The Inauguration of Joe Biden

<p>Unity was the byword of President Biden’s Inaugural Address.</p><p>The speech was an attempt to turn the page. But can this be achieved without, as many in the Democratic coalition believe, a full reckoning with and accountability of how America got to this point of division?</p><p>Today, we explore the defining messages of the president’s inaugural address. </p><p>Guests: <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/by/astead-w-herndon?smid=pc-thedaily">Astead W. Herndon</a>, a national political reporter for The New York Times; <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/by/emily-cochrane?smid=pc-thedaily">Emily Cochrane</a>, a congressional reporter for The Times.  </p><p>For an exclusive look at how the biggest stories on our show come together, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/newsletters/the-daily?module=inline">subscribe to our newsletter</a>. You can read the latest edition <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/column/the-daily-newsletter">here</a>.</p><p>Background reading: </p><ul><li>President Biden spoke of a return to<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/20/us/politics/biden-inauguration-coronavirus-economy-security.html?action=click&module=Spotlight&pgtype=Homepage"> the ordinary discord of democracy</a>, with a reminder that “politics doesn’t have to be a raging fire, destroying everything in its path.” You can read<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/20/us/politics/biden-inauguration-speech-transcript.html"> the full annotated speech here</a>.</li><li>For many in an exhausted, divided nation, the inauguration was<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/20/us/biden-supporters.html?action=click&module=Spotlight&pgtype=Homepage"> a sea change</a>, not just a transition.</li><li>At the made-for-TV swearing-in, rituals of normalcy ran into reminders that<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/20/arts/television/inauguration-crowd.html?searchResultPosition=10"> these are anything but normal times</a>.</li></ul><p>For more information on today’s episode, visit <a href="http://nytimes.com/thedaily?smid=pc-thedaily">nytime