Michael welcomes Annie Linskey, White House Reporter for The Wall Street Journal, to talk about the big front-page story that she wrote along with Rebecca Ballhaus, Emily Glazer, Siobhan Hughes, "How the White House Functioned With a Diminished Biden in Charge." Linskey writes, "Aides kept meetings short and controlled access, top advisers acted as go-betweens and public interactions became more scripted. The administration denied Biden has declined." Listen here for the full story, and listener reaction. Original air date 20 December 2024.

Today's Poll Question: What best explains the timing of recent reports on President Biden’s diminished capacity? New information, or coverup? Listen here to Michael's take! The Daily Poll Question is a thought-provoking query each day at Smerconish.com on a political, social, or other human interest issue. Entirely non-scientific, it always begins a great conversation. Michael talks about it in this podcast each day. Listen, then vote at Smerconish.com, and please leave a rating and review of this podcast.

David Wasserman, Senior Editor & Elections Editor at The Cook Political Report With Amy Walter, is an expert on voter self-sorting and data. Michael talks to him about a new app that allows users to see the political leanings of communities they might move to, just as they might consider taxes, crime, and school quality. Original air date 19 December 2024.

Today's Poll Question: When choosing a place to live, would you consider a community's political leanings as seriously as you do taxes, safety, and school quality? Listen here to Michael's take! The Daily Poll Question is a thought-provoking query each day at Smerconish.com, on a political, social, or other human interest issue. Entirely non-scientific, it always begins a great conversation. Michael talks about it in this podcast each day. Listen, then vote at Smerconish.com!

Michael and 2WAY Editor-in-Chief Mark Halperin talk about today's NY Times piece, "A Weary Biden Heads for the Exit," and the latest on the Trump Transition, Original air date 18 December 2024.

Every day, we post a thought-provoking poll question for you to vote on at Smerconish.com. Michael explains it here to give you some insight behind the question, and then asks you to cast your ballot. Today, Michael asks you: Was the execution of a healthcare insurance CEO an act of terror? Listen to his thoughts now, then vote! And please rate and review this podcast.

Luigi Mangione, accused in the shooting and killing of Unitedhealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, has been glorified by many in the country, for what he did to the leader in an industry - health insurance - which many despise. What does this glorification reveal about America? Michael talks to University of Chicago Political Science Professor Robert A. Pape. Original air date 17 December 2024.

A man was shot and killed on a New York City street. This would often garner attention in the form of a memorial with flowers and candles, but not in case of the killing of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson...walk by the spot where he was shot and you would never know anything happened there. UConn Professor of Geography Ken Foote has studied how tragic events are memorialized for many years and lends great insight in this conversation with Michael. Original air date 16 December 2024.

Every day, we post a thought-provoking poll question for you to vote on at Smerconish.com. Michael explains it here to give you some insight behind the question, and then asks you to cast your ballot. Today, Michael asks you: Select a time change scenario: a) No Daylight Saving Time, b) Permanent Daylight Saving Time, c) Current System. Listen to his thoughts here, then vote!

Michael talks to Joe Ziegler, the IRS agent assigned to Hunter Biden's tax fraud case, who then blew the whistle about it. He wrote about it in a Washington Post op-ed: "Hunter Biden’s Pardon: Your Tax Dollars At Work." Original air date 5 December 2024.