News : Nation on edge as Biden swears in

Wednesday, January 20, 2021

Nation on edge as Biden swears in

Jan 20, 2021

Presented by The National Domestic Workers Alliance

The Beltway and nation are tense ahead of President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration at noon today, as the threat of violence and President Donald Trump's pending impeachment trial loom over the historic transition of power. Here's how Washington is kicking off the new political era.

IN THE ZONE: Helicopters are flying overhead, fences with razor wire are erected around the vast Capitol complex, military trucks are posted along the perimeter and armed uniformed officials are standing watch for any signs of a threat. The pedestrians and joggers who typically run up the hill near the Capitol are nowhere to be seen. But this being Washington, there are multiple coffee stands for the National Guardsman posted up outside.

There's extra security measures for credentialed visitors to the Capitol complex, with guards manning multiple checkpoints to get into the building. And once inside, dozens and dozens of National Guard members are standing against walls.

And a sea of flags is on parts of the National Mall, a stand-in for the thousands of bodies who would normally huddle together to watch a new president take power, just one of the many ways the Covid pandemic has altered this year's Inaugural celebration.

A HEAVY LIFT: A lot is weighing on Biden as he seeks to not only aggressively implement key priorities of his agenda, but also unify a divided country. And for the first time in recent memory, the outgoing president will not attend today's ceremony.

The country also continues to reel from Covid, which has taken more than 400,000 U.S. lives, and Americans are confronting the massive economic fallout from the pandemic.

Biden will need bipartisan support to get his Covid relief plans passed through Congress, as well as his infrastructure, climate change and immigration proposals. Can he do it? To top it off, Biden's team will likely also have to confront a series of bureaucratic headaches once in office.

Regardless of the first few days ahead, a lot is riding on Biden's speech today as he tries to pull together a nation that is standing apart.

READ POLITICO Mag's interviews with two dozen thinkers, who offer ways Biden can begin piecing the country back together and POLITICO's Natasha Korecki's story on the high stakes of this speech today.

TICK TOCK: HOW TODAY IS GOING DOWN: Times are tentative.

-8 a.m.: Trump is scheduled to participate in a White House send-off ceremony at Joint Base Andrews and then he will depart Washington for Palm Beach, Florida.

-11:45 a.m.: Vice President-elect Kamala Harris will be sworn into office.

-Noon: President-elect Joe Biden will be sworn in as the 46th president of the United States by Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts.

-12:15 p.m.: President Joe Biden will deliver his inaugural address, in which he will lay "out his vision to beat the virus, build back better, and bring the country together." Vice President Mike Pence will be in attendance.

-1:15 p.m.: The Joint Task Force-National Capital Region will host a Pass in Review ceremony.

-2 p.m.: Biden, Harris, first lady Jill Biden, second gentleman Douglas Emhoff as well as three former presidential couples are scheduled to attend a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery. They will honor "men and women in uniform who paid the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our common values."

-3:15 p.m.: The virtual "Parade Across America" begins. (Your Huddle host is very curious to know what this is going to look like.)

-7 p.m.: A virtual program on "AAPI Inaugural Ball: Breaking Barriers" will air, followed an hour later by the virtual program on "We Are One."

-8:30 p.m. : Biden and deliver remarks during "Celebrating America," a prime-time program hosted by actor Tom Hanks.

-9:30 p.m.: A virtual program on "Latino Inaugural 2021: Inheritance, Resilience, and Promise" that features singers Lady Gaga and Jennifer Lopez, Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R), as well as other community and religious leaders.

A live stream for all of this is available here: http://bit.ly/3ircYVk

A few more things:

-NH boy who befriended by Biden over stutter will be part of the inauguration show by New Hampshire Union Leader's Mark Hayward: http://bit.ly/3bOSvbQ

-Singer Garth Brooks says he will perform at Biden's swearing in ceremony today, describing his participation as a statement of "unity," while also showing that he has friends in both low and high places.

A message from The National Domestic Workers Alliance, Community Change Action, and FWD.us:

We can't fight this pandemic without essential workers, many of whom are immigrants. For almost a year, essential workers have risked their lives to care for those most at risk for COVID-19 without access to relief given to other workers or assurance that they would be safe from being torn from their families. They are getting us through this crisis, so relief plans must include a fast track to citizenship for essential workers>>

FIRST IN HUDDLE: Freshman Rep. Beth Van Duyne (R-Texas), who represents a District that swung towards Biden in the election, is leading 16 other House GOP freshmen in congratulating Biden on beginning his presidency and expressing a willingness to work across the aisle on key issues like coronavirus relief, healthcare, infrastructure and the economy.

Van Duyne, who was one of the members who voted against certifying Pennsylvania's 2020 election results, says she is sending this letter in the spirit of unity, particularly after Jan. 6. While she invited all the 44 GOP freshmen to join the letter, less than half had signed on by Tuesday night.

"We firmly believe that what unites us as Americans is far greater than anything that may ever divide us," they write. Read the full letter here: https://politi.co/39Nv4Nx

HAPPY WEDNESDAY! Welcome to Huddle, the play-by-play guide to all things Capitol Hill on this Jan. 20, where there were signs Joe Exotic was hoping for a presidential pardon, which did not come.

TUESDAY'S MOST CLICKED: The Star Tribune's story on how the Wyoming GOP chair says Western states are "paying attention" to Texas' effort to secede was the big winner.

A NEW YEAR, A NEW WASHINGTON, A NEW PLAYBOOK TEAM: Ryan Lizza, Tara Palmeri, Eugene Daniels and Rachael Bade take the reins of Playbook this week to set the agenda for the political day and days ahead; break news and make sense of it; and provide a steady dose of insider nuggets and intrigue for and about the power players in Washington. Delivered to your inbox twice a day, POLITICO Playbook keeps you up to speed with everything happening in the world of politics as a new administration enters the White House. Subscribe today to the unofficial guide for official Washington.

GUARDED ON SECURITY: A dozen National Guard members were removed from providing security for inauguration after the FBI identified them as having ties to fringe right-wing groups or having shared extremist views, the Associated Press reported Tuesday.

The FBI, which provided a list of names to the National Guard, did not find evidence of any active plots against Biden, according to the report. More here from the AP's James LaPorta, Lolita Baldor and Michael Balsamo: http://bit.ly/3iA01bR

Naturally, lawmakers found ways to take political sides. Exhibit A: Reps. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) and Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.): https://bit.ly/2LL4FYs

INSURRECTION INVESTIGATION: Four top House Democrats are launching an investigation into "high-level failures" of intelligence and security planning after the Jan. 6 deadly attack on the Capitol. This comes after law enforcement agencies received information about the likelihood of violence targeting Congress ahead of time, but there was some breakdown of intelligence sharing along the way.

House Intel's Adam Schiff, Judiciary's Jerry Nadler, Oversight's Carolyn Maloney and Homeland Security's Bennie Thompson are also seeking classified briefings beginning in late January. Kyle has more: http://politi.co/2XT6WDB

OH, AND THIS: McConnell says Trump "provoked" the Capitol attackers and fed the mob "lies." Andrew with the story: http://politi.co/35WHKR0

FIRST IN HUDDLE: Freshman Rep. Sara Jacobs (D-Calif.), who has a State Department background in conflict prevention and countering violent extremism, is calling on Pelosi to establish a Truth Commission to help address white supremacy and the roots of the attack on the Capitol.

"Given my experience in post-conflict settings, I believe a truth commission and empirically supported best practices from transitional justice case studies will be the best way to do so," Jacobs writes, citing social media's role in the genocide against the Rohingya in Myanmar.

"We must take the threat of radicalization through online social media networks seriously." Read her full letter here: https://politi.co/2Kx4PCn

CALLING FOR A COMMISSION: Speaker Nancy Pelosi -- and Hillary Clinton -- support Congress establishing an investigative body like the 9/11 Commission to investigate Trump's ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin as well as the Kremlin's possible involvement in the Capitol riot.

While Republicans are not likely to jump on a commission focused on Russia's links to Trump, there are some who back a commission that examines what went wrong more broadly on Jan. 6.

"I too would like to see a 9/11 style commission," Rep. Rodney Davis (R-Ill.), the top Republican on the House Administration Committee, told your Huddle host and other reporters during a virtual Pen and Pad. "My preference would be not to have Members of Congress make up the commission. I would prefer to have people that are appointed that are a step away from us."

Related Read: Members of Congress want a commission to investigate the Capitol invasion. Here's when these work by WaPo's Jordan Tama: http://wapo.st/38VANS6

DEMS TAKE BACK THE SENATE: Today is a big day all around. In addition to Biden being sworn in, Sen.-elects Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) and Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), as well as Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), are expected to be sworn in a few hours after the new president. And you know what that means… Democrats will also take the very, very slim control of the Senate after years of being in the minority.

Related Senate Reads: Ossoff to be sworn in using Hebrew Bible of rabbi whose synagogue was bombed by racists by Forward's Benyamin Cohen: http://bit.ly/2XUdTUX | Burr won't face charges in stock trade inquiry by Raleigh News & Observer' Brian Murphy: http://bit.ly/3sBmEkV | The Education of Josh Hawley by POLITICO Mag's Ruairi Arrieta-Kenna and Emily Cadei: http://politi.co/2MaDC96

DON'T BUST THE 'BUSTER: Soon-to-be Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and soon-to-be Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer met Tuesday to try to reach an agreement on how to run an evenly split Senate, during which McConnell sought to drive a hard bargain by urging Schumer to commit to preserving the legislative filibuster, according to a letter McConnell sent to colleagues.

He said while he is taking his cues from the last split Senate in 2001, he also believes "we need to also address the threats to the legislative filibuster." Burgess has more: http://politi.co/35Y9S6d

BOEBERT BUCKS BIDEN: GOP Rep. Lauren Boebert (Colo.) told Keagan Harsha , a local Colorado reporter, that she does not plan to attend Biden's inauguration. Rather, she plans to attend the send-off for Trump. Your Huddle host wants to know: Will other GOP lawmakers also choose to attend a farewell for Trump over Biden's Inauguration. And if so, how many?

Related: Two big-name Colorado Democrats are already exploring 2022 bids to unseat Lauren Boebert by The Colorado Sun's Jesse Aaron Paul: http://bit.ly/35TPS4w

NOMINATION NATION: Highlights from a marathon day of Biden nomination hearings.

-DNI: Haines pledges to 'speak truth to power' if confirmed as Biden's intel chief by POLITICO's Martin Matishak: http://politi.co/35VETaK | Biden's DNI pick vows to help investigate any foreign role in Capitol siege, warns of China's rise by ABC's Mike Levine: http://abcn.ws/3o2xVXK

-Treasury: "Act big" now to save economy, worry about debt later, Yellen says in Treasury testimony by Reuters' David Lawder and Andrea Shalal: http://reut.rs/391pzvv | Yellen outlines economic priorities, and Republicans draw battle lines by NYT's Alan Rappeport: http://nyti.ms/3iB41ZO

-Pentagon: House committee nixes Lloyd Austin's waiver hearing by DefenseNews' Joe Gould: http://bit.ly/3nVrhCR | Lloyd Austin pledges 'competent civilian control' of the military as defense secretary by POLITICO's Connor O'Brien: http://politi.co/2LOy3Nt

-DHS: Biden's Nominee for Homeland Security Questioned on Immigration Policy by NYT's Zolan Kanno-Youngs: http://nyti.ms/3nYb3bZ | Sen. Hawley blocks quick consideration of Biden's Homeland Security nominee by CNN's Priscilla Alvarez: http://cnn.it/35ZcYqK

-A full recap on the confirmation hearings from Marianne and Andrew: http://politi.co/2NlQDNy

JOIN THURSDAY TO HEAR FROM SELECT MAYORS ACROSS THE U.S.: On Thursday, Jan. 21, The Fifty: America's Mayors will virtually convene select mayors from across the U.S. for back-to-back interviews during inauguration week to discuss bold ideas and policy proposals for their cities to move forward post-COVID-19. The mayors will also discuss their cities' needs from state and federal government to recover from the economic and public health crises and how they'd like to work with President Biden as he begins in the White House. This virtual program will feature an executive conversation between POLITICO CEO Patrick Steel and Microsoft's President of U.S. Regulated Industries Toni Townes-Whitley. REGISTER HERE.

TRANSITIONS

IS THAT YOU, former Rep. Max Rose (D-N.Y.)? DefenseOne's Katie Bo scooped a list of Biden's Day One Pentagon team, which includes someone named Max Rose, who will serve as Special Assistant to the Secretary of Defense (Senior Adviser, COVID).

FIRST IN HUDDLE: Ryan Long, a longtime Capitol Hill veteran, is heading to Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy's office to handle a range of issues as a senior advisor including health, trade, veterans, technology and telecom issues, per an email your Huddle host reviewed. He previously served as Staff Director at the Energy and Commerce Committee.

Rep. Matt Rosendale (D-Mont.) announced the following senior staff hires on Tuesday: James Braid is his COS; Marissa Stockton serves as his District director; Sean Brislin is his LD; and Harry Fones serves as his comms director.

TODAY IN CONGRESS

The House will meet at 9 a.m. for legislative business with the first vote predicted to be at roughly 7:30 p.m.

The Senate meets at 4:30 p.m. for a period of morning business.

AROUND THE HILL

Inauguration events throughout the day.

2 p.m.: The Delaware and Pennsylvania Democratic Parties are hosting a virtual event on "Biden's Home States Inauguration," beginning at 2 p.m. with multiple senators and House members and other lawmakers from those two states will be participating.

5:30 p.m.: The Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party is holding a virtual event to celebrate the Biden-Harris Inauguration, which will feature musical artists, speakers from all levels of government and a live silent auction with items signed by President-Elect Biden.

9 p.m.: The Creative Coalition is hosting a virtual Presidential Inaugural Ball, beginning at 9 p.m., to commemorate the 2021 inauguration and "spotlight the arts as a national treasure." At least five Dem senators, roughly two dozen Dem House members and three House Republicans are expected to participate.

TRIVIA

TUESDAY'S WINNER: Jon Deuser was the first person to guess correctly that the Republican Party was founded in 1856 to oppose the spread of slavery. (The Senate majority leader followed not long after with the correct answer as well.)

TODAY'S QUESTION: From Jon: Both Sen. Ben Ray Lujan and Sen. Roger Marshall are likely to join a small club of members who voted on presidential impeachment in the full House and the full Senate in the same impeachment proceeding. Who are the other members of this club?

The first person to correctly guess gets a mention in the next edition of Huddle. Send your answer to obeavers@politico.com.

GET HUDDLE emailed to your phone each morning.

A message from The National Domestic Workers Alliance, Community Change Action, and FWD.us:

5.2 million essential workers in the U.S. are undocumented immigrants, serving in frontline industries. They care for our sick, put food on our tables, and risk their health and lives to serve their neighbors. We can't get through this without them. Yet they've been left out of previous stimulus relief packages and live in fear of being torn away from their families by a cruel immigration system.

We call on the new Congress to build a more fair, humane, and functional immigration system. This begins with putting immigrant essential workers on a fast track to citizenship as a part of the COVID recovery package. These workers sacrifice for their communities every day, and deserve stability. If you agree, join us in thanking an essential worker by telling Congress to include them in the next COVID relief bill.