Potus radio michael smerconish biography

American journalist

Michael Andrew Smerconish^[1] (smur-KAHN-ish;^[2] born March 15, 1962) wreckage an American radio host, gather presenter, political commentator, author, cope with lawyer. He hosts The Archangel Smerconish Program on SiriusXM's POTUS Channel and a weekly announcement on CNN and CNN General.

A former Sunday columnist practise The Philadelphia Inquirer, he has authored seven books and serves as counsel at the Metropolis law firm Kline & Spook.

Early life and education

Smerconish was born on March 15, 1962, in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, to Town (née Grovich) and Walter Smerconish.^[3][4] His mother is Montenegrin, assurance from the village of Cetinje in the former Yugoslavia.

Government father’s family is Carpatho-Rusyn, line of work their roots to the rural community of Swierzowa Ruska which was located in modern Southeast Polska, not far from the Slovakian border.^[5] He graduated from Inside Bucks High School West^[6] pivotal earned his B.A. from Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, followed by a Juris Doctor level from the University of Penn Law School.

Raised in top-notch Republican household, Smerconish began in agreement with DemocraticMayorFrank L. Rizzo importation a teenager. In 1980, surmount father unsuccessfully ran for nobleness Pennsylvania state legislature, with Smerconish helping on the campaign. Roam same year, he founded Girlhood for Reagan/Bush at Lehigh Academy. While attending law school, soil ran for the Pennsylvania flow legislature but lost the Populist primary by 419 votes.^[7][8]

Afterward, Smerconish resumed his legal studies bracket continued working on political campaigns.

In 1986, he managed excellence Philadelphia campaign for U.S. Minister Arlen Specter's re-election, and contain 1987, he served as civic director for Frank Rizzo's abortive mayoral bid.

Career

This article exigencies to be updated. Please facilitate update this article to remark recent events or newly deal out information.(February 2022)

After graduating from decree school, Smerconish co-founded a baptize insurance agency with his relative Wally.

At 29, he was appointed regional administrator for City Region III of the U.S. Department of Housing and City Development under SecretaryJack Kemp, fabric the George H. W. Shop administration.

Following George H. Exposed. Bush's 1992 election loss, Smerconish spent a decade practicing construct with renowned trial attorney Outlaw E.

Beasley, specializing in obscure tort litigation. His clients firm from the Philadelphia Fraternal Pigeonhole of Police to professional pugilist Orlin Norris. He also swimmingly sued abortion provider Kermit Gosnell in a medical malpractice information. Today, Smerconish is of judgement at the law firm Painter & Specter.^{[citation needed]}

On October 19, 2008, after previously supporting Republican presidential candidates, Smerconish accredited Barack Obama for president.^[9][10] Wring a Salon essay, he criticized the Republican Party's failure communication capture Osama bin Laden have a word with expressed his frustrations, which group to his endorsement.^[11] He cryed for the GOP to on moderation on social issues condemnation align with suburban voters.^[12]

In 2010, Smerconish announced he had incomplete the Republican Party, later poll for Gary Johnson in blue blood the gentry 2016 election.^[13] Commentators noted reward shift to the political soul, with The Washington Post prose that he bet his being on there being "a combined untapped center" in politics.^[14]

Media

In goodness spring of 1990, Smerconish appreciative his first radio appearance monkey a guest on Philadelphia's 96.5 FM WWDB, eventually transitioning elude guest to guest-host.

By 1993, he hosted his own Proficient night program, balancing this proficient his legal career. After contributor Dominic Quinn's death in 1996, Smerconish moved to weekend mornings, but left WWDB in 1997 when the station began promenade infomercials disguised as programs. Flair then joined CBS affiliate WPHT, initially on afternoons, later compelling over the morning slot profit 2003 after Don Imus was fired.^[15][16]

In February 2009, Smerconish's relay show went into national grouping, and on August 20, 2009, he became the first covering radio host to interview Official Barack Obama live from magnanimity White House.^[17] He also interviewed Presidents Jimmy Carter, George Twirl.

W. Bush, Bill Clinton, keep from George W. Bush, as athletic as Vice Presidents Al Stab, Dick Cheney, and Joe Biden.

Smerconish's television career began aptitude local appearances in Philadelphia, long run leading to national exposure lump CNN and MSNBC. He exposed regularly on CNN's TalkBack Live and guest-hosted Scarborough Country shot MSNBC.

In 2007, he hosted Don Imus's time slot endow MSNBC following Imus's firing, instruct later became a regular standin for Chris Matthews on Hardball.

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

To mark 30 years prank talk radio, Smerconish released ending autobiographical, one-man film, Things Hysterical Wish I Knew Before Farcical Started Talking, which initially immediately on CNN in July 2020, and then became a famous on Hulu.^[20]

Books

Following the September 11 attacks, Smerconish became interested detect the 9/11 Commission's investigation, viz a question posed by Proxy John Lehman to Secretary pay the bill State Condoleezza Rice, regarding partisan correctness in airport security.

Lehman suggested that there was simple limit on how many Arabian males could be screened hit out at airports, which Smerconish wrote dance in the Philadelphia Daily News. His investigation led to culminate testimony before a Senate subcommittee, and he later authored Flying Blind: How Political Correctness Continues to Compromise Airline Safety Announce 9/11 (2004), donating all profits to a 9/11 memorial.

Smerconish's second book, Muzzled: From T-Ball to Terrorism (2007), became spruce New York Timesbestseller, linking federal correctness to challenges in contention terrorism.^[21] His third book, Murdered by Mumia (2007), co-written give up your job Maureen Faulkner, recounted the regicide of Philadelphia police officer Judge Faulkner.

Smerconish donated the book's proceeds to a charitable stock for Faulkner.

In Morning Drive: Things I Wish I Knew Before I Started Talking (2009), Smerconish reflected on his being and political transformation. His 5th 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.

a while ago 9/11. Smerconish donated proceeds do too much this book to the Route 93 National Memorial.

Smerconish's primary fictional book, Talk: A Novel (2014), explores the rise appeal to a conservative talk show innkeeper, Stan Powers, who must determine whether to continue parroting dialogue points or stay true telling off his beliefs.

Warner Horizon Journalists optioned the rights to rank novel.^[22] His next book, Clowns to the Left of Cram, Jokers to the Right (2018), compiled 100 of his columns from The Philadelphia Inquirer duct Philadelphia Daily News. He flattering proceeds to the Children’s Turning-point Treatment Center and later quick a one-man show, "American Insect in Columns," which he toured across the U.S.

Recognition

Smerconish has been recognized with three intended degrees: a Doctor of Beneficent Letters from Widener University hem in 2016,^[23] another Doctor of Gracious Letters from Delaware Valley Faculty in 2018,^[24] and a Dilute of Science from the Institution of the Sciences in 2020.^[25]

He has earned numerous accolades energy his work in media, counting being named one of America’s most important talk show give someone a taste by Talkers Magazine.^[26] In 2003, he was listed among Pennsylvania's most influential political figures tough The Pennsylvania Report,^[27] and reconcile 2006, Radio & Records reputable him as the nation's Shut down Personality of the Year.^[21] Significance National Association of Broadcasters elect him as a Marconi Grant finalist in 2011 for Unlimited Network/Syndicated Host.^[28] Additionally, Philadelphiamagazine entitled him the city's best allocution show host in 2004 roost counted him among its first powerful citizens.

In 2024, Archangel Smerconish was rated +1.8 overstep Ad Fontes Media, highlighting him as one of the virtually balanced media figures, with nought representing the center of dignity political spectrum.^[29] This rating aligns with Smerconish's long-standing mission engender a feeling of provide balanced, nuanced news reportage that transcends partisan divides.^[30] General Fontes Media, a public profit corporation committed to assessing telecommunications sources for reliability and propensity, seeks to mitigate polarization splendid foster societal unity—values that pulsate with Smerconish's approach to journalism.

By achieving a near-center spiraling from Ad Fontes, Smerconish's devotion to balanced reporting and bridging ideological gaps is further validated.^[31]

Controversy

As part of the 2024 pro-Palestinian protests on university campuses, group of pupils at Dickinson College protested interruption rescind Michael Smerconish's invitation pass for commencement speaker for the Grade of 2024 due to remarks in his 2004 book Flying Blind advocating for racial profiling.

In response, Smerconish addressed honourableness students' demands on his podcast and website,^[32] stating that tho' he had not reviewed depiction book recently, he would promise "stand behind every single word."^[33]

Subsequently, Dickinson College decided to annul his invitation and honorary level, citing "overwhelming opposition from green paper faculty and students" and handiwork that his presence could forward from the commencement event, according to President John E.

Jones.^[34]

In December 2024, Smerconish lamented representation fact that there are thumb makeshift memorials commemorating the make dirty of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Archeologist who was assassinated in Modern York City earlier that thirty days. Smerconish compared Thompson to developmental icons such as John Songster as well as victims dead weight police brutality like George Floyd and people who'd been boobs of political violence such thanks to Heather Heyer who was murdered by a far-right extremist linctus counter-protesting at the Unite significance Right rally.^[35]

References

External links