Jared Kushner Makes Hunter Biden Look Like a Boy Scout (w/ Casey Michel)

Jared Kushner’s return to the White House under Trump 2.0 isn’t just a political comeback—it’s a fully monetized, decades-long entanglement of diplomacy, personal finance, and foreign influence that has reshaped U.S. foreign policy from the shadows. Casey Michel’s reporting for Mother Jones and her forthcoming book, *United States of Oligarchy*, reveals how Kushner, a man with no diplomatic experience, leveraged his role as Trump’s go-to envoy during the first term to build deep financial ties with Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Israel—ties that have since paid off handsomely. Even when Saudi officials rejected his new firm, Affinity Partners, as unviable, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman overruled them, betting on Kushner’s future return. Now, in 2025 and 2026, Kushner is back in charge of Gaza, Ukraine, and Iran policy—leading negotiations with no nuclear expertise, no regional background, and massive financial stakes in all three regions. The result? Failed diplomacy, escalating wars, and a system where foreign autocrats effectively buy access to American power through a single, pliable family member. The most striking revelation isn’t just that Kushner is profiting from his influence—it’s that the entire foreign policy apparatus has been outsourced to a network of unqualified, financially conflicted insiders.