On Wednesday evening, John Legend sang Nina Simone’s 1965 hit Feelin’ Good. He belted out at the grand piano under the Lincoln Memorial, “It’s a new dawn/ It’s a new day/ It’s a new life for me/ and I’m feelin’ good.”

These lyrics embody the relief that inauguration committee and performers felt as the peaceful transfer of power finally happened. Friends around the San Luis Valley, including educators, doctors, nurses, lawyers, mental health counselors, mothers, fathers, pastors, bakers, cooks, mechanics, truck drivers, and a slew of voters also felt reprieve from four years of bullying and deep state lies as President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were sworn in and the new administration’s new day was celebrated.

Facebook, Twitter, TikTok and other social media lit up with postings of the swearing in of the president and vice president.  Some responded with, “Finally relief,” or “I can breathe again.” Emoji hearts, I care and thumbs up littered the streaming videos of the live event broadcasted from CBS News, CNN, and Speaker Pelosi.

President Biden is after bipartisanship and has begun the healing as we witnessed when he and Dr. Biden invited Republican Senator Mitch McConnell to church Wednesday morning. Vice President Harris and former Vice President Pence, having attended the ceremony, said goodbye on the steps of the Capitol. 

Three former U.S. Presidents made a video while waiting for President Biden. President Bush said, “I think if Americans would love their neighbor as they would like to be loved themselves, a lot of the division in our society would end.” President Obama said, “We’re at our best when we are moving in the same direction.”  President Clinton said, “I’m glad you’re there.” These three presidents wished President Biden, “God’s speed.”

The first full day in office the president signed executive orders to bring Covid 19 under control. In press conferences and news coverage, the American public learned that the predecessor left no plan in place and no production order to replenish the vaccine.  Dr. Anthony Fauci talked on CNN about the mountain that has to be climbed to roll out more vaccines, and the status of new vaccines in the late stages of approval that could bring more vaccines.

Impeachment of the former president for citing an insurrection is on the horizon and discussion to delay the delivery of the impeachment article from the house and the subsequent senate trial has been fodder. The argument to delay is necessary from one senatorial perspective because the senate can’t take care of three things at once. Pundits like Van Jones on CNN say the delay could work to advantage because the memory of the now private citizen president would be lessened. But others like Sen. Amy Klobushar say that the senate can indeed address three problems at once: one in the morning, one in afternoon and one in the evening. She argues that the American public must juggle, so why shouldn’t the senate?

There is once again press briefings in the White House and Dr. Fauci can speak freely about the data and science. Unity, not divisiveness, is the new goal of the Biden White House. It is a new dawn and a new day for our Democracy.  Together, Americans will thrive past this insurrection and attempted coup.