What we’re about
If you feel politically stuck in the middle between clowns to the left and jokers to the right, you’ve found the perfect Meetup group to join!
Inspired by Michael Smerconish’s The Mingle Project, this group will meet to discuss hot topics and news events with people from different backgrounds and points of view."
If you’re an independent thinker and want to join a conversation with people of diverse views, then you’ve found the right place.
Upcoming events (3)
See all- Smerconish Mingle Meetup | One Lake BrewingOne Lake Brewing Company, Oak Park , IL
I’m a huge fan of Michael Smerconish, a political commentator known for his balanced, down-the-middle views. He’s on SiriusXM, has a podcast, and hosts a Saturday morning show on CNN. One of his signature elements is using "Clowns to the left of me, Jokers to the right, Stuck in the middle with you" (Stealers Wheel, 1972) as his intro music on SiriusXM.
Michael believes that one reason for the political divisiveness we see today is that people don’t mingle like they used to. Too many stay at home, seeking information that confirms their own beliefs online rather than joining community activities like bowling leagues, softball teams, or service clubs. In that spirit, Michael speaks about the importance of mingling with others and encourages his listeners to create opportunities to meet new people and have balanced, reasonable conversations on politics and other topics.
With that in mind, join me for a Mingle Meet-Up on Sunday, September 21, 2025, from 4 to 6pm at One Lake Brewing.
While politics may come up, that’s not the main focus. The goal is to bring together a diverse group of people to mingle, relax, and have a good time.
I’ve also included a link to Michael’s website. If you haven’t already, I encourage you to check it out, sign up for his daily newsletter, and maybe even give his show a listen.
Clowns to the left of me, Jokers to the right, stuck in the middle with you…
- Smerconish Mingle Meetup | Wolcott Tap 10/19Wolcott Tap, Chicago, IL
I’m a huge fan of Michael Smerconish, a political commentator known for his balanced, down-the-middle views. He’s on SiriusXM, has a podcast, and hosts a Saturday morning show on CNN. One of his signature elements is using "Clowns to the left of me, Jokers to the right, Stuck in the middle with you" (Stealers Wheel, 1972) as his intro music on SiriusXM.
Michael believes that one reason for the political divisiveness we see today is that people don’t mingle like they used to. Too many stay at home, seeking information that confirms their own beliefs online rather than joining community activities like bowling leagues, softball teams, or service clubs. In that spirit, Michael speaks about the importance of mingling with others and encourages his listeners to create opportunities to meet new people and have balanced, reasonable conversations on politics and other topics.
With that in mind, join me for a Mingle Meet-Up on Sunday, October 19, 2025, from 4 to 6pm at Wolcott Tap.
While politics may come up, that’s not the main focus. The goal is to bring together a diverse group of people to mingle, relax, and have a good time.
I’ve also included a link to Michael’s website. If you haven’t already, I encourage you to check it out, sign up for his daily newsletter, and maybe even give his show a listen.
Clowns to the left of me, Jokers to the right, stuck in the middle with you…
- Smerconish Mingle Meetup | November 2 at Sketchbook Brewing SkokieSketchbook Brewing Co., Skokie, IL
I'm a big fan of Michael Smerconish, the political commentator known for his balanced, centrist perspective. You might know him from SiriusXM, his podcast, or his Saturday morning show on CNN. His SiriusXM show opens with Stealers Wheel’s “Clowns to the left of me, Jokers to the right…”—a perfect nod to his middle-ground philosophy.
Michael often talks about how political polarization has grown as people stop mingling across lines. Too many of us retreat into echo chambers online instead of connecting through community activities—like bowling leagues, softball teams, or local clubs. He encourages listeners to get out, meet new people, and have thoughtful, respectful conversations.
With that spirit in mind, join me for a Mingle Meet-Up on Sunday, November 2, 2025 at Sketchbook Brewing Company in Skokie (note: they have two locations!) starting at 4:00 PM CST.
While politics might come up, the real goal is simple: bring together a diverse group of people to relax, connect, and enjoy good company.
If you’re new to Michael’s work, check out his website, sign up for his daily newsletter, or tune into his show.
And for the backstory on this whole “Mingle” idea, here’s the short film that started it all:
🎥 The Mingle Movie
Clowns to the left of me, jokers to the right… stuck in the middle with you.
