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The Smerconish Podcast

SiriusXM

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.

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108 episodes
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#2064
Friday · 33 min
The Cornell Rape Case: Are We Missing the Real Problem?
What really went wrong at Cornell? Michael speaks with Hanna Stotland, an educational crisis consultant who has handled 363 campus sexual misconduct cases, about the controversial rape allegations, the role of drugs and alcohol, and what the public may be overlooking. Stotland argues that substance abuse is a common denominator in these cases—but is that victim-blaming or an uncomfortable truth? Plus, Michael takes listener calls on consent, accountability, and campus culture. Original air date
#2063
Friday · 8 min
Today's Poll Question: Are you in favor of the death penalty for a person convicted of murder?
Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: Are you in favor of the death penalty for a person convicted of murder? As executions make headlines in Texas and Florida, California Governor Gavin Newsom considers commuting hundreds of death sentences, and the Trump administration revisits the use of firing squads, Michael examines America's complicated relationship with capital punishment. Gallup polling reveals a dramatic shift: support for the death penalty peaked at 80% in 1994 but stands at just 5
#2062
Thursday · 34 min
Having Second Thoughts About the Death Penalty
A botched execution in Tennessee, a firing squad in Texas, record-setting executions in Florida, and a possible mass commutation of death sentences in California. America's death penalty debate is back in the spotlight. Michael is a longtime supporter of capital punishment, but admits he's questioning his position more than ever. Is the death penalty justice or revenge? Does it deter crime? And what happens when the justice system gets it wrong? Michael examines the latest developments and takes
#2061
Thursday · 10 min
Today's Poll Question: As the media has gotten more diverse, has the bias of the “Dominant Media” against Trump worsened?
Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: Do you agree with Mark Halperin that as the media has gotten more diverse, the bias of the dominant media against Trump has worsened? More media choices than ever—but is mainstream news coverage becoming less fair? Michael Smerconish examines journalist Mark Halperin's provocative argument that legacy media outlets have grown increasingly biased against Donald Trump, even as podcasts, cable news, and independent platforms reshape the information landscap
#2060
Wednesday · 32 min
Mark Halperin: The Media Is Trying to Destroy Trump
Is the press giving Donald Trump and Republicans a fair shake? 2WAY Political Analyst Mark Halperin joins Michael Smerconish to argue that America’s “dominant media” applies a different standard to Democrats and Republicans—and that the problem has only intensified in the Trump era. They discuss coverage of Trump’s record and Democratic flip-flops, plus the extraordinary success of Fox News as it marks 30 years on the air today. Then, listeners weigh in, challenging—and defending—Halperin’s case
#2059
Wednesday · 17 min
Today's Poll Question: Who should remain anonymous in a rape accusation case, prior to a verdict?
Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: Prior to a verdict, who should remain anonymous in a rape accusation case? Only the accuser, both the accuser and the accused, or no one? Michael examines the difficult balance between victim privacy, the presumption of innocence, and the public’s right to know. Using the Cornell rape case as a backdrop, he looks at why the accuser remains anonymous while the seven accused men have been publicly identified, photographed, and discussed despite no criminal
#2058
Tuesday · 24 min
Did Russia Just Have a Plague Lab Leak? Annie Jacobsen Sounds the Alarm
Reports of a mysterious death at a Russian laboratory are raising fears about pneumonic plague—and the circumstances sound eerily similar to the scenario Annie Jacobsen laid out in her latest book, "Biological War." Jacobsen joins Michael Smerconish to explain what makes pneumonic plague so dangerous, why Russia’s secrecy and quarantine response are drawing scrutiny, and what signs she’ll be watching for next. They also discuss the possibility of weaponized pathogens, gain-of-function research,
#2057
Tuesday · 11 min
Today's Poll Question: Should NY AG Letitia James be the person to investigate the Cornell rape case?
Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: Should New York Attorney General Letitia James be the person to investigate the Cornell rape case? Michael examines whether AG James can fairly oversee the high-profile Cornell case after publicly referring to the accuser as a “survivor” before an investigation was completed. Drawing on arguments from former federal prosecutor Elie Honig and attorney Justin Dillon, Michael explores the appearance of prejudgment, prosecutors’ ethical obligations, and lesso
#2056
Monday · 33 min
Too Drunk to Consent? The Law Complicating the Cornell Rape Case
The latest developments in the Cornell rape case raise a complicated question: When is someone too intoxicated to legally consent to sex? Michael breaks down New York’s rape laws, the controversial “voluntary intoxication” loophole, and why the distinction between being drugged, unconscious, and voluntarily intoxicated could make this case extraordinarily difficult to prosecute. Plus, new reporting on recorded phone calls involving the Cornell students and Michael’s conversation with listeners a
#2055
Monday · 14 min
Today's Poll Question: Is America over-policed or under-policed?
Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: Is America over-policed or under-policed? Michael explores a provocative argument from Malcolm Gladwell’s new book, "The American Way of Killing" (hear Michael's conversation with Gladwell on The Book Club Podcast later today): America may have too few police officers, not too many—and far too many people behind bars. Comparing U.S. cities with their European counterparts, Michael examines whether smaller police forces can actually contribute to more viol
#2054
October 2 · 21 min
The Midterm Map Is Shifting
With the 2026 midterms just weeks away, Mark Halperin joins Michael to break down the battle for control of the House and Senate—and why races in places like Kansas and Iowa deserve attention. They also revisit the Bernie Sanders–AOC 2028 idea, discuss Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear’s presidential potential, and examine Donald Trump’s stakes in the midterms. Could the political map be shifting faster than Republicans expected?
#2053
October 2 · 15 min
Today's Poll Question: Will the renewed investigation at Cornell result in any criminal convictions?
Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: Will the renewed investigation at Cornell result in any criminal convictions? Michael revisits the Cornell sexual assault case with new information now in the public record, including reporting on Jane Doe’s statements, text messages, the university’s Title IX process, and the district attorney’s decision not to initially bring charges. While acknowledging the disturbing conduct described in the case, Michael explains why he still believes the contradicti
#2052
October 1 · 21 min
Cornell Rape Case: You Can’t Unring the Bell
New details have emerged in the Cornell rape case, including reporting about Jane Doe’s statements to police, text messages after the alleged incident, and Cornell’s Title IX investigation. Michael is joined again by NBC News legal analyst Danny Cevallos to examine what the new information means for the renewed criminal investigation — and why, in Danny’s view, prosecutors may not be able to “unring the bell” when it comes to statements already in the record. Original air date 1 October 2026.
#2051
October 1 · 13 min
Today's Poll Question: Should AI designers consider religion when programming morality?
Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: Should AI designers consider religious doctrine when programming morality? As artificial intelligence becomes a source of advice on everything from family conflicts to medical decisions, whose values should guide its answers? Michael examines reports that Anthropic has consulted religious scholars as it wrestles with the “moral formation” of AI—and considers the larger question of whether centuries of religious thought should have a role in shaping the te
#2050
September 30 · 31 min
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 program and SiriusXM podcast land on the left-right media bias spectrum, compares his scores with some of the biggest names in news and commentary, and offers a theory for why his radio show lands slightly to the left of his TV program: the callers. Plus, listeners weigh in on whether Michael — and the media they consume — are rea
#2049
September 30 · 11 min
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 enormous fortunes should be taxed based on wealth rather than income. Drawing on his conversation from yesterday with economist Gabriel Zucman, Michael explores proposals aimed at billionaires, including the argument that vast stock holdings can appreciate for years without generating taxable personal income. But a wealth tax r
#2048
September 29 · 37 min
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 investigation. Michael examines the graphic allegations, the accuser’s earlier sworn statement described by the DA, and the major discrepancies now at the center of the case. NBC senior legal analyst Danny Cevallos joins Michael to discuss why, despite deeply troubling alleged conduct, securing a criminal conviction could prove extr
#2047
September 29 · 23 min
Today's Poll Question: After President Trump leaves office, will presidential power go back to what it was before?
Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: After Donald Trump leaves office, will presidential power go back to what it was before? Donald Trump’s expansive use of executive authority raises a question that could outlast his presidency: Will his successors surrender those powers—or use them for their own agendas? Michael sets up today's poll question in this podcast episode with a little preview of the latest YouTube episode of "Can We Agree?", featuring constitutional scholar John Yoo and politic
#2046
September 28 · 33 min
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 shaping the battle for Congress. They examine shifting voter enthusiasm, Trump’s approval, the war in Iran, inflation and gas prices, and why historical midterm trends may only tell part of the story. Then, Michael opens the phones to listeners for their take on what could drive voters this November. Original air date 28 September 2
#2045
September 28 · 14 min
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 could expand federal child care assistance to families in which one parent works while the other stays home with the kids. He traces the idea to a 2021 Wall Street Journal essay co-authored by J.D. Vance and explores the arguments over daycare, parental choice, child development, and whether public policy should financially support

Showing 1–20 of 108 episodes