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Michael Smerconish is a nationally syndicated radio host, best-selling author and weekly contributing columnist every Friday to The Philadelphia Inquirer A2 Insights page. Michael’s radio show is broadcasted weekday afternoons in Philadelphia on WPHT-AM (1210). A Philadelphia lawyer turned political commentator, Smerconish is a guest host and contributor to several national television shows including Hardball with Chris Matthews. Smerconish occasionally writes an opinion column in The Inquirer's Sunday Currents section. 

In January 2011, Smerconish launched a book club event series in the Philadelphia region that will feature several best-selling authors, including John Bogle, Ted Gup, James Kaplan and Jane Leavy.

How to define a 'hate crime'?
By Michael Smerconish
Posted 02/12/2012
Further investigation of a recent attack in Center City might justify the filing of hate-crime charges against teenagers who sparked the melee.
Charles Murray
Life inside the (class) bubble
By Michael Smerconish
Posted 02/10/2012
Michael Smerconish: Am I as detached as author Charles Murray says I am? I take his quiz.
 
Rethinking paths to wealth - 02/03/2012
By Michael Smerconish
The Pulse: Blue-collar small-business owners prove an Ivy League education doesn't equal success.
 
Fighting chance for Gingrich? - 01/28/2012
By Michael Smerconish
Michael Smerconish: Republicans don't want a politician to merely face Barack Obama - they want a pugilist. But whether that demeanor would help Newt Gingrich in a general election is a different matter.
 
Lessons from the cheap seats - 01/27/2012
By Michael Smerconish
Michael Smeconish: The 76ers hope early season success and cheap tickets will draw more fans.
 
Decency standards still vague, outdated - 01/22/2012
Even "fleeting expletives" are infractions, creating a chilling effect for broadcast media.
By Michael Smerconish
An exasperated Mayor Nutter recently reacted to the news of a shooting that took the lives of three Philadelphia teens by saying: "The first way for young people to stop this stuff is for young people to be home, where they're supposed to be home, and for adults not to act like idiots and assholes out in the streets of our city shooting at kids in a car."
 
Amid outcry, larger truth of war ignored - 01/20/2012
By Michael Smerconish
The Pulse: The Marines in the video that has captivated the world are victims, too, says Sebastian Junger.
 
Huntsman's odds grow longer, but appeal is clear - 01/15/2012
By Michael Smerconish
Michael Smerconish: When it comes to authenticity, Jon Huntsman is a constant while front-runner Mitt Romney will always be dogged by questions about a lack of core positions, and a willingness to alter his views to suit the times.
 
Romney must face his work history head-on - 01/13/2012
By Michael Smerconish
The Pulse: Romney's business background is the elephant in the room, and he needs to address it.
 
Trial balloons in Sandusky scandal - 01/08/2012
By Michael Smerconish
Michael Smerconish: The Jerry Sandusky scandal will be "the" state and local issue of 2012.
 
Don't let gift cards be a gift to retailers or state - 01/06/2012
By Michael Smerconish
It's been 12 days since Christmas. Go redeem your gift cards! That's my takeaway after a chat with Brian Riley, a senior research director in the retail banking and cards practice at TowerGroup. He studies the retail industry and calculates that in this new year, $2 billion in gift-card purchases will go unredeemed. Some will be lost. Others misplaced. And some recipients are simply not motivated to shop at certain retailers.
 
Six headlines hoped for in 2012 - 12/29/2011
By Michael Smerconish
The Pulse: After a tough year of predictions for 2011, Michael Smerconish is back with some for next year.
More Stories
 
Christmas card does more than mark a holiday - 12/25/2011
By Michael Smerconish
 
Courageous soul in PSU scandal - 12/23/2011
By Michael Smerconish
 
Dreaming of a bright - and colorful - Christmas - 12/18/2011
By Michael Smerconish
 
Who is Philadelphia's person of the year? - 12/16/2011
By Michael Smerconish
 
No doubt on Abu-Jamal's guilt, but fighting on was futile - 12/11/2011
By Michael Smerconish
 
Congress needs a vote on $15 trillion debt - 12/09/2011
By Michael Smerconish
What exactly did McQueary say? - 12/04/2011
By Michael Smerconish
 
Gingrich's immigration test - 12/02/2011
By Michael Smerconish
 
Another GOP wave rider may wipe out - 11/27/2011
By Michael Smerconish
 
The Pulse: Sandusky, central Pa. values - 11/25/2011
By Michael Smerconish
 
Sandusky interview devastating to his case - 11/20/2011
By Michael Smerconish
 
Penn State squandered its window to handle crisis - 11/18/2011
By Michael Smerconish
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Smerconish's book club
A Q&A with Michael Smerconish - and former Gov. Ed Rendell.
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