The Daily Poll Question is a thought-provoking query each day at Smerconish.com on a political, social, or other human interest issue. Entirely non-scientific, it always begins a great conversation. Michael talks about it in this podcast each weekday.
Michael dives into one of the most sensitive and misunderstood topics in public discourse today: the rise in autism diagnoses and the persistent myths surrounding vaccines. Prompted by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s recent pledge to “find the cause of autism,” Michael critically examines those claims and reflects on his own past interview with RFK Jr. He then speaks with Dr. Annette Estes, Director of the University of Washington Autism Center, to unpack the science ...
Michael has three things that he's seen in the last 24 hours that bring this commentary and question he's asking to mind in this episode. It starts with a story in the New Yorker titled "Everybody is Cheating Their Way Through College", and then builds from there to get to what he's asking in today's daily poll question at Smerconish.com: Which is a more secure career path: College Degree or Skilled Trade? Listen to his thoughts, then cast YOUR ballot at Smerconish.com, and please leave a rating...
Mark Halperin is editor-in-chief of 2WAY, author of the Wide World of News newsletter, and host of the "Next Up" podcast.
The Daily Poll Question is a thought-provoking query each day at Smerconish.com on a political, social, or other human interest issue. Entirely non-scientific, it always begins a great conversation. Michael talks about it in this podcast each weekday.
Visit Steven Singer Jewelers. Steven Singer is a long time advertiser on The Michael Smerconish Program. However, this was an unpaid appearance, he was invited to speak about his experience with the new tariffs.
Self-Deportation for Cash? President Trump's controversial idea of giving $1,000 to undocumented immigrants who volunteer to leave the country is splitting Americans and is basis of Michael's Poll Question at Smerconish.com today, asking: Should the U.S. government provide financial stipends to undocumented immigrants who volunteer to self-deport? Listen to Michael explain the issue, then cast YOUR ballot at Smerconish.com, and please leave a rating and review of this podcast! The Daily Poll Que...
Is Senator John Fetterman in trouble? In this eye-opening episode, Michael Smerconish speaks with New York Magazine’s Ben Terris about his report detailing growing concerns over the Pennsylvania senator’s health, behavior, and fitness to serve. Terris shares details from a confidential letter written by Fetterman’s former chief of staff, who warned of reckless behavior, skipped medical treatments, and signs of serious mental health decline. Is this a mental health success story unraveling? Liste...
Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com asks: Will President Trump's ambivalence about upholding the Constitution cause ANY erosion of his support among Republicans? Listen to Michael explain the issue, then cast YOUR ballot at Smerconish.com, and please leave a rating and review of this podcast! The Daily Poll Question is a thought-provoking query each day at Smerconish.com on a political, social, or other human interest issue. Entirely non-scientific, it always begins a great conversation. Mic...
Author Daniel Pink argues that grade inflation is ruining education. Michael welcomes him to discuss his Washington Post op-ed "Why not get rid of grades?" Original air date 4 March 2025.
Read Elie Honig's piece in New York Magazine here.
In this powerful episode, Michael Smerconish is joined by bestselling author Brad Meltzer—whose writing career began not with thrillers, but by penning the AmeriCorps oath at just 24. As AmeriCorps faces budget cuts from the federal government, Meltzer defends the national service program he helped shape, calling it "the best part of American government." They discuss the transformative power of community service, the bipartisan legacy of AmeriCorps, and the urgent need to protect it. With perso...
Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com asks: Should retailers itemize tariff surcharges on customer bills? Listen to Michael explain the issue, then cast YOUR ballot at Smerconish.com, and please leave a rating and review of this podcast! The Daily Poll Question is a thought-provoking query each day at Smerconish.com on a political, social, or other human interest issue. Entirely non-scientific, it always begins a great conversation. Michael talks about it in this podcast each weekday.
In this comprehensive analysis, four of America's top political minds dissect the first 100 days of Trump's second term. Michael talks to Mark Halperin, Karl Rove, Doug Sosnik, and David Axelrod. Four incredible conversations in a row, exploring The controversial tariff policies affecting the economy, the dramatic shift in voter demographics based on education levels, and the transformation of Republicans into the working-class party. The experts examine how economic disparities and educational ...
Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com asks: Should charter schools with religious affiliations be eligible to receive public funds? Listen to Michael explain the issue, then cast YOUR ballot at Smerconish.com, and please leave a rating and review of this podcast! The Daily Poll Question is a thought-provoking query each day at Smerconish.com on a political, social, or other human interest issue. Entirely non-scientific, it always begins a great conversation. Michael talks about it in this podc...
Michael and the Admiral reference Michael's conversation upcoming with Admiral William McRaven - listen to that on the Book Club with Michael Smerconish Podcast.
Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com asks: If voters knew what they know 100 days into Trump 2.0, would Trump have defeated Harris? Listen to Michael explain the issue, then cast YOUR ballot at Smerconish.com, and please leave a rating and review of this podcast! The Daily Poll Question is a thought-provoking query each day at Smerconish.com on a political, social, or other human interest issue. Entirely non-scientific, it always begins a great conversation. Michael talks about it in this pod...
Saturday Morning was quite a morning amidst the funeral of Pope Francis. Michael offers a play-by-play of how his show still went on-air on CNN, where he offered a commentary completely unrelated to what was happening in the news that morning, on "Festivus" and the spat between Bill Maher and Larry David, the former having recently met with President Trump, and the latter comparing it to sharing a meal with a modern day Hitler. Here, Michael gives you the full back story on what happened. Origin...
Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com asks: If a state judge helps a migrant evade federal ICE agents, should that judge be arrested and charged with obstruction and concealment? Listen to Michael explain the issue, then cast YOUR ballot at Smerconish.com, and please leave a rating and review of this podcast! The Daily Poll Question is a thought-provoking query each day at Smerconish.com on a political, social, or other human interest issue. Entirely non-scientific, it always begins a great co...
Dr. Richard Wood is President of the Institute for Advanced Catholic Studies at the University of Southern California.
Where Have All The Nicknames Gone? Read In The Wall Street Journal
The war between Russia and Ukraine is top of mind today. Michael is asking you this Poll Question at Smerconish.com: Is achieving peace worth the cost if it means officially ceding Crimea and other Ukraine territory to Russia? Listen to Michael explain the issue and his 'yes' vote, then cast YOUR ballot at Smerconish.com, and please leave a rating and review of this podcast! The Daily Poll Question is a thought-provoking query each day at Smerconish.com on a political, social, or other human int...
Michael loves his Tesla. So listen to his take here on Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com today: Which is more likely: Tesla recovers its brand loyalty among progressives, or conservatives embrace electric vehicles (EVs)? Listen to Michael explain the issue and his 'yes' vote, then cast YOUR ballot at Smerconish.com, and please leave a rating and review of this podcast! The Daily Poll Question is a thought-provoking query each day at Smerconish.com on a political, social, or other human int...
Michael is joined by political analyst Mark Halperin for a whirlwind tour of the most pressing stories shaping Washington. From Donald Trump's surprise pivot on China and Jerome Powell that sent the markets into a tailspin, to RFK Jr.'s headline-grabbing move to phase out artificial food dyes, and JD Vance’s meteoric rise as perhaps the most influential VP in modern history—nothing is off limits. Is Trump acting like a day-trader-in-chief? Why is the MAGA movement now pushing health reform? And ...
The Supreme Court hearing oral arguments in Mahmoud v. Taylor this week, where a group of parents want to be able to opt their children out of LGBTQ+ themed lessons in school, has Michael asking this poll question at Smerconish.com today: Should parents have the right to exempt their children from school materials that include LGBTQ+ themes? Listen to Michael explain the issue and his 'yes' vote, then cast YOUR ballot at Smerconish.com, and please leave a rating and review of this podcast! The D...
Also listen to Michael's commentary in Episode #1332, Bill Maher Mingled With Donald Trump, And That's Great from 14 April 2025.
Today's poll question at Smerconish.com asks: With birth rates declining in many developed nations, should governments adopt policies that actively encourage citizens to have more children? Listen to Michael lay it out, then cast YOUR ballot at Smerconish.com, and please leave a rating and review of this podcast! The Daily Poll Question is a thought-provoking query each day at Smerconish.com on a political, social, or other human interest issue. Entirely non-scientific, it always begins a great ...
Michael talks with Dana Mattioli, technology investigations and enterprise reporter for the Wall Street Journal. She's written "The Tactics Elon Musk Uses to Manage His 'Legion' of Babies--and Their Mothers." Then, the audience weighs in on pronatalism. Original air date 21 April 2025.
Michael opens this episode remembering Pope Francis, who passed today at the age of 88. In an insightful commentary, he weaves into today's poll question at Smerconish.com, which asks: Will Pete Hegseth's tenure as SecDef survive reports of a second Signal breach?Listen to Michael lay it out, then cast YOUR ballot at Smerconish.com, and please leave a rating and review of this podcast! The Daily Poll Question is a thought-provoking query each day at Smerconish.com on a political, social, or othe...
The bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on April 19th, 1995 remains the deadliest act of domestic terrorism in U.S. history. Michael reads from an email he received this morning from his friend Sara Sweet, who's father, W. Stephen Williams, was killed in the bombing. She hopes no one ever forgets this horrific day thirty years ago. Original air date 18 April 2025.
