Good afternoon,

Yesterday, Congress certified President-elect Donald Trump as the winner of the 2024 election without challenge, unlike four years ago. As a direct result of Trump's refusal to acknowledge his loss in 2020, local and federal law enforcement agencies were deployed for a national security event with large barriers installed all around the U.S. Capitol.

While we were happy to see a smooth election certification process this time around, America still remembers the heinous January 6^th attack where thousands of rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol. Since that day, 1,600 people have been prosecuted for their participation in the attack. As we near the beginning of Donald Trump's second term, many wait with anticipation as the incoming president has promised to pardon them. Last night outside of the D.C. Jail, where several January 6^th convicts are still held, MAGA loyalists held a rally to celebrate the anticipated release of these felons.

Here are a few important updates ...

REST IN PEACE JIMMY CARTER

Last year ended with the sad news of former U.S. President Jimmy Carter passing away at the age of 100 at his home in Plains, Georgia surrounded by family. Carter was the 39^th and longest-lived U.S. president. During his presidency, he created the Department of Education and the Department of Energy. He also appointed record numbers of minority groups, including women, African Americans, and Hispanics, to federal positions. Carter championed human rights, despite it being poorly accepted by the leaders of the Soviet Union. While he was a single-term president, he left a large humanitarian legacy doing meaningful work in his post-presidential time.

Jimmy Carter had a small-town background and it evidently shaped his priorities as a politician. "Beginning with his campaign to serve in the State Senate, he sought to bridge what was often a yawning divide between the rural region where he grew up and the urban engine of the state." Carter is arguably the last rural president. After facing defeat in the 1980 election, Carter established The Carter Center, a humanitarian nonprofit that focuses on public health, democracy, and other global issues. He was also awarded the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize for his humanitarian work. One Country Project applauds former President Carter for his lifelong dedication to making the world a better place and for always staying true to his roots.

FAREWELL TRUDEAU

On Monday, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced he would be stepping down as the country's prime minister. In response to this announcement, President-elect Donald Trump "continued his trolling campaign" against Trudeau and suggested the U.S. and Canada should merge. Trump took to social media, referring to Canada as "the 51^st State" – an ongoing joke he started last fall.

In a recent MSNBC interview, former North Dakota Senator Heidi Heitkamp discussed Trudeau's resignation and what the impact of this change of leadership will be in the country. Specifically, Heitkamp said, "I think that the prime minister just put sovereignty on the ballot, and he knew that he was not the person to carry that banner. And you say, why now? I think he watched what happened in this country when an unpopular president stayed too long and what that meant for the Democratic party and what that could mean for the Liberal Party." Heitkamp went on to emphasize that Canada and Mexico are the two most important trading partners for the U.S. and the relationship with Canada is critical to North Dakota's economy. It's clear that Trump does not understand our country's relationship with these countries, and should he implement the aggressive trade policies he campaigned on, it will show.

• Events honoring Jimmy Carter this week include:
   
  • Tuesday, January 7^th – Ceremony marking Carter's departure from the Carter Center.
     
  • Thursday, January 9^th – National funeral at Washington National Cathedral.
     
• Confirmation hearings for Trump cabinet nominees will begin next week. Scheduled hearing so far include:
   
  • Wednesday, January 15^th – Attorney General nominee Pam Bondi and Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth.
     
  • Thursday, January 16^th – Agriculture Secretary nominee Brooke Rollins and EPA Director nominee Lee Zeldin.
     
• The 60^th Presidential Inauguration will take place on Monday, January 20, 2025.
   
• The DNC chair election will be held on February 1, 2025. The first in-person candidate forum will be held on January 16^th in Detroit, Michigan.

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