The Smerconish Podcast

In today’s episode, Michael Smerconish unpacks President Trump’s unusually rapid and partisan White House address — and explores whether a major New York Times investigation into Trump’s long-obscured friendship with Jeffrey Epstein helps explain the tone. Michael walks through the Times reporting, the president’s polling struggles, and why major networks seemed to ignore the story. Plus: the arrest of protesters in the U.K. for chanting “Globalize the Intifada” and what that means for free speech debates in the U.S. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Michael breaks down a fast-moving news cycle—from President Trump’s national address and a bombshell New York Times report on Trump and Epstein, to a provocative new poll question: Should British police arrest protesters who chant “Globalize the Intifada”? As the UK begins making arrests and Australia weighs new speech laws after a deadly anti-Semitic attack, Michael explores the stark contrast between British law and America’s First Amendment—and asks where the line between free speech and public safety should be drawn. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Mark Halperin is editor-in-chief of 2WAY and host of the Next Up podcast. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Michael breaks down today’s Smerconish.com Daily Poll Question: Are President Trump’s comments about Rob Reiner a new low? After Trump issued a controversial Truth Social post in the wake of the Reiner family tragedy, even some usual allies spoke out against him. Michael reviews the reactions, compares this moment to past Trump controversies—from McCain to Kovaleski—and asks listeners to decide where this one ranks. Vote now at Smerconish.com and join the conversation. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Michael is joined by longtime Trump adviser David Urban for a candid conversation about the president’s controversial Truth Social post following the tragic murders of Rob and Michele Reiner. Urban, who ran Trump’s 2016 Pennsylvania campaign, publicly called the post “indefensible”—and here he explains why. Together, he and Michael explore the political fallout, the human cost behind the Reiner family tragedy, and what the moment reveals about decision-making inside Trump’s orbit. A sobering and insightful discussion on leadership, restraint, and the national mood. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Antisemitic incidents are rising across the U.S. and around the world. Michael's answer to today's Smerconish.com poll question, "Is antisemitism becoming normalized in our society today?" is, sadly, "Yes." Listen here to hear his take, then vote, and please rate, review, and share this podcast. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode, Michael speaks with attorney Shane Pennington, a leading expert on cannabis rescheduling, about reports that President Trump is preparing an executive order to reclassify marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III. Pennington explains what a reclassification would mean for consumers, the legal cannabis industry, medical research, criminal justice, and state–federal power. Michael also explores the contrasting New York Times and JAMA analysis questioning the medical benefits of cannabis—and hears from listeners whose real-world experiences tell a different story. A fast-moving, deeply informative conversation about federal drug policy, politics, and the shifting landscape of cannabis in America. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode, Michael Smerconish confronts a deeply troubling question: Are mass shootings a permanent part of American life? Following a devastating weekend—from the Brown University shooting to tragedies abroad—Michael unpacks today’s poll question at Smerconish.com and shares why he’s grown pessimistic about meaningful change. In a prepared statement he reads from each time there is a mass shooting, he revisits the Second Amendment, the Heller decision, and the political realities that keep America stuck. A candid, sobering reflection on a crisis that shows no signs of slowing. Listen here, then vote at smerconish.com, and please rate, review, and share this podcast. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Michael explores the political impact of the massive intergenerational wealth transfer underway. With over $124 trillion set to pass from Baby Boomers to Millennials and Gen X, could this spark a political divide or even a civil war? Joined by Eric Levitz, Senior Correspondent at Vox, the discussion dives deep into how inherited wealth might shape future political battles, the rise of economic inequality, and the shifting landscape of U.S. politics. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Michael digs into today’s poll question: Who should regulate AI — the federal government, the states, or no one at all? With Trump’s new executive order, escalating job losses, a shocking wrongful arrest tied to facial recognition, and global AI competition heating up, Michael breaks down why the stakes have never been higher. Plus, reactions to Time’s “AI” Person of the Year and the political twists shaping the regulation battle. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.