Trump: The Fifth Crime Family

<div>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 <strong>Rick Wilson</strong> sits down with <strong>Jonathan Mahler of </strong><strong><em>The New York Times Magazine</em></strong> to dig into Trump’s <strong>corruption in New York real estate</strong>, his <strong>mob connections</strong>, and how those <strong>dirty deals</strong> shaped the man who would later seize the presidency. Together, they expose the <strong>Trump Tower backstory</strong>, the <strong>bankruptcy bailouts</strong>, and the <strong>pattern of fraud and scandal</strong> that defined Trump long before MAGA.<br /><br />This deep-dive connects the dots between <strong>Trump’s shady New York origins</strong> and the <strong>current chaos of his political empire</strong>, revealing how the same <strong>real estate scams, mafia ties, and financial fraud</strong> that fueled his rise are still driving his downfall today.<br /><strong>•</strong><br /><strong>•</strong><br /><strong>•</strong><br /><strong>•</strong><br /><strong>•</strong><br />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.<br /><br />Follow Rick Wilson at @TheRickWilson on X and @therickwilson.bsky.social on Bluesky, and subscribe to his Substack at <a href="http://therickwilson.substack.com/">therickwilson.substack.com</a>. <br /><br />Join the fight with the Lincoln Project at <a href="http://www.lincolnproject.us/">www.lincolnproject.us</a> and follow LP on X at @ProjectLincoln. If you'd like to help us continue our critical work, visit <a href="https://action.lincolnproject.us/helplp">https://action.lincolnproject.us/helplp</a> to make a difference.<br /><br />Get 15% off plus free shipping on your first set of sheets at <a href="http://BollandBranch.com/LINCOLN">BollandBranch.com/LINCOLN</a>. #ad</div>