The Smerconish Podcast

Michael talks to Evan Rose, Assistant Professor of Economics at the University of Chicago, about a study he co-authored where fake resumes, with equivalent qualifications but different personal characteristics, were sent to job openings. Listen to find out his approach, and what happened. Original air date 2 May 2024.

Every day, we post a thought-provoking poll question for you to vote on at Smerconish.com. Michael explains it here to give you some insight behind the question, and then asks you to cast your ballot - today with the protests on college campuses over the Israel-Palestine conflict continuing to escalate, he's asking, Should President Biden be more condemning of those responsible for campus unrest? Listen here, then vote.

Happier, more connected neighborhoods start right in the front yard. So says new research out from the University at Buffalo, which suggests a good, well built and presented front yard could be a solution to America's loneliness epidemic. Michael welcomes Architecture Professor Dr. Conrad Kickert to discuss. Original air date 1 May 2024.

Every day, we post a thought-provoking poll question for you to vote on at Smerconish.com. Michael explains it here to give you some insight behind the question, and then asks you to cast your ballot - today he's asking, following the South Dakota Governor's revelation in her book that she shot and killed a dog, Did Kristi Noem just help or hurt herself with Donald Trump? Listen here, then vote!

Michael talks to G. Elliot Morris, 538/ABC News Editorial Director for Data Analytics, about new 2024 race polling.

Is the U.S. in the midst of a decline akin to that of Rome, Habsburg Spain, the Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian Empires and the Soviet Union? That's the Daily Poll Question Michael is asking you today at Smerconish.com. He has dived into a new report out from RAND, listen here for the details, then vote!

Excerpts from South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem's forthcoming book have her in a bit of controversy. In the book, he tells the story of her killing a dog after it attacked some chickens. Michael wonders, why would this protentional running mate pick for Donald Trump even tell the story? Original air date 29 April 2024.

Michael asks you this Daily Poll Question at Smerconish.com today: Who will Trump select as his VP? Choices: Katie Britt, Doug Burgum, Ben Carson, Ron DeSantis, Byron Donalds, Nikki Haley, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Kristi Noem, Mike Pompeo, Vivek Ramaswamy, Marco Rubio, Tim Scott, Elise Stefanik, JD Vance, None of the above. Listen to Michael's thoughts here, then vote!

Michael talks to Jeff Nussbaum, a former speechwriter to President Biden and author of "Undelivered." This weekend is the annual White House Correspondents' Dinner, and Nussbaum previewed it in Politico Magazine in his piece "Trump's Jokes Killed DC's Sense of Humor." Original air date 26 April 2024.

As week 2 of former President Trump's criminal trial wraps up, there is one face we have not yet seen in the courtroom, or by his side in his daily pre-court appearances. Michael asks you this Daily Poll Question at Smerconish.com: Will Melania Trump ever step foot in the hush money court room? Listen to his commentary here, then vote on the website. And please rate and review this podcast.

Michael talks to BallotPA Chair David Thornburgh about the problem with primaries in Pennsylvania and other states: they are closed, and independents like Michael can not vote in them! Find out more about the Committee of Seventy's BallotPA project at ballotpa.org. Original air date 25 April 2024

Every day, we post a thought-provoking poll question for you to vote on at Smerconish.com. Michael explains it here to give you some insight behind the question, and then asks you to cast your ballot - today he's asking, following his not being able to vote in his own state on Tuesday: Should registered Independents be permitted to vote in party primaries? Listen here, then vote!

There is no court session today for President Trump's criminal trial in New York City. Michael talks to NBC/MSNBC Legal Analyst Danny Cevallos about what transpired in the court yesterday, including the spotlight on Trump's relationship with the National Enquirer, as its former publisher David Pecker testified. Original air date 24 April 2024.

There is a proposal in California to ban Clear, a high-end, bypass-the-TSA-line concierge travel service. This has Michael asking you this Daily Poll Question at Smerconish.com today: Should airports offer non-TSA security lines for those willing to pay a fee and undergo a background check, creating a 'fast-pass' system for the wealthier? Listen to his explanation, then hit the site and vote!

There is a lot to learn here - might the long-standard 6% real estate commission that agents get be a thing of the past, due to a recently announced settlement with the National Association of Realtors? Michael learns everything we need to know here with attorney Mitch Kider, Chairman and Managing Partner of Weiner Brodsky Kider PC. Original air date 23 April 2024.

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a bill to ban the social media platform TikTok. It now heads to the Senate. Michael asks you this Daily Poll Question at Smerconish.com today: Should the U.S. government ban TikTok? Listen here, then vote!

Sister Mary Scullion, an advocate for the homeless in Philadelphia, joins Michael to talk about a case the Supreme Court is hearing today out of Oregon, on whether homeless people can be punished for sleeping outside when there is no place else for them to go. Original air date 22 April 2024.

Every day, we post a thought-provoking poll question for you to vote on at Smerconish.com. Michael explains it here to give you some insight behind the question, and then asks you to cast your ballot - today he's asking: Is it cruel and unusual to criminally cite the homeless for public encampment if they have no access to shelter? Listen, then vote!

Michael talks to Northwestern University Professor Dr. Elisa Jacome, she is one of the co-authors of a study uncovering the most extensive evidence to date that immigrants are less likely to be imprisoned than U.S.-born individuals. Original air date 19 April 2024.

Every day, we post a thought-provoking poll question for you to vote on at Smerconish.com. Michael explains it here to give you some insight behind the question, and then asks you to cast your ballot - today he's asking: Do you agree with those news organizations that have requested Biden and Trump publicly commit to participating in debates? Listen here, then vote!