1. This "Brett McWho? Never met him" tweet reminds me of the incredibly revelatory story with which Michael Lewis opens "The Fifth Risk." In February 2016 Chris Christie told Trump he needed to appoint a transition team. Trump says "no thanks, don't need one."
2. Christie says "but it's legally required" because we need to have 500+ names ready to nominate for positions if you win. Trump says "fine, but I'm not going to pay for it." Christie says, "you can use campaign funds." Trump: "Nope, raise your own money. But not too much!"
3. In July 2016 Trump is the official nominee and the 100+ person transition team gets to work in earnest. Trump, however, has no idea this operation was up and running. He finds out by reading about it in a newspaper and immediately calls Christie in for a scolding.
4. Bannon walks into the meeting to find Trump yelling at Christie: "You're stealing my money! You're stealing my f*cking money! What the f*ck is this?!?!" Bannon explains it's legally required. Trump: "F*ck the law. I don't give a f*ck about the law. I want my f*cking money."
5. Trump tells Bannon and Christie to shut down the legally-mandated transition...Bannon talks him off the ledge, but over the next few months Trump would occasionally berate Christie for the money he was "wasting" (Trump's money, my money!) on the transition process.
6. There was no need for such a thing, Trump thought. "Chris, you and I are so smart that we can leave the victory party two hours early and do the transition ourselves." He thought he could identify and vet 500+ people in 2 hours with the help of one person.
7. That story captures so much so quickly...the hubris, the cheapness, the money-grubbing, the disdain for custom or procedure or legality, the jaw-dropping ignorance about the government he is currently running. And he hasn't changed a whit in 2.5 years.
