#RolandMartinUnfiltered - The Inauguration of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, Pt.2

Episode Date: January 21, 2021

1.20.21 #RolandMartinUnfiltered: The Inauguration of Joe Biden and Kamala HarrisSupport #RolandMartinUnfiltered via the Cash App ☛ https://cash.app/$rmunfiltered or via PayPal ☛https://www.paypal.me/rmartinunfiltered#RolandMartinUnfiltered is a news reporting platform covered under Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an iHeart Podcast. Taser Incorporated. I get right back there and it's bad. Listen to Absolute Season 1, Taser Incorporated, on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Clayton English. I'm Greg Glott. And this is Season 2 of the War on Drugs podcast. Last year, a lot of the problems of the drug war. This year, a lot of the biggest names in music and sports. This kind of star-studded a little bit, man.

We met them at their homes. We met them at their recording studios. Stories matter, and it brings a face to them. It makes it real. It really does. It makes it real. Listen to new episodes of the War on Drugs podcast season two on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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Pre-game to greater them. Let's put ourselves in the right position pregame to greater things. Start building your retirement plan at this is pre-tirement.org brought to you by AARP and the Ad Council. Looks like, uh, one second. Looks like, uh, snow is coming down. Seriously. Uh, not sure. It looks like, uh, some snowflakes there coming down preceding. Yeah. Preceding Joe Biden and Vice President, excuse me, President-elect Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden, First Lady coming down, stepping out there. Which would make sense as snow was covered up.

You know, I'm in New Jersey. Here we go. Here we go. Senate Sergeant at Arms, Tim Blodgett, and the acting Senate Sergeant at Arms, Jennifer Hemingway. You know, Snow, not unheard of in Washington in January. But you know what? When they used to have these in March, Snow was also not unheard of. Not at all.

Until 1933, inaugurations happened in March and... Oh, my God, I wish these announcers would shut up. Sorry, I don't know who they're using for this, but their commentary is literally driving me crazy. Here we go. President Obama, I think it was about 25 degrees. The weather is always an element. Ladies and gentlemen, the President-elect of the United States,

Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. and Dr. Jill Biden. This piece by the Marine Band, Trio from Hail America. Okay, these announcers are killing me. I wish they would learn to shut the hell up. In a moment like this here, you shut up and you let the moment breathe. Okay, in broadcasting, there's a thing called you let it breathe. DJ D-Nice always says that. These announcers would not shut up so that's why i had to pull them down uh folks uh see if we can get another feed uh where we don't have these

folks running their mouths uh you see uh again uh joe biden jill biden uh greeting uh all of them let's pull it back up and see if they shut up now. Greetings, former President of the National VP, Dan Coyle. Look at his eyes. The pride. Ladies and gentlemen, please be seated. That's a phrase that is well-welcomed right now. Ladies and gentlemen, please be seated. That's a phrase that is well-welcomed right now. Let's enjoy the ceremony.

Please welcome the Honorable Amy Klobuchar. Vice President Pence, Mr. President-elect, Madam Vice President-elect, members of Congress and the judicial branch, former presidents and first ladies, vice presidents, leaders from abroad, and a whole bunch of Bidens. America, welcome to the 59th presidential inauguration where in just a few moments Joe Biden and Kamala Harris will take their solemn oaths. This ceremony is the culmination of 244 years of a democracy. It is the moment when leaders brought to this stage by the will of the people promise to be faithful to our Constitution,

to cherish it and defend it. It is the moment when they become, as we all should be, guardians of our country. Have we become too jaded, too accustomed to the ritual of the passing of the torch of democracy to truly appreciate what a blessing and a privilege it is to witness this moment? I think not. Two weeks ago when an angry violent mob staged an insurrection and desecrated this temple of our democracy, it awakened us to our responsibilities as Americans. This is the day when our democracy picks itself up, brushes off the dust, and does what America always does,

goes forward as a nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. This conveyance of a sacred trust between our leaders and our people takes place in front of this shining Capitol dome for a reason. When Abraham Lincoln gave his first inaugural address in front of this Capitol, the dome was only partially constructed, braced by ropes of steel. He promised he would finish it. He was criticized for spending funds on it during the Civil War. To those critics, he replied, if the people see the Capitol going on, it is a sign we intend the Union shall go on. And it did, and it will. Generations of Americans gave their lives to preserve our republic in this place.

Great legislation to protect civil rights and economic security and lead the world was debated and crafted under this dome. Now it falls on all of us, not just the two leaders we are inaugurating today, to take up the torch of our democracy, not as a weapon of political arson, but as an instrument for good. We pledge today never to take our democracy for granted as we celebrate its remarkable strength. We celebrate its resilience, its grit. We celebrate the ordinary people doing extraordinary things for our nation, the doctors and nurses on the front line of this pandemic, the officers in the Capitol, a new generation never giving

up hope for justice. We celebrate a new president, Joe Biden, who vows to restore the soul of America and cross the river of our divides to a higher plane. And we celebrate our first African American, first Asian American, and first woman vice president, Kamala Harris, who stands on the shoulders of so many on this platform, who have forged the way to this day. When she takes the oath of office, little girls and boys across the world will know that anything and everything is possible.

And in the end, that is America, our democracy, a country of so much good. And today, on these Capitol steps and before this glorious field of flags we rededicate ourselves to its cause. Thank you. It is now my honor to introduce to you the senator who has worked with me and so many others to make this ceremony possible, my friend and the chair of the inaugural committee, Missouri Senator Roy Blunt. Thank you. Well I should have known when senator klobuchar got involved at least there would be a touch of snow up here this morning. Of all the things we considered I don't think snow was on my agenda until I walked out the door a moment ago.

But thank you, Senator Klobuchar, and thanks to the other members of the Joint Congressional Committee on the inauguration as we officially begin the 59th inaugural ceremony. I also want to thank the Joint Committee staff and our partners, particularly our security partners, for the way they've dealt with unprecedented circumstances. When I chaired the inauguration four years ago, I shared President Reagan's 1981 description of this event as commonplace and miraculous. Commonplace because we've done it every four years since 1789. Miraculous because we've done it every four years since 1789, miraculous because we've done it every four years since 1789. Americans have celebrated this moment during war,

during depression, and now during pandemic. Once again, all three branches of our government come together as the Constitution envisions. Once again, we renew our commitment to our determined democracy, forging a more perfect union. That theme for this inauguration, our determined democracy, forging a more perfect union, was announced by the Joint Committee before the election with the belief that the United States can only fulfill its promise and set an example for others if we are always working to be better than we have been. The Constitution established that determined democracy with its first three words, declaring

the people as the source of the government. The Articles of Confederation hadn't done that. The Magna Carta hadn't done that. Only the Constitution says the government exists because the people are the source of the reason it exists. They immediately followed those first three words with the words to form a more perfect union. The founders did not say to form a perfect union.

They did not claim that in our new country nothing would need to be improved. Fortunately, they understood that always working to be better would be the hallmark of a great democracy. The freedoms we have today, the nation we have today, is not here just because it happened, and they aren't complete. A great democracy working through the successes and failures of our history, striving to be better than it had been. And we are more than we have been, and we are less than we hope to be. The assault on our Capitol at this very place just

two weeks ago reminds us that a government designed to balance and check itself is both fragile and resilient. During the last year, the pandemic challenged our free and open society and called for extraordinary determination and sacrifice and still challenges us today. Meeting that challenge head on have been and are health care workers, scientists, first responders, essential frontline workers, and so many others we depend on in so many ways. Today we come to this moment. People all over the world, as we're here, are watching and will watch what we do here.

Our government comes together. The Congress and the courts join the transition of executive responsibility. One political party more pleased today and on every inaugural day than the other. But this is not a moment of division. It's a moment of unification. A new administration begins and brings with it a new beginning. And with that, our great national debate goes forward, and a determined democracy will continue to be essential in pursuit of a more perfect union and a better future for all Americans. What a privilege for me to join you today. Thank you. I'm pleased to call to the podium a longtime friend of the President-elect and his family,

Father Leo O'Donovan, to lead us in an invocation. Please stand if you are able and remain standing for the national anthem and the pledge to our flag. Thank you, sir. I'll have the step for me. Thank you. Gracious and merciful God, at this sacred time we come before you in hope and with our eyes raised anew to the vision of a more perfect union in our land, a union of all our citizens to promote the general welfare and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity. We are a people of many races, creeds, and colors, national backgrounds, cultures, and styles, now far more numerous and on land much vaster than when Archbishop John Carroll wrote his prayer for the inauguration of George Washington 232 years ago. Archbishop Carroll prayed that you, O Creator of

all, would assist with your Holy Spirit of counsel and fortitude the President of these United States, that his administration may be conducted in righteousness and be eminently useful to your people. Today we confess our past failures to live according to our vision of equality, inclusion, and freedom for all. Yet we resolutely commit still more now to renewing the vision, to caring for one another in word and deed, especially the least fortunate among us, and so becoming a light for the world.

There is a power in each and every one of us that lives by turning to every other one of us, a thrust of the spirit to cherish and care and stand by others and above all those most in need. It is called love, and its path is to give ever more of itself. Today, it is called American patriotism, born not of power and privilege, but of care for the common good, with malice toward none and with charity for all. For our new president, we beg of you the wisdom Solomon sought when he knelt before you

and prayed for an understanding heart so that I can govern your people and know the difference between right and wrong. We trust in the counsel of the letter of James. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. Pope Francis has reminded us how important it is to dream together. By ourselves, he wrote, we risk seeing mirages, things that are not there.

Dreams on the other hand, are built together. Be with us, holy mystery of love, as we dream together. Help us under our new president to reconcile the people of our land, restore our dream, and invest it with peace and justice and the joy that is the overflow of love. To the glory of our national colors by the Armed Forces Color Guard, the singing of our national anthem, and for the Pledge of Allegiance. © BF-WATCH TV 2021 ¶¶ Ladies and gentlemen, here for the singing of our national anthem, accompanied by the President's own United States Marine Band, please welcome Lady Gaga. Υπότιτλοι AUTHORWAVE Thank you. Oh, say can you see By the dawn's early light

What so proudly we hailed At the twilight's last gleaming Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight

O'er the ramparts we watched Were so gallantly streaming And the rockets' red glare The bombs bursting in air Gave proof through the night Thank you. ¶¶ ¶¶ Brave Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome from the city of South Fulton, Georgia, Fire and Rescue Department,

President of the International Association of Firefighters, Local 3920, Fire Captain Andrea M. Hall for the reciting of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. What you are all about to be part of America is a historic moment of firsts. To administer the oath to our first African American, our first Asian American, and our first woman vice president, Kamala Harris, it is my great privilege to welcome to the inaugural stage the first Latina to ever serve on the Supreme Court of the United States of America Justice Sonia Sotomayor ladies and gentlemen please remain standing for the oath of office followed by musical

honors. Please raise your right hand and repeat after me. I, Kamala Devi Harris, do solemnly swear. I, Kamala Devi Harris, do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic, against all enemies, foreign and domestic, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same. That I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same. That I take this obligation freely. That I take this obligation freely.

Without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion. Without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion. That I will well and faithfully discharge. That I will well and faithfully discharge. The duties of the office on which I am about to enter. The duties of the office upon which I am about to enter. So help me God. So help me God.

All right. Thank you. Ladies and gentlemen, please be seated. Please welcome Jennifer Lopez to perform This Land is Your Land and America the Beautiful accompanied by members of the President's Own United States Marine Band. Thank you. This land is your land This land is my land From California To the New York Islands From the Redwood Forest to the Gulf Stream waters This land was made for you and me As I went walking down that ribbon of highway, I saw above me that in this skyway, I saw below me that golden valley. This land was made For you and me

Oh, this land Oh, this land This land was made For you and me Oh, this land Oh, this land, oh, this land, this land was made on thee and crown thy good with brotherhood. For the moon From sea to shining sea Come on, come on, come on! Come on, come on!

A nation under God, indivisible, with freedom and justice for all con libertad y justicia para todos. ¡Let's get loud! This land was made for you and me. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. where J-Lo was the warm-up act for Chief Justice Roberts. With that, it is now my distinct honor to introduce the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, John Roberts,

to administer the presidential oath to the next President of the United States, Joseph R. Biden. Thank you, R. Biden. Ladies and gentlemen, please stand for the oath of office, followed by musical honors. I'm going to ask you to raise your right hand and repeat after me. I, Joseph Robinette Biden, Jr. Do solemnly swear. I, Joseph Robinette Biden, Jr. Do solemnly swear.

I, Joseph Robinette Biden, Jr. Do solemnly swear. I, Joseph Robinette Biden, Jr. Do solemnly swear. I, Joseph Robinette Biden, Jr. Do solemnly swear. I, Joseph Robinette Biden, Jr. Do solemnly swear.

I, Joseph Robinette Biden, Jr. Do solemnly swear. I, Joseph Robinette Biden, Jr., do solemnly swear. I, Joseph Robinette Biden, Jr., do solemnly swear. That I will faithfully execute. That I will faithfully execute. The office of president of the United States. The office of president of the United States.

And will to the best of my ability. And will to the best of my ability. Preserve, protect, and defend. Preserve, protect, and defend. The power of the United States. And will, to the best of my ability. Will, to the best of my ability. Preserve, protect, and defend. Preserve, protect, and defend. The Constitution of the United States. Constitution of the United States. So help you God. So help me God. Congratulations, Mr. President. Thank you. Ladies and gentlemen, please be seated. Thank you. The The Vice President of the United States, Thank you. My fellow Americans, a moment we have all been waiting for. It is now my great privilege and high honor to be the first person to officially introduce the 46th President of the United States, Joseph R. Biden, Jr. Thank you.

Chief Justice Roberts, Vice President Harris, Speaker Pelosi, Leader Schumer, Leader McConnell, Vice President Pence, and my distinguished guests, my fellow Americans, this is America's day. This is democracy's day, a day of history and hope, of renewal and resolve. Through a crucible for the ages, America has been tested anew and America has risen to the challenge.

Today, we celebrate the triumph not of a candidate, but of a cause, the cause of democracy. The people, the will of the people has been heard and the will of the people has been heeded. We've learned again that democracy is precious. Democracy is fragile. And at this hour, my friends, democracy has prevailed. So now, on this hallowed ground where just a few days ago violence sought to shake the Capitol's very foundation, we come together as one nation, under God, indivisible, to carry out the peaceful transfer of power as we have for more than two centuries.

As we look ahead in our uniquely American way, restless, bold, optimistic, and set our sights on a nation we know we can be and we must be. I thank my predecessors of both parties for their presence here today. I thank them from the bottom of my heart. And I know... And I know the resilience of our Constitution and the strength, the strength of our nation, as does President Carter, who I spoke with last night, who cannot be with us today,

but whom we salute for his lifetime in service. I've just taken the sacred oath each of those patriots have taken, the oath first sworn by George Washington. But the American story depends not on any one of us, not on some of us, but on all of us, on we, the people, who seek a more perfect union. This is a great nation. We are a good people. And over the centuries, through storm and strife,

in peace and in war, we've come so far, but we still have far to go. We'll press forward with speed and urgency, for we have much to do in this winter of peril and significant possibilities. Much to repair, much to restore, much to heal, much to build, and much to gain. Few people in our nation's history have been more challenged or found a time more challenging or difficult than the time we're in now. Once-in-a-century virus that silently stalks the country has taken as many lives in one year as America lost in all of World War II.

Millions of jobs have been lost, hundreds of thousands of businesses closed. A cry for racial justice some 400 years in the making moves us. The dream of justice for all will be deferred no longer. A cry for survival comes from the planet itself. A cry that can't be any more desperate or any more clear. And now, a rise of political extremism, white supremacy, domestic terrorism that we must confront and we will defeat. To overcome these challenges, to restore the soul and secure the future of America requires so much more than words. It requires the most elusive

of all things in a democracy. Unity. Unity. In another January, on New Year's Day in 1863, Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. When he put pen to paper, the President said, and I quote, if my name ever goes down into history, it'll be for this act, and my whole soul is in it. My whole soul is in it. Today, on this January day, my whole soul is in this, bringing America together, uniting our people, uniting our nation.

And I ask every American to join me in this cause. Uniting to fight the foes we face, anger, resentment and hatred, extremism, lawlessness, violence, disease, joblessness and hopelessness. With unity, we can do great things, important things. We can right wrongs. We can put people to work in good jobs. We can make America a better place. We can make America a better place. We can make America a better place. We can make America a better place. We can make America a better place. We can make America a better place. We can make America a better place. We can make America a better place.

We can make America a better place. We can make America a better place. We can make America a better place. We can make America a better place. We can make America a better place. We can make America a better place. again the leading force for good in the world. I know speaking of unity can sound to some like a foolish fantasy these days. I know the forces that divide us are deep and they are real.

But I also know they are not new. Our history has been a constant struggle between the American ideal that we're all are created equal and the harsh, ugly reality that racism, nativism, fear, demonization have long torn us apart. The battle is perennial, and victory is never assured. Through Civil War, the Great Depression, World War, 9-11, through struggle, sacrifice, and setbacks, our better angels have always prevailed. In each of these moments, enough of us, enough of us,

have come together to carry all of us forward. And we can do that now. History, faith, and reason show the way, the way of unity. We can see each other not as adversaries but as neighbors. We can treat each other with dignity and respect. We can join forces, stop the shouting, and lower the temperature. For without unity, there is no peace, only bitterness and fury, no progress, only exhausting outrage, no nation, only a state of chaos. This is our historic moment of crisis and challenge, and unity is the path forward. And we must meet this moment as the United States of America.

If we do that, I guarantee you we will not fail. We have never, ever, ever, ever failed in America. We've acted together. And so today, at this time, in this place, let's start afresh, all of us. Let's begin to listen to one another again, hear one another, see one another, show respect to one another. Politics doesn't have to be a raging fire destroying everything in its path. Every disagreement doesn't have to be a cause for total war. And we must reject the culture in which facts themselves are manipulated and even manufactured. My fellow Americans, we have to be different than this. America has to be better than this. And I believe America is so much better than this. Just look around.

Here we stand in the shadow of the Capitol Dome, as was mentioned earlier, completed amid the Civil War, when the union itself was literally hanging in the balance. Yet we endured. We prevailed. Here we stand, looking out in the Great Mall, where Dr. King spoke of his dream. Here we stand, we're 108 years ago, at another inaugural. Thousands of protesters tried to block brave women marching for the right to vote.

And today, we mark the swearing-in of the first woman in American history elected to national office, Vice President Kamala Harris. Don't tell me things can't change. Here we stand across the Potomac from Arlington Cemetery, where heroes who gave the last full measure of devotion rest in eternal peace and here we stand just days after a riotous mob thought they could use violence to silence the will of the people to stop the work of our democracy to drive us from this sacred ground it did not happen it will It will never happen. Not today. Not tomorrow. Not ever. Not ever.

To all those who supported our campaign, I'm humbled by the faith you've placed in us. To all those who did not support us, let me say this. Hear me out as we move forward. Take a measure of me and my heart. If you still disagree, so be it. That's democracy. That's America. The right to dissent peaceably within the guardrails of our republic is perhaps this nation's greatest strength. Yet hear me clearly. Disagreement must not lead to disunion. guardrails of our republic is perhaps this nation's greatest strength.

Yet hear me clearly. Disagreement must not lead to disunion. And I pledge this to you. I will be a president for all Americans, all Americans. And I promise you, I will fight as hard for those who did not support me as for those who did. Many centuries ago, St. Augustine, a saint of my church, wrote that a people was a multitude defined by the common objects of their love. Defined by the common objects of their love. Defined by the common objects of their love. What are the common objects we as Americans love

that define us as Americans? I think we know. Opportunity. Security. Liberty. Dignity. Respect. Honor. And yes, the truth. Recent weeks and months have taught us a painful lesson. There is truth and there are lies. Lies told for power and for profit. And each of us has a duty and a responsibility as citizens, as Americans, and especially as leaders, leaders who have pledged to honor our Constitution and protect our nation, to defend the truth and defeat the lies.

Look, I understand that many of my fellow Americans view the future with fear and trepidation. I understand they worry about their jobs. I understand, like my dad, they lay in bed, staring at the night, staring at the ceiling, wondering, can I keep my health care? Can I pay my mortgage? Thinking about their families, about what comes next. I promise you I get it. But the answer is not to turn inward, to retreat into competing factions,

distrusting those who don't look like you, or worship the way you do, or don't get their news from the same sources you do. We must end this uncivil war or worship the way you do, or don't get their news from the same sources you do. We must end this uncivil war that pits red against blue. Rural versus urban. Conservative versus liberal. We can do this if we open our souls

instead of hardening our hearts, if we show a little tolerance and humility, and if we're willing to stand in the other person's shoes, as my mom would say, just for a moment, stand in their shoes. Because here's the thing about life. There's no accounting for what fate will deal you. Some days, when you need a hand. There are other days when we're called to lend a hand.

That's how it has to be. It's what we do for one another. And if we are this way, our country will be stronger, more prosperous, more ready for the future. And we can still disagree. My fellow Americans, in the work ahead of us, we're going to need each other. We need all our strength to persevere through this dark winter. We're entering what may be the toughest and deadliest period of the virus. We must set aside politics

and finally face this pandemic as one nation. One nation. And I promise you this, as the Bible says, weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. We will get through this together. Together. Look, folks, all my colleagues I serve with in the House and the Senate up here,

we all understand the world is watching, watching all of us today. So here's my message to those beyond our borders. America has been tested, and we've come out stronger for it. We will repair our alliances and engage with the world once again, not to meet yesterday's challenges, but today's and tomorrow's challenges. And we'll lead not merely by the example of our power, but by the power of our example.

We'll be a strong and trusted partner for peace, progress, and security. Look, you all know we've been through so much in this nation. And my first act as president, I'd like to ask you to join me in a moment of silent prayer. Remember all those who we lost in this past year to the pandemic, those 400,000 fellow Americans, moms, dads, husbands, wives, sons, daughters, friends, neighbors, and co-workers. We'll honor them for becoming the people and the nation we know we can and should be. So I ask you, let's say a silent prayer for those who've lost their lives and those left behind and for our country. Amen. Folks, this is a time of testing. We face an attack on our democracy and on truth.

A raging virus, growing inequity, the sting of systemic racism, a climate in crisis, America's role in the world. Any one of these would be enough to challenge us in profound ways. But the fact is, we face them all at once, presenting this nation with one of the gravest responsibilities we've had. Now we're going to be tested. Are we going to step up, all of us? It's time for boldness, for there's so much to do. And this is certain.

I promise you, we will be judged, you and I, by how we resolve these cascading crises of our era. We will rise to the occasion is the question. Will we master this rare and difficult hour? Will we meet our obligations and pass along a new and better world to our children? I believe we must. I'm sure you do as well. I believe we will. And when we do, we'll write the next great chapter in the history of the United States

of America, the American story, a story that might sound something like a song that means a lot to me. It's called American Anthem. There's one verse that stands out, at least for me, and it goes like this. The work and prayers of century have brought us to this day? What shall be our legacy? What will our children say? Let me know in my heart when my days are through. America, America, I gave my best to you. Let's add, let's us add our own work and prayers to the unfolding story of our great nation. If we do this, then when our days are through, our children and our children's children will save us. They gave their best. They did their duty. They healed a broken land. My fellow Americans, I close the day where I began with the sacred oath. Before God and all of you, I give you my word. I will always level with you.

I will defend the Constitution. I'll defend our democracy. I'll defend America and will give all, all of you, keep everything I do in your service, thinking not of power but of possibilities, not of personal interest but the public good. And together we shall write an American story of hope, not fear, of unity, not division, of light, not darkness, a story of decency and dignity, love and healing, greatness and goodness. May this be the story that guides us, the story that inspires us, and the story that tells ages yet to come that we answered the call of history.

We met the moment. Democracy and hope, truth and justice did not die on our watch but thrive, that America secured liberty at home and stood once again as a beacon to the world. That is what we owe our forebearers, one another and generation to follow. So with purpose and resolve we turn to those tasks of our time sustained by faith driven by conviction devoted to one another and the country we love with all our hearts. May God bless America and may God protect our troops. Thank you, America. Ladies and gentlemen, please be seated. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Garth Brooks to perform Amazing Grace. Thank you. Amazing grace How sweet the sound That saved a wretch the sound than saved

a wretch like me I once was lost but now I'm found was blind, but now I see. When we've been there 10,000 years, Ten thousand years

Bright shining as the sun We've no less days To sing God's praise than when we first begun. I think I ask you to sing this last verse with me. Not just the people here, but the people at home, at'll work as one, united. Amazing grace, how sweet the sound That saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now I'm found. Was blind, but now I see. Hard not to be reminded of President Obama's singing that same song at the Mother Emanuel Church. A song that in our culture is as close to both poetry and prayer as you could possibly come. And we're going to finish with those two things. Let me introduce Amanda Gorman,

our nation's first ever National Poet Laureate. Mr. President, Dr. Biden, Madam Vice President, Mr. Emhoff, Americans, and the world. One day comes we ask ourselves where can we find light in this never-ending shade. The loss we carry a sea we must wade. We've braved the belly of the beast. We've learned that quiet isn't always peace. And the norms and notions of what just is isn't always just is. And yet the dawn is ours before we knew it. Somehow we do it. Somehow we've weathered and witnessed a nation that isn't broken, but simply unfinished.

We, the successors of a country and a time where a skinny black girl descended from slaves and raised by a single mother, can dream of becoming president only to find herself reciting for one. And yes, we are far from polished, far from pristine, but that doesn't mean we are striving to form a union that is perfect. We are striving to forge our union with purpose, to compose a country committed to all cultures, colors, characters, and conditions of man. And so we lift our

gaze not to what stands between us but what stands before us. We close the divide because we know to put our future first we must first put our differences aside. We lay down our arms so we can reach out our arms to one another. We seek harm to none and harmony for all. Let the globe, if nothing else, say this is true. That even as we grieved, we grew. That even as we hurt, we hoped. That even as we tired, we tried. That we'll forever be tied together, victorious.

Not because we will never again know defeat, but because we will never again sow division. Scripture tells us to envision that everyone shall sit under their own vine and fig tree and no one shall make them afraid. If we're to live up to our own time, then victory won't lie in the blade, but in all the bridges we've made. That is the promise to glade the hill we climb if only we dare it.

Because being American is more than a pride we inherit. It's the past we step into and how we repair it. We've seen a force that would shatter our nation rather than share it, would destroy our country if it meant delaying democracy. And this effort very nearly succeeded. But while democracy can be periodically delayed. It can never be permanently defeated. In this truth, in this faith, we trust for while we have our eyes on the future, history has its eyes on us. This is the era of just redemption. We feared it at its inception. We did not feel prepared to be the heirs of such a terrifying hour, but within it we found the power to author a new chapter, to offer hope and laughter to ourselves. So, while once we asked, how could we possibly prevail over catastrophe?

Now we assert, how could catastrophe possibly prevail over us? We will not march back to what was, but move to what shall be, a country that is bruised but whole, benevolent but bold, fierce and free. We will not be turned around or interrupted by intimidation, because we know our inaction and inertia will be the inheritance of the next generation. Our blenders become their burdens. But one thing is certain. If we merge mercy with might and might with right, then love becomes our legacy and change our children's birthright. So let us leave behind a country better than the one we were left with every breath from my bronze-pounded chest.

We will raise this wounded world into a wondrous one. We will rise from the gold-limbed hills of the West. We will rise from the windswept Northeast, where our forefathers first realized revolution. We will rise from the lake-rimmed cities of the Midwestern states. We will rise from the sun-baked South. We will rebuild, reconcile, and recover. In every known nook of our nation,

in every corner called our country, our people diverse and beautiful will emerge battered and beautiful. When day comes, we step out of the shade, aflame and unafraid. The new dawn blooms as we free it, for there is always light if only we're brave enough to see it, if only we're brave enough to be it. Thank you. Thank you, Amanda Gorman.

Now for our benediction, I'm pleased to introduce Reverend Dr. Sylvester Beeman, the pastor of the Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Wilmington, Delaware, a friend of President Biden for 30 years. As a nation and people of faith gathered in this historical moment, let us unite in prayer. God, we gather under the beauty of your holiness and the holiness of your beauty. We seek your face, your smile, your warm embrace. We petition you once more in this celebration. We pray for divine favor upon our president, Joseph R. Biden, and our first lady, Dr. Jill Biden, and their family. We further ask that you would extend the same favor upon our Vice President, Kamala D. Harris, and our second gentleman, Doug Emhoff, and their family. More than ever, more than ever, they and our nation need you.

We need you, for in you we discover our common humanity. In our common humanity, we will seek out the wounded and bind their wounds. We will seek healing for those who are sick and diseased. We will mourn our dead. We will befriend the lonely, the least, and the left out. We will share our abundance with those who are hungry. We will do justly to the oppressed, acknowledge sin, and seek forgiveness, thus grasping reconciliation. In discovering our humanity, we will seek the good in and for all our neighbors.

We will love the unlovable, remove the stigma of the so-called untouchables. We will care for our most vulnerable, our children, the elderly, emotionally challenged, and the poor. We will seek rehabilitation beyond correction. We will extend opportunity to those locked out of opportunity. We will make friends of our enemies. We will make friends of our enemies. People, your people, shall no longer raise up weapons against one another. We will rather use our resources for the national good and become a beacon of life and goodwill to the world. And neither shall we learn hatred anymore. We'll lie down in peace and not make our neighbors afraid. In you, oh God, we discover our humanity.

In our humanity, we discover our commonness. Beyond the difference of color, creed, origin, political party, ideology, geography, and personal preferences. We'll become greater stewards of your environment, preserving the land, reaping from it a sustainable harvest, and securing its wonder and miracle-giving power for generations to come. This is our benediction that from these hallowed grounds where slaves labored to build this shrine and citadel to liberty and democracy. Let us all acknowledge from the indigenous Native American to those who recently received their citizenship, from the African American to those whose foreparents came from Europe and every corner of the globe, from the wealthy to those struggling to make it, from every human being regardless of their choices, that this is our country. As such, teach us, O

God, as such, teach us, O God, to live in it, love in it, be healed in it. And reconcile to one another in it. Lest we miss kingdom's goal. To your glory, majesty, dominion in power forever. Hallelujah. Glory, hallelujah. In the strong name of our collective faith. Amen. Please remain standing as the Armed Forces Color Guard retires our national colors. Thank you. © BF-WATCH TV 2021 Ladies and gentlemen, please be seated and remaining your seats while the president and official party depart the platform. For safety reasons, your ushers will release your section in an organized manner.

Following the playing of our national march, the stars and stripes forever. So the 59th inauguration is completed. You see right there where Joe Biden, keep the music up, please. Keep the music up. Joe Biden and Jill Biden giving hugs there to President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama. Y'all know black people do stuff differently when the word laid is trending on Twitter. Folks commenting, obviously, are on the hair of Michelle Obama. You see Joe Biden there greeting President George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. He is now a

member of an exclusive group. There you see Vice President Kamala Harris giving a big hug there to First Lady Michelle Obama as well. It was not, frankly, a long ceremony. It was 1149 when Joe Biden, President Joe Biden, took the oath of office. He completed it then. It is just 43 minutes later that this is over. Not a long, drawn-out process. Now they will leave the U.S. Capitol. And then, of course, he'll be making his way to the parade.

We're going to be streaming all of that. Even if we step away, we'll be streaming that. And, of course, streaming the stuff happening this evening as well. You see there the Harris family. You see that's her niece, Maya. You see, excuse me, you see her niece. You see her grandniece. You see her sister. You see Tony West. He's a general counsel for Uber. Used to work in the Obama administration in the Department of Justice. And again, an amazing day to see the transfer of power.

I must say, Dr. Grant Carr, a lot of folks will be talking about the speech of President Joe Biden. But let's just leave up, let's go full screen. Greg Carr, I tell you, poet Amanda Gorman. Greg, wow. That was a speech. Well, just like that, we have a president and a vice president. I'll, as old theater major, I'll reserve comment. But yes, I think she was probably the highlight.

I think that President Biden's speech will read better in retrospect than it was in delivery. When he said disagreement must not lead to disunion, I don't know how many ways perhaps Sister Gorman could have helped him riff on a few more ways to come up with the idea of unity. But when he hit that St. Augustine line, oh, by the way, Sonia Sotomayor, I love Sotomayor, and I'm sure as many times as she announced her name name I suspect she put the afro spin on Kamala like so many of us have when she said Kamala but

at any rate a lot of folks were commenting on that on social media saying oh my god she mispronounced her name well because I suspect that most people in Kamala Harris' life black people anyway have stressed that last paragraph. First of all, let's just be

real clear. Look, if we go real black, she done heard Kamala, Kamala, Kamala, Camelia. You know, she done heard all those. Bottom line is, she vice president. She's the vice president, right.

And Sister Sotomayor to that. So, and I'm wondering where Clarence Thomas was, probably with his wife, since she tried to help overthrow the government a couple of weeks ago. But, you know, when he said, when Biden said, quoted St. Augustine, and he said, you know, we have common objects, or people are made of common objects for their love. And he talked about opportunity and security and liberty. None of which he said. I thought that, you know, what Gorman tried to do with his speech, and there were glosses in there. I heard a little bit of Maya Angelou's poem on River, Rocks and Trees when Clinton was inaugurated.

There seemed to be a little bit of a gloss of other folks in her work. And she's very young. And like I said, her speech, which was really more speech, I think, and spoken word than it was poetry, really did. Right, right, right. Really did try to lay out the work before us. And Joe Biden, but it almost sounded like Joe basically gave what amounted to a closing statement in a debate. A real work starts.

So we'll see. And just in case, those of y'all who didn't know, Dr. Sylvester Beeman of Bethel AME Church, Wilmington, Delaware, who gave that benediction, that's an alpha man, Greg Carr. Just, just, just, and just, yeah, I've got some, I'm on a text chain with, text chain with some alphas, and then they just sent it to me. They shout out to another brother who gave the benediction. And matter of fact, let me go ahead and I want to just give him some love here. He they sent me a photo of him as well. So, you know, Al was all over the house. And so, well, since we're since we're annotating, she did take the oath. Doug did hold an alpha man's Bible.

So we might. Sir, good Marshall. Absolutely. This is a this is a photo of the. This is you don't see it, Henry. Let me see if I can plug it up. So, folks. So I had, you know, the bros just sent me that. So I just had to go ahead and just let y'all know, you know, you know, I had to go. If Scott was here, he'll be a little upset and sick. But, you know, it's all good. If this is a photo, they sent me right here of the brother who gave the benediction. Powerful, powerful prayer there. Dr. Sylvester Beeman, Bethel AME Church, Wilmington, Delaware. Appreciate that. Joining us right now, you see he's taking a picture there.

I'm not sure who the sister is. She's an AKA. And joining us right now, I'm sure she is beaming proudly in her pearls, in her pink and green, the international president of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated and Greg Carr, your president, Greg Carr, Tennessee State University, Dr. Glenda Glover. Doc, how you doing? Oh, it's a wonderful day. I'm just beaming with pride. It is amazing. We're thankful.

We're happy. We're proud. Yes, it's a good day today. We were in, my goodness, where were we? We were in Georgia. We were there. They had a rally there. But they had a lot of the AKs who were out there who were who were celebrating. And if we get that shot, Henry, let me know.

They just had a shot of President Obama greeting Amanda. If we can actually go back to the stage, they'd appreciate that. I think we missed it there. But he gave some praise to her. Dr. Glover, just your thoughts on this day. Oh, is it is a day of unity. It's a day of faith, a day of prayer. I'm thinking about all the divine nine. I think by you, I think what the Alphas and what they did. You know, we start with Dr. Waters, the Alpha president who started organizing this and it turned over to the mega president, Dr. Marion and to all the divine nine was came together and just made sure we were going to make this happen, get the vote

out. We were nonpartisan. We can't tell you who to vote for, but if you get to the polls, you'll figure it out. So that's what we used as our mantra. We're just so happy that this is a day of truth and Black women, Black

people. Martin Luther King just said, if truth crushed the earth, we'll rise again. So black people are rising today. Black women are rising. America's rising. The democracy is rising. It's just a great day all around. We all, with our respective groups, we love talking about the first. And so, AKA, y'all get to proudly proclaim, you know, us Alphans. We used to the

first, you know, Thurgood Marshall, first Supreme Court justice. You know, we used to, you know, first members of Congress. We know, so we got a whole lot of firsts. So don't forget one, he's first, you know, we got it. We understand. But So this certainly has to be a huge day for your hundreds of thousands of members of AKs across the world. Well, we declared this Kamala Harris

Day in Alpha Kappa Alpha. We asked everybody to wear pink and to wear pearls. And so in her honor today, it's Kamala Harris Day across the United States and the whole world. This is her day. So we're so happy that we can be a part of it and celebrate with her.

We spoke with her last Friday and she's all excited. She was all excited. So we're just we're happy to play a role in this. And she just gives so much thanks to the divine nine it says it's out it's so amazing how she says be sure and let the divine nine know how much i appreciate what they did she has enough sense to know africa africa can do it by herself by ourselves so we we appreciate just the the outlook dr ward your national president was just phenomenal and all that he did to make this happen.

And then when the divine now would change leadership, it's just amazing. We're just so appreciative. I know the smiles on our ancestors' faces in heaven to see their vision come to fruition. This is what they dreamed or they looked over this direction. I mean, across the promised land, across the rivers of segregation, across the rivers of discrimination, humiliation. I know they thought they would never cross over, but today

we can, at this ceremony, we made it to the other side. I'm just so thankful. I'm just so appreciative of what it does for the black women, little black girls, little Indian girls, little Asian girls. And if you can see it, you can be it. This is what it represents.

Not just AKs. My wife posted this with her converse and pearls as well. So even deltas are celebrating this day. Absolutely. Those pearls and the converse, you know, she's made converse popular, even more popular. Absolutely. Those pearls and the converse, you know, she's made converse popular, even more popular. Absolutely. As a president of Historically Black College University, Tennessee State, what does it speak also to what it means for the HBCU community to have an HBCU graduate as vice president of the United States? Well, the first thing it does, the absolute first thing it does, it puts to bed the stupid question we get all the

time, asinine, about are HBCUs relevant? What are they contributing? Well, she has answered that question. I don't expect to ever get that question again about the relevance of HBCUs, because we've shown what HBCUs can produce and what we can do. Now, so we're finding more about the caliber of the people, the persons that HBCUs produce. That's what she's doing. It means a lot of HBCUs and how important it is for institutions to know who we are and the academics, the intellectual contributions that are made. And so I believe the Biden administration will be sensitive and assist HBCUs and let them be a part of the table.

Because, you know, you have to come to the table. We want to be a part of decision makers. I'm going to work with them on some HBCU matters because we know that we're essentially robbing the country of the gifts and talents and perspectives of African-Americans, Hispanics and HBCU graduates, other people of color, that when we're not included, our perspectives should be included in shaping policy that affects HBCUs and affects all of us. Because I believe America that is best when all of us are invested and included. So that's what HBCUs are fighting for, just to participate and to understand the needs and the value of HBCUs. And I take it that you and other HBCU presidents, y'all are more than prepared to make some demands of this administration when it comes to HBCU community. Well, we've met with them. We've met with President Biden, now at that time

candidate Biden. We met with Senator Harris at that time. We met since, I met with her since she's gotten elected. So I'm saying they made some commitments, some monetary commitments. They point blank asked me the question, what do HBCUs need?

I said, you want to take that back? Because you never asked a college president that. So we need more than just emergency COVID money, because all of our needs don't relate specifically to COVID. Yes, COVID has hurt, and we appreciate the funds we got last year for COVID. But we want to become STEM magnets. We want to become research institutions, high level research institutions, and be sure they understand the value proposition that HBCUs bring and how we can grow and become greater institutions than we are.

So we need that. We need that. Right. What's happening right now, folks, are the videos you're seeing, of course, lame Donald Trump skipped the inauguration. Normally at this point here, the new president greets the old president, and then the old president typically leaves the grounds in Marine One. Normally the helicopters there on the grounds to escort them away. They were previously showing some video. That was the case when Obama did that with President George W. Bush and the same thing that the Trumps did with President Barack Obama.

Well, Trump refused to attend the inauguration. Vice President Mike Pence is there. And so Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden And so Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden, President Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden, no, they were not going to send Vice President Pence off. Vice President Kamala Harris and Second Gentleman Douglas, they are doing so. And so you're seeing former Vice President Mike Pence and his wife now going into their awaiting limo to take them to where they're going back. Not sure if they are going to a home in Washington, D.C., if they are if they're going to if they're going to Indiana, where he previously served as governor and congressman.

But this is the send off happening right now on the Capitol for the outgoing Trump administration. You saw something right there you never saw with Donald Trump. Vice President Mike Pence walked his wife over to the car, closed the door. Donald Trump never had that kind of grace when it came to his wife. He would just get in the car and just let her get in the car all by himself. And so, again, you see there this motorcade, the motorcade of Vice President Mike Pence taking off, who is still in the Capitol, is Presidents William Clinton, William Jefferson Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama. They are still on the ground. But this is the official send off, if you will, to the previous administration that's taking place right now. Dr. Glover, our panel is here. I know Monique Presley is there. Dr. Greg Carr is there.

Is Candace Kelly there? Y'all let me know who else is there. Dr. Recy Colbert is there as well. Let me know where Monique is. We've got a number of other guests coming up as well. Dr. Glover, your final thoughts on this day. This is a miraculous day, a wonderful day. We're going to do all we can to assist. We want to know we have our back. So we're just appreciative of all that has taken place today. The votes. There are some challenges, but I believe they are going to rise up to that challenge and bring back the unity, inspire the country and solve some of the problems. Her competence alone gives her a platform.

So we believe that this is going to be a great day and a great administration. We're just excited. Absolutely. Dr. Glenda Glover, we certainly appreciate it. Thank you so very much. And hopefully when this COVID stuff is over, look forward to returning back to Tennessee State, where I gave the commencement address. Greg Carter, it was kind of funny. Your president was trying, she was trying, she was trying to keep me under wraps, Greg. Greg, she wasn't quite used to commencement speakers bringing my level of energy to the commencement. He went all the way in. That's not only the president of Tennessee. That's right.

That's not only the president of Tennessee State. That's the leader of AKA. So there's a certain element of kind of even-keeledness that our sister president. That's not only the president of Tennessee State. That's the leader of AKA. So there's a certain element of kind of even keeledness that our sister president. That ain't me. That ain't me. The students loved him. All the students loved him so much. They were texting me and saying, can we contact him? How do we get in touch with him? Can you come back and speak for Alphas? Look, look, look. So it was it was so it was so funny so funny great because we were sitting here you know and

you know look i i look when i do commencements i shake the hand of every student uh i greet them uh then when it was over dr glove was like okay because i had to actually leave to go give a speech they would and i had to be driven to st louis to speak to the alpha chapter she's like you gotta go i was like i got gps don't worry about it. Come on. So I took selfies with the students and their families. And Dr. Glover, she was trying to go. I'm like, no, you got to stay right here. You got to take these selfies. You ain't going nowhere.

You got to stay right here. You got to come back to Beto Omercron, doesn't he, President Glover? You got to come back to the CCC. That's right, Beto Omercron. Well, see, usually the students don't get that kind of interaction because the seeker comes in the last moment, you know, and then they leave. They were literally marking in procession on the end before it started. He's putting them out of line, taking pictures with them.

They're so excited. They've never seen this before. Hey, no, no, that's how we do it. In fact, I did the Morgan State graduation. Biden had to have lunch with Obama and he canceled. They called me the last second. And then he spoke the following year. And I told him, I said, I said, Joe, I'm going to take as many selfies as I will. I'm just letting you all know that the glove. We appreciate it. Thanks a lot.

Gosh, thank you so much for inviting me. All right. Thank you so very much. Dr. Glenn Glover, international president, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated, president of Tennessee State University. We are joined by Dr. Greg Carr. We're joined by Recy Colbert. You see the military there. Folks, there's a whole lot of popping circumstance. The feed that we're taking right now is Associated Press. We're switching between feeds. Now we're back into the U.S. Capitol.

You see Bill Clinton, who never liked leaving anywhere early. You see Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee right there greeting Bill Clinton. You know, I'm laughing at that scene right there because, Lord, when Congresswoman Jackson Lee was in Congress, they used to try to keep her out the White House. But they like law. Here she come again. That's that's my congresswoman from Houston. So I'm always I'm always messing with her. But we're certainly glad, glad to see her just watching this. You see Senator Cory Booker there. And I still see Tony West and Maya in the back.

Matter of fact, y'all do me a favor. We're going to call her right now. I'm going to tell her to answer her phone. Ashley, I need y'all to call her. Look at right now. Look at your phone right now. Since she texting on her phone, call this phone right now. So she texted on her phone. Call call this number right now. I'm going to see if she pick up since we watching her talk on the phone.

And so, Recy, just your thoughts on the inauguration, the ceremony. I thought it was an excellent inauguration. Shout out to black women who were stealing, stealing everything. You had first lady Obama who was bouncing and behaving here. It was late outfit was on point. She said, leave the bun and the tramp Trump era. This is the Biden Harris era. So I'm coming correct. Uh, you had Amanda Gore. I'm sorry, Amanda Gorman, who is the poet Lord, who did an absolutely spectacular, magnificent job. I mean, she was just brilliant. It was a great way to really close out the festivities. Of course, the woman of the hour, Madam Vice President Kamala Harris.

It was just such a joy to see her take the oath. And I just, it's just, it's just, it's now finally a dream realized. And it's just a historic occasion. And so it was very surreal to see kind of the social distancing. Everybody had on masks. You know, this wasn't one of those things where it was kind of, okay, everybody put on masks for a while, then take it off like how they do at the Trump stuff. Everybody had on masks the entire times. The crowd was very sparse. I thought that the flags were beautiful, but it's just incredibly surreal to see such a difference being in the middle of a pandemic, being still kind of with

this insurrection, hanging over our heads a little bit to see the contrast. But I think despite all of that, there was still an air of joy, an air of new beginning, an air of optimism. And so I'm just looking forward to see them get to work. But I kind of enjoy the pomp and circumstance. So it's just a great, wonderful occasion. We can enjoy this a little bit of time. We don't have to get too serious and too, you know,

all about accountability, blah, blah, blah. Let's just enjoy a little bit of this moment. Well, I think that, look, the pomp and circumstance is good. I mean, what happened, look, we have this in little bit of this moment. Well, I think that, look, the pomp and circumstance is good. I mean, what happened, look, we have this in a lot of these events. You know, it always trips me out, Monique, when we look at these other folk, because, you know, I don't cover no royal weddings. I don't give a damn if they have black, if they full black.

I don't care. They lost. They lost back in the day. So I don't do any of that. But it is lots of pomp and circumstance. And all of these things are laid out. There's lots of protocol. There's a manual they follow. Let's go to this live feed right here. Right now, you normally see a ceremonial signing that takes place. We're taking right down the Associated Press feed. That was Senator Roy Blunt.

So in a moment, you're going to see President Joe Biden signing right there. So there's lots of pageantry that's involved around inauguration, Monique. So even though you don't have the thousands upon thousands of people there, you don't have, you know, millions there, you're not going to have the inaugural balls, all those different things. They still wanted this to be held out. So they were adamant about this being held on the West side of the U.S. Capitol and not moving this indoors and making it a real small affair. And it was excellent.

And we're all still there. You know, for all of the amounts of people who typically come, and we don't even need to have that crowd-sized argument again today, the better part of the millions of people who are citizens of this country attend every inauguration in this manner. Now, those of us who are here on your show, we've had the opportunity to be there in person, to go to the balls and et cetera.

So it's different for us. But millions upon millions of people who came out and voted and voted for this change, they are getting to be a part of this inauguration the same way that they have been able to be a part of inauguration tasks. So what may be different for the inside loop and for those who travel in is not different for the majority of Americans and the people around the world who celebrate with us. So it hasn't lost any of its swag to me. It hasn't lost any of its pomp or its circumstance. It certainly hasn't lost its importance because the reason why we can't all be there is because not just of a pandemic, but because of an absence of leadership. So the fact that we are turning the page on that, closing the book, burning the book on that chapter, and now have probably one of the most qualified, experienced people to ever hold this office, who has been a public servant for decades and has spent eight years within the

White House operation as second in command and knows this job. And that's what we need right now because we are in fires everywhere. And so I'm happy about this climb out and I can celebrate. You see, I've already had a wardrobe change. I might have three more before the day is over. So I'm all good. Folks, the L.A. Public Library sent this tweet out. They say, how it started. This was the tweet. This was the photo of Amanda Gorman, when she was named Los Angeles County Youth Poet Laureate. And then, of course, this is her today at the inauguration. She was representing natural hair and all, Recy. She was stunningly gorgeous. The yellow, yes, melanin, the red, the crochet braids. She was

giving me life in every part of it. But even the regalness with which she spoke, the power in her words, she didn't water it down. She really, really got to the heart. I think as you said, Roland, of, or I think it was Dr. Carr, of what we really faced ahead of us. She didn't sugarcoat it, but it was still aspirational. It was still optimistic. And so I just think she just did such a magnificent job. I know some people were, you know, talking about the slightly unseasoned performers and where do Black people perform. Yolanda Adams did her thing yesterday.

We saw the tributes last night. But I think that Amanda Gorman was such a spectacular choice. She really represented for Black people, Black excellence, and just for just truth tellers in that moment. And she looked good doing it. The other thing, the other thing, Roland, is yes, I agree with everything Recy said. She didn't sugarcoat anything. But what I want people to understand is there is no single word said in that program today without it being previously approved. And so we have an administration now.

We have a president. We have a vice president who are putting forth truth tellers, who are putting forth prophetic voices, who are putting forth people willing to say bold things. And they are putting the imprimatur of the head office of the United States on that truth. So, in my mind, in my heart, in my spirit, I know

that we are in a different day. I am. First of all, I have, I gotta admit, Greg, or this might really be one for Recy, I gotta admit, I've been petty as hell with the Trump people. Oh, I've been petty as hell with these black MAGA people because because they've been, you know,

they've been sitting here running their mouths, talking, talking all that nonsense, you know, and one of the folk I've been really just, who's been really getting on my nerves is that L.A. child, Angie Stanton. Remember that loud mouth came on this show? So, you know, I'm just saying, so she was sitting here, she'd been saying all kinds of stuff, trashing the brother on social media. And let's go to a live look at Angie Stanton's house in Atlanta after the Joe Biden speech. See?

If you go sit here and talk trash, I'm going to be... And then she says something like, yeah, only 50 people watching Roland Martin's inauguration coverage. No, boo. About 12,000 right now watching

that's your mug shot before you went to prison. So, you know, see, Greg, I'm sorry. They've been running their mouth. They supported that thug. And yeah, I'ma be petty today. A lot of petties. You're right.

Reese can bring that smoke. Because Reese is the queen of petty. It's all there. today. A lot of petties. You're right. Reese can bring that smoke. Because Reese is the queen of petty. It's all there. I don't know, though. I mean, Reese, I think the big homie, I think Vice President Harris may have a little competition.

I was reading about that jersey. I remember in 2017 when Trump disinvited the Golden State Warriors to the White House. I remember that actually because my man, David West, came up to campus and actually came to my class, and we had a good time with the students. He wasn't going. They weren't going anyway. That's why I treated them. Well, apparently, hanging in the new vice president's office, they've already sent it to her. I think they put it on Instagram. I'm not sure.

49. A jersey with 49. Go ahead and finish the story. I think somebody. No, you got it. I think it's a Golden State Warriors jersey with the number 49 on the back because she's the 49th vice president. And it's got her stuff above the 49 on the back. And that's going to hang up.

I think it's a lot of pettiness going to be the Warriors center of the jerseys. You know, well, well, in fact, actually, in fact, four hours ago. First of all, what you're seeing right now, I'm trying to figure out how in the hell they keep up with all these motorcades? You got President Joe Biden, former President Bill Clinton, former President George W. Bush, former President Barack Obama. I mean, they got they got multiple motorcades all out there right now. So what you're seeing is a live look again of multiple motorcades for President Vice President Kamala Harris has her own motorcade. And so what they're doing is they're waiting for, these are all the protectees, where all the folks come out.

But I do want to show you this here. You speak about the Golden State Warriors. They dropped this video four hours ago and the tweet was called Oakland's own. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I love that combo. It looks like me and I can do anything.

I am so proud to be a daughter of Oakland, California. Every little girl watching tonight sees that this is a country of possibilities. And to the children of our country, regardless of your gender, our country has sent you a clear message. Dream with ambition. Lead with conviction. And see yourselves in a way that others may not, simply because they've never seen it before. But know that we will applaud you every step of the way.

Madam Vice President, I'm not saying you got to put this up in your office at the White House, but it'd probably be a good idea. Congratulations, blazing your own path. We're all rooting and supporting you the whole way. Oh, this means so much to me. You guys, I will proudly, proudly display this in the office of the Vice President of the United States,

an office I am about to occupy. And I cannot thank you enough. And you, an office I am about to occupy. And I cannot thank you enough. And you always bring such joy and pride to me as a daughter of Oakland. Be well, be safe. And this is really so very special. So thank you all. And I hope to see you soon. Go Warriors! Go Warriors! Go Warriors! Go Warriors! While I may be the first woman in this office, I will not be the last. And there you go, Greg Carr.

Beautiful. It's beautiful. She won't be the last. It might be one of these sisters right here in this group right here. It may be up in there. No. I would be remiss without saying that Vice President Kamala Harris has always been a big-time Warriors fan. In fact, she famously made a bet with Senator Sherrod Brown that he would have to wear a Warriors jersey

if they won the championship. And he did, in fact, wear it. He may get on that bet. So Kamala is ride-or-die Oakland Warriors. So they're just, you know, playing, paying tribute to a daughter of Oakland. That's all. It's not petty.

It's just paying tribute. Yeah, Reesey can be real petty. Don't let me play one of your videos. Oh, I'm petty. I'm me. I'm talking about me. Oh, no, I'm very petty. All is fair.

If you want the smoke, come get it. I got it for you. Just be ready. Oh, man. Let's see here. Let me tell you how smooth the Biden folks are. They have already deleted all that stuff from WhiteHouse.gov, including that 1776 report from them.

In a moment, we're going to be joined by Frederick Douglas Haynes, pastor of Friendship West. Y'all, answer the phone, please. He's calling. And we're going to be joined by him again. This is what happens when new folks take over. The White House has been fumigated. That's right. I have been waiting for that to happen since the last inauguration. And normally, y'all think I'm joking. Normally, there's always a clean of the White House.

No, no, no. Biden Harris said, we're going to spend an extra $500,000 to straight clean this whole place because that was a COVID cesspool. It was a, it was, that's what it was constantly. So they said, now we ain't trying to get nobody sick. They littered the moment Trump and Melania, that racist birther walked out of the White House, the deep cleaning, the fumigating of the White House started. And also some other breaking news, Monique, there's some really important breaking news. They also ordered new mattresses and box springs. And the previous occupants, they didn't sleep in the same room.

So it's good to have a president and a first lady who actually sleep in the same room return to the White House. Oh, yeah, I'm going to be petty today. Yes, yes. There is a restoration of unity from the top to the bottom. We are seeing decency. We are seeing humanity and not just love of country, love of other humans on display, value

for family and for your fellow man. And it is all righteous. That's all I can say about it. It's the right thing at the exact right time, not a moment too soon. The petty a little bit, though, for a second.

Huh? Because I want to go back to the petty a little bit. Because I don't know if y'all saw, these Trumps were stealing everything. They were taking everything that was not nailed down. They took the picture frame off the wall. There was a picture. Obama left the picture frame. He took the picture frame off the wall. There was a picture. Obama left the picture frame. These fools

took the frame. That's ratchet. Retired ghetto, retired ratchet is what y'all like to say about stuff. It should be called Trump. That is very Trump behavior because they were stealing everything. Abraham Lincoln busted the frames. Child, you got a question they were just off of the fact they were stealing everything. Abraham Lincoln busted the frames. Michelle, you got a question they worked just off of the fact

they were stealing everything before they left. And just so how he always trying to be the subject of attention, literally moments before the inauguration started, the White House dropped a last-minute pardon. Judge Jeanine Pirro's ex husband, Albert Pirro, who was convicted of conspiracy and tax evasion, gave him a full pardon. They early announced a full pardon for Steve Bannon, that white supremacist thug. Then also they announced pardons as well for Eli Brody. Remember Brody? He was a dude who was going to pay for an abortion for a woman,

was sitting here thieving, stealing, corrupt as well. Well, they gave him a pardon. And then, of course, one rat to another. Lil Wayne got got got his pardon. And then they also Kodak Black and then Kwame Kilpatrick is becoming home because they also I need to double check. It was he commute his sentence commuted. I think his sentence was commuted. I don't think he got a full pardon. And so if you look at the list, there's a whole bunch of corrupt folk who Donald Trump, frankly, frankly, let free. But but but it's no surprise. But see, it's all good because, you know, when he spoke today at Andrews Air Force Base, Trump said, you know, we'll be back

soon. And to me, the moment he said that, all I could think about was Tish James said, yeah, your ass will be back. Here's to you, man. And I hope it's like this. I hope it's with handcuffs and not the kind of kinky handcuffs

he used to. I know a lot of cops. They get asked all the time, have you ever had to shoot your gun? Sometimes the answer is yes. kinky handcuffs he used to. I know a lot of cops. They get asked all the time, have you ever had to shoot your gun? Sometimes the answer is yes. But there's a company dedicated to a future where the answer will always be no. This is Absolute Season 1, Taser Incorporated.

I get right back there and it's bad. Listen to Absolute Season 1, Taser Incorporated, on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Clayton English. I'm Greg Glott. And this is Season 2

of the War on Drugs podcast. Yes, sir. Last year, a lot of the problems of the drug war. This year, a lot of the biggest names in music and sports. This kind of starts that in a little bit, man.

We met them at their homes. We met them at their recording studios. Stories matter and it brings a face to it. It makes it real. It really does. It makes it real. Listen to new episodes of the War on Drugs podcast season two on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

We asked parents who adopted teens to share their journey. We just kind of knew from the beginning that we were family. They showcased a sense of love that I never had before. I mean, he's not only my parent, like he's like my best friend. At the end of the day, it's all been worth it. I wouldn't change a thing about our lives. Learn about adopting a teen from foster care. Visit AdoptUSKids.org to learn more.

Brought to you by AdoptUSKids, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the Ad Council. This is an iHeart Podcast.