Pod Save America What Really Happens During a Presidential Transition
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Dec 24, 2024 Alyssa Mastromonaco, who served on the Obama transition team, and Caroline Reston, a podcast producer, delve into the fascinating world of presidential transitions. They share behind-the-scenes stories from the 2008 Obama administration, highlighting the chaotic shift from campaign to governance. The duo discusses the importance of communication during transitions, the absurdities of cabinet application processes, and the lessons learned from past administrations. Their playful banter adds a humorous touch to the serious nature of political handovers.
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Transition Logistics
- Pfeiffer and Mastromonaco coordinated cabinet announcements, which were formal events, unlike today's Twitter announcements.
- During the Obama transition, they even had to buy juice and bake a cake for cabinet nominees due to limited resources.
Transition Funding
- Obama's transition used taxpayer money and followed government rules, including ethics requirements.
- Trump's transition used private money, allowing them to bypass these rules.
Post-Election Chaos
- The day after winning, Pfeiffer and Mastromonaco started working for the transition team with no break.
- They met with their new boss, Rahm Emanuel, early in the morning after a late-night victory celebration.