The Smerconish Podcast

Author: SiriusXM

Spirited discussions of government, politics, and current events without predictable left/right bias. The Smerconish Podcast is for Independent Minds. The Michael Smerconish Program airs live on SiriusXM's POTUS Channel 9AM-12PM ET and replays 9PM-12AM East, Monday-Friday.
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Language: en

Genres: Daily News, News, Politics

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Today's Poll Question: Can Federal Prosecutors Force Journalists to Reveal Their Sources?
Episode 1962
Friday, 24 July, 2026

Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: Is it ever appropriate for federal prosecutors to subpoena journalists to reveal their confidential sources? Federal prosecutors have subpoenaed four New York Times journalists after their reporting raised questions about whether a Qatar-donated Air Force One had adequate security protections. Michael examines the clash between national security investigations and press freedom, including the Justice Department’s shifting media policies, the absence of a federal shield law, and landmark cases involving the Pentagon Papers, Judith Miller, and James Risen. Are reporters simply subject to the same grand jury demands as everyone else—or would forcing them to identify sources cripple investigative journalism and deter whistleblowers? Michael explains the stakes before casting his own vote. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.