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
August 14, 2026 • 27 mins
Michael asks a deceptively simple question: Should parents have the final say on their child’s vaccines? Dr. Brian McDonough joins to examine the Trump administration’s changes to childhood vaccine recommendations, the science behind the longstanding MMR schedule, rising measles concerns, and a growing crisis of trust in government health agencies. Plus, callers weigh in on where parental choice ends and public health b...
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August 14, 2026 • 14 mins
Should grades still matter? As the University of Michigan prepares to replace traditional grades with pass/no-credit marks for first-semester students, Michael examines why we started grading students in the first place—and whether grades encourage achievement or get in the way of learning. Is rethinking the GPA smart education reform, or are we simply coddling students? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://p...
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August 13, 2026 • 24 mins
Should parents have the final say on their child’s vaccines? Michael examines how the debate over parental choice has shifted following President Trump’s changes to childhood vaccine recommendations. Dr. Brian McDonough, Medical Editor for 1010 WINS (New York) and KYW (Philadelphia), joins Michael to explain what the changes mean, why he believes they aren’t supported by new science, and why his trust in governme...
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August 13, 2026 • 12 mins
President Trump’s move to reduce the number of universally recommended childhood vaccines has put parental choice back at the center of the vaccine debate. Michael Smerconish asks where parental rights end when a child’s health is at stake, and whether people’s views on who should decide have changed along with the politics. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com
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August 12, 2026 • 22 mins
Michael is joined by Mark Halperin to unpack two big political stories: what the latest primary results really say about the rise of democratic socialism inside the Democratic Party, and the unanswered questions surrounding a reported threat to Air Force One. Who traveled with President Trump after he was moved to another aircraft, who was left behind—and was the story leaked on purpose? Plus, a debate over polling, Trump&rsq...
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President Trump says the Secret Service ordered the Air Force One decoy operation. But a revealing Clinton-era precedent raises a bigger question: could the White House have said no? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com
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August 11, 2026 • 33 mins
President Trump boarded Air Force One in full view of the cameras—but he wasn’t on it when it took off. Facing a reported Iranian assassination threat, Trump was secretly moved by catering truck to another aircraft while White House staff and journalists continued their journey believing the president was aboard. Michael asks: Were they being used as decoys? Was the Washington Post right to reveal the operation? And wha...
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A credible Iranian threat forced Trump into a secret Air Force One switch. But reporters and staff were left aboard the original plane. Smart security—or were they used as decoys? Michael puts the question to you. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com
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August 10, 2026 • 29 mins
A viral WNBA foul sends Michael down a rabbit hole: Are race and politics really driving the controversy surrounding Caitlin Clark and the league—or are fans being fed a misleading narrative? Howard Megdal, author of Becoming Caitlin Clark, joins Michael to separate perception from data. Plus, the conversation expands to Angel Reese, Sophie Cunningham, transgender athletes, media coverage, and why the WNBA has suddenly become...
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August 10, 2026 • 12 mins
Can Iran outlast Trump? Michael examines whether Tehran can keep the Strait of Hormuz closed through the midterms—and what it could mean for oil prices and American politics. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com
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August 7, 2026 • 22 mins
Six months after Nancy Guthrie vanished from her Tucson-area home, investigators appear no closer to solving the case. Michael speaks with Wall Street Journal reporter Valerie Bauerlein about the ransom notes, surveillance footage, early law-enforcement missteps, and the baffling lack of a breakthrough. How can someone vanish without a trace—and will the mystery of Savannah Guthrie’s mother ever be solved? Hosted by Sim...
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August 7, 2026 • 12 mins
Does Donald Trump actually believe the 2020 election was stolen—or does he know he lost? Michael examines the evidence, the psychology, and a question that may never have a definitive answer. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com
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August 6, 2026 • 26 mins
Michael sits down with OnBalance founder and former college quarterback Walt Norley for a candid conversation about bipolar disorder, the pressures facing student-athletes and the mental-health crisis unfolding on college campuses. Norley shares stories involving Nick Saban and Tony Dorsett, explains why athletes are often reluctant to seek help, and offers parents practical questions to ask about a school’s mental-health res...
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August 6, 2026 • 13 mins
Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: Are Democrats having their own Maga moment?
Abdul El-Sayed’s narrow Michigan Democratic Senate primary victory may reveal something larger than an ideological shift. Michael examines how anger at party leadership, frustration with the establishment and distrust of traditional ideas about electability are fueling a Democratic insurgency. Drawing comparisons to Donald Trump’s takeo...
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August 5, 2026 • 29 mins
Mark Halperin unveils his latest rankings of the potential 2028 Democratic presidential field—and there is a new name at No. 1. Michael presses the political analyst and "Wide World of News" publisher on why Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro has moved ahead of Gavin Newsom, where Mark Kelly fits into the race, and whether the Democratic primary could become a battle between the party’s establishment and progressive win...
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August 5, 2026 • 15 mins
Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: Is the AI-driven economy a house of cards?
Stocks are reaching historic highs as America’s largest technology companies pour hundreds of billions of dollars into AI chips, data centers, utilities, and construction. But billionaire investor Ray Dalio says the enthusiasm bears troubling similarities to the bubbles of 1929 and 2000. Michael examines whether today’s AI boom is suppor...
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August 4, 2026 • 27 mins
Doug Sosnik joins Michael to break down the latest data on the 2026 midterms, explaining why history points toward a Democratic wave—even as polarization, redistricting, and campaign cash could limit the gains. Plus, why this year's election may tell us far less about the 2028 presidential race than many assume. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com
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Today's poll tackles a question that could reshape the Democratic Party: Can a Sanders-style progressive win in a battleground state? Michael explores Michigan's high-stakes Senate primary, the rise of young progressive voters, and what the results could mean for 2026 and beyond Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com
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August 3, 2026 • 34 mins
Should Dr. Anthony Fauci testify before Congress with immunity? Michael examines why nearly 50,000 poll voters overwhelmingly said yes, then unpacks the controversial Todd Blanche DOJ agreement, Trump's IRS audit protections, and the growing debate over "lawfare" against political opponents. A deep dive into one of Washington's most complicated—and consequential—legal and political battles. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsW...
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August 3, 2026 • 13 mins
What keeps you up at night: nuclear war, AI, climate change—or a biological attack? What should we fear most? Michael previews his conversation with bestselling author Annie Jacobsen and explores today's poll on the biggest threats facing the future. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com
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