Hold onto your hats, folks—a bombshell book just dropped, claiming a shadowy clique dubbed the “politburo” was the real force steering the Biden White House while concerns about the president’s health were swept under the rug, New York Post reported.
A new exposé titled “Original Sin,” released last Tuesday, alleges that a tight inner circle, including key advisers and family, effectively controlled decision-making in the Biden administration, sidelining others and downplaying worries about his age and mental sharpness.
Observers dubbed this select group the “politburo,” borrowing the term from communist hierarchies—not just as a catchy nickname, but to describe how the group wielded outsized influence over national policy.
The lineup of this power squad reads like a Biden loyalty club, featuring long-time political hands like Mike Donilon, Steve Ricchetti, and Bruce Reed, alongside family members such as First Lady Jill Biden and son Hunter Biden.
Other heavyweights, including former Chief of Staff Ron Klain and First Lady adviser Anthony Bernal, also reportedly had seats at this exclusive table, shaping the administration’s direction regardless of official titles.
Many of these figures have been in Biden’s orbit for decades, which might explain their iron grip—trust built over the years can outweigh a fancy job description any day.
According to “Original Sin,” this group didn’t just advise—they decided, often getting Biden to nod along to their plans while dismissing concerns about his cognitive decline as mere political baggage.
Authors Alex Thompson and Jake Tapper note the advisers saw Biden’s policy wins as a ticket to more time in power, believing they deserved to keep the reins.
But as one unnamed source quipped, “Five people were running the country,” suggesting Biden was more a figurehead than a hands-on leader—a troubling thought for anyone who values transparency.
Jill Biden, once a reluctant political spouse, emerged as a fierce protector, reportedly running a “bubble wrap” operation to shield her husband’s missteps from public view.
Hunter Biden, too, played a significant role, allegedly pushing to keep his father in the political fight despite mounting pressures and speculation about the toll it took on the president’s health.
Meanwhile, loyalists like Ricchetti went as far as personally rebutting health concerns to the press, clearly enraged by public criticism from figures like actor George Clooney—turns out, even Hollywood can’t sway this crew.
The book portrays a White House where Biden’s aides often found themselves kept at a distance, as the “politburo” took control as gatekeepers, meeting primarily with top security advisers rather than mid-level staff.
Former President Barack Obama reportedly expressed reservations about some of these “hangers-on” during Biden’s campaign, and he once remarked, “I don’t want him to be humiliated”—a subtle jab at the protective cocoon surrounding Biden.
Yet, while Obama expressed concern, the inner circle doubled down. Figures like Donilon—whose advice Biden valued so highly that aides joked he could convince the president to start a war—shaped strategy and direction, proving that in politics, loyalty wields power as both a shield and a sword.
