
December 12, 2024
Episode 603 — Congressman Marie Grusenkamp Perez The Ax File with David Axelrod
Democratic Rep. Marie Grusenkamp Perez won the election by making headlines by asking who can be an expert on the needs of ordinary Americans. She grew up in Texas and attended Reed College before settling in rural Washington and opening an auto repair shop with her husband. Rep. Grusenkamp Perez joined David to talk about her upbringing as the home-educated daughter of conservative evangelical parents, her disdain for “fellow staffers” who lack life experience, the value of community immersion, and what Democrats can learn about the importance of respect in winning and retaining voters.
December 5, 2024
The Best of the Ax File: Jon Meacham “The Ax File with David Axelrod”
This Thanksgiving, I’m revisiting my conversation with historian and author Jon Meacham about his book, “And Then There Was Light: Abraham Lincoln and the American Struggle.” This book takes a deep dive into Lincoln and the reasons behind America’s 16th president’s actions, from the personal to the political. John joined David to talk about Lincoln’s anti-slavery roots, what Lincoln can teach us about our current political moment, the moral decisions facing us as a nation, and what are the qualities of a great American president.
November 28, 2024
Episode 602 — Chris Lacivita The Ax File with David Axelrod
Chris Lacivita, a Republican campaign promoter and mastermind behind some of the party’s most ruthless but effective political advertising, says he’s focused on the simple task of electing the boss. Weeks after his successful stint as co-head of Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign, the former Marine spoke with David about his upbringing in the Pittsburgh area. How his military experience informs his campaign efforts. How Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign will be different from 2016 and 2020. and his views on transgender rights, abortion, and the impact Joe Biden will have on the 2024 presidential election.
November 21, 2024
Episode 601 — John Anzalone The Ax File with David Axelrod
Democratic pollster John Anzalone wants voters to know that pollsters are not prophets. Instead, they are using their findings to help craft their strategy and messaging, and John offers some advice for Democrats after the 2024 election. He joins David to talk about the saturation of poor polling, the need for Democrats to recalibrate their economic messaging and focus on the American Dream, what hurt Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign, and what Democrats can learn from a deep bench of future leaders.
November 14, 2024
The Ax Files: Episode 600 The Ax Files with David Axelrod
This week, The Ax Files reached its 600 episode milestone. In this anniversary episode, CNN’s Anderson Cooper speaks with David about the origins of The Ax Files, some of the podcast’s most memorable moments, what he learned about people and politics from the show, and what he’ll be watching for on election night.
October 31, 2024
Episode 599 — Charlamagne the God The Ax File with David Axelrod
The divine Charlamagne (real name Leonard McKelvey) started working in radio by chance, but once he started, he was hooked. He currently co-hosts The Breakfast Club, a national morning show that reaches millions of listeners each month. He spoke to David about growing up in a small town in South Carolina, his mental health and how it changed his relationship with his father, his career in radio leading to his current role, how The Breakfast Club came to be, and his thoughts on the 2024 presidential election and his frustration with the narrative surrounding Black voters.
October 24, 2024
Episode 598 — John King The Ax File with David Axelrod
CNN’s John King loves being an anchor, but looking back over the past few presidential elections, he felt something was missing inside the 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 with his All Over the Map project in the run-up to the 2024 election. John joined David to talk about how Donald Trump is trying to use immigration to drum up support in the suburbs, whether ballot abortion will lead to a split in the voting ticket, whether Washington is isolated from the rest of the country, and what the 2024 election looks like today. (Click here for more information on All Over the Map.)
October 17, 2024
Episode 597 — Ilana Dayan The Ax File with David Axelrod
Prominent Israeli journalist Ilana Dayan spoke with David last fall, days after Hamas’ October 7 massacre in Israel. A year later, David connected with Ilana to talk about the staying power of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, reporting on Gaza, the perception of US 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.
October 10, 2024