The Smerconish Podcast

Former Clinton adviser Doug Sosnik joins Michael to unpack the data behind America's political upheaval. Drawing on his latest research, Sosnik argues that Donald Trump is a symptom—not the cause—of deeper economic and cultural forces reshaping the country. They discuss wealth inequality, the decline of upward mobility, the growing education divide, why voters increasingly reject the status quo, and what it all means for the 2026 midterms and the future of American politics. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com
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Today's Poll Question: Is the Left's Israel litmus test driven more by policy or antisemitism? Michael examines the Democratic divide over Israel after Zohran Mamdani's political wins, a high-profile New York primary, and shifting public opinion. Where does legitimate criticism end and anti-Semitism begin? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com
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Michael welcomes political analyst Mark Halperin for a wide-ranging conversation on what New York's latest election results reveal about the future of the Democratic Party. From the growing influence of progressive candidates to the prospects of a Bernie Sanders comeback in 2028, Halperin argues that Democrats are heading toward a defining showdown between the party establishment and its energized left wing. They discuss the political impact of Israel-related debates, the next generation of Democratic leadership, and why the road to 2028 may already be taking shape. Original air date 24 June 2026. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com
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Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: Will the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie ever be solved? Five months after the 84-year-old mother of Today show co-host Savannah Guthrie vanished from her Arizona home, investigators still have no suspect, no arrest, and no clear explanation. Michael examines the baffling case, from blood discovered at the scene and the mysterious “porch guy” captured on camera to ransom messages, conflicting law-enforcement accounts, and Savannah Guthrie’s emotional public appeal for answers. In an age of smartphones, surveillance cameras, DNA databases, and digital footprints, how can a case like this remain unsolved? Michael explores the evidence, the unanswered questions, and whether justice is still possible. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com
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America's birth rate has fallen dramatically over the past two decades—but why? Michael speaks with Middlebury College economist Caitlin Myers about her provocative research linking the rise of smartphones to declining fertility. Using the iPhone's early AT&T-exclusive rollout as a natural experiment, Myers argues that smartphones may have fundamentally changed how people socialize, date, and form relationships. The conversation explores loneliness, social media, pornography, and whether technology has reshaped modern life in ways nobody anticipated. Is the smartphone merely correlated with falling birth rates—or could it be a cause? Original air date 23 June 2026. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com
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