Hello again, folks–and welcome back to Some Sort of Version of the NNR. I won’t claim I’m back to full health, but we’re beginning another era of dark ages and I believe it’s very important for folks to stay informed. We have more of a pause point on Day 1 than I expected, but there is still a fair amount to go over, so we’re back today as (somewhat) planned, Expect the formatting and frequency to shift around a bit as I find a new rhythm that works while I’m healing, but rest assured, I’m here.
Standard standing reminders still apply: we may be starting my ninth year of journalism, but I summarize news within my areas of expertise. NNR summaries often contain some detailed analysis that’s outside my expertise–I’m a lawyer, not a Nazi sympathizer!–but all offroad adventures are marked with an asterisk. And, of course, for the things that are within my lane, I’m offering context that shouldn’t be considered legal advice. Okay, I think that’s about it for the disclaimers. Onward to the news!
Spills in Aisle 47:
We’ve been prepping for Day 1 for some time, at least at my office, so it seems particularly important to report on what Day 1 (and immediate subsequent days) have and will bring.
- Immediate Damage Report. The incoming administration has flagged that they were introducing as many as 200 executive orders on Day 1, though only a few had been signed as I started typing this on Monday evening–as a spectator sport in front of an arena full of people, which is definitely cool and normal. I think we can all agree we definitely needed Cool Ranch Mussolini’s first and clearly highest-priority executive order, which was mandating that flags have to fly at full-staff for the rest of today. But as the evening went on, he also:
- Officially repealed about 78 Biden EOs on a broad host of topics;
- Revoked migrants’ ability to schedule appointments for access at the border;
- Issued pardons for people convicted of January 6 insurrection;
- Removed us from the Paris Agreement;
- Paused the shut-down of TikTok;
- Removed us from the World Health Organization;
- Reinstated at-will firing of career civil servants; and
- Paved the way for tariffs further down the pike.
- Policy Speedbumps Ahead. Though only a dozen or so were signed in front of a live studio audience, I do think we can expect a flurry of other actions in the next few days–I had to rewrite the paragraph above several times, as new EOs kept coming out every time I thought I was done. (On a related note, some of the things I’m about to type may already be EOs by the time you read this. Sorry about that–at some point the NNR did have to go out the door.) Other nice things slated to get the Trump Treatment: 1) Immigration, as the administration claims they will end birthright citizenship (spoiler: no they probably won’t); 2) Anti-discrimination measures, as he has claimed he will suppress all federal DEI efforts and revoke recognition of transgender people existing (which has its own host of disturbing health implications); and 3) Clean energy, as he plans to declare an energy emergency in order to facilitate drilling in Alaska. I expect we’ll get a lot more news on this as the week goes on, and I’ll try to circle back with an update and next steps sometime soon.
The Latest Fashy:
- Elon Musk had his activist bird moment at today’s inauguration when he repeatedly made a gesture that mainstream news outlets are carefully not calling a Nazi salute, even though it was definitely, unquestionably a Nazi salute. It’s honestly not that shocking that Musk did this on several different levels, how people respond is definitely more noteworthy. It’s particularly worth watching news outlets, given how much the Cheeto tried to suppress free speech during his first Presidency.
Silver Linings:
- Stirrings of Lawsuits. The new administration may not have hit the ground running, but its opposition certainly did. Three different groups are already suing the Department of Government Efficiency for being, y’know, extra-governmental. It will be interesting to see what happens with this, and frankly it’s a decent test balloon since it doesn’t have anyone’s personal liberty or safety riding on it.
So that’s what I have for you, and I’m sorry, there are still no news refunds. For making it through, you deserve this signing Corgi and a more functional government. I’ll be back next time with more and improved news, and I hope you will be back as well–but in the meantime, feel free to ping the National News Roundup ask box, which is there for your constructive comments. Send me questions! Send me feedback! Send me suggestions for the new format!
National News Roundup 