Hours after taking the oath of office, Donald Trump executes a number of executive measures. Snow is predicted to fall from Texas to Florida during a winter storm. Additionally, The Brutalist’s usage of artificial intelligence is causing debate.
What to know today is as follows.
Trump pardons Jan. 6 defendants, targets immigration on Day 1
The golden age of America begins now, according to Donald Trump, who was sworn in as the 47th president of the United States yesterday. Trump signed a number of executive orders by the end of his first day in office, fulfilling pledges he made during the campaign to advance his policies on immigration, climate change, and other issues. Among the most significant things he did on his first day back in office were:
In relation to the attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, when thousands of people attacked the building in response to Trump’s false statements on the 2020 election, he awarded about 1,500 pardons and remitted the sentences of 14 of his followers. Trump referred to criminal detainees as J6 captives and reiterated his assertions that the election four years ago was rigged in his statements yesterday.
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Trump issued several immigration-related orders, including one declaring a national emergency at the southern border, another classifying cartels as foreign terrorist organizations, and a directive to terminate birthright citizenship, which has been interpreted as being mandated by the 14th Amendment. However, senior Supreme Court writer Lawrence Hurley notes that the question of birthright citizenship, border wall funding, and other immigration-related measures will almost certainly be contested in court.
In keeping with the Biden administration’s strategy of not enforcing the law that received bipartisan support when it was approved last year, Trump signed an executive order granting TikTok a 75-day extension during which the United States will not implement the law intended to force the app’s owner to sell the company. Trump has no such authority, thus the extension does not invalidate the statute. TikTok faces legal repercussions unless it finds a U.S. corporation to acquire an 80% ownership in the company.
The Paris Climate Agreement, which committed participating countries to cooperate in preventing global temperatures from increasing by more than 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 Fahrenheit) over pre-industrial levels, was abandoned by Trump. Trump objected in the executive order to the U.S.’s recent offer of billions of dollars to funds that help developing countries with climate adaptation and mitigation.
The Department of Government Efficiency, the revocation of Joe Biden’s historic executive order on AI safety, the requirement that all federal employees return to in-office employment, the federal recognition of only two sexes, and the withdrawal from the World Health Organization are among the other executive orders.
Go here to learn more about Trump’s most noteworthy executive orders from Day 1.
Trump’s supporters crowded the Capital One Arena for an indoor parade and an inaugural ball where he and first lady Melania Trump shared the first dance. The orders were part of a day of pomp and circumstance in Washington, D.C., which also included politicians, CEOs, family members, all nine justices of the Supreme Court, and former presidents.
More politics news:
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The Senate unanimously voted 99-0 to
approve Sen. Marco Rubio as secretary of state
, becoming the first of Trump s Cabinet picks to be confirmed. Meanwhile, Senate committees voted to advance four other Trump nominees, including Pete Hegseth for secretary of defense.
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Minutes before he left office, Biden
announced pre-emptive pardons
for his family members after some on the right suggested they should face prosecution. A few hours earlier, Biden
issued pardons for Dr. Antony Fauci
, members and staff of the committee that investigated Jan. 6, and others.
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Photos show
how people celebrated and protested
Trump s return to office.
-
Vivek Ramaswamy
plans to run for governor in Ohio
and leave the newly established DOGE, which he had been tapped to lead alongside Elon Musk.
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The Senate
voted to pass the Laken Riley Act
, the first piece of legislation congressional Republicans are hoping to send to Trump for his signature.
Winter storm hits Gulf Coast states
As more than 55 million people in the Gulf Coast region prepared for this week’s epic winter storm, snowfall in the Houston area forced the closing of both of the city’s major airports this morning. In this region of the United States, where the majority of communities lack snow plows, the storm could be devastating.
According to the National Weather Service, slippery conditions will be observed in Tallahassee and Jacksonville, Florida, and snow is expected to fall along the Interstate 10 corridor from New Orleans to the Florida Panhandle. Forecasters warned that freezing rain might spread northward into coastal North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia.
Ohio State defeats Notre Dame for college football title
Ohio State defeated Notre Dame 34-23 on Monday to win the 2025 College Football Playoff championship. The Buckeyes got off to a fast start, leading 31-7, but the Fighting Irish made a strong second-half rally, cutting the deficit to 31-23 before giving up a late field goal.
Quinshon Judkins, the running back for Ohio State, was the game’s standout, scoring three of the team’s four touchdowns. Judkins scored two touchdowns and rushed for 100 yards on 11 carries. He also scored another touchdown after catching two passes for 21 yards. Judkins’ 70-yard rush in the third quarter, which set up the Buckeyes’ fourth goal of the evening, was one of the game’s top plays.
No. 8 seed Ohio State lost its season finale to the Michigan Wolverines, their fiercest rival, thanks to the playoff field’s expansion from four to twelve teams. On their way to the championship game, the Buckeyes defeated the Texas Longhorns, Oregon Ducks, and Tennessee Volunteers.View some highlights from the game yesterday night.
Read All About It
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At least one American detained in Afghanistan
was released in an apparent prisoner exchange
with the Taliban, according to his family.
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Cecile Richards, a woman rights activist and former president of Planned Parenthood,
has died at the age of 67
.
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A pair of young siblings who were reported missing in Ohio in October
were found in Iceland
, U.S. officials said.
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Palestinians are finally able to return to their Gaza homes only to find them
reduced to ruins
.
Staff Pick:
‘Brutalist’ hit with backlash over AI
Hollywood wouldn’t be the same without a little additional drama. One of the front-runners, The Brutalist, is the subject of controversy just before the Oscars race is officially scheduled to begin with Thursday’s nominations. Reporter Rebecca Cohen and entertainment correspondent Chloe Melas explain why the post-World War II movie featuring Adrien Brody and Felicity Jones’s use of artificial intelligence touched a chord, especially in terms of the characters’ voices.Jamie Knodel, editor of news
NBC Select: Online Shopping, Simplified
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