POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: Kraft eyes February for a campaign launch

 

By Kelly Garrity (ALMOST) OFF TO THE RACES — New England Patriots Foundation President Josh Kraft is in — almost. Kraft has decided to launch a bid for mayor in Boston, according to two people who have spoken with him recently, and is eyeing early February for an official announcement. A spokesperson for Kraft declined to comment. Kraft advisors were spotted looking at office spaces in Nubian Square to serve as a home for the campaign, according to one of the people. Kraft already has some ties to the Roxbury neighborhood: the Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts, where Kraft serves as board chair, is headquartered there. Kraft has been weighing a challenge to Boston Mayor Michelle Wu for months, but Boston City Councilor Ed Flynn’s decision to forgo his own bid for the seat his father, Ray Flynn, once held cleared the lane for the philanthropist and political newcomer. Taking on Wu in the election this fall will be no small feat. Wu has kept her political operation sharp since she took office, while racking up wins first in the 2023 council races and then in the Suffolk County Supreme Judicial Court clerk’s race last fall. And she has the power of incumbency in a city that hasn’t ousted an incumbent in decades. She also already has endorsements from a handful of unions, including Laborers’ Local 223, Unite Here Local 26, SEIU Local 888 and AFSCME Council 93 — and $1.7 million in her campaign coffers at the end of last month. But City Hall watchers expect Kraft, the son of billionaire business mogul and New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, could have access to near unlimited funds. And unlike most first-time candidates, he already has some name recognition — both among Patriots fans and as a philanthropist and former head of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Boston (plus as a potential mayoral candidate since 2023 ). And Wu is currently mired in a few battles that Kraft could try to wield on the campaign trail: pending school closures, a costly overhaul of White Stadium that’s drawn a few very vocal critics and a lawsuit, her recent struggle to push her property tax shift bill through Beacon Hill (now headed for a round two) and harrumphing from developers unhappy with Wu’s way of doing business in the city. GOOD TUESDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS . Tips, scoops, running for something? Email me: kgarrity@politico.com .  TODAY — Gov. Maura Healey and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll make an announcement about higher education funding at 11 a.m. in Bridgewater. Driscoll speaks at Lynn Mayor Jared Nicholson's State of the City at 6 p.m. in Lynn. Attorney General Andrea Campbell keynotes the Mass. Political Women's Caucus annual meeting at 5:30 p.m. Sen. Ed Markey hosts “The Massachusetts Response to Trump's Inauguration" at 6. p.m.; Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Rep. Ayanna Pressley attend.   Power shifts, razor-thin margins, and a high-stakes agenda. We’ve transformed our coverage—more reporters, more timely insights, and unmatched policy scoops. From leadership offices to committee rooms, caucus meetings, and beyond, our expert reporting keeps you ahead of the decisions that matter. Subscribe to our Inside Congress newsletter today .     FROM TRUMP'S INAUGURATION THE RETURN — Donald Trump officially returned to the White House yesterday in a packed day he capped off by signing dozens of Executive Orders before heading out for inauguration receptions. It didn’t take long before he drew backlash from the Bay State. At Boston’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day breakfast, speakers couldn’t avoid connecting the day's celebration of MLK with the celebration happening in Washington. Among them: Rep. Ayanna Pressley and Sen. Ed Markey, who both decided not to attend the inauguration in D.C. Gov. Maura Healey, meanwhile, repeated the line she’s been leaning on lately: “I've been clear, though, with the people of Massachusetts. … I will do all I can to work with the new federal administration where it benefits the people of Massachusetts, and I've also said that we will not change who we are here in the state,” she told reporters on her way out of the breakfast. Pressley later gathered advocates from Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts, Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition and Boston’s Office of Immigrant Advancement to talk about what to expect in Washington — and to lay out their resistance message. The event, Pressley told the crowd, was “about reminding us all that regardless of who sits behind the desk in the Oval Office or who holds the gavel in Congress, the power to enact transformative change has always resided in the people.” But it wasn’t all worry in the Bay State and beyond. Republicans in New England celebrated Trump’s once unlikely return to power, per WBUR , and the Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance lauded Trump’s EO pumping the brakes on offshore wind development, calling it “a good first step” while urging further restrictions. Lawsuits over some of Trump’s EO’s are already underway. Lawyers for Civil Rights, La Colaborativa and the Brazilian Worker Center joined together to file a lawsuit in response to Trump’s order seeking to end birthright citizenship , while Attorney General Andrea Campbell pointed out that it’s a right contained in the Constitution. More legal battles could be coming soon: Campbell said her office “will be reviewing this flood of executive orders and stand ready to defend the law and protect the people of Massachusetts,” in a post on X . Related reads:  ICYMI: You can catch up on the play-by-play with POLITICO’s liveblog or check out more Inauguration Day coverage here .  — “'The darkest inaugural address ever': Mass. congressional delegation reacts to Trump's speech,” by Adam Reilly, GBH News: “When U.S. Representative Seth Moulton of Salem attended President Donald Trump’s first inaugural address back in 2017, he thought Trump’s reference to building new railways signaled a possible point of bipartisan collaboration with the new administration. Fast forward eight years, and Moulton says he heard nothing comparably hopeful in Trump’s second inaugural address. Moulton contends the second speech painted an even grimmer picture than the first, notwithstanding the first speech’s memorable references to an ‘American carnage.’” MANY JAN 6 RIOTERS HAD PREVIOUS VIOLENT CRIMINAL HISTORIES, ASSAULTED OFFICERS, CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE... — “Trump pardons 1,500 involved in Jan. 6 riot, likely including those from Mass.,” by Jesús Marrero Suárez, WBUR: “President Trump has pardoned and commuted the sentences of approximately 1,500 people convicted of crimes committed during the Jan. 6 insurrection, making good on a campaign promise and stunning legal observers. … While names of those pardoned were not immediately released, the sweeping Day 1 clemency likely applies to some if not all of the 55 New Englanders who were among those that stormed the U.S. Capitol in 2021. Some were convicted earlier of attacking Capitol police.” — “Massachusetts AG Andrea Campbell looking to boost budget to battle Trump,” by Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald: “Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell said she plans to ask the state Legislature for additional funding this budget season in anticipation of legal battles with President Donald Trump’s incoming administration. The funds would be used to beef up staffing, Campbell, a Democrat, told the Herald Monday at an unrelated event held around the same time Trump, a Republican, was sworn in as president for a second term. The amount the attorney general plans to request has not yet been determined, according to her office.” PAYWALL FOR THE BOSTON HERALD RAG — “AGs urge Congress to protect Inflation Reduction Act,” by Christian M. Wade, The Eagle-Tribune.  PAYWALL — “Mass. Latino divisions on Trump: Some see threats, others promise, in his presidency,” by Simón Rios, WBUR.  MUST READ FOR LEGAL EXPLANATION! — “Just ‘arrest the illegals’? It’s not that simple, Mass. sheriffs say,” by Susannah Sudborough, MassLive. PHOTO SHOWS SENIOR CITIZENS CHEERING...WAIT UNTIL THEIR HEALTH CARE & SOCIAL SECURITY ARE CUT! — ‘A great comeback story’: Valley residents celebrate Trump’s return to White House on Inauguration Day,” by Samuel Gelinas, Daily Hampshire Gazette. PAYWALL DATELINE BEACON HILL THE WHITE TOOTHED GOVERNOR WAS GIVEN A FREE PASS BY THE MEDIA FOR ALL OF HIS BLUNDERS! FOR 8 YEARS, GOV. CHARLIE BAKER WAS IN CHARGE OF THE MBTA - LOOK AT THAT COSTLY FIASCO! THE MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR QUESTION — Massachusetts won’t be on the hook for the full $2.5 billion that was still hanging over its head after it erroneously paid out $2.5 billion in pandemic-era unemployment benefits using federal rather than state funds back in 2020, before Healey was governor. The state struck a last-minute deal with the U.S. Department of Labor to pay $2.1 billion over 10 years. The total owed after fees and interest would’ve been closer to $3 billion, according to Healey's administration. In announcing the deal, Healey leveled some of her most direct criticism at her predecessor, saying it was “incredibly frustrating that the prior administration allowed this to happen,” while calling for changes to the UI system. More from the Boston Globe . — “Mass. has a primary care physician shortage. A new law aims to help fill it with internationally trained doctors,” by Maren Halpin, The Boston Globe: “Many internationally trained doctors immigrate to Massachusetts but are forced to work in lower-level jobs, even as the state faces a growing shortage of primary care physicians and psychiatrists. A newly passed law is looking to address both issues. The measure creates a track for internationally trained physicians who practiced medicine in other countries to be able to learn Massachusetts’ medical standards through apprenticeships as they pursue full state licensure. In exchange, they must commit to working in underserved communities for two years.” DAY IN COURT — “Two years ago, the multiple-rape case against a State Street executive made headlines in Boston. Now, it’s in danger of completely falling apart,” by Sean Cotter, The Boston Globe: “The arrest of a State Street executive two and a half years ago sent shockwaves across Boston’s banking community: Ivan Cheung was accused of committing four rapes at knifepoint two decades ago, two of them involving underage sex workers. Now the case is in jeopardy of falling apart. Prosecutors claim in court filings that, in spite of what they believe is strong evidence, they cannot support the most solid charges against Cheung because of legal technicalities. And for the charges that they can bring, the evidence is likely too weak to uphold their claims.” FROM THE 413 — “Garcia Suits up to Seek Second Term as Mayor of Holyoke,” by Matt Szafranski, Western Mass Politics & Insight: “The political season in Holyoke formally launched Thursday with Mayor Joshua Garcia’s announcement that he will seek a second full four-year term. Garcia made history in 2021 when he became the city’s first leader of Puerto Rican heritage of the city. Holyoke has one of the largest such communities in the continental United States. However historic, he neither won his first election nor is seeking reelection on identity.” THE LOCAL ANGLE MUST READ! IMPORTANT ENERGY INFORMATION FOR NEW BEDFORD! — “A busy weekend for Mitchell at mayors’ conference,” by Grace Ferguson, The New Bedford Light.  excerpts:  The New Bedford mayor was a leading voice on climate issues at this meeting. At the closing session on Sunday, Mitchell said mayors must lead the climate conversation. At a panel on clean energy tax credits, he spoke briefly about plans to use geothermal energy in the to-be-constructed Congdon-DeValles School.  “The thing about geothermal is, it works,” he said, because it lasts long and lowers energy costs. In an interview, Mitchell said some of the most interesting things he heard at the conference were about climate. “It’s been diminished as a political issue because some people are fatigued about hearing it,” he said. The mayor said he learned about better ways to message on climate by keeping messages relevant and fact-based — and not coming across as a “smarty pants” about it. As an example, Holt pointed to money allocated to cities in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Mayors said that package helped finance pedestrian improvements and other big projects. In New Bedford, it funded planning for the city’s waterfront paths and lead pipe replacements. “We don’t talk nearly enough about our housing deficit,” Gloria said. “It is enormous.” The organization’s housing report showed that an overwhelming majority of the 120 mayors surveyed agreed that the crisis is “severe, widespread, and worsening” — and most said it will continue to worsen if Congress doesn’t pass a “significant” housing production bill. — “Peabody police working to regain accreditation after lapse,” by Caroline Enos, The Salem News: “The city’s police department has lost its accreditation from the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission. But it is in good standing otherwise and on its way to gaining the status back, according to the organization. The department did not properly file documentation of compliance with all new procedures and policies of the nonprofit MPAC, an optional accreditation program for police departments in the state.” HEARD ‘ROUND THE BUBBLAH HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to Molly Trowbridge, Jeremy Jacobs and Diego Sanchez, a Massachusetts Democratic State Committee member and Barney Frank alum.   New Year. New Washington. New Playbook. With intensified congressional coverage and even faster delivery of policy scoops, POLITICO’s reimagined Playbook Newsletter ensures you’re always ahead of the conversation. Sign up today .     Want to make an impact? POLITICO Massachusetts has a variety of solutions available for partners looking to reach and activate the most influential people in the Bay State. Have a petition you want signed? A cause you’re promoting? Seeking to increase brand awareness among this key audience? Share your message with our influential readers to foster engagement and drive action. Contact Jesse Shapiro to find out how: jshapiro@politico.com .   Follow us on Twitter Kelly Garrity @KellyGarrity3   Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook  |  Playbook PM  |  California Playbook  |  Florida Playbook  |  Illinois Playbook  |  Massachusetts Playbook  |  New Jersey Playbook  |  New York Playbook  |  Ottawa Playbook  |  Brussels Playbook  |  London Playbook View all our politics and policy newsletters Follow us

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POLITICO Nightly: A new president for a changed Washington

 

By Calder McHugh Presented by American Edge Project President Donald Trump speaks during inauguration ceremonies in the Capitol Rotunda. | Pool photo by Kevin Lamarque BACK TO THE FUTURE — Today marked Donald Trump’s second inauguration as president, but he took the oath of office a different president than the first time. His electoral mandate was stronger and more durable. His political party had been brought to heel. He was surrounded by loyalists in a city that didn’t seem so foreign and hostile anymore. Eight years ago today, Trump entered the Oval Office in a defensive crouch, as trains, planes and buses filled with hundreds of thousands of protesters descended on Washington for the Women’s March that would take place the next day. This time around, he has assumed a far more aggressive and cocksure posture — even by Trumpian standards — and it radiated across every aspect of his inauguration. His inaugural speech was twice as long as his first one in 2017. He spoke in the first person far more . He crowed about his victory and promised a wave of first-day action, none of it timid. The GOP has already capitulated, with even his diciest nominees poised to pass Senate muster. America’s top business leaders — many of whom shunned Trump back in 2017 — also recognize this is a different president. Among those who descended on Washington to genuflect before the new president were some of the world’s richest men — visible from their prime seats at the inaugural proceedings were Elon Musk and fellow tech billionaires, Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos, Sundar Pichai, Tim Cook and Sam Altman, whose combined net worth reaches close to $1 trillion. The jockeying for position inside the Capitol Rotunda — where the president was sworn in due to the frigid outdoor conditions — came on the heels of a record-smashing outpouring of corporate donations for Trump’s inauguration . The left’s resistance to Trump is also more muted — a protest on Saturday held by the People’s March, essentially a rebrand of the Women’s March, drew only a fraction of the attendees of the first go round. Even some Democratic politicians are convinced they should do what they can to get on the new president’s good side. New York City Mayor Eric Adams, in line for a potential pardon from Trump, drove down to Washington at around 3 a.m. this morning , canceling a series of MLK Day events that were on his schedule to attend the inauguration. Adams also flew to Mar-a-Lago last week to meet with Trump, as did Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.), who attended the inauguration in his trademark hoodie and shorts, even with temperatures hovering around 20 degrees Fahrenheit. In 2017, Trump’s inaugural address — penned in large part by Steve Bannon and Stephen Miller — was centered around the dark theme of “American carnage,” his ominous portrait of national decline. Today, he struck similar notes but with more muscular policy prescriptions and self-adulation. Almost immediately after his official inaugural address, he entered an overflow room, where he delivered yet another speech, this one more rambling, in which he discussed his belief the 2020 election was rigged, how much blood Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.) lost when he was shot in 2017 and how people climb the border wall, among other topics. The two speeches served to remind that while Trump takes office as a more politically secure and better prepared president, what’s changed most is not him or his priorities, but rather how willing the rest of the political and business establishment is to placate him. Welcome to POLITICO Nightly. Reach out with news, tips and ideas at nightly@politico.com . Or contact tonight’s author at cmchugh@politico.com or on X (formerly known as Twitter) at @calder_mchugh .   A message from American Edge Project: New Poll: Voters continue to worry about technological threats from foreign adversaries, namely China, and see U.S. tech as part of the solution to their national security concerns. They also want policymakers to take steps to ensure the U.S. remains a global tech leader – for example, by encouraging U.S. tech innovations and open-source AI models. See the findings of our voter priorities survey.   THE NEW ADMINISTRATION — Donald Trump sworn in, promising a ‘golden age of America’: Donald J. Trump declared his inauguration as the nation’s 47th president as a moment of American renewal, promising to usher in a “thrilling new era of national success” after depicting the last four years as “a horrible betrayal.” “The golden age of America begins right now . From this day forward, our country will flourish and be respected again all over the world,” Trump said at the outset of an inaugural address delivered to a scaled-down, in-person crowd inside the Capitol Rotunda where the ceremony was relocated due to the frigid temperatures. — Get out of DOGE: How Musk helped eject Ramaswamy : Elon Musk has already achieved his first cut at the so-called Department of Government Efficiency : his co-leader Vivek Ramaswamy. Musk, the tech tycoon and Donald Trump confidant, made it known that he wanted Ramaswamy out of DOGE in recent days, according to three people familiar with Musk’s preferences who, like others for this article, were granted anonymity to discuss them. An ill-received holiday rant on X by Ramaswamy about H-1B visas apparently hastened his demise. Just 69 days after Trump announced the team, Ramaswamy is now leaving DOGE and planning to announce a run for Ohio governor next week. Musk’s ability to ice out Ramaswamy, who for a variety of reasons had irked some Republicans in Trump’s circle, is the latest sign of his influence in the incoming administration. And it presages an encore of all of the infighting that marked Trump’s first term. Ramaswamy “just burned through the bridges and he finally burned Elon,” said a Republican strategist close to Trump advisers. “Everyone wants him out of Mar-a-Lago, out of D.C.” — Trump’s Day One actions, summarized for Congress: Donald Trump’s team is touting more than 20 Day One actions across four categories in a document sent to key Republican congressional offices this morning. The two-page memo summarizes many executive actions that were briefed to lawmakers and to reporters Sunday and today. Read the memo here . — First lawsuits against Trump admin target DOGE: Within minutes of Trump taking the oath of office, at least three lawsuits were filed in federal court in Washington , seeking to shut down Elon Musk’s “Department of Government Efficiency” until it complies with transparency rules related to governmental advisory entities. The lawsuits allege that the project Trump announced to target government waste violates the Federal Advisory Committee Act by giving private individuals roles in the government decision-making process without the public access the law requires. — Trump’s already tapped an army of acting officials to lead his agencies : Although many of Trump’s top appointees appear to have a clear path to Senate confirmation — including his once-embattled pick for Defense secretary, Pete Hegseth — it’s unclear when the president will have some of his most important jobs filled. At most agencies senior career staff were elevated to fill the leadership gap. After being sworn in, Trump signed a series of executive orders approving dozens of appointments , including acting designations across the government.   Power shifts, razor-thin margins, and a high-stakes agenda. We’ve transformed our coverage—more reporters, more timely insights, and unmatched policy scoops. From leadership offices to committee rooms, caucus meetings, and beyond, our expert reporting keeps you ahead of the decisions that matter. Subscribe to our Inside Congress newsletter today .     THE LAST ADMINISTRATION Marine One, carrying former President Joe Biden and former First Lady Jill Biden, takes off from the east plaza of the U.S. Capitol after the presidential inauguration today. | Francis Chung/POLITICO — Biden pardons several family members: As one of his final acts in office, President Joe Biden pardoned several members of his family . The White House announced the pardons in a last batch of clemency decisions just minutes before Donald Trump took the oath of office, saying they were intended to prevent “baseless and politically motivated investigations” against his family. — Biden said his pardon of family was meant to shield them from Trump. That’s not the full story: Joe Biden cast his last-minute pardons of family members merely as an effort to shield them from the retribution of Donald Trump. In reality, his brother, serial entrepreneur Jim Biden, had already come under scrutiny from investigators in Biden’s own Justice Department . In addition to calls from Republicans in Congress to prosecute him for allegedly lying to congressional impeachment investigators, Jim Biden’s activities have been investigated in recent years in two federal criminal probes, as POLITICO previously reported. Jim Biden, 75, has not been accused of criminal wrongdoing in those cases. Both investigations deal with a now-bankrupt hospital operator, Americore, that Jim Biden worked with in the years between his older brother’s vice presidency and presidency. — Biden issues preemptive pardons for Fauci, Milley, Jan. 6 Committee and others : President Joe Biden has issued preemptive pardons to a slew of high-profile targets of President-elect Donald Trump — a striking last-minute effort to shield them from prosecution just hours before Trump, who has promised to punish his perceived enemies, is sworn in. Biden issued the pardons to former public health official Anthony Fauci and former Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley. He also pardoned the members and staff of the House special committee that investigated the Jan. 6 insurrection as well as officers from Washington’s Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Capitol Police who testified before the committee. — Left off Biden’s list of pardons: Jack Smith : Among the flurry of last-minute pardons issued by Joe Biden in the final moments of his presidency today, a group of names was conspicuously absent: prosecutors and judges who have sought to apply the law to Donald Trump . Trump has frequently mused about seeking revenge on prosecutors like special counsel Jack Smith, who led the two federal criminal cases against Trump, and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who brought the New York hush money case that ended in Trump’s conviction. Neither was named by Biden today as the recipient of a pardon, even as the outgoing president moved to protect other prominent officials who have sparked Trump’s ire. — Harris heads home to Los Angeles: Former Vice President Kamala Harris is headed back home to Los Angeles today , and will immediately visit a local fire station to thank firefighters for their work battling the deadly blazes. Harris, who lives with her husband in Brentwood, an area that had evacuations, had told aides she wanted to visit even sooner, but a trip in her last days in office never materialized.   A message from American Edge Project:   AROUND THE WORLD BENDING THE KNEE — Several foreign heads of state and government, from Ecuador to Italy, were among the guests at President Donald Trump’s inauguration today — an unprecedented sight at such an event , according to historians and State Department records. The foreigners’ presence at a ceremony honoring the new U.S. leader underscored how much Trump has dashed American norms both domestically and globally. It suggested that many foreign leaders see a useful strategy in showing personal deference to Trump to stay in the good graces of the world’s most powerful country. Also telling was who got prime seats: Argentina’s Javier Milei and Italy’s Giorgia Meloni, who both hail from far-right and libertarian traditions, sat in the special group behind Trump during the ceremony. CHINA IS PROMOTING CHEAP CLEAN ENERGY & THEIR ECONOMY IS PROSPERING THANKS TO TRUMP'S IGNORANCE! CHINA IS BUILDING ROADS & MAKING FRIENDS! CHINA IS LEADING THE WORLD! WITHDRAWAL — President Donald Trump will withdraw the United States from the Paris Climate Agreement for the second time, delivering a blow to the effort to keep global temperatures from rising to dangerous levels. The president announced plans to exit the nearly 200-nation pact today in a White House press release outlining a forthcoming executive order. The process will take a full year from the date the Trump administration formally notifies the United Nations climate body. While the U.S. can still participate in annual climate negotiations, it will do so with less influence than before. LE MONDE DITCHES MUSK — One of France’s most prominent newspapers, Le Monde, is abandoning Elon Musk’s X , the paper’s editor-in-chief announced today. In his editorial, Jérôme Fenoglio said the burgeoning alliance between U.S. President-elect Donald Trump and “social platform bosses” like Musk and Mark Zuckerberg poses a global threat to free access to reliable information. Le Monde’s move came just hours before Trump is sworn in as the 47th president of the United States, and is in line with a fairly broad movement of institutions — including news organizations as well as prominent political officials — to leave X in France. COLLATERAL DAMAGE — A senior EU official cautioned Donald Trump hours before his inauguration that Europe can’t meet more aggressive defense spending targets if there’s a trade war . European Commission industry chief Stéphane Séjourné said he agreed Europe needs to invest more in its defense capacities, but argued that it would be impossible to do so if Trump launches a trade war with Europe. Dating back to his first term in the White House, Trump has berated European countries to cough up more cash on defense, arguing that they have been freeloading in NATO under the American security umbrella and even suggesting that the U.S. could pull out of the transatlantic military alliance. PAPAL BLESSING — Pope Francis blasted Donald Trump’s plans to deport millions of undocumented immigrants, calling the United States president’s proposal a “disgrace. ” “If true, this will be a disgrace … This is not the way to solve things,” the pontiff said Sunday, speaking on Italian talk show Che Tempo Che Fa. He was responding to a question about sweeping immigration raids reportedly planned in Chicago in the days after Trump’s inauguration. Trump, who was sworn in today, has vowed to start deporting millions of undocumented immigrants on his first day in the Oval Office, making “the largest deportation program in American history” a signature pledge of his campaign.   New Year. New Washington. New Playbook. With intensified congressional coverage and even faster delivery of policy scoops, POLITICO’s reimagined Playbook Newsletter ensures you’re always ahead of the conversation. Sign up today .     Nightly Number 0 The amount of tariffs that President Donald Trump has so far levied on trade partners , backing off previous threats to impose 25 percent tariffs on Canada and Mexico on his first day in office. RADAR SWEEP VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLARS — The world is home to hundreds — and possibly thousands — of venomous caterpillars. And while the insect isn’t known for its venomous members, it turns out that these species of caterpillar might actually have all kinds of medically useful compounds amidst their venomous secretions . Given that no two species produce the same exact venom, scientists are now in the midst of studying the compounds that make up all of these species — and learning about whether their generally destructive properties might actually help to find new drug candidates. Bob Holmes writes about the research for the BBC. Parting Image On this date in 1981: Iran releases 52 Americans it had held hostage for 444 days, minutes after the presidency passed from Jimmy Carter to Ronald Reagan. | AP Did someone forward this email to you?  Sign up here .   A message from American Edge Project: American tech innovation, especially in AI, is so important: it drives prosperity, defends our freedom, and ensures America stays on top. To secure our leadership, policymakers must partner with the private sector and champion open- and closed-source AI development, while avoiding misguided regulations that risk weakening us and handing the future to authoritarian regimes. See our voter priorities survey.     Follow us on Twitter Charlie Mahtesian @PoliticoCharlie Calder McHugh @calder_mchugh   Follow us

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The Circus Begins 1.20.25 Ally Sammarco Jan 21 Credit: AP Hello and happy Monday, friends. Welcome back to Today’s American News, your source for news and analysis on the circus that is American politics and entertainment. Today was Trump’s inauguration day. Ugh. Self-described “Dictator on Day One” Trump signs really bad orders… If you were avoiding watching the news today, this story is probably what you wanted to avoid seeing. CNN reports “Trump signed actions that remove the US from the Paris climate agreement, freeze hiring in the federal government and require federal workers to return to the office.” The executive orders were signed immediately following Trump’s inauguration parade. Trump immediately pardons January 6 criminals… We can’t say he didn’t warn us. After taking office today, Trump made good on his promise to pardon the insurrectionists who followed his direction in trying to overturn the election and prevent the transfer of power on January 6, 2021. The pardons extended to 1,500 MAGA criminals, including Proud Boys and Oath Keepers convicted of seditious conspiracy. Credit: Getty Images Vivek Ramaswamy cut from fake job focused on making cuts… It’s almost like clockwork that drama and karma knocks down members of Trump’s inner circle. Elon Musk and Ramaswamy appeared to be besties, but behind the scenes Musk was trying to get his fellow tech bro off of a Trump commission designed to fire government workers. Ramaswamy plans to run for Ohio governor, a real job, and he likely expects to have Trump's support in that campaign. Politico covered the behind-the-scenes circus. Credit: AP Trump crypto coin scheme seizes on MAGA supporters’ cult mentality… Since he jumped into political waters with his racist attacks on President Obama, he cashed in on his platform with impunity. Money-grabbing trading cards, gold sneakers, fake Bibles, and his latest scheme, Trump-themed crypto coins. The crypto industry has flocked to Trump, who opposed crypto until he figured that he could make money from it. The “meme coin” named $TRUMP, launched Friday, has risen from $6.50 in value to a high of $73 yesterday. Today’s Buzz Trump suggests ambassadorships for right-wing Hollywood figures… Hollywood isn’t known for throngs of entertainment industry names with right-wing politics, but Trump has found at least three he likes: Sylvester Stallone, Jon Voight, and Mel Gibson. Trump indicated at an inauguration event last evening that he will appoint the three household Hollywood figures as ambassadors. Thanks for reading Today’s American News. We’re in for quite a circus these next four years. Check back in tomorrow as we bring you more news and analysis.