Spirited discussions of government, politics, and current events without predictable left/right bias. The Smerconish Podcast is for Independent Minds. The Michael Smerconish Program airs live on SiriusXM's POTUS Channel 9AM-12PM ET and replays 9PM-12AM East, Monday-Friday.
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Oct 2, 2026 · 21:00
With the 2026 midterms just weeks away, Mark Halperin joins Michael to break down the battle for control of the House and Senate—and why races in places like Kansas and Iowa…
Oct 2, 2026 · 15:29
Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: Will the renewed investigation at Cornell result in any criminal convictions? Michael revisits the Cornell sexual assault case with new…
Oct 1, 2026 · 21:42
New details have emerged in the Cornell rape case, including reporting about Jane Doe’s statements to police, text messages after the alleged incident, and Cornell’s Title IX…
Oct 1, 2026 · 13:13
Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: Should AI designers consider religious doctrine when programming morality? As artificial intelligence becomes a source of advice on…
Sep 30, 2026 · 31:45
How biased is Michael? The latest Ad Fontes Media Bias Chart is out, and Michael is more than happy to share his report card: A Blutarsky. He breaks down where his CNN program…
Sep 30, 2026 · 11:38
Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: Should the government tax the wealth of billionaires, or stick to taxing income? Michael examines the growing debate over whether…
Sep 29, 2026 · 37:18
A newly filed civil lawsuit has put an alleged 2024 sexual assault at Cornell University back in the spotlight—and prompted the local district attorney to reopen the…
Sep 29, 2026 · 23:46
John Yoo is the Emanuel S. Heller Professor of Law at the University of California, Berkeley. William (Bill) Galston holds the Ezra K. Zilkha Chair in Governance Studies and is a…
Sep 28, 2026 · 33:20
Early voting begins in just a few days in many states, so the midterm elections are underway. Political strategist Doug Sosnik joins Michael to break down the forces shaping the…
Sep 28, 2026 · 14:53
Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: Should stay-at-home parents get the same federal child care aid as parents who use daycare? Michael examines a proposal that could expand…
Sep 25, 2026 · 23:13
Can Americans disagree politically without treating each other with contempt? Michael speaks with Special Olympics International Chairman Tim Shriver about the Dignity Index, an…
Sep 25, 2026 · 12:08
Bernie Sanders and AOC… on the same 2028 presidential ticket? Michael examines Mark Halperin’s provocative prediction that the two progressive stars could team up early and…
Sep 24, 2026 · 36:04
Nikole Hannah-Jones made a principled decision to send her daughter to a struggling Brooklyn public school—but a decade later, she’s confronting the consequences. Michael…
Sep 24, 2026 · 16:26
Will AI destroy humanity—or save millions of lives? Michael explores the growing fears surrounding artificial intelligence alongside remarkable examples of AI improving…
Sep 23, 2026 · 31:13
Could Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez join forces in 2028? Mark Halperin joins Michael Smerconish and floats the provocative possibility of a Bernie-AOC presidential…
Sep 23, 2026 · 14:25
Listen to Dana Bash talk about her book "The Elections That Changed the World: Fifteen Pivotal Moments That Shaped How We Live" on The Book Club with Michael Smerconish Podcast.…
Sep 22, 2026 · 33:25
President Donald Trump and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani are about as politically different as it gets—so what should we make of their surprisingly cordial meeting at Gracie…
Sep 22, 2026 · 11:02
Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: Trump and Mamdani working together. Who's getting played: Mamdani, Trump, Both, or Neither? Michael connects the unexpected cordiality…
Sep 21, 2026 · 29:48
Michael opens with retired four-star Admiral James Stavridis for a rapid-fire look at Iran, the Houthis, Ukraine, and the growing danger of humans weaponizing artificial…
Sep 21, 2026 · 10:49
Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: Is a candidate's civility toward opponents a factor in your vote? Michael Smerconish explores whether respect, dignity, and a willingness…
Sep 18, 2026 · 25:18
'Bucks County, USA' premieres on PBS on September 20, 2026. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal…
Sep 18, 2026 · 13:41
Should Robert Kraft have pressured Ed Sheeran to drop Macklemore from his tour? Michael breaks down the controversy surrounding Macklemore’s “Free Palestine” remarks and the…
Sep 17, 2026 · 30:06
Has America’s era of global dominance come to an end? Michael contrasts two very different assessments of U.S. power—one arguing that the “American Age” is over, and another…
Sep 17, 2026 · 12:47
Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: Was the Boston Globe right to name the Clancy holdout juror? Yes or no? Michael examines the fallout after the Boston Globe identified…
Sep 16, 2026 · 32:21
Michael talks with political analyst Mark Halperin about the developing 2028 Democratic presidential field, including the potential contenders already positioning themselves for…
Sep 16, 2026 · 16:18
Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: Who should regulate artificial intelligence? As AI advances at breathtaking speed, the debate over who should set the guardrails is…
Sep 15, 2026 · 27:13
For 25 years, we’ve heard the people who fell from the Twin Towers on 9/11 described as “jumpers.” Former New York City death investigator Barbara Butcher tells Michael why that…
Sep 15, 2026 · 15:16
Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: Is the Democratic Party's future democratic socialism? Michael examines the ideological battle shaping the Democratic Party and…
Sep 14, 2026 · 35:59
The people building artificial intelligence are sounding increasingly dire warnings about what it could become—but Michael says the bigger story is what AI is already being used…
Sep 14, 2026 · 11:58
Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: Who really runs the American economy? Is it big tech, big banks and big oil or the millionaires on Main Street? Michael explores the…
Sep 11, 2026 · 2:14:06
On the 25th anniversary of September 11, Michael Smerconish presents an expanded companion podcast episode to his three-hour SiriusXM POTUS tribute — featuring the remarkable…
Sep 11, 2026 · 2:18:02
Twenty-five years after September 11, Michael Smerconish presents a special three-hour remembrance of the day that changed America — and asks what “Never Forget” means for a…
Sep 10, 2026 · 30:28
Sam Bankman-Fried, the founder of cryptocurrency exchange FTX, was convicted of fraud after prosecutors argued that billions of dollars in customer deposits were improperly…
Sep 10, 2026 · 11:39
Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: Will Trump's $5000 dividend promise help Republicans in the midterms or will it backfire? President Trump is promising every adult U.S.…
Sep 9, 2026 · 25:06
Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE) joins Michael to discuss President Trump’s push to change mail-in voting, the battle for control of the House in the 2026 midterms, and what he sees as…
Sep 9, 2026 · 11:52
Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: Who wins the House in November - Democrats or Republicans? With the 2026 midterms approaching, Michael Smerconish examines whether…
Sep 8, 2026 · 30:03
Why did the Lindsay Clancy case end in a mistrial—and what happens next? Michael speaks with Yale Law professor Jed Rubenfeld about the unusual Massachusetts insanity law that…
Sep 8, 2026 · 15:55
Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: "Would America be better off as two countries?" Could America’s political divisions eventually become national borders? Michael examines…
Sep 3, 2026 · 31:41
Can your college major predict your politics—or even how religious you are? Michael talks with Ryan Burge, a professor of practice at Washington University in St. Louis’ John C.…
Sep 2, 2026 · 30:17
A six-pack of beer could help redefine the Constitution’s ban on excessive fines. Michael breaks down the extraordinary Supreme Court case of an Alaska bush pilot whose $95,000…
Sep 1, 2026 · 41:52
Data centers are becoming one of America’s hottest political fights. Michael talks with Pennsylvania developer Brian O’Neill, who is seeking to build $18 billion worth of data…
Aug 31, 2026 · 30:55
In an increasingly fragmented America, could Costco be one of the last places that still brings everyone together? Michael explores how the warehouse giant became an unlikely…
Aug 28, 2026 · 30:10
Former U.S. Ambassador to Canada David L. Cohen joins Michael to unpack the escalating U.S.-Canada trade fight, President Trump’s tariffs, and whether Canada has really been…
Aug 28, 2026 · 9:15
Football season is back—but would you let your kid take the field? Michael weighs the alarming new CTE data, the dangers of youth tackle football, and the social pressure parents…
Aug 27, 2026 · 28:49
Meta has agreed to an historic nearly $18 billion settlement over claims that Facebook and Instagram harm kids—but Michael says the story is bigger than teenagers. With new…
Aug 27, 2026 · 11:30
Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: Are the US and Canada still allies? For generations, the U.S.-Canada relationship was one Americans rarely had reason to question. Now…
Aug 26, 2026 · 31:29
Michael remembers Dolly Parton and asks what made her such a rare, universally beloved American figure - she did what politics can't: Unite us. Bob Crawford of The Avett Brothers…
Aug 26, 2026 · 12:34
Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: Which is worse, building data centers or losing to China the AI race they power? Michael examines the growing backlash against massive AI…
Aug 25, 2026 · 32:41
America’s national debt has crossed a staggering $40 trillion — but what does that actually mean for you? Michael sits down with Michael A. Peterson, Chairman and CEO of the…
Aug 25, 2026 · 11:35
Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: In a state where one party can't win a Senate seat, should that party step aside for a strong independent? Michael examines a provocative…
Aug 24, 2026 · 37:35
Charles Barkley joins Michael Smerconish for a wide-ranging, unfiltered conversation about America’s political divide, the WNBA and transgender athletes, Caitlin Clark, race and…
Aug 24, 2026 · 14:14
Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: Should cameras be allowed in every government proceeding that the public has a right to attend? Today Michael makes the case for a…
Aug 21, 2026 · 34:23
Michael talks with Steve Atkiss, former Special Assistant to President George W. Bush for Operations and a longtime presidential trip director, about the extraordinary security…
Aug 21, 2026 · 8:32
Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: Would you accept both higher taxes on yourself and reduced Social Security and Medicare benefits in order to reduce the $40 trillion…
Aug 20, 2026 · 28:57
The U.S. national debt has crossed $40 trillion. So who pays the bill? Michael breaks down how America got here, revisits past efforts to rein in the debt, and asks whether…
Aug 20, 2026 · 13:57
Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: Is the Natalie Harp story Much Ado About Nothing? Jon Ossoff’s two-word reference to “Natalie” ignited a political and media firestorm…
Aug 19, 2026 · 29:12
Michael is joined by Mark Halperin to unpack the sudden scrutiny surrounding President Trump aide Natalie Harp and the backlash to Senator Jon Ossoff’s comments about her. Was…
Aug 19, 2026 · 13:43
Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: Should we be growing or shrinking our footprint in the Middle East? With the Pentagon reportedly reassessing America’s military presence…
Aug 18, 2026 · 30:08
Admiral James Stavridis joins Michael Smerconish to assess the escalating confrontation with Iran, why he says the Strait of Hormuz is effectively closed, Trump’s approach to…
Aug 18, 2026 · 14:48
Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: Is the Jason Arday tragedy a story of affirmative action in the extreme, a racist witch hunt, or both? Michael examines the troubling and…
Aug 17, 2026 · 31:24
Michael Smerconish reacts to Luigi Mangione’s guilty plea in the killing of UnitedHealthcare executive Brian Thompson — and to what he says was notably missing: remorse. He…
Aug 17, 2026 · 11:45
Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: The White House East Wing has already been demolished. Should the Trump Ballroom now be built? The fight over President Trump’s proposed…
Aug 14, 2026 · 27:37
Michael asks a deceptively simple question: Should parents have the final say on their child’s vaccines? Dr. Brian McDonough joins to examine the Trump administration’s changes…
Aug 14, 2026 · 14:30
Should grades still matter? As the University of Michigan prepares to replace traditional grades with pass/no-credit marks for first-semester students, Michael examines why we…
Aug 13, 2026 · 24:32
Should parents have the final say on their child’s vaccines? Michael examines how the debate over parental choice has shifted following President Trump’s changes to childhood…
Aug 13, 2026 · 12:57
President Trump’s move to reduce the number of universally recommended childhood vaccines has put parental choice back at the center of the vaccine debate. Michael Smerconish…
Aug 12, 2026 · 22:30
Michael is joined by Mark Halperin to unpack two big political stories: what the latest primary results really say about the rise of democratic socialism inside the Democratic…
Aug 12, 2026 · 15:32
President Trump says the Secret Service ordered the Air Force One decoy operation. But a revealing Clinton-era precedent raises a bigger question: could the White House have said…
Aug 11, 2026 · 33:12
President Trump boarded Air Force One in full view of the cameras—but he wasn’t on it when it took off. Facing a reported Iranian assassination threat, Trump was secretly moved…
Aug 11, 2026 · 16:52
A credible Iranian threat forced Trump into a secret Air Force One switch. But reporters and staff were left aboard the original plane. Smart security—or were they used as…
Aug 10, 2026 · 29:36
A viral WNBA foul sends Michael down a rabbit hole: Are race and politics really driving the controversy surrounding Caitlin Clark and the league—or are fans being fed a…
Aug 10, 2026 · 12:33
Can Iran outlast Trump? Michael examines whether Tehran can keep the Strait of Hormuz closed through the midterms—and what it could mean for oil prices and American politics.…
Aug 7, 2026 · 22:41
Six months after Nancy Guthrie vanished from her Tucson-area home, investigators appear no closer to solving the case. Michael speaks with Wall Street Journal reporter Valerie…
Aug 7, 2026 · 12:18
Does Donald Trump actually believe the 2020 election was stolen—or does he know he lost? Michael examines the evidence, the psychology, and a question that may never have a…
Aug 6, 2026 · 26:01
Michael sits down with OnBalance founder and former college quarterback Walt Norley for a candid conversation about bipolar disorder, the pressures facing student-athletes and…
Aug 6, 2026 · 13:48
Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: Are Democrats having their own Maga moment? Abdul El-Sayed’s narrow Michigan Democratic Senate primary victory may reveal something…
Aug 5, 2026 · 29:00
Mark Halperin unveils his latest rankings of the potential 2028 Democratic presidential field—and there is a new name at No. 1. Michael presses the political analyst and "Wide…
Aug 5, 2026 · 15:32
Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: Is the AI-driven economy a house of cards? Stocks are reaching historic highs as America’s largest technology companies pour hundreds of…
Aug 4, 2026 · 27:07
Doug Sosnik joins Michael to break down the latest data on the 2026 midterms, explaining why history points toward a Democratic wave—even as polarization, redistricting, and…
Aug 4, 2026 · 13:34
Today's poll tackles a question that could reshape the Democratic Party: Can a Sanders-style progressive win in a battleground state? Michael explores Michigan's high-stakes…
Aug 3, 2026 · 34:32
Should Dr. Anthony Fauci testify before Congress with immunity? Michael examines why nearly 50,000 poll voters overwhelmingly said yes, then unpacks the controversial Todd…
Aug 3, 2026 · 13:56
What keeps you up at night: nuclear war, AI, climate change—or a biological attack? What should we fear most? Michael previews his conversation with bestselling author Annie…
Jul 31, 2026 · 31:45
Mark Zuckerberg argues that superintelligence should be widely available, while former White House cyber czar Richard Clarke warns AI may need safeguards more like a dangerous…
Jul 31, 2026 · 9:39
Was Anthony Fauci right to plead the Fifth? Michael breaks down the explosive Senate hearing, the politics of "lawfare," and why he believes the biggest takeaway has nothing to…
Jul 30, 2026 · 30:25
America needs data centers to power AI, but few communities want one nearby. Michael talks with The Free Press senior editor and writer Joe Nocera about the growing battle over…
Jul 30, 2026 · 11:09
Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: Should your state pause construction of new data centers? Michael examines the growing backlash against the massive facilities powering…
Jul 29, 2026 · 40:53
Dr. Anthony Fauci invokes the Fifth Amendment before a Senate committee as Michael examines his newly released diaries, the lingering questions surrounding COVID’s origins and…
Jul 29, 2026 · 15:12
Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: On balance, did Dr. Anthony Fauci do more good or more harm? Anthony Fauci returns to Capitol Hill under subpoena as newly released…
Jul 28, 2026 · 30:05
Michael speaks with The Atlantic staff writer Mark Leibovich about his revealing profile of Arizona Senator Mark Kelly—combat veteran, astronaut, devoted husband to Gabby…
Jul 28, 2026 · 12:53
Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: How much longer will war with Iran last? Michael examines whether the U.S.-Iran conflict is approaching an end or settling into a…
Jul 27, 2026 · 32:25
Michael recounts his eventful West Virginia weekend—from a thrilling flight aboard a small Cirrus aircraft to a visit to the historic Greenbrier—before revealing the real reason…
Jul 27, 2026 · 11:57
Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: Why is President Trump so much less risk averse in his second term compared to his first? After reading Maggie Haberman and Jonathan…
Jul 24, 2026 · 29:23
New Jersey says a software error mistakenly added approximately 6,600 noncitizens to its voter rolls—and fewer than 400 ultimately cast ballots. Does the incident undermine…
Jul 24, 2026 · 12:24
Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: Is it ever appropriate for federal prosecutors to subpoena journalists to reveal their confidential sources? Federal prosecutors have…
Jul 23, 2026 · 31:04
Michael turns the Democratic Party’s 2028 primary calendar into a political strategy game: Which state should vote first, and could that decision determine the eventual…
Jul 23, 2026 · 12:04
Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: New Jersey mistakenly registered 6,600 non-citizens to vote, and about 400 did so — is that an aberration, or the norm? Michael examines…
Jul 22, 2026 · 19:40
Did New Jersey just give President Trump a powerful new argument on election integrity? Michael Smerconish and Mark Halperin debate the facts, the politics and the future of the…
Jul 22, 2026 · 12:32
Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: Which is worse, continuing the war with Iran or cutting off the funding for it? Michael Smerconish examines one of the most difficult…
Jul 21, 2026 · 25:18
Ethics and Public Policy Center Senior Fellow and Washington Post columnist Henry Olsen joins Michael to break down the rapidly shifting political landscape heading into the 2026…
Jul 21, 2026 · 21:11
Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: Should media outlets air – live – what an American president says will be a major address to the nation? Michael examines the controversy…
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