@jimrutenberg @NYTnickc @reidepstein and me on Trump's effort to subvert the election > https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/19/us/politics/trump-michigan-election.html

"The few people who have tried to intervene and tell him that it is time to let Mr. Biden begin a transition have been shut down by Mr. Trump." https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/19/us/politics/trump-michigan-election.html

Of note, the Oval Office is normally a place aides would clamor to spend time in. These days, almost everyone is avoiding going in, either to avoid getting yelled at or to avoid getting asked their opinion https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/19/us/politics/trump-michigan-election.html

"Though Mr. Trump has discussed reaching out to Republicans in other swing states, so far he has called officials only in Michigan, aides said." https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/19/us/politics/trump-michigan-election.html

An often-asked question is "where's Jared Kushner" as the president digs in. Where he's not is pushing his father-in-law, who has called Kushner a "liberal" in recent discussions, to concede https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/19/us/politics/trump-michigan-election.html

Two things to bear in mind - the president has previously expressed concern to aides about investigations not just into him but his family if he leaves office. And Giuliani, despite claiming otherwise, sought in writing $20k a day for his efforts on this case.

Trump's political aides had seen a scenario where they could make discreet challenges in specific states that, while long shots, would have likely been seen as serious. Instead, the approach was scattershot and ultimately overtaken by Giuliani and littered w conspiracy theories.