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President-elect Donald Trump is so disgusted with Chris Christie’s handling of the Bridgegate scandal that he’s kicking the New Jersey Gov. out of his inner circle, The Post has learned. “Trump thought it was shameful that Christie didn’t take the fall for [convicted aide] Bridget Kelly,” said a source close to the transition team. “Trump is really angry that Christie is sending a soccer mom to jail. He believes 100 percent that Christie was behind it all.” Christie’s former deputy chief of staff was convicted in federal court earlier this month along with former Port Authority executive Bill Baroni. They...

President-elect Donald Trump is so disgusted with Chris Christie’s handling of the Bridgegate scandal that he’s kicking the New Jersey Gov. out of his inner circle, The Post has learned. “Trump thought it was shameful that Christie didn’t take the fall for [convicted aide] Bridget Kelly,” said a source close to the transition team. “Trump is really angry that Christie is sending a soccer mom to jail. He believes 100 percent that Christie was behind it all.” Christie’s former deputy chief of staff was convicted in federal court earlier this month along with former Port Authority executive Bill Baroni. They...

Dive Brief: The Illinois Tollway announced Thursday that it had set a preliminary budget for 2017 that includes $951 million for Move Illinois projects, as well as $336 million for a maintenance and operation program, according to Equipment World.Major Move Illinois capital initiatives planned for next year include the Illinois Route 390 Tollway ($374.5 million), SmartRoad upgrades to I-90 ($163.5 million), reconstruction of I-294 ($56.5 million) and expansion and maintenance of the I-PASS system. The remaining funds will go toward development, repair and maintenance.Move Illinois is a 15-year, $12-billion capital project program financed by bonds and tolls. The Illinois Tollway,...

TRENTON — State Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli is set to become the first Republican to formally enter what's likely to be a crowded field seeking to succeed Gov. Chris Christie in next year's election. Ciattarelli (R-Somerset) is scheduled to declare his bid Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. at Manville High School. "I feel very strongly about pointing New Jersey in an entirely different and new direction," he told NJ Advance Media on Thursday. "I've got specific ideas on how to do that."

TRENTON — Gov. Chris Christie on Tuesday maintained he has told "the absolute truth" about his knowledge of the 2013 lane closures on the George Washington Bridge, as two of his former allies stand trial in Newark for their roles in the scandal. David Wildstein, a former executive at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and federal prosecutors' key witness, has testified that Christie was told of the traffic jams in the midst of the gridlock during a Sept. 11 memorial ceremony. Prosecutors allege the shutdowns were retaliation for the refusal by the Democratic mayor of Fort...

Dive Brief: Passaic County, NJ, has announced its intention to sue the state's Department of Transportation for costs resulting from Gov. Chris Christie's order to shut down all projects funded through the near-empty Transportation Trust Fund (TTF), according to The Record.Citing safety issues, Passaic County officials said they used their own funds to continue with certain state projects after the shutdown, such as a $330,000 repaving project that left raised manhole covers exposed. The county has a multimillion-dollar lineup of infrastructure projects now on hold.Passaic County Counsel William Pascrell, who notified the state DOT of Passaic's intention to sue over...

PENNINGTON-Gov. Chris Christie on Tuesday vetoed a proposal to boost New Jersey's minimum wage to $15 an hour. The Republican governor visited a Pennington grocery store to make remarks and announce the veto of the legislation. It's the second time during his time as governor that Christie rejected a minimum wage hike sent to him by the state's Democratic-controlled Legislature. The move was met with outrage by Democratic-leaning groups. Christie also argued more employees would be replaced by automated kiosks at small businesses if the state hikes its minimum wage. "That's the way of the future if we continue to...

CHRIS CHRISTIE FULL INTERVIEW WITH MARTHA RADDATZ - ABC (8/28/2016)

Republicans, No More: Sir Thomas wouldn't fit in today's GOP by Daniel Clark During his speech at the Republican National Convention, Sen. Ted Cruz congratulated Donald Trump for winning the nomination, supported Trump's idea of building a border wall, agreed with Trump's most recently stated position on Middle Eastern refugees, and thoroughly denounced Trump's opponent, Hillary Clinton. It was more than enough to fulfill his pledge to "support" (not formally endorse) his party's nominee. Nevertheless, his fellow Republicans roundly castigated him as some kind of traitor. Cruz's most fervent detractor has been none other than that unimpeachable authority on political...

"GUILTY!"That was the verdict of the delegates at the Republican convention last night when New Jersey governor Chris Christie laid out a series of charges against Hillary Clinton and asked if she were guilty or not guilty. No surprise as to the verdict from the delegates but guess who else basically affirmed Hillary's guilt via fact checking Christie's speech. The New York Times. That's right. Times fact checkers Michael D. Shear and David E. Sanger went through Christie's speech and fact checked what his charges. Essentially they determined that Christie was "not necessarily false"  except for some "exculpatory evidence" that comes off...

FULL FIERY SPEECH: Gov. Chris Christie Last night, Chris Christie delivered a speech that was basically a piece red meat so huge it could probably tip over Fred Flintstone’s car. I get that there’s a certain amount of preaching to the choir at conventions but, in this case, I think the time would have been better spent on something else. I’ll be honest and admit that I don’t really see the point of it. If you’re stupid enough to believe that Hillary is some kind of “honorable victim of a vast right-wing conspiracy,” this didn’t do anything to change your...

If he wins the presidency, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump would seek to purge the federal government of officials appointed by Democratic President Barack Obama and could ask Congress to pass legislation making it easier to fire public workers, Trump ally, Chris Christie, said on Tuesday. Christie, who is governor of New Jersey and leads Trump's White House transition team, said the campaign was drawing up a list of federal government employees to fire if Trump defeats Democratic rival Hillary Clinton in the Nov. 8 presidential election. ... Trump's transition advisers fear that Obama may convert these appointees to civil...

Prior to announcing Gov. Mike Pence as his running mate, presumptive GOP nominee Donald Trump had narrowed the VP field down to the Indiana governor, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, and Gov. Chris Christie. While Gingrich seems to have been a good sport about Trump’s ultimate decision to go with Pence, according to the Weekly Standard, Christie was “livid.” While minding my own business at the Starbucks inside the Westin hotel this morning, I saw a man engage Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort in conversation about the VP selection process. The man, whom I couldn't identify, suggested that Pence was...

The Drudge siren is blaring that Mike Pence is Trump's VP pick. I'm not sure I believe it, though, for a couple reasons. First, if you're a master showman looking to make as big a splash as possible, at least one head fake is required. In illusionist terms, the head fake is the turn, then bringing out the real VP is the prestige. Just picking a guy, leaking the word 24 hours early, and then rolling him out is the least-showy process imaginable. Second, Pence is probably the second-worst available pick on the board. Here's how the veep possibilities should...

With the news that the vice presidential slot may be filled and not by Republican Chris Christie, the New Jersey governor explained what his reaction will be if Donald Trump rolls out Indiana Gov. Mike Pence. 'I mean, obviously, I'm a competitive person,' Christie told MSNBC's Nicolle Wallace, a Republican analyst for the network. 'So I'm not going to say it won't bother me, if I'm not selected. Of course it bothers you a little bit. 'Cause if you're a competitive person, like I am, and you're used to winning, like I am – again, you don't like coming in...

Joe Scarborough couldn’t have been kinder as he put the shiv into Mike Pence this morning. The opening segment of Morning Joe was devoted to the veepstakes, and Scarborough politely trashed Pence while making the case for Chris Christie. Scarborough went out of his way to praise Pence as an “able leader” and someone he likes. But he proceeded to say that Pence wasn’t “ready for prime time.” Joe broke out the deer-in-headlights metaphor and analogized Pence to previous running-mate “disasters.” On the other hand, Joe argued that Christie is someone who has been on the national stage, capable of...

Received text from @realDonald Trump: I will be making the announcement of my Vice Presidential pick on Friday at 11am in Manhattan. Details to follow.

Donald Trump will showcase his vice presidential pick at a public event on Friday, multiple sources tell NBC News. Trump's possible picks are thought to be narrowed to three candidates: Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie. While the joint appearance is expected on Friday, it's not clear whether or not the identity of the pick could be released or could leak earlier in the week. Trump is scheduled to attend a fundraiser and rally in Indiana Tuesday night with Pence; he campaigned with Christie on Monday and with Newt Gingrich last...

It’s the Donald Trump veep sweepstakes! Step right up and take your pick . . . The Morning Joe crew had fun playing the game this morning. Mark Halperin pushed Indiana governor Mike Pence, saying he was someone that people would look at and say he was a responsible choice. Harold Ford, Jr. suggested a general, to shore up Trump’s military credentials–and retired General Mike Flynn’s name has been floated. Mika Brzezinski, without naming names, pushed hard for someone with foreign policy experience. Finally, Joe Scarborough made the case for Chris Christie, as a tough, reliable campaigner: someone who is...

Indiana scheduled for Tuesday is raising speculation that the presumptive Republican nominee will announce Gov. Mike Pence as his running mate. The Washington Times reported Sunday evening that Pence has a “95 percent probability” of being Trump's choice, according to sources close to the campaign and to the governor. The first-term Indiana governor’s name has surfaced in recent weeks as a contender for the position. Pence tepidly endorsed Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas before the state's May primary, but later backed Trump, praising the chance to "take a new direction" in Washington. "The kind of leadership that I truly do...