No, it wasn’t some romantic rendezvous — I know how the headline reads. As of now, generic polling has pushed the GOP out of the realm of possibly keeping the House. Democrats are trying to manage expectations as well, assuring voters that impeachment isn’t on the menu, but there will be investigations that will lead to impeachment, so it means nothing. Yet Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), who could be the next Speaker of the House, though even a good chunk of his caucus reportedly hates his guts, opted to meet with Jared Kushner to lay the groundwork for an area where the White House and the Democrats could work together should the Democrats retake the House (via NYT):
Jeffries and Kushner Met Privately, Discussed how Democrats and Administration Can Work Together — NYT pic.twitter.com/98SGhGEQCK
— NewsWire (@NewsWire_US) August 23, 2026
Representative Hakeem Jeffries, Democrat of New York and the minority leader, met privately in recent weeks with Jared Kushner, President Trump’s son-in-law and top outside adviser, and discussed potential areas of common ground, according to five people with knowledge of the meeting.
The rare engagement was held in a private space in New York City, offered up by a mutual friend of the two men, according to two people with knowledge of the meeting and a third who was briefed on it. They and others were granted anonymity to discuss a meeting about which they were not authorized to speak publicly.
Through aides, neither man would comment on the session, which was described by one person with knowledge of it as a broad conversation on a range of topics. Still, its timing underscored that those around Mr. Trump were well aware of the likelihood of a Democratic-led House, and trying to foster as much of a working relationship as possible before any change. Mr. Jeffries is in line to be the speaker, were Democrats to win the majority.
Democrats and the president have been savaging each other on the campaign trail with increasing fury as the midterm elections approach, and as Republicans are fighting to retain their thin House and Senate majorities.
[…]
The private get-together was described by one of the people as a catch-up for Mr. Kushner and Mr. Jeffries. The two men have stayed in touch since they worked together on a criminal justice bill midway through Mr. Trump’s first term.
During the recent meeting, the pair discussed housing, immigration and the high cost of living as potential areas of common ground. Mr. Kushner suggested that Mr. Jeffries should meet with the White House chief of staff, Susie Wiles, two people with knowledge of the meeting said.
The likelihood of any compromises between the White House and Democrats on those issues seems remote.
[…]
In a statement, Mr. Jeffries did not acknowledge the meeting, but suggested that the only way Democrats would cut deals with the administration would be if Republicans were willing to come their way on cost-of-living issues, his party’s top priority.
Yeah, this isn’t going to work, not with how this party’s base operates. If anything, since the odds of agreement are “remote,” the blowback will be redirected at Jeffries, who will be seen as a traitor for even reaching out.
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