The Smerconish Podcast

4.2 (345)
POLITICS
UPDATED DAILY

Spirited discussions of government, politics, and current events without predictable left/right bias. The Smerconish Podcast is for Independent Minds. The Michael Smerconish Program airs live on SiriusXM's POTUS Channel 9AM-12PM ET and replays 9PM-12AM East, Monday-Friday.

15H AGO

Inside the Texas Flood Crisis: National Weather Service Failures & Heartbreaking Stories

Michael speaks with New York Times reporter Christopher Flavelle about the tragic Texas floods that have claimed over 100 lives so far. They discuss critical staffing shortages at the National Weather Service that may have impacted warnings and emergency response. Then, Michael connects with Texans on the ground to hear their reactions and personal stories from the disaster. Join us as we explore whether this tragedy was preventable and what it reveals about extreme weather, government preparedness, and climate change. Original air date 7 July 2025.

31 min
20H AGO

U.S. Kids Are Twice as Likely to Die—The Devastating Data No One’s Talking About

A new study conducted by a team at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and published in the Journal of the American Medical Association reveals a deeply troubling reality: children in the United States are facing worse health outcomes than their peers in other high-income nations—across nearly every indicator. Michael Smerconish breaks down the findings with insight, urgency, and a bit of personal reflection. From chronic conditions and gun violence to mental health, poverty, and policy failures, this episode dives deep into why America is falling short. This is the premise for today's Daily Poll Question at Smerconish.com, which asks: Why do U.S. children have comparatively worse health outcomes? Listen here, then vote there!

15 min
1D AGO

Proud To Be An American: Michael Smerconish In 1985 vs. Today

Michael returns from vacation with a powerful reflection on patriotism in America—then and now. Sparked by a Gallup poll showing record-low pride in the U.S., he compares national data with his own take and responses from the audience. He also revisits a 1985 essay he wrote at age 23 about the American Dream—and unpacks how his perspective has changed over four decades. What does it mean to be “extremely proud” to be American today? And can the U.S. endure another 250 years? A must-listen conversation on national identity, generational divides, and the future of the American experiment. Original air date 7 July 2025.

30 min
1D AGO

Preventable Disaster? Michael Smerconish on the Deadly Texas Storm

Michael Smerconish returns from vacation with a heavy heart, reflecting on the tragic Texas flood that left dozens dead—many of them children. Was it an unavoidable act of nature or a preventable catastrophe worsened by government staffing shortages and climate denial? Michael dives into today’s smerconish.com poll question, shares personal reflections on flash floods, and previews an important conversation with New York Times journalist Christopher Flavelle on the failures in weather forecasting. A sobering, thoughtful look at disaster response in a time of extreme weather.

17 min
5D AGO

Is The American Dream Still Alive? Let's Take A Quiz

Michael and audience members take a quiz together on the American Dream, looking to see if it is still possible. The quiz was published in the Washington Post - listen in to find out! Original air date 20 June 2025.

22 min
6D AGO

President Trump's Effective Use Of The F-Bomb

When President Trump dropped the F-Bomb last week while discussing the cease fire between Iran and Israel, Michael noted its effectiveness, and then moved into a conversation on other effective, public uses of the swear word that is the favorite of many. Enjoy the conversation! Original air date 24 June 2025.

23 min
JUL 1

Streaming Sports Is Killing Community

How much does it cost to be a sports fan today? Try $4,785. Michael Smerconish sits down with journalist Joon Lee to unpack how streaming has splintered sports viewing, inflated fan costs, and eroded one of America’s great cultural touchpoints: watching the game together. From sports bars going silent to six streaming subscriptions just to follow your team, this episode explores the steep financial—and social—price we’re now paying for fandom. Original air date 18 June 2025.

28 min
JUN 30

It's HOT: How Extreme Heat Is Reshaping Daily Life

Michael dives into the relentless heat wave scorching millions across the U.S. and how climate change is hitting home—literally. From buying carports and generators to battling insurance claims and sky-high AC bills, Michael and callers share personal stories about how extreme weather is disrupting daily life. Is this the new normal? Tune in and take your temperature. Original air date 24 June 2025.

33 min

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TRAILER

Coming Soon!

Coming soon from Michael Smerconish and SiriusXM: Spirited discussions of government, politics, and current events without predictable left/right bias. The Smerconish Podcast is for Independent Minds. Content will be pulled from the live show: The Michael Smerconish Show airs live M-F 9-Noon ET and replays M-F 9-Midnight ET

06/24/2021

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1 min

You can change your life and Mel Robbins will show you how. The Mel Robbins Podcast is the #1 podcast on the globe for a reason: Mel’s simple, research-backed advice has changed millions of people’s lives, and in every episode, she’s giving you all her hard-fought secrets, science-backed tools, and deeply personal stories, so you can change yours too. If you’re a new listener, you’re in the right place. Every episode will empower you to create a better life and help you take a step toward the life you want. Want more? Follow along at @melrobbins Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of The Mel Robbins Podcast ad-free. Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus.

4.7 (12223)

SELF-IMPROVEMENT
The most-listened to podcast by women, Alex Cooper’s Call Her Daddy has been creating conversation since 2018. From deep, honest discussions to laugh-out-loud moments, Cooper cuts through the BS with exciting guests and bold topics. New episodes drop every Wednesday, with throwback episodes every Friday. Want more? Join the Daddy Gang @callherdaddy.

4.4 (162336)

COMEDY
"SmartLess" with Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, & Will Arnett is a podcast that connects and unites people from all walks of life to learn about shared experiences through thoughtful dialogue and organic hilarity. A nice surprise: in each episode of SmartLess, one of the hosts reveals his mystery guest to the other two. What ensues is a genuinely improvised and authentic conversation filled with laughter and newfound knowledge to feed the SmartLess mind. Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of SmartLess ad-free and a whole week early. Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus.

4.6 (52263)

COMEDY
After 25 years at the Late Night desk, Conan realized that the only people at his holiday party are the men and women who work for him. Over the years and despite thousands of interviews, Conan has never made a real and lasting friendship with any of his celebrity guests. So, he started a podcast to do just that. Deeper, unboundedly playful, and free from FCC regulations, Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend is a weekly opportunity for Conan to hang out with the people he enjoys most and perhaps find some real friendship along the way. Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend ad-free and a whole week early. Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus.

4.8 (56927)

COMEDY
Explore the dark side of the world’s most beautiful places with investigative journalist and park enthusiast Delia D’Ambra. Each week, Delia guides you deep into national parks and forests across the globe, uncovering stories where nature’s breathtaking beauty has masked sinister secrets. From infamous cases that made headlines to little-known crimes that still need answers, Delia’s relentless pursuit of the truth takes her through archives and remote landscapes to reveal the hidden darkness haunting these natural wonders. Because sometimes, the most beautiful places hide the darkest secrets. This is Park Predators.

4.5 (15906)

TRUE CRIME
Freakonomics co-author Stephen J. Dubner uncovers the hidden side of everything. Why is it safer to fly in an airplane than drive a car? How do we decide whom to marry? Why is the media so full of bad news? Also: things you never knew you wanted to know about wolves, bananas, pollution, search engines, and the quirks of human behavior. To get every show in the Freakonomics Radio Network without ads and a monthly bonus episode of Freakonomics Radio, start a free trial for SiriusXM Podcasts+ on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus.

4.5 (30261)

DOCUMENTARY

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Michael Smerconish

Host
Lee Joon

Guest
Mark Halperin

Guest

4.2

out of 5

345 Ratings

Judicious and even handed summary

Apr 30

Retired Senior Enlisted

Good to hear a very senior retired Flag have some deference to the conditions under which the Flight Deck crews work as contributing factors to a mishap. Helps to think through effective mitigation. Very level headed - hope someone gives thought to bringing in a voice like Adm Stav to help maintain “course and speed” when it truly matters. His voice has the fides to speak to the center and would help reframe the thought process on the right.
You weren’t just praising

Jun 23

WilderLead

You were not just celebrating the aviators. Why couldn’t you speak with the caller about level of military force and capabilities maintained by the USA? That would have been a five star.
Come on Mike

Apr 30

D-Town Brother

I love the show. Hate the commercials lately. Terrible timing. In the middle of sentences. Where are the transitions? And just tell us to fast forward to 2:30 to get over the saturation of advertising.
Love pod, tired ads.

Apr 16

billy budman

As a retired Bud man, ads are a big deal, need to change them up, listen everyday love M’s middle of the road analysis!

Spirited discussions of government, politics, and current events without predictable left/right bias. The Smerconish Podcast is for Independent Minds. The Michael Smerconish Program airs live on SiriusXM's POTUS Channel 9AM-12PM ET and replays 9PM-12AM East, Monday-Friday.