Caroline Reston

So in 2020, when Biden was president-elect, Trump and his administration famously stonewalled the transition. What does that even mean? What what are the stakes for Stonewalling an incoming presidency? And what literally are they doing to stop the transfer of information?

I didn't see that you wrote that. I mean, I've been here six years. I'm like an old vet.

So is Biden and his team just not getting information during that time?

You know, I want to ask this question earlier, but I saw that Trump was at the reopening of Notre Dame in Paris and had a meeting with McCall, the president of France, and the Ukrainian president, Zelenskyy. Is that normal for an incoming president to be meeting with other world leaders? And is Biden ever clued in on what they're talking about because they had a closed door meeting?

Who is Obama's first call?

Also, I just want to point out that Obama, post being a president, got into podcasting. So he kind of is following in your footsteps.

The closed door meeting that happened after is.

I would say that's like kind of the perk of being the president elect. It's like, you know what? I'm going to go to Greece and meet with the princess. Yeah. So looking now at president elect and his transitional team, it is helmed by Linda McMahon. I, by the way, I've been really loving looking at her old videos of getting like body slammed. Nothing like a half Nelson to scream.

No, I mean, he did. So you were both part of the Obama transition committee. What does that mean? What were your roles? What did you do? Tell me all about it.

Um, what should the Trump administration and their transition team be focusing on right now?

Yeah, it's really interesting watching it from the difference from 2016. I feel like this this time it's feeling much more like politics as usual. Like it just seems more formal and like they have their shit together, even though it's like math. It's like a small bandaid on chaos that's underneath.

This is a great time for me to ask this question that I've been dying to talk to you both about. RFK. I don't know if you guys saw this story. It was reported that there is a job application process that is asking some batshit questions. Let me give you one example. This is per The Independent. One section asked applicants to pick three or more attitudes that suit them as such.

Quote, I require excessive admiration. Or I quote, I don't have that much interest in having a sexual experience with another person. Another was I believe in many things. Others don't like having a sixth sense, clairvoyance and telepathy. And as an adolescent, I had bizarre fantasies or preoccupations. Is this normal?

Okay, so that's not normal. What is a typical question you are asked?

Well, I don't know, okay?

All right, here's my last question for you guys before we wrap up. And this is honestly something I've been thinking throughout. Is there a petty part of you deep down inside that wishes the Biden administration was just like, fuck you. I'm not telling you anything. I'm going to stonewall this, like doing exactly what Trump did to Biden back in 2020.

If anyone in the Biden administration is listening to this, hide all the remotes. Like that's a very innocuous, petty thing you can do is hide them. Even better. That's great.

I love that the way we used to announce cabinet picks was like a debutante ball and not just like on Twitter.

Including ethics requirements.

All right.

Work smarter, not harder.

Would have been so much easier. So you're talking about how previously before even winning the election, you are already prepping, even though you feel like it's bad juju. OK, you won. What is happening the next day?

And I was like, no.

I think what you guys are talking about is something I actually didn't know existed, which is the Presidential Transition Act of 1963, which requires GSA to provide office-based administrative support to the president-elect. So looking at the Biden administration right now, when does the new president-elect start to get looped in? How does that whole literal transition process start?

And how does that work? When is Trump getting clued in to what's going on? After they become the nominee.

Oh, wow.

Are nominees being told that the Syrian regime is on the brink? like top national security information when they're the nominee.

In 2009, the Obama administration was coming into office a huge recession. And I know we talked a little bit, you were just talking about how the outgoing administration has to loop in the incoming administration. But when something like a huge economic crisis is happening, what does that look like? I imagine you need to hit the ground running.

What are the things you're doing day one when you're the nominee on something like that? Were the Bush folks like nice to you?

I'm really happy to be here. I don't know if it's because I haven't eaten or I've had two cups of coffee or I'm stressed, but I'm like actually weirdly shaking right now from anxiety.

Yeah, electoral. I mean, after listening to you and Steve Kornacki, I'm just like... so overwhelmed with anxiety. But I'm very excited. Listeners, do everything you can. Don't be stressed like me.

Yeah, be productive with that stress. Okay, so we got some really great Discord questions here. The first one is from Callier338. They say, I'm from a deeply blue state that is quite far away from most swing states. Is there evidence that texting and calling folks from the other side of the country sways undecided voters? Or how do voters respond from people who are contacting them out of state?

Okay, this next question is something I've been really thinking about too. It's from SwingingLiberal901. There is so much conversation about how Harris is polling with key constituencies, but how worried are you about the inability of polls to capture voters' inherent sexism and racial biases?

Oh, okay. So if they're not voting for Kamala Harris, it's not because she's a woman. It's just because they hate her.

All right. All right. All right. Next question. Anna Del Hunt asks, if we lose, I'm not sure I'm going to find the strength to face the next four years. Obviously, I'm going to do what I can now. But what about on November 6th or whenever we find out? What should I do? Any tips?

Okay, this is a similar-ish question, and then we'll get to something a little more positive. But DownTheBallot96 asked, I already voted, I phone-baked, I've canvassed in swing districts, and I'm so stressed about having nothing to do on election day. Is there anything productive I can do on Tuesday beyond just watching cable news?

What level of creepy is it to call a stranger and be like, hey, do you want me to come pick you up at your home and drive you somewhere?

I don't know why, that's how I'm picturing it. And my dumb ass would be like, okay, I'll get into this weird man.

Okay, there is a follow-up from a Discord user named Superskink. They say, took Wednesday off in case I'm crying in the morning again, like in 2016. What should I drink on election night to celebrate Kamala's win?

Okay. D. Lil Voter asks, LeBron James just endorsed Kamala Harris. I know we tend to dismiss celebrity endorsements, but so close to the election, can this help? Should more celebrities hold their endorsements until its peak GOTV time?

So there is strategy to all these like mega celebrities waiting until the end to do it.

Yeah, I was listening to What A Day and they were talking about the Bad Bunny effect and Bad Bunny seems like actually a huge endorsement to get right at the end.

Man, I know it's been said before, but the Democratic Party is so much more fun. Like, we just are such a better, more fun party. We got all the celebrities. We got all the good music. They have that random comedian.

It really is. Okay, here's the last question. And it is from yours truly. Oh, wow. Tuffy.

Dan, who's going to win?

All right. That sounds like a great place to end on.