Welcome to Pushback. I'm Aaron Mate.

Joining me is Max Blumenthal, editor of the Gray Zone author of several books, including

the management of savagery. Max, hello.

Hello. So a lot to discuss in the aftermath of the election. You have Trump refusing to concede in making some key personnel moves.

Also some major personnel moves with the Biden transition that tell us what is to come.

Let's talk first about Trump.

You had Mike Pompeo joining him in refusing to concede.

Pompeo saying that there will be a smooth transition to the second Trump term.

Is the State Department currently preparing to engage with the Biden transition team?

And if not, at what point does a delay hamper a smooth transition or pose a risk to national security.

There will be a smooth transition to a second Trump administration.

All right. We're ready.

What is your reaction to what Trump is doing right now and the anxiety that is growing on the liberal side of a coup attempt, essentially? Well, I'm not terribly shocked by Trump's behavior, and I'll explain why, but Pompeo's

comments during a State Department briefing, which were completely, I mean, his comments were not necessarily a response to a direct question, and

it seemed like something he had scripted and was determined to say that there will be a smooth

transition to a second Trump administration.

Were somewhat remarkable, they showed how much the Republican Party

belongs to Donald Trump, how important Donald Trump's

blessing is to Mike Pompeo's future political ambitions,

which could be a 2024 presidential run,

but also how US elections have actually polarized the country and not necessarily

been particularly good for whatever's left of U.S. democracy.

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