The Smerconish Podcast

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Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: Did JD Vance help or hurt his chances of winning the 2028 GOP nomination by defending Ramaswamy's ad? Vice President JD Vance is standing behind Vivek Ramaswamy's controversial attack ad targeting Ohio gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton, even as prominent Republicans condemn its deeply personal content. President Trump has doubled down in support, but Ohio G...

Are the kids alright? After joining former RNC Chairman Michael Steele for a conversation with 600 students at Pennsylvania's Hill School, Michael shares his message to America's next generation. Are Americans truly more divided than ever, or have we simply forgotten how to disagree? From political polarization and social media misinformation to the dangers of living in ideological bubbles, Michae...

Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: Ramaswamy's ad using his rival's mother will: a) help him, b) hurt him, or c) make no difference. Vivek Ramaswamy's latest attack ad in the Ohio governor's race features Amy Acton's estranged mother calling her own daughter a liar. But there's a stunning detail the commercial leaves out: mother and daughter reportedly haven't seen each other in 47 years, an...

Will JD Vance run for president in 2028, and would Donald Trump immediately endorse him? 2WAY Editor-in-Chief Mark Halperin joins Michael with exclusive insights from his interview with the Vice President aboard Air Force Two. Plus, could John Fetterman switch parties and cost Democrats control of the Senate? Halperin also reveals his latest 2028 Democratic presidential rankings, with Gavin Newsom...

Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: Will Europe's wave of violent protests reach America soon? France is experiencing a wave of unrest, with protests spreading across Europe and political tensions rising on both sides of the Atlantic. Could America be next? Michael examines the competing explanations for the violence—from President Trump's warnings about immigration to economic pressures, gov...

Subscribe to the Smerconish YouTube channel to never miss an episode of Can We Agree here. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Listen to Michael's conversation with Dr. Peter Gray on his new book "Restoring Childhood" here. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Subscribe to the Smerconish YouTube channel here. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: Could a Democratic Congress rein in President Trump? The 2026 midterm election 'concludes' two weeks from tomorrow. Michael examines what Democrats could actually accomplish if they reclaim control of the House, Senate, or both. From investigations and subpoenas to healthcare, tariffs, and judicial confirmations, Democrats have an ambitious agenda—but Trump...

 Subscribe to the Smerconish YouTube channel here. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: Which is the bigger midterm prize, the House or the Senate? Election Day is just over two weeks away - Michael breaks down what's really at stake if Democrats reclaim one or both chambers of Congress. A House majority could unleash investigations, subpoenas, spending battles, and even another impeachment vote. But Senate control brings a different kind of p...

With less than three weeks until the 2026 midterm elections, are Republicans facing a much bigger defeat than anyone expects? Political analyst Mark Halperin joins Michael to explain why President Trump is campaigning in deep-red states, what internal GOP polling may be revealing, and how MAGA infighting could make a bad election night even worse. They also discuss growing questions surrounding Tr...

Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: Who cut Ukraine's Starlink service this week? Was it Trump? Was it Musk? Was it both or was it a glitch? As Ukrainian forces face a massive Russian missile barrage, reports of sudden Starlink restrictions are raising urgent questions about who controls battlefield communications. Michael examines the escalating tensions between Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and...

This is the audio version of "Can We Agree?" Episode #4. 'Can We Agree" is the program that asks whether two brilliant minds from opposite corners of an argument can find any common ground on the questions that matter most to Americans today. Subscribe to the Smerconish YouTube channel to never miss an episode! "Socialism" is a word Republicans have used against Democrats as a slur for decades. No...

Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: Will the midterm election results cause the president to make significant changes to his cabinet and/or policies? With Democrats favored to retake the House, and the Senate hanging in the balance, Michael looks beyond Election Day to a more consequential question: What will President Trump do if Republicans suffer a major defeat? Will he shake up his cabine...

What would George H.W. Bush think of today's deeply divided America? Michael sits down with the former president's son, Neil Bush, to reflect on his father's extraordinary legacy, the famous "Thousand Points of Light" speech, and why volunteerism may be the key to bringing Americans together again. As chairman of Points of Light, Bush shares personal memories of his parents, the values that shaped...

Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: Will Elon Musk's $276 million in donations keep the Senate in Republican hands? With Republicans facing a difficult Senate map and Democrats increasingly optimistic about flipping control, Elon Musk is pouring hundreds of millions into the fight. Michael examines whether the world's richest man's massive political spending can overcome troubling poll number...

Deadly Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia have put President Trump at a dangerous crossroads in the war with Iran. Retired four-star Admiral and former NATO Supreme Allied Commander James Stavridis joins Michael to explain who the Houthis are, why they're so difficult to defeat, and the three military options facing Trump. Should the U.S. launch more strikes, tighten the economic pressure, or avoid fu...

Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: Is serving in public office today worth the risk of violence? Death threats, assassination attempts, and escalating political hostility are changing the reality of public service in America. Michael examines a New York Times investigation revealing widespread threats against governors, members of Congress, and local officials, alongside new Secret Service f...

What really went wrong at Cornell? Michael speaks with Hanna Stotland, an educational crisis consultant who has handled 363 campus sexual misconduct cases, about the controversial rape allegations, the role of drugs and alcohol, and what the public may be overlooking. Stotland argues that substance abuse is a common denominator in these cases—but is that victim-blaming or an uncomfortable truth? P...

Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: Are you in favor of the death penalty for a person convicted of murder? As executions make headlines in Texas and Florida, California Governor Gavin Newsom considers commuting hundreds of death sentences, and the Trump administration revisits the use of firing squads, Michael examines America's complicated relationship with capital punishment. Gallup pollin...

A botched execution in Tennessee, a firing squad in Texas, record-setting executions in Florida, and a possible mass commutation of death sentences in California. America's death penalty debate is back in the spotlight. Michael is a longtime supporter of capital punishment, but admits he's questioning his position more than ever. Is the death penalty justice or revenge? Does it deter crime? And wh...

Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: Do you agree with Mark Halperin that as the media has gotten more diverse, the bias of the dominant media against Trump has worsened? More media choices than ever—but is mainstream news coverage becoming less fair? Michael Smerconish examines journalist Mark Halperin's provocative argument that legacy media outlets have grown increasingly biased against Don...

Is the press giving Donald Trump and Republicans a fair shake? 2WAY Political Analyst Mark Halperin joins Michael Smerconish to argue that America’s “dominant media” applies a different standard to Democrats and Republicans—and that the problem has only intensified in the Trump era. They discuss coverage of Trump’s record and Democratic flip-flops, plus the extraordinary success of Fox News as it...