I figured out why Yates' warning and the FBI's warning went unheeded (re Flynn and Porter, respectively).

. Trump thinks that since everyone in DC is corrupt, the threat of being compromised due to being vulnerable to blackmail-- who cares? Being blackmail-able requires shame. HE HAS NONE. He assumes his hirelings don't either.

It's Toxic Masculinity in full cry. It's the complete manifestation of toxic bits that are usually hidden in The White Patriarchy.

. He really believes that in dog-eat-dog DC, any scandal can and will blow over.

So he manipulates the news.

. He also really believes that he can keep increasing the depths of corruption in his own practices and at all points around him, because it worked for awhile in his every business venture! And it works longterm for Putin-- so of course it will work for him.

It's exactly what a developing oligarchy *would* look like.

So....

"Blackmail?"

I can hear him laughing, saying, "Bring it on!"