The Smerconish Podcast

President Trump has named housing executive Bill Pulte as Acting Director of National Intelligence, a move that's drawing scrutiny from both national security experts and lawmakers. Michael examines the nomination, the qualifications traditionally required for the DNI role, and whether Republican resistance to some of Trump's recent actions signals a broader shift within the party. Former White House counterterrorism advisor Richard Clarke joins the program to explain what the DNI actually does, why the position was created after 9/11, and why Pulte's appointment has raised concerns inside the intelligence community. Original air date 3 June 2026. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com
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Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: Should Representative Tom Kean Jr.’s three-month unexplained absence disqualify him from re-election? Michael examines the growing controversy surrounding New Jersey Congressman Tom Kean Jr., who has not cast a vote in Congress since March 5 and has largely disappeared from public view. In this episode, Michael explores the tension between respecting a potential health crisis and demanding accountability from an elected official. If Kean is facing a serious medical or mental health challenge, how much privacy should he be afforded? And at what point do voters have a right to insist on active representation? A thoughtful conversation about transparency, compassion, public service, and democratic responsibility. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com
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President Trump recently suggested that a proposed $1.8 billion compensation fund for alleged victims of government "weaponization" may not be dead after all. Listen here as Michael is joined by attorneys Michael Van Der Veen and William Brennan, who represented Donald Trump during his second impeachment trial and later defended numerous January 6 defendants. They argue that many January 6 participants were overcharged, politically targeted, and suffered devastating personal and financial consequences. Smerconish challenges their claims, presses them on comparisons to the George Floyd protests, and asks whether compensation for January 6 defendants is justified—or politically motivated itself. Original air date 4 June 2026. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com
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Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: Does Congress limiting Trump's Iran war powers benefit the US or Iran?

Michael Smerconish examines the House vote to limit President Trump’s authority to continue military hostilities against Iran without explicit congressional approval. With four Republicans joining Democrats, the debate revives longstanding questions about the War Powers Act, presidential authority, and Congress’s constitutional role in matters of war. Smerconish argues that while concerns about the administration’s rationale for entering the conflict remain valid, the timing of the vote may send an unintended signal to Tehran. As the fragile ceasefire holds, costs mount, and political pressure grows at home, is Congress protecting constitutional balance—or giving Iran exactly what it wants: more time? Listen...ponder...vote! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com
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Mark Halperin is editor-in-chief at 2WAY, publisher of The Wide World of News Newsletter, and a host on SiriusXM's Megyn Kelly Channel.

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