Example Image
Civitas Outlook
Topic
Politics
Published on
Jul 18, 2025
Contributors
Michael Toth
Richard M. Reinsch II
Photo by Redd Francisco on Unsplash

Civitas Conversations: Michael Toth on Zohran Mamdani and the Future of Progressivism

Contributors
Michael Toth
Michael Toth
Senior Research Fellow
Michael Toth
Richard M. Reinsch II
Richard M. Reinsch II
Editor-in-Chief, Civitas Outlook
Richard M. Reinsch II
Summary
Michael Toth and Richard Reinsch discuss the New York City mayoral candidacy of Zorhan Mamdani and what it means for the future of New York and how Texas will capitalize on the city's potential failures.
Summary
Michael Toth and Richard Reinsch discuss the New York City mayoral candidacy of Zorhan Mamdani and what it means for the future of New York and how Texas will capitalize on the city's potential failures.
Listen to this article

Civitas Outlook editor-in-chief Richard M. Reinsch II interviews Michael Toth about his recent Outlook piece titled "Escape from New York," which explores how high taxes and heavy regulation are pushing companies and residents out of New York.

Toth's article warns that policies proposed by socialist mayoral hopeful Zohran Mamdani—like rent freezes and profit caps—could accelerate the exodus. In contrast, cities like Austin and states like Texas are attracting growth by reducing red tape, adding to the housing supply, and creating business-friendly environments.

Michael Toth is a research fellow with the Civitas Institute and a seasoned tech general counsel with over fifteen years of corporate counsel and litigation experience. He has served as a lawyer in the Marine Corps and a senior counsel at the Texas Office of Attorney General.

Subscribe to the Civitas Institute on YouTube to be notified when new episodes of Civitas Conversations are posted.

10:13
1x
10:13
More articles

Not-So-Beautiful Losers: How Conservatism Won the Cold War – and Lost the Peace

Politics
Sep 1, 2025

What Evil Can and Cannot Teach Us

Pursuit of Happiness
Aug 29, 2025
View all

Join the newsletter

Receive new publications, news, and updates from the Civitas Institute.

Sign up
More on

Politics

Liberal Democracy Reexamined: Leo Strauss on Alexis de Tocqueville

This article explores Leo Strauss’s thoughts on Alexis de Tocqueville in his 1954 “Natural Right” course transcript.

Raúl Rodríguez
Politics
Feb 25, 2025
Long Distance Migration as a Two-Step Sorting Process: The Resettlement of Californians in Texas

Here we press the question of whether the well-documented stream of migrants relocating from California to Texas has been sufficient to alter the political complexion of the destination state.

James Gimpel, Daron Shaw
Politics
Feb 6, 2025
Who's That Knocking? A Study of the Strategic Choices Facing Large-Scale Grassroots Canvassing Efforts

Although there is a consensus that personalized forms of campaign outreach are more likely to be effective at either mobilizing or even persuading voters, there remains uncertainty about how campaigns should implement get-out-the-vote (GOTV) programs, especially at a truly expansive scale.

Grant Ferguson, James Gimpel, Mark Owens, Daron Shaw
Politics
Dec 13, 2024
National Poll from Civitas Institute: Trump Victory Driven by Voters Who Reject Status Quo

The poll asked 1,200 Americans an array of questions about how things are going in America.

Daron Shaw
Politics
Dec 11, 2024

The Three Whiskey Happy Hour

Steven Hayward brings you the Power Line Blog's perspective on the week's big headlines.

View all
** items
DC and LA Failures Play Into Trump’s Hands

Although clearly violating America’s long-standing federalist principles, Trump’s incursions are being justified by the incompetence of most blue-city leaders.

Joel Kotkin
Politics
Aug 14, 2025
Climate Lawyers Try a New Approach

Heatstroke killed Julie Leon on a 108-degree day. A lawsuit blames oil companies.

Michael Toth
Politics
Aug 11, 2025
Reading the New Conservatives

Richard Reinsch reviews The New Conservatives by Oren Cass.

Richard M. Reinsch II
Politics
Jul 31, 2025
The Specter of Chaos in New York

Could a Mayor Mamdani keep the city safe during Luigi Mangione’s trial?

Michael Toth
Politics
Jul 30, 2025

Kotkin: Non-Aligned Nations Navigating a Multipolar World

Politics
Aug 19, 2025
1:05

Wall Street Journal: Donald Trump Takes On the Conservative Judiciary

Politics
Jun 2, 2025
1:05

Trump’s Drug Pricing Plan: Consequences for Innovation and Patient Access

Politics
May 13, 2025
1:05

John Yoo: The DOJ Is Being ‘Tricky’ but They May Be Right

Politics
Mar 18, 2025
1:05

John Yoo: How Will Trump Try to ‘Redirect’ the Justice Department Toward ‘Public Order and Safety’?

Politics
Mar 14, 2025
1:05
No items found.
No items found.
Not-So-Beautiful Losers: How Conservatism Won the Cold War – and Lost the Peace

Buchanan's populism, unlike Reagan's appeals, wasn't anchored in the spiritual realities at the heart of the American Founding. Much of the same is evident in Buchanan's latter-day disciples.

Michael Lucchese
Politics
Sep 1, 2025
Why Israel May Sue the New York Times

Jed Rubenfeld was wrong to argue that Israel could not bring a civil action against the New York Times in a New York court.

Richard Epstein
Politics
Aug 28, 2025
The Constitutional Questions Swirling Around the District of Columbia’s Disorder

D.C. officials are always exercising delegated federal authority.

Zack Smith
Politics
Aug 25, 2025
Chicago: The First Domino to Fall?

The Windy City is put on shaky financial ground.

Thomas Savidge
Politics
Aug 14, 2025
No items found.