One of the long-reads on Politico this weekend was a fascinating piece on Jared Kushner and his influence over his father-in-law, the Notorious B.I.G.L.Y. While some claimed that Emperor Bigly was upset at Kushner’s absence during the healthcare debacle, other sources later claimed that Jared and Bigly were just fine, thank you very much, and Jared is still one of Bigly’s most influential advisers. I think that’s true, by the way: if Bigly was really mad about Kushner’s ski trip with Precious Ivanka, Bigly would not have put Kushner in charge of reorganizing the entire federal government. I also think Kushner has become a True Believer, a guy who will “exfoliate” liberals from his life in service of maintaining his sphere of influence over Bigly. So just what does that sphere of influence entail? And are White House staffers concerned? Some highlights from Politico:

Kushner isn’t very popular in the White House: Kushner’s status as the big-issue guru has stoked resentment among his colleagues, who question whether Kushner is capable of following through on his various commitments. And some colleagues complain that his dabbling in myriad issues and his tendency to walk in and out of meetings have complicated efforts to instill more order and organization into the chaotic administration. These people also say Kushner can be a shrewd self promoter, knowing how to take credit — and shirk blame — whenever it suits him. “He’s saving the government and the Middle East at the same time,” one senior administration official quipped.

The Hatchet Man: Kushner “serves as Trump’s unofficial hatchet man” and many believe he will have his fingerprints all over the coming staff shake-ups. Kushner apparently wants “fewer zealots and less ideology in the West Wing — and is frustrated with the constant leaking and infighting that have characterized the administration’s early days.” Kushner was one of the main proponents of kicking out Corey Lewandowski, Paul Manafort and Chris Christie.

So Jelly. “Everyone is jealous,” said one person close to the White House. Kushner is “the ultimate decider. Mostly people are jealous.”

This paragraph is ridiculous: Kushner spends his days bopping from meetings on Capitol Hill to pacing the Oval Office with Trump to calling Trump’s friends and potential media allies, like morning show host Joe Scarborough. He involves himself in high-level discussions on all manner of policy priorities, ranging from health care and tax reform to trade policy. In foreign policy, he’s been publicly tasked with solving Middle East peace, while also handling Canada, China and Mexico issues.

Boy drama: “Kushner has told people that he believes at least some of the resentment of him is being whipped up by people who worked on the campaign but didn’t get the jobs in the White House, such as Corey Lewandowski, as well as conservatives concerned that he’s too liberal. Lewandowski did not respond to a request for comment, but Kushner’s allies contend that Lewandowski and other critics have tried to plant negative stories about Kushner in the media.”

The Jewish lobby is worried. The right-wing Jewish groups thought Kushner would be an ally in the White House but now those same people are feeling a “deep concern that Jared is not the person we thought he was — that this guy who is supposed to be good at everything is totally out of his depth.” Apparently, Kushner has pretty much refused to install a bunch of neoconservative pro-Israel warmongers in the State Dept.

Kushner hated the Trumpcare/Ryancare bill. “Kushner privately expressed displeasure with the GOP replacement bill to the president repeatedly and in no uncertain terms, three people familiar with the discussions told POLITICO. He voiced his displeasure so often that Trump at one point grew exasperated, telling his son-in-law that he fully understood his position, according to the two senior administration officials.

[From Politico]

There are also sources repeatedly saying that the concern is that Kushner lacks focus and depth because he’s taken on so many “big issues” all at once. The fact that he’s alienated the neoconservatives isn’t bothersome (to me), and the fact that he is Bigly’s hatchet man isn’t bothersome either. You know what I was thinking about as I read this? Watergate, and the last days of the Bigly Administration. Some executives believe that you should never hire anyone that you can’t pin the blame on and fire. Kushner is now “unfireable” and he was there, meeting with Russian officials too. When sh-t hits the fan for Kushner and Bigly, would Bigly ever fire Kushner? Probably not. But Kushner would ask for immunity and turn on his father-in-law.

Also: after Politico published this over the weekend, Kushner jetted off to Iraq to meet with military officials, diplomats and more. I guess Kushner’s in charge of Iraq now too. Which brings me to something I was wondering about this weekend: remember Bigly’s big secret plan to defeat ISIS? Where’s the plan? Is the plan to just send Jared Kushner everywhere?

Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet and Getty.