Trump Inauguration Debrief; January 6th Pardons; Day One Executive Orders; Biden Pardons His Family; College Football National Champs
Jan 21, 2025
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Mosh Oinounou and Jill Wagner, both Emmy and Murrow award-winning journalists with extensive experience at major news networks, dive into the political whirlwind surrounding Trump's inauguration. They dissect his controversial pardons related to the January 6 Capitol attack and executive orders impacting immigration and gender policies. The conversation also touches on Biden's preemptive pardons and Ohio State's triumph in the College Football National Championship. Get ready for a riveting breakdown of the shifting political landscape.
Trump's inauguration marked a controversial return to power, emphasizing a confrontational tone and immediate executive actions to reshape national policies.
His administration's focus on hardline immigration, fossil fuel production, and traditional views on gender identity signifies a significant pivot away from previous administrations' approaches.
Deep dives
Explosive Inauguration Details
Donald Trump was inaugurated for a second term as the 47th president of the United States, marking a highly controversial moment given the context of his prior presidency and the events surrounding the Capitol riot. His inaugural address was characterized by a confrontational tone, as he criticized the Biden administration and claimed that America's recent years had been marked by suffering and decline. Trump promised to restore the nation to greatness, utilizing a rhetoric reminiscent of his first inaugural speech, and he signed several executive orders immediately, showcasing his intent to implement drastic changes right away. The event, held indoors due to cold weather, featured a significantly smaller audience and stirred concerns about crowd size and Trump’s choice to limit public attendance.
Immediate Executive Actions on Immigration
With the stroke of a pen, Trump declared a national emergency at the southern border as one of his first actions, signaling a return to hardline immigration policies reminiscent of his first term. He reinstated the 'Remain in Mexico' policy, requiring migrants to stay in Mexico while awaiting immigration court dates, which has faced significant criticism for endangering vulnerable populations. Trump also announced plans to deploy military troops to the border and designated drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations, intensifying his focus on illegal immigration. The broader agenda includes mass deportations, particularly targeting undocumented individuals with criminal records, starting with operations in cities like Chicago.
Energy Policy Overhaul Promised
In his inaugural address, Trump declared a national energy emergency, advocating for increased fossil fuel production as a means to combat inflation and restore the U.S. economy. He emphasized America's standing as the largest oil and gas producer and vowed to accelerate drilling and refining activities while rolling back Obama-era clean energy mandates. This shift is positioned as a move towards revitalizing American manufacturing, though it raises questions about how the energy sector will respond to these changes and the implications for environmental policies. Trump's commitment to fossil fuels includes plans to exit international agreements like the Paris Climate Accord, underscoring a significant pivot away from previous administrations' climate strategies.
Cultural and Social Policy Reforms
Trump's administration intends to make sweeping changes to federal policies regarding gender identity and diversity initiatives, reinstating traditionally binary views on gender in federal documents and eliminating funding for gender transition healthcare. He framed these changes as protecting women and children from what he termed 'gender ideology extremism', positioning his administration as a defender of a merit-based society. The executive orders aim to dismantle Biden-era protections aimed at promoting inclusivity, with potential legal challenges expected from civil rights organizations. Such moves reflect Trump's ongoing alignment with conservative values and the rhetoric of his base, as he navigates a polarized social landscape.
The Money Rehab guest hosts this week are Mosh Oinounou and Jill Wagner, journalists and cohosts of the independent news podcast Mo News. All week, you'll hear their non-partisan, conversational breakdown of the top news and breaking news stories. Today, they cover:
– Welcome to Mo News (00:00)
– Trump Sworn In As 47th President (02:45)
– Who Was In The Room Where The Inauguration Happened
– Trump Pardons Roughly 1,500 Criminal Defendants Charged In The Jan. 6 Capitol Attack (18:00)
– Trump's Immigration Executive Orders: What to Know (19:00)
– Trump Declares A 'National Energy Emergency’ (25:10)
– Trump Signs Executive Orders Proclaiming Only Two Biological Sexes, Halting Diversity Programs (28:25)
– Trump To Rename Gulf of Mexico, Mount Denali (31:00)
– Biden Issues Preemptive Pardons For Trump Critics And Biden Family Members (34:50)
– Ohio State Wins College Football Playoff National Championship (40:00)
– On This Day (41:15)
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Mosheh Oinounou (@mosheh) is an Emmy and Murrow award-winning journalist. He has 20 years of experience at networks including Fox News, Bloomberg Television and CBS News, where he was the executive producer of the CBS Evening News and launched the network's 24 hour news channel. He founded the @mosheh Instagram news account in 2020 and the Mo News podcast and newsletter in 2022.
Jill Wagner (@jillrwagner) is an Emmy and Murrow award-winning journalist. She's currently the Managing Editor of the Mo News newsletter and previously worked as a reporter for CBS News, Cheddar News, and News 12. She also co-founded the Need2Know newsletter, and has made it a goal to drop a Seinfeld reference into every Mo News podcast.
