The Smerconish Podcast

Media outlets declared Donald Trump the 2024 Republican Iowa Caucus winner, just 30 minutes after they began. Was it too soon? Yes, let them have their say. Michael dives into the caucus results, and talks with New York Times writer Adam Nagourney. Original air date 16 January 2024.

Former President Trump won the 2024 Iowa Caucuses. As the candidates now set their sights on New Hampshire, Michael asks this Daily Poll Question at Smerconish.com today: Is Donald Trump a more or less formidable candidate than he was in 2020? Listen to his thoughts here, then vote! And, leave a rating and review on this podcast.

Retired Air Force Lieutenant General David Deptula, former Chief of Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance, offers expertise on the Houthis and why the US and UK conducted air strikes on them this week. You will learn all about it in this conversation on what is happening in the Middle East. Original air date 12 January 2024.

With President Biden's son making a surprise appearance in a Capitol Hill hearing this week, Michael asks this Daily Poll Question at Smerconish.com today: Will Hunter Biden going on offense make him a more sympathetic figure? Listen here, vote there, and rate and review the podcast!

Michael talks to former Senator Joe Lieberman (I-CT), co-chair of No Labels, the morning after Chris Christie drops out of the 2024 presidential race, for an update on their call for a third party 'unity ticket.' Original air date 11 January 2024.

Former Governor Chris Christie drops out of the presidential race, and then gets caught on a hot mic about his opponent that many thought he was going to support. Michael asks today's Daily Poll Question at Smerconish.com: Do you agree with Chris Christie that Nikki Haley is "gonna get smoked"? Listen to his thoughts here, leave a review on this podcast, and then vote!

G. Elliott Morris is the Director of Data Analytics at ABC News and joins Michael ahead of the Iowa Caucus to discuss his new article "The 2024 Republican presidential primary could be over in a month." Morris has looked at every presidential election since 1980 to see how each candidate is doing at this point in time in the race, and uses the data to articulate the inevitability of Trump's nomination. Original air date 08 January 2024.

With the Iowa Caucus and New Hampshire Primary in sight, Michael asks you this Daily Poll Question at Smerconish.com today: Could Nikki Haley defeat Donald Trump in New Hampshire if Chris Christie drops out and endorses her? Listen to him lay it out here, then vote! And, please leave a rating and review of this podcast!

Confused about what former President Trump's time in court today, and the days to come, entails? Don't worry - Michael has a stellar tutorial right here for you, and then brings in expertise from our friend and colleague NBC/MSNBC Legal Analyst Danny Cevallos with even more analysis as Trump's attorneys argued in front of a judge that he should have immunity. Original air date 9 January 2024.

He did not let his superiors - anyone at the White House - or anyone in Congress know that he was in the hospital and not able to carry out his duties, but has acknowledged what he did. This has Michael asking today's Daily Poll Question at Smerconish.com: Should Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin resign? Listen to his thoughts here, then vote! And please rate and review this podcast.

Michael's cynicism knows no bounds, especially when it comes to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin not disclosing - to anyone, really - that he was in the hospital. Michael offers his observations and then welcomes expert reporting from Politico Defense Reporter Lara Seligman. Original air date 8 January 2024.

Senator Mitt Romney tells The New York Times that President Joe Biden's "threat to democracy" theme he uses campaigning against former President Trump is a "bust." That has Michael asking the Daily Poll Question today at Smerconish.com: Do you agree with Mitt Romney that with regard to the Biden campaign, "the threat to democracy theme is a bust"? Listen to him lay it out here, then vote!

Michael is totally intrigued by Washington Monthly Politics Editor Bill Scher's piece "Biden vs. Trump Is the Race Voters Want. Really." Listen to their conversation and leave a review and rate his podcast! Original air date 5 January 2024.

Harvard President Claudine Gay resigned under controversy this week, serving the shortest tenure as President at the Ivy League institution ever. Michael asks this Daily Poll Question at Smerconish.com: Which was more responsible for Claudine Gay's resignation - Racism, or Plagiarism? Listen to him lay out the story here, then vote!

Is Former President Donald Trump going to be tried before the election? There is a major argument being heart in court in Washington DC that could set the timeline for the rest of the 2024 election cycle, and how Trump's coming court cases play into it. Listen to Michael's commentary, and leave a review and rating on this podcast. Original air date 4 January 2024.

Former Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels has shared his opinion that a crisis is on the horizon. This prompts Michael to ask today's Daily Poll Question at Smerconish.com: Do you agree with Mitch Daniels that a major economic and social crisis is inevitable? Listen to Michael's thoughts here, then vote!

Kenneth C. Davis is the bestselling author of the "Don't Know Much About..." series, which includes his book "Don't Know Much About The Civil War" (1996). He's the perfect person for Michael to talk to about Nikki Haley's recent poor answer to a question about the Civil War, on the 2024 presidential campaign trail. Original air date 3 January 2024.

With several major international situations facing the United States, Michael spoke with Admiral James Stavridis, former Supreme Allied Commander of NATO, yesterday about what worries him the most on the international security state going in to 2024, and today asks this Daily Poll Question at Smerconish.com: Which of the following worries you most: The Middle East, Ukraine/Russia, China/Taiwan, or the U.S. Southern Border? Listen to him lay it out here, then vote!

Michael talks to life and sobriety coach Casey McGuire Davidson about setting up for success for "Dry January", where one abstains from drinking after the holidays for the full first month of the year. Original air date 2 January 2023.

Happy New Year! Michael thinks today's poll question is the most important to ask, as 2024 begins. At Smerconish.com, the Daily Poll Question: Would keeping Trump off the ballot hurt or help democracy? Listen here, then vote!