Conversations with Jim Zirin

Guest: Eva Moskowitz, Founder and CEO of Success Academy Charter Schools, Author of “The Education of Eva Moskowitz"

Guest: Ken Langone, Philanthropist, Co-Founder of Home Depot, Author of "I Love Capitalism"

Jeh Johnson was the fourth Secretary of Homeland Security, the third largest agency in the government. Recently, we have seen gut wrenching family separations with unaccompanied children detained in a pop-up tent city in west Texas for two months or more. He tells Jim Zirin that we need immigration reform to avert a humanitarian crisis along the southern border.

Five months ago, pollster Doug Schoen predicted that Democrats would flip the House of Representatives, and the GOP would retain control of the Senate. With some contests too close to call, Doug gives Jim his updated predictions, and argues that mid-terms a referendum on Donald Trump, and Brett Kavanaugh, as well.

Donald Trump said, "there's nobody who has more respect for women than I do." From his three wives to Stormy, and Kristen, Trump’s record on women is flawed. Journalist Nina Burleigh, author of the red-hot book "Golden Handcuffs," did the research, and tells Jim Zirin that Trump has exaggerated. He is in her opinion a "disgusting misogynist."

Robert Mueller has been silent, but the noose is tightening on Donald Trump. Mueller’s “witch hunt” has already resulted in two highly detailed indictments naming Russian nationals in conspiracies to influence the 2016 election. Seasoned investigative journalist and historian Garrett Graff tells Jim Zirin that the best is yet to come.

Author Bob Piggott’s fascination is New York’s legal landmarks, mainly courthouses where the big cases went down. He finds in the City few monuments to the great lawyers and judges who sprang from the City’s bosom to make their mark, and tells Jim Zirin about their extraordinary accomplishments.

Last June President Trump met with North Korea’s Kim Jong-un in Singapore about denuclearizing the Korean peninsula, and touted the talks as an instant success. Veteran diplomat Christopher Hill, is critical of the meeting, and tells Jim Zirin that Kim “played” Trump, gained a great deal, and, gave up very little.

Description: New York Magazine’s Senior Art Critic Jerry Saltz rarely misses a gallery or museum opening. With a stroke of a pen, he can make ordestroy a new artist. Known as the ”people’s critic,” he tells Jim Zirin what he likes, and what he detests about the art world, which he sees as increasingly obsessed with money. But do we need critics to tell us what art is good?

Guest Heather MacDonald, Author of “The Diversity Delusion: How Race and Gender Pandering Corrupt the University and Undermine Our Culture” Heather MacDonald thinks outside the mainstream box. She sees many minority students mismatched with elite universities. She sees rape culture as a delusion, arguing women must take responsibility for their sexual conduct.

With two smash hits on the boards, To Kill a Mockingbird and My Fair Lady, Tony award winning director Bart Sher is the “King of old Broadway.” He tells Jim Zirin that he approached both plays with an eye to how they would resonate with the political, social and economic issues of our day.

With two smash hits on the boards, To Kill a Mockingbird and My Fair Lady, Tony award winning director Bart Sher is the “King of old Broadway.” He tells Jim Zirin that he approached both plays with an eye to how they would resonate with the political, social and economic issues of our day.

Activist Roger McNamee, author of the bestselling Zucked-Waking Up to the Facebook Catastrophe points to hate speech, dissemination of political propaganda resulting in voter suppression, and selling data without permission tells Jim Zirin that Mark Zuckerberg’s business model is dangerous and must be regulated.

Former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd tells Jim Zirin that we can avoid the catastrophe that comes with China’s creeping expansionism if we engage with them in matters of mutual interest and push back robustly where they seek to displace us in the “struggle to secure the commanding heights” of the new technologies.

The term “fake news” is associated with Donald Trump, but it was with us long before he promised to “Make America Great Again.” Former Columbia School of Journalism Dean Nicholas Lemann analyzes the problem and tells Jim Zirin there is a certain type of fake news that the country thinks is OK.