Podcast Episodes
Back to SearchOklahoma’s ‘Anti-Woke’ Teacher Test: Civics Questions Teachers Should Know
Episode 1518
Michael gives listeners a surprise civics pop quiz—straight from Oklahoma’s new teacher screening exam. With controversy swirling around the state’s “anti-woke” education agenda, are these questions …
Published on 1 week, 3 days ago
Serving on a School Board Might Be the Riskiest Job in America
Episode 1517
Michael Smerconish speaks with Shannon Hiller, Executive Director of the Bridging Divides Initiative at Princeton, about the alarming rise in threats and harassment against local officials—from schoo…
Published on 1 week, 4 days ago
Is Mail-In Voting Under Threat? Trump’s Bold Promise vs. The Facts
Episode 1516
President Trump says he’ll end mail-in voting by executive order—but can he? Michael Smerconish dives into the facts with Massachusetts Institute of Technology Professor of Political Science Dr. Char…
Published on 1 week, 5 days ago
The Summer America Tried to Replace Migrant Workers with Teens—It Was a Disaster
Episode 1515
What happened when the U.S. government tried to replace Mexican farm workers with high school athletes in the 1960s? Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Gustavo Arellano joins Michael to unpack a forgo…
Published on 1 week, 6 days ago
We're Losing Touch with Nature — And It's Worse Than You Think
Episode 1514
Are we forgetting nature? Michael speaks with Professor Miles Richardson, a leading expert on "nature connectedness" at the University of Derby. Richardson’s research shows a 60% drop in our connecti…
Published on 2 weeks ago
Live From The New Joint
Episode 1513
Today’s episode marks a milestone over 30 years in the making. Michael Smerconish unveils his brand new studio—affectionately dubbed The New Joint—a space he’s envisioned for decades and finally brou…
Published on 2 weeks, 3 days ago
California’s Political Earthquake: Is Redistricting Reform About to End?
Episode 1512
Gerrymandering is bad. But self-sorting? It might be the silent force doing even more damage to American democracy. In today’s episode, Michael Smerconish dives into California’s surprising move to p…
Published on 2 weeks, 3 days ago
A Bad Day For World Peace
Episode 1511
Michael reflects on what he calls a truly bad day for world peace. From Israel’s explosive expansion of West Bank settlements to Russia’s massive new strike on Ukraine, he connects the dots and expla…
Published on 2 weeks, 4 days ago
Too Left? Too Elitist?... Why Dems Are Hemorrhaging Voters
Episode 1510
The numbers are in—and they’re brutal. In today’s episode, Michael Smerconish unpacks what the data reveals—and just as importantly, what it doesn’t. Democrats have lost ground to Republicans in ever…
Published on 2 weeks, 4 days ago
'Shambolic But Strategic’: Mark Halperin on Trump’s Ukraine Move
Episode 1509
Listen to Mark's Next Up Podcast.
Published on 2 weeks, 5 days ago