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Evening Report

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Laken Riley Act primed to give Trump early win

THE SENATE ON FRIDAY voted to advance an immigration bill championed by President-elect Trump, setting him up for an early legislative victory for a key issue he campaigned on.

The Laken Riley Act, named after the Georgia nursing student killed by an immigrant living in the country illegally and with a criminal record, advanced in a bipartisan 61-35 tally, with senators moving to end debate and tee up a final vote.

The bill would require immigrants in the country illegally that are accused of theft-related crimes to be detained as their cases move through the courts.

Ten Democrats — most from purple states — joined all Republicans in getting the bill past the filibuster.

The Democrats who voted yes: Sens. Ruben Gallego (Ariz.), Mark Kelly (Ariz.), Jon Ossoff (Ga.), Gary Peters (Mich.), Jacky Rosen (Nev.), Catherine Cortez Masto (Nev.), Jeanne Shaheen (N.H.), Maggie Hassan (N.H.), Mark Warner (Va.) and Elissa Slotkin (Mich.).

A version of the bill already passed the House, but it still must be sent back to the lower chamber for another vote because it was amended by the Senate.

Final passage is expected early next week, and then it’s off to Trump’s desk.

INAUGURATION WEEKEND IS HERE

The nation will fixate on Washington, D.C., over this long holiday weekend, as Trump prepares to be sworn in as the 47th president of the United States.

There will be parties, official events, high-level meetings, parades and protests.

Officials are scrambling to address the practical and symbolic concerns around the inauguration.

A brutal cold front is slamming the East Coast, bringing the lowest temperatures in 40 years for Inauguration Day.

Trump announced one major change this afternoon: The inauguration will be moved indoors due to the dangerously low temperatures. Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance will be sworn in inside the Capitol Rotunda, rather than on the west front of the Capitol.

Lawmakers and luminaries will still have a spot inside to watch the ceremony, but for most people who wanted to catch a glimpse of the ceremony outside, the inauguration tickets are now "commemorative."

“I don’t want to see people hurt, or injured, in any way,” Trump posted on TruthSocial. “It is dangerous conditions for the tens of thousands of Law Enforcement, First Responders, Police K9s and even horses, and hundreds of thousands of supporters that will be outside for many hours on the 20th (In any event, if you decide to come, dress warmly!).”

Safety concerns are top of mind as hundreds of thousands are expected to descend on the nation’s capital, including foreign leaders, corporate executives, supporters and demonstrators.

Permitted protests, such as the People's March scheduled for Saturday, will be allowed.

But the city will look like a police state at times, with maximum security enforcement after the two assassination attempts against Trump last year and the New Year’s Day terror attack in New Orleans.

Trump has won the battle of the flags, with the American flag temporarily being raised after former President Jimmy Carter's death late last year.

Flags are typically flown at half-mast for 30 days after a former president dies, but the House opted to raise them for Monday's inauguration.

Flags at the U.S. Capitol will be flown at full-staff when Trump is sworn in for the second time, The Hill’s Niall Stanage reports.

PRESIDENTS, EXECS AND CELEBS FLOOD THE CITY

All of the living current and........

© The Hill