The Smerconish Podcast
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
January 30, 2026 • 28 mins
Political strategist and longtime presidential adviser Doug Sosnik joins Michael for a deep-dive into the forces reshaping American politics. Sosnik explains why 57% of Americans believe the country is on the wrong track, how the K-shaped economy is driving voter frustration, and why education level has become the single strongest predictor of how Americans vote. They discuss President Trump’s approval ratings, what history tells u...
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January 30, 2026 • 10 mins
Today at Smerconish.com, Michael asks you: Was your opinion about Alex Pretti altered by video showing him protesting just 11 days before he was killed?
Listen in as Michael examines what the footage reveals, what it doesn’t change legally, and why video evidence so powerfully shapes public opinion — even when it shouldn’t. A thoughtful discussion on reasonableness, law enforcement standards, and the difference between the courtroo...
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January 29, 2026 • 26 mins
Rahm Emanuel joins Michael for a wide-ranging conversation on ethics, aging leadership, and the future of American politics. The former congressman, Chicago mayor, White House chief of staff, and U.S. ambassador argues for mandatory retirement at 75, sweeping ethics reform, and what he calls a much-needed “power wash” of Washington. Emanuel also weighs in on the economy, consumer confidence, healthcare costs, immigration enforcemen...
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January 29, 2026 • 11 mins
Should there be a mandatory retirement age of 75 for the president, cabinet officials, members of Congress, and federal judges?
Inspired by comments from former congressman, White House chief of staff, Chicago mayor, and ambassador Rahm Emanuel, Michael Smerconish digs into America’s growing discomfort with aging leadership. With some of the oldest elected officials in U.S. history still wielding power, is it time for age limits —...
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January 28, 2026 • 28 mins
Michael Smerconish is joined by political journalist Mark Halperin for a wide-ranging and deeply personal conversation about the growing cost of refusing to take sides in today’s polarized America. From Trump’s evolving response to the Minnesota ICE shooting to the backlash faced by journalists who insist on nuance, Halperin and Smerconish explore why centrism now draws fire from both the left and the right. They also dig into Trum...
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January 28, 2026 • 16 mins
Michael unpacks today’s poll question: "Should it be unlawful to conceal carry at a demonstration?" In the wake of the fatal Minneapolis shooting this past weekend, he examines gun laws at protests, Second Amendment contradictions within the GOP, and what the Supreme Court’s Heller decision actually allows. With states split on whether firearms are permitted at demonstrations, this episode explores where constitutional rights colli...
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January 27, 2026 • 25 mins
Michael takes a careful look at the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, pushing past slogans and snap judgments to examine what the law actually requires. Analyzing video evidence, use-of-force standards, and the “reasonable officer” test, Michael explains why this case may be fundamentally different from similar recent incidents—and why at least one officer could face serious legal exposure. A conversation about policing, protests, gun...
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January 27, 2026 • 15 mins
What happens when social media design meets the courtroom? As a landmark trial begins in Los Angeles, Michael breaks down the case that could hold Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube legally responsible for teen screen addiction. Drawing on polling data, psychological research, and product-liability law, Michael explains why he’s voting “yes” on today’s poll—and why this jury’s decision could reshape Big Tech’s future. Listen ...
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January 26, 2026 • 12 mins
What if the 2024 presidential election were rerun today? Michael revisits a familiar—but newly relevant—poll question, weighing Kamala Harris’s post-election momentum against Donald Trump’s declining approval ratings and fiercely loyal base. With fresh polling data, swing-state context, and a look at why voters got it wrong before, Michael games out whether a rematch would really change the outcome—or deliver the same surprise all ...
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January 23, 2026 • 21 mins
Admiral James Stavridis, former Supreme Allied Commander of NATO, joins Michael to tackle the biggest global questions of the moment: Will NATO survive the Trump era? Why Greenland has become a strategic flashpoint in the Arctic—and how climate change is reshaping global power. Stavridis breaks down the roles of China, Russia, Canada, and Europe, weighs in on Trump’s fixation with Greenland, and explains why the Arctic may define t...
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January 23, 2026 • 10 mins
Which matters more: gun rights or property rights?
Michael Smerconish breaks down today’s Smerconish.com poll question through the lens of a major Supreme Court case challenging Hawaii’s concealed-carry law. As the justices weigh whether gun owners need permission to carry firearms onto private property open to the public, the debate raises fundamental questions about the Second Amendment, property rights, and where the burden shou...
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January 22, 2026 • 17 mins
One year into President Trump's second term, all eyes are on the 2026 midterm elections. Michael Smerconish is joined by David Wasserman, senior editor and elections analyst at the Cook Political Report with Amy Walter, to break down what the numbers really say about the fight for Congress. From shrinking battleground districts and independent voter drift to inflation, immigration, and the limits of a potential Democratic wave, Was...
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January 22, 2026 • 12 mins
As global temperatures rise, Greenland is becoming one of the most strategically important places on Earth—but will President Trump ever acknowledge why? Michael Smerconish explores the growing geopolitical and military significance of the Arctic, featuring expert insights on national security, NATO, and climate science. Listen here, then vote on today's Smerconish.com poll question: "Will President Trump ever admit that “climate c...
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January 21, 2026 • 31 mins
Michael Smerconish is joined by political analyst Mark Halperin for a wide-ranging conversation sparked by President Trump’s remarks at Davos. They unpack Trump’s controversial comments on Greenland, NATO, and military force — separating rhetoric from strategy — and examine why the Arctic is becoming a flashpoint amid climate change, Russian and Chinese aggression, and missile defense concerns. The discussion also covers Trump 2.0 ...
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January 21, 2026 • 13 mins
Will NATO survive Trump? That’s today’s Smerconish.com poll — and it’s no longer hypothetical. As President Trump ramps up pressure on allies, flirts with territorial expansion, and reshapes U.S. foreign policy, Michael Smerconish explores whether the NATO alliance can endure Trump 2.0. Listen here, then vote at Smerconish.com, and please rate, review, and share this podcast! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pc...
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January 20, 2026 • 24 mins
What do Americans still have in common? Michael sits down with Wall Street Journal entertainment reporter Ben Fritz to explore the rise and fall of the American monoculture. From 'I Love Lucy' and 'Seinfeld' to streaming algorithms and TikTok feeds, they unpack how infinite choice fractured shared experience, weakened social glue, and may even be deepening political and cultural divides. Is sports the last thing left that unites us...
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January 20, 2026 • 12 mins
Is Kamala Harris politically toxic—or still a force Democrats can’t ignore? Is Josh Shapiro the party’s future—or a candidate defined by his past? Michael Smerconish unpacks today’s Smerconish.com poll question and the growing divide between Democratic insiders and voters as the 2028 race begins to take shape. Listen here and then cast your ballot: Who is more likely to be the 2028 Democratic nominee? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWi...
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January 19, 2026 • 40 mins
Broadcasting live from the nation’s largest Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service at Temple University, Michael Smerconish explores what’s really driving America’s political divide — and how we might begin to heal it.
In a wide-ranging conversation on polarization, media, technology, loneliness, and the loss of common experience, Michael argues that the real problem isn’t red vs. blue, but our failure to mingle.
Joined by MLK Day o...
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January 19, 2026 • 16 mins
Is mandatory national service the key to rebuilding civic unity—or an unacceptable infringement on personal freedom?
In this episode, Michael explains the thinking behind the Smerconish.com poll question and makes the case for national service as a remedy for polarization, loneliness, and civic disengagement. Broadcasting on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Michael connects volunteerism, shared experience, and the “Mingle Project” to a ...
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January 16, 2026 • 33 mins
Are GLP-1 weight loss drugs changing America—for better or worse? Michael explores the surprising ripple effects of drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy with PwC consumer markets leader Ali Furman. From gyms and grocery stores to travel, fashion, alcohol, gambling, and wellness, this conversation looks beyond weight loss to how these drugs may be reshaping consumer behavior, the economy, and even compulsive habits. Callers weigh in with r...
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