Steve Bannon pardoned, the clown Remains ...

You won't see this footage on BBC News... pic.twitter.com/u1iPH1l7zW

— Nigel Farage (@Nigel_Farage) January 19, 2021

Joe Biden to sign executive order to cancel controversial Keystone XL pipeline [_link]

— Jon Cooper 🇺🇸 (@joncoopertweets) January 18, 2021

President-elect Joe Biden is hours away from becoming the 46th president of the United States. [_link]

— CBS This Morning (@CBSThisMorning) January 20, 2021

Former Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama are expected to attend the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden. [_link]

— CBS This Morning (@CBSThisMorning) January 20, 2021

Biden's inauguration speech to stress unity amid a national crisis [_link]

— The News with Shepard Smith (@thenewsoncnbc) January 19, 2021

VIDEO: Kamala Harris crashed through one of the world's highest glass ceilings to be elected America's first woman vice president, making history and helping bring to an end Donald Trump's turbulent rule. AFPTV looks back at her career. pic.twitter.com/oPjiFvTjsY

— AFP News Agency (@AFP) January 15, 2021

From Reagan's colorful stationary to Obama's lengthy prose, presidents past have long penned letters of encouragement and advice to the men who've succeeded them.

Take a look at some of those letters: [_link]

— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) January 20, 2021

Joe Biden, who will become only the second Catholic president, is attending a church service joined by all four congressional leaders, including Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell and Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer [_link] pic.twitter.com/0qMpIZvqdc

— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) January 20, 2021

Congratulations to my friend, President @JoeBiden! This is your time. pic.twitter.com/LXzxGnBAfz

— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) January 20, 2021

No other photo-op possible as his predecessor has fled Washington DC in disgrace ...

[A son of Delaware with Irish roots - President-Elect Joe Biden is deeply proud of his Irish roots

Thank God!

Oathing of Vice President follows prayer, presumably vetted to comply with strict separation of church and state, presentation of military colours to remind all of the violence of democracy, and nationalistic singing of national anthem and reciting of allegiance pledge.

Many congratulations to @JoeBiden and @KamalaHarris on this historic day. From climate change to trade and security, our two countries share a close bond and special relationship. We look forward to working with you on shared priorities as a force for good in the world.

— Dominic Raab (@DominicRaab) January 20, 2021

Biden's first call to foreign leader will be to Justin Trudeau [_link]

— The Independent (@Independent) January 21, 2021

Boris Johnson is desperate for Joe Biden to beat Donald Trump - and it's clear why
A defeat for the current president could liberate the prime minister to forge a more popular special relationship with the US, John Rentoul writes

— The Independent (@Independent) July 31, 2020

Britain braces for not-so-special relationship with Biden | Politico - Dec. 31, 2020 |

Johnson allies fear his courtship of Donald Trump is now a liability in a Democratic Washington, along with his advocacy for a break with the EU against the advice of Trump's predecessor. And while Biden's tight-lipped transition team won't reveal its plans for the U.K., interviews with 16 officials and former officials on both sides of the Atlantic make clear that Brexit has changed the dynamic.

Will Cummings ... ehh ... Boris Johnson send Nigel Farage as special envoy to Washington DC to warm relations ⁉️ 🤣

Boris Johnson has no regrets over Obama 'part-Kenyan' remarks | The Guardian - May 11, 2016 |

Johnson was accused of racist undertones by an opposition Labour politician over the opening paragraphs of an article he wrote in the Sun newspaper criticizing Obama's stance on the EU. In the passage, Johnson speculated about the reasons for the removal of a bust of Churchill from the Oval Office in 2009, during the early days of Obama's presidency. "Some said it was a snub to Britain. Some said it was a symbol of the part-Kenyan president's ancestral dislike of the British Empire, of which Churchill had been such a fervent defender."

[_link]

— Jessica Rosenworcel (@JRosenworcel) January 21, 2021

U.S. Senate Confirms Five-Year Term for Trump's FCC Nominee | ACA - Dec. 8, 2020 |

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai Will Resign on January 20th

Trump allies at VOA, as Biden admin. names new leadership. [_link]

— NBC News (@NBCNews) January 22, 2021

Trump allies dismissed at VOA as Biden administration names new leadership | NBC News |

In its first full day in office, the Biden administration dismissed the director of Voice of America, Robert Reilly, and his deputy, Elizabeth Robbins, and replaced them with experienced journalists with long careers at VOA and other government-funded networks.

Reilly, a conservative commentator, is the author of such books as "Making Gay Okay: How Rationalizing Homosexual Behavior is Changing Everything."

Even after Joe Biden was sworn in as president on Wednesday, Robbins and another former Trump administration political appointee at the agency, John Jaggers, continued efforts to try to fire several employees on Thursday.

Shortly after midnight early on Thursday, four employees received a letter from Jaggers telling them that they were being removed "as of the date of this letter," Seide said, who shared excerpts of the document with NBC News.

...
When Robbins was told by the new management that she was being fired, she responded that such a move would be illegal, citing recently adopted legislation on VOA's governance.

Global coronavirus cases on Jan 23, 2020: 645 cases in 6 countries

Global coronavirus cases on Jan 22, 2021: 97,000,000+ cases in 200+ countries

Data: [_link] pic.twitter.com/XfTaBTPd2i

— NBC News (@NBCNews) January 22, 2021

Yesterday, President Biden reversed the United States' withdrawal from the World Health Organization. And this morning, Dr. Fauci joined his first meeting as the head of our delegation. Here's what he said: pic.twitter.com/yvv2ojcfXh

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) January 22, 2021

Reversing the political decision by former president Trump in July.

NEW: WH says Biden has signed H.R. 335, which waives the law requiring a 7-year waiting period before Ret. Gen. Lloyd Austin can serve as defense secretary.

— Steven Portnoy (@stevenportnoy) January 22, 2021

Austin confirmed as defense secretary in bipartisan vote [_link] pic.twitter.com/satZ7dxl1R

— CBS News (@CBSNews) January 22, 2021

LATEST: Senate to receive Trump impeachment article Monday, Senate trial could begin next week. [_link]

— NBC News (@NBCNews) January 22, 2021

51 nations sign UN treaty banning nuclear weapons. Every nuclear-armed nation refused to sign, including Israel. [_link]

— Tikun Olam (@richards1052) January 22, 2021

"First-ever treaty to ban nuclear weapons enters into force" by EDITH M. LEDERER @AP with comments from UN Secretary-General @antonioguterres ICAN's @BeaFihn and ACA's @DarylGKimball [_link] #NuclearBan pic.twitter.com/A5JjKUbBbe

— Arms Control Assoc (@ArmsControlNow) January 22, 2021

A Start to Renew Talks and Diplomacy ...

As part of a special series in the new #ArmsControlToday, @KelseyDav offers the #BidenHarris administration recommendations on "Returning to Progress on Iran" and the #JCPOA.

Read her proposals at [_link] pic.twitter.com/kNoaH6w4ht

— Arms Control Assoc (@ArmsControlNow) January 22, 2021

Moscow welcomes news Biden admin wants to renew key nuclear treaty

The Prime Minister Boris Johnson has also invited Australia, India and South Korea to attend as guests, as he seeks to promote a green recovery from the crisis.

UK plans early G7 virtual meeting and presses ahead with switch to D10

Pres. Biden pushes for swift action on more COVID relief: "We're in a national emergency. We need to act like we're in a national emergency...I don't believe Democrats or Republicans are going hungry and losing jobs. I believe Americans are going hungry and losing their jobs." pic.twitter.com/IvToUcKvB9

— CBS News (@CBSNews) January 22, 2021

And that's that. pic.twitter.com/PKwLPv1Sxf

— Jimmy Kimmel (@jimmykimmel) January 20, 2021

The Trump Covid-19 virus caught up with Larry - RIP.

pic.twitter.com/x0Hl0X6vqU

— Larry King (@kingsthings) January 23, 2021

Larry King Dead at 87 | RollingStone |

Biden and Emmanuel Macron pledge to strengthen ties in first phone call [_link]

— The Independent (@Independent) January 24, 2021

Can Trump's Pardons Be Reversed? | Washington Monthly |

President Ulysses S. Grant did it, and George W. Bush, and the Constitution would seem to encourage it.

Checks on the king's ability to pardon corrupt ministers had been included, for instance, in the Settlement Act of 1701, which became an essential part of the (unwritten) English constitution. The Framers were also aware of abuses committed by colonial governors.

Edmund Randolph said at the Constitutional Convention that allowing a president to pardon for even for acts of treason "was too great a trust. The president may himself be guilty. The Traytors may be his own instruments." James Wilson, a delegate for Pennsylvania and later one of the most important interpreters of American law, asserted that if the president "be himself a party to the guilt he can be impeached and prosecuted." The question of treason is no longer a theoretical one. The House's Jan. 13 impeachment resolution accuses Trump of committing treason by "inciting violence against the government of the United States."

The founders were hardly perfect, and many of their original plans have required amendments in the name of justice. But they absolutely understood the potential for corruption, including and especially in whichever person was chosen president.

Breaking: McConnell is removing his filibuster demand from the Senate organizing resolution. He will finally support a rules resolution.

— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) January 26, 2021

As filibuster clash paralyzes Senate, Democratic frustration grows

Mitch #McConnell Backs Down In Fight Over #Filibuster [_link]

— Mike Bloomfield (@2dialogue) January 26, 2021

The Senate Democratic Majority will work for big, bold change for the American people. pic.twitter.com/OMGT2NAual

— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) January 26, 2021

The Kremlin confirmed the call in a statement on its website. [_link]

— Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (@RFERL) January 26, 2021

NEW: White House releases readout of President Biden's call with Russian President Putin:

"President Biden made clear that the United States will act firmly in defense of its national interests in response to actions by Russia that harm us or our allies." pic.twitter.com/RmMt2ZDWnH

— NBC News (@NBCNews) January 26, 2021

No readout yet from Kremlin sources ...

#DavosAgenda: On January 27, Vladimir Putin will speak at a session of the Davos Agenda 2021 online forum [_link]

— President of Russia (@KremlinRussia_E) January 26, 2021

The relationship with Russia deteriorated severely during the Obama administration ... 16 years of calling Russia a provincial power and urge to expand NATO to the border with Russia. No love lost between Putin and Democrats. To the contrary, New Europe and the Ukraine are showing extreme loyalty to the US above the union and principles of the EU.

The Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed the Sindh government's appeal against the Sindh High Court's decision. [_link]

— Dawn.com (@dawn_com) January 28, 2021

Don't swerve the culture war - that's the lesson from Joe Biden to UK progressives | The Guardian - Opinion |

Culture war" used to be a term inextricably linked with the maelstrom of US politics. Popularised by American sociologist James Davison Hunter in his 1991 book Culture Wars: The Struggle to Define America, it described how socially progressive and conservative coalitions were locked in a seemingly eternal conflict.

Culture Wars presents a riveting account of how Christian fundamentalist, Orthodox Jews, and conservative Catholics have joined forces in a fierce battle against their progressive counterparts-secularist, reform Jews, liberal Catholics and Protestants-as each side struggles to gain control over such fields of conflict as the family, art, education, law, and politics. Not since the Civil War has there been such fundamental disagreement over basic assumptions about truth, freedom, and our national identity.

Yet culture wars continue not simply to shape politics on both sides of the Atlantic, but to define it. According to the Financial Times, just as Joe Biden swept the rust-belt states, Keir Starmer believes he can win back Labour's lost red wall by copying the US president's "emphasis on `family, community and security' ... and avoiding endless arguments about `culture war' issues such as trans rights and the destruction of historic statues".

Yet this is a curious lesson to draw from the US.

...
Take trans rights, which has become one of today's totemic "culture war" issues. Harris has her pronouns in her Twitter bio; Biden campaigned promising trans people, "We see you, we support you, and we will continue to do everything we can to ensure you are affirmed and accepted just as you are." He became the first president-elect to thank trans people in his victory speech, issued an order expanding LGBTQ protections and repealed the ban on trans military personnel.

There were, of course, howls of outrage: one Republican senator questioned "Another `unifying' move by the new Administration?" But according to the polling, it was indeed unifying: more than seven in 10 Americans support trans people serving in the military. Here is an instructive example. Rightwingers often push back at moves to secure rights for minorities on the grounds that they are "divisive": yet, though noisy and obsessed, they are also unrepresentative.

As it does in the US, polling in Britain consistently shows women and younger people are most supportive of trans rights, with older men least supportive. There is a complication here: while support for trans rights is a given in US feminist, "centrist" and progressive circles, transphobia is a permissible prejudice across the political spectrum in Britain. This week the SNP leader, Nicola Sturgeon, condemned transphobia in her party's ranks after it had led to an exodus of younger members. But while anti-trans activists are vocal, for the majority of people it's not an issue on their radar. As the Democrats underlined, what is needed is leadership - or a vacuum will be filled by increasingly emboldened bigotry.

Transphobia across the EU Visegrad Four - Lessons Four Freedoms

Republicans in America know where to find their strong supporters ... and electorate.

Former President Trump and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy met at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, where the two discussed GOP strategy for winning the House majority in next year's mid-terms, according to a readout of the meeting [_link]

— CNN (@CNN) January 28, 2021

From the diaries ... embryonic rise of Mark Rutte as party leader ...

The Hague in turmoil: Ayaan versus "Iron" Rita by Nomad on May 16, 2006

Great first of many exchanges with @SecBlinken.

Looking forward to our close cooperation and working together to address global challenges.

Our transatlantic relations are at a new start, we are ready to raise the level of ambition. When we are together, we are stronger. pic.twitter.com/9HeXpkR7qt

— Josep Borrell Fontelles (@JosepBorrellF) January 28, 2021

Vaccine distribution has been `seamless' under Biden: Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R) | ABC News |

I was delighted that we had a ... 14% increase in vaccine supply last week. This is going to be very, very important for us.

"Thank goodness we have that partnership which is good with the federal government. And President Biden and his team is -- is working to assure that partnership and not tear it apart, which I'm very grateful for."

.@MarthaRaddatz travels to West Virginia -- a state that is moving ahead of the pack in its vaccine rollout.

"We had to take the vaccines to the people, rather than bring the people to the vaccine," West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice says. [_link] pic.twitter.com/JZP5oZeX51

— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) January 31, 2021

Passing coronavirus relief more important than bipartisanship: Sen. Bernie Sanders

Senate approves budget resolution as Democrats rush to pass Covid relief bill [_link]

— CNBC (@CNBC) February 5, 2021

Senate approves budget resolution to pass Biden's COVID-19 relief package

The Senate approved a budget resolution early Friday that would allow for the passage of Biden's $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package without Republican support.

Harris broke a 50-50 tie in the Senate by casting a vote in favor of the Democratic measure.

Good overview of national death penalty repeal efforts. And the photo from the last execution in Virginia makes it even more... [_link]

— VADP (@VADP) April 8, 2019

The Virginia Senate just voted 21-17 to abolish the death penalty.

— Brandon Jarvis (@Jaaavis) February 3, 2021

U.K. Conservatives seek to repeal ban on executions ...

Tory members back death penalty, believe Islam is a threat and think Trump would make a good PM, poll finds | The Independent - July 2019 |

The Trump virus is quite contagious... need for eradication ... vote Yes for impeachment.