The Smerconish Podcast

Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: On balance, is it good or bad news that the Pentagon is using artificial intelligence? As the U.S. military deploys advanced AI tools like Palantir’s Maven Smart System to process battlefield intelligence and assist in real-time targeting, a political and ethical firestorm is brewing. After a reported fallout between the Pentagon and AI firm Anthropic, ques...

Former Nebraska Governor and U.S. Senator Bob Kerrey joins Michael for a candid, wide-ranging conversation. Kerrey addresses his past meeting with Jeffrey Epstein and the fallout that led him to resign from a corporate board, weighs in on cancel culture and free speech on campus, and shares blunt thoughts on Iran, war powers, and whether Congress should vote before military action. The Medal of Ho...

Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: "Who should determine media access to the dignified transfer of remains at Dover? Families of the fallen or the press?" As six U.S. service members are returned home, Michael revisits the long-running debate over the “Dover Test” — who gets to witness the consequences of war and who gets to document it. A tense exchange between the White House's Karoline Le...

Find Mark Halperin at 2WAY 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 statement do you agree with most? A) Israel compelled the US to act against Iran. B) The US compelled Israel to act against Iran. C) Iran's actions triggered US and Israeli responses." After nearly 40,000 votes yesterday on whether force against Iran should end, a new question emerges: who actually drove the decision to strike? Secretary Rubio sugges...

The conversation also explores the Clintons’ depositions, the timeline of what people knew (and when), and whether the public release of millions of documents is serving justice or fueling indiscriminate shaming. Where’s the line between legitimate accountability and reputational destruction? And what lessons — if any — have we learned from past eras of public overreach? Find Joe Nocera at The Fre...

Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: "When should the use of force against Iran end? a) Now; b) When Iran’s military and nukes are neutralized; c)When Iran’s regime changes; or d) Both B and C." As new polling shows most Americans oppose military action against Iran, the White House and its allies argue the strike was preemptive and defensive—designed to prevent greater casualties if Israel we...

The US attacked Iran - now on Day 3 of the deadly conflict, Michael turns to one of the nation’s most experienced military leaders for clarity. Retired 4-star Admiral James Stavridis — former Supreme Allied Commander of NATO — breaks down why the strike happened now, what the true objective may be (regime change? nuclear deterrence? weakening Iran’s proxies?), and whether Iran is stronger than we’...

Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: "Agree or disagree: The Epstein fallout is now more about guilt by association than guilt by deeds." As millions of pages tied to Jeffrey Epstein become public, prominent figures are resigning, apologizing, and facing reputational ruin — often without charges or proven wrongdoing. Michael examines whether the national reaction has crossed from accountabilit...

Hear Ben and Michael break down:  The GOP civil war between establishment and MAGA The brutal Cornyn ad targeting Paxton’s personal life Why Trump hasn’t endorsed (and whether he will) Democrats’ unexpected strategy to win back young men And whether “bro politics” and religious messaging can flip Texas Is this race headed for a runoff? Can moderation survive the primaries? And in 2026, does infide...

Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: "Does the value of transparency from release of the Epstein files outweigh the risks of spreading unverified accusations?" As new revelations surface — including missing FBI interview summaries tied to allegations involving President Trump — the debate intensifies over what the public deserves to see. With Bill and Hillary Clinton testifying, selective docu...

Did you see the "Trump Train" coming? Michael didn’t — and neither did Barack Obama’s inner circle. Drawing from newly released oral history interviews on the Obama presidency, Michael explores how top advisers like David Axelrod, Jen Psaki, and Jon Favreau underestimated Donald Trump’s political rise. From the 2011 White House Correspondents’ Dinner roast to the escalator announcement in 2015, th...

Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: "Should Democrats have stood in agreement at the State of the Union when President Trump said the first duty of the American government is to protect American citizens, not illegal aliens?" Michael revisits the most buzzed-about moment of the State of the Union — when President Trump challenged lawmakers to stand if they agreed with that principle, and Demo...

Michael is joined by political analyst Mark Halperin to break down President Trump’s State of the Union address — from the viral “stand up” immigration moment to the pivot on affordability, the Supreme Court swipe, and a late warning shot toward Iran. Was it a unifying speech, a midterm campaign kickoff, or pure political theater? Michael and Mark analyze Trump’s disciplined delivery, his strategi...

Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: "Should an individual's Google searches be private?" A Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling says you may not have a reasonable expectation of privacy in your general Google searches—especially if you haven’t taken steps like using a VPN. Michael breaks down the controversial “reverse keyword warrant” that allows police to ask Google who searched for specific t...

On the eve of the State of the Union, Michael sits down with Yahoo News national politics reporter Andrew Romano to preview what President Trump may say in what could be one of his longest addresses yet. With approval ratings hovering in the high 30s, independents slipping away, and major issues looming — Iran, tariffs, immigration, inflation, and a Supreme Court setback — can Trump use the moment...

Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: "Where would you like to see the USA gold medal winning men's and women's hockey teams present at tonight's State of the Union?" Fresh off Olympic gold in Milan, Team USA hockey is riding a rare wave of national unity—but should that moment take center stage at a deeply partisan State of the Union? Michael explores whether inviting the men’s and women’s tea...

Is the United States on the brink of striking Iran? Michael is joined by Admiral James Stavridis, former Supreme Allied Commander of NATO, to break down President Trump’s options—from diplomacy and cyber operations to limited precision strikes and the possibility of “shock and awe.” With massive U.S. forces already deployed, has America ever prepared this much firepower without pulling the trigger...

Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: "Should licensed broadcast radio and television stations have to give equal time to competing political candidates?" A Stephen Colbert interview with Texas Senate candidate James Talarico has reignited debate over the FCC’s nearly century-old equal time rule. After CBS lawyers raised concerns about triggering the regulation, Colbert cried foul — and the con...

As mentioned in this episode, listen to Book Club With Michael Smerconish: Andy Webb, author of "DIANARAMA."    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: "Is the use of profanity in politics refreshing or overdone?" From a new Illinois Senate ad repeating “F Trump” to a long list of Democrats and Republicans casually dropping f-bombs, political language has undeniably shifted. Michael examines whether this trend reflects authenticity in an unfiltered era—or a calculated attempt to seem relatable. Listen here...

Stephen Colbert says CBS lawyers pulled his interview with Texas state Rep. James Talarico over concerns about the FCC’s “Equal Time Rule.” So what exactly is that rule — and why is it suddenly back in the headlines? Michael speaks with Associated Press national politics reporter Meg Kinnard to break down the difference between the Equal Time Rule and the long-defunct Fairness Doctrine — and why t...

Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: "The U.S. should strike Iran: a) To eliminate its nuclear capability, b) To change its leadership, c) Both, d) Neither." With U.S. aircraft carriers deployed and reports of escalating military positioning in the Middle East, Michael asks whether America is closer to striking Iran than most realize. If Iranian nuclear facilities were previously described as...

Mark Halperin joins Michael to rank the top Democratic contenders for 2028 — and the results may surprise you. Why is Gavin Newsom leading the field? Is Josh Shapiro the real threat? Where do Kamala Harris, J.B. Pritzker, AOC, Pete Buttigieg, Rahm Emanuel, and Mark Kelly stand? Halperin explains his latest Democratic power rankings — focused not on who would win the presidency, but who is most lik...

Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: Do you agree with President Obama who says "The odds are good that there's life out there...but... the chances we've been visited by aliens is low"? After former President Obama reignites curiosity about extraterrestrial life in a recent podcast interview, Michael revisits the alien question through the lens of skepticism, science, and personal experience....