January 20, 2025
It is January 20, 2025. Here are today’s top stories.
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Trump officially becomes 47th president
Today, Donald Trump was sworn in to officially become the 47th president.
The inauguration was unique in that it was conducted indoors, in the Capitol Rotunda because of very cold weather outside.
The event was attended by former presidents Clinton, Bush, Obama, and the outgoing president, Joe Biden.
Trump’s family and his adult children were there and his youngest son, Barron, towered above all others with a height of about 6’7. He is 18 years old.
Four of the top tech CEOs in the U.S. were front and center at the inauguration: Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg, Google’s Sundar Pichai, and Apple’s Tim Cook.
After Trump was sworn in office, he gave an address. He said the “golden age of America begins now.”
Trump said those who opposed him tried to take away his freedom and even his life. He said he was “saved by God to make America great again.”
Trump recognized that today is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and said “we will strive together to make his dream a reality.”
Trump said he would issue several executive orders such as declaring a national emergency at our southern border, to drill for more oil to bring prices down, revoke the electric car mandate, make it U.S. policy that there are only two genders: male and female, rename the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, take back the Panama Canal, and send astronauts to Mars.
Trump said, “Here I am. The American people have spoken.”
I forgot to add that another tech CEO was there, Elon Musk. He cheered when Trump mentioned Mars.
After the speech and ceremony ended, Trump escorted Joe Biden to a helicopter, where it lifted off to depart D.C.
So, Biden’s presidency ended and Trump is starting his second presidency.
https://www.axios.com/2025/01/20/trump-inauguration-day-updates
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/20/us/politics/trump-inaugural-speech.html
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Joe Biden pardons Fauci; Cheney; family
This morning, Joe Biden, in one of his final acts as president, pardoned Dr. Anthony Fauci, retired Gen. Mark Milley, and members of the Jan. 6 House Committee that investigated the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol.
Biden said the pardons were to act as a guard from potential revenge from the Trump administration. He said these people had done nothing wrong.
Biden also pardoned his siblings and their spouses out of concerns that they would face political attacks.
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[Sponsored video from Sorenson: www.sorenson.com]
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Hamas still in power in Gaza
AP News said after 15 months of war between Israel and Hamas, Hamas has emerged from hiding to show that it remains in control of Gaza.
There were many Hamas fighters wearing green headbands that surrounded vehicles that were carrying three Israeli hostages that were released as a part of a ceasefire deal. There were also thousands of Hamas-run police in uniform that re-emerged. AP interviewed people who said Hamas-run police officers were there this entire time but they didn’t wear their uniforms to avoid being targeted by Israel.
AP said the Israeli military said it killed over 17,000 Hamas fighters, but the Biden administration estimates that Hamas has recruited many new fighters who survived Israel’s bombardment. So, Hamas is continuing to rule Gaza.
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Updates on L.A. wildfires
The two of the most damaging wildfires in Los Angeles county are still burning, but ABC News said the Palisades Fire is at 59% containment and the Eaton Fire is at 87% containment. Containment is when firefighters have established a perimeter around a wildfire to ensure it cannot spread.
There is concern for the county because there are strong Santa Ana winds that are in the forecast for today and Tuesday. There could be wind gusts of 50 to 80 MPH.
The death toll is now at 27 people and there are at least 18 who are missing.
https://abcnews.go.com/US/live-updates/california-wildfires-los-angeles-weather/?id=117613594
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That is all the top stories for today. See you tomorrow and stay with the light.