The Smerconish Podcast

The Smerconish Podcast

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.

Episodes

June 25, 2026 16 mins
Today's Poll Question: Is the Left's Israel litmus test driven more by policy or antisemitism? Michael examines the Democratic divide over Israel after Zohran Mamdani's political wins, a high-profile New York primary, and shifting public opinion. Where does legitimate criticism end and anti-Semitism begin? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal ...
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Michael welcomes political analyst Mark Halperin for a wide-ranging conversation on what New York's latest election results reveal about the future of the Democratic Party. From the growing influence of progressive candidates to the prospects of a Bernie Sanders comeback in 2028, Halperin argues that Democrats are heading toward a defining showdown between the party establishment and its energized left wing. They discuss the politi...
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Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: Will the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie ever be solved? Five months after the 84-year-old mother of Today show co-host Savannah Guthrie vanished from her Arizona home, investigators still have no suspect, no arrest, and no clear explanation. Michael examines the baffling case, from blood discovered at the scene and the mysterious “porch guy” captured on camera to ransom messages,...
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America's birth rate has fallen dramatically over the past two decades—but why? Michael speaks with Middlebury College economist Caitlin Myers about her provocative research linking the rise of smartphones to declining fertility. Using the iPhone's early AT&T-exclusive rollout as a natural experiment, Myers argues that smartphones may have fundamentally changed how people socialize, date, and form relationships. The conve...
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Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: Algae at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool: Act of God, construction, or vandalism? Michael examines the growing controversy surrounding the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool after a costly renovation was followed by algae blooms, peeling blue coating, vandalism accusations, and political finger-pointing. With America’s 250th birthday celebration approaching, the debate has become a ...
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Doug Sosnik, former senior adviser to President Bill Clinton, joins Michael Smerconish to deliver what he calls the "real Democratic autopsy." Sosnik argues that Democrats lost the 2024 election long before Joe Biden's debate performance or Kamala Harris's 107-day campaign. He identifies three key factors—the decision for Biden to seek a second term, early immigration policy choices, and the party's misreading of the 2022 mid...
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Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: Will democratic socialism be the future of the Democratic Party? New polling data reveals a dramatic shift inside the Democratic Party: favorable views of socialism have surged while support for capitalism has declined. Michael Smerconish examines the numbers highlighted by CNN’s Harry Enten, the growing influence of Democratic Socialists of America candidates, and the political rise o...
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Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: Agree or Disagree: An athlete's choice to accept or reject a White House invitation shouldn't be judged. The New York Knicks’ decision to accept a White House invitation from President Trump has reignited a long-running debate about sports, politics, and tradition. Michael Smerconish explores how White House visits evolved from largely nonpartisan championship celebrations into cultura...
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Named The Most Influential Rabbi in America by Newsweek and one of the 50 Most Influential Jews in the World  by TheJerusalem Post, and twice named one of the 500 Most Influential People in Los Angeles by the Los Angeles Business Journal, David Wolpe is the Max Webb Emeritus Rabbi of Sinai Temple. Rabbi Wolpe has taught at Harvard, the Jewish Theological Seminary, the American Jewish University, Hunter College, and ...

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Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: How long will the Iran ceasefire hold: Less than six months, six months to a year, or more than a year? Michael examines the newly signed U.S.-Iran ceasefire agreement and asks the question at the center of today’s poll: how durable is this peace? He reviews key provisions of the memorandum of understanding, highlights concerns raised by critics, and explains why he believes the ceasef...
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Michael welcomes political analyst Mark Halperin for their weekly conversation, covering the biggest stories shaping politics and public debate. This week: the New York Times’ deep investigation into Jeffrey Epstein’s death, whether unanswered questions still linger, Doug Sosnik’s argument that Democrats lost the 2024 election before President Biden exited the race, Josh Shapiro’s presidential prospects, Gav...
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Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: Was 2024 already lost for Democrats before Biden dropped out? Michael examines a provocative argument from veteran Democratic strategist Doug Sosnik: that the 2024 election was effectively decided long before President Biden exited the race. Drawing on Sosnik’s Washington Post analysis, Michael explores three key factors—the decision to seek a second term, public dissatisfaction ...
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Michael Smerconish sits down with Pew Research Center's Jocelyn Kiley to discuss the organization's newly released political typology, which divides Americans into nine distinct political groups. With nearly half of Americans now identifying as independents, what does the data reveal about the country's evolving political identity? Kiley explains how Pew's research goes beyond traditional Democrat-versus-Republican labels, why pola...
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Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: Is Trump retreating too soon on Iran? President Trump announces a new agreement with Iran, claiming the Strait of Hormuz will reopen, oil prices are falling, and Tehran has agreed not to pursue a nuclear weapon. But major questions remain: What happens to Iran’s nuclear program? Will sanctions be lifted before meaningful concessions are secured? And after months of military escalation ...
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As America approaches its 250th birthday, a new NBC News poll paints a sobering picture of the nation's mood. Michael speaks with NBC senior national politics reporter Jonathan Allen about why most Americans believe the American Dream is harder to achieve, why trust in institutions has eroded, and why many think the country's best days are behind it. Is this simply a rough chapter in American history—or a sign of something de...
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Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: Genes or money — which shapes a child's brain more? Michael revisits the classic nature-versus-nurture debate, but with a modern twist. Prompted by new research from Washington University in St. Louis, he examines evidence suggesting that socioeconomic factors—including income, neighborhood conditions, stress, sleep, and screen time—may have a profound impact on measurable ...
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Michael speaks with TIME Senior Sports Rorrespondent Sean Gregory about Dana White’s rise, his relationship with Donald Trump, and the unprecedented UFC event set for the White House lawn. Plus, Michael previews his CNN special “The Mingle Project,” exploring America’s loneliness crisis, social isolation, and the urgent need to restore common experience. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://...
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Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: UFC: Sport or Spectacle? With UFC preparing for an unprecedented event on the White House South Lawn, Michael examines the evolution of mixed martial arts from a once-marginalized attraction derided as “human cockfighting” to a global entertainment powerhouse. He reflects on Dana White’s role in building the UFC brand, the organization’s long relationship with Donald ...
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The 2026 FIFA World Cup is here, and the United States is hosting the largest sporting event on the planet. Michael speaks with Andrew Giuliani, Executive Director of the White House FIFA World Cup Task Force, about security, logistics, President Trump's involvement, and why he believes Team USA could make a historic run. Then, Philadelphia World Cup host committee co-chair Dan Hilferty joins the conversation to discuss the economi...
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Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: When attacked, should the U.S. respond proportionally or overwhelmingly? As tensions between the United States and Iran continue to escalate, Michael examines one of the oldest and most consequential questions in foreign policy: when America is attacked, should it strike back in kind or with overwhelming force? Drawing on recent developments in the Gulf, President Trump’s response stra...
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