Welcome to the Apprentice: Transition Edition

If you only read one thing: Welcome to the reality (show). President-elect Donald Trump ran his campaign like a season of the Apprentice and his early efforts at preparing to govern show no change. And it’s not just because of the high-profile staffing wars. Trump’s incendiary tweets and statements—like his most recent tweets about criminalizing the burning of the American flag—are designed not as statements of policy, but as showpieces designed to provoke the participants in his reality show. Whether it be the media’s reflexive reaction to his false or outrageous statements, or Democrats’ counterpunches, or his own party’s squirming, Trump enjoys watching the performance.

Meanwhile, the President-elect has scheduled the first stop on his victory tour in Cincinnati on Thursday evening, where he is set to deploy his new USA-themed hats and thank voters in Rust Belt states for delivering him to the White House. The unusual move reflects Trump’s desire for the adoration of the crowds. It’s what he liked on the campaign trail and how he will try to govern in the White House. Expect more rallies in the next four years.

Trump’s new DC hotel comes under ethics scrutiny, while troubles brew for his Trump Tower leases. And Trump expands his list for Secretary of State to David Petraeus and Sen. Bob Corker

Here are your must reads:

Must Reads

What Donald Trump’s Cabinet Pick Means for the Future of Obamacare
TIME’s Haley Sweetland Edwards on Rep. Tom Price

Donald Trump Suggests Flag Burners Should Lose U.S. Citizenship
His latest troubling tweet [TIME]

Trump Team Struggles for Proof of His Charge of Vote Fraud
Aides at a loss [McClatchy]

Will Political Reality Derail Markets’ Bet on Donald Trump?
Investors seem to assume that two risks won’t short-circuit the good times: the budget deficit and possibility of a trade war [Wall Street Journal]

Donald Trump Faces Obstacles to Resuming Waterboarding
GOP opposition [New York Times]

Sound Off

“I was with him for about an hour. He basically walked us around the world. Showed a great grasp of a variety of the challenges that are out there and some of the opportunities as well. Very good conversation and we’ll see where it goes from here. We’ll see where it goes from here.” — David Petraeus after his meeting with Trump

“I thought that @CNN would get better after they failed so badly in their support of Hillary Clinton however, since election, they are worse!” — Donald Trump in an early morning tweet Tuesday

Bits and Bites

Trump adds antitrust expert to Justice transition team [Reuters]

Senate to offer bipartisan tributes to Biden [Politico]

Rep. Tom Price, Fierce Critic of Obamacare, Named to Lead Health and Human Services [TIME]

GSA’s Trump Hotel Lease Debacle [Gov Exec]

When Chinese Bank’s Trump Lease Ends, Potential Conflict Begins [Bloomberg]

Donald Trump Son-in-Law Jared Kushner Could Face His Own Conflict-of-Interest Questions [Wall Street Journal]