Today's Poll Question: Algae at The Reflecting Pool...Act of God, Construction, or Vandalism?

**SPEAKER_1** (0:01)
Get ready to vote on today's daily poll question at smerconish.com.

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But first, Michael explains it for you right here.

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Welcome to The Smerconish Podcast from SiriusXM.

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For Independent Minds.

**SPEAKER_1** (0:14)
Hello, hello.

**Michael Smerconish** (0:15)
Today is Tuesday, it's the 23rd of June, 2026 Here's your poll question. Algy at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. Act of God, construction or vandalism? Which of the three do you blame for the situation now with the algae in the Reflecting Pool? By the way, I was in Washington yesterday. I meant to get to the Reflecting Pool, but I just ran out of time. I get in late Sunday night and it was already dusk and I figured I couldn't see it in time. And then I had a full day yesterday. I want to tell you what I was doing because it's kind of cool.
When I was a senior in high school, I met George HW. Bush.
He was at the shrine of Shenstehova, actually. If you're from southeastern Pennsylvania or the northeastern part of the country, you might know Shenstehova. He was doing an event there. He was running for president and his title was ambassador. He'd been our envoy to the UN and that's why his title was ambassador. He was running for president in the 1980 primaries and his slogan stuck with me. It was a president we won't have to train, a president we won't have to train, because he'd already been UN ambassador, he'd already been CIA director, he'd already been envoy to China, congressman, decorated World War II aviator. The vice presidency, the presidency, those were still ahead of him. But I always have admired President Bush for his lifetime of public service. And that admiration for him led to my being an advance man for him while in college. He was vice president, then when I was 29, I was appointed to his administration serving as a regional administrator in the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Jack Kemp was my boss. So Bush 41 is remembered for a lot of things, but among them three words, points of light. He first used the points of light reference at the 1988 Republican Convention in New Orleans. I was in the hall when he delivered that speech. He then repeated that theme at his inauguration. He meant that America's real strength isn't government. It's the millions who quietly serve, each one a light.
And he founded an organization around that idea. And today, points of light is the world's largest nonprofit devoted to volunteer service. They mobilize nearly 4 million volunteers across dozens of countries. So this gets me back to my trip to DC yesterday. And fast forward nearly 4 decades. My mingle project, restoring common experience amidst all the societal disconnect fueled by technology, has become my calling card. And volunteering is the best way of enjoying common experience. Points of Light is now chaired by the president's son, Neil Bush.
So when I was recently asked to join its board, that was an easy call for me. And yesterday was my first meeting for Points of Light. Who's amidst their 2026 conference in Washington, 1600 attendees during the span of four days. But there were four daily Points of Light recognized. Morgan Somerville, who rebuilds houses after disasters. Elizabeth Murphy, whose toy and food drives serve her Alexandria, Virginia neighbors. Lucinda Robb, she teaches kids philanthropy. And Mary Ellen Dawley and Bob Kovacs, they make free videos for non-profits.
Ordinary people, five ordinary people, extraordinary lights. So the vision of President Bush carries on and I'm going to get to play a supportive role. Thank you to my friends at Parks. Wow, last night, the rain delay in Philadelphia, exciting though. France and Iraq, I watched that game. They had a two-hour delay, but it was just like the perfect backdrop for me as I did my work, monitored the match, heavy, heavy rains blew through Philly. I can attest to that because it interrupted my travel.

**SPEAKER_1** (4:28)
The Smerconish Podcast from SiriusXM.

**Michael Smerconish** (4:31)
It's another week of world soccer fever all over the United States and right now, games in New Jersey, Philly, San Fran, LA, Boston, Atlanta and more talk about a major mingle project.
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