The Smerconish Podcast

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 he's asking, following the South Dakota Governor's revelation in her book that she shot and killed a dog, Did Kristi Noem just help or hurt herself with Donald Trump? Listen here, then vote! H...

Michael talks to G. Elliot Morris, 538/ABC News Editorial Director for Data Analytics, about new 2024 race polling. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Is the U.S. in the midst of a decline akin to that of Rome, Habsburg Spain, the Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian Empires and the Soviet Union? That's the Daily Poll Question Michael is asking you today at Smerconish.com. He has dived into a new report out from RAND, listen here for the details, then vote! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our c...

Excerpts from South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem's forthcoming book have her in a bit of controversy. In the book, he tells the story of her killing a dog after it attacked some chickens. Michael wonders, why would this protentional running mate pick for Donald Trump even tell the story? Original air date 29 April 2024. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for infor...

Michael asks you this Daily Poll Question at Smerconish.com today: Who will Trump select as his VP? Choices: Katie Britt, Doug Burgum, Ben Carson, Ron DeSantis, Byron Donalds, Nikki Haley, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Kristi Noem, Mike Pompeo, Vivek Ramaswamy, Marco Rubio, Tim Scott, Elise Stefanik, JD Vance, None of the above. Listen to Michael's thoughts here, then vote! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsW...

Michael talks to Jeff Nussbaum, a former speechwriter to President Biden and author of "Undelivered." This weekend is the annual White House Correspondents' Dinner, and Nussbaum previewed it in Politico Magazine in his piece "Trump's Jokes Killed DC's Sense of Humor." Original air date 26 April 2024. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our co...

As week 2 of former President Trump's criminal trial wraps up, there is one face we have not yet seen in the courtroom, or by his side in his daily pre-court appearances. Michael asks you this Daily Poll Question at Smerconish.com: Will Melania Trump ever step foot in the hush money court room? Listen to his commentary here, then vote on the website. And please rate and review this podcast. Hosted...

Michael talks to BallotPA Chair David Thornburgh about the problem with primaries in Pennsylvania and other states: they are closed, and independents like Michael can not vote in them! Find out more about the Committee of Seventy's BallotPA project at ballotpa.org. Original air date 25 April 2024 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collec...

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 he's asking, following his not being able to vote in his own state on Tuesday: Should registered Independents be permitted to vote in party primaries? Listen here, then vote! Hosted by Simplec...

There is no court session today for President Trump's criminal trial in New York City. Michael talks to NBC/MSNBC Legal Analyst Danny Cevallos about what transpired in the court yesterday, including the spotlight on Trump's relationship with the National Enquirer, as its former publisher David Pecker testified. Original air date 24 April 2024. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://...

There is a proposal in California to ban Clear, a high-end, bypass-the-TSA-line concierge travel service. This has Michael asking you this Daily Poll Question at Smerconish.com today: Should airports offer non-TSA security lines for those willing to pay a fee and undergo a background check, creating a 'fast-pass' system for the wealthier? Listen to his explanation, then hit the site and vote! Host...

There is a lot to learn here - might the long-standard 6% real estate commission that agents get be a thing of the past, due to a recently announced settlement with the National Association of Realtors? Michael learns everything we need to know here with attorney Mitch Kider, Chairman and Managing Partner of Weiner Brodsky Kider PC. Original air date 23 April 2024. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz...

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a bill to ban the social media platform TikTok. It now heads to the Senate. Michael asks you this Daily Poll Question at Smerconish.com today: Should the U.S. government ban TikTok? Listen here, then vote! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Sister Mary Scullion, an advocate for the homeless in Philadelphia, joins Michael to talk about a case the Supreme Court is hearing today out of Oregon, on whether homeless people can be punished for sleeping outside when there is no place else for them to go. Original air date 22 April 2024. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection...

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 he's asking: Is it cruel and unusual to criminally cite the homeless for public encampment if they have no access to shelter? Listen, then vote! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See h...

Michael talks to Northwestern University Professor Dr. Elisa Jacome, she is one of the co-authors of a study uncovering the most extensive evidence to date that immigrants are less likely to be imprisoned than U.S.-born individuals. Original air date 19 April 2024. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data fo...

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 he's asking: Do you agree with those news organizations that have requested Biden and Trump publicly commit to participating in debates? Listen here, then vote! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWiz...

Michael talks to former speechwriter for President George W. Bush, David Frum, who writes in The Atlantic, "The networks want their show, but to give the challenger equal status on a TV stage would be a dire normalization of his attempted coup." Listen to his take on why Biden should not debate Trump ahead of Election Day. Original air date 18 April 2024. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company....

The University of Southern California denied its valedictorian, Asna Tabassum, to give a speech at the 2024 commencement for her vocal support for Palestinians. Today, Michael asks you this Daily Poll Question at Smerconish.com: Should a student’s prior political speech be considered when determining whether they can speak at college graduation? Listen here, then vote, and please leave a rating an...

Seven Manhattan residents, including a diverse mix of professions and backgrounds, were selected as jurors for Donald Trump's high-profile criminal trial, amid stringent selection processes. Listen to Michael and CNN Senior Legal Analyst Elie Honig talk through the chosen ones so far, sharing their thoughts. Original air date 17 April 2024. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm...

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 he's asking: Could you be a fair juror in the current Trump trial? Listen, then vote! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection...

Michael talks to University of Haifa Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience Roy Salomon about the connection of psychedelics and trauma, after it was found that attendees of the concert in the Israeli desert, who were using psychedelics, were able to get through the trauma of being attacked by Hamas, when they otherwise may not have been able to do so. Original air date 16 April 2024. Hosted by Simpl...

The former President's criminal trial began in New York City yesterday. Michael asks you today's Daily Poll Question at Smerconish.com: How will the Trump trial end? Conviction, Acquittal, Hung Jury, Mistrial, or Guilty Plea? Listen here, then vote! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Michael talks to Ankush Khardori at Politico Magazine about his piece "The Surprising Strategy Trump Could Use to Win His Manhattan Trial." Original air date 15 April 2024. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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 he's asking: Should Israel de-escalate, or retaliate, against Iran? Listen, then vote! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collectio...