The Smerconish Podcast

Wide World of News Founder Mark Halperin checks in the day after the Michigan Primary Election with a 2024 race status check, including thoughts on questions that are not being asked about the health - of both leading candidates - Joe Biden and Donald Trump. Original air date 28 February 2024.

It is one of the main topics at the center of the 2024 presidential race. Michael asks you this Daily Poll Question at Smerconish.com today: Does airing concerns about President Biden's age help or harm the Democrats' chances of holding the White House? Listen to him explain here, then vote.

Don't blame the dogs, blame the people: Michael reflects on an op-ed piece in The Washington Post, authored by former NY Times Executive Editor Jill Abramson, "Don’t blame Biden’s dogs for the blood on the White House floors." Original air date 27 February 2024.

The relationship between the government and social media headlined arguments at the Supreme Court yesterday, which prompts Michael to ask you this Daily Poll Question today at Smerconish.com: Should the law view social media platforms more like newspapers, or telephone companies? Listen here, leave a rating and review on this podcast, then vote!

Brandon Rottingaus is Professor of Political Science and the holder of the Pauline Yelderman Endowed Chair at the University of Houston. Michael talks to him about his new survey of scholars ranking the American Presidents - where Abraham Lincoln remains in the top spot. What about President Biden and Former President Trump? Listen here. Original air date 20 February 2024.

Michael asks you this Daily Poll Question at Smerconish.com today: Would a criminal conviction ends Donald Trump’s chances of being elected president? Listen to him offer his thoughts, then vote!

After getting up to speed on what's happening at the border, Michael focuses on the other big issue now holding focus in the 2024 election cycle: The Alabama Supreme Court ruling that an embryo is a "extrauterine child." We get expertise from the nation's leading bioethicist, Dr. Art Caplan, and NYU's Langone Medical School. Original air date 23 February 2024.

It is currently the hot-button political issue: border security. This has Michael asking you Today's Daily Poll Question at Smerconish.com: Should there be mass deportations of migrants who entered the U.S. illegally? Listen here, then cast your ballot. And, please rate and review this podcast.

Michael talks to Joe Klein about the New York civil fraud case ruling against former President Trump, which resulted in a $355 million judgement. He wants to see Trump in an orange jump suit, just not for that case. Listen here to why, also written in his Substack piece "The Trials of Trump." Original air date 22 February 2024.

Auto manufacturers are phasing out AM radio from new models. FM radio became a superior choice decades ago. The AM Band is in decline, but some still want it around - Michael asks you this Daily Poll Question today at Smerconish.com: Should government act to save AM radio? Listen here (on a podcast, not AM radio, we get the irony), then vote!

Mark Halperin at Wide World of News talks about the highlights of a focus group he did of eight voters, all who voted for Biden in 2020. They will likely vote for him again, but....listen to hear the results to questions concerning the President with regards to his age, and his competition. Original air date 21 February 2024.

Agree or disagree with Nate Silver that President Biden should do lengthy sit-down interviews with non-friendly sources? That is today's Daily Poll Question at Smerconish.com - listen to Michael lay it out here, then vote!

New Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows who fills hundreds of occupations according to gender and race. Michael welcomes Lauren Weber at the Wall Street Journal to break down the numbers, as covered in her piece "40% of Lawyers Are Women. 7% Are Black. America’s Workforce in Charts." Original air date 20 February 2024.

The White House has not been happy with how the news media has been covering President Biden and concerns about his age. Michael asks about this in today's Daily Poll Question to you: Overall, does the news media treat President Biden fairly? Listen here, then cast your ballot!

Michael talks to Stuart Stevens of The Lincoln Project about his New Republic piece, "Just Say It, Democrats: Biden Has Been a Great President." Original air date 16 February 2024.

As court hearings on the relationship between Fulton County, Georgia District Attorney Fani Willis and her top prosecutor in the case against former President Trump continue, Michael asks this Daily Poll Question at Smerconish.com: Should Fani Willis be removed from the Fulton County prosecution of Trump and his co-defendants? Listen, then vote.

Michael welcomes longtime political advisor Doug Sosnik for a conversation on his New York Times Op-Ed, "Biden Can’t Count on Trump’s Unpopularity Anymore." Original air date 15 February 2024.

What exactly was said in the conversation between the President and the Special Counsel? Many are asking - so, Michael today asks this Daily Poll Question at Smerconish.com: Should the transcript of Robert Hur’s interview with President Biden be made public? Listen here, then vote!

Political analyst Mark Halperin at Wide World of News joins for a wide ranging conversation on the state of the 2024 race, including a focus on the state of the Biden reelection campaign. He offers two quotes from former Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour that describe the current status of that campaign: "In politics nothing is ever as bad or as good at it seems," and "in politics, good gets better, and bad gets worse." Listen to find out what it all means. Original air date 14 February 2024.

The House of Representatives voted to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, for his oversight of what's happening at the southern border. So, Michael asks you today's Daily Poll Question at Smerconish.com: Should President Biden fire Secretary Mayorkas? Listen to his commentary here, then vote! And please leave a rating and review of this podcast.