Today’s notice: What we learned in the past week. How Democrats plan to deal with hostile social media. And wait, did the J6 bomber also get pardoned? (No, but it’s an interesting story anyway.)
Seriously, This Is Happening
On the campaign trail last year, I’d often hear a flip, “Yeah, but he’s never going to do that” from Donald Trump supporters about his more outlandish promises. It was easy to say. After all, the last Trump administration was defined by the 2016 line from Salena Zito, who wrote that the president’s fans took him “seriously, not literally.”
One week in, the key difference between Trump 1 and 2 is he should be taken literally this time.
From esoteric promises like the one he made in May to pardon the Silk Road guy to broad ones like his October promise to limit legal immigration, Trump is doing what he said he would. (A notable exception: The war in Ukraine is not over yet despite his promise to wrap it up in 24 hours.) The president has taken a relatively narrow victory and, one personalized Sharpie signature at a time, turned it into a sweeping mandate to implement his election rhetoric without a second thought.
NOTUS’ Jasmine Wright reports on the first week of Trump from inside the White House. A key finding is that everyone is having fun. (Well, except when Elon Musk is around — but you’ll have to read it for that.) Grievance may have gotten these people into the building, but now they’re having a blast doing basically whatever they want. Trump literally promised it would be like this in 2023 with his “dictator from Day One” crack.
“He certainly has his mojo,” one senior adviser told Jasmine of Trump.
—Evan McMorris-Santoro | Read Jasmine Wright’s story.
Dems Sigh Heavily and Keep Posting
As Democrats look toward a future where they’re again a relevant part of the conversation, they worry they’re facing a new obstacle: social media companies they see as making a clear dash to curry favor with MAGA.
The companies say they are shifting toward free speech that will benefit all sides of a political argument. But the true nature of changing content moderation plans and shifting algorithms is murky, and some Democrats fear it will be even harder to get a word in edgewise over the din of misinformation.
Compounding the problem: Everyone is on social media, and the coconuts were mostly powerless against the MAGA influencer set. Breaking through online is seen as key to the party’s electoral future. And so, even as worries about MAGA-ized platforms grow, people told us it’s imperative that they post through them.
—Evan McMorris-Santoro | Read the story with Tinashe Chingarande and Torrence Banks.
Front Page
- Senate Confirms Kristi Noem to Head DHS: Several Democrats joined Republicans to approve the official who will lead the president’s deportation efforts.
- Republicans Want to ‘Move Forward’ From Trump’s Pardons — And Investigate Biden’s: “It is entirely bullshit,” Rep. Nancy Mace said of Biden’s pardons.
- Senate Democrats Can’t Stop Trump’s Nominees — But They Can Stall: GOP senators are confident the obstructions are about delaying the mandate.
Norms Report: Nominations in the Senate
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was confirmed by the Senate 51-50 Friday after JD Vance broke a tie. The narrow vote feels normal in our polarized moment, but as NOTUS’ John T. Seward reports, it’s not normal at all. “The Senate has only once rejected a president’s nomination for a secretary of defense,” he writes. George H.W. Bush’s pick, John Tower, was rejected after reports that he was “a womanizer and a drunk.”
Sen. Roger Wicker “had the final word on the Senate floor before the vote, urging his colleagues to back Hegseth for one simple reason: Donald Trump won,” John writes.
The Shadow Race to Replace Dick Durbin
While Dick Durbin hasn’t ruled out a 2026 Senate run, his wannabe successors are already making moves, NOTUS’ Helen Huiskes reports.
Some names to watch:
- Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi has an eye-popping $17 million war chest but won’t commit to a bid. Rep. Lauren Underwood hasn’t ruled out a run and is sitting on $1.1 million cash on hand.
- Reps. Robin Kelly and Delia Ramirez are keeping options open.
- Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton and Treasurer Michael Frerichs are in the mix.
- Insiders are keeping an eye on Gov. JB Pritzker and Rahm Emanuel.
The Legal Gray Area of Trump’s J6 Pardons
Trump’s J6 pardons were broad, vague and came alongside a directive to the attorney general to dismiss “pending indictments” against anyone for “conduct related to the events at or near” the Capitol that day. So who, exactly, does that proclamation apply to? And could it cover the still-at-large suspect who left pipe bombs at the RNC and DNC? Probably not, but…
“Normally a good lawyer would, you know, dot the i’s and cross the t’s a bit more carefully,” Eric Columbus, a lawyer who worked on the House Jan. 6 committee, told NOTUS’ Helen Huiskes and Torrence Banks.
Week Ahead
- The House GOP retreat kicks off on Monday at Trump’s Doral resort in Miami.
- Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s confirmation hearing for HHS secretary is scheduled for Wednesday. Tulsi Gabbard’s hearing for director of national security and Kash Patel’s hearing to run the FBI are slated for Thursday.
- The DNC will elect new leadership on Sunday.
Meet Us: Samuel Larreal
Welcome to “Meet Us” where we introduce you to a member of the NOTUS team. Up today is Samuel Larreal who is an AJI fellow and reporter covering Southern California.
- Hometown: Miami, Florida
- Past: Florida election correspondent at Teen Vogue, student journalist at Florida International University.
- Why journalism: I love minding other people’s business. This is just an excuse.
- AJI highlight so far: I’ve had the honor to learn from some of the most experienced, ethical and talented journalists in the country.
- Thing you can’t live without: Coffee. Can’t make a day without it.
- Best advice you’ve ever been given: Journalism is as much a privilege as it is a responsibility. You’re not here to look smart, you’re here to listen.
Not Us
We know NOTUS reporters can’t cover it all. Here’s some other great hits by … not us.
- Trump Sends D.C.’s Luxury-Home Market Into an All-Out Buying Frenzy by E.B. Solomont for The Wall Street Journal
- Experts saw Samoa’s plunging vaccination rates as a crisis. RFK Jr. saw an opportunity. By Brandy Zadrozny for NBC News
- 5 years after first COVID lockdown, Trump’s health policies worry public health experts by J.D. Capelouto and Diego Mendoza at Semafor
Be Social
New members coming out of their shells.
In the WA delegation, it's tradition for our newest member to inherit this gimlet-eyed monstrosity of a painting.@RepBaumgartner will be the custodian of "The Chick" for a year, followed by Rep. Randall.
— Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (@RepMGP) January 24, 2025
Excited to work alongside them on a bipartisan basis for folks across our… pic.twitter.com/5GIub6kaxL
Some Thoughts From Us…
NOTUS Managing Editor Matt Berman shared advice for covering the Trump administration with the National Press Club Journalism Institute.
Send your thoughts to newsletters@notus.org.
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