meta_pixel
Tapesearch Logo
Log in
The Chris Cuomo Project

Why Politics No Longer Reflects Most Americans

The Chris Cuomo Project

Chris Cuomo

News, News Commentary, Politics

4.53.5K Ratings

🗓️ 20 January 2026

⏱️ 56 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Michael Smerconish (host, SiriusXM’s The Michael Smerconish Program, and CNN’s Smerconish) joins Chris Cuomo to break down why American politics no longer reflects where most voters actually are. Cuomo examines how outrage-driven media, closed primaries, and algorithmic incentives reward the loudest fringe voices while sidelining the practical concerns of independents and moderates — from affordability and health care to trust in institutions.Cuomo and Smerconish dig into why nearly half the country now identifies as independent, why that reality is ignored by both parties, and how modern media economics make moderation a losing strategy. They also discuss whether shared civic spaces can still exist, how the “middle” gets erased by rage-based incentives, and what it would take to realign politics with how Americans actually live and think. Follow and subscribe to The Chris Cuomo Project on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube for new episodes every Tuesday and Thursday: https://linktr.ee/cuomoproject Join Chris Ad-Free On Substack: http://thechriscuomoproject.substack.com Support our sponsors: Get 25% off Cowboy Colostrum with code CUOMO https://www.cowboycolostrum.com/CUOMO Head to https://Superpower.com and use code CUOMO at checkout for $20 off your membership. Support the Freedom From Religion Foundation and protect the separation of church and state—visit https://ffrf.us/newyear or text CHRIS to 511511. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

AI is incredible. They can teach you how to fry an egg and even write a poem, pirate style.

0:07.0

But it knows nothing about your work. Slackbot is different. It doesn't just know the facts.

0:14.0

It knows your schedule. It can turn a brainstorm into a brief and it doesn't need to be taught.

0:20.0

Because Slackbot isn't just another AI.

0:23.3

It's AI that knows your work as well as you do.

0:26.4

Visit Slack.com forward slash meet Slackbot to learn more.

0:30.4

Clowns to the left of me, jokers to the right, here I am, stuck in the middle with you.

0:37.0

What an amazing theme song for an independent political voice

0:44.2

and Michael Smirkanish has it he's got the Steelers wheel anthem and boy oh boy is it fit for him

0:52.6

perfectly and I wanted to talk to the poll master, Michael Smirconnish,

0:57.9

with all of his great insights he has in his Twitter polls that he puts out. How does he see

1:03.8

the state of play in our politics? Why does he believe that the independent is the future? And what does he think about me coming into his

1:15.1

backyard there at Sirius Radio? He's got something to say about everything and it's always

1:20.1

well thought out. Here is the master of the middle, Michael Smirkanish.

1:35.2

Michael Smirkanish, I am a friend and a fan.

2:02.8

Thank you very much for showing us that left and right don't have to be divorced from right and wrong. I don't know what the Mingle Project is. Help me understand. Okay, first of all, will you cover the guns? I feel like you're going to kick sand in my face next. No. Is that to, is that, huh? No, never. Do I need to show you? You and I are the same. Do I need to show you what's under this size 44 sport coat?

2:05.0

44, that's no joke.

2:07.1

No, you don't have to show me.

2:09.1

And I don't want to know.

2:12.3

And you and I are on the same side.

2:20.8

And if anybody ever did the wrong thing to you, they would have a very profound price to pay.

2:25.3

I promise, I promise I will answer whatever that question was that you asked me, but I just want to tell you, you like bring back memories that the apex of my physicality was as an

...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Chris Cuomo, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Chris Cuomo and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.

Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.