Today's Poll Question: Of These Threats, Which Worries You Most?

**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.

**SPEAKER_1** (0:15)
Hello, hello.

**Michael Smerconish** (0:16)
Hi gang, today is Monday, it's the 3rd of August, 2026 Hope you had a nice weekend. We had a lot of voting at smerconish.com on the poll questions over the weekend. Yesterday, big for a Sunday, 30,688 voted. Mayor Mamdani attend the 25th anniversary of 9-11, despite some families' objections. There's an online petition launched by a 9-11 widower. Her name is Giovanni Galante, lost her husband on September 11 The petition says for 9-11 families, this is not simply a public ceremony. It's a deeply personal day of mourning. It argues that the anniversary ought to remain focused on remembrance and unity and an unambiguous rejection of the violence and extremism that defined that day. Okay? Well, what's the issue for Momdani in that regard? Galante, whose wife Grace Catherine Galante was working on the 105th floor of the North Tower, told CBS that he believes Momdani's attendance would be a disrespect to our family members because of the people he supports. So, very vague, very general. Not as if there's a particular quote of his pertaining to 9-11, at least not one that I have seen that is stirring this controversy. Not all families are on board.
Somebody else quoted in a story that is in USA Today, who told North jersey.com that she has no objection to Momdani attending so long as he does not have a speaking role. Oh, well, wait a minute. So she says, all right, you can come, but you cannot speak. Anyway, of our audience, more than 30,000 voted and 85% said he ought to be there. Other voting from the weekend, a whole lot of Fauci, a whole lot of Fauci, including the fact that the Saturday poll ended at just a tick under 50,000. 49,000 and change on the issue that I raised in a commentary on CNN on Saturday morning. I said the Senate ought to invite him back and give him immunity in exchange for his testimony. Well, 86.74% agreed with that. As I said in the Sunday newsletter, the political circus in Washington isn't changing many minds. Our audience understands the legal maneuvering, wants the full story on the record, and simply isn't buying the effort to tear down a public health official who spent his career in service. Today's poll question, amid war, the economy, climate, and artificial intelligence, which existential threat worries you the most?
Your choices, a biological attack or engineered pandemic, nuclear war, artificial intelligence, climate change, or war meaning Iran, Russia, Ukraine, China.
So much to discuss in that regard.

**SPEAKER_1** (3:10)
This is The Smerconish Podcast from SiriusXM.

**Michael Smerconish** (3:14)
Live betting on baseball and all your favorite sports. Better on the Betparks app and the Playgun Lake app. Live bet on baseball or pro golf, MMA, tennis, soccer, women's pro basketball.
Come join me and make your downtime fun time all summer long with the Betparks app and the Playgun Lake app. The Betparks and Playgun Lake online casino and sportsbook apps, they bring the casino right to you wherever you are, on the beach, the boat, the lake, the land, the water, by the pool, right on your couch, makes no difference.
You can play blackjack, craps, poker, and all your favorite casino games right on your phone for real money.
They've also got hot online slot games like Sahara Rich's Collect-a-Max. Join me now, get $500 casino bonus back, 250 bonus spins on the hot online game that I just referenced. That's for new users only. There are terms and conditions. The casino bonus has to be wagered. You got to be 21 and in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland or Michigan, new users only. Details are at betparks.com. Gambling problem call 1-800-GAMBLER.

**Morgan Stewart** (4:11)
Hey everyone, it's me, Morgan Stewart, and I have a new podcast called The Morgan Stewart Show. Join me each week as I talk about pop culture, fashion, my personal life, and just a warning, I'm going to be giving my opinion on everything. I'll also have some really fun guests to join in on the fun. The Morgan Stewart Show is out now. Listen and follow wherever you get your podcast or watch full video on YouTube.

**SPEAKER_5** (4:31)
You're listening to this podcast, so you've got a curious mind. Here's a helpful fact. Drivers who switch and save with Progressive save over $900 on average. Visit progressive.com to see if you could save on car insurance.
Progressive Casualty Insurance Company and Affiliates. National average 12-month savings of $946 by new customers surveyed who saved with Progressive between June 2024 and May 2025 Potential savings will vary.