Constitutional law Professor Kermit Roosevelt has studied the original understanding of the Fourteenth Amendment. He tells Jim Zirin that Donald Trump should be disqualified from seeking the presidency because he engaged in an insurrection on January 6. The matter is before courts in 21 states. It will certainly reach the Supreme Court.

Kai Bird's biography of J. Robert Oppenheimer inspired the hit movie. He tells Jim how the father of the atomic bomb fell victim to McCarthyism when they revoked his security clearance nine years later after a deeply flawed hearing.

George P. Shultz, our 60th secretary of state, was a consummate diplomat — a solver of seemingly intractable national and global problems. Many credit him, along with Ronald Reagan, with peacefully ending the cold war and for a time the nuclear arms race with the Russians. His biographer, the award-winning foreign correspondent Philip Taubman, tells me of his vast accomplishment.

Donald Trump appointed Mark Esper Secretary of Defense. During the stormy 16 months he was in office, Esper often clashed with Trump’s directives to use the military in ways Esper thought inappropriate, including using the military to change the election results. Trump fired Esper in November 2020 a few days after he lost the election. Esper, a lifelong Republican, tells Jim he is not supporting Trump for President in 2024.

Superstar director Bart Sher tells Jim Zirin about the fourth revival of Camelot on Broadway with book by Aaron Sorkin. Nominated for a Tony — this one is deep in contemporary significance and is perhaps the most memorable.

My latest conversation with diplomat Richard Haass, author of the book ‘The Bill of Obligations: The Ten Habits of Good Citizens’. We discussed indicting a former president, the state of political discourse, and the obligations all citizens share.

Xi Jinping recently secured a precedent-breaking third term as president of China during a session of a rubber stamp parliament. In a blistering speech, he accused the United States of “containment” of China, a term reminiscent of the Cold War. Kevin Rudd, Australian Ambassador to the United States, finds Xi’s speech alarming, arguing robust diplomacy is needed to manage our relationship and avoid a World War.

Jim Zirin revisits his 2018 interview with super journalist and gifted writer Ken Auletta, recorded on March 12, 2018. In 1978, Ken profiled for Esquire the pugnacious attorney Roy Cohn whom he called the "personification of evil." Cohn died in 1986 discredited and disbarred. Donald Trump was a Cohn client and close friend. He called Cohn his mentor. Ken Auletta tells Jim some of the dirty tricks Trump learned at the feet of the master of the smear.

Jim Zirin revisits his 2021 interview with renowned Harvard constitutional law professor Laurence Tribe, recorded on April 19, 2021. Larry discusses all the civil suits and potential criminal charges targeting Donald Trump. He tells Jim Zirin that Trump has some interesting defenses in the possible criminal cases, but, at the end of the day, he will be held accountable.

Jim Zirin revisits his 2022 interview with seasoned lawyer Martin London, recorded on September 26, 2022. Marty reviews the indictable crimes of which Donald Trump may be accused. He tells Jim Zirin which case he thinks is strongest. As a top litigator, Marty addresses the tactics of where DOJ will want to bring its case, when Merrick Garland will spring, and whether “Teflon Don” will be indicted at all.