Morning Reads for Inauguration Day (January 20)

Likely half of the folks reading this are either sad or in denial about what will happen today at noon, but I am in a very different camp.

I began the Trump years most accurately described as a #NeverTrump RINO with Wild Cards, but over time, I’ve come to terms with what increasingly seems to be a longterm realignment (sorry, Nathan) that makes me pretty obviously a Democrat of the New Suburbs Variety, even though I live in a tiny city in the middle of our state. I laugh every time I say that out loud, because pre-2015 me could not have ever fathomed this being reality. Yet, here we are.

Today, this girl who worked for the Republican Party in different positions, mostly for House offices and campaigns, for 12 years before “retiring” to do something else is excited to see someone she first met when he was in the U.S. Senate, who she has always known to be empathetic and forward-looking, who she voted for in both the primary and the general, taking the highest office in the land. I pray for success for President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris. There’s a lot of work to do, and I intend to do my part to build us back better.

I’ll have a lot more to say at a later time on this topic, but for now, let’s get onto the news.

Pat Conroy

• A Fort Stewart soldier has been arrested for a plot to blow up the 9/11 Memorial in New York.
• The “Kraken lawsuit” has been withdrawn voluntarily by Sidney Powell. (Alternate link.)
• Senator Kelly Loeffler gave her farewell speech in the Senate yesterday. (Alternate link.)
• Senators-elect Warnock and Ossoff will be sworn in today shortly after the inauguration ceremony. (Alternate link.)
• The Georgia National Guard is assisting with protecting the inauguration.
• A Georgia 12 year-old will play his trumpet in today’s virtual inauguration parade.
• Here is what the first 100 days of the Biden Administration may mean for Georgia. (Alternate link.)
• Out-of-state money helped Republicans retain majorities in the state House and Senate, allowing them to control redistricting.
• For a second week, Georgia was able to double the number of COVID vaccinations from the previous week, but still less than 4% of Georgians have received their first dose.

Alice Walker

• President Trump has already left the White House this morning.
• Before he left, the president revoked the executive order banning members of his administration from lobbying for four years.
• President Trump also released his last batch of 143 pardons, which included Steve Bannon. (Alternate link.)
• On his first day in office, President-elect Biden plans to issue 17 executive orders on COVID, climate change, immigration, and more.
• The Department of Homeland Security has been signing “unusual agreements,” which may not be enforceable, aimed at tying the hands of the Biden Administration from any new immigration policies, and now Senator Josh Hawley is blocking quick consideration of President Biden’s DHS nominee.
• Three members of the Oath Keepers – all U.S. military veterans – have been the first charged with conspiracy in relation to the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol. (Alternate link.)
  • In case you’re now wondering who the Oath Keepers are, this was a well-written piece that came out last fall on the group. (Alternate link.)

Flannery O’Connor

• A guy who “stormed the Capitol” sent a selfie of himself in the building to his girlfriend’s brother – who is a special agent for the State Department. (Alternate link.)