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My Trip to the Inauguration Turned Out Very Different Than Planned

Moving the Inauguration indoors was insignificant to most people, but for me, it was a massive change in how I planned to witness the swearing in of the 47^th President. I had been fortunate enough to be granted press credentials to the inauguration of President Donald Trump, something that I was shocked that I received and thrilled to attend.

There should be no confusion regarding the severity and cause of the California wildfires: It’s the fault of the California and Los Angeles governments. That is not to say that they can stop fires from occurring any more than that they can stop earthquakes, that Minnesota can stop snow, or that Florida can stop hurricanes. Natural disasters are the most predictable unpredictability of any geographic location. That is not an excuse, however, for not adequately preparing for a disaster that occurs every few years or so.

In what might be remembered as one of the most eventful inaugurations in recent history, Donald J. Trump was sworn in for his second term as President of the United States in a ceremony as unique as the man himself. The event, held indoors due to the biting cold of Washington, DC, saw Trump take the oath of office in the Capitol Rotunda, surrounded by an audience that included not just political figures but also tycoons like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos, signaling perhaps the administration’s close ties with business leaders.

I recently attended an afternoon/evening remembrance ceremony (azkarah) for a chayal (soldier) who fell in Gaza one year ago. He was the son of dear friends. I had first met him when he was a child but was unaware of the special character of this fallen soldier.

As my wife and I approached a milestone birthday, we decided that we would travel to Israel. We had not been in Israel since the bris milah of our oldest grandson. We knew this would not be a “typical” visit due to the wartime conditions that have existed since October 7, 2023. Indeed, on three separate occasions, we had to retreat to shelters and saw what reality is like when you are awakened by incoming rocket attacks. This article is a reflection on what we saw and a suggestion for ourselves as individuals and as a community.

As the clock ticks down to President-elect Donald Trump’s second inauguration, the Republican-led Congress has been busy filing and passing as much legislation as they can.  Knowing that they have, at best, a year before midterm election season will cloud every vote, the legislative agenda is looking to accomplish as much as they can in the short window.  With a few days left before Trump comes in to start signing their bills, Republicans are making the most of what they can.