The Smerconish Podcast

Richard A. Clarke served for thirty years in US government national security agencies, including the Pentagon, the State Department, and the White House National Security Council. Admiral James Stavridis is a retired four-star U.S. naval officer. He is currently Partner and Vice Chair, Global Affairs of The Carlyle Group, a global investment firm. He is also 12th Chair of Rockefeller Foundation board. 

Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: Which was more indicative of poor judgment regarding the Houthi group chat, that they used Signal, or the content of the discussion? Listen here to Michael's take, then vote at Smerconish.com, and please leave a rating and review of this podcast! The Daily Poll Question is a thought-provoking query each day at Smerconish.com on a political, social, or other human interest issue. Entirely non-scientific, it always begins a great conversation. Michael talks about it in this podcast each weekday.

Michael talks to Independent Senator Angus King of Maine, about President Trump's promise to not touch Social Security, while people in his administration seem to be trying to cut the entitlement that millions of Americans pay in to. Original air date 24 March 2025.

Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: Is AOC becoming the new face of the Democratic Party? Listen here to Michael's take, then vote at Smerconish.com, and please leave a rating and review of this podcast! The Daily Poll Question is a thought-provoking query each day at Smerconish.com on a political, social, or other human interest issue. Entirely non-scientific, it always begins a great conversation. Michael talks about it in this podcast each weekday.

The World Happiness Report for 2025 is out. Today, Michael's eye was drawn toward Chapter 3, because of its connection to mingling: "Sharing Meals With Others Supports Happiness And Social Connections." Listen to his conversation with one of the authors of this chapter, Micah Katz, a doctoral student in Public Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School. He is also a research associate at the Wellbeing Research Centre at Oxford, and a senior analyst at the Happiness Research Institute. Original air date 21 March 2025.

Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: Should education policy be directed more from the federal or state/local level? Listen here to Michael's take, then vote at Smerconish.com, and please leave a rating and review of this podcast! The Daily Poll Question is a thought-provoking query each day at Smerconish.com on a political, social, or other human interest issue. Entirely non-scientific, it always begins a great conversation. Michael talks about it in this podcast each weekday.

Listen to Michael's 2013 interview with Gerald Posner about his book "Case Closed" here on the Book Club with Michael Smerconish Podcast.

Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: Should acts of vandalism against Tesla vehicles be prosecuted as hate crimes? Listen here to Michael's take, then vote at Smerconish.com, and please leave a rating and review of this podcast! The Daily Poll Question is a thought-provoking query each day at Smerconish.com on a political, social, or other human interest issue. Entirely non-scientific, it always begins a great conversation. Michael talks about it in this podcast each weekday.

Mark Halperin, 2Way Editor-in-Chief and political analyst, offers his take on today's headlines, including Elon Musk's influence in the Trump administration, the Russia-Ukraine war, immigration, disarray on the Democratic side of the aisle, and more. Original air date 19 March 2025.

Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: Admiral James Stavridis says that while he “hates” Russia keeping land it seized from Ukraine, such is the “military reality” of negotiated peace. Do you agree or disagree? Listen here to Michael's take, then vote at Smerconish.com, and please leave a rating and review of this podcast! The Daily Poll Question is a thought-provoking query each day at Smerconish.com on a political, social, or other human interest issue. Entirely non-scientific, it always begins a great conversation. Michael talks about it in this podcast each weekday.