With so much going on, Dr. King’s leadership is as steadying a force as it’s ever been. I’ve been reflecting a lot on his example, and how it might help us move forward after these last four years. #MLKDaypic.twitter.com/oGCF2wbT18
Only one more sleep till the tiny-handed ferret-wearing fascist-inciting insurrectionist cheeto-faced shit-gibbon is consigned to the golden toilet of history. Endless legal-woes and financial ruin lie ahead for him and his vile nepotistic crime family. Huzzah! Roll on tomorrow! pic.twitter.com/N2cK0Fvnzw
Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO), fresh off objecting to the electoral certification process that helped incite an insurrection, is blocking quick consideration of Biden's DHS nominee Alejandro Mayorkas.pic.twitter.com/S36ppD0M1d
Is it possible J Hawley is objecting to Pres Biden’s DHS nominee bcs said nominee will immediately investigate Hawley for insurrection and crimes against the country? One Senator should NOT be allowed to shut down confirmation of such a vital role, especially after 1-6
That piece of rubbish is doing his hail mary! Even MO & monies have gone away. He’s desperately trying to find relevance, & right now he might as well wear a KKK hood in pursuit of his whatevers. The End.
12 and a half minutes of footage on the New Yorker website by Luke Mogelson. He recorded what was said and what happened when the insurrectionists pushed into the Senate chamber.
David Remnick speaks to Chris Hayes.
David Remnick, Editor-in-Chief, New Yorker:
“I was discussing this with Luke’s remarkable editor Dan Zalewski, and what’s so striking about it, besides images of craziness and stupidity and rage, is the degree at almost every point in which the rioters, the insurrectionists, are either emboldened by the words of the President of the United States, or they imitate the words of the President of the United States.
Look, when they’re destroying cameras they’re using the rhetoric of enemies of the people.
When they’re outside destroying television cameras and press equipment. When they’re inside, they’re yelling ‘1776!’ and ‘This is us’ and ‘This is our boss’. This is the temper of trump rallies for 5 years, gone berserk. This is the apotheosis of all those rallies that would go on for hours on Fox News getting everybody riled up. It’s the apotheosis of what’s been on social media for YEARS, imitating and incited by not some crazy revolutionary in his basement – but by Donald Trump, the President of the United States. That is what’s so striking about these images and the way they overlay what we’ve known for years. This is not some incredible surprise.”
HAYES: There are two moments on that point that are particularly striking. One is the man that says to the Capital police officer, “We have been sent here by your boss Donald trump”. Which just as a constitutional matter is not true. He works for a separate branch of government…but then there’s the other point where the guy is ruffling through the pages in the Senate chamber, and he says he thinks Ted Cruz would approve of what he is doing. They’re just coming out and saying ‘We are here under the authority of Republican politicians who have sent us the message that this is acceptable’.”
REMNICK:
“Language matters, politics matter.
What comes out of the mouths of senators and presidents matter. And they can matter in a way that’s inspiring. You know we’re talking today on Martin Luther King Day, we’re celebrating one of the great Democrats and freedom fighters. And one of the most eloquent people and one of the most inspiring people of the 20th century. And the opposite can happen. The perverse opposite can happen. And the nut case like we’re now watching, carrying the flag, desecrating the flag in my view, desecrating the Senate chamber, that’s the opposite of it. And he is using the language of the elected President of the United States. Who then said that the “The election was illegitimate and you should act on it – march!” They acted on the words of Rudy Giuliani. And Donald Trump Junior, who we’ve been told in countless articles, wants a political career of his own. This is madness. And for the Senate not to act on this, for it not have a thorough going trial and exact justice where justice is due, would be itself a terrible crime in my view.”
HAYES: “One of the aspects of the reporting in this piece that was also really revelatory to me,
was that the reporter had embedded with some of these folks back in December when there had been a smaller kind of protest. The president had driven through it, it had ended up in a bunch of these folks marauding the streets of DC, just beating random Black passers by, ripping a Black Lives Matter sign off a historic AME church and burning it. But you can see and because he was there then, that was just perfect continuity between what was happening there, and what happened at the Capitol.”
REMNICK:
“Luke Mogelson has been covering for the New Yorker for years things like the war in Afghanistan, and Syria. He is very experienced….he wrote a long piece about the Proud Boys, the situation in Michigan…yes he got to know all these people, a lot of these people travel around. They follow the orders of what they’re told to do, or what they’re inspired by on social medIa and by extension their fearless Leader….
I can’t help thinking about that Cabinet meeting some years ago, when all the Cabinet members sat around the table, obviously at the order of the President of the United States, praising the great generalissimo. And it struck me as something out of the playbook of authoritarians and totalitarians for many decades that Masha Gessen, Tim Snyder…so many people have talked about so long. And that’s what history is going to focus on in large measure, this disgusting event. This horrible, humiliating, terrible event, which may be the forecast of more events like it in the future, who knows. It comes out of that kind of behavior, that kind of twisted attitude toward leadership in our country. It’s a terrible, terrible tragedy. And I’m afraid it was ordained the minute he was elected.”
REMNICK: (have skipped a section…)
“Democracy is an idea, and democracy is a process. And democracy can be derailed.
And democracy can be destroyed. And this notion that America is somehow invulnerable, inviolable forever – is childish. If in fact the Trump experience at least gets us to understand that, and make sure that we are serious about that, then that’s an extremely important thing. Because look, democracy such as it was, was a very short-lived experience in parts of Eastern Europe, in Russia, and Central Asia and all the rest. We have much deeper roots, deeper institutions, however imperfect they are. Nevertheless, what Luke was filming, what everybody was writing about. What we saw on January 6th, was a terrible example of the impermanence of something that if we don’t cherish it and hold it, it will be gone.”
Hayes: “You think the windows can’t be shattered until they are.”
Since I was a young girl in Ireland, I have listened to @BBCRadio4's Desert Island Discs. For the unacquainted, you choose the 8 songs from your life you'd take if cast away on an island. Thrilled to finally share my episode, recorded earlier this month: https://t.co/yYPXGRh9QZ
The Georgia Secretary of State has certified the 2020 US Senate elections. That means our new Junior and Senior Senators will be sworn in tomorrow 🍾🥂 pic.twitter.com/qCuTUyUEKI
Thank you so much to the first LGBTQ Cabinet Secretary designee @PeteButtigieg for supporting our lifesaving work and raising awareness for our volunteer opportunities on #DayOfService! 🌈
Aww. Look Jared gets a gold star from Daddy-in-Law for helping him kill 400k Americans.
Trump gives presidential commendations to Dr Fauci, Dr Birx, Jared Kushner and others for their work on Operation Warp Speed coronavirus vaccine distribution project. pic.twitter.com/PCmYhQet7o
BREAKING: GOP lawmakers asked Trump for pardons for their Capitol terrorism. Trump said no, because if he does it'd be easier for him and his family to be charged.
This is like watching folks play chess, but no one knows how to move the pieces, and whoever loses goes to jail.
Justin Trudeau is looking forward to ‘a re-engagement on some of the big themes’ with the Biden admin — including freer trade, the climate crisis, and protecting democracy pic.twitter.com/iQKOpR04ED
This must be a first: ABC, CBS, NBC and CNN will all have women journalists as their chief White House correspondents with the incoming Biden administration.
I got the vaccine today. Thank you science. Thank you to all who have been working on the front lines. I still remember the godsend of the polio shot, a flashback of emotion sweeps through me again. pic.twitter.com/cpqhwDlTKR
INBOX: Jon Ossoff to be sworn in to the US Senate at 4:30pm tomorrow.
He'll use a book of scripture previously belonging to Rabbi Jacob Mortimer Rothschild, an Atlanta rabbi and friend of Martin Luther King, Jr. who led The Temple, Atlanta's oldest synagogue. pic.twitter.com/LyOLvqIkmV
I did not know the story of Rabbi Rothschild (told here by @jdcapelouto), but its spirit resonates with Ossoff's relationship to his soon-to-be Senate colleague Raphael Warnock, who holds King's pulpit in Atlanta. https://t.co/88m8YyguGC
I pray tomorrow will be a day of peace for all Americans. A day for love, not hatred. A day for acceptance not fear. A day for dreaming of our future joy as a country. A dream that is non-violent, a dream that provides safety for our souls. Love, from the Capitol 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/fATHiJHCq0
— Cathleen 'Stationary Pilgrim' Falsani (@godgrrl) January 19, 2021
Watching the Biden/Harris covid memorial lighting ceremony, and it's so what I need right now. Quiet & peaceful with a vocal performance of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah." They're going entirely in the opposite direction of the Trump administration in every way, and it's wonderful. pic.twitter.com/4NQ3DmhJtr
Let's see here. There's a push to purge Cheney from leadership. Fox News is axing Chris Stirewalt–who correctly called AZ–and elevating resident conspiracy theorist Maria Bartiromo. When are we turning the page on Trumpism, again?
The side demanding Biden be responsible for "unity" is doubling down on a strategy of division. A panel on Fox framed the vetting of Nat'l Guard et al security forces for sympathies to RW extremism as intentionally fueling racial tensions. In more than one segment. I kid you not
Joe Biden plans to rejoin the World Health Organization, halt federal executions and rescind the ban on transgender individuals serving in the military on his first day in office. https://t.co/OV4chHdTNM
This year my birthday wish is a call for kindness. We can’t just hope for a brighter day, we have to work for a brighter day. Love too often gets buried in a world of hurt and fear. So today, January 19th, let’s get to unearthing love ❤️ https://t.co/CTShxNkbRqpic.twitter.com/0UFiMCyM9D
One more time, at least we have Dolly here in Tennessee! Hope she makes up for Marsha Blackburn, Bill Hagerty, Tim Burchett, my state reps and our Governor, all of them AWFUL!! We lost Pat Summitt few years ago, but the legacy she left will never be topped.
The whole time Trump was pressuring Georgia officials to find him votes to overturn the election Mitch McConnell knew it was all bullshit. And said nothing. Think about that.
Mitch is the one who needs to be expelled. This is insane.
The Russians are showing clips of Trump walking up the steps with toilet paper stuck to his shoe and refer to him as "the President with the smallest hands" on Kremlin-controlled state TV, so there's that.https://t.co/9q6l5i2QRN
20 hours from now the portraits of Trump and Pence will come down in all of our embassies and federal buildings. They will be replaced by portraits of @JoeBiden and @KamalaHarris. Thank God.
Brian Williams on @msnbc makes a powerful case for making these lights along the reflecting pool a permanent memorial to the hundreds of thousands of Americans lost to Covid. pic.twitter.com/oP7QIBNvCr
Of course, the reflecting pool lights should be a permanent memorial to Covid victims. We've lost more than any of the wars. Plus, they are beautiful. pic.twitter.com/roRqHcXiaO
Doesn’t every new senate makes up its own rules? chucky boy better make them up right now. No holds by any senate cretins, dems or rethugs. Every bill / appointment gets an up or down vote without the archaic undemocratic holds, filibuster or some such crap.
As it stands right now, it’s likely many are misapplying blame for the losses of the Senate. It should be on the President & people like you, who continue to mislead your own voters. Hopefully, time will show that to people. I will continue to tell the truth and follow the law. https://t.co/4mEDM6Qfar
More than a dozen civil rights groups in Georgia are calling on this official, Alice O'Lenick to resign. "Alice O'Lenick isn't even trying to hide her bias against Democratic voters and voters of color in Gwinnett County," the groups said in a statement. https://t.co/rGNcsGCI8q
Trump has talked in recent days about forming a new political party that he'd call the "Patriot Party." Any effort would likely face intense opposition from Republicans, who would chafe at the thought of Trump peeling off support from GOP candidates. https://t.co/5LD3JmsYye
Brayden Harrington, the 13-year-old New Hampshire boy who bonded with President-elect Joe Biden over their shared experience with stuttering, will be part of the prime-time special capping off Biden's inauguration https://t.co/NMoC7pJLq9pic.twitter.com/3S70m1HmIA
Remember, Nixon did not pardon his White House enablers on the way out. We can't believe we're saying this, but Trump should try to be more like Nixon.
Thank you! If my neighbors in Gwinnett county heeded that rule, we wouldn’t be dealing with a Rethug elections board chair planning more voter suppression and openly saying it’s to help her party win.
“These officials are responsible for cruelly and unnecessarily separating children from their parents, actions that medical experts have likened to torture." –@CathleenCaronhttps://t.co/PJAnrU5IQp
Scoop: Biden’s team denies acting Defense Sec Christopher Miller’s request for transition space at the Pentagon after he leaves office tomorrow, a courtesy normally extended at the Defense Dept, @nwadhams reports https://t.co/B1JOPhXXUd
History will look back on the Trump presidency & wonder how Americans fell for him, why they tolerated him & his crimes for so long & how slowly they shook it off, even when it was clear it was over. It will seem inexplicable.
Biden Daily Guidance: At noon, Joseph R. Biden, Jr. will be sworn in as the 46th President of the United States at the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C.
Pelosi: "When we talk about, 'did any of our colleagues collaborate,' that remains to be seen. We have to get the evidence of that. If they did, they would be accessories to the crime. The crime, in some cases, was murder. The president is an accessory to that crime." @MSNBC
Biden's Secretary of State nominee Tony Blinken says U.S. embassies will be permitted to fly the pride flag. He promised to reaffirm that the international principles of nondiscrimination should apply to gender identity and sexual orientation.
Tomorrow the kid from the Kayton Homes housing projects gets sworn into the United States Senate. Thank you for trusting me Georgia. pic.twitter.com/tClJJFounc
— Senator-Elect Reverend Raphael Warnock (@ReverendWarnock) January 20, 2021
The worst thing was that more whites proved to be racists in 2020 than in 2016 even after 4 years of 24×7 corruption, ineptitude, treason, dereliction of duty, obstruction of justice etc.
Yes, that’s Michelle Nunn, daughter of former Democratic Senator Sam Nunn of Georgia. She is the current CEO of Care.
Grateful to join with @SamanthaJPower and other @InterActionOrg members to discuss our shared priorities responding to the many global challenges of our time. Excited to work with Power once she is confirmed as the next @USAID administrator. https://t.co/KMaOYfnAt5
As we come together offering light and the ringing of bells, to those grieving loved ones lost to COVID-19, always know you are in our hearts. pic.twitter.com/CrThftx0zn
I was so moved by this evening’s beautiful tribute. Thank you for giving us a moment to bear witness to the lives unnecessarily lost to COVID, and to our collective pain. Thank you for caring. ❤️🙏🏾
This man's whole life is in shambles because he got mad at Seth Meyers and Barack Obama roasting him. Could've just been grifting in peace for the rest of his life. Whole family hated. Ruined his teen son's life. Just incredible.
— Brandi, Kemi Talbot's Chief Of Staff 😾 (@ItsTheBrandi) January 20, 2021
Here’s a military send-off drawn by New Mexican cartoonist Ricardo Cate’ of the Santo Domingo Pueblo who draws for the Santa Fe “New Mexican:” pic.twitter.com/xuUFxHuNdf
TOD…
T’is Inauguration Eve!!!
Moved by the beauty and caring for the nation today, real balm for never-ending hours, days, months of hurt and pain. Thanks to the Biden Inauguration Committee, to our PE Joe and VPE Kamala for being with us now, for being at our side. Thanks to everyone who has been working hard to lift us up and keep us rolling.
Presidential historian Michael Beschloss just now pointed out to Brian Williams, that if things had gone differently on January 6th, there could’ve been assassinations and hostages taken at the Capitol, a free election overturned, democracy destroyed, perhaps followed by trump shutting down the press…and that we must never forget.
Nerdy – As I say goodnight to TODville, please let me also thank you for getting us through two Inaugurations, post-Obama! I don’t know how some of us would have survived “as well,” without your being here for us every day of the last four years and beyond. Thank you from the bottom of my heart, and I know “the others” feel the same! Love you.
I love ya! (And looked like President and First Lady Obama really enjoyed being in “the Inaugural crowd” today! I don’t think they wanted to leave, just as we didn’t want it to end!)
Hi, Nerdy! Did you happen to spot yet that Bobfr has changed his profile (I’ve confirmed it) to using his real name and is hoping to be unblocked from TOD or get a re-entry pass (whatever the proper wording is – Ha!) as “BobFranza” – it’s his new twitter handle, too. Please ignore this if you’ve already granted him entry. Love ya.
Trump's plan to exclude undocumented immigrants from the census totals used to apportion congressional seats is officially dead. https://t.co/iFnzYsNIy8
1/2 It's not about fashion. It's about values. At the COVID memorial on inauguration eve Kamala Harris wore a coat from Kerby Jean-Raymond of Pyer Moss, a Black designer who worked to provide PPE and help to small businesses; pic.twitter.com/huaEkWTdTe
I learned about (and gained immediate respect for) Kerby Jean-Raymond when he passionately and effectively dismantled a Eurocentric critique of two Black designers’ streetstyle on Next in Fashion. He is an excellent designer to dress the incoming VP ❤️.
[Next in Fashion is a design competition son Netflix. It’s to Project Runway. Kerby Jean-Raymond was a guest judge on one episode and sparked “controversy” in the way he spoke up for a team during a streetwear challenge.]
Last night, we came together to honor and remember the lives lost to COVID-19. Today we will come together to begin turning the page. Today, we officially start the work. pic.twitter.com/3e5BwpMwBs
In January 2017, flanked by his top aides, President Trump made a big show out of signing an executive order that would, among other things, institute a five year ban on former aides lobbying.
I had the privilege of implementing President Barack Obama’s demanding ethics vision for his administration, including its centerpiece, his “Day One” executive order setting tough new rules on conflicts of interest. It may seem like a very long time ago after four years of President Donald Trump, but Obama had arguably the most scandal-free presidency in memory owing to those clear ethics rules, backed by strong transparency about their application.
But Biden’s new executive order on ethics does us one better. It restores the fundamentals of the Obama plan, closing loopholes Trump opened—but going further, including new crackdowns on special interest influence. If implemented rigorously (always a big if) Biden’s plan promises to go further to “drain the swamp” than either of his predecessors.
Let’s start with what an ethics plan is. Federal law establishes the basic rules for government officials to avoid conflicts of interest and other behavior that is corrupt or appears corrupt by benefiting themselves, their families or associates. Obama went further, ordering each of his appointees to sign a pledge committing to additional safeguards on their behavior. Trump greatly watered down the standards with scandalous results. Biden has done the opposite, restoring the Obama rules and expanding them.
For example, take one of the centerpieces of the Obama plan: “Reverse” revolving door restrictions. Most ethics plans focus on officials leaving government, but in the Obama administration, we also imposed limits on those coming into government, with even tougher restrictions on ex-lobbyists. Trump’s executive order loosened those lobbying rules, lifting our limitation on lobbyists serving at an agency they lobbied. It is little wonder a flood of lobbyists inundated Trump’s administration—more than four times the number in just one Trump term than served under Obama in twice that time.
More on the sorry-ass election officials and system in Georgia
In a completely related statistic, Gwinnett County has not added a new polling place in a decade, despite adding more than 175,000 active voters — many of them younger, nonwhite and Democratic-leaning.
GOP chair of the Gwinnett County elections board on why she wants GA legislature to impose new restrictions on voting. “They don’t have to change all of them, but they’ve got to change the major parts of them so that we at least have a shot at winning.” https://t.co/8FaeKWNN0Wpic.twitter.com/KsGaJtntuN
Nothing like evidence of intent to discriminate right there on the record.
— PersonWomanCameraStopKillingBlackLives. (@1MamaRama) January 19, 2021
This is a textbook example of 'intent' in the totality of circumstances test in a successful Section 2 VRA claim against a state or local election practice.
Last night, we came together to honor and remember the lives lost to COVID-19. Today we will come together to begin turning the page. Today, we officially start the work. pic.twitter.com/3e5BwpMwBs
Okay Scotland gets the petty award today for a petition to rename the airport the former 45 flies into to go to his golf course "Joe Biden International".
The Inauguration Day Schedule shows a time slot for swearing in of appointees. Are there appointees to be sworn in who don’t require confirmation, I wonder. Ossoff and Warnock won’t be sworn in until this afternoon – we need that gavel in Schumer’s hands.
Republicans think their actions over the last few days will erase their culpability in tRump’s criminal and inhumane actions over the last 4+ years. They enabled him. They aided him. They justified it then and were okay with it. Don’t run away from it now.
This is 💯 correct. Similarly, Pence leaving Trump out of his VP-goodbye-tweet is not a rebuke to Trump; it is the beginning of Pence attempting to salvage his reputation, which should remain shredded. https://t.co/TccsOFmOE6
President-elect Joe Biden plans to sign 17 executive actions today in the Oval Office including: -National mask mandate -Establish a WH COVID-19 team -Cease withdrawal from WHO -Restore national security pandemics office -Extend pause on student loan payments and interest
As I always tell my kids, how you exit any situation says a lot about you. Always go out with class and elegance and manners. So disappointing that no one in Trump family, not one person stood up to show up to honor their country tomorrow. That is a disgrace.
Trump says Melania Trump is “so popular with the people.”
She leaves the presidency as the most unpopular first lady ever in polling history. Melania Trump's favorable rating stands at 42% to a 47% unfavorable rating. https://t.co/YLkKplYfcb
Re-engage WHO Unified fed COVID response Extend eviction & foreclosure moratoriums Extend student loan pause Rejoin Paris Agreement Roll back Trump environmental actions Reverse Trump census order Reverse Muslim ban Stop border wall construction
Yes, Sir, it is! I hope you get a moment sometime today to take a breath and take it all in. We are with you. Thank you for stepping up. God Bless You! God Bless America! pic.twitter.com/vD43SAm6Ba
The Obama Diary 
😂😂😂💃💞
Hmm, small hands.
Traitorous asshat being an asshat.
https://twitter.com/pygmaliongshaw/status/1351625677989175296?s=21
Exactly. So this is what is going to happen all the time? One idiot Republican can block President Biden’s agenda?
That piece of rubbish is doing his hail mary! Even MO & monies have gone away. He’s desperately trying to find relevance, & right now he might as well wear a KKK hood in pursuit of his whatevers. The End.
The entire Republican party – sociopaths and traitors, every one.
A Reporter’s Footage from Inside the Capitol Siege | The New Yorker
12 and a half minutes of footage on the New Yorker website by Luke Mogelson. He recorded what was said and what happened when the insurrectionists pushed into the Senate chamber.
David Remnick speaks to Chris Hayes.
David Remnick, Editor-in-Chief, New Yorker:
“I was discussing this with Luke’s remarkable editor Dan Zalewski, and what’s so striking about it, besides images of craziness and stupidity and rage, is the degree at almost every point in which the rioters, the insurrectionists, are either emboldened by the words of the President of the United States, or they imitate the words of the President of the United States.
Look, when they’re destroying cameras they’re using the rhetoric of enemies of the people.
When they’re outside destroying television cameras and press equipment. When they’re inside, they’re yelling ‘1776!’ and ‘This is us’ and ‘This is our boss’. This is the temper of trump rallies for 5 years, gone berserk. This is the apotheosis of all those rallies that would go on for hours on Fox News getting everybody riled up. It’s the apotheosis of what’s been on social media for YEARS, imitating and incited by not some crazy revolutionary in his basement – but by Donald Trump, the President of the United States. That is what’s so striking about these images and the way they overlay what we’ve known for years. This is not some incredible surprise.”
HAYES: There are two moments on that point that are particularly striking. One is the man that says to the Capital police officer, “We have been sent here by your boss Donald trump”. Which just as a constitutional matter is not true. He works for a separate branch of government…but then there’s the other point where the guy is ruffling through the pages in the Senate chamber, and he says he thinks Ted Cruz would approve of what he is doing. They’re just coming out and saying ‘We are here under the authority of Republican politicians who have sent us the message that this is acceptable’.”
REMNICK:
“Language matters, politics matter.
What comes out of the mouths of senators and presidents matter. And they can matter in a way that’s inspiring. You know we’re talking today on Martin Luther King Day, we’re celebrating one of the great Democrats and freedom fighters. And one of the most eloquent people and one of the most inspiring people of the 20th century. And the opposite can happen. The perverse opposite can happen. And the nut case like we’re now watching, carrying the flag, desecrating the flag in my view, desecrating the Senate chamber, that’s the opposite of it. And he is using the language of the elected President of the United States. Who then said that the “The election was illegitimate and you should act on it – march!” They acted on the words of Rudy Giuliani. And Donald Trump Junior, who we’ve been told in countless articles, wants a political career of his own. This is madness. And for the Senate not to act on this, for it not have a thorough going trial and exact justice where justice is due, would be itself a terrible crime in my view.”
HAYES: “One of the aspects of the reporting in this piece that was also really revelatory to me,
was that the reporter had embedded with some of these folks back in December when there had been a smaller kind of protest. The president had driven through it, it had ended up in a bunch of these folks marauding the streets of DC, just beating random Black passers by, ripping a Black Lives Matter sign off a historic AME church and burning it. But you can see and because he was there then, that was just perfect continuity between what was happening there, and what happened at the Capitol.”
REMNICK:
“Luke Mogelson has been covering for the New Yorker for years things like the war in Afghanistan, and Syria. He is very experienced….he wrote a long piece about the Proud Boys, the situation in Michigan…yes he got to know all these people, a lot of these people travel around. They follow the orders of what they’re told to do, or what they’re inspired by on social medIa and by extension their fearless Leader….
I can’t help thinking about that Cabinet meeting some years ago, when all the Cabinet members sat around the table, obviously at the order of the President of the United States, praising the great generalissimo. And it struck me as something out of the playbook of authoritarians and totalitarians for many decades that Masha Gessen, Tim Snyder…so many people have talked about so long. And that’s what history is going to focus on in large measure, this disgusting event. This horrible, humiliating, terrible event, which may be the forecast of more events like it in the future, who knows. It comes out of that kind of behavior, that kind of twisted attitude toward leadership in our country. It’s a terrible, terrible tragedy. And I’m afraid it was ordained the minute he was elected.”
David Remnick: “And I’m afraid it was fore-ordained the minute he was elected.”
REMNICK: (have skipped a section…)
“Democracy is an idea, and democracy is a process. And democracy can be derailed.
And democracy can be destroyed. And this notion that America is somehow invulnerable, inviolable forever – is childish. If in fact the Trump experience at least gets us to understand that, and make sure that we are serious about that, then that’s an extremely important thing. Because look, democracy such as it was, was a very short-lived experience in parts of Eastern Europe, in Russia, and Central Asia and all the rest. We have much deeper roots, deeper institutions, however imperfect they are. Nevertheless, what Luke was filming, what everybody was writing about. What we saw on January 6th, was a terrible example of the impermanence of something that if we don’t cherish it and hold it, it will be gone.”
Hayes: “You think the windows can’t be shattered until they are.”
Looking forward to checking this out!
https://twitter.com/kamalaharris/status/1351643588996829196?s=21
Sorry I didn’t post that right. Hopefully this works.
The first? Wow!!
Aww. Look Jared gets a gold star from Daddy-in-Law for helping him kill 400k Americans.
What is Jared Kushner receiving for overseeing the death of 400k? Or, is this award going to Mike Pence?
This needed a warning: no tea/coffee, no food in mouth before reading! 😂😂😷
I wonder who they are. They must not have paid the fee.
National Memorial Ceremony Live
Even the media is changing.
Yay Dan Rather!
This is so great! Proud of my Georgia today
https://twitter.com/johnjharwood/status/1351628753873620995?s=21
It was solemn, dignified, and beautiful.
Classy is back! That’s all I could think thru this. Class beautiful. Brought tears too. Couldn’t blame onions. 💞💞
That was such a beautiful simple service. I am in emotional tears. I know there will be many more tears tomorrow.
I want each one of you to know how much I love and honor each one of you. So thankful for this beautiful space we have here.
Grandest Hugs, dear MT! I feel you. That was poignantly beautiful! 💖
I so agree with Brian Williams. I believe those lights need to become permanent. They are so beautiful and meaningful!
🎵🎵🎵
wtf is a ‘farewell event’? Did Obama have one?
So many fucked up things to repair. ettd.
She is so great! Just a beautiful human being.
One more time, at least we have Dolly here in Tennessee! Hope she makes up for Marsha Blackburn, Bill Hagerty, Tim Burchett, my state reps and our Governor, all of them AWFUL!! We lost Pat Summitt few years ago, but the legacy she left will never be topped.
A truly beautiful human being.
This!
This!!
collect the traitors’ portraits and make a yuuuge bonfire on fucking live teevee.
👏🏾
Yes, do it! Make it a permanent memorial!
Hamish Mitchell
Is Trump taking Lindsey Graham to Mar-A-Lago, or is he putting him up for adoption?
Doesn’t every new senate makes up its own rules? chucky boy better make them up right now. No holds by any senate cretins, dems or rethugs. Every bill / appointment gets an up or down vote without the archaic undemocratic holds, filibuster or some such crap.
Absolutely amk.
24 h after Ossof and Warnock are on board, if Chucky is being Chucky he should get hell for it.
Better get a Nancy backbone, Chuck.
Time to make calls to his office so he doesn’t squander our time. We surely have enough rods to supplement his spine.
Totally agree with BW.
Crazy people are mad at Gabriel.
Amazing job!
Fascists at the local level
Alice Must Go
Stacey and co have to be on their best lest the seditious thugs pull the rug from under them.
I don’t see Stacey & her crew at FairFight backing down at all.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-55718478
Pink seesaws at US-Mexico wall win design award
🤣
LOL
LOL.
Haha! I didn’t see this before I posted mine. 😆
😂😂 That’s my funny for my day! 💞💃😷
Aw, so cool! 😍
We Are One
wapo/nyt/lat giving public space for such dimwit pundtwits is one of the root causes of this thug disaster.
Theresa May on the trumpian thug across the pond.
PM’s foreign aid cut damaged UK’s moral leadership.
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-55723167
Vote, vote, vote. Not just fucking every 4 years.
Thank you! If my neighbors in Gwinnett county heeded that rule, we wouldn’t be dealing with a Rethug elections board chair planning more voter suppression and openly saying it’s to help her party win.
the fuckstick never gave a fuck about plebes.
the fucking ‘founding fathers’ were weak and clueless.
Team USA 🇺🇸
Good, why the fuck this mole needs a ‘space’ anyway?
I’m like a kid in a candy shop. If you use the hashtag #InaugurationDay on twitter, a sweet little “46” pops up. Yay!
Hey! Love it! 😃
Gave me a little thrill – Ha!
The seditious traitor was this close to being reelected.
Nancy telling it like it is.
The whole transition stupid bs has to be shitcanned.
Yaaaaaaay! 😁😭😆
The worst thing was that more whites proved to be racists in 2020 than in 2016 even after 4 years of 24×7 corruption, ineptitude, treason, dereliction of duty, obstruction of justice etc.
Yes, that’s Michelle Nunn, daughter of former Democratic Senator Sam Nunn of Georgia. She is the current CEO of Care.
Great photo!
It’s gonna be so great watching these two in the Senate! 😁
OMG this thread! 😆😂🤣😁
Wooooooo! 💃🏾💃🏾💃🏾💃🏾
Will the ‘military’ cave in to him again?
As long as he’s their Commander-in-Chief, they have to follow all “legal” orders.
Is military parade one of them?
She ain’t wrong.
TOD…
T’is Inauguration Eve!!!
Moved by the beauty and caring for the nation today, real balm for never-ending hours, days, months of hurt and pain. Thanks to the Biden Inauguration Committee, to our PE Joe and VPE Kamala for being with us now, for being at our side. Thanks to everyone who has been working hard to lift us up and keep us rolling.
Presidential historian Michael Beschloss just now pointed out to Brian Williams, that if things had gone differently on January 6th, there could’ve been assassinations and hostages taken at the Capitol, a free election overturned, democracy destroyed, perhaps followed by trump shutting down the press…and that we must never forget.
Scary thoughts from Michael, which I heard, too, but he was truthful. Big hugs all around tonight to all in TODville – we got through it!
Might as well dance
Don’t have Chucks anymore, but pearls I can do.
Lost my Chucks in the fire, however, my heirloom pearls survived! Thank you Aunt Alyce! 💖💖💖
Nerdy – As I say goodnight to TODville, please let me also thank you for getting us through two Inaugurations, post-Obama! I don’t know how some of us would have survived “as well,” without your being here for us every day of the last four years and beyond. Thank you from the bottom of my heart, and I know “the others” feel the same! Love you.
I second this! 👏🏾
I’d like to associate myself with the remarks from the gentlelady, the Honorable JO’B.
Sweet! May be the first time anybody ever wanted to “associate” themselves with my remarks, so I really appreciated it Ha.
Thank you soooooo much! I appreciate ya!
I love ya! (And looked like President and First Lady Obama really enjoyed being in “the Inaugural crowd” today! I don’t think they wanted to leave, just as we didn’t want it to end!)
Hi, Nerdy! Did you happen to spot yet that Bobfr has changed his profile (I’ve confirmed it) to using his real name and is hoping to be unblocked from TOD or get a re-entry pass (whatever the proper wording is – Ha!) as “BobFranza” – it’s his new twitter handle, too. Please ignore this if you’ve already granted him entry. Love ya.
So agree! This place has been our place to come for peace and sanity.
Hopefully, my final post that has ANYTHING to do with -45.
so much winning. what as asshole admin.
LOL.
fuck’em.
There’s a message in their clothing choices.
[Next in Fashion is a design competition son Netflix. It’s to Project Runway. Kerby Jean-Raymond was a guest judge on one episode and sparked “controversy” in the way he spoke up for a team during a streetwear challenge.]
More detail about the choice for MVP coat designer.
Btw, Mrs. Obama has also worn Pyer Moss.
LOL, there ya go. The parade the thug wanted.
🤣🤣
Goodnight TOD.
Only a few more hours to go and, so far, he hasn’t launched any further deadly assaults.
On a lighter note ….
🙂
I had the privilege of implementing President Barack Obama’s demanding ethics vision for his administration, including its centerpiece, his “Day One” executive order setting tough new rules on conflicts of interest. It may seem like a very long time ago after four years of President Donald Trump, but Obama had arguably the most scandal-free presidency in memory owing to those clear ethics rules, backed by strong transparency about their application.
But Biden’s new executive order on ethics does us one better. It restores the fundamentals of the Obama plan, closing loopholes Trump opened—but going further, including new crackdowns on special interest influence. If implemented rigorously (always a big if) Biden’s plan promises to go further to “drain the swamp” than either of his predecessors.
Let’s start with what an ethics plan is. Federal law establishes the basic rules for government officials to avoid conflicts of interest and other behavior that is corrupt or appears corrupt by benefiting themselves, their families or associates. Obama went further, ordering each of his appointees to sign a pledge committing to additional safeguards on their behavior. Trump greatly watered down the standards with scandalous results. Biden has done the opposite, restoring the Obama rules and expanding them.
For example, take one of the centerpieces of the Obama plan: “Reverse” revolving door restrictions. Most ethics plans focus on officials leaving government, but in the Obama administration, we also imposed limits on those coming into government, with even tougher restrictions on ex-lobbyists. Trump’s executive order loosened those lobbying rules, lifting our limitation on lobbyists serving at an agency they lobbied. It is little wonder a flood of lobbyists inundated Trump’s administration—more than four times the number in just one Trump term than served under Obama in twice that time.
https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2021/01/19/biden-white-house-ethics-plan-460472
Obama-Biden – Cleanest admin
Biden-Harris – Be better
Git Uppa, Git On Up! 😁
Another option 😆
😄
More on the sorry-ass election officials and system in Georgia
Today, the work begins.
Kamala’s fabulous coat is by a black designer who re-tooled to make PPE and helped small businesses survive. Decency is back, baby!
Scotland’s Petty Party! 😁
Sure this has been posted, however, it deserves a replay. Arguably Randy’s best work to date! 🌠🌠🌠
Gotta spend Inauguration Day with my TOD family!
So there will be no Cabinet positions confirmed on Day One?
The Inauguration Day Schedule shows a time slot for swearing in of appointees. Are there appointees to be sworn in who don’t require confirmation, I wonder. Ossoff and Warnock won’t be sworn in until this afternoon – we need that gavel in Schumer’s hands.
My understanding is that people may be appointed in an “acting” capacity for a few days (until confirmations take place).
Republicans think their actions over the last few days will erase their culpability in tRump’s criminal and inhumane actions over the last 4+ years. They enabled him. They aided him. They justified it then and were okay with it. Don’t run away from it now.
Assuming this is true… if this is something Biden can do, would he?
TODAY!!!
Idiot’s racist agenda gets shot down just like that.
Highly recommend you follow Marc Elias, Democracy Docket. https://www.democracydocket.com/2021/01/resistance-is-not-enough/
Excellent newsletter from the lawyer who fought and defeated Trump in the courts.
The clean-up begins….
Ring the Bells! Open the Curtains! Bring out the Lysol! The Seasons of Trump are no more! 💃🏾🕺🏾🎼🎶🎵🎹🥁🎸🎻🎷🎺🪘
Praise the Lawd!!!!!
“…FOR THEIR ROLES IN THE CAPITOL RIOT…” Admission of guilt.
They’ve always shown us who they were. There were just too many willing to make excuses for them and give them the benefit of the doubt.
Yep.
That’s right!
Woooot!
lying narcissistic pos as always.
He’s gone!!!!
a godless immoral corrupt thug scurrying out juxtaposed with a god fearing honest man attending church.
GONE!
It rained January 20, 2017, didn’t it? The Universe warned us.
What a day!
Put your shoes on!
The ancestors are smiling today.
That church could do with a lick of paint.
Good morning TODville.
Love you all. I was ready to cry this morning … with relief and gratitude to each and every one who made this day possible.
Than you NW … for allowing us this space.
Let there be hope and love around all of us going forward.
Hugs and much love to everyone here.
It’s a new day!
Yes it is 😁.
I am kicking off this day with a cup of coffee with (more than) a dash of Grand Marnier (ran out of Kahlua). 😆
I most definitely concur. ❤️
The accuracy.
😍😭😭😭😍
New post.
https://obamadiary.wordpress.com/2021/01/20/changes-they-are-aaah-coming/
buh, bye.