
About this episode
In which John Heilemann talks with Gary Ginsberg, the author of First Friends: The Powerful, Unsung (And Unelected) People Who Shaped Our Presidents. Heilemann and Ginsberg discuss the bestselling book, Ginsberg’s innovative approach to writing about the presidency (via the presidents’ relationships with their best friends), and how his role as corporate consiglieri to powerful men, such as JFK Jr., Rupert Murdoch, and former Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes, helped him find this new angle. Ginsberg also dishes on Murdoch’s behind-the-scenes dalliance with Barack Obama in the run-up to the 2008 election, and he discusses how Donald Trump’s friendlessness affected his presidency. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Get every episode summarized
Each time Impolitic with John Heilemann publishes, we email you a written briefing from the transcript — the topics, who appeared, and any specific claims, with the ad reads skipped.
Email me new episodesFree for 3 shows. No card needed.
No transcript yet
This episode has not been transcribed. Request it and it moves to the front of the queue.
More episodes
More from Impolitic with John Heilemann

Sebastian Mallaby: The Ghost in the Machine
Impolitic with John Heilemann
Apr 20, 20261:19:48failed

Peter Hamby: Swalwell’s Fall, POTUS v. Pontifex, & The VP’s Podcast Mouth
Impolitic with John Heilemann
Apr 17, 20261:04:53failed

Does Kara Swisher Really Want to Live Forever? Should We?
Impolitic with John Heilemann
Apr 13, 202655:58failed

George Conway’s Single-Issue Congressional Campaign: “Get the F*cker Out”
Impolitic with John Heilemann
Apr 10, 20261:25:52failed