Welcome to Axis ProRata, a podcast that takes just 10 minutes to get you smarter on the collision of tech business and politics.

I'm Dan Premack. On today's show, why Google's cloud crash matters and President Trump takes on AT&T again.

But first, the son-in-law speaks. Last night was the premiere episode of Axios on HBO's second season, and it focused on

Jonathan Swan's multi-part interview of senior presidential advisor Jared Kushner, who doesn't

do this sort of thing too often.

Three highlights.

First, Kushner, who is in charge of the White House's Middle East peace plan, said he doesn't

believe Palestinians are yet ready to govern themselves, arguing they first need things like

a fair judicial system, freedom of the press, freedom of expression, and tolerance

for all religions.

Second, Kushner refused to condemn Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman for the murder of

Jamal Khashoggi, basically arguing that the U.S. investigation into the matter isn't

yet completed.

It's also worth noting here, of course, Saudi Arabia doesn't

have some of the freedoms that Kushner claimed the Palestinians would need to govern themselves.

But he doesn't seem to bother himself with that contradiction. Third, and this is the one getting

the most social media attention, Kushner refused to say whether President Trump's birtherism was

racist or if his early plan to ban Muslim immigrants was discriminatory.

Was bertherism racist? Um, look, I wasn't really involved in that. I know you weren't. Was it racist?

Like I said, I wasn't involved in that. I know you weren't. Was it racist? Um, look, I know who the

president is and I have not seen anything in him that is racist. The bottom line here, America deserves to hear from its most influential leaders, whether

elected or not, and last night we got it, even if Kushner worked hard to avoid making too much

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