Conversations with Jim Zirin

Last February, left wing NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani released his “preliminary budget” projecting a deficit of $5.4 billion which he would close by imposing a “tax on the rich.” To do the income tax piece, he needs authority from Albany, unlikely in an election year. So, his fallback is a hefty 9.5% property tax rate increase generating $3.7 billion and invading city reserves called the “rainy day fund.” Robust pushback has come from the more moderate City Council which must approve the plan. Andrew Rein, President of the Citizen Budget Commission shares his insights on the executive budget.

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Recording Date: 04/07/2026
First Air Date: 05/12/2026

Guest: Andrew Rein, President, Citizen Budget Commission

Conversations with Jim Zirin is a talk show designed to illuminate the news by taking the time required to understand and interpret national and world events. The series features high-profile guests from the worlds of politics, law, business, foreign relations, national security, counterterrorism, media, lifestyles, literature, the arts, and the military. The series is hosted by Jim Zirin, a leading litigator and contributor to major publications including Forbes, the Daily Beast, the Nation, The Times of London and the Los Angeles Times. He is the author of two books, The Mother Court -- Tales of Cases That Mattered in America's Greatest Trial Court, and Supremely Partisan—How Raw Politics Tips the Scales in the United States Supreme Court. Jim served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York in the Criminal Division under the legendary Robert M. Morgenthau.

Watch more Conversations with Jim Zirin at http://tv.cuny.edu/show/conversationswithjimzirin

Subscribe to the CUNY TV channel: https://bit.ly/2GmGb13
Subscribe to the Series Playlist: https://bit.ly/2RJKqKy

CNJZ09008

In March 2025, invoking the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, never before used in peacetime, Trump, in violation of a court order, sent hundreds of Venezuelan men, alleged to be gang members, to the infamous CECOT prison in El Salvador. Lee Gelernt of the American Civil Liberties Union tells Jim Zirin of the lawsuits that rescued them from torture and abuse.

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Find more from CUNY TV at https://tv.cuny.edu

Recording Date
04/09/2026
First Air Date
04/28/26

Guest:
Lee Gelernt, Lawyer, American Civil Liberties Union

Conversations with Jim Zirin is a talk show designed to illuminate the news by taking the time required to understand and interpret national and world events. The series features high-profile guests from the worlds of politics, law, business, foreign relations, national security, counterterrorism, media, lifestyles, literature, the arts, and the military. The series is hosted by Jim Zirin, a leading litigator and contributor to major publications including Forbes, the Daily Beast, the Nation, The Times of London and the Los Angeles Times. He is the author of two books, The Mother Court -- Tales of Cases That Mattered in America's Greatest Trial Court, and Supremely Partisan—How Raw Politics Tips the Scales in the United States Supreme Court. Jim served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York in the Criminal Division under the legendary Robert M. Morgenthau.

Watch more Conversations with Jim Zirin at http://tv.cuny.edu/show/conversationswithjimzirin

Subscribe to the CUNY TV channel: https://bit.ly/2GmGb13
Subscribe to the Series Playlist: https://bit.ly/2RJKqKy

CNJZ09007

People are living longer than ever before. This year, the average life expectancy for men is 76.5 years. Author Michael Clinton argues that times have changed, and the average American child born this year has a good chance to live to 100 and remain healthy. Living to 100 or beyond, he says, will become the new normal. He tells Jim Zirin of new strategies for longevity and the societal impact of people living longer.

Watch full episode: https://tv.cuny.edu/show/conversationswithjimzirin/PR2013897

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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@cunytv
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cunytv/
Find more from CUNY TV at https://tv.cuny.edu

Recording Date
06/09/2026
First Air Date
06/30/26

Guest: Michael Clinton, Author, Longevity Nation

Conversations with Jim Zirin is a talk show designed to illuminate the news by taking the time required to understand and interpret national and world events. The series features high-profile guests from the worlds of politics, law, business, foreign relations, national security, counterterrorism, media, lifestyles, literature, the arts, and the military. The series is hosted by Jim Zirin, a leading litigator and contributor to major publications including Forbes, the Daily Beast, the Nation, The Times of London and the Los Angeles Times. He is the author of two books, The Mother Court -- Tales of Cases That Mattered in America's Greatest Trial Court, and Supremely Partisan—How Raw Politics Tips the Scales in the United States Supreme Court. Jim served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York in the Criminal Division under the legendary Robert M. Morgenthau.

Watch more Conversations with Jim Zirin at http://tv.cuny.edu/show/conversationswithjimzirin

Subscribe to the CUNY TV channel: https://bit.ly/2GmGb13
Subscribe to the Series Playlist: https://bit.ly/2RJKqKy

CWJZ09009 V2 FS1

In March 2025, invoking the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, never before used in peacetime, Trump, in violation of a court order, sent hundreds of Venezuelan men, alleged to be gang members, to the infamous CECOT prison in El Salvador. Lee Gelernt of the American Civil Liberties Union tells Jim Zirin of the lawsuits that rescued them from torture and abuse.

For full episode: https://tv.cuny.edu/show/conversationswithjimzirin/PR2013895

Follow CUNY TV:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CUNYTV
Twitter: https://twitter.com/cunytv
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cuny.tv/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@cunytv
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cunytv/
Find more from CUNY TV at https://tv.cuny.edu

Recording Date
04/09/2026
First Air Date
04/28/26

Guest:
Lee Gelernt, Lawyer, American Civil Liberties Union

Conversations with Jim Zirin is a talk show designed to illuminate the news by taking the time required to understand and interpret national and world events. The series features high-profile guests from the worlds of politics, law, business, foreign relations, national security, counterterrorism, media, lifestyles, literature, the arts, and the military. The series is hosted by Jim Zirin, a leading litigator and contributor to major publications including Forbes, the Daily Beast, the Nation, The Times of London and the Los Angeles Times. He is the author of two books, The Mother Court -- Tales of Cases That Mattered in America's Greatest Trial Court, and Supremely Partisan—How Raw Politics Tips the Scales in the United States Supreme Court. Jim served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York in the Criminal Division under the legendary Robert M. Morgenthau.

Watch more Conversations with Jim Zirin at http://tv.cuny.edu/show/conversationswithjimzirin

Subscribe to the CUNY TV channel: https://bit.ly/2GmGb13
Subscribe to the Series Playlist: https://bit.ly/2RJKqKy

CNJZ09007 FS1