Is Jared Kushner a 'walking conflict of interest'?
Summary
Fresh Air host Tanya Mosley interviews New Yorker staff writer Dexter Filkins about his new piece, "Jared Kushner’s Dollar Diplomacy." They discuss Kushner’s dual role as an unpaid White House peace envoy and the manager of a private equity fund backed by billions from Gulf states. Filkins details how Kushner’s relationships with leaders like Saudi Crown Prince MBS and his negotiations in Iran and Ukraine raise serious conflict-of-interest questions. The conversation explores whether Kushner’s lack of diplomatic experience and business mindset have complicated efforts to resolve major globa…
Topics discussed
Intro: Code Switch and guest introduction
Dexter Filkins' background and the dual role conflict
Legal ethics of Kushner's unpaid diplomatic role
Comparing Kushner to traditional revolving door lobbyists
Steve Witkoff and the bypassing of State Department
Kushner's argument for non-expert diplomacy
Origins of the Saudi Arabia alliance in 2017
The pivotal phone call and MBS's rise to power
Qatar investment refusal and the subsequent blockade
The Abraham Accords and breaking Arab consensus
Kushner's diplomatic strategy and future goals
Gaza reconstruction plans and Davos presentation
Founding Affinity Partners and initial funding
MBS's decision to invest despite objections
Theories on why Saudi Arabia bought influence
Geneva nuclear talks and lack of technical advisors
Breakdown of negotiations and start of war
Simultaneous fundraising during diplomatic crisis
Ukraine diplomacy and the 'Putin's wish list'
Critique of the US approach to ending the war
Oligarch gifts and perceptions in Moscow
Book review: Kate Atkinson's 'Our Noble Selves'
Preview of next episode and show credits
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