<i>The Atlantic </i> Politics & Policy Daily: Paint the Town Gold
Today in 5 Lines
The inaugural festivities are underway: Donald Trump and Mike Pence in a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery, and the “Make America Great Again! Welcome Celebration,” starring singer Toby Keith and the band 3 Doors Down, kicked off at 4 p.m. near the Lincoln Memorial. During his Senate confirmation hearing, Rick Perry, Trump’s choice to lead the Department of Energy, he regrets “recommending its elimination” over five years ago. Steven Mnuchin, the nominee for treasury secretary, he supports raising the debt ceiling in his testimony before the Senate Finance Committee. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer Senate Democrats plan to confirm just two of Trump’s Cabinet nominees on the day he takes office: General James Mattis, the nominee for defense secretary, and General John Kelly, Trump’s choice to head the Department of Homeland Security. During his last day in office, President Obama the prison sentences of 330 drug offenders, bringing the total number of commutations granted during his presidency to 1,715.
