Jake Tapper discusses Biden administration ‘Politburo’

A video clip of CNN anchor Jake Tapper discussing the internal dynamics of the Biden administration has gained significant traction on social media. The remarks, originally made during a May 2025 interview with PBS NewsHour, were part of a discussion promoting the book ‘Original Sin’, co-authored by Tapper and Axios reporter Alex Thompson.

Tapper describes a small, tightly controlled group of senior advisers that administration insiders reportedly referred to as the ‘Politburo’. According to the reporting, this inner circle wielded extraordinary power by controlling access to President Joe Biden, managing his schedule, and framing major decisions during 2023 and 2024.

While Tapper noted that Biden retained some agency, he highlighted how authority became concentrated among a few loyalists, which restricted access for Cabinet secretaries, White House employees, and Democratic officials. The authors clarified that the ‘Politburo’ label originated from within the administration itself rather than from their own reporting.