The Smerconish Podcast

How Biased Is Michael Smerconish? The Numbers Are In

How biased is Michael? The latest Ad Fontes Media Bias Chart is out, and Michael is more than happy to share his report card: A Blutarsky. He breaks down where his CNN pr

Today's Poll Question: Should Billionaires Pay a Wealth Tax—or Only Taxes on Income?

Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: Should the government tax the wealth of billionaires, or stick to taxing income? Michael examines the growing debate over whether

The Cornell Rape Case Is Reopened. Can Prosecutors Actually Win?

A newly filed civil lawsuit has put an alleged 2024 sexual assault at Cornell University back in the spotlight—and prompted the local district attorney to reopen the inve

Today's Poll Question: After President Trump leaves office, will presidential power go back to what it was before?

John Yoo is the Emanuel S. Heller Professor of Law at the University of California, Berkeley. William (Bill) Galston holds the Ezra K. Zilkha Chair in Governance Studies

Is Trump About to Cost Republicans Congress?

Early voting begins in just a few days in many states, so the midterm elections are underway. Political strategist Doug Sosnik joins Michael to break down the forces shap

Today's Poll Question: Should Stay-at-Home Parents Get the Same Federal Child Care Aid as Daycare Users?

Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: Should stay-at-home parents get the same federal child care aid as parents who use daycare? Michael examines a proposal that coul

Can the Dignity Index Fix America’s Toxic Politics?

Can Americans disagree politically without treating each other with contempt? Michael speaks with Special Olympics International Chairman Tim Shriver about the Dignity In

Today's Poll Question: Would A Bernie/AOC Ticket Be Viable In 2028?

Bernie Sanders and AOC… on the same 2028 presidential ticket? Michael examines Mark Halperin’s provocative prediction that the two progressive stars could team up early a

Should Parents Choose the Best School—or Try to Fix a Failing One?

Nikole Hannah-Jones made a principled decision to send her daughter to a struggling Brooklyn public school—but a decade later, she’s confronting the consequences. Michael

Today's Poll Question: Which Is More Likely: AI Ends Humanity or AI Cures Cancer?

Will AI destroy humanity—or save millions of lives? Michael explores the growing fears surrounding artificial intelligence alongside remarkable examples of AI improving h

Bernie and AOC in 2028? Mark Halperin Floats a Stunning Ticket

Could Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez join forces in 2028? Mark Halperin joins Michael Smerconish and floats the provocative possibility of a Bernie-AOC presi

Today's Poll Question: What was the most consequential U.S. presidential election of the last 50 years?

Listen to Dana Bash talk about her book "The Elections That Changed the World: Fifteen Pivotal Moments That Shaped How We Live" on The Book Club with Michael Smerconish P

America Wanted a Trump-Mamdani Fight. It Didn’t Get One

President Donald Trump and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani are about as politically different as it gets—so what should we make of their surprisingly cordial meeting a

Today's Poll Question: Trump and Mamdani are working together. Who's getting played?

Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: Trump and Mamdani working together. Who's getting played: Mamdani, Trump, Both, or Neither? Michael connects the unexpected cordi

AI Could Destroy Us—or Save Us

Michael opens with retired four-star Admiral James Stavridis for a rapid-fire look at Iran, the Houthis, Ukraine, and the growing danger of humans weaponizing artificial

Today's Poll Question: Is a candidate's civility toward opponents a factor in your vote?

Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: Is a candidate's civility toward opponents a factor in your vote? Michael Smerconish explores whether respect, dignity, and a wil

How Bucks County Became Ground Zero for America’s Political Divide

'Bucks County, USA' premieres on PBS on September 20, 2026. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use o

Today's Poll Question: Should Robert Kraft Have Pressured Ed Sheeran to Remove Macklemore From His Tour?

Should Robert Kraft have pressured Ed Sheeran to drop Macklemore from his tour? Michael breaks down the controversy surrounding Macklemore’s “Free Palestine” remarks and

Is the American Age Over?

Has America’s era of global dominance come to an end? Michael contrasts two very different assessments of U.S. power—one arguing that the “American Age” is over, and anot

Today's Poll Question: Was the Boston Globe right to name the Clancy holdout juror?

Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: Was the Boston Globe right to name the Clancy holdout juror? Yes or no? Michael examines the fallout after the Boston Globe ident