The Smerconish Podcast

By SiriusXM

What's The Smerconish Podcast about?

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.

Download our free app to listen on your phone

The Smerconish Podcast episodes:

05.17.2024
A run-through of Michael Cohen's rough day of testimony
Michael gets expert analysis from CNN Senior Legal Analyst Elie Honig about the cross-examination of Michael Cohen in the Trump Hush Money trial. Original air date 17 May 2024.
05.17.2024
Daily Poll: Do you agree with Mitt Romney that Joe Biden should have pardoned Donald Trump?
Every day, we post a thought-provoking poll question for you to vote on at Smerconish.com. Michael explains it here to give you some insight behind the question, and then asks you to cast your ballot. Today Michael asks you, Do...
05.16.2024
Trump Got Played By Biden On The Upcoming Debates
Is it debatable? Michael offers his thoughts on the surprise of the Biden and Trump campaigns agreeing to two debates with TV network. Original air date 16 May 2024.
05.16.2024
Daily Poll: Would a guilty verdict in the NY case damage Trump politically, or are views about him already baked in?
Every day, we post a thought-provoking poll question for you to vote on at Smerconish.com. Michael explains it here to give you some insight behind the question, and then asks you to cast your ballot. Today Michael asks you, Would...
05.15.2024
Extraordinary Trump Trial Analysis with William J. Brennan, Michael van der Veen, Elie Honig, Danny Cevallos and...Michael Smerconish
Michael has an incredible lineup of great legal minds on a day when former President Trump's criminal trial is in recess, following Michael Cohen's testimony. He is joined first by veteran attorneys William J. Brennan and Michael van der Veen,...
05.15.2024
Daily Poll: Will RFK Jr. make it to the debate stage?
Every day, we post a thought-provoking poll question for you to vote on at Smerconish.com. Michael explains it here to give you some insight behind the question, and then asks you to cast your ballot. Today Michael asks you, Will...
05.14.2024
Michael SMEARconish's Cohen Testimony Takeaway: A big day for the prosecution
Former President Trump name-checks Michael when talking to the media after court, and Michael offers thoughts on former personal fixer and personal attorney Michael Cohen's first day of testimony.
05.14.2024
Daily Poll: Do you agree or disagree with Fareed Zakaria saying the NY indictment would not have been brought against a defendant not named Donald Trump?
Every day, we post a thought-provoking poll question for you to vote on at Smerconish.com. Michael explains it here to give you some insight behind the question, and then asks you to cast your ballot. Today Michael asks you, Do...
05.13.2024
Former Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-NY) highlights what Michael has been thinking: What is Trump actually being charged with?
Michael talks to former Congressman Lee Zeldin (R-NY) the morning of former Trump attorney Michael Cohen beginning his testimony in former President Trump's criminal trial. Original air date 13 May 2024.
05.13.2024
Daily Poll: Will Michael Cohen's testimony be a net plus or minus for the prosecution?
Former President Donald Trump's ex-private attorney and 'personal fixer', Michael Cohen, takes the stand as the prosecution's star witness in the hush money trial in New York City today. Prosecutors are expected to rest their case this week. This has...
05.10.2024
In The Trump Trial, The Prosecution Has Convinced Michael Of...
Michael and NBC / MSNBC Legal Analyst Danny Cevallos discuss the latest in former President Trump's Hush Money Trial, where Stormy Daniels testified this past week, and Michael Cohen is expected to testify next week. Original air date 10 May...
05.10.2024
Daily Poll: Should aid to Israel be conditioned?
Every day, we post a thought-provoking poll question for you to vote on at Smerconish.com. Michael explains it here to give you some insight behind the question, and then asks you to cast your ballot. Today Michael asks you, after...
05.09.2024
'TALK' - 10 Years Later it Stands the Test of Time as the Book Michael is Most Proud of Writing
This weeks marks 10 years since the publication of "TALK: A Novel", Michael's first and only work of fiction that he has written. He reminisces with TC and Dan about this story of a talk radio host, with some salacious...
05.09.2024
Daily Poll: Which issue is the most important to you?
There are several big issues in the news right now that have election and other implications, but, a recent survey caught Michael's attention which shows that there are certain of these major issues that people just do not care about,...
05.08.2024
"Fake Ron Klain" to Joe Biden: Pardon Hunter
Michael welcomes Mark Halperin at the Wide World of News back with another one of his "Fake Ron Klain Memos" that offers unsolicited advice to "JRB" from a "fake" version of the former White House Chief of Staff, titled "The...
05.08.2024
The Prosecution Crossed A Line: CNN's Elie Honig Analyzes Stormy Daniels' Stormy Testimony
Michael and CNN Senior Legal Analyst Elie Honig parse through Stormy Daniels' (real name: Stephanie Clifford) salacious testimony at former President Trump's hush money trial. Original air date 8 May 2024.
05.08.2024
Daily Poll: Did Stormy Daniels’ salacious testimony make Trump's trial more a case about sex than documents?
Lots of reaction to Stephanie Clifford's, professionally known as Stormy Daniels, testimony at former President Trump's criminal trial yesterday, about their alleged one-night stand in 2006, that lead to the alleged hush money payment to her that Trump is accused...
05.07.2024
The World's Largest Trial Of A 4-Day Work Week: A Success
Michael talks to Jack Kellam, Head of Operations at Autonomy, a UK-based company that did a big study on the effectiveness of four-day work weeks. Listen to their conversation on the results, and think, could you thrive in a four-day...
05.07.2024
Daily Poll: Does Donald Trump want Judge Merchan to send him to jail for contempt of court?
Every day, we post a thought-provoking poll question for you to vote on at Smerconish.com. Michael explains it here to give you some insight behind the question, and then asks you to cast your ballot. Today Michael asks you, Does...
05.06.2024
Response to Being Disinvited as the ’24 Dickinson College Commencement Speaker
Dickinson College has rescinded its invitation to Michael to be its commencement speaker. Listen to his response here, which is also written in full at Smerconish.com. In short, Michael says "We are doing our youth, future leaders, and nation a...
05.06.2024
Daily Poll: Will either presidential candidate open a national lead larger than the margin of error in the final 6 months?
It's six months until the 2024 presidential election. Today Michael asks you this daily poll question at Smerconish.com: Will either presidential candidate open a national lead larger than the margin of error in the final 6 months? Listen here, then...
05.03.2024
The Importance of Teen Mental Health
Tami D. Benton, MD, is the Psychiatrist-in-Chief and Chair of the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. She joins Michael to provide insight into why it is crucial for teens to...
05.03.2024
Daily Poll: Is Joe Scarborough correct in saying that footage of police clashing with pro-Palestinian protestors helps Donald Trump?
Every day, we post a thought-provoking poll question for you to vote on at Smerconish.com. Michael explains it here to give you some insight behind the question, and then asks you to cast your ballot. Today Michael follows up from...
05.02.2024
Researchers sent 80,000 fake resumes to job openings. Here is what happened.
Michael talks to Evan Rose, Assistant Professor of Economics at the University of Chicago, about a study he co-authored where fake resumes, with equivalent qualifications but different personal characteristics, were sent to job openings. Listen to find out his approach,...
05.02.2024
Daily Poll: Should President Biden be more condemning of those responsible for campus unrest?
Every day, we post a thought-provoking poll question for you to vote on at Smerconish.com. Michael explains it here to give you some insight behind the question, and then asks you to cast your ballot - today with the protests...
05.01.2024
The Power Of The Front Yard
Happier, more connected neighborhoods start right in the front yard. So says new research out from the University at Buffalo, which suggests a good, well built and presented front yard could be a solution to America's loneliness epidemic. Michael welcomes...
05.01.2024
Daily Poll: Did Kristi Noem just help or hurt herself with Donald Trump?
Every day, we post a thought-provoking poll question for you to vote on at Smerconish.com. Michael explains it here to give you some insight behind the question, and then asks you to cast your ballot - today he's asking, following...
04.30.2024
A look at new 2024 polling data now being published by 538 & ABC News
Michael talks to G. Elliot Morris, 538/ABC News Editorial Director for Data Analytics, about new 2024 race polling.
04.30.2024
Daily Poll: Is the U.S. in the midst of a decline akin to that of previous empires in world history?
Is the U.S. in the midst of a decline akin to that of Rome, Habsburg Spain, the Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian Empires and the Soviet Union? That's the Daily Poll Question Michael is asking you today at Smerconish.com. He has dived...
04.29.2024
Why Did Gov. Kristi Noem Even Tell The Story About The Dog?
Excerpts from South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem's forthcoming book have her in a bit of controversy. In the book, he tells the story of her killing a dog after it attacked some chickens. Michael wonders, why would this protentional running...
04.29.2024
Daily Poll: Who will Trump select as his running mate?
Michael asks you this Daily Poll Question at Smerconish.com today: Who will Trump select as his VP? Choices: Katie Britt, Doug Burgum, Ben Carson, Ron DeSantis, Byron Donalds, Nikki Haley, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Kristi Noem, Mike Pompeo, Vivek Ramaswamy, Marco...
04.26.2024
DC's Sense of Humor On Display at The White House Correspondents Dinner
Michael talks to Jeff Nussbaum, a former speechwriter to President Biden and author of "Undelivered." This weekend is the annual White House Correspondents' Dinner, and Nussbaum previewed it in Politico Magazine in his piece "Trump's Jokes Killed DC's Sense of...
04.26.2024
Daily Poll: Will Melania Trump ever step foot in the hush money court room?
As week 2 of former President Trump's criminal trial wraps up, there is one face we have not yet seen in the courtroom, or by his side in his daily pre-court appearances. Michael asks you this Daily Poll Question at...
04.25.2024
Independents who can't vote in closed party primaries: It makes you question democracy
Michael talks to BallotPA Chair David Thornburgh about the problem with primaries in Pennsylvania and other states: they are closed, and independents like Michael can not vote in them! Find out more about the Committee of Seventy's BallotPA project at...
04.25.2024
Daily Poll: Should registered Independents be permitted to vote in party primaries?
Every day, we post a thought-provoking poll question for you to vote on at Smerconish.com. Michael explains it here to give you some insight behind the question, and then asks you to cast your ballot - today he's asking, following...
04.24.2024
The unique relationship between Trump and The National Enquirer
There is no court session today for President Trump's criminal trial in New York City. Michael talks to NBC/MSNBC Legal Analyst Danny Cevallos about what transpired in the court yesterday, including the spotlight on Trump's relationship with the National Enquirer,...
04.24.2024
Daily Poll: Should airports create a 'fast-pass' security line with background checks, for wealthy travelers?
There is a proposal in California to ban Clear, a high-end, bypass-the-TSA-line concierge travel service. This has Michael asking you this Daily Poll Question at Smerconish.com today: Should airports offer non-TSA security lines for those willing to pay a fee...
04.23.2024
The Presumed Demise Of The 6% Real Estate Commission
There is a lot to learn here - might the long-standard 6% real estate commission that agents get be a thing of the past, due to a recently announced settlement with the National Association of Realtors? Michael learns everything we...
04.23.2024
Daily Poll: Should the U.S. government ban TikTok?
The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a bill to ban the social media platform TikTok. It now heads to the Senate. Michael asks you this Daily Poll Question at Smerconish.com today: Should the U.S. government ban TikTok? Listen here,...
04.22.2024
The Supreme Court takes the case of whether homeless people can sleep outside when there's nowhere else to go
Sister Mary Scullion, an advocate for the homeless in Philadelphia, joins Michael to talk about a case the Supreme Court is hearing today out of Oregon, on whether homeless people can be punished for sleeping outside when there is no...
04.22.2024
Daily Poll: Is it cruel and unusual to criminally cite the homeless for public encampment if they have no access to shelter?
Every day, we post a thought-provoking poll question for you to vote on at Smerconish.com. Michael explains it here to give you some insight behind the question, and then asks you to cast your ballot - today he's asking: Is...
04.19.2024
The Mythical tie between immigration and incarceration
Michael talks to Northwestern University Professor Dr. Elisa Jacome, she is one of the co-authors of a study uncovering the most extensive evidence to date that immigrants are less likely to be imprisoned than U.S.-born individuals. Original air date 19...
04.19.2024
Do you agree with the news outlets that are pushing Biden & Trump to publicly commit to debate?
Every day, we post a thought-provoking poll question for you to vote on at Smerconish.com. Michael explains it here to give you some insight behind the question, and then asks you to cast your ballot - today he's asking: Do...
04.18.2024
David Frum says Biden Should Not Debate Trump
Michael talks to former speechwriter for President George W. Bush, David Frum, who writes in The Atlantic, "The networks want their show, but to give the challenger equal status on a TV stage would be a dire normalization of his...
04.18.2024
Daily Poll: Should a student’s prior political speech be considered when determining whether they can speak at college graduation?
The University of Southern California denied its valedictorian, Asna Tabassum, to give a speech at the 2024 commencement for her vocal support for Palestinians. Today, Michael asks you this Daily Poll Question at Smerconish.com: Should a student’s prior political speech...
04.17.2024
A Jury of His Peers? Michael and Elie Honig Analyze The 7 Seated Trump Jurors
Seven Manhattan residents, including a diverse mix of professions and backgrounds, were selected as jurors for Donald Trump's high-profile criminal trial, amid stringent selection processes. Listen to Michael and CNN Senior Legal Analyst Elie Honig talk through the chosen ones...
04.17.2024
Daily Poll: Could you be a fair juror in the current Trump trial?
Every day, we post a thought-provoking poll question for you to vote on at Smerconish.com. Michael explains it here to give you some insight behind the question, and then asks you to cast your ballot - today he's asking: Could...
04.16.2024
Survivors of the attack in Israel say being high at the time helped them through it
Michael talks to University of Haifa Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience Roy Salomon about the connection of psychedelics and trauma, after it was found that attendees of the concert in the Israeli desert, who were using psychedelics, were able to get...
04.16.2024
Daily Poll: How will the Trump trial end?
The former President's criminal trial began in New York City yesterday. Michael asks you today's Daily Poll Question at Smerconish.com: How will the Trump trial end? Conviction, Acquittal, Hung Jury, Mistrial, or Guilty Plea? Listen here, then vote!
04.15.2024
Trump has two robust defense strategies: One obvious, and one surprising
Michael talks to Ankush Khardori at Politico Magazine about his piece "The Surprising Strategy Trump Could Use to Win His Manhattan Trial." Original air date 15 April 2024.

What's The Smerconish Podcast about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

The Smerconish Podcast episodes:

A run-through of Michael Cohen's rough day of testimony

Daily Poll: Do you agree with Mitt Romney that Joe Biden should have pardoned Donald Trump?

Trump Got Played By Biden On The Upcoming Debates

Daily Poll: Would a guilty verdict in the NY case damage Trump politically, or are views about him already baked in?

Extraordinary Trump Trial Analysis with William J. Brennan, Michael van der Veen, Elie Honig, Danny Cevallos and...Michael Smerconish

Daily Poll: Will RFK Jr. make it to the debate stage?

Michael SMEARconish's Cohen Testimony Takeaway: A big day for the prosecution

Daily Poll: Do you agree or disagree with Fareed Zakaria saying the NY indictment would not have been brought against a defendant not named Donald Trump?

Former Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-NY) highlights what Michael has been thinking: What is Trump actually being charged with?

Daily Poll: Will Michael Cohen's testimony be a net plus or minus for the prosecution?

In The Trump Trial, The Prosecution Has Convinced Michael Of...

Daily Poll: Should aid to Israel be conditioned?

'TALK' - 10 Years Later it Stands the Test of Time as the Book Michael is Most Proud of Writing

Daily Poll: Which issue is the most important to you?

"Fake Ron Klain" to Joe Biden: Pardon Hunter

The Prosecution Crossed A Line: CNN's Elie Honig Analyzes Stormy Daniels' Stormy Testimony

Daily Poll: Did Stormy Daniels’ salacious testimony make Trump's trial more a case about sex than documents?

The World's Largest Trial Of A 4-Day Work Week: A Success

Daily Poll: Does Donald Trump want Judge Merchan to send him to jail for contempt of court?

Response to Being Disinvited as the ’24 Dickinson College Commencement Speaker

Daily Poll: Will either presidential candidate open a national lead larger than the margin of error in the final 6 months?

The Importance of Teen Mental Health

Daily Poll: Is Joe Scarborough correct in saying that footage of police clashing with pro-Palestinian protestors helps Donald Trump?

Researchers sent 80,000 fake resumes to job openings. Here is what happened.

Daily Poll: Should President Biden be more condemning of those responsible for campus unrest?

The Power Of The Front Yard

Daily Poll: Did Kristi Noem just help or hurt herself with Donald Trump?

A look at new 2024 polling data now being published by 538 & ABC News

Daily Poll: Is the U.S. in the midst of a decline akin to that of previous empires in world history?

Why Did Gov. Kristi Noem Even Tell The Story About The Dog?

Daily Poll: Who will Trump select as his running mate?

DC's Sense of Humor On Display at The White House Correspondents Dinner

Daily Poll: Will Melania Trump ever step foot in the hush money court room?

Independents who can't vote in closed party primaries: It makes you question democracy

Daily Poll: Should registered Independents be permitted to vote in party primaries?

The unique relationship between Trump and The National Enquirer

Daily Poll: Should airports create a 'fast-pass' security line with background checks, for wealthy travelers?

The Presumed Demise Of The 6% Real Estate Commission

Daily Poll: Should the U.S. government ban TikTok?

The Supreme Court takes the case of whether homeless people can sleep outside when there's nowhere else to go

Daily Poll: Is it cruel and unusual to criminally cite the homeless for public encampment if they have no access to shelter?

The Mythical tie between immigration and incarceration

Do you agree with the news outlets that are pushing Biden & Trump to publicly commit to debate?

David Frum says Biden Should Not Debate Trump

Daily Poll: Should a student’s prior political speech be considered when determining whether they can speak at college graduation?

A Jury of His Peers? Michael and Elie Honig Analyze The 7 Seated Trump Jurors

Daily Poll: Could you be a fair juror in the current Trump trial?

Survivors of the attack in Israel say being high at the time helped them through it

Daily Poll: How will the Trump trial end?

Trump has two robust defense strategies: One obvious, and one surprising

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