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Michael Smerconish

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Michael Smerconish
Smerconish in 2018
BornMarch 15, 1962 (1962-03-15) (age 62)
Doylestown, Pennsylvania, U.S.
EducationLehigh University (BA)
University of Pennsylvania (JD)
Occupation(s)SiriusXM host, CNN and CNN International host, columnist, author, political analyst, lawyer
Political partyRepublican (before 2010)
Independent (2010–present)
SpouseLavinia Nardini
Websitesmerconish.com

Michael Andrew Smerconish[1] (/smɜːrˈkɒnɪʃ/ smur-KAHN-ish;[2] born March 15, 1962) is an American radio host, television presenter, political commentator, author, and lawyer. He hosts The Michael Smerconish Program on SiriusXM's POTUS Channel and a weekly program on CNN and CNN International. A former Sunday columnist for The Philadelphia Inquirer, he has authored seven books and serves as counsel at the Philadelphia law firm Kline & Specter.

Early life and education

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Smerconish was born on March 15, 1962, in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, to Florence (née Grovich) and Walter Smerconish.[3][4] His mother is Montenegrin, coming from the village of Cetinje in the former Yugoslavia. His father’s family is Carpatho-Rusyn, tracing their roots to the village of Swierzowa Ruska which was located in modern Southeast Poland, not far from the Slovakian border.[5] He graduated from Central Bucks High School West[6] and earned his B.A. from Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, followed by a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Pennsylvania Law School.

Raised in a Republican household, Smerconish began corresponding with Democratic Mayor Frank L. Rizzo as a teenager. In 1980, his father unsuccessfully ran for the Pennsylvania state legislature, with Smerconish helping on the campaign. That same year, he founded Youth for Reagan/Bush at Lehigh University. While attending law school, he ran for the Pennsylvania state legislature but lost the Republican primary by 419 votes.[7][8]

Afterward, Smerconish resumed his legal studies and continued working on political campaigns. In 1986, he managed the Philadelphia campaign for U.S. Senator Arlen Specter's re-election, and in 1987, he served as political director for Frank Rizzo's unsuccessful mayoral bid.

Career

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After graduating from law school, Smerconish co-founded a title insurance agency with his brother Wally. At 29, he was appointed regional administrator for Philadelphia Region III of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development under Secretary Jack Kemp, during the George H. W. Bush administration.

Following George H. W. Bush's 1992 election loss, Smerconish spent a decade practicing law with renowned trial attorney James E. Beasley, specializing in complex tort litigation. His clients ranged from the Philadelphia Fraternal Order of Police to professional boxer Orlin Norris. He also successfully sued abortion provider Kermit Gosnell in a medical malpractice case. Today, Smerconish is of counsel at the law firm Kline & Specter.[citation needed]

On October 19, 2008, after previously supporting only Republican presidential candidates, Smerconish endorsed Barack Obama for president.[9][10] In a Salon essay, he criticized the Republican Party's failure to capture Osama bin Laden and expressed his frustrations, which led to his endorsement.[11] He called for the GOP to adopt moderation on social issues to align with suburban voters.[12]

In 2010, Smerconish announced he had left the Republican Party, later voting for Gary Johnson in the 2016 election.[13] Commentators noted his shift to the political center, with The Washington Post writing that he bet his career on there being "a great untapped center" in politics.[14]

Media

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In the spring of 1990, Smerconish made his first radio appearance as a guest on Philadelphia's 96.5 FM WWDB, eventually transitioning from guest to guest-host. By 1993, he hosted his own Sunday night program, balancing this with his legal career. After broadcaster Dominic Quinn's death in 1996, Smerconish moved to weekend mornings, but left WWDB in 1997 when the station began airing infomercials disguised as programs. He then joined CBS affiliate WPHT, initially on afternoons, later taking over the morning slot in 2003 after Don Imus was fired.[15][16]

Michael Smerconish interviews United States Senator Arlen Specter in October of 2002 (on radio station 1210 AM WPHT) about whether there is a connection between the events of September 11 and the Oklahoma City bombing.

In February 2009, Smerconish's radio show went into national syndication, and on August 20, 2009, he became the first talk radio host to interview President Barack Obama live from the White House.[17] He also interviewed Presidents Jimmy Carter, George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush, as well as Vice Presidents Al Gore, Dick Cheney, and Joe Biden.

Smerconish's television career began with local appearances in Philadelphia, eventually leading to national exposure on CNN and MSNBC. He appeared regularly on CNN's TalkBack Live and guest-hosted Scarborough Country on MSNBC. In 2007, he hosted Don Imus's time slot on MSNBC following Imus's firing, and later became a regular substitute for Chris Matthews on Hardball.

Smerconish interviewing President Barack Obama in the Oval Office on October 26, 2012

In 2013, Smerconish moved his radio show to Sirius XM’s POTUS Channel, citing his desire for nonpartisan discussions after leaving the Republican Party in 2010.[18] In 2014, he left MSNBC to host his own program on CNN, which airs on Saturdays.[19]

To mark 30 years in talk radio, Smerconish released an autobiographical, one-man film, Things I Wish I Knew Before I Started Talking, which initially aired on CNN in July 2020, and then became a special on Hulu.[20]

Books

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Following the September 11 attacks, Smerconish became interested in the 9/11 Commission's investigation, specifically a question posed by Commissioner John Lehman to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, regarding political correctness in airport security. Lehman suggested that there was a limit on how many Arab males could be screened at airports, which Smerconish wrote about in the Philadelphia Daily News. His investigation led to his testimony before a Senate subcommittee, and he later authored Flying Blind: How Political Correctness Continues to Compromise Airline Safety Post 9/11 (2004), donating all proceeds to a 9/11 memorial.

Smerconish's second book, Muzzled: From T-Ball to Terrorism (2007), became a New York Times bestseller, linking political correctness to challenges in fighting terrorism.[21] His third book, Murdered by Mumia (2007), co-written with Maureen Faulkner, recounted the murder of Philadelphia police officer Daniel Faulkner. Smerconish donated the book's proceeds to a charitable fund for Faulkner.

In Morning Drive: Things I Wish I Knew Before I Started Talking (2009), Smerconish reflected on his career and political transformation. His fifth book, Instinct: The Man Who Stopped the 20th Hijacker (2009), told the story of Jose Melendez-Perez, a customs officer who helped prevent the 20th hijacker's entry into the U.S. before 9/11. Smerconish donated proceeds from this book to the Flight 93 National Memorial.

Smerconish's first fictional book, Talk: A Novel (2014), explores the rise of a conservative talk show host, Stan Powers, who must decide whether to continue parroting talking points or stay true to his beliefs. Warner Horizon Television optioned the rights to the novel.[22] His next book, Clowns to the Left of Me, Jokers to the Right (2018), compiled 100 of his columns from The Philadelphia Inquirer and Philadelphia Daily News. He donated proceeds to the Children’s Crisis Treatment Center and later developed a one-man show, "American Life in Columns," which he toured across the U.S.

Recognition

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Smerconish has been recognized with three honorary degrees: a Doctor of Humane Letters from Widener University in 2016,[23] another Doctor of Humane Letters from Delaware Valley College in 2018,[24] and a Doctor of Science from the University of the Sciences in 2020.[25]

He has earned numerous accolades for his work in media, including being named one of America’s most important talk show hosts by Talkers Magazine.[26] In 2003, he was listed among Pennsylvania's most influential political figures by The Pennsylvania Report,[27] and in 2006, Radio & Records honored him as the nation's Local Personality of the Year.[21] The National Association of Broadcasters selected him as a Marconi Award finalist in 2011 for Best Network/Syndicated Host.[28] Additionally, Philadelphia magazine named him the city's best talk show host in 2004 and counted him among its most powerful citizens.

In 2024, Michael Smerconish was rated +1.8 by Ad Fontes Media, highlighting him as one of the most balanced media figures, with zero representing the center of the political spectrum.[29] This rating aligns with Smerconish's long-standing mission to provide balanced, nuanced news coverage that transcends partisan divides.[30] Ad Fontes Media, a public benefit corporation committed to assessing media sources for reliability and bias, seeks to mitigate polarization and foster societal unity—values that resonate with Smerconish's approach to journalism. By achieving a near-center rating from Ad Fontes, Smerconish's commitment to balanced reporting and bridging ideological gaps is further validated.[31]

Controversy

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As part of the 2024 pro-Palestinian protests on university campuses, students at Dickinson College protested to rescind Michael Smerconish's invitation as commencement speaker for the Class of 2024 due to remarks in his 2004 book Flying Blind advocating for racial profiling. In response, Smerconish addressed the students' demands on his podcast and website,[32] stating that although he had not reviewed the book recently, he would likely "stand behind every single word."[33]

Subsequently, Dickinson College decided to revoke his invitation and honorary degree, citing "overwhelming opposition from our faculty and students" and concerns that his presence could distract from the commencement event, according to President John E. Jones.[34]

In December 2024, Smerconish lamented the fact that there are no makeshift memorials commemorating the death of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson who was assassinated in New York City earlier that month. Smerconish compared Thompson to cultural icons such as John Lennon as well as victims of police brutality like George Floyd and people who'd been victims of political violence such as Heather Heyer who was murdered by a far-right extremist while counter-protesting at the Unite the Right rally.[35]

References

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  1. ^ Smerconish, Michael. "CNN". CNN.com. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  2. ^ "CNN's Michael Smerconish comes to Joe Biden's defense". YouTube. April 6, 2019. Archived from the original on December 22, 2021. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
  3. ^ "Michael Smerconish birth announcement". Standard-Speaker. March 16, 1962. p. 24.
  4. ^ "Michael Smerconish". February 19, 2018.
  5. ^ "Michael Smerconish: When it comes to ancestry and immigration, we all have stories". December 2014.
  6. ^ Hughes, Samuel (July–August 2013). "The Purple Passion of Michael Smerconish". University of Pennsylvania. Retrieved March 19, 2016.
  7. ^ Fox, Tom (March 6, 1988). "At 25, He's Been Around The Kid Who Advises The Veteran Politicians". Philly.com. The Philadelphia Inquirer. Archived from the original on September 28, 2015. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  8. ^ Hunter, Al Jr. (November 9, 1999). "Wpht's Mr. Right With A Name Like Smerconish, He's Got To Be Good". Philly.com. Philadelphia Daily News. Archived from the original on September 28, 2015. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  9. ^ Gewargis, Natalie (October 19, 2008). "In Philly, Conservative Talk Radio Host Backs Obama". ABC News. Archived from the original on October 18, 2008. Retrieved October 19, 2008.
  10. ^ Smerconish, Michael (October 20, 2008). "Head Strong: McCain fails the big five tests". Philly.com. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  11. ^ Why this lifelong Republican may vote for Obama
  12. ^ Smerconish, Michael (November 16, 2006). "A Suburban Gop Manifesto". Philly.com. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  13. ^ Smerconish, Michael (February 21, 2010). "For Me, the Party Is Over". The Huffington Post. Retrieved January 31, 2012.
  14. ^ Roig-Franzia, Manuel (April 24, 2014). "Radio/TV talk host Michael Smerconish tries to appeal to the middle". The Washington Post.
  15. ^ "Smerconish Gets a Wake-Up Call." Bucks County (PA) Times, August 26, 2003, p. 4E.
  16. ^ Chiachiere, Ryan (April 20, 2007). "Radio host Michael Smerconish to be simulcast on MSNBC in place of Imus". Media Matters. Retrieved August 29, 2015.
  17. ^ Franke-Ruta, Garance. "Conservative Radio Host Smerconish to the White House". washingtonpost.com. Archived from the original on September 21, 2012. Retrieved September 21, 2010.
  18. ^ Timpane, John. "Smerconish leaving WPHT for SiriusXM". Philly.com. The Philadelphia Inquirer. Archived from the original on September 10, 2015. Retrieved August 29, 2015.
  19. ^ Gold, Hadas (March 8, 2014). "Michael Smerconish kicks off new CNN show". Politico. Retrieved August 3, 2015.
  20. ^ Strand, Chris, Michael Smerconish: Things I Wish I Knew Before I Started Talking (Documentary), Michael Smerconish, retrieved November 14, 2024
  21. ^ a b "Archived copy". Archived from the original on August 25, 2011. Retrieved February 2, 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  22. ^ Gold, Hadas (December 4, 2014). "Smerconish book optioned for TV show". Politico. Retrieved August 3, 2015.
  23. ^ Report, Tribune News (June 1, 2016). "Widener graduation speakers offer words to the wise". The Philadelphia Tribune. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
  24. ^ "CNN Host To Deliver DelVal Commencement Address". Doylestown, PA Patch. April 25, 2018. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
  25. ^ Pizzi, Jenna. "Media Personality Michael Smerconish To Address Graduates at 2020 Commencement". University of the Sciences News Archive. Archived from the original on January 27, 2021.
  26. ^ "And Starring Michael Smerconish, as Himself". Philadelphia Magazine. Retrieved September 21, 2010.
  27. ^ "The PA Report "Power 75" List" (PDF). Pennsylvania Report. Capital Growth, Inc. January 31, 2003. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 20, 2006.
  28. ^ "2011 NAB Marconi Radio Award Finalists Announced". National Association of Broadcasters. July 13, 2011. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
  29. ^ "Interactive Media Bias Chart". Ad Fontes Media. Retrieved November 14, 2024.
  30. ^ "About Your Independent News Source". SMERCONISH. Retrieved November 14, 2024.
  31. ^ "Home". Ad Fontes Media. Retrieved November 14, 2024.
  32. ^ Herrick, Alice (May 6, 2024). "Response of Michael Smerconish to Being Disinvited as the '24 Dickinson College Commencement Speaker". SMERCONISH. Retrieved November 14, 2024.
  33. ^ Hess, Taylor (May 5, 2024). "CNN host, Michael Smerconish, will no longer be Dickinson College's graduation speaker". WGAL. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
  34. ^ Jeski, Sarah; Burns, Tyler (May 3, 2024). "Update: Dickinson College rescinds invite for scheduled speaker Michael Smerconish". WJAC. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
  35. ^ Houghtaling, Ellen Quinlan (December 16, 2024). "UnitedHealthcare CEO Death Sparks Outrageous Complaint from TV Host". The New Republic. Retrieved December 18, 2024. Smerconish then went on to compare Thompson's death to some of the most tragic cultural touchstones in the nation's recent history, including the murders of John Lennon, George Floyd, Heather Heyer, and Rust cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. "But there was no sign of any makeshift memorial on 51st Street," Smerconish added in a segment with the on-screen banner "a sad, new normalcy."
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