Michael Smerconish begins with the breaking news out of Beirut, Lebanon where Hezbollah confirms their leader was killed from an Israeli strike on Friday. Aaron David Miller, a former State Department Middle East negotiator, tells Smerconish that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may see this regional conflict as an "opportunity" to stay in power. Tim Ryan and Dr. Scott Jensen share their predictions for the CBS News Vice-Presidential Debate after both men shared a debate stage with JD Vance and Tim Walz, respectively. Finally, David Sanger, author of "New Cold Wars" believes that Netanyahu found himself in a unique moment in American politics which allows him to defy the United States and President Biden. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Michael Smerconish and Richard Clarke, a former White House counterterrorism coordinator, discuss the looming global threats facing the U.S. while the presidential race is saturated with salacious headlines. Corey Lewandowski, a senior Trump campaign official, addresses the latest scandal involving North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson. A Purdue University Political Science professor and AI expert finds that politicians can benefit from blaming AI for real scandals instead of apologizing. A national campaign tested "mobile voting" for a few military families across the country and saw an increase in voter turnout. The pilot program is now advocating for all Americans to cast their ballots through their phones. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Michael Smerconish gives his take on the ABC News Presidential debate and discusses the latest on the 2024 race with Bakari Sellers and Salena Zito. Nearly three dozen election officials are warning the U.S. Postal Service may delay the mail-in ballot count. Former President Trump will also have access to $2 billion if he decides to sell his shares from Trump Media. Max Boot, a Washington Post Columnist and Pulitzer Prize finalist speaks with Smerconish about Ronald Reagan's legacy and his success as a moderate Republican. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Too close to call? New polling show Vice President Harris and former President Trump are neck and neck in critical swing states. The stakes of the upcoming debate are even higher as both campaigns prepare to face each other for the first time. Smerconish speaks with Republican Congressman Byron Donalds to get his reaction on Dick and Liz Cheney’s recent statements. Former Senior Advisor to the Obama White House David Axelrod also joins the show to discuss the latest on Trump’s sentencing hearing and how it could potentially impact the election. Later, ProPublica Reporter Annie Waldman breaks down the lack of mental health access under insurance providers despite ‘more than 1 in 5 U.S. adults living with a mental illness.” Following recent shootings, why aren’t more politicians advocating for a change to the system? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Michael Smerconish and Scott Galloway dissect the widening gender divide within Gen Z voters. Smerconish breaks down Trump's latest controversy following his recent visit to Arlington National Cemetery. Smerconish sits down with a military family member who lost her Daughter-in-Law during the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. Later, co-author of "The Canceling of the American Mind," Greg Lukianoff discusses Mark Zuckerberg's recent letter and Facebook's role in the 2020 election cycle. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Third-Party candidates played a critical role in the 2016 presidential election. Now that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. suspended his campaign and endorsed Trump... who will benefit more from his exit, Harris or Trump? Plus: Michael Smerconish speaks with Washington Post Columnist Perry Bacon, Jr. about why Harris needs to take questions from journalists across local news outlets. And patriotism takes center stage at DNC. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Former President Trump is reverting back to personal attacks now that Vice-President Harris rose to the top of the Democratic ticket. Michael Smerconish questions whether Harris' success derives from Trump's inability to stay on message or is the media giving her a free ride? Also on today's show: ** Is Kamala Harris getting a free pass from the media? ** Pollster predicts a wide gender gap among voters in the 2024 election ** Will not taxing tips help or hurt the service industry? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
VP possibility Josh Shapiro’s popularity “is really off the charts, extraordinary in a polarized era.” Harris' mispronounced name controversy. With possibility of nuclear arms being used in Ukraine and Iran, an expert warns, “nuclear war is as dangerous to civilization…. as the incoming asteroid was to the dinosaurs, 66 million years ago.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Plus: Nearly a dozen potential VP candidates are said to be in the midst of getting vetted. Two options are making waves across social media and opinions. Who will be the last standing at the Democratic Convention? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
What would the obstacles be to Harris now becoming the candidate? Assassination expert: attempt on Trump's life a “Dereliction of Duty” by security forces. And Richard Clarke on the summer 2024 Friday the world's computers went kerflooey. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Plus: Costas: ‘Nobody should be president when they’re 85.’ How to convince biden to step down. How GOP platform has changed since Reagan. And are 2024 gambling odds more accurate than polling? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Calls for Biden to step aside are growing but not everyone thinks the President should go. Some argue his record says far more about his fitness to serve than what is depicted in the media. Others say it’s time to ‘roll the dice." Can Biden’s record prevail over his latest stumbles? And later, Smerconish sits down with a CEO determined to stop the decline of trade skills. They dive into why a vocational degree might get you to success quicker than a traditional college degree. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Plus: why Biden's aging has long been a 'radioactive' topic for Dems. What the procedure would be were Biden to drop out. How the debate swung the election to Trump. And SCOTUS’ much-delayed ruling on immunity will likely be mixed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Plus: A debate expert on why the Presidential debate mic cutoff button is a net positive. David Axelrod cautions that many voters still have big questions about both candidates. And former Special White House Counsel Lanny Davis makes the case to pardon both Hunter Biden and Donald Trump, and win at the ballot box. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Richard Clarke says that because adversaries are keen to affect the US election, the White House tries to game out possible terror attacks. A Digital Identity expert whose phone was stolen advises what to do if it happens to you. And Kevin Costner hopes his new film depicts “honor in the way people live…dishonor in the way people conduct themselves” and imparts “a little empathy for both.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Charlamagne tha God says that how Blacks vote will depend on issues, not party. James Carville and David Axelrod agree the political fallout of Trump’s guilty verdict depends on the candidates’ reactions. And Elie Honig contends that although what the jury convicted Trump of is “unclear,” his sentence could include jail time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices