Trump readies action for Day One campaign promises

President-elect Trump has made a lot of promises for his first day in office. Trump will become the 47th president after his swearing-in on Monday and he has told the country he plans to take immediate action. Among his Day One promises — launching the largest deportation in history, closing the border, imposing higher tariffs on imported goods, and signing pardons for January 6th riot participants. He’s told lawmakers to expect more than 100 executive orders out of the gate.

Trump, Vance to attend Inauguration weekend festivities

Inaugural festivities are taking place this weekend ahead of Monday’s swearing-in ceremony. President-elect Trump and Vice President-elect Vance are in Washington for weekend events leading up to Inauguration Day, including receptions with guests and Cabinet members. On Sunday, Trump is scheduled to participate in a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery before heading to a rally at Capital One Arena in downtown Washington. The rally will be followed by a private dinner.

Presidential inauguration moved indoors because of cold weather

Monday’s presidential inauguration will be moved indoors because of extremely cold temperatures expected in Washington. President-elect Trump announced that his inauguration ceremony will now take place inside the U-S Capitol Rotunda. Forecasters say Monday will be the coldest inauguration day in 40 years with temperatures here in DC will be around 20 degrees with wind chills in the single digits. Writing on social media, the incoming president said he ordered the ceremony indoors to keep people safe. He said the Capital One Arena will host the presidential parade after his swearing-in and inaugural address

Trump to decide on TikTok’s future, offers no details

Trump, China’s Xi have phone conversation before inauguration

President-elect Trump has spoken with Chinese leader Xi Jinping ahead of the inauguration. Trump confirmed on social media that he had spoken with Xi and said “the call was a very good one for both China and the U.S.A.” He said they talked about trade, fentanyl and TikTok, among other things. The incoming president predicted that the two leaders “will solve many problems together… starting immediately.” Earlier this week, Senator Marco Rubio, who’s Trump’s choice to be secretary of state, described China as America’s “biggest threat.”

Biden commutes nonviolent drug sentences for 2,500 people

President Biden is commuting the sentences of almost 25-hundred people convicted of nonviolent drug offenses. The president said he’s seeking to undo “disproportionately long sentences compared to the sentences they would receive today under current law, policy, and practice.” With his latest round of clemency actions that cut short federal prison terms, Mr. Biden has now issued more individual pardons and commutations than any other president. And he has said more could be coming before he leaves office on Monday. GC, Wash.

Poll: Americans unsure if Trump can lower prices

New polling shows doubts about Donald Trump’s ability to lower prices. The incoming president has promised to bring down inflation, but many Americans are doubtful. An Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll shows only about 2 in 10 U-S adults are “extremely” or “very” confident that Trump will be able to make progress on lowering the cost of groceries, housing, or health care this year. Americans have a little more confidence in his ability to create jobs.

Trump looking at options to “preserve” TikTok

President-elect Trump is said to be exploring options to “preserve” TikTok. The popular video-sharing platform could be banned in the U-S by Sunday unless the Supreme Court intervenes. Donald Trump’s incoming national security adviser, Mike Waltz, told Fox News that the president-elect was looking at ways to “preserve” TikTok. Trump has reversed his position on the app over the years. In his first term, he tried to ban it over national security concerns. But he joined TikTok during his 2024 presidential campaign and pledged to save it.

Both Biden, Trump officials helped in Mideast ceasefire talks

Both Biden and Trump officials played roles in the Israel-Hamas ceasefire. President Biden said his administration negotiated the deal, but the incoming Trump team will soon be charged with making sure it’s implemented. But Donald Trump pushed back, saying his election victory is why there’s a ceasefire. In fact, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said Trump’s team was “absolutely critical in getting this deal over the line.”

Biden warns of American “oligarchy” and presidential immunity

President Biden delivered several warnings in his farewell address to the nation. The president mostly used his Oval Office speech to warn Americans about the accumulation of power and wealth among a small few — an “oligarchy.” He sounded the alarm about misinformation, saying “social media’s giving up on fact checking.” Mr. Biden also called for a constitutional amendment to end immunity for sitting presidents. He urged the American people to be “keepers of the flame” and uphold democracy.

Biden delivers farewell address from the Oval Office

President Biden spoke to the American people from the Oval Office one final time. In his farewell address, the president touted his policy achievements, acknowledging that many Americans have yet to notice. Mr. Biden, who said it was a privilege to serve as commander-in-chief, devoted much of his speech to warn of an “oligarchy” of the ultra-wealthy gaining strength in the country and of a “tech-industrial complex” that is infringing on Americans’ rights and the future of democracy.

Two American hostages could be in first group freed from Gaza

Two American hostages could be in the first group freed from Gaza. According to a senior Biden administration official, two Americans are expected to be released in the first phase of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire agreement. The ceasefire is set to begin Sunday and last for six weeks. There’s at least one other known living American captive in Gaza, who the official said will be released at a later date in the second phase of the agreement. It’s not clear how many of the hostages are still alive.

Trump, Biden both claim credit for Israel-Hamas ceasefire

President Biden and President-elect Trump are both claiming credit for the Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal in Gaza. Announcing the ceasefire, the president said the agreed-to plan is based on the deal he laid out last year. Mr. Biden pointed to many months of American-led diplomacy and said it’s “one of the toughest negotiations” he’s ever experienced. Meanwhile, Donald Trump wasted no time in claiming credit, saying it “could have only happened” as a result of his victory in November.

President Biden hails Israel-Hamas ceasefire in Gaza

There’s been a breakthrough in the 15-month-long Israel-Hamas war. Appearing with his vice president and secretary of state, President Biden announced a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. The deal was reached after weeks of painstaking negotiations. The president said his team negotiated the deal, but Donald Trump took credit, saying it “could have only happened” as a result of his victory in November.

Biden to deliver farewell address from the Oval Office

Biden moves to ease sanctions on Cuba, free prisoners

Trump ideas would alter the world map

Some of President-elect Trump’s ideas would cause some major changes on the world map. During a wide-ranging press conference, Trump said the U-S needs control of Greenland and the Panama Canal for “economic security.” When asked, he refused to rule out the use of military force.  The president-elect also doubled down on his suggestion that Canada merge with the U-S. And he wants to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America.”

Jimmy Carter-Gerald Ford friendship highlighted at funeral

This week’s funeral for Jimmy Carter highlighted an unlikely friendship with a political rival.
Jimmy Carter and Gerald Ford were political rivals, with Carter defeating Ford in the 1976 presidential election. But they did not remain rivals. Steven Ford, the son of Gerald Ford, read his father’s eulogy at Carter’s funeral. The unexpected friendship was another glimpse inside the exclusive ex-presidents’ club.

In eulogy, Mondale recalls faith bond with Jimmy Carter

Former President Jimmy Carter and his vice president, Walter Mondale, were bonded by more than just politics. Mondale’s eulogy for Carter was read by his son, Ted, at Thursday’s funeral for the 39th president. Mondale said he and Carter shared a common Christian faith as they served in the White House for four years. Mondale said working with Carter was the most rewarding experience of his public career.

Judge sentences Trump in NY case, but imposes no penalty

Trump becomes first president to be convicted felon

Donald Trump to be sentenced in Stormy Daniels case

Supreme Court rejects Trump’s bid to delay criminal sentencing

Federal judge strikes down part of Biden’s LGBTQ agenda