Monday, January 20, 2025

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1/ Trump was sworn in as the 47th president of the United States after defeating Kamala Harris in the 2024 election, winning 49.9% of the popular vote with a margin of 1.48 percentage point – one of the narrowest popular vote margins in modern U.S. history. Trump called his inauguration, which fell on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, “Liberation Day,” saying his victory would be remembered as “the most consequential election” in U.S. history. In his second inaugural address – eight years after he depicted a bleak vision of the country he described as plagued by “American carnage” – Trump declared that “America’s decline is over” and promised that “the golden age of America begins right now.” Trump called his election a “mandate to completely reverse a horrible betrayal” and vowed that the nation’s challenges would be “annihilated” in a “thrilling new era of national success.” Trump outlined a platform focused on border security, energy independence, government reform, and promoting traditional American values as part of his policy agenda. Trump pledged to reinstate strict border policies, deploy the military for border enforcement, and designate cartels as foreign terrorist organizations. His energy plans include rolling back regulations, withdrawing from the Paris Climate Accord, and prioritizing domestic energy production. He promised to overhaul federal bureaucracy, reduce remote work, and eliminate policies he described as radical or burdensome. Trump also committed to defending traditional gender roles and revisiting the naming of American landmarks. Trump announced plans to rename the Gulf of Mexico as “the Gulf of America” and to revert Denali, North America’s highest peak, to its former name, Mount McKinley. He also pledged to seize control of the Panama Canal, declaring, “We’re taking it back,” and vowed to “pursue our Manifest Destiny into the stars” while talking about planting an American flag on Mars. At 78, Trump is the oldest president ever inaugurated, surpassing Biden’s record by five months. His return to power follows his 2020 election loss, two impeachments, four indictments, one conviction, and a civil ruling finding him liable for sexual abuse. Trump enters office with a unified Republican government, giving him fewer institutional constraints as he advances his populist agenda. The inauguration was moved inside the Capitol Rotunda – the same building where a mob of Trump’s supporters four years earlier violently tried to overturn his election loss to Biden – for the first time in 40 years due to the freezing weather in Washington, D.C. After Trump declared that his life was “saved by God to make America great again,” country music singer Carrie Underwood’s performance of “America, the Beautiful” was interrupted by a technical malfunction, leading to a long delay before she was forced to sing the song a cappella. Earlier in the day, Biden hosted Trump and Melania for coffee at the White House before as part of an Inauguration Day tradition. As the Trumps got out of their car, Biden greeted them with, “Welcome home.” (New York Times / Wall Street Journal / The Guardian / Associated Press / Politico / NPR /

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Thursday, January 16, 2025

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1/ Biden, in his farewell address, warned of the rise of an oligarchy and a “tech-industrial complex” that he said threatens democracy, basic freedoms, and economic fairness in the United States. Biden, speaking from the Oval Office, stated, “Today, an oligarchy is taking shape in America of extreme wealth of extreme wealth, power, and influence that literally threatens our entire democracy.” He invoked Eisenhower’s warning of a “military-industrial complex” and drew parallels to the risks posed by technology giants, saying, “Six decades later, I’m equally concerned about the potential rise of a tech-industrial complex.” Biden criticized social media platforms for abandoning fact-checking, lamenting that “The truth is smothered by lies told for power and for profit.” Reflecting on his legacy, he said, “It will take time to feel the full impact of all we’ve done together. But the seeds are planted.” As he prepares to leave office, Biden urged Americans to “be the keeper of the flame” and “stand guard” to protect democracy. (Associated Press / NPR / ABC News / NBC News / Wall Street Journal / The Guardian)

2/ Big Tech executives, including Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk, and TikTok CEO Shou Chew, are playing prominent roles in Trump’s inauguration. Zuckerberg and other tech leaders are co-hosting high-profile events during Trump’s second inauguration, aligning themselves with an administration that could shape policies favorable to their industries. Chew has also been invited as an honored guest, despite the platform facing a U.S. ban set to take effect the day before. Other wealthy tech executives like Peter Thiel and Musk are also throwing exclusive parties, while corporations and donors have contributed millions to Trump’s inaugural committee in exchange for VIP access. (New York Times / Washington Post / Axios /

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Wednesday, January 15, 2025

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1/ Israel and Hamas agreed to a 42-day ceasefire. The deal temporarily pauses the 15-months of fighting in the Gaza Strip, where Israeli forces have killed at least 46,500 Palestinians – mostly civilians – in response to the Hamas-led October 7 terror attack, which left around 1,200 dead and some 250 people taken hostage. Over 110,200 people have been injured in Gaza during this period. The deal will take effect on Sunday and will be implemented in phases. In the first phase, 33 hostages held by Hamas will be exchanged for approximately 1,000 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. During this phase, Israel will reduce its military presence in Gaza and allow Palestinians to return to the north, despite extensive destruction in the area. In the second phase, the remaining living hostages will be exchanged, accompanied by a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. Israel estimates that about 60 living hostages remain in Gaza. The third phase will involve the return of deceased hostages’ remains and a “major reconstruction plan for Gaza will begin.” In recent days Trump’s incoming Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, “work[ed] in tandem” with Biden’s Middle East adviser, Brett McGurk, on the negotiations, which were mediated by the U.S., Qatar and Egypt. Witkoff reportedly met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday to stress Trump’s goal of wanted a deal by Jan. 20. Trump previously warned that there would be “hell to pay” if an agreement wasn’t reached before his inauguration. Netanyahu, meanwhile, thanked Trump for what he described as promises that “Gaza will never be a haven for terror.” (NBC News / NPR / ABC News / New York Times / Washington Post / Bloomberg / Wall Street Journal / CNN / Associated Press / Axios / CNBC)

2/ Recap of today’s Trump’s Cabinet confirmation hearings: Pam Bondi, nominated for attorney general, vowed to “depoliticize” the Justice Department but faced criticism for refusing to commit to prosecutorial independence from Trump, including whether she would prosecute journalists or drop cases at Trump’s request. Bondi stated, “No one is above the law,” and denied any plans to enforce a so-called “enemies list.” Bondi repeatedly declined to answer whether she would open an investigation into special counsel Jack Smith, calling his conduct “horrible.” She also sidestepped questions about upholding a TikTok ban and pardoning Jan. 6 defendants, saying decisions would be made on a “case-by-case basis.” Marco Rubio, the nominee for Secretary of State, supported NATO, called China a “dangerous near-peer adversary,” and endorsed Taiwan’s “porcupine strategy” to deter invasion. Rubio aligned with Trump’s “America First” vision, stating, “Placing our core national interests above all else is not isolationism. It is the commonsense realization that a foreign policy...

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Tuesday, January 14, 2025

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1/ Special Counsel Jack Smith’s final report made clear that Trump has not been exonerated for his “unprecedented criminal effort to overturn the legitimate results of the election in order to retain power” and that the evidence would have secured a conviction had the case gone to trial. Smith’s 137-page report, released early Tuesday, detailed Trump’s alleged actions, including how he “inspired his supporters to commit acts of physical violence” on Jan. 6 and knowingly spread “demonstrably and, in many cases, obviously false” claims of voter fraud. The prosecution, however, was dropped due to Trump’s 2024 reelection and longstanding Justice Department policy prohibiting the indictment of sitting presidents. Smith wrote, “Indeed, but for Mr. Trump’s election and imminent return to the Presidency, the Office assessed that the admissible evidence was sufficient to obtain and sustain a conviction at trial.” Smith’s report also directly countered Trump’s claims of political bias: “To all who know me well, the claim from Mr. Trump that my decisions as a prosecutor were influenced or directed by the Biden administration or other political actors is, in a word, laughable.” Smith emphasized that the investigation adhered strictly to facts and the law, asserting, “My Office had one north star: to follow the facts and law wherever they led. Nothing more and nothing less.” Trump, meanwhile, dismissed the report as a “political hit job,” repeating his unsubstantiated claims of election fraud while accusing Smith of failing to bring the case to trial before the election. Nevertheless, Smith defended the effort, stating, “While we were not able to bring the cases we charged to trial, I believe the fact that our team stood up for the rule of law matters.” (Politico / NPR / NBC News / New York Times / Washington Post / Wall Street Journal / The Guardian / Axios)

2/ Special Counsel David Weiss criticized Biden for calling the prosecution of his son, Hunter Biden, politically motivated, arguing that such statements “undermine the public’s confidence in our criminal justice system.” Weiss’s final report defended his investigation, which led to convictions for tax evasion and firearms charges before Biden pardoned his son. The report dismissed claims of political bias and emphasized that the prosecutions adhered to principles of equal justice. Hunter Biden’s attorney, meanwhile, called the investigation “a cautionary tale of the abuse of prosecutorial power.” (NBC News / Washington Post / New York Times)

3/ Pete Hegseth, Trump’s nominee for defense secretary, faced a contentious confirmation hear...

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Monday, January 13, 2025

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1/ A federal judge ruled that the Justice Department may release the portion of special counsel Jack Smith’s report on Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election. The release is expected as early as Tuesday. Judge Aileen Cannon, however, maintained a block on sharing the section of the report on Trump’s classified documents case, citing concerns over potential prejudice to Trump’s former co-defendants, Walt Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira, whose charges remain pending. Smith’s report concludes his investigations into Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election and mishandle classified materials, with legal challenges continuing over the release of remaining sections. (Associated Press / Politico / NPR / Washington Post / New York Times / NBC News / ABC News / CNN / Bloomberg / CBS News)

2/ Special counsel Jack Smith resigned from the Department of Justice after completing investigations into Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election and mishandling classified documents. Smith’s departure, expected ahead of Trump’s inauguration as the cases were dismissed under longstanding DOJ policy that prohibits prosecuting a sitting president, followed the submission of his final report to Attorney General Merrick Garland, who plans to release the report on election interference but not the classified documents case, citing pending proceedings against Trump’s former co-defendants. Both of Smith’s cases were blocked by court rulings: In July, Judge Aileen Cannon dismissed the classified documents case, finding that Garland lacked the authority to appoint Smith. Separately, the Supreme Court delayed the election interference case for months while reviewing Trump’s claim of immunity before ultimately issuing a landmark decision that granted “absolute immunity from criminal prosecution” for “official acts.” (NBC News / Politico / New York Times / CNN / Washington Post / Axios)

3/...

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Thursday, January 9, 2025

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1/ The New York Court of Appeals – the highest court in the state – denied Trump’s request to block his Friday sentencing. The decision leaves the U.S. Supreme Court as Trump’s final option to defer sentencing on 34 felony counts related to falsifying business records. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, meanwhile, urged the Supreme Court to deny Trump’s bid to halt his sentencing, saying the “defendant makes the unprecedented claim that the temporary presidential immunity he will possess in the future fully immunizes him now, weeks before he even takes the oath of office.” Bragg added, “It is axiomatic that there is only one president at a time […] And as this court has repeatedly recognized, presidential immunity is strictly limited to the time of the president’s term in office.” Trump’s sentencing is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. Friday. (CNN / Associated Press / New York Times / Axios / ABC News)

2/ Trump called Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito shortly before asking the court to block his sentencing in the New York election interference case involving falsified business records. Alito said he took the call from Trump on behalf of a former law clerk who is seeking a job in the new Trump administration. “We did not discuss the emergency application he filed today, and indeed, I was not even aware at the time of our conversation that such an application would be filed,” Alito said. “We also did not discuss any other matter that is pending or might in the future come before the Supreme Court or any past Supreme Court decisions involving the President-elect.” Some judicial ethics experts and Democratic lawmakers called for Alito to recuse himself from the decision on whether Trump’s sentencing in New York can go forward. (ABC News / New York Times / Washington Post / Politico / USA Today)

3/ Trump urged a federal appeals court to block the release of both volumes of special counsel Jack Smith’s final report on Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election and his handling of classified documents after he left office and his refusal to return them. Attorney General Merrick Garland plans to publicly release the volume on Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election and disenfranchise millions of voters, but withhold ...

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Wednesday, January 8, 2025

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1/ Trump asked the Supreme Court to block his sentencing in the New York election interference case involving falsified business records. The last-ditch request came after a New York appeals court refused to postpone his Friday sentencing – 10 days before his inauguration – on 34 counts of falsifying business records related to a hush money payment made to Stormy Daniels during the 2016 election. Trump continues to claim that he is immune from all prosecution and sentencing because he is the president-elect. Further, Trump claims that sentencing would damage “the institution of the Presidency and the operations of the federal government.” Justice Juan Merchan, however, has made clear he wouldn’t sentence Trump to prison and that an unconditional discharge – or a sentence without any punishment – was “the most viable solution.” The Supreme Court, meanwhile, ordered prosecutors to respond to Trump’s request by Thursday morning. (NPR / ABC News / Associated Press / CBS News / Wall Street Journal / New York Times / NBC News / Politico / Washington Post)

2/ The Justice Department plans to publicly release part of special counsel Jack Smith’s final report on Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election and disenfranchise millions of voters. Attorney General Merrick Garland, however, will withhold the second part of the report concerned Trump’s handling of classified documents after he left office and his refusal to return them. Yesterday, Judge Aileen Cannon, who previously dismissed Trump’s classified documents case, temporarily blocked the release of Smith’s two part report in order to prevent “irreparable harm,” while the matter is considered by the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals. Both cases against Trump were dismissed after he won the election in November due to long standing Justice Department policies against prosecuting a sitting president. (ABC News / Politico / NPR / Associated Press / NBC News / New York Times / Washington Post)

3/ A watchdog report found that three senior Trump-era Justice Department officials leaked details about COVID-19 nursing home death investigations in Democra...

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Tuesday, January 7, 2025

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1/ A federal judge in Florida temporarily blocked the Justice Department from releasing special counsel Jack Smith’s report on Trump’s classified documents investigation. U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon justified her order “to preserve the status quo” and to prevent “irreparable harm” while the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals considers a motion from Trump’s co-defendants, Walt Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira, who argued that the report’s release would prejudice their cases. That filing came after Smith confirmed he’s “working to finalize” reports for Attorney General Merrick Garland outlining the results of his investigations into Trump’s handling of classified documents after he left office and his attempt to subvert the 2020 election. Garland previously said he’d release the report publicly in some form. Cannon’s injunction, however, follows a series of legal rulings that have limited Smith’s authority and dismissed charges against Trump in the case. Cannon, a Trump appointee, previously ruled Smith’s appointment unconstitutional, and the Supreme Court’s decision on presidential immunity further weakened the special counsel’s cases. (Washington Post / NBC News / CNN / Associated Press / Politico / New York Times / ABC News / Wall Street Journal / Bloomberg)

2/ A New York appeals court judge denied Trump’s request to delay his Friday sentencing in the election interference case involving falsified business records, rejecting arguments that presidential immunity applies. Trump’s lawyers argued that immunity protections for a sitting president should extend to the transition period as president-elect, but the trial judge and appellate court rejected this claim. While the trial judge suggested that Trump would likely face no jail time, he emphasized the importance of finalizing the case before Trump’s inauguration. Trump was convicted in May of falsifying business records related to hush money payments made during the 2016 election. (Associated Press / Politico / Washington Post / New York Times / ABC News / Bloomberg / Axios /

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Monday, January 6, 2025

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1/ A joint session of Congress certified Trump’s 2024 victory without incident four years after he tried to overturn his 2020 election loss by encouraging his followers to march to the Capitol and “fight like hell” to stop Congress from certifying Biden as president. Kamala Harris oversaw the proceedings as president of the Senate, certifying Trump’s win, including her own defeat, and announced the final tally: 312 to 226. Unlike the 2021 certification that spanned two days with objections, evacuations, and an angry, violent mob that injured about 140 Capitol and D.C. police officers, this year’s proceedings concluded calmly in under an hour with no disturbances or objections. Four years ago, 147 Republicans voted against certifying some states’ results. Later that month, the House impeached Trump for a second time. He was acquitted by the Senate. Following certification of the election, Harris, who hasn’t given an interview since her loss in November, told reporters that the process “was about what should be the norm and what the American people should be able to take for granted, which is that one of the most important pillars of our democracy is that there will be a peaceful transfer of power […] And today, America’s democracy stood.” Trump, meanwhile, posted on his social media platform: “A BIG MOMENT IN HISTORY.” (Associated Press / NPR / New York Times / NBC News / Wall Street Journal / Bloomberg / Washington Post / Politico / Axios)

💡 Trump rebranded Jan. 6 as a political asset, using conspiracy theories and martyrdom narratives to fuel his return to power while undermining democratic norms and accountability. By downplaying the violence and recasting rioters as patriots, Trump reframed the Capitol attack to bolster his political resurgence and re-election campaign. As he prepares to retake office, his promises to pardon rioters and pursue political retribution aim to cement this alternate history. These actions erode accountability, destabilize democratic institutions, and set dangerous precedents for political discourse and governance. (New York Times)

💡 Trump, who instigated the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack, will return to the presidency in two weeks, marking an unprecedented comeback amid unresolved questions about accountability for the violence and its implications for democracy. Despite facing criminal charges, public inquiries, and widespread condemnation, Trump evaded accountability, with his 2024 election win ending efforts to hold him responsible. His reelection represents a normalization of political violence and a broader failure to reckon with the assault on democratic norms. As the Capitol prepares to host his inauguration, it stands as a stark reminder of the events four years prior and their lasting impact on American governance. (Visit WTF Just Happened Today? for more news and headlines, brought to you by Matt Kiser. The WTFJHT Podcast is narrated and produced by Joe Amditis.

Thursday, January 2, 2025

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1/ Trump blamed “criminal” immigrants for the New Year’s Day attack in New Orleans that was carried out by a U.S. Army veteran from Texas. In the early hours of New Year’s Day, a man drove a truck into a crowd on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, which left at least 15 dead. The driver behind the attack was Shamsud-Din Jabbar, is a Texas-born U.S. citizen and Army veteran. The FBI said Jabbar acted alone and had posted several videos online before the attack “proclaiming his support for ISIS.” Nevertheless, Trump posted: “When I said that the criminals coming in are far worse than the criminals we have in our country, that statement was constantly refuted by Democrats and the Fake News Media, but it turned out to be true.” He added later: “Our Country is a disaster, a laughing stock all over the World! This is what happens when you have OPEN BORDERS, with weak, ineffective, and virtually nonexistent leadership.” Hours later, a Tesla Cybertruck exploded outside of Trump’s hotel in Las Vegas, which killed the driver and injured seven. The man inside the Tesla Cybertruck was an active-duty soldier in the Army. Las Vegas Sheriff Kevin McMahill said their investigation indicates that the driver shot himself in the head immediately before the vehicle exploded. A gun was found at the driver’s feet. The FBI said “there is no definitive link between the attack” in New Orleans and Las Vegas. (Bloomberg / New York Times / HuffPost / New Republic / NBC News / Associated Press / CNN / New York Times / Wall Street Journal / NPR / Washington Post)

2/ Mike Johnson doesn’t have the votes to remain speaker of the House with less than 24 hours until the start of the 119th Congress. While Trump has endorsed Johnson for a second term and no other Republican has challenged him, several Republican lawmakers haven’t committed to voting for him yet because of the way he handled the year-end spending bill. Republican Thomas Massie is a firm no and several members of the House Freedom Caucus have said they are undecided. Failure to elect a speaker could delay certification of Trump’s victory, and Congress has never tried to certify a presidential election without a House speaker in place. To be elected speaker, Johnson needs to win a majority of members who vote. The House is divided 219-215, meaning with full attendance Johnson can only lose one Republican vote to retain the speakership if all Democrats vote against him. Trump, meanwhile, plans to host a “victor...

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