USA – Page 102 – Prologue Journal

It isn’t your imagination: Everyone was on vacation in December

Washington Post It isn’t your imagination: Everyone was on vacation in December https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2025/01/19/vacation-december-americans-pto-travel-2024/

Trump readies massive shift in U.S. economy on eve of inauguration

Washington Post The incoming president and his Republican allies are beginning to plot out major changes to federal taxes and spending as they prepare to take control of Washington. https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2025/01/19/trump-economy-inauguration-fiscal-deadlines/

Youngkin orders flags to be raised for Trump’s inauguration amid mourning period for Jimmy Carter’s death

Fox News Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, a Republican, ordered flags to temporarily fly at full-staff for President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration on Monday. “I hereby order that the flags of the United States of America and the Commonwealth of Virginia are to be flown at full-staff on all state and local buildings and grounds in the…

Biden to Spend a Last Day as President in Charleston

New York Times President Biden will spend his final full day in office in Charleston, S.C., where five years ago he revived his flailing campaign. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/19/us/politics/biden-president-trump-charleston-south-carolina.html

Jake Sullivan, White House National Security Adviser, Reflects on China Policy

New York Times President Biden and his team saw China as the one nation with the intent and capability to displace American primacy — and crafted policies to defend U.S. power. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/19/us/politics/jake-sullivan-china.html

A Trump Oligarchy Is Moving to Washington, and Buying Up Prime Addresses

New York Times Billionaires and multimillionaires are flocking to a city where power has been more important than money, but is now deeply intertwined with it. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/19/us/politics/trump-billionaires-washington-homes.html

Biden Made a Global Push to Constrain China. What Will Trump Do?

New York Times Jake Sullivan, the national security adviser, said in an interview that “we’ve just stuck with our theory, which is managed competition.” Trump and Xi Jinping might have other plans. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/19/us/politics/biden-trump-china.html

Trump Returns to White House With More Deferential Allies and Foes

New York Times As Donald J. Trump prepares to take the oath of office for a second time, much of the world seems to be bowing down to him and demoralized opponents are rethinking the future. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/19/us/politics/trump-washington.html

The L.A. Fires Expose a Web of Governments, Weak by Design

New York Times Who’s in charge? The muddled jurisdiction of Los Angeles leaves a critical question in doubt. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/19/us/wildfires-los-angeles-governance.html

They Built a Home to Fend Off California Wildfires. But Will They Stay?

New York Times The Vogts designed their Malibu house to withstand disasters. But they were only beginning to learn the mental toll the fires would take on them. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/19/us/malibu-home-california-wildfires.html