The Smerconish Podcast

James Fishback, CEO of the investment firm Azoria, has gone viral for his idea of what DOGE should do with money it is looking to save by trimming federal government spending. Michael talks to him here to learn about his "DOGE Dividend" plan that caught the interest of Elon Musk and President Trump. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: Should any portion of a “DOGE Dividend” be returned to Americans as a tax refund check? Listen here to Michael's take, then vote at Smerconish.com, and please leave a rating and review of this podcast! 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 weekday. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Wall Street Journal "Science of Success" Columnist Ben Cohen tells us that most people who start successful companies are in middle age or beyond. That contrasts with the conventional belief that entrepreneurs are young and tech savvy - listen to Cohen's conversation with Michael about his great piece "The Investor Betting on People In Their 50s and 60s—Because Older Is Better"...and then hear from the audience who tell Michael about the successful companies they started later in life. Original air date 20 February 2025. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: Is the perception of declining airline safety rooted in actual increased risks, or is it primarily a result of intensified media scrutiny? Listen here to Michael's take, then vote at Smerconish.com, and please leave a rating and review of this podcast! 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 weekday. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Rebecca Ballhaus, Investigative Reporter for The Wall Street Journal, joins Michael with her exclusive bombshell piece "How the Trumps Turned an Election Victory Into a Cash Bonanza." Listen to the conversation and learn about the First lady’s documentary deal with Amazon, the President’s legal settlements, and other transactions. Original air date 19 February 2025. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: If the Russia/Ukraine war ends without Russia surrendering battlefield gains, will Putin have won? Listen here to Michael's take, then vote at Smerconish.com, and please leave a rating and review of this podcast! 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 weekday. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Admiral James Stavridis is currently Partner and Vice Chairman, Global Affairs of The Carlyle Group, a global investment firm and is Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Rockefeller Foundation. He served 37 years in the Navy, rising to the rank of four-star Admiral, serving in many commands including four years as the 16th Supreme Allied Commander at NATO, where he oversaw operations in Afghanistan, Libya, Syria, the Balkans, and counter piracy off the coast of Africa.His latest book is “The Restless Wave: A Novel of the United States Navy” published in October 2024. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: Should privacy concerns always outweigh the potential benefits of DOGE eliminating waste, fraud and abuse at the IRS? Listen here to Michael's take, then vote at Smerconish.com, and please leave a rating and review of this podcast! 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 weekday. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: Is the Eric Adams/DOJ controversy a speed bump for President Trump, or a burgeoning scandal? Listen here to Michael's take, then vote at Smerconish.com, and please leave a rating and review of this podcast! 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 weekday. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In a recent Oval Office press conference, Elon Musk revealed that federal employee retirements are processed manually in a Pennsylvania limestone mine. This inefficient process promped Michael to welcome David Fahrenthold for a conversation - he wrote about the mine a decade ago - to delve deeper into this issue. Now at the New York Times, Fahrenthold was at The Washington Post in 2014 when he wrote "Paper mine pushes ahead, but still behind the times." Original air date 14 February 2025. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.