The Washington Post: Breaking News, World, US, DC News and Analysis

The InaugurationCoverage resumes at 8 p.m. ET.

“This is our historic moment of crisis and challenge. And unity is the path forward.”

— President Biden

BIDEN TAKES OFFICE

Harris makes history as first female, first Black and first Asian American vice president

White House press secretary Jen Psaki speaks to reporters, just hours after President Biden's inaugural ceremony. (Video: The Post; photo: Jabin Botsford/The Post)

46th president faces pandemic, economic crisis, national division

After taking the oath of office, Joe Biden called on the nation to end its “uncivil war” and embrace a united front amid daunting problems.

By Toluse Olorunnipa and Annie Linskey

Harris sworn in as vice president, shattering gender and racial barriers

By Chelsea Janes and Cleve R. Wootson Jr.44 minutes ago

Relief, optimism, foreboding: Black Americans feel mixed emotions

Biden signs several directives, including mask mandate on federal property and rejoining Paris accord

By Seung Min Kim43 minutes ago

Harris swears in Sens. Warnock, Ossoff, Padilla as Democrats cement party power in Washington

The Senate stands at 50 Democrats and 50 Republicans, with Vice President Harris the tie-breaking vote. Democrats will control both the White House and Congress for the first time since 2011, albeit narrowly.

By Mike DeBonis

Perspective

On the third Wednesday in January, Joe Biden sought to put things back in sync with the nation’s history

By David Maraniss

LIVE UPDATES

The FixAnalysis

4 takeaways from Joe Biden’s inaugural address

By Aaron Blake

Amanda Gorman, the youngest inaugural poet, reads ‘The Hill We Climb’

By Amy B Wang and Stephanie Merry1 hour ago

Gorman’s first political memory was her mom reading her Miranda rights

(Will Newton for The Post)

Trump extended Secret Service protection to his adult children as he left office

By Carol D. Leonnig and Nick Miroff

Exiting Trump tells modest crowd, ‘We will be back in some form’

The outgoing president, skipping Biden’s inauguration, planned a grand military send-off, but only a few hundred people showed up to see him depart.

By Anne Gearan and Philip Rucker

Critic's Notebook

America yearns for an era of good feeling. The inaugural ceremony launched one.

Lady Gaga, Garth Brooks, J.Lo and a young poet all supplied breakout supporting moments.

By Peter Marks1 hour ago

Critic’s Notebook

Our national anthem ends with a question. Lady Gaga answered it as best she could.

By Chris Richards

Capitol Police officer who faced down pro-Trump mob escorts Harris

Eugene Goodman accompanied Harris in his role as the new acting deputy sergeant-at-arms.

By Derek Hawkins and Paulina Firozi

Opinions

Democrats now have control of government. But they should heed this tale of caution.

Opinion by Henry Olsen

Joe Biden shows America what it means to have a real president again

Opinion by Alyssa Rosenberg

Biden promised to end a devastating war. He must act — today.

Opinion by Tawakkol Karman

QAnon is mortally wounded. But the right’s conspiracy theories will never die.

Opinion by Paul Waldman

The coronavirus variants could dash our hopes of getting back to normal. We must prepare.

Opinion by Megan McArdle

Democrats are planning a quick move on the ‘dreamers.’ Here’s why.

Opinion by Greg Sargent

Biden faces a tougher task than any president but Lincoln

Opinion by Jeff Greenfield

Sen. Hawley has been condemned. His bad legal arguments should be stamped out, too.

Opinion by Daniel Epps and Alan M. Trammell

Controversial head of Voice of America resigns hours after Biden sworn in

Michael Pack, a Trump appointee, who left a trail of criticism during his short term as head of agency that supervises government-funded news networks, said his resignation had been requested by President Biden.

By Paul Farhi

Austrian flags and a QAnon flag are waved during a protest against government restrictions to curb the spread of the coronavirus in Vienna on Saturday. (Ronald Zak/AP)

QAnon believers grapple with doubt, spin new theories as Trump era ends

While some QAnon disciples gave way to doubt as Trump's term ended, others doubled down on blind belief or strained to see new coded messages in the Inauguration Day’s events.

By Drew Harwell and Craig Timberg

In one of its last acts, Trump administration tried to deport man to Haiti who has never been there

Immigration attorneys and advocates say chartered deportation flights continued uninterrupted until the last hours of Donald Trump’s presidency.

By Arelis R. Hernández1 hour ago

Inside the stretch limo where ‘Tiger King’ star Joe Exotic’s team waited for a pardon that never came

So confident was Team Tiger of Exotic’s imminent release that it hired a “super-stretch turbo diesel” limousine to pick him up from prison, along with a hairdresser waiting in the vehicle to coif his signature platinum-blonde mullet.

By Maura Judkis1 hour ago

PodcastPost Reports

The 46th president

An inauguration like no other. And how the White House residence staff say goodbye to one first family and hello to another.

By Martine Powers1 hour ago

Coronavirus

Biden expected to have U.S. work with World Health Organization again, join global vaccine effort

By Emily Rauhala

Spring term delays: New wave of virus uncertainty slams higher education

By Nick Anderson

Guide to the PandemicFull Coverage

Vaccinations

Your questions about the coronavirus vaccines, answered

Eight facts to combat common covid-19 misinformation

By Marisa Iati

The covid-19 symptoms to watch out for

U.S. deaths reported per day

Sign up to get our Coronavirus Updates newsletter

Your Life At Home

Why good manners are more important than ever during pandemic travel

You probably didn’t expect to move back in with your parents. Here’s how to make the best of it.

Road to Recovery

Dollar General will pay workers to get the coronavirus vaccine

The pandemic crashed the party for caterers, who are struggling even more than restaurants to pivot

Don’t Miss

Great Works, In FocusCritic’s Notebook

Gustave Caillebotte brought Paris to life in this 19th-century masterpiece

By Sebastian Smee

Perspective

To detox from the news, I binge-watched ‘Dallas.’ It was more than just fun.

By Sibbie O'Sullivan

Find out why Anthony Bourdain’s boeuf bourguignon is one of our most popular recipes ever

By Becky Krystal

Perspective

Why good manners are more important than ever during pandemic travel

By Christopher Elliott

Trending

Allie Caren/The Washington Post

Amanda Gorman and poetry's short history at presidential inaugurations

President Joe Biden on Jan. 20 became the fourth president ever to have a poet recite their work at a presidential inauguration.

Today’s Print Stories

Get the headlines from today's paper, and click on each one to read the story.

Podcasts

Multi-tasking? Follow the latest headlines and analysis through our podcasts.

Share news tips with us confidentially

The Post offers several ways to securely send information and documents to journalists.

Washington Post Apps

Stay connected with the latest news on your tablet and phone.

Politics

(Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post)

Nation’s second Catholic president attends Mass at St. Matthew the Apostle, a key symbol of Catholicism in American political life

It was his first stop of the day before being sworn in.

By Michael S. Rosenwald

Biden became president at noon despite taking oath early, experts say

The 46th president held his hand on a Bible at 11:48 a.m., but it is not the taking of the oath that determines when the previous term ends.

By Paulina Firozi and Kim Bellware

Analysis

After harrowing ordeal, Rep. Joe Neguse to play key role in impeachment trial

By Paul Kane

RetropolisThe Past, Rediscovered

‘Dear Bill’: Classy letters left in the Oval Office from one president to another

By Gillian Brockell

Analysis

Trump’s presidency ends where so much of it was spent: A Trump property

By Philip Bump

Senate impeachment whip count: Where Democrats and Republicans stand

By Ashlyn Still and JM Rieger

Who Joe Biden has picked to fill his Cabinet

By Washington Post Staff

World

Alexei Navalny’s team released a video looking at what they call “Putin’s palace.” (The Post)

Even in jail, Navalny knows how to enrage Putin. This time it’s with a viral video.

The video shows a Black Sea palace with an ice rink and “aquadisco.” It was built for Putin, the Russian opposition leader claimed. The Kremlin denies it.

By Robyn Dixon

In Iran, hopes for Biden era are tempered by years of hardship and broken U.S. promises

By Kareem Fahim and Erin Cunningham

The U.S. is requiring covid-19 tests for international entry. Experts say the approach is flawed.

By Shannon McMahon

The world watches as Biden assumes office, Trump era ends

By Adam Taylor

The world will never forget Trump’s trips abroad

By Jennifer Hassan and Ruby Mellen

China turbocharges bid to discredit Western vaccines

By Gerry Shih

National

(Library of Congress/AP; Jonathan Newton/The Washington Post)

RetropolisThe Past, Rediscovered

Healing a divided nation: The link between Lincoln in 1865 and Biden in 2021

In his second inauguration on March 4, 1865, President Lincoln sought to begin the healing of a divided country emerging from a bloody Civil War.

By Ronald G. Shafer

Biden to extend eviction moratorium through March

Millions of renters are at risk of eviction if the current moratorium is allowed to lapse. President Biden will extend it through March.

By Jeff Stein and Tony Romm

Powerful Santa Ana wind event kindles January wildfires in California

By Matthew Cappucci

Fla. lawmaker wants to name highway after Trump. Democrats vow ‘not even a bench’ will bear his name.

By Antonia Noori Farzan

D.C., Md. & Va.

Natalie Omodt, center, from Minnesota, and Christine Alverno and Julie Crump, both from Michigan, wait to see Joe Biden before his swearing-in. (Evelyn Hockstein for The Post)

A locked-down capital celebrates Biden’s inauguration and Trump’s departure

By Rachel Chason, Jessica Contrera, Emily Davies and John Woodrow Cox50 minutes ago

Even with pandemic measures, D.C. residents mark Inauguration Day

By Paul Schwartzman, Valerie Strauss and Tara Bahrampour1 hour ago

Perspective

For locals, this inauguration was like none they’ve ever experienced

The inauguration was always a time of excitement. This one was different.

By John Kelly

Perspective

Finally, a president America’s children can watch

By Theresa Vargas

Capital Weather Gang

PM Update: Winds wane tonight, and it’s warmer on a sun-filled Thursday

By Ian Livingston

Known coronavirus deaths and cases per 100 thousand

FAQ: What to know about restrictions and safety

Going Out Guide

These fried chicken sandwiches are for everyone, stereotypes be damned

Black chefs and diners are publicly embracing a dish that racists have long tried to belittle.

By Tim Carman

How Alexa Paulay-Simmons of ‘Deaf U’ would spend a perfect day in D.C.

She appeared on the Netflix docuseries about students at Gallaudet University.

By Angela Haupt

We lost Johnny’s Half Shell to the pandemic. After 20 years, it deserves a farewell toast.

Remembering Johnny’s Half Shell for Ann Cashion’s food, John Fulchino’s service — and a singular experience.

By Tom Sietsema

Real Estate

In Great Falls, Va., a close-knit community surrounded by nature

2021 will be another good year for home sellers — not so much, though, for buyers

Luxury apartment building to rise in Rosslyn-Ballston corridor

Business & Technology

Joe Biden during a sending-off event in Wilmington, Del. (Demetrius Freeman/The Post)

Biden takes over POTUS Twitter account, inheriting a blank slate from Trump

President Biden’s administration takes over the official White House social media accounts Wednesday. But Twitter won’t transfer followers, unlike with the previous administration.

By Rachel Lerman1 hour ago

Trump administration’s last-minute move would make religious-affiliated businesses eligible for taxpayer-backed loans

The rule forces the Biden administration into a politically sensitive debate that raises questions about separation of church and state.

By Aaron Gregg

Some Trump backers are getting hit with one-star online reviews — including MyPillow and real estate agent Jenna Ryan

Welcome to online activism in the digital age.

By Travis M. Andrews

The CybersecurityAnalysis

Biden nominees entering administration behind on big hack

By Tonya Riley

Kroger unknowingly funneled donations to a militant group. The company has cut them off.

By Teo Armus

Market Watch

Last Updated: Today at 5:16 p.m. ET

Dow 31,188.38

Today 0.83%

S&P 3,851.85

Today 1.39%

NASDAQ 13,457.25

Today 1.97%

Health & Science

Inaugural ‘field of flags’ on the Mall seen from space

By Jason Samenow

The Energy 202Analysis

Advocates want Biden to use trade deals to combat climate change

By Alexandra Ellerbeck

Fleas have been mysterious insects. But scientists just found their living ‘sisters.’

By Lela Nargi

Covid-19 destroyed a young man’s lungs. Can his foster mom let him go?

By Steve Thompson

Sports

Under NFL’s concussion protocols, decision on Patrick Mahomes’s playing status is out of Chiefs’ hands

The Kansas City Chiefs quarterback must be cleared by an independent physician to return to play in Sunday’s AFC championship game against the Buffalo Bills.

By Mark Maske