The Smerconish Podcast

"The Chaos Is The Point": Chris Coons Sounds Alarm on Trump’s Mail-In Voting Plan

Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE) joins Michael to discuss President Trump’s push to change mail-in voting, the battle for control of the House in the 2026 midterms, and what he se

Today's Poll Question: Who Wins The House In November?

Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: Who wins the House in November - Democrats or Republicans? With the 2026 midterms approaching, Michael Smerconish examines whethe

Lindsay Clancy: Why Yale Law School's Jed Rubenfeld Predicts a Plea Deal

Why did the Lindsay Clancy case end in a mistrial—and what happens next? Michael speaks with Yale Law professor Jed Rubenfeld about the unusual Massachusetts insanity law

Today's Poll Question: "Would America be better off as two countries?"

Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: "Would America be better off as two countries?" Could America’s political divisions eventually become national borders? Michael e

What Your College Major Says About Your Politics

Can your college major predict your politics—or even how religious you are? Michael talks with Ryan Burge, a professor of practice at Washington University in St. Louis’

The Government Took His $95,000 Plane Over a Six-Pack of Beer

A six-pack of beer could help redefine the Constitution’s ban on excessive fines. Michael breaks down the extraordinary Supreme Court case of an Alaska bush pilot whose $

Josh Shapiro Says “Hell No” to Data Centers — The Developer Responds

Data centers are becoming one of America’s hottest political fights. Michael talks with Pennsylvania developer Brian O’Neill, who is seeking to build $18 billion worth of

America Is Divided. Except at Costco.

In an increasingly fragmented America, could Costco be one of the last places that still brings everyone together? Michael explores how the warehouse giant became an unli

The Truth About Trump’s Tariffs on Canada: Former Ambassador David L. Cohen Explains

Former U.S. Ambassador to Canada David L. Cohen joins Michael to unpack the escalating U.S.-Canada trade fight, President Trump’s tariffs, and whether Canada has really b

Today's Poll Question: Would You Let A Child Of Yours Play Tackle Football?

Football season is back—but would you let your kid take the field? Michael weighs the alarming new CTE data, the dangers of youth tackle football, and the social pressure

Meta’s $18 Billion Reckoning: Are We All Addicted?

Meta has agreed to an historic nearly $18 billion settlement over claims that Facebook and Instagram harm kids—but Michael says the story is bigger than teenagers. With n

Today's Poll Question: Are the U.S. and Canada still allies?

Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: Are the US and Canada still allies? For generations, the U.S.-Canada relationship was one Americans rarely had reason to question

Was Dolly Parton the Last Person America Agreed On?

Michael remembers Dolly Parton and asks what made her such a rare, universally beloved American figure - she did what politics can't: Unite us. Bob Crawford of The Avett

Today's Poll Question: Which Is Worse? Building Data Centers, or Losing The AI Race to China?

Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: Which is worse, building data centers or losing to China the AI race they power? Michael examines the growing backlash against ma

Why America’s $40 Trillion Debt Matters to Your Wallet

America’s national debt has crossed a staggering $40 trillion — but what does that actually mean for you? Michael sits down with Michael A. Peterson, Chairman and CEO of

Today's Poll Question: When a Party Can’t Win, Should It Get Out of the Way For A Strong Independent Candidate?

Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: In a state where one party can't win a Senate seat, should that party step aside for a strong independent? Michael examines a pro

Charles Barkley Unfiltered: Politics, the WNBA & 2028

Charles Barkley joins Michael Smerconish for a wide-ranging, unfiltered conversation about America’s political divide, the WNBA and transgender athletes, Caitlin Clark, r

Today's Poll Question: If the Public Can Attend, Should Cameras Have a Right to Be There Too?

Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: Should cameras be allowed in every government proceeding that the public has a right to attend? Today Michael makes the case for

Inside Trump’s Mysterious Air Force One Security Move

Michael talks with Steve Atkiss, former Special Assistant to President George W. Bush for Operations and a longtime presidential trip director, about the extraordinary se

Today's Poll Question: Would You Pay Higher Taxes and Take Benefit Cuts to Fix the $40 Trillion Debt?

Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: Would you accept both higher taxes on yourself and reduced Social Security and Medicare benefits in order to reduce the $40 trill