Rahm Emanuel joins Michael for a wide-ranging conversation on ethics, aging leadership, and the future of American politics. The former congressman, Chicago mayor, White House chief of staff, and U.S. ambassador argues for mandatory retirement at 75, sweeping ethics reform, and what he calls a much-needed “power wash” of Washington. Emanuel also weighs in on ... Show More
Yesterday
The Cake Is Almost Baked: Doug Sosnik on Trump, the Economy, and the 2026 Midterms
Political strategist and longtime presidential adviser Doug Sosnik joins Michael for a deep-dive into the forces reshaping American politics. Sosnik explains why 57% of Americans believe the country is on the wrong track, how the K-shaped economy is driving voter frustration, and ... Show More
28m 34s
Yesterday
Protester or Agitator? The Video That Complicates the Alex Pretti Case
Today at Smerconish.com, Michael asks you: Was your opinion about Alex Pretti altered by video showing him protesting just 11 days before he was killed? Listen in as Michael examines what the footage reveals, what it doesn’t change legally, and why video evidence so powerfully sh ... Show More
10m 37s
Jan 29
75 and Out? The Growing Case for Age Limits in Government
Should there be a mandatory retirement age of 75 for the president, cabinet officials, members of Congress, and federal judges? Inspired by comments from former congressman, White House chief of staff, Chicago mayor, and ambassador Rahm Emanuel, Michael Smerconish digs into Ameri ... Show More
11m 52s
Jan 2025
The Hit Song that Gave Us MLK Day
January 15, 1969. It's been less than a year since the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Friends, family, and followers are gathered at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, where Dr. King preached. They are there to remember him on his birthday, honor his legacy, and pre ... Show More
31m 34s
Oct 2024
509. America in '68: The Assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. (Part 2)
The peaceful figurehead of the Civil Rights movement in the early 1960s, Dr Martin Luther King had inspired hundreds of thousands to demand equal rights for African Americans. But by 1968, the once uniting leader seemed to be losing popularity, both amongst activists and in the p ... Show More
1h 2m
Feb 2024
Malcolm X Is Assassinated (1965)
<p>It’s February 22nd. This day (February 21st, in fact) in 1965, Malcolm X is assassinated as he’s giving a speech at a Harlem ballroom.</p>
<p>Jody, NIki, and Kellie discuss why X felt as if his killing was almost an inevitability, why the details of that day remain murky — an ... Show More
19m 22s