Today's Poll Question: Is The Left's Israel Litmus Test Driven More By Policy or Antisemitism?

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

**SPEAKER_2** (0:05)
But first, Michael explains it for you right here.

**SPEAKER_1** (0:08)
Welcome to The Smerconish Podcast from SiriusXM.

**SPEAKER_2** (0:11)
For Independent Minds.

**Michael Smerconish** (0:14)
Well, hello there. Today is Thursday, it's the 25th of June, 2026 Yesterday's poll result, the Wednesday poll question, will the Nancy Guthrie case ever be solved?
27,496 voted. Healthy vote. Not as many as were drawn to the algae reflecting pool question the day before, I note. 51.55% of us, 51.55% of us, close vote, said yes, it will be solved. 48.45% said no, it will not. At the end of yesterday's program, I walked through the Savannah Guthrie, Nancy Guthrie chronology, meaning mom's abduction and Savannah Guthrie's release of videos and what was reported of the so-called ransom notes.
In particular, I wanted to hear what Savannah Guthrie said after the second ransom note was received, the intonation of her voice and the language that she used because what's just come to light is this reporting which said the first ransom note came out and demanded a lot of money in Bitcoin. I think it was $4 million worth of Bitcoin. And then the second note came out a couple of days later and what's just been reported is that the note in the second note said that it noted the passing of Nancy Guthrie and that she'd been, what was the word choice, something like buried in nature. I was like, that's really odd. Why weren't we told that? And what did Savannah Guthrie's message reveal now seen in that light? Well, in today's newsletter, check out the reporting from John Miller at CNN, who's the Chief Law Enforcement Officer, because he explains it. He talks about it and what he says is that CNN and a Tucson station held the contents of that second note for nearly five months at the request of law enforcement and the family. And why do they do it? Because it was one of the few things only the real kidnapper would know. And if a suspect ever surfaced, those withheld details could test whether he was telling the truth.
So they were using that silence as a tool, which I guess makes sense. It's just so damn strange, as I've noted that in a world where everybody has a super computer in their pocket and doorbell cameras on our porches and phones logging everywhere we go and DNA and still an 84-year-old woman vanishes and the case is unsolved. Hopefully that changes. Hopefully that changes. Today's poll question, is the left's Israel litmus test driven more by policy or anti-Semitism? Is the left's Israel litmus test driven more by policy or anti-Semitism? Discuss that in just a moment.

**SPEAKER_1** (3:09)
The Smerconish Podcast from SiriusXM.

**Michael Smerconish** (3:12)
I continue to love this soccer tournament. I can't use the actual words, but you know what I'm talking about. So exciting and a match coming to Philadelphia on Saturday that I'm going to go watch with my buddy Eli Honig and John Berman to CNN colleagues. That'll be a lot of fun.
Yeah, it's another week of world soccer fever. And part of what I love about the tournament is the way in which tourists who are following their teams are taken with the US, which is really cool because that comes at a time when we are viewed more unfavorably than we ever have in the past. Anyway, enjoy the tournament. Get some skin in the game with my friends at Betparks and Play Gun Lake. Your favorite teams and players all tournament long on the Betparks app and the Play Gun Lake app, the only online casino and sportsbook apps that I ever use and recommend. They've got you covered for the whole tournament with special odds boosts, plus team and player props. And right now, new customers get 500 bonus spins on the new hot soccer online slot game. Goal, goal, goal, collect them. Plus up to a $500 casino bonus back. Casino bonus has to be wagered. That's for new users only. You have to be 21 and in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland or Michigan, the casino bonus has to be wagered. Details are at betparks.com and playgunlake.com. Gambling problem call, 1-800-GAMBLER.
Energy, it's more than a utility. It's what powers all life's moments and possibilities for generations to come. It's what helps build brighter futures for all. So no matter how the world and its energy needs change, Southern Company's commitment to meeting those needs stays the same. They're continuously looking forward, forecasting how to support communities and deliver clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy. And that means together, we're ready for what's next. Learn more at southerncompany.com. Southern Company, building the future of energy.