The Smerconish Podcast

Episodes

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  The New Vaccine Rules Have Parents Asking: Who Can We Trust? 14.08.2026 27m

  Michael asks a deceptively simple question: Should parents have the final say on their child’s vaccines? Dr. Brian McDonough joins to examine the Trump administration’s changes to childhood vaccine recommendations, the science behind the longstanding MMR schedule, rising measles concerns, and a growing crisis of trust in government health agencies. Plus, callers weigh in on where parental choice ends and public health begins.
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  Today's Poll Question: Should Grades Still Matter? 14.08.2026 14m

  Should grades still matter? As the University of Michigan prepares to replace traditional grades with pass/no-credit marks for first-semester students, Michael examines why we started grading students in the first place—and whether grades encourage achievement or get in the way of learning. Is rethinking the GPA smart education reform, or are we simply coddling students?
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  Trump’s Vaccine Changes Put Parental Choice to the Test 13.08.2026 24m

  Should parents have the final say on their child’s vaccines? Michael examines how the debate over parental choice has shifted following President Trump’s changes to childhood vaccine recommendations. Dr. Brian McDonough, Medical Editor for 1010 WINS (New York) and KYW (Philadelphia), joins Michael to explain what the changes mean, why he believes they aren’t supported by new science, and why his trust in government health guidance has eroded.
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  Today's Poll Question: Should Parents Have the Final Say on Their Child’s Vaccines? 13.08.2026 12m

  President Trump’s move to reduce the number of universally recommended childhood vaccines has put parental choice back at the center of the vaccine debate. Michael Smerconish asks where parental rights end when a child’s health is at stake, and whether people’s views on who should decide have changed along with the politics.
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  Trump, Air Force One & the Democratic Party’s Socialist Future 12.08.2026 22m

  Michael is joined by Mark Halperin to unpack two big political stories: what the latest primary results really say about the rise of democratic socialism inside the Democratic Party, and the unanswered questions surrounding a reported threat to Air Force One. Who traveled with President Trump after he was moved to another aircraft, who was left behind—and was the story leaked on purpose? Plus, a debate over polling, Trump’s inner circle, presidential security and the role of the White House press pool.
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  Today's Poll Question: Is It Fair To Blame President Trump For The AF1 Decoy Operation, A Security Decision He Says Was Made By The Secret Service? 12.08.2026 15m

  President Trump says the Secret Service ordered the Air Force One decoy operation. But a revealing Clinton-era precedent raises a bigger question: could the White House have said no?
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  Trump’s Air Force One Deception: Necessary Security or Dangerous Decoy? 11.08.2026 33m

  President Trump boarded Air Force One in full view of the cameras—but he wasn’t on it when it took off. Facing a reported Iranian assassination threat, Trump was secretly moved by catering truck to another aircraft while White House staff and journalists continued their journey believing the president was aboard. Michael asks: Were they being used as decoys? Was the Washington Post right to reveal the operation? And what does a former Secret Service agent say really happened?
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  Today's Poll Question: Was It Appropriate To Leave Press and Staff Aboard AF1 When Trump Was Removed Due To Iran Threat? 11.08.2026 16m

  A credible Iranian threat forced Trump into a secret Air Force One switch. But reporters and staff were left aboard the original plane. Smart security—or were they used as decoys? Michael puts the question to you.
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  Why Everyone Is Suddenly Fighting About the WNBA 10.08.2026 29m

  A viral WNBA foul sends Michael down a rabbit hole: Are race and politics really driving the controversy surrounding Caitlin Clark and the league—or are fans being fed a misleading narrative? Howard Megdal, author of Becoming Caitlin Clark, joins Michael to separate perception from data. Plus, the conversation expands to Angel Reese, Sophie Cunningham, transgender athletes, media coverage, and why the WNBA has suddenly become another front in America’s culture wars.
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  Today's Poll Question: Will The Strait of Hormuz Be Open On (Midterm) Election Day? 10.08.2026 12m

  Can Iran outlast Trump? Michael examines whether Tehran can keep the Strait of Hormuz closed through the midterms—and what it could mean for oil prices and American politics.
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  Inside the Unsolved Disappearance of Nancy Guthrie 07.08.2026 22m

  Six months after Nancy Guthrie vanished from her Tucson-area home, investigators appear no closer to solving the case. Michael speaks with Wall Street Journal reporter Valerie Bauerlein about the ransom notes, surveillance footage, early law-enforcement missteps, and the baffling lack of a breakthrough. How can someone vanish without a trace—and will the mystery of Savannah Guthrie’s mother ever be solved?
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  Today's Poll Question: Does Donald Trump Really Believe The 2020 Election Was Stolen From Him? 07.08.2026 12m

  Does Donald Trump actually believe the 2020 election was stolen—or does he know he lost? Michael examines the evidence, the psychology, and a question that may never have a definitive answer.
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  Nick Saban, Bipolar Disorder and the Mental Health Crisis in College Sports 06.08.2026 26m

  Michael sits down with OnBalance founder and former college quarterback Walt Norley for a candid conversation about bipolar disorder, the pressures facing student-athletes and the mental-health crisis unfolding on college campuses. Norley shares stories involving Nick Saban and Tony Dorsett, explains why athletes are often reluctant to seek help, and offers parents practical questions to ask about a school’s mental-health resources. Original air date 6 August 2026.
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  Today's Poll Question: Are Democrats having their own MAGA moment? 06.08.2026 13m

  Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: Are Democrats having their own Maga moment? Abdul El-Sayed’s narrow Michigan Democratic Senate primary victory may reveal something larger than an ideological shift. Michael examines how anger at party leadership, frustration with the establishment and distrust of traditional ideas about electability are fueling a Democratic insurgency. Drawing comparisons to Donald Trump’s takeover of the Republican Party, he explores El-Sayed’s support among college towns, affluent counties and Arab communities—as well as Haley Stevens’ strength with older Black voters. Is this simply a progressive breakthrough, or the beginning of a MAGA-style revolt on the left? Listen. Vote. Rate. Review. Share.
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  Mark Halperin’s New 2028 Rankings: Shapiro Surges to No. 1 05.08.2026 29m

  Mark Halperin unveils his latest rankings of the potential 2028 Democratic presidential field—and there is a new name at No. 1. Michael presses the political analyst and "Wide World of News" publisher on why Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro has moved ahead of Gavin Newsom, where Mark Kelly fits into the race, and whether the Democratic primary could become a battle between the party’s establishment and progressive wings. Then, listeners weigh in with their own preferred candidates and predictions for 2028. Original air date 5 August 2026.
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  Today's Poll Question: Is the AI-driven economy a house of cards? 05.08.2026 15m

  Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: Is the AI-driven economy a house of cards? Stocks are reaching historic highs as America’s largest technology companies pour hundreds of billions of dollars into AI chips, data centers, utilities, and construction. But billionaire investor Ray Dalio says the enthusiasm bears troubling similarities to the bubbles of 1929 and 2000. Michael examines whether today’s AI boom is supported by real profits and demand—or whether groupthink, soaring valuations, and speculative investment have created a dangerous financial structure. The technology may transform the world, just as the internet did, but could investors still face a painful collapse along the way? Listen here, then vote!
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  The 2026 Midterms: Blue Wave Incoming? 04.08.2026 27m

  Doug Sosnik joins Michael to break down the latest data on the 2026 midterms, explaining why history points toward a Democratic wave—even as polarization, redistricting, and campaign cash could limit the gains. Plus, why this year's election may tell us far less about the 2028 presidential race than many assume.
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  Today's Poll Question: Can Sanders-style Progressive Democrats Win General Elections In Swing States Like Michigan? 04.08.2026 13m

  Today's poll tackles a question that could reshape the Democratic Party: Can a Sanders-style progressive win in a battleground state? Michael explores Michigan's high-stakes Senate primary, the rise of young progressive voters, and what the results could mean for 2026 and beyond
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  The Hidden Story Behind Todd Blanche's DOJ Confirmation 03.08.2026 34m

  Should Dr. Anthony Fauci testify before Congress with immunity? Michael examines why nearly 50,000 poll voters overwhelmingly said yes, then unpacks the controversial Todd Blanche DOJ agreement, Trump's IRS audit protections, and the growing debate over "lawfare" against political opponents. A deep dive into one of Washington's most complicated—and consequential—legal and political battles.
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  Today's Poll Question: Of These Threats, Which Worries You Most? 03.08.2026 13m

  What keeps you up at night: nuclear war, AI, climate change—or a biological attack? What should we fear most? Michael previews his conversation with bestselling author Annie Jacobsen and explores today's poll on the biggest threats facing the future.