“Worse Than What’s in the Book”: Matthew Cole’s Jared Kushner Exposé, Princes and Thieves, is Just the Tip of the Iceberg

Why has Jared Kushner escaped accountability for so long? Welcome to Part II of our discussion with investigative journalist Matthew Cole about his explosive new book Princes and Thieves: Jared Kushner and Mohamed bin Zayed’s Secret Plot to Remake the Middle East.

Now that a popular uprising has brought the largest incoming class of new leaders into the House since 1933–when the people revolted against the business elites indifferent to their suffering in the Great Depression–it’s time for transformative change and to hold the oligarchy accountable, starting with nepo-baby Jared Kushner. Gaslit Nation calls on Congress to pass the Kushner Act, barring family members from grifting in the halls of power, selling our national security to the highest bidder, even dragging us into an unwinnable disastrous war in Iran. Did Kushner accept $2 billion from Middle East autocrats–the UAE and Saudi Arabia, with an assist from Netanyahu–as a bribe for Trump to defy military experts and go to war with Iran? Congress must find out.

In Part II of our discussion with Matthew Cole, we discuss:

• The threats on the lives of those who dare to stand up to the autocratic regimes of the Middle East.

• Russia’s role in Kushner enriching himself across the Middle East and why that matters, especially for Ukraine.

• Where longtime Kremlin operative Paul Manafort fits into all this and how Manafort–one of the many people facing existential debt in 2016–got his job on the Trump campaign.

• How to finally hold Kushner accountable and protect our country from the next Jared and Ivanka.

For our bonus episode this week, subscribe to listen to the full discussion, which looks at why Hakeem Jeffries may have secretly met with Kushner, how Kushner helped empower the rise of sociopath MBS and therefore the subsequent murder of Saudi dissident Jamal Khashoggi, Ivanka’s ambition to become president and carry on the Trump dynasty, and more. To listen to the full episode, subscribe to Patreon.com/Gaslit or GaslitNation.Substack.com – discounted annual memberships are available, and on Patreon, you can give the gift of membership. Get access to bonus shows, all shows ad free, invites to exclusive events like our Monday salons, listener chats, and more when you subscribe on Patreon or Substack. Thank you to everyone who supports Gaslit Nation, especially in these hard times – we could not make this show without you.

Show Notes:

Join the Matriarchy Rising Book Tour!: https://www.andreachalupa.com/unreasonable/

Want a plan to bash the patriarchy? Live your most creative life and help build a better world with Andrea’s new book, A Reasonable Guide for Unreasonable Women: 20 Steps to Find Your Purpose and Power in a World on Fire: https://www.andreachalupa.com/unreasonable/

Princes and Thieves: Jared Kushner and Mohamed bin Zayed’s Secret Plot to Remake the Middle East, by Matthew Cole https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Princes-and-Thieves/Matthew-Cole/9781668095324

What you need to know about 666 Fifth Avenue https://www.cbsnews.com/news/what-you-need-to-know-about-666-fifth-avenue/

“Princes and Thieves” Author Matthew Cole on Jared Kushner & the “Secret Plot to Remake Middle East” https://www.democracynow.org/2026/11/2/matthew_cole_jared_kushner_book

Jared Kushner Threatens Legal Action Over Vanity Fair Story Alleging Secret Bank Accounts https://www.thewrap.com/media-platforms/journalism/jared-kushner-vanity-fair-book-legal-threat/

Jared Kushner’s Phone Was Hacked. It Exposed an Alleged $2 Billion Foreign Money Web https://dailycaller.com/2026/10/23/jared-kushner-phone-hacked-foreign-money-web-united-arab-emirates-saudi-matthew-cole/

How Kushner Conducted Foreign Policy for Profit https://business-standard.com/book/how-kushner-conducted-foreign-policy-for-profit-126110100856_1.html

Raskin Urges Kushner to Recuse Himself From Negotiations Amid Book’s Allegations https://truthout.org/video/raskin-urges-kushner-to-recuse-himself-from-negotiations-amid-books-allegations/

Susan Rice Told House Investigators Why She Unmasked Trump Officials https://www.cnn.com/2017/09/13/politics/susan-rice-house-investigators-unmasked-trump-officials

Kushners Unload 666 Fifth Ave. to Brookfield in 99-Year Lease https://fortune.com/2018/08/04/kushners-666-fifth-avenue-lease

House Democrats Investigate Mysterious Qatar-Linked Cash Infusion That Bailed Out Kushner Building https://lieu.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/house-democrats-investigate-mysterious-qatar-linked-cash-infusion-bailed

Mueller Probe Witness Gets 10-Year Sentence on Child Porn, Abuse Charges https://news.yahoo.com/mueller-probe-witness-gets-10-180948775.html

Mueller Witness Pleads Guilty in Illegal Scheme to Funnel UAE Money to Hillary Clinton’s 2016 Campaign https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/?p=1532055

Lukoil’s Foreign Asset Sale Becomes Part of U.S.–Russia Talks on Ending Ukraine War, NYT Reports https://meduza.io/en/news/2026/10/05/lukoil-s-foreign-asset-sale-becomes-part-of-u-s-russia-talks-on-ending-ukraine-war-nyt-reports

U.S. Peace Negotiations With Russia Could Now Involve Multi-Billion Dollar Lukoil Deal, NYT Reports https://kyivindependent.com/u-s-peace-negotiations-with-russia-could-now-involve-multi-billion-dollar-lukoil-deal-nyt-reports/

US and Israel Strike Iran https://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/news/20260228/us-and-israel-strike-iran

Jared Kushner Threatens Legal Action Over Vanity Fair Story Alleging Secret Bank Accounts https://www.thewrap.com/media-platforms/journalism/jared-kushner-vanity-fair-book-legal-threat/

A Billionaire Wanted a Trump Pardon. His Family Gave Alina Habba a $50 Million Deal. https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/20/us/politics/julio-herrera-pardon-alina-habba.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share

Raskin targets Kushner over alleged foreign money ties The top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee is already staking out jurisdiction over Jared Kushner investigations if Democrats take back the House. https://www.ms.now/news/raskin-kushner-alleged-foreign-money-ties