Day 2: Here Comes Biden's COVID Strategy

Also: Inside a Boston restaurant's final days; why the internet loves Bernie Sanders (and his mittens) ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  [Donate [WBUR]]( [View in Browser](  [WBUR]( January 21, 2021 Good Morning Boston, ⛅ Partly sunny, with a high near 35. His name and title is officially President Joe Biden. Like much of the U.S., I was glued to my TV and computer yesterday to watch the inauguration of Biden and [swearing in of Vice President Kamala Harris](. There were a lot of moving pieces to the day so here are the highlights: - First things first: This moment is one for the history books. Biden has become the oldest U.S. president, and only the second Catholic president. Harris is the first woman, first Black person and first Asian American to serve as vice president. Biden's cabinet is shaping up to be the most diverse ever. Politics aside, that's pretty cool. - While the ceremony was very different from years past due to the pandemic and heightened security restrictions, there were still plenty of familiar faces in attendance. Check out these[photos from throughout the day]( to see what happened and who was there, or read this recap to [hear from members of the Massachusetts congressional delegation]( about what it was like to be at an inauguration like no other. - In Biden's inaugural address, he spoke about [bringing the nation together]( saying, "To overcome these challenges, to restore the soul and secure the future of America, requires so much more than words. It requires the most elusive of all things in a democracy: Unity." [You can read the full transcript (with annotations from NPR) here.]( - But it was a 22-year-old Harvard grad that stole the show. Amanda Gorman, the country's first National Youth Poet Laureate, delivered her poem "The Hill We Climb" during the inauguration, and it was one of the most talked about moments of the day. If you missed it, I [highly recommend you watch]( (or continue playing it on a loop, as I'm doing). - Let's get down to business: Within hours of taking office, Biden got to work on signing a sweep of executive actions, including an of the federal eviction moratorium]( an extension on the student loan payment pause, a [suspension of deportations]( of non-citizens, an order to have the U.S. [rejoin the Paris climate agreement]( and other [reversals of Trump's climate change rollbacks](. But there's even more changing soon under Biden, and we'll break this down with exclusive reporting for WBUR Today newsletter subscribers early next week. Stay tuned. - ICYMI: The day started with former president Trump [leaving the White House]( early, skipping the inauguration ceremony to fly one last time in Air Force One to his South Florida resort. His parting message: "I wish the new administration great luck and great success. ... I hope they don't raise your taxes, but if they do, I told you so!" - After the attack on the Capitol, many braced for widespread protests or violence, but things remained pretty quiet yesterday. In other words: [the QAnon "storm" never struck.]( The only [protest in Boston]( Wednesday evening, billed as "No Honeymoon for Biden-Unite Against The Fascists," was organized by local groups on the political left, and only a couple dozen gathered to mark Trump's exit, in anger and relief. P.S.– What's one thing you want to see from the Biden-Harris administration? Let us know by [replying to our Instagram story]( (or replying to this email). You may be featured in a future story or newsletter. — Meagan McGinnes [@meaganmcginnes]( newsletters@wbur.org The Rundown [1.](url)[On Day 2, Biden To Focus On COVID-19 Strategy With 10 Executive Actions]( Accelerating the sluggish federal response is Biden's top priority, and he has promised 100 million vaccinations in his first 100 days. He is also pushing Congress for another $1.9 trillion in relief, a package that would include direct payments to Americans, support for small businesses, and a huge boost in funding for vaccines and testing. [Read more.]( - Related: [The Current, Deadly U.S. Coronavirus Surge Has Peaked, Researchers Say]( - Opinion: [A Return To Leadership By Example](   #%23%23[Twitter](  #%23%23[Facebook](    2. [As Feds Change Rules For Reporting Jail Deaths, Sheriffs Face Less Accountability]( Last year, the federal government changed the way it counts deaths in custody — a move that’s received little notice in a chaotic period marked by a global pandemic and political unrest. The new method has done little to improve transparency for the public. [Read more.]( 3. ['Time To Cut Losses': Inside The Final Days Of A Boston Restaurant]( "Everybody talks about the light at the end of the tunnel, but we don't know when the light is going to click on — or if it's ever going to click on," says Jayme Valdez, co-owner of The Kitchen Cafe, one of thousands of Massachusetts restaurants that have closed during the pandemic. [Read more.]( 4. ['It's Not Inevitable That This Will Be Unjust': A Q&A With Shalanda Baker On Energy Justice]( "I think energy, the energy transition, lends itself to the possibility of justice — because you can put solar on rooftops, because people can come together to own a project that will power their community. It's not inevitable that this will be unjust. We can change it." [Read more.]( 5. [Second Case Of COVID-19 Variant Detected In Mass.]( A man in his 20s from Worcester County tested positive Tuesday for the new, apparently more contagious coronavirus variant. Health officials did not indicate whether the second person had traveled recently. [Read more.]( Support the news Anything Else? - Even with last-minute changes, a slower exhibition pace and timed-entry tickets, there are [exhibits planned for this winter season]( that show promise of being worth all the hassle. - From an interactive art installation to something called "yarnstorming," here are [five things to do and see this weekend.]( - It has been easy to look on fashion cynically, writes Joanna Weiss[in this commentary](. But sometimes you want that attention – and if you’re blessed with political talent, you know how to use it. For Vice President Kamala Harris, that looks like pearls and chucks. [WBUR] Your Daily Must Listen [Radio Boston | Ask The Doctors: What A New Variant Of COVID Means For Massachusetts]( [Listen]( VACCINE NEWS [Gillette Stadium Is Usually Busy In January. This Year, It's Because Of Vaccines]( What To Know About Coronavirus Vaccine Distribution In Mass. [Read more.]( Medical Professionals, Activists Push Baker To Prioritize Vaccine Access For Minority Communities. [Read more.]( Fenway Park Named As Next COVID-19 Mass Vaccination Site. [Read more.]( 📬 Get the latest on vaccine safety protocols, side effects, local distribution plans & more in your inbox. Sign up for our [coronavirus newsletter and alerts.]( What We're Reading - If Trump Doesn’t Keep You Up All Night, MyPillow Will ([Intelligencer]( - A ‘Nerve Center’ for Climate in the Biden White House ([New York Times]( - I Might Be the First Second Gentleman, But I Don't Want to Be the Last ([GQ]( Tell Me Something Good [Bernie Sanders Sat On A Chair At The Biden Inauguration And The Internet Loved It]( There was something about his posture – or the fact he wasn't sitting near anyone... or maybe it was the slightly disgruntled look on his face – that just spoke to a lot of people on the internet. 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