Jared Kushner Will Be Eaten by the Blob

Jared Kushner's role in the Donald Trump White House has provoked heated criticism from Democrats and skepticism from an array of pundits. It has also given late-night comics, satirists, and the Twitterati plenty of free material. And at one level their responses are understandable: Not only does Kushner’s role reek of good old-fashioned nepotism, but it is frankly absurd to think a young real estate developer can possibly perform all the miracles his loving father-in-law has asked him to produce.

At last count, Kushner's assignments include solving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, leading a "SWAT team" of private consultants that will reorganize and streamline the federal government, and serving as an informal presidential envoy to China, Iraq, and anywhere else Trump decides to send him. He also seems to have acquired the job of keeping Steve Bannon in check (or maybe getting rid of him entirely). Kushner hasn't made his situation any easier by coming across like a spoiled rich kid who'd rather go skiing than govern. But he'd have his work cut out for him even if he combined the cunning of a Henry Kissinger and the political skills of a Lyndon Johnson....