Top Items:
The White House:
Statement from the Press Secretary Regarding Executive Grants of Clemency — President Donald J. Trump granted pardons to 73 individuals and commuted the sentences of an additional 70 individuals. — Todd Boulanger - President Trump granted a full pardon to Todd Boulanger.
Discussion:
USA Today, New York Times, The Progressive Pulse, Detroit Free Press, NBC News, Mother Jones, Reuters, Breitbart, Axios, CNN, The Verge, New York Post, Law & Crime, Wall Street Journal, The Daily Beast, The Federalist, Los Angeles Times, CNBC, Vox, KIFI-TV, Business Insider, Gothamist, The Independent, Rolling Stone, Florida Politics, TheBlaze, Washington Times, The Colorado Sun, The Daily Caller, Daily Kos, HuffPost, iPolitics, Mashable, The Gateway Pundit, Mediaite, CBS Detroit, Al Jazeera, Washingtonian, Metro.co.uk, Variety, KRON4, CBS Baltimore, Althouse, ProFootballTalk, UPI, Gizmodo, The Week, TechCrunch, emptywheel, The Wrap, Reason, HBCU Gameday, Bloomberg, CBS Chicago and TalkLeft, more at Techmeme »
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Maggie Haberman / New York Times:
With hours left in office, Trump pardons Bannon. — President Trump has granted clemency to Stephen K. Bannon, the former White House chief strategist who was charged with defrauding people who supported building a border wall that Mr. Trump supported, White House officials said.
Discussion:
Washington Post, Mediaite, CNN, Los Angeles Times, USA Today, The Independent, Breitbart, The Week, The Guardian, Axios, Washington Times and The Wrap
Aaron Blake / Washington Post:
Trump's swampiest pardons, ranked — President Trump came into office pledging to drain the swamp. He exits having extracted a bunch of allies who were neck-deep in the muck from it. — As I've regularly noted with Trump's pardons, it's not unheard-of for a president to pardon an ally.
Discussion:
Talking Points Memo and Politico
Grant Stern / Byline Times:
Still Faces ‘We Build the Wall’ State Investigation — Joe Biden's presidency has just begun and the Donald Trump era has just come to an end - with its chief enabler the recipient of a last-minute pardon for federal felony charges. But new reporting shows that Steve Bannon is still staring …
Discussion:
Law & Crime and Crooks and Liars
Andrew Weissmann / Just Security:
Gaps in Trump's Pardons: How the Biden Administration Can Still Pursue Justice
NBC News:
Full list of Trump's last-minute pardons and commuted sentences
Full list of Trump's last-minute pardons and commuted sentences
Discussion:
Forbes, Crooks and Liars, Conservative News Today, Townhall and Deadline
NBC News:
Some QAnon followers lose hope after Inauguration — Some QAnon conspiracy theorists, in public and private internet forums and chat rooms, were despondent Wednesday as their prophecy of an Inauguration Day coup to keep Donald Trump in power failed again as President Joe Biden was sworn into office.
Discussion:
Media Matters for America and The Week
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Kevin Roose / New York Times:
QAnon believers struggle with inauguration. — Followers of QAnon, the pro-Trump conspiracy theory, have spent weeks anticipating that Wednesday would be the “Great Awakening” — a day, long foretold in QAnon prophecy, when top Democrats would be arrested for running a global sex trafficking ring …
Discussion:
HuffPost, The Daily Beast, Associated Press, Forbes and Raw Story
Washington Post:
Joe Biden is sworn in as the 46th president, pleads for unity in inaugural address to a divided nation — Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. was sworn in Wednesday as the 46th president of the United States, pledging to unite the country and confront an array of convulsing challenges dividing a fractured nation.
Discussion:
Washington Examiner, ABC News, The Hill, Vox, New York Times, New York Times, Politico, Foreign Policy, HotAir, The Guardian, The Independent, Chicago Sun-Times, CNBC and The Daily Caller
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Amanda Arnold / The Cut:
Our Vice-President Is a Black Woman
Our Vice-President Is a Black Woman
Discussion:
HuffPost, BuzzFeed News, Fox News, Bloomberg and KTLA
Washington Post:
Joe Biden's inauguration speech transcript, annotated
Joe Biden's inauguration speech transcript, annotated
Discussion:
The Hill, Business Insider, Vox, Washington Examiner, Associated Press, Los Angeles Times, CNN, KFOR-TV, HotAir, UPROXX, The National Interest, CBS Baltimore, CBS Philly and Florida Politics
Quint Forgey / Politico:
Biden pledges to steady the nation: ‘My whole soul is in this’
Biden pledges to steady the nation: ‘My whole soul is in this’
Discussion:
Axios, ABC News, New York Times, Washington Examiner and Washington Post
Naomi Lim / Washington Examiner:
‘Democracy has prevailed’: Biden sworn in as 46th president
‘Democracy has prevailed’: Biden sworn in as 46th president
Discussion:
American Prospect, ABC News, Associated Press, Cyprus Mail and Tadias Magazine
Andrew Restuccia / Wall Street Journal:
Trump Has Discussed Starting a New Party — President Trump has talked in recent days with associates about forming a new political party, according to people familiar with the matter, an effort to exert continued influence after he leaves the White House. — Mr. Trump discussed the matter …
Discussion:
Washington Post, Washington Examiner, The Guardian, Washington Times, The Daily Beast, Fox News, HotAir, Big League Politics, Sputnik News, Patterico's Pontifications, Raw Story, Talking Points Memo, Metro.co.uk, The Sun, HuffPost, TheBlaze, Summit News, The Hill, Mediaite, The National Pulse, UPROXX, Business Insider, Political Wire and The Daily Caller
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Anna Merlan / VICE:
Trump Fails to Ascend as God Emperor, Leaving Diehard Fans Adrift
Trump Fails to Ascend as God Emperor, Leaving Diehard Fans Adrift
Discussion:
Raw Story and Washington Times
Ben Makuch / VICE:
Far-Right Extremists Tell One Another to Stay Home, Fight Another Day
Far-Right Extremists Tell One Another to Stay Home, Fight Another Day
Discussion:
Raw Story
HuffPost:
Feds Arrest Proud Boy Member Joe Biggs Over Capitol Riot — The right-wing media figure denied to FBI agents that he was involved in any planning for the attack on the Capitol, but admitted entering the building. — Federal authorities on Wednesday arrested Joe Bigs …
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Sheera Frenkel / New York Times:
‘A Total Failure’: The Proud Boys Now Mock Trump — Members of the far-right group, who were among Donald Trump's staunchest fans, are calling him “weak,” in a sign of fraying support. — After the presidential election last year, the Proud Boys, a far-right group, declared its undying loyalty to President Trump.
Pilar Melendez / The Daily Beast:
‘This Is Awesome!’: Another Proud Boys Leader Arrested for Storming U.S. Capitol
‘This Is Awesome!’: Another Proud Boys Leader Arrested for Storming U.S. Capitol
Discussion:
USA Today
Transition / President-Elect Joe Biden:
FACT SHEET: President-elect Biden's Day One Executive Actions Deliver Relief for Families Across America Amid Converging Crises — Actions Address the COVID-19 Pandemic, Provide Economic Relief, Tackle Climate Change, and Advance Racial Equity — Today, hours after taking the oath of office …
Discussion:
Washington Examiner, Fox News, KIFI-TV, Common Dreams, ACLU, The Texas Tribune, GovExec.com, CNN, Daily Kos, Sputnik News, Al Jazeera, Cyprus Mail, The Gateway Pundit, Axios and Complex
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Brooke Singman / Fox News:
Biden, in first tweet as president, says ‘no time to waste’ on agenda
Biden, in first tweet as president, says ‘no time to waste’ on agenda
Discussion:
Politico, RedState, spectator.us, KRON4 and Reason
Politico:
Biden plans executive action blitz for Day One
Biden plans executive action blitz for Day One
Discussion:
CBS News, Washington Post, Bloomberg, Axios, Business Insider, The Week, Vanity Fair, NPR, NBC News, The Colorado Sun, TheBlaze and The Daily Signal
Meridith McGraw / Politico:
Trump revokes rule preventing White House staff from lobbying
Trump revokes rule preventing White House staff from lobbying
Discussion:
Washington Post, Business Insider, Washington Examiner, CNN, The Federalist, The White House, Townhall, TheBlaze, WTOP, Common Dreams, Snopes.com and UPI
Axios:
Off the rails: Inside Trump's campaign to coerce Pence into overturning the election — Beginning on election night 2020 and continuing through his final days in office, Donald Trump unraveled and dragged America with him, to the point that his followers sacked the U.S. Capitol with two weeks left in his term.
Discussion:
Politico, The Daily Beast, Fox News, Boston Herald, The Independent, Foreign Policy, Reuters and Raw Story
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Alayna Treene / Axios:
Trump departs on final Air Force One flight
Trump departs on final Air Force One flight
Discussion:
ABC News, Washington Post, Washington Examiner, Metro.co.uk, Deseret News, NBC News, Forbes, HuffPost, Washington Times, The Week, NPR, Breitbart and UPI
Asawin Suebsaeng / The Daily Beast:
Trump's Parting Words to U.S.: ‘Have a Nice Life. See You Soon’
Trump's Parting Words to U.S.: ‘Have a Nice Life. See You Soon’
Discussion:
CBS News, ABC News, The Hill, Associated Press, Variety, Washington Post, Common Dreams, The Independent, Al Jazeera, Reuters, Real America's Voice and Vox
Politico:
‘Really quite shocking’: Inside the ugly transition at the Pentagon — The Pentagon blocked members of President Joe Biden's incoming administration from gaining access to critical information about current operations, including the troop drawdown in Afghanistan, upcoming special operations missions …
Discussion:
UPI, Defense One and Raw Story
fmprc.gov.cn:
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Announces Sanctions on Pompeo and Others — Over the past few years, some anti-China politicians in the United States, out of their selfish political interests and prejudice and hatred against China and showing no regard for the interests of the Chinese and American people …
Discussion:
Bloomberg, Washington Examiner, Axios, National Review, Forbes, Townhall, The Daily Caller, The Week, New York Post, Talking Points Memo and Raw Story
Andrew Stiles / Washington Free Beacon:
HISTORIC: Joe Biden to Be Sworn In on Jeffrey Epstein's Birthday — Joe Biden will be sworn in as the 46th president of the United States on Wednesday, bringing to a close one of the most successful administrations in American history. — In what may or may not be a coincidence …
Discussion:
Politico, Washington Examiner, The Federalist, Talking Points Memo, ABC News and No More Mister Nice Blog
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Erin Patterson / KUSA-TV:
‘We hope to work with you’: 17 House GOP freshmen write letter to Biden
‘We hope to work with you’: 17 House GOP freshmen write letter to Biden
Discussion:
Fox News, Associated Press, Breitbart, The Federalist and Vox
Dan Diamond / Washington Post:
Biden to ask Surgeon General Adams to resign — Ouster is regarded as a break with the Trump administration's covid-19 response, which the president-elect has called a failure — The Washington Post is providing this important information about the coronavirus for free.
Discussion:
Politico, Washington Examiner, Forbes, KIFI-TV, The Hill, POLITICUSUSA and The Week
The Pillar:
Updated: Vatican intervened to spike US bishops' Biden statement release — A Pillar Post special edition — The U.S. bishops' conference held back a statement on incoming President Joe Biden Wednesday morning, after officials from the Vatican Secretariat of State intervened before the statement could be released.
Catherine Thorbecke / ABC News:
Powerful images symbolize an inauguration unlike any other — Wednesday's events were marked by a global pandemic and heightened security. — Catch up on the developing stories making headlines. — The inauguration of Joe Biden is unlike any other — marked by a global pandemic …
Discussion:
RedState, IJR and CBS Baltimore
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Susan Ferrechio / Washington Examiner:
McCarthy urges Biden: ‘Pick up mantle’ from Trump successes
McCarthy urges Biden: ‘Pick up mantle’ from Trump successes
Discussion:
The American Independent, Foreign Policy and Townhall
The Daily Beast:
Trump Pardons Fox News Host's Ex-Husband With Minutes Left in Office — “I'm in shock. I went to bed last night having read the list assuming I wasn't getting a pardon,” Albert Pirro Jr., ex-husband of Judge Jeanine Pirro, told The Daily Beast. — President Trump had one last pardon …
Discussion:
Mediaite
Natasha Korecki / Politico:
Writing a speech for Biden can be hell. And that was before the inaugural. — Joe Biden paces as he dictates long portions of his speeches to aides, spinning out thoughts that quickly pile into six, seven or eight paragraphs of copy, only to later be scrapped.
Discussion:
ABC News, Washington Monthly, The Rush Limbaugh Show, National Review, RedState and Power Line
Caroline Kelly / CNN:
Biden to rescind 1776 commission via executive order — (CNN)President-elect Joe Biden will issue an executive order to dissolve the 1776 commission, a panel stood up by President Donald Trump as a rebuttal to schools applying a more accurate history curriculum around slavery in the US, Biden's transition team announced Wednesday.
Discussion:
The Atlantic, Snopes.com, TheBlaze, The Daily Caller, NBC News, New Republic and BuzzFeed News
Adam Serwer / The Atlantic:
An Incompetent Authoritarian Is Still a Catastrophe — So what if he was bad at it? — The five years of the Trump era—which began with his descent down the gilded escalator in Trump Tower in 2015 and are ending with a massive military presence in the nation's capital to protect the transfer …
Jonathan Chait / New York Magazine:
Biden: ‘We Must End This Uncivil War.’ Here's What It Would Look Like. — Over the past quarter-century, from the impeachment of Bill Clinton through the two impeachments of Donald Trump, American politics has been consumed with viciousness. The most striking line in President Joe Biden's Inaugural Address …
Discussion:
Orange County Register
Jim Small / Arizona Mirror:
Biggs and Gosar sought pardons for Capitol riot, but won't get them: report — Arizona Republican Congressmen Andy Biggs and Paul Gosar have asked President Donald Trump to preemptively pardon them for their roles in the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, but the president has no plans to do so, CNN reported Tuesday.
Discussion:
The Intellectualist, Business Insider, NBC News, Raw Story, Conservative News Today, New York Times, CNN and The Stranger