JL;DR SUMMARY In a conversation with Jonathan Mahler, author of 'Gods of New York,' Peter Beinart explores the socio-political evolution of New York City leading to the potential mayoral election of Zohran Mamdani, a socialist and anti-Zionist candidate. A way out west there was a fella, fella I want to tell you about, fella by the name of Jeff Lebowski. At least, that was the handle his lovin' parents gave him, but he never had much use for it himself. This Lebowski, he called himself the Dude. Now, Dude, that's a name no one would self-apply where I come from. But then, there was a lot about the Dude that didn't make a whole lot of sense to me. And a lot about where he lived, likewise. But then again, maybe that's why I found the place s'durned innarestin'.