Mark Halperin On How the Shutdown Could End Today

Michael is joined by political analyst Mark Halperin for a wide-ranging conversation on the biggest political stories of the week. From the government shutdown and who’s most likely to take the blame, to President Biden’s approval numbers, the Comey indictment, and the surprising twists in the New York City mayoral race, they cover it all. Halperin shares why the shutdown could end sooner than most expect, why Democrats may be politically vulnerable, and how Andrew Cuomo’s comeback campaign might not be over yet. Plus, the two dive into the consequences of political prosecutions, the role of the military in domestic crises, and whether Americans are as engaged with D.C. drama as pundits think. Original air date 1 October 2025.

Episode 1562 of the The Smerconish Podcast podcast, hosted by Mark Halperin, Michael Smerconish, titled "Mark Halperin On How the Shutdown Could End Today" was published on October 1, 2025 and runs 29 minutes.

October 1, 2025 ·29m · The Smerconish Podcast

Summary

Michael is joined by political analyst Mark Halperin for a wide-ranging conversation on the biggest political stories of the week. From the government shutdown and who’s most likely to take the blame, to President Biden’s approval numbers, the Comey indictment, and the surprising twists in the New York City mayoral race, they cover it all. Halperin shares why the shutdown could end sooner than most expect, why Democrats may be politically vulnerable, and how Andrew Cuomo’s comeback campaign might not be over yet. Plus, the two dive into the consequences of political prosecutions, the role of the military in domestic crises, and whether Americans are as engaged with D.C. drama as pundits think. Original air date 1 October 2025.

Episode Description