The Smerconish Podcast

Charles Barkley joins Michael Smerconish for a wide-ranging, unfiltered conversation about America’s political divide, the WNBA and transgender athletes, Caitlin Clark, race and sexuality in sports, and the 2028 presidential field. Sir Charles also weighs in on AI’s threat to American workers, the value of the trades, his own political independence — and why he thinks both parties are failing ordinary Americans. Original air date 24 August 2026. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com
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Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: Should cameras be allowed in every government proceeding that the public has a right to attend? Today Michael makes the case for a “Smerconish Sunshine Rule”: if citizens are legally entitled to watch their government conduct public business, cameras should be allowed to watch too. With C-SPAN simulcasting his SiriusXM program this week, he looks at nearly 50 years of government television and asks why the same transparency shouldn’t extend from school boards and courtrooms to the Supreme Court. But Sarah Isgur offers a sharp counterargument: cameras can encourage grandstanding, viral soundbites, and political performance instead of serious deliberation. Where should transparency end? Listen here, vote there! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com
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Michael talks with Steve Atkiss, former Special Assistant to President George W. Bush for Operations and a longtime presidential trip director, about the extraordinary security maneuver that separated President Trump from Air Force One in Turkey. Atkiss takes listeners inside the secretive world of presidential travel and continuity-of-government planning, sharing stories from Bush’s surprise Thanksgiving trip to Baghdad, the Trump–Kim Jong Un summit in Singapore, and other high-stakes moments where security, secrecy and presidential decision-making collide. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com
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Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: Would you accept both higher taxes on yourself and reduced Social Security and Medicare benefits in order to reduce the $40 trillion national debt? Michael confronts a problem Americans overwhelmingly say matters—but one Washington has repeatedly failed to solve. With the national debt now above $40 trillion and interest costs mounting, Michael revisits Pete Peterson’s warnings and the 2010 Simpson-Bowles Commission, which sought shared sacrifice through higher revenue and reduced spending. Today’s poll puts that tradeoff directly to voters: Are Americans willing to personally pay more and receive less if that’s what serious debt reduction requires? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com
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The U.S. national debt has crossed $40 trillion. So who pays the bill? Michael breaks down how America got here, revisits past efforts to rein in the debt, and asks whether voters would accept higher taxes or reduced Social Security and Medicare benefits. Plus, listeners join the debate with solutions of their own. Original air date 20 August 2026. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com
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