Impolitic with John Heilemann Jonathan Mahler: NYC’s 1980s Reinvention & The 40-Year Era it Spawned
Sep 1, 2025
Jonathan Mahler, a New York Times Magazine staff writer and bestselling author, dives into the vibrant reinvention of New York City in the late 1980s. He discusses iconic figures like Ed Koch, Rudy Giuliani, and Donald Trump, revealing how their controversial policies shaped today’s urban landscape. Mahler reflects on writing about the chaotic years of 1986-1988, touching on the intertwined themes of race, crime, and media narratives. With personal anecdotes, he illustrates the complexities of this transformative era that laid the groundwork for modern NYC.
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College Arrest And Jail Cell Reunion
- John Heilemann and Jonathan Mahler recount being arrested together at Northwestern in 1987 for psilocybin mushrooms and spending a night in an Evanston jail cell.
- Both later had their records expunged and retained vivid memories of the humiliation and legal aftermath.
Birth Of The Modern City
- Mahler argues 1986–1990 was the birth of the modern New York built on Wall Street, real estate, deregulation, and globalization.
- Those forces created extreme wealth alongside entrenched poverty and foreshadowed national political backlash.
Koch As The City's Soul
- Ed Koch serves as the emotional spine of the book: a mayor who loved New York but presided as contradictions unraveled.
- His commitment contrasted with policy choices that favored private interests and accelerated inequality.
