Wednesday, January 8, 2025

Sit down with Joe Biden

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On Politics

Wed Jan 8 2025

Rebecca Morin | Senior National News Reporter

@RebeccaMorin_

Hey there! It's Rebecca Morin, senior national news reporter at USA TODAY. I hope all the On Politics readers are staying safe from the wildfires in California.

What Biden said in an exclusive sit down interview with USA TODAY

President Joe Biden's one-term presidency is coming to an end in less than two weeks. In his final days in office, the 82-year-old sat down with none other than USA TODAY's Susan Page for a nearly one-hour long interview. Page, our Washington Bureau chief, has interviewed the past 10 presidents. In her interview with Biden, the president discussed his legacy and also revealed that he believes he could have won his reelection bid. Read more.

•	Watch Susan Page discuss her exclusive interview with Biden on the election, his family and his legacy.
•	Read the transcript of USA TODAY's interview with Biden

During the wide-ranging interview, Biden also laid out his greatest fears about President-elect Donald Trump's second term (like rolling back climate actions passed in Congress) and how he hopes his legacy is remembered (with "honesty and integrity.") Takeaways from Biden's interview.

•	A rare compliment? Biden said Trump was 'very complimentary' about some of his economic policies in meeting
•	Where will Joe Biden build his presidential library?
•	A new title for Biden: great grandfather. Biden says his granddaughter, Naomi, scheduled to have C-section on Wednesday

President Joe Biden sits down with USA TODAY Washington Bureau Chief Susan Page for an interview in the Oval Office on Sunday.

Josh Morgan, USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

A politics pit stop

•	Trump invites indicted Brazilian ex-president, Jair Bolsonaro, to inauguration
•	Biden administration expands benefits for veterans with cancer exposed to burn pits
•	Are government offices closed on the Jan. 9 national day of mourning? Here's what to know.
•	California Native tribes embrace Biden's step to preserve their homelands and "true history"
•	Biden officials warn health insurance costs could "skyrocket" in 2026

Attorney general to release Trump report on election charges

Attorney General Merrick Garland will release part of special counsel Jack Smith's report about election interference charges against Donald Trump before he takes office, even though the charges against the president-elect were dismissed. However, the Department of Justice will withhold part of the report about classified documents. The move comes after a federal judge blocked the release of the entire report. Read more.

Why does Trump want Greenland and the Panama Canal so badly?

Donald Trump has made it clear: he wants to acquire Greenland and the Panama Canal. But the big question is: why? The short answer: Trump is jockeying for geopolitical supremacy over China and Russia – two global powers that are also expansionist-minded. Read more.

•	Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Trump's bid to take over Greenland is "obviously not a good" idea and that it would not happen.
•	Trump wants to buy not-for-sale Greenland. Denmark's first move? Alter its royal coat of arms.

Got a burning question, or comment, for On Politics? You can submit them here or send me an email at rdmorin@usatoday.com.