No, I’m not talking about Stephen Miller . . . although I certainly understand your confusion. Actually, there seems to be another one in town, though he keeps a much lower profile. But I’ll get to him in a minute.

First, as background, let me explain a bit about the history of the Siberian mystic, Grigoriy Rasputin. Not everyone realizes that he was more of a spiritual guide to the Empress Alexandra than to her husband, Tsar Nicholas II of Russia.

Hated by the general population of Russia, Alexandra was considered cold and aloof, and was commonly referred to as “that German woman.” But she was devoted to her husband and five children. And when their only son, Alexei, was diagnosed with hemophilia, her desperation to help him drove her to seek the counsel of the only person who seemed able to bring the child any relief: the alleged healer Rasputin. He then took advantage of his favorable position, stuck his nose into Russia’s political and military affairs, and was instrumental in bringing them all to a most disastrous end.

While Alexandra and Melania Trump bear no physical resemblance to each other, and came from entirely different backgrounds, there are a few similarities: their devotion to their male offspring; their difficulty in adjusting to the role of first lady; their unpopularity with the people of their respective adopted countries; and their delusional belief that they were qualified to offer political advice and support to their husbands.

After six years as one of the least consequential first ladies the United States has known in the last century, Melania Trump has suddenly emerged from her shell, first presenting herself as the star of her own biopic and an upcoming sequel, and now stepping into the role of diplomat/negotiator, taking credit for having convinced Vladimir Putin to agree to allowing humanitarian aid to reach the town of Oleshky in Ukraine.

I suppose she figures that if her realtor stepson-in-law can do it, she’s at least as qualified as he is. And she may have a point.

But, far from being able to tackle her new undertakings alone, she realized she needed the expertise of a manager/promoter in connection with her first major project: the very lucrative Amazon-sponsored documentary, “Melania.”

Enter Marc Beckman, advertising guru and CEO of DMA United. After producing the multi-million-dollar docuflop, he now calls himself her “exclusive senior adviser,” and has managed to insert himself into her diplomatic efforts as well. At the White House ceremony on November 5th celebrating the successful humanitarian undertaking at Oleshky, he was by Melania’s side as her co-host . . . despite the lack of any official government standing.

He even managed to post a photo of himself, between the top Russian and Ukrainian officials, standing in front of a portrait of President Andrew Jackson.

But who is he? What, if any, position does he hold in the White House? What, if any, vetting has he been subject to? And what sort of influence does he have — not only with Melania, but with any actual government officials?

This is just one more example of unelected, unappointed, uncleared, and largely unqualified individuals being given unspecified access to our most significant government functions. When asked to comment on Beckman’s work on the Oleshky ceasefire, a State Department spokesperson said:

“The State Department continues to work in close collaboration with those involved in negotiations to see an end to the violence and killing this conflict has caused.” [Felicia Schwartz and Vaughn Hillyard, MS Now, November 12, 2026.]

Which is diplomat-speak for “no comment.”

And in the meantime, for all anyone knows, there could be a Rasputin in our midst — whether Beckman or someone else. Luckily, the incoming Democrat-led Congress has identified this issue as one of their areas for investigation in the new year.

The original Rasputin was poisoned, beaten, shot, and finally dumped into the frozen Neva River in St. Petersburg. l’d be happy just to see any such interlopers in our government booted out, and if they’ve violated any laws, appropriately prosecuted.

We don’t need blood . . . just accountability.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
11/14/26