Posts by Kevin Harson
Scenes from a packed Rotunda: Moguls, former presidents — and some notable absences
WASHINGTON — President Trump’s inauguration on Monday in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda at times seemed surreal. Hundreds of the world’s most powerful people — among them every living former U.S. president as well as billionaire tech executives — crammed cheek-by-jowl in the 7,200-square-foot space after the ceremony was moved indoors because of a bitter cold snap,…
Read MoreDisappointment at border as Trump cancels immigration program
MEXICO CITY — Among the first on-the-ground effects of President Trump’s sweeping immigration revisions was visible Monday on the Mexican side of U.S. ports of entry, where hundreds of disconsolate asylum applicants were stunned to learn of the cancellation of a program aimed at easing the process of applying for asylum. Many lined up early Monday,…
Read MoreHearts break at why rescue dog “forced herself” to stay awake
When Peach, a crossbreed rescue dog, first arrived at her new home, she refused to sleep for more than a few hours at a time. Struggling with undiagnosed pain and the trauma of her past, the 22-month-old pup was too distressed to rest for more than a few minutes at a time. But now, thanks…
Read MoreIt’s below freezing in D.C., but Trump supporters are thrilled to be present
WASHINGTON — Kelly Mann stood outside Capital One Arena early Monday, squinting at the winter sun, leaning against a wagon of red MAGA hats and gaudy gold chains with the visage of Donald Trump, the soon-to-be-inaugurated president. It was 23 degrees and sunny in the nation’s capital. That was an improvement, Mann said, from Sunday, when…
Read MoreOpinion: It’s time to relearn the lessons of Thomas Paine’s ‘Common Sense’
Jan. 20, 2025 3 AM PT The 2024 presidential election painted a dismal picture — a country split red and blue, a near-even divide, reminding us how fractured we’ve become. Despite this polarization, nearly three-quarters of Americans agree on one thing: Our democracy is under threat. In these respects, today’s America resembles the America of…
Read MoreTrump set to make history as he’s sworn in as the nation’s 47th president
WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump will be sworn in at 9 a.m. PST Monday as the 47th president of the United States among a small group of dignitaries and guests inside the Capitol, in an unusual twist to the traditional inauguration. The ceremony was moved into the Capitol rotunda because of subfreezing temperatures forecast for Washington,…
Read MoreRFK Jr. wants to improve Americans’ health. Here’s some advice from the outgoing FDA chief
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has called the Food and Drug Administration a “corrupt system” that is waging “war on public health.” He has pledged to eliminate “entire departments” at the agency charged with ensuring the safety of the foods Americans eat and the medicines we take, warning the more than 18,000 people who work there…
Read MoreCease-fire between Israel and Hamas begins with an exchange of hostages and prisoners
DEIR AL BALAH, Gaza Strip — A cease-fire between Hamas and Israel took effect Sunday, silencing the guns over Gaza and renewing hopes of a possible end to a 15-month conflict that has killed tens of thousands and edged the Middle East to all-out regional war. By late afternoon, an exchange of Israeli hostages and Palestinian…
Read MoreNews Analysis: Once again, the world sizes up a Trump presidency
WASHINGTON — As Donald Trump takes the oath of office Monday for the second time, the world is watching with a mix of fascination, curiosity, elation or dread — and a sense that this time around, those outside the United States perhaps have a better idea of what to expect from his presidency. Even before Inauguration…
Read MoreOpinion: If Martin Luther King Jr. were alive, how would he have approached the Trump era?
Unlike the many people who are upset that Donald Trump is being inaugurated on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, I see it as a good thing. First, it calls even more attention to the day and its significance. Second, it is a chance to speculate about what King might say and do if he were…
Read MoreOpinion: Experts once thought highly of Biden’s presidency. Here’s how his legacy is likely to change
Our survey of presidential experts a year ago drew attention for ranking Joe Biden 14th among the presidents, ahead of such consequential chief executives as Woodrow Wilson and Ronald Reagan. At the time, many expressed surprise, if not skepticism, that the third edition of our Presidential Greatness Project had put Biden in the top third…
Read MoreTrump’s first inaugural speech was ‘American carnage.’ He says this time will be different
WASHINGTON — For 236 years, ever since George Washington, a newly elected president’s inaugural address has traditionally served several purposes. One is simply to mark the beginning of a new administration in celebration and hope — and an occasional dose of eloquence. Another, equally important, is to try to unify the country as far as possible…
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