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Joe Biden Sworn In, Doesn't Mention Trump
Yesterday, Joe Biden became the 46th President of the United States and Kamala Harris was sworn in as the first-ever female vice president. Despite threats to the Capitol and coming off an insurrection two weeks prior, the inauguration went off without a hitch and marked a peaceful ending to an unpeaceful transition. Biden spoke about the need for the country to unify and called for an end to this “uncivil war.” He emphasized that while it is healthy to have disagreements, we cannot allow these differences of opinion to turn us into enemies. Along with unity, ‘truth’ was a central theme of the speech as a result of the previous president attacking the election process. Biden also called for rejoining the global community in order to combat threats like climate change.
The inauguration was a breath of fresh air and a sign that better times are on the horizon. Donald Trump skipped the ceremony, becoming the first outgoing president in 152 years to do so, and his presence was not at all missed. Mike Pence represented the outgoing administration and he got a sendoff by the new vice president, Kamala Harris. Highlights from the inaugural proceedings included poetry by Amanda Gorman, and musical performances by Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez, and Garth Brooks. Later on in the day, Biden settled into the Oval Office and signed seventeen executive orders to start undoing the harm of the last administration.
Biden's Race to CANCEL TRUMP Off to a Fast Start
President Biden got right to work yesterday after being sworn in as the nation’s 46th president. Biden went into the Oval Office and signed seventeen executive orders, with the plan being to sign even more today. Many of the orders sought to undo the damage that Donald Trump did in office. Biden rejoined the Paris Climate Accord, halted construction of the southern border wall, and reversed the Trump travel ban targeting Muslim-majority countries. Biden also signed an executive order issuing a “mask challenge” and mandating mask-wearing on federal lands.
Some on the right are not happy with Biden signing these executive orders right away. This is the type of thing that is used as a political football against whoever happens to be holding power. The truth is that Trump was able to get a lot done, not through passing legislation, but through the power of the pen. If Biden can so swiftly undo those things, it’s imperative to do so. There will be many agenda items Biden takes up in his first one hundred days and beyond, but washing away some of the stains Trump left on domestic and foreign policy was a much-needed start.
From yesterday’s show:
Trump Pardons 143 People Hours Before Leaving Office
Donald Trump pardoned 143 people during his final hours as president. Some of these pardons were expected or unsurprising whereas others seemed like bad ideas. Most notably, Trump pardoned his former adviser Steve Bannon over his involvement in a scheme that defrauded Trump supporters donating to build the US-Mexico border wall. Trump also pardoned two rappers: Lil Wayne and Kodak Black. Reportedly, Trump did consider pardoning himself, Rudy Giuliani, and his children, but chose not to. The White House counsel warned that a move like that could backfire, as prosecutors around the country would seize on it as a chance to test the power of the presidential pardon. Attorneys for the former president also argued it would make him look guilty (which he probably is).
--More on the show:
--Nicholas Christakis, Sterling Professor of Social Natural Science at Yale University and author of "Apollo's Arrow," joins David to discuss a coronavirus pandemic of incompetence, and what needs to happen going forward
--Fox News host Ainsley Earhardt is extremely triggered and has her feelings hurt by Joe Biden signing Executive Orders to undo some of the damage done by Donald Trump
--A fascinating focus group with Trump voters is conducted by Frank Luntz, and we discuss the implications about deprogramming Trumpists
--Fox News anchor Maria Bartiromo claims, without evidence, that Democrats dresses as Trump supporters are responsible for the January 6 Trump riots at the US Capitol
--A Republican civil war appears to be growing as Fox News host Sean Hannity appears to turn on former Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell
--Voicemail caller sarcastically points out that the national debt is already Joe Biden's fault
--On the Bonus Show: Bernie Sanders inauguration memes explode, North Carolina cities approve ban on hairstyle discrimination, men abandoning college faster than women during pandemic, much more...
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