Tim Cook, in particular, should never live this down. Just disgraceful to be in fucking church with a fake Christian monster. pic.twitter.com/YRamHtBfgl

— Matthew Rettenmund (@mattrett) January 20, 2025

ABOVE: Whatever we feared from Trump I, Trump II is going to be possibly this country's greatest obstacle, democracy worldwide's greatest obstacle. Seeing all the major tech billionaires AT CHURCH with Trump, the fake Christian, is chilling. (The gay and the Jew are like, “Praise Jayzus!” Kara Swisher notes Zuckerberg is, “A small little creature with a shriveled soul.”)

BELOW: Just, yeah ...

Listen, there's not a lot of good news going on.

Richards flanked by Kamala Harris & by her daughter Lily (Image via Instagram)

NYT: First, RIP to Cecile Richards, longtime (2006-2018) Planned Parenthood president, and the daughter of the late Gov. Ann Richards of Texas. Cecile died today — Inauguration Day — at 67 after battling cancer.

HRC's Kelley Robinson remembers her:

I am heartbroken by the passing of my friend and mentor Cecile Richards. Cecile was a giant in the fight for freedom — an unwavering advocate for reproductive, workers’ and civil rights who never stopped fighting for a stronger, more inclusive country. Her leadership at Planned Parenthood, where I was honored to work with her for nearly ten years, was game-changing, and she paved the way for so many other fearless leaders who will continue to look to her as a role model. I’m honored to have lived and organized in the era of Cecile Richards. Her loss will be felt across the country, and I send my deepest condolences to her family and loved ones. May she rest in power. And, may we all honor her legacy by continuing this fight towards freedom and equality for all.

Richards, whose mom died of cancer at 73, wrote in an essay in 2022:

If I have one regret from my time leading Planned Parenthood, it is that we believed that providing vital health care, with public opinion on our side, would be enough to overcome the political onslaught. I underestimated the callousness of the Republican Party and its willingness to trade off the rights of women for political expediency.

(Image via WhiteHouse.gov)

NYT: President Biden issued last-second pardons for a host of Trump's sworn enemies aka people who attempted to hold him accountable for his crimes.

Ever chipper, Biden said:

I believe in the rule of law, and I am optimistic that the strength of our legal institutions will ultimately prevail over politics. But these are exceptional circumstances, and I cannot in good conscience do nothing. Baseless and politically motivated investigations wreak havoc on the lives, safety and financial security of targeted individuals and their families. Even when individuals have done nothing wrong — and in fact have done the right thing — and will ultimately be exonerated, the mere fact of being investigated or prosecuted can irreparably damage reputations and finances.

Pardon recipient Gen. Milley said:

After forty-three years of faithful service in uniform to our Nation, protecting and defending the Constitution, I do not wish to spend whatever remaining time the Lord grants me fighting those who unjustly might seek retribution for perceived slight. I do not want to put my family, my friends, and those with whom I served through the resulting distraction, expense, and anxiety.

Dr. Fauci said:

Let me be perfectly clear: I have committed no crime and there are no possible grounds for any allegation or threat of criminal investigation or prosecution of me. The fact is, however, that the mere articulation of these baseless threats, and the potential that they will be acted upon, create immeasurable and intolerable distress for me and my family.

Rep. Adam Kinzinger appeared to reject a pardon.

Biden also pardoned his own family members.

WHITE HOUSE: The left doesn't deserve Biden, who was the most progressive president since FDR — on his way out the door, he has (finally) freed Leonard Peltier.

for those wondering why Melania chose to wear that goddamn hat, here's your answer: pic.twitter.com/oF9QvpcwaG

— Jessiah (@thepondering_) January 20, 2025

HUFF POST: NONE of the leaders of America's strongest allies are at today's inauguration, yet a slew of far-right leaders are. (And as seen above, Melania may not be as dumb as I thought.)

NY1: Fucking asshole NYC Mayor Eric Adams DROPPED all his MLK Day events to rush over to Trump's inauguration, presumably to beg for a pardon. NYC — we need to get it the fuck TOGETHER and vote this ass-clown out.

TWITTER: At last night's Trump rally (why?), Trump — a blathering old man — blithely seemed to admit that Elon Musk tampered with voting machines, delivering him Pennsylvania:

Trump said tonight QUOTE He knows those computers better than anybody. All those computers. Those vote-counting computers. And we ended up winning Pennsylvania, like, in a landslide. So it was pretty good. Pretty good. So thank you to Elon. UNQUOTE What did he mean? pic.twitter.com/x8kN6cxusn

— Matthew Rettenmund (@mattrett) January 20, 2025

This is not out of context, and there is no other explanation for his words. (Another stolen-election reference he made, widely misconstrued, actually refers to his belief that he won in 2020.)

ADVOCATE: Trump plans to issue executive orders banning recognition of trans and non-binary people in the government in any form (passports, birth certificates, etc.), banning trans people from the military regardless of merit, do away with all governmental diversity programs and ban trans people from sports.

JOE.MY.GOD.: Even before Trump was sworn in, Vivek Ramaswamy had left the ridiculous DOGE (a made-up cadre charged with finding waste in government spending) over in-fighting. One less person of color around Trump probably suits Trump jesssst fine.

THR: The Brutalist's editor admitted the film, up for many awards this season, used AI to improve its stars' accents. Meryl Streep wept.

(Image via family photo)

WAPO: D.C. police Capt. Paul Hrebenak is suing over what he alleges was wrongful punishment for taking family leave as a gay dad.

NPR: Get the fuck over any media-driven weird feelings you have for Harry & Meghan, because he  needs to fucking win in this suit vs. Rupert Murdoch:

Prince Harry has already spoken about how sewer British Media / @VanityFair etc operates. Murdoch attacks will strengthen in coming days as trial starts next week. pic.twitter.com/wfZyXz2fRE

— PU (@itsylife05) January 18, 2025

CONCERTSFORAMERICA.COM: Seth Rudetsky's Concert for America, set for tonight at Town Hall in NYC at 7 p.m., features a slew of talents in person (Cecily Strong! Brian Stokes Mitchell!) and virtually (William Shatner?!). Get tix here. Or, watch when it's live: