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An Indoor Inauguration Day

An Indoor Inauguration Day

Your unbiased daily news brief

James Kratch
January 20, 2025

Good Monday morning. Today is Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Here is a visual look at the American streets named after the late civil rights leader. Have a great day.

In Today’s Brief

Georgia: Bird flu
Gaza: Ceasefire begins
Ramaswamy: DOGE exit
Costco: Strike vote
FireAid: Lineup revealed

... and more

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1) Change of plans

President-elect Donald J. Trump will finalize his historic return to the Oval Office in unexpected fashion.

The news: Trump will take the oath of office at noon inside the Capitol Rotunda after the inauguration was moved indoors with temperatures expected to be in the low 20s today in Washington. The president-elect made the request; the inaugural parade will then play out at Capital One Arena later in the day with Trump in attendance. President Ronald Reagan's 1985 inauguration was also indoors.
What to expect: The location swap will greatly reduce the crowd present for the ceremony. Trump is expected to strike a more aspirational tone with his speech rather than harken back to his "American carnage" comments at his first swearing-in. Several foreign leaders are expected to attend in what many historians believe is a first for any presidential inauguration. President Joe Biden and former Presidents George W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama are scheduled to attend.
Signing spree: Trump is expected to issue a flurry of executive orders today -- some reports say over 200. Among the potential decrees: Declaring a national emergency on the U.S.-Mexico border and designating drug cartels as terrorist organizations, offsetting offshore drilling bans and immigration-related measures.

2) Back in business

TikTok was online again yesterday after getting a lifeline from the incoming administration.

The news: The popular social media platform shuttered late Saturday night, minutes before a federal law banning it on national security grounds took effect. But it resumed operations yesterday after Trump announced he would give the app a 90-day reprieve today once he takes office. He also pledged to shield any company or service provider that assists TikTok operations from criminal liability.
Catch up: The law -- signed by President Biden, approved by Congress in bipartisan votes and unanimously upheld by the Supreme Court and lower courts -- bans the platform unless Chinese parent company ByteDance divests its U.S. business. But Trump -- who originally called for TikTok's prohibition -- has since warmed to the app, which he credits in part for his re-election victory.
Next steps: The Biden Administration said it would not enforce the law before Trump is sworn in. And there are questions about whether Trump has the authority to postpone a law already in effect once he takes office. The president-elect said he wants at least 50% of the app to be owned by "the United States," but he did not specify if he meant American investors or the federal government itself.

3) The stretch run

The college football national champion will be decided tonight while the NFL's final four is set.

Title game: Ohio State will meet Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN) in Atlanta. The Buckeyes last won the national title in 2014 while the Fighting Irish are looking for their first since 1988. Ohio State beat Notre Dame in a 2023 regular season game, scoring the decisive touchdown on the final play. The Buckeyes are 8.5-point betting favorites tonight.
In the NFC: The Philadelphia Eagles are positioned to make their second Super Bowl appearance in three years with an unexpected NFC Championship Game date with the rival Washington Commanders in Philly next Sunday (3 p.m., Fox). Washington stunned the top-seeded Detroit Lions to reach the conference title game for the first time since 1991, when it won Super Bowl XXVI.
In the AFC: The Kansas City Chiefs, who are seeking to become the first team to win three consecutive Super Bowls, will host the Buffalo Bills in Sunday's AFC Championship Game (6:30 p.m. ET, CBS). The Bills beat the Chiefs earlier this season, but they are 0-3 against Kansas City in the postseason in recent years. Buffalo has not played in the Super Bowl since losing four straight from 1991-94.

Quick Tips

U.S. News

Georgia halted all in-state poultry sales after bird flu was detected at a commercial operation in the state. Moderna received a $590M federal grant to accelerate vaccine development for humans (More)
Strong winds are expected to return to the Los Angeles area this week as crews continue to battle wildfires. At least 27 people have died in the blazes; the Palisades Fire was 52% contained as of yesterday afternoon (More)
Many cities nationwide are reporting significant YoY drops in violent crime for 2024, according to ABC. Philadelphia saw over 100 fewer homicides; New York saw a small downturn in murders (More)

World News

The Gaza ceasefire went into effect yesterday with the first Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners being freed. Several far-right Israeli cabinet members quit in protest of the pact with Hamas, potentially destabilizing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's governing coalition (More | More)
At least 86 people died after a gasoline tanker exploded in Nigeria. At least 55 people were injured; officials said the death toll may be higher as bystanders were crowded around the vehicle taking photos and trying to scoop leaking fuel (More)
Suspended South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's detention was extended, leading supporters to storm a Seoul courthouse in protest. Prosecutors are seeking criminal charges over his failed martial law decree; he still formally holds the office (More)

Political News

Vivek Ramaswamy will exit the Department of Government Efficiency. The former Republican presidential candidate co-leads the task force with billionaire Elon Musk; he is expected to mount a 2026 gubernatorial campaign in Ohio (More)
Ohio Lt. Gov. Jon Husted was appointed to the Senate by Gov. Mike DeWine. The GOP member will take the seat vacated by Vice President-elect J.D. Vance until next year's special election, which he said he will run in (More)
Pennsylvania's House of Representatives is temporarily deadlocked after a Democratic member died unexpectedly. The GOP controls the State Senate by six seats; late Rep. Matt Gergely’s Pittsburgh-area district is reliably Democratic (More)

Business & Markets

Major indexes closed higher on Friday. The Dow Jones was up over 300 points while the Nasdaq and S&P 500 also surged (Dow +0.78%, Nasdaq +1.51%, S&P 500 +1.00%).
Organized Costco workers voted to authorize a nationwide strike prior of a Jan. 31 deadline to reach a new labor deal. The Teamsters Union represents over 18K employees of the membership-only retailer (More)
A Toyota subsidiary will pay a $1.6B fine and plead guilty to federal fraud charges. Hino Motors will be unable to import its diesel engines into the U.S. for five years after admitting it deceived regulators about emissions rates (More)

Entertainment & Sports

Billie Eilish and Lady Gaga are among the headliners for the Jan. 30 FireAid benefit concert for Los Angeles wildfire victims. The event will be held at Inglewood's Intuit Dome and Kia Forum (More)
Dick Vitale's return to ESPN's college basketball coverage will be delayed. The Hall of Fame broadcaster had been cleared to work following several bouts with cancer, but he suffered a non-life-threatening fall at home that required hospitalization (More)
The NFL will play its first game in Spain next season. The Miami Dolphins will be the home team for the contest in Madrid; the league has also announced games in Berlin and London this fall and may visit other cities overseas (More)

Quick Hitters

Feel Good: A Massachusetts police officer saw a man delivering pizza on foot during a snowstorm for a $2 tip. A subsequent GoFundMe campaign has raised $20K for the dedicated worker and his family.
Take Note: Apple cider vinegar has earned a reputation as a catch-all elixir providing various benefits. But is that reputation grounded in reality?
Go Deep: The incoming Trump Administration had pledged to focus on curbing illegal immigration. The anticipated crackdowns are already having a significant impact on the restaurant industry.
Be Well: There is even more reason to get your steps in today. New research indicates there is a correlation between at least 7K steps a day and a lower risk of general depression.
Life Hack: Washing a winter coat can be a hassle, but sometimes it is necessary. Here are some tips on how to properly launder them at home if you do not feel like using the local dry cleaner.

Watch This

A Canadian homeowner is believed to have captured the sight and sound of a meteorite hitting the Earth on video for the first time in known history.