January 19

Three U.S. cardinals issue rare joint rebuke of Trump's Greenland and Venezuela policies

Cardinals Blase Cupich (Chicago), Robert McElroy (Washington), and Joseph Tobin (Newark) issued a rare joint statement declaring the U.S. had entered "the most profound and searing debate about the moral foundation for America's actions in the world since the end of the Cold War." Citing Pope Leo XIV's warning against "warmaking," the cardinals condemned threats against Greenland, Venezuela, and cuts to humanitarian aid.

Trump ties his Greenland bid to the Nobel Peace Prize snub in a letter to Norway's prime minister

Trump sent a letter to Norwegian PM Jonas Gahr Støre stating he no longer felt obligated "to think purely of Peace" because the Nobel Committee did not award him the Nobel Peace Prize. Trump wrote: "Considering your Country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 Wars PLUS, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace." Støre clarified that an independent Nobel Committee, not the government, awards the prize.

Denmark boycotts the World Economic Forum in Davos amid Trump's pressure on Greenland

Danish government officials chose not to attend the World Economic Forum in Davos as Trump's territorial pressure on Greenland intensified. The boycott signaled Denmark's refusal to engage on terms set by Trump's annexation push. Danish FM Lars Løkke Rasmussen maintained that U.S. ownership of Greenland was "a red line" even as Trump later suspended tariff threats following Davos talks with NATO chief Rutte.

Biden issues final preemptive pardons covering Fauci Milley Jan. 6 committee members

In his final full day in office, President Biden issues a broad set of preemptive pardons for individuals he believes face politically motivated prosecution under the incoming Trump administration. Recipients include Dr. Anthony Fauci, former NIAID director and COVID adviser. The list includes General Mark Milley, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs. It also includes members of the January 6th Select Committee, Representatives Liz Cheney, Adam Kinzinger, Bennie Thompson, and others. Biden also pardons members of his family preemptively. Biden defends the pardons as necessary given Trump's repeated threats to investigate his political opponents. Critics argue the pardons undermine the justice system. Supporters call them essential protection for those who served the public interest.

Biden orders coordinated federal support for economically distressed and left-behind communities

President Joe Biden signed a January 19, 2025 executive order directing federal agencies to better coordinate programs for economically distressed and left-behind communities. The order defined covered communities to include municipalities and local areas in distressed regions, Community Disaster Resilience Zones, areas served by major place-based economic-development programs, and rural communities identified by USDA and EPA. It directed the Commerce Department and other implementing agencies to improve technical assistance, align federal investments, support post-disaster long-term economic development, and make federal grants easier for under-resourced communities to access. The action mattered because many communities lack the staff, matching funds, or technical capacity to compete for federal programs even when they are eligible.

Biden partially revokes Trump-era federal mission resilience order and ties continuity policy to new national security memo

President Joe Biden signed a January 19, 2025 executive order partially revoking Executive Order 13961, the Trump-era order on governance and integration of federal mission resilience. Biden revoked sections 1, 3, 4, 5, and 7 of EO 13961, renumbered the remaining sections, and amended language so continuity coordination referenced the Restricted Principals Committee described in Biden's National Continuity Policy memorandum. The action mattered because continuity-of-government and federal mission-resilience rules determine how agencies plan for crises that could disrupt national essential functions. This was a governance cleanup action tied to Biden's updated continuity-policy structure.

Yarvin attends Coronation Ball at Watergate Hotel for Trump inauguration

Passage Press hosted the Coronation Ball at the Watergate Hotel's Moretti Ballroom on January 19, 2025, the night before Trump's second inauguration. Politico reported Yarvin was an informal guest of honor due to his outsize influence over the Trumpian right. Yarvin exchanged friendly greetings with Vice President J.D. Vance, had lunch with State Department Director of Policy Planning Michael Anton, and met with young conservatives entering the new administration.

+2 others

Gaza ceasefire begins and first hostages are released

The Gaza ceasefire took effect on January 19, 2025, after a short delay, and Hamas released the first Israeli hostages while Israel began releasing Palestinian prisoners. The opening exchange tested whether the negotiated agreement could move from a signed deal to implementation on the ground. This event should remain separate from the January 15 agreement announcement and from the March 18 collapse of the ceasefire.

Republicans and Manchin Sinema block Freedom to Vote Act Senate fails 48-52

The Freedom to Vote John R. Lewis Act, combining voting rights expansion with restored preclearance requirements gutted by the Supreme Court in 2013, dies in the Senate when a vote to change filibuster rules fails 48-52. All 50 Senate Republicans vote against the rules change, joined by Democratic Senators Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema. Biden travels to Atlanta and delivers a fiery speech comparing opponents of the bill to Bull Connor and George Wallace. Sinema gives a speech on the Senate floor cementing her opposition to changing the filibuster, just before Biden addresses the Democratic caucus. The bill's failure marks the end of Biden's primary legislative push on voting rights.

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Federal authorities arrest Barton Wade Shively in a Pennsylvania Jan. 6 case

Federal authorities arrested Barton Wade Shively, then 53, of Mechanicsburg, in a Pennsylvania Jan. 6 Capitol breach case. The case involved assaulting or impeding officers, restricted-building entry, disorderly conduct, impeding passage, and physical violence on Capitol grounds. NPR records that Shively later pleaded guilty to two counts of assaulting or impeding officers. The other charges were dismissed. He was sentenced on June 1, 2023 to 18 months in prison with credit for time served, 36 months of supervised release, $2,000 in restitution, and a $200 assessment. NPR records a full pardon on January 20, 2025. The NPR archive was checked against the linked CourtListener federal record before insertion.

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Trump pardons Elliott Broidy after guilty plea in foreign lobbying scheme

President Trump pardoned Republican fundraiser Elliott Broidy on January 19, 2021, one day before leaving office, after Broidy had pleaded guilty to illegally lobbying senior U.S. officials on behalf of foreign governments while concealing his clients. DOJ said Broidy worked to influence government decisions involving Malaysia and China without registering as a foreign agent. Broidy was a major Trump donor and former deputy finance chairman of the Republican National Committee.