And now from the University of Chicago Institute of Politics, the Act Spiles, with your host, David Axelrod.

I've known Elliot Spitzer for a long time. I was his consultant when he ran for Attorney General in 1998 in New York State.

He is one of the smartest guys I ever worked for. Occasionally he would let me know that.

And had a really impactful public career that ended with a tragic misjudgment.

But still one of the most incisive thinkers I know. And I sat down with him the other day.

My old friend, Elliot Spitzer, former Attorney General, former Governor, real estate magnate.

I'm not sure about magnate, but you're working up to magnate.

All right. Spiring to be the non-Donald Trump.

Yeah, but I want to ask you about that. Your family was your second generation real estate developer in New York.

Did your dad have dealings with the Trump empire when you were growing up?

Not Donald Trump's father, but we dealt with Donald Trump many years ago when he was sort of new to the business.

My dad did. He was a different persona. And I say this about him as an apparent and absolutely revolting as his political commentary has been in the past number of years.

30 years ago, he was actually a decent real estate developer. Two buildings he built that were risky, but creative.

The Hayat Hotel on 42nd Street in New York City helped revitalize that part of the city in Trump Tower again creative.

But I'm not going to start critiquing his business there after all. I think it's fair to observe.

He built a nice building here in Chicago.

But as Casino's Warren bankruptcy, there was a lot of razzle dazzle, which I think is would not withstand scrutiny in terms of how he really ran things.

But put that aside, his political commentary recently has been just so apparent that I think the brand he tried to create of the past number of years is being destroyed.

Did you know him over the years? I mean, you get to know him in your public role.

He is brash. He is abrasive. He is not lacking in sort of arrogance. But as you and I have joked off air, humility is not a trait that New York is that have been much abundant.

As a native, I can attest. So I don't resent that as much as just the horrific xenophobic racist comments he's made.

Did you think he believes it? I'm not in a position to say anymore. People morph and what I've noticed and maybe you've had the same experience, David.

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