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Donald Trump’s New York story isn’t just about gold-plated towers — it’s about shady deals, mob ties, bankruptcies, and the grift that built his so-called empire. In this episode, host Rick Wilson sits down with Jonathan Mahler of The New York Times Magazine to dig into Trump’s corruption in New York real estate, his mob connections, and how those dirty deals shaped the man who would later seize the presidency.
Together, they expose the Trump Tower backstory, the bankruptcy bailouts, and the pattern of fraud and scandal that defined Trump long before MAGA. This deep-dive connects the dots between Trump’s shady New York origins and the current chaos of his political empire, revealing how the same real estate scams, mafia ties, and financial fraud that fueled his rise are still driving his downfall today.
President Donald J. Trump and then-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan shake hands during their bilateral dinner meeting Sunday evening, Sept. 23, 2018, in the President’s private residence at Trump Tower in New York City. | Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead via Flickr
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You can purchase Jonathan Mahler’s newest book, ‘THE GODS OF NEW YORK: Egotists, Idealists, Opportunists, and the Birth of the Modern City: 1986-1990’, wherever fine books are sold, and you can follow him on X @jonathanmahler.
Follow Rick Wilson at @TheRickWilson on X and @therickwilson.bsky.social on Bluesky, and subscribe to his Substack at therickwilson.substack.com.
Join the fight with the Lincoln Project at www.lincolnproject.us and follow LP on X at @ProjectLincoln.
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