PoliticsYahoo NewsRepublicans built up QAnon backer Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, but now are they afraid of what they created?
On the eve of President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration, freshman Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, the combative Georgia Republican known for her association with the fantastical, cultlike QAnon conspiracy theory, was back on Twitter after a 12-hour suspension, and back to making waves and rocking the precarious boat that Republicans find themselves in, having lost the White House and both chambers of Congress. I've said this all along, it's people over politicians, not the other way around,” Greene tweeted Monday night, just hours after her Twitter account was reinstated after it was suspended for violating the social media giant's policies. It's the people of this country that matter.
PoliticsYahoo NewsInauguration live updates: President Biden signs 17 executive actions in Oval Office
Joe Biden was sworn in as the 46th president of the United States in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday. Kamala Harris made history as the first woman, Black woman and Asian woman to be sworn in as vice president. President Trump did not attend the inauguration, becoming the first president since 1869 to skip the swearing-in of his successor.
PoliticsYahoo NewsDonald Trump gracelessly leaves the stage
Richard Nixon's best speech came at his worst moment. Having resigned the presidency to avoid impeachment in the aftermath of Watergate, he delivered a farewell address to his White House staff that served as a reflection on duty and humility. Nixon, although prone to bouts of self-pity, understood and was able to acknowledge that he had destroyed himself, or at least his career and his place in history.
PoliticsAssociated PressChina hits Trump officials with sanctions on their way out
China imposed sanctions on nearly 30 former Trump administration officials moments after they left office on Wednesday. In a statement released just minutes after President Joe Biden was inaugurated, Beijing slapped travel bans and business restrictions on Trump's secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, national security adviser Robert O'Brien and U.N. ambassador, Kelly Craft. Others covered by the sanctions include Trump's economic adviser Peter Navarro; his top diplomat for Asia, David Stilwell; health and human services secretary, Alex Azar; along with former national security adviser John Bolton and strategist Stephen Bannon.
U.S.The WeekOnly a sprinkling of Trump supporters showed up at state capitols to protest Biden's inauguration
In the wake of the deadly riot in the U.S. Capitol building earlier this month, the FBI had warned that armed protests were being planned in every state capital. But though it was still early in much of America as President Biden was sworn in just before noon Eastern time, the handful of pro-Trump demonstrators who actually showed up were largely disappointed by the turnout, to say the least: In other states, nobody showed up at all: Meanwhile, in Montana, the only protester to show up ... was a counterprotester.
EntertainmentThe New York TimesFox News Fires a Key Player in Its Election Night Coverage
Two senior leaders of Fox News' reporting division are exiting the network as the cable channel replaces some news programming with right-wing opinion shows and tries to lure back viewers who balked at its coverage of the 2020 election and its aftermath. On Tuesday morning, Fox News fired Chris Stirewalt, the veteran politics editor who was an on-screen face of the network's election night projection that Joe Biden had defeated President Donald Trump in Arizona, according to three people with knowledge of the matter. Fox News was the first news outlet to call Arizona for Biden, a move that infuriated many of its regular viewers — including Trump, who denounced the network as insufficiently loyal and urged fans to watch Newsmax and One America News instead.
- WorldAssociated Press
UN: 43 Europe-bound migrants drown in shipwreck off Libya
A boat carrying migrants bound for Europe capsized in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Libya, drowning at least 43 people, the U.N. migration agency said Wednesday. The International Organization for Migration said the “tragic” shipwreck that took place a day earlier was the first maritime disaster in 2021 involving migrants seeking better lives in Europe. In recent years, the EU has partnered with Libya's coast guard and other local groups to stem such dangerous sea crossings.
PoliticsThe IndependentBiden gets controversial Trump officials to resign in first act on inauguration day
Joe Biden has asked surgeon general Jerome Adams to resign as his administration begins on Wednesday, in what has been billed as a reboot of the US government's pandemic response. Mr Adams, who has served as the surgeon general since 2017, announced his resignation at the Biden administration's request, and said it had “been the honor of my life to serve”. He and Michel Pack, the chief executive of the state-run US Agency for Global Media (USAGM), are among those Trump administration officials asked to resign by Mr Biden - with more expected to follow.
PoliticsThe TelegraphChina sanctions 28 people linked to Trump administration, including Mike Pompeo
China on Wednesday announced it would sanction more than two dozen US citizens, including Mike Pompeo, the former Secretary of State, in response to grave interference” over Taiwan. Among the 28 named were Mr Pompeo, as well as John Bolton, Donald Trump's former National Security Advisor; Peter Navarro, former Director of Trade; and Steve Bannon, former White House chief strategist. Mr Pompeo, in one of his final acts in his White House role, on Monday held a conference with the president of Taiwan, the self-ruling island claimed by Beijing as its own.
U.S.USA TODAYHero Capitol Police officer Eugene Goodman escorts Kamala Harris for inauguration
Eugene Goodman, the Capitol Police officer who led rioters away from the Senate chamber on Jan. 6, escorted Vice President-elect Kamala Harris at the inauguration Wednesday. Goodman is the acting deputy Senate sergeant-at-arms, which is why he was escorting Harris. Goodman went viral this month after a video showed him leading a pro-Trump mob away from the Senate floor during the deadly Jan. 6 riots at the U.S. Capitol, potentially saving lives.
PoliticsBusiness InsiderBiden unveils immigration proposal that offers green cards and overtime pay to farm workers and a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers
President Joe Biden is offering foreign-born farm workers the chance to immediately apply for permanent residency. Biden's immigration proposal would also give agriculture industry workers the right to overtime pay. Each year, over 200,000 temporary agricultural workers come to the United States.
- PoliticsFOX News Videos
Rep. Crenshaw: 'I'd be frustrated if I were' Trump, watching the press 'go right back to the Obama-era'
Texas Congressman Dan Crenshaw argues Republicans need to unify and show voters that Democrats 'mean what they say' and 'will change your life fundamentally.
U.S.ReutersU.S. President Biden arrives safely at White House, protected by thousands of troops, barricades
After taking the oath of office and a brief dash to shake some hands, Joe Biden made it safely to the White House in a barricaded city guarded by more than 25,000 troops and devoid of the hundreds of thousands of spectators who normally throng to the quadrennial ritual. The unprecedented precautions ensured the new U.S. president and Vice President Kamala Harris took office free of incident in a ceremony outside the U.S. Capitol, two weeks to the day after a mob attacked the building in a failed attempt to keep Congress from certifying their victory. After being driven from the Capitol in a slow motorcade, Biden briskly walked the last block from the Treasury to the White House, unexpectedly greeting some invited and screened guests and members of the news media along the way in a highly secured area.
SportsMiami HeraldJackson offered COVID vaccine appointments Wednesday. They were gone in 25 minutes
Jackson Health System announced Wednesday at 8:10 a.m. via Twitter that it was accepting COVID-19 vaccination appointments, for people 65 and over who live in the U.S., in the next 15 minutes. The site was operational five minutes later. This comes one day after Baptist Health canceled first-dose vaccine appointments after Wednesday, citing lack of vaccine availability. Jackson says it is limiting appointments to people who live in the U.S.
TechnologyBusiness InsiderThis $5,000 EV motorcycle has wireless phone charging and costs less than some regular bicycles - see more
The Metacycle is an all-electric motorcycle from Sondors, a firm known for electric bicycles. It comes with an estimated 80 miles of range and wireless phone charging. At $5,000, the Metacycle is very attractively priced.
EntertainmentArchitectural DigestThe Coolest New Automotive Technology at CES 2021
Mercedes-Benz's Hyperscreen, General Motors' Bright Drop, and Jeep's Electric Wrangler were among the unveils that turned heads Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest
PoliticsThe WeekTrump leaves the White House for the last time as president
With only a few hours left in his term, President Trump has departed the White House. Trump on Wednesday morning boarded Marine One to leave the White House for the last time as president and head to Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, where he has a farewell ceremony planned and is expected to deliver remarks. Traditionally, the outgoing president would welcome the incoming commander-in-chief at the White House on the day of the inauguration.
SportsAssociated PressRahane was always thinking of win in 4th test vs Australia
Against all odds, interim captain Ajinkya Rahane managed to lead an injury-affected India to victory in the fourth cricket test and retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. India was forced to make four changes for the series finale after salvaging a draw in Sydney, and a draw in Brisbane would have been good enough to retain the trophy. Turns out Rahane had a plan for victory all along.
BusinessBusiness InsiderSpaceX may have purchased 2 oil rigs off the coast of Texas that could be turned into 'floating' Starship launchpads
SpaceX appears to have acquired two oil rigs that it may transform into launch platforms for its forthcoming Starship rocket system, NASASpaceflight reported. The floating "spaceports" would add to SpaceX's operations in Boca Chica, Texas, which are under a new environmental review. Launching rockets from the water should be less disruptive for nearby residents.
- ScienceReuters Videos
Italy's Mount Etna erupts at night time
At 10,926 feet, Etna is the continent's most active volcano and can burst into action several times in a year. Mount Etna often erupts but rarely causes damage and it is believed to have the longest written record of eruptions than any other volcano, with its first recorded observation going back to 425 B.C. Volcanic ash covered cars of the nearby small village of Milo, near Catania after the eruption from the volcano's southeast crater.
PoliticsBBCKamala Harris: A beginner's guide to being vice-president
Kamala Harris has made history, becoming the first woman and first black and South Asian American to serve as US vice-president. Here's what awaits Ms Harris in her new job. "The role of the vice-president was, frankly, to just be that heartbeat away from the president," said Barbara Perry, the director of presidential studies at the University of Virginia's Miller Centre.
PoliticsTheGrioMelania Trump made staffer write her ‘thank you’ notes to WH household staff
A new report is surfacing that now-former First Lady Melania Trump assigned a low-level East Wing staffer to write thank-you notes to the more than 80 members of White House personnel who've cared for the First Family since 2017. The revelation tracks with reports of Mrs. Trump's demeanor as “checked out” of her role since her husband's re-election loss. There is a long tradition of first ladies leaving personal notes for White House household staff who cook, clean and care for the first family.
SportsAssociated PressAmerica's Cup challenger series tweaked in US team's absence
The schedule for the final round-robin races of the America's Cup challenger series has been revised in the absence of U.S. challenger American Magic, which is being repaired after capsizing. In the absence of American Magic, British challenger INEOS Team UK and Italian challenger Luna Rossa will race each other once on Saturday and Sunday. Each challenger will also take part in a “ghost race” — racing alone — in lieu of their races against American Magic and in order to take a point from those races.
CelebrityThe Daily BeastMeghan Markle’s Father Accuses Her of Briefing Against Him in Blistering Testimony
Meghan Markle's father Thomas said he believes his daughter “expressly authorized” or at least “approved” an article in People magazine about him that was “a total lie,” and which portrayed him as “dishonest, exploitative, publicity-seeking, uncaring and cold-hearted.” Thomas, whose bombshell testimony was contained in a witness statement unsealed today in London's High Court, said that a controversial letter written to him by his daughter in August 2018, four months after he missed her wedding to Prince Harry due to a heart attack, was a “criticism” of him that he thought “signaled the end of our relationship.” Meghan is seeking a so-called “summary judgment” in her high profile privacy and copyright action against (ANL), triggered by the 2019 publication in the Mail on Sunday of sections of the letter she sent to her estranged father.
CelebrityINSIDERPeople are dragging Kim Kardashian for describing life as 'paradise' on a day the US recorded a record number of COVID-19 deaths
People are dragging Kim Kardashian West for calling life "paradise" as the US struggles with a record number of coronavirus deaths. On Tuesday, the reality star captioned a bikini photo, "This is more than life...this is paradise." While she appeared to be quoting Jeremih's song "Paradise," commenters called her out for seemingly ignoring the worsening pandemic.
“If you’re looking to win elections, it is probably best not to urge your supporters not to vote.”
“Warnock’s portrayal of himself as a dog lover, a means of overcoming white suspicions of Black men, smacked of pure genius.”
“Trump has done damage to the Republican brand among suburban voters that goes well beyond just races where he is on the ballot.”
“Once more, Democrats must profusely thank activist Stacey Abrams.”
“Overall, demographic trends show that the state’s electorate is becoming younger and more diverse each year.”