The Smerconish Podcast

For 25 years, we’ve heard the people who fell from the Twin Towers on 9/11 described as “jumpers.” Former New York City death investigator Barbara Butcher tells Michael why that word is wrong—and why every victim who died that day was officially classified as a homicide. A powerful conversation about language, dignity, and how we remember those lost on September 11. Original air date 14 September 2026. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com
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Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: Is the Democratic Party's future democratic socialism?
Michael examines the ideological battle shaping the Democratic Party and introduces his new long-form YouTube series, Can We Agree? In the debut episode, Democratic centrist Congressman Tom Suozzi faces former Ohio State Senator and Bernie Sanders campaign co-chair Nina Turner over capitalism, democratic socialism, economic inequality, the social safety net, and what voters actually want from government. Michael shares a revealing exchange between the two and explains why he’s betting on substance, civility, and uninterrupted debate in an era dominated by sound bites and political food fights. Listen here, and please RATE, REVIEW, and SHARE this podcast! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com
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The people building artificial intelligence are sounding increasingly dire warnings about what it could become—but Michael says the bigger story is what AI is already being used to do. He digs into Anthropic’s latest report detailing real-world cases involving mass surveillance, autonomous weapons, cyber operations and biological research, and asks whether government and industry are moving fast enough to prevent disaster. Original air date 14 September 2026. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com
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Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: Who really runs the American economy? Is it big tech, big banks and big oil or the millionaires on Main Street?
Michael explores the surprising wealth and economic influence of America’s “Main Street millionaires,” inspired by Owen Zidar and Eric Zwick’s new book, "The Everywhere Millionaire." From car dealers and contractors to doctors, lawyers, restaurateurs and other owners of pass-through businesses, these entrepreneurs may be hiding in plain sight—and collectively wielding far more wealth than the Forbes 400. Are we paying too much attention to billionaire tech titans and Wall Street moguls while overlooking the business owners driving local economies across America? Listen here, then vote, and be sure to rate, review, AND share this podcast! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com
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On the 25th anniversary of September 11, Michael Smerconish presents an expanded companion podcast episode to his three-hour SiriusXM POTUS tribute — featuring the remarkable archival interviews and full, unedited conversations that couldn’t fit on the radio.
Hear James Meigs from Popular Mechanics debunk 9/11 conspiracy theories; journalists Michael Scherer and Peter Baker revisit the mission that killed Osama bin Laden; and SEAL Team Six members Mark Owen/Matt Bissonnette and Rob O’Neill give their firsthand accounts of the Abbottabad raid. Jennifer Senior discusses her Pulitzer Prize-winning story of one family’s enduring grief after 9/11.
Plus, hear Michael’s complete new conversations with former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, New York Times reporter Carol Rosenberg on Guantánamo Bay, and Gerald Posner on longtime detainee Abu Zubaydah. Twenty-five years later, the stories — and some of the questions — remain.

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