Special edition: Biden bets on experience

[Bloomberg]( Follow Us [Get the newsletter]( If anyone should know just how difficult it will be to make good on his policy goals and ambitions to heal partisan discord, it’s Joe Biden. The [newly inaugurated]( 46th U.S. president has spent nearly all of his adult life in elected office — 36 years as a U.S. senator, followed by eight as Barack Obama’s vice president. Still, Biden’s familiarity with the complex power centers at either end of Pennsylvania Avenue hasn’t, for now, tempered his aspirations to turn the page on the Donald Trump era. Biden’s trademark optimism was on display when he addressed the nation for the first time as commander-in-chief, [calling]( for an end to America’s “uncivil war that pits red against blue, rural versus urban, conservative versus liberal.” But the specter of Trump’s Senate impeachment trial looms large over Washington, threatening to revive partisan tensions that temporarily eased following the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. And while Biden has already moved to rejoin the Paris climate accord, install a federal mask mandate and scrap Trump’s restrictions on immigration from some predominantly Muslim countries with the [stroke]( of a pen, it’ll be much harder to get legislation through a Congress where Democrats enjoy the slimmest of majorities. His proposed $1.9 trillion pandemic relief plan is [drawing]( skeptical responses from two Senate Republicans — Mitt Romney and Lisa Murkowski — whose support could be critical. As [Mike Dorning]( and [Steven T. Dennis]( explain, no relationship may be [more important]( to the tone and domestic agenda of Biden’s presidency than his dealings with Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell. The time has come for Biden to make his decades of experience as an inside player pay off. — [Kathleen Hunter]( Biden fist bumps Harris during the inaugural ceremony in Washington. Photographer: Kevin Dietsch/UPI “This is America’s day. This is democracy’s day,” Biden [said]( in his address. “A day of history and hope, of renewal and resolve. America has been tested anew and America has risen to the challenge.” [Click here]( for key scenes from the first day of a presidency guaranteed to be historic — no matter what happens over the next four years. And tell us how we’re doing or what we’re missing at balancepower@bloomberg.net. Inauguration Headlines [Trump’s exit]( | Trump held a military-style send-off for himself instead of attending the inauguration — the first president since the 19th century absent from his successor’s swearing-in ceremony — before flying on Air Force One to his Florida resort. While not mentioning Biden by name, he said in a speech, “I wish the new administration great luck, great success” and reportedly left a note for the Biden in the White House. Donald and Melania Trump board Air Force One during a farewell ceremony at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. Photographer: Stefani Reynolds/Bloomberg [Peaceful day]( | In the end, there were only small, scattered protests by right-wing Trump supporters, despite warnings by the FBI of the potential for bigger trouble. Washington was the scene of heavy national guard deployment, concrete barriers, and chain-link fences as part of the historic security provided for the inauguration and at state capitol buildings across the nation. [Mending fences]( | Biden plans to re-engage with the World Health Organization and send top medical expert Anthony Fauci to an executive board meeting this week. Trump had attacked the WHO for what he said was its undue deference to China and failure to provide accurate information about the virus. He also publicly belittled Fauci and diminished his role in past months. U.S. deaths topped 400,000 yesterday in the world’s worst Covid-19 death toll. - Biden’s team is increasingly worried the pandemic is [spiraling]( out of control — imperiling his promise to contain the outbreak — as vaccinations lag and a more transmissible strain emerges, sources say. [Curt farewell]( | China slapped sanctions on former Secretary of State Michael Pompeo and other Trump administration officials even as Biden was being inaugurated, saying they had made “crazy moves” that harmed ties. The officials listed were instrumental in shaping Trump’s more confrontational stance toward China, which included a raft of sanctions and a declaration, on its final day, that Beijing had committed genocide in its Xinjiang region. - Senior officials in Europe were quick to [push]( their case for renewed collaboration with the U.S. after four years of tumult with Trump on trade, defense and climate change. Paid Post This top card offers an easy $200 bonus (after you spend $1,000 in the first 90 days) AND 3% cash back choice on online shopping, dining, travel, gas, home improvement, or drug stores. Plus, you can enjoy 0% interest for 12 months AND no annual fee. [Learn more today!]( Wise Bread What to Watch - Senator Chuck Schumer of New York is poised to become the chamber’s majority leader later today when [three new]( Democratic senators are sworn in. - Unlike past presidential transitions, [none]( of Biden’s cabinet picks are teed up for confirmation votes today and some could take days or weeks. [And finally]( ... The inauguration featured moments of delight. Pop star Lady Gaga sang the national anthem and National Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman dazzled the audience with her poetry and life story — “even as we grieved, we grew.” Country music star Garth Brooks, a Republican, sang “Amazing Grace.” In response to conservative critics of his attendance, Brooks told reporters, “the message they’re pushing is unity, and that’s right down my alley, man.” Amanda Gorman recites a poem. Photographer: Patrick Semansky/AFP via Getty Images  You received this message because you are subscribed to Bloomberg's Balance of Power newsletter. [Unsubscribe]( | [Bloomberg.com]( | [Contact Us]( Bloomberg L.P. 731 Lexington, New York, NY, 10022