As Nation Prepares for Inauguration Demonstrations, Biden's First Days Come into Focus

 

Joe Biden speaking with attendees at the Presidential Gun Sense Forum
- Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Flickr -

After the January 6th siege at the U.S. Capitol, authorities are on high alert ahead of President-elect Biden's upcoming inauguration and cities across the nation are preparing for the worst. Businesses are boarding up windows, and Washington D.C. itself is being referred to as a "Green Zone" as the National Guard and other security forces lock down the Capitol to prepare for January 20th and ensure a safe inauguration for all. Meanwhile, President Trump's term is coming to a close, forcing the twice-impeached leader to prepare a legal defense team for an upcoming Senate Impeachment Trial.

Among it all, Saturday has been relatively quiet as the nation prepares for the transition of power. The White House itself is looking like an estate sale as staff work to move out the Trump family and ready the residence for the Bidens. Everything from pictures and wall hangings to Lincoln busts and taxidermied birds has been seen leaving the White House grounds, all the while visitors such as MyPillow CEO and staunch Trump supporter Mike Lindell and former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani are seen wandering in and out. Lindell has been photographed with strange notes and Giuliani is thought to be the one to lead Trump's impeachment defense in the Senate.

Announcement of White House Science Team Nominees and Appointees

Meanwhile, Biden took the stage on Saturday to announce a team of key science advisors and a Presidential Science Advisor who will be a Cabinet-level official in the new administration. Biden says that the scientists "Will ensure everything we do is grounded in science, facts, and truth."

Geneticist Eric Lander, Presidential Science Advisor and nominee for Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, was praised by the current director of the National Institutes of Health, Dr. Francis Collins, who will be retained in his current role when the Biden administration takes power.

Day One of the Biden Administration

Also announced Saturday, by President-elect Biden's incoming chief of staff, were some plans of Day One executive action to undo certain decisions of the Trump administration. On Wednesday, January 20th, Biden plans to begin work immediately after taking office by moving to rejoin the Paris climate accord and end Trump's restrictions on immigration from several Muslim-majority countries. Also on the to-do list is the institution of a mask mandate on federal property and during interstate travel. Further action is planned to address the COVID crisis, including asking the Department of Education to extend the current pause on student loan payments and taking action to extend nationwide restrictions on evictions and foreclosures.

January 21st and Onward

The incoming chief of staff also went on to explain plans for January 21st and onward, which include "a number of executive actions to move aggressively to change the course of the COVID-19 crisis and safely re-open schools and businesses," with plans to expand testing, protect workers, and establish "clear public health standards." From there the plan will be to direct the Cabinet agencies to take action to deliver economic relief to working families. The memo goes on to describe other actions the President-elect plans to take in the next week, including actions related to climate change, criminal justice reform, and immigration. A notable promise is to speed the reuniting of families who had been separated at the U.S.-Mexico border. 

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Things to Watch

• U.S. Intelligence and Security Agencies are taking increased security ahead of President-elect Biden's inauguration due to the lack of preparedness during the Capitol siege earlier in the month. They are also taking online posts more seriously and believe violent demonstrations are in the works. Will the forces be needed or will they be enough on their own to deter any domestic dangers?
• The President has been quiet in the wake of his second impeachment as he plans for both a Senate Trial and a move out of the White House. It has already been announced that Trump will not be attending the inauguration. What is his next move as his Presidency comes to an end? And will testimony from insurrectionists who say they attacked the Capitol because of Trump be the tipping point to the first impeachment conviction in history?
• House Committees on Intel, Oversight, Judiciary, and Homeland Security announced the opening of a new investigation into the Capitol siege. What, if anything, will come of their search into how it all happened?