The Biden ‘politburo’ accused of running the USA in secret

[Social Media]

 

Behind Closed Doors: The Insular Circle Steering Biden’s Final Chapter

 

A new book is peeling back the curtain on President Joe Biden’s inner circle—dubbed the “politburo” by insiders—a small group of loyal aides and family members accused of preserving his reelection bid despite deep concerns about his cognitive decline. In Original Sin, journalists Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson chronicle how this tight-knit faction wielded extraordinary power, effectively shielding the president from criticism while making decisions that left even top cabinet members in the dark.

 

David Axelrod, a longtime adviser to former President Barack Obama, is scathing in his assessment. “They did such a disservice to Joe Biden and to the country. The family as well,” Axelrod says in the book. “I don’t understand how you could see him in the condition he’s in and think, ‘Yeah, you oughta go [run for president again].’ To do that to someone you love?”

 

This comes in the wake of the Biden family’s announcement that the former president is suffering from stage 4 prostate cancer. While Axelrod and other Democrats have since called for a pause in evaluating Biden’s fitness for office, the revelations in Original Sin show that internal alarm bells were ringing long before.

 

One Democratic official, reflecting the growing frustration, admitted, “I don’t think there is a way to make it stop. Every Democrat is going to need to have an answer on Biden and why we let him stay for so long.” That answer increasingly leads back to a handful of trusted advisers and family members who formed an impenetrable wall around the president.

 

Mike Donilon, Biden’s longtime confidant of over four decades, emerges as a central figure. Known for his unwavering loyalty, Donilon reportedly demanded $4 million to leave the White House and rejoin Biden’s 2024 campaign—a demand Biden accepted without hesitation. “Pay Mike what he wants,” the president said. Donilon dismissed concerns about Biden’s age, assuring others, “He’s going to get elected again with people thinking he’s too old.” Even after Biden’s poor performance in a debate against Donald Trump, Donilon insisted that the president could still win.

 

Steve Ricchetti, another power player, acted as Biden’s gatekeeper and damage controller. When a reporter attempted to write about Biden’s cognitive lapses—forgetting names and facts during meetings—Ricchetti intervened, calling the reporter off the record and asserting that the claims were false.

 

The story was dropped. Ricchetti even reportedly threatened George Clooney to prevent him from publishing a piece calling for a new Democratic nominee. “Some of his colleagues thought he sounded like a Mob boss,” the book notes.

 

Ron Klain, Biden’s former chief of staff, remained close even after his official departure. Despite voicing concerns about Biden’s mental sharpness, Klain also defended his run. “Who else is going to do this, Axe? Who’s going to beat Trump?” he told Axelrod. Still, Klain was shocked when he arrived at Camp David during debate prep and found Biden needing naps and appearing disengaged.

 

Bruce Reed, Biden’s policy chief and longtime supporter, stayed loyal through the campaign. He coordinated debate preparation alongside Hollywood director Steven Spielberg and continued to argue that Biden could win, even after the debate failure.

 

Another influential figure was Anthony Bernal, First Lady Jill Biden’s top aide. Seen as a fierce loyalist, Bernal was described by one staffer as someone who “would not be welcome at my funeral” due to his intense protection of the president and his family. “He cast out potential heretics,” the book claims.

 

Jill Biden herself played a pivotal role in the reelection push. According to staff, she was one of the most powerful first ladies in history. “She became a political partner in addition to a spouse,” one aide recalled. “Jill isn’t going to like this” became a phrase that could kill any idea in the West Wing. Her dedication extended to her personal fitness regimen, preparing for the rigors of the campaign trail.

 

Hunter Biden, the president’s embattled son, also had the president’s ear. After the Justice Department’s Robert Hur described Biden as an “elderly man with a poor memory,” the press team planned a subdued response. But Hunter pushed for an aggressive rebuttal, encouraging his father to fight back publicly. Following the disastrous debate, Hunter continued to press the case that his father was still the party’s best chance. His influence—and the president’s recent decision to pardon him—has caused further strain within the Democratic Party. “It’s toxic,” one Democrat said.

 

With Biden’s health now a matter of public concern, the scrutiny surrounding those who stood by his reelection effort—despite evident warning signs—continues to grow. As one cabinet official remarked, “Five people were running the country, and Joe Biden was at best a senior member of the board.”

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Times  2025-05-22

 

 

[impulse]

Obama's 3rd term.

 

I was thrilled when Obama was elected, but very disappointed when he got re-elected.  He promised transparency, but delivered the opposite.  And Team Biden just carried it on.

 

[HappyExpat57]

They claim he hadn't had a prostate test since 2014. i don't buy that for a second. They knew.

[Gsxrnz]

The whole world knew that Biden was non compus mentis and incapable of opening a box of breakfast cereal.

 

Calling the de facto interim rulers a Politburo is an injustice to Socialism. More like Orwel's Inner Party. 

[impulse]

10 minutes ago, Gsxrnz said:

The whole world knew that Biden was non compus mentis and incapable of opening a box of breakfast cereal.

 

Except the ones watching only CNN and MSDNC.  They were convinced that Biden juggled knives when he was off camera.

 

[Hanaguma]

I don't blame Joe Biden or his family for trying to hide his obvious physical and mental infirmities. That is what families do. Even his immediate staff- they are there to protect the President.

 

But...

 

Cabinet members and members of Congress also have duties to the American people and to the Constitution. They should have done something the second it became apparent the Biden was not able to serve. The 25th Amendment exists for THEM to use in such extreme cases. But they did not act. They were cowards and desperate to cling to power. They need to be investigated, shamed, and outed.

 

And finally, the complicity of the media is staggering.  The utter contempt they showed the American public, the obvious gaslighting, the lies, the smarmy smiles.  They did nothing even though they knew something was wrong. Much like the politicians, they were afraid of losing access to the corridors of power. Afraid of losing possible gigs in a future administration. Afraid of the public. Convinced that the spectre of a second Trump term justified them in totally abandoning their professional ethics and responsibilities.  And so they agreed to be willing participants in the cover up.

[JonnyF]

Shame on the people behind this.

 

They must have been loving the power that a weak, mentally impaired Biden afforded them. 

 

The left are really in the gutter in so many ways, on so many issues. 

 

[fgh654vb]

Why waste your time on this? We all know Reagan governed the country while having Alzheimer’s. You spend time splitting the minute hairs on Biden’s head while you have in front of you a maniac destroying the American democracy. The list of what Biden actually accomplished is a very long and commendable one. I have my problems with Biden too — but how about a little perspective?

[stevenl]

So there were people loyal to biden, confidant he could win. That seems to be all there is to this story.

[HappyExpat57]

43 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

Shame on the people behind this.

 

They must have been loving the power that a weak, mentally impaired Biden afforded them. 

 

The left are really in the gutter in so many ways, on so many issues. 

 

And we're in the same boat now. An inept, very stupid and easily persuadable miscreant signing anything the Project 2025 evildoers put in front of him.

[Hanaguma]

28 minutes ago, fgh654vb said:

Why waste your time on this? We all know Reagan governed the country while having Alzheimer’s. You spend time splitting the minute hairs on Biden’s head while you have in front of you a maniac destroying the American democracy. The list of what Biden actually accomplished is a very long and commendable one. I have my problems with Biden too — but how about a little perspective?

This kind of hand waving and "never mind" is the current tactic of the Democrats. Chuck Shumer saying, "we are moving forward..." in resonse to any queston about what happened, etc. They are more concerned with their own power than with doing the right thing.  

 

The b-b-but Trump and b-b-but Reagan distractions are silly.  The idea of an unelected cabal directing America while the President is ailing should scare the bejeeezus out of you, regardless of which party is doing it. That is why this needs to be examined, dragged into the sunlight, and must never happen again.

 

The idea that the US had a non functioning President, who was all too often unable to do his job, is terrifying.  Remember the Hillary Clinton political ad? "The phone rings at 3:00am. Who do YOU want to answer it?"  Well, in 2021-2024 United States, NOBODY was available to answer. 

 

Reverse the polarity and ask yourself the same questions. Imagine 2017 Trump was obviously ailing, stumbling around in front of the world, unable to function past 400pm, not attending Cabinet meetings for A YEAR, suffering severe memory lapses.  Would the media respond the same way? Would you? 

[Hanaguma]

20 minutes ago, HappyExpat57 said:

And we're in the same boat now. An inept, very stupid and easily persuadable miscreant signing anything the Project 2025 evildoers put in front of him.

Nice try. "B-b-but TRUMP" is a very poor answer.  There was no collusion between the GOP and the media in hiding Trump, in disguising any physical or mental problems. Do you think MSNBC or CNN would be so sympathetic? 

 

This is a problem that goes beyond party loyalty. 

[bendejo]

The question is "if this guy isn't running the country, then who is?"

I first heard about this concern during the Reagan years, and any mention of this got you "hey. leave the old man alone!"

GHWB was definitely not very involved ("potato chips or computer chips, what do I care?"), W Bush was busy landscaping his ranch and working on his golf swing: his veep was also his Iago, and the boy just didn't have what it took to counter him. It was the Cheney-Rove-Gingrich admin.

Kudos to Biden for breaking into an exclusively GOP practice.

 

You MAGA guys better play it cool, your boy is on threshold of becoming Rain Man.

 

[WDSmart]

Well, I'm sure glad nothing like that is happening now that Trump is president! 😃

[Hanaguma]

1 minute ago, bendejo said:

The question is "if this guy isn't running the country, then who is?"

I first heard about this concern during the Reagan years, and any mention of this got you "hey. leave the old man alone!"

GHWB was definitely not very involved ("potato chips or computer chips, what do I care?"), W Bush was busy landscaping his ranch and working on his golf swing: his veep was also his Iago, and the boy just didn't have what it took to counter him. It was the Cheney-Rove-Gingrich admin.

Kudos to Biden for breaking into an exclusively GOP practice.

 

You MAGA guys better play it cool, your boy is on threshold of becoming Rain Man.

 

You can "what about..." all you want. Republicans could counter with FDR, who was basically comatose in his final term, or Woodrow Wilson, who was out of it after his stroke, etc.   

 

None of it justifies or excuses what we have witnessed.  

[Hamus Yaigh]

Its as if this web site has a political agenda.

[renaissanc]

Now we know which 5 people were using the autopen.

[JonnyF]

1 hour ago, HappyExpat57 said:

And we're in the same boat now.

 

Only in the sense that the left are still lying to us.

 

1 hour ago, HappyExpat57 said:

 

An inept, very stupid and easily persuadable miscreant signing anything the Project 2025 evildoers put in front of him.

 

Like I said...

[Chomper Higgot]

Tapper turns his personal Biden feud into a hit piece then cancels all his scheduled appearances to promote it.