In "The Fifth Risk," Michael Lewis highlights the challenges faced by Barack Obama's administration that were poised to transition to Donald Trump’s team. These issues, which had accumulated over eight years, required immediate attention and understanding, but Trump’s aides appeared disinterested in engaging with them. This lack of awareness about the existing problems raised concerns about their readiness to tackle the complexities of governance.

The author emphasizes the importance of acknowledging and addressing the risks left behind by the previous administration. By ignoring these issues, Trump’s administration risked exacerbating the challenges and jeopardizing effective governance. Lewis sheds light on the crucial need for a seamless transition and the dangers of neglecting the hard-earned lessons from the outgoing leadership.