The Smerconish Podcast - podcast cover

The Smerconish Podcast

SiriusXM
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

Daily Poll: After the passage of a few years, should the media delete past coverage of minor crimes?

Today's Poll Question: After the passage of a few years, should the media delete past coverage of minor crimes? Listen here to Michael's take! 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. Listen, then vote at Smerconish.com, and please leave a rating and review of this podcast.

Jan 07, 202512 minEp. 1194

On the 4th anniversary of January 6th, A conversation with Trump's Impeachment Attorneys

Michael welcomes attorneys William J. Brennan and Michael van der Veen in studio on the 4th anniversary of the January 6th insurrection at the U.S. Capitol in Washington. They represented President Trump in his second impeachment trial, and are currently representing several J-6 defendants. The conversation centers around Michael's poll question today on whether the Department of Justice should still prosecute non-violent January 6 participants, given Trump's pardon promises once he takes office...

Jan 06, 202539 minEp. 1193

Daily Poll: Should the DOJ still prosecute non-violent January 6 participants?

Today's Poll Question: Given Trump's pardon promises, should the DOJ still prosecute non-violent January 6 participants? Listen here to Michael's take! 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. Listen, then vote at Smerconish.com, and please leave a rating and review of this podcast....

Jan 06, 202511 minEp. 1192

James Carville: Still the economy, stupid!

Michael is very taken by a guest essay in the New York Times written by longtime democratic strategist James Carville titled "I Was Wrong About the 2024 Election. Here’s Why." Listen and see if you agree with Carville's take, and what the audience says as to why Kamala Harris lost the 2024 election. Carville loudly predicted ahead of Election Day that Harris would win. Original air date 3 January 2024.

Jan 03, 202532 minEp. 1191

Daily Poll: Should the Eagles rest Saquon Barkley or let him chase Eric Dickerson’s rushing record on Sunday?

Today's Poll Question: Should the Philadelphia Eagles rest Saquon Barkley for the playoffs or let him chase Eric Dickerson’s rushing record on Sunday? Listen here to Michael's take! 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. Listen, then vote at Smerconish.com, and please leave a rating and...

Jan 03, 202514 minEp. 1190

Senator John Kennedy (R-LA) made a mockery of New Orleans terror attack press conference

Bruce Hoffman is a tenured professor in Georgetown University’s Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service where from 2010 to 2017 he was the Director of both the Center for Security Studies and of the Security Studies Program and from 2020-2023 the director of the Center for Jewish Civilization. In addition, Professor Hoffman is Professor Emeritus of Terrorism Studies at St Andrews University, Scotland. He previously held the Corporate Chair in Counterterrorism and Counterinsurgency at the RAND ...

Jan 02, 202535 minEp. 1189

Daily Poll: Are the New Orleans attack and Las Vegas cybertruck explosion connected?

Today's Poll Question: Are the New Orleans attack and Las Vegas cybertruck explosion connected? Listen here to Michael's take! 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. Listen, then vote at Smerconish.com, and please leave a rating and review of this podcast.

Jan 02, 202512 minEp. 1188

Remembering Influential Newsman Aaron Brown

Aaron Brown, who's first day on-air as an anchor at CNN was on September 11th 2001, where he took live breaking news reporting to a new level, died Sunday at 76. Michael remembers the journalist, and shares a conversation he had with him in 2012 about his work on 9/11, which taught us many lessons.

Jan 02, 202516 minEp. 1187

Michael Buys Used Cologne On EBay

When you are searching for the perfect fragrance....EBay might just be the place to get it. Michael tells this hilarious story of his online shopping trip for some new cologne. Original air date 18 December 2024

Dec 31, 202437 minEp. 1186

Daily Poll: Was Jimmy Carter one of America's better presidents?

Today's Poll Question: Was Jimmy Carter one of America's better presidents? Listen here to Michael's take! 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. Listen, then vote at Smerconish.com, and please leave a rating and review of this podcast.

Dec 31, 202416 minEp. 1185

Garcia, Wilson, Smith: Can we tell your politics by your name?

There are some fascinating links between people's names and their political affiliations. Michael talks to Lenny Bronner, Principal Data Scientist for Elections at The Washington Post about his piece, "How Republican or Democratic is your name?" Original air date 18 September 2024.

Dec 30, 202422 minEp. 1184

Daily Poll: Could Joe Biden have defeated Donald Trump?

Today's Poll Question: Could Joe Biden have defeated Donald Trump? Listen here to Michael's take! 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. Listen, then vote at Smerconish.com, and please leave a rating and review of this podcast.

Dec 30, 202419 minEp. 1183

Annie Linskey on The WSJ's Bombshell "Diminished Biden In Charge" Story

Michael welcomes Annie Linskey, White House Reporter for The Wall Street Journal, to talk about the big front-page story that she wrote along with Rebecca Ballhaus, Emily Glazer, Siobhan Hughes, "How the White House Functioned With a Diminished Biden in Charge." Linskey writes, "Aides kept meetings short and controlled access, top advisers acted as go-betweens and public interactions became more scripted. The administration denied Biden has declined." Listen here for the full story, and listener...

Dec 20, 202434 minEp. 1182

Daily Poll: New Info...or Coverup? What explains the timing of reports on Biden’s diminished capacity?

Today's Poll Question: What best explains the timing of recent reports on President Biden’s diminished capacity? New information, or coverup? Listen here to Michael's take! 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 day. Listen, then vote at Smerconish.com, and please leave a rating and review of th...

Dec 20, 202412 minEp. 1181

Cook Political Report's David Wasserman on a new app that lets homebuyers see neighbors' politics

David Wasserman, Senior Editor & Elections Editor at The Cook Political Report With Amy Walter, is an expert on voter self-sorting and data. Michael talks to him about a new app that allows users to see the political leanings of communities they might move to, just as they might consider taxes, crime, and school quality. Original air date 19 December 2024.

Dec 19, 202431 minEp. 1180

Daily Poll: When choosing a place to live, would you consider the area's political leanings as seriously taxes, safety, and schools?

Today's Poll Question: When choosing a place to live, would you consider a community's political leanings as seriously as you do taxes, safety, and school quality? Listen here to Michael's take! 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 day. Listen, then vote at Smerconish.com!

Dec 19, 202413 minEp. 1179

Daily Poll: Was the execution of a healthcare insurance CEO an act of terror?

Every day, we post a thought-provoking poll question for you to vote on at Smerconish.com. Michael explains it here to give you some insight behind the question, and then asks you to cast your ballot. Today, Michael asks you: Was the execution of a healthcare insurance CEO an act of terror? Listen to his thoughts now, then vote! And please rate and review this podcast.

Dec 18, 202412 minEp. 1177

Political violence has been normalized

Luigi Mangione, accused in the shooting and killing of Unitedhealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, has been glorified by many in the country, for what he did to the leader in an industry - health insurance - which many despise. What does this glorification reveal about America? Michael talks to University of Chicago Political Science Professor Robert A. Pape. Original air date 17 December 2024.

Dec 17, 202421 minEp. 1176

Not all tragic events are memorialized the same: No memorial for UHC CEO Brian Thompson

A man was shot and killed on a New York City street. This would often garner attention in the form of a memorial with flowers and candles, but not in case of the killing of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson...walk by the spot where he was shot and you would never know anything happened there. UConn Professor of Geography Ken Foote has studied how tragic events are memorialized for many years and lends great insight in this conversation with Michael. Original air date 16 December 2024.

Dec 16, 202433 minEp. 1174

Daily Poll: Should we change Daylight Saving Time?

Every day, we post a thought-provoking poll question for you to vote on at Smerconish.com. Michael explains it here to give you some insight behind the question, and then asks you to cast your ballot. Today, Michael asks you: Select a time change scenario: a) No Daylight Saving Time, b) Permanent Daylight Saving Time, c) Current System. Listen to his thoughts here, then vote!

Dec 16, 202411 minEp. 1173

Back Pain That Pushes To Kill

Dr. Todd J. Albert is Surgeon-in-Chief Emeritus at Hospital for Special Surgery. He is a Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at Weill Cornell Medical College.

Dec 12, 202426 minEp. 1170

Hero and Murderer: Incredibly disparate reactions to the apprehended insurance CEO shooter

The response to the apprehension and charging of Luigi Mangione, suspected of killing United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York City, has been nothing short of huge, and it is coming from all angles. Listen to some incredibly varying opinions that Michael hears from in this conversation, some labeling him as a hero for those wronged by the insurance industry, others calling him a cold-blooded killer for taking the life of a man on the street. Original air date 10 December 2024.

Dec 10, 202432 minEp. 1166
For the best experience, listen in Metacast app for iOS or Android
Open in Metacast