PRESIDENT Donald Trump signs an executive order on birthright citizenship in the Oval Office of the White House, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

President Donald Trump’s bold vision for a changed America which he outlined in a speech Monday after his inaugural address has received some immediate challenges.

His vow to move to overturn “birthright citizenship” for the children of illegal aliens produced an instant angry response from states and cities.

According to the Associated Press, attorneys general from 22 states and two cities have announced plans to challenge in court Trump’s plan, which runs counter to the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, which grants automatic American citizenship to all persons born in the U.S.

The pardon of over 1,000 people charged and convicted of involvement with the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol by supporters of Trump produced denouncement from many in law enforcement, including some of those injured in the attack.

Worst of fire danger is past

Firefighters, with some help from Mother Nature, are getting the upper hand on the fires that ravaged large areas of Los Angeles County.

PACIFIC PALISADES fire is now considered to be 65 percent contained (Shutterstock).

The Los Angeles Times is reporting that the Palisades fire was 65 percent contained by Tuesday afternoon, having burned over 23,700 acres. At least 6,380 structures were destroyed and 857 damaged and 11 people dead.

The Eaton fire was 89 percent contained after burning 14,000 acres, destroyed 9,418 buildings and damaging 1,071 more. At least 17 deaths have been confirmed.

Evacuation orders have been lifted in some areas, and the slowing of winds has helped firefighters in their efforts.
Forecasts of rain in the weekend are also expected to contribute to their work.

Biden said his goodbye, vows to ‘fight’

FORMER PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN.

Former President Joe Biden made his farewell speech on Monday from Joint Base Andrews, thanking his cabinet and staff.

According to United Press International, Biden said, “What I’m proud of is your did it upholding the core values of honesty, decency, and integrity. It’s incredible what you did. You represent the best of who we are as Americans.”

He told the audience thats there’s “a lot more to do. Referring to President Trump’s announced plans, he said, “We’re leaving office but we’re not leaving the fight.”

Great Thoughts

“All the armies of Europe, Asia, and Africa combined, with all the treasure of the earth (our own excepted) in their military chest, with a Bonaparte for a commander, could not by force take a drink from the Ohio or make a track on the Blue Ridge in a trial of a thousand years. At what point then is the approach of danger to be expected? I answer. If it ever reach us it must spring up amongst us; it cannot come from abroad.”

– Abraham Lincoln, speech, 1838.

Weather: Rain on the horizon

The West Orange County area should continue to escape the worst ravages of high winds and accompanying fires. We’ll have a brief warming trend and then a rapid drop in temperatures and some showers and rain by the weekend.
The predicted daytime high for Wednesday is 80 with an overnight low of 55 under partly cloudy skies. Thursday will warm to 82 (48) with sunny skies. Friday begins the approach of a mild storm at 73 (48), which some rain on Saturday with temperatures of 58 (45).