Nov 2, 2026 · 59 min
Kushner’s Gulf ties raise questions about power without oversight
Democracy Now! 2026-11-02 Monday
The episode examines allegations that Jared Kushner used an informal diplomatic role to pursue Gulf relationships while financial pressures and limited oversight shaped U.S. policy.
- 1Matthew Cole alleges Gulf rulers provided Jared Kushner money, access, and influence while he operated as an unofficial foreign-policy emissary.
- 2The broadcast links Kushner’s Gulf relationships to the Qatar blockade, financial pressure surrounding 666 Fifth Avenue, and alleged secret negotiations.
- 3Reports on Gaza, election administration, global protests, and a U.K. entry ban widen the episode’s focus to contested power and accountability.
Don't miss
Matthew Cole explains how Kushner’s alleged financial and diplomatic arrangements connected Gulf power, 666 Fifth Avenue, and the Qatar blockade.
The brief
Democracy Now! leads with Matthew Cole’s allegations that Saudi and Emirati leaders cultivated Jared Kushner through money, access, and an unofficial foreign-policy role.
Cole traces Kushner’s relationships with Mohammed bin Zayed and Mohammed bin Salman through the 2017 Qatar blockade, Trump’s support for it, and tensions inside his administration.
The interview turns to 666 Fifth Avenue, alleged financial pressure, secret accounts, and a reported phone hack that exposed information about Kushner’s dealings.
Cole argues Kushner’s family-emissary role avoided Senate confirmation and oversight, while the discussion places it amid alleged blackmail, killings, and intrigue surrounding the Abraham Accords.
The wider broadcast covers election administration, Israeli violence in Gaza, protests over war and austerity, and the U.K. entry ban on Andreas Malm.
Amy Goodman closes with calls for a United Nations investigation into Habib al-Sayed’s death and for Kushner to recuse himself from Middle East and Ukraine negotiations.
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