Events in 2020 pertaining to politics and government in the United States.
Events
January January 1 Crowds of demonstrators remain outside the Embassy of the United States and are smaller than on December 31, 2019, in Baghdad, Iraq. President Donald Trump sent 750 marines to guard the embassy and Tweeted a threat against Iran.US embassy attack: Protesters withdraw after standoff in Iraq BBC World News, January 1, 2020 Recreational marijuana becomes legal in Illinois. State laws on bail, the gig economy, minimum wages, data privacy, and red flag gun control take effect in several states, including California, New York, Colorado, Nevada, and Hawaii. Several new federal regulations take effect in the US as of this date, including new regulations on retirement funds, new minimum wage rules, and new overtime rules.Overtime rules, lower Chinese tariffs and more: 6 new regulations taking effect Jan. 1 Ben Werschkul, Yahoo Finance, December 30, 2019. Pete Buttigieg resigns as mayor of South Bend, Indiana. He is succeeded by James Mueller.As Race For Presidency Heats Up, Pete Buttigieg Steps Down As Mayor By Dominique Mosbergen, HuffPost, January 2, 2020 January 2 Julian Castro drops out of the presidential race.Julian Castro drops out of 2020 presidential race By Paul Steinhauser, Fox News Channel, January 2, 2019 Secretary of State Mike Pompeo postpones his trip to Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Cyprus due to the situation in Iraq.Pompeo postpones his trip to Ukraine amid tensions in Middle East by Zack Budryk, The Hill, January 2, 2020 Virginia governor Ralph Northam (D) requests a bill to remove the Robert E. Lee statue from the U.S. Capitol building.Virginia governor seeking to remove Robert E. Lee statue from US Capitol by Marina Pitofsky, The Hill, January 2, 2020 January 3 – President Donald Trump approves the targeted killing of notorious Iranian general Qasem Soleimani and Iraqi paramilitary leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis in Baghdad, Iraq, without the consultation of Congress. In anticipation of a conflict between Iran and the U.S. results in World War III trending on Twitter. Supporters of Soleimani protested his killing while those who participated in the 2019 Iranian demonstrations praised it. January 4 Thousands of people in 70 cities across the country protest against a new war in the Middle East.Activists across the US and the world protest a possible war with Iran By Ryan Prior and Alisha Ebrahimji, CNN, January 4, 2020 Outraged Americans condemn US actions in Iraq and Iran: 'Enough with this nonsense' Grace Hauck & Chris Woodyard, USA Today, January 4, 2020 The White House officially notifies Congress about the airstrike that killed Qasem Soleimani, in accordance with the 1973 War Powers Resolution. January 5 The Iraqi parliament votes to expel U.S. troops from the country.Iraq's Parliament calls for expulsion of US troops from the country following drone attack By Stephen Sorace, Fox News, January 5, 2020 Iraq's parliament votes to expel US military by Regina Zilbermints and Justine Coleman, The Hill, January 5, 2020 Qasem Soleim ani: Iraqi MPs back call to expel US troops BBC News, January 5, 2020 Al-Shabaab attacks a U.S. military base in Kenya.Al-Shabab attacks military base used by U.S. forces in Kenya Politico, January 5, 2020 Three Americans are killed and two are injured.Three Americans killed in Kenya terror attack By Ryan Browne and Michael Callahan, CNN, January 5, 2020 25,000 people march against Antisemitism in the United States in New York City.Religious, political leaders join thousands in solidarity march against anti-Semitism after string of attacks By Ronn Blitzer, Fox News Channel, January 5, 2020 Sixty people of Iranian descent, including American citizens, are detained at the Peace Arch Border Crossing in Washington.60 people with Iranian backgrounds detained at Peace Arch Border into U.S. by Nikitha Martins and Kathryn Tindale, City News 1130 (Vancouver), January 5, 2020 January 6 US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced she would introduce a resolution to limit Trump's ability to take actions against Iran.Pelosi says House will introduce 'War Power Resolution' aimed to limit Trump's Iran military action, By Paul LeBlanc, CNN, Mon January 6, 2020. Tennessee Congressman Phil Roe (R-1) is the 26th Republican to announce he will not seek reelection.First House Retirement of the New Year Brings GOP Congressional Departures to 26 By Jeff Singer, BuzzFlash/Daily Kos, January 6, 2020 Julian Castro endorses Elizabeth Warren for president.Castro endorses Warren in 2020 race after dropping his own bid By Paul Steinhauser, Tara Prindiville, Fox News Channel, January 6, 2020 Former Rhode Island governor Lincoln Chafee announces his candidacy for president with the Libertarian Party.Lincoln Chafee Files To Run For President As Libertarian HuffPost, January 6, 2020 Kelly Loeffler (R-GA) is sworn in as a United States Senator.Republican Kelly Loeffler sworn in as Georgia's newest senator By Clare Foran, CNN, January 6, 2020 January 7 California Congressman Duncan D. Hunter (R-50) sends a letter of resignation to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, effective January 13.Rep. Duncan Hunter resigns from Congress Politico, January 7, 2020 Between six and nine missiles fired by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps hit U.S. bases in Iraq, including Al Asad Airbase in the western part of the country. No casualties or damages are reported.IRGC: Missile attack on US bases in Iraq is revenge for Soleimani killing The Jerusalem Post, January 8, 2020 Missiles iraníes golpean base aérea que alberga a tropas de EU en Irak Proceso, January 7, 2020 January 8 – Maricopa County, Arizona, Assessor Paul Petersen (R) resigns after being indicted for his alleged involvement in human-trafficking.Arizona official resigns after allegations he paid women to give up their babies by Justine Coleman, The Hill, January 8, 2020 January 9 Facebook reiterates that it will allow politicians to lie on political ads, although users are free to block them.Facebook won't fact-check political ads, but it will let users adjust which they see By Ashleigh Atwell, Mic.com, January 9, 2020 The New York City Bar Association asks Congress to investigate Attorney General William Barr for political bias and ethics violations.The New York City Bar Association asked Congress to investigate AG William Barr for political bias and weaponizing the DOJ By Sonam Sheth, Business Insider, January 9, 2020 Three Republicans join House Democrats and one Independent in voting 224–194 in favor of the Iran War Powers Resolution sponsored by Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin (D-MI-8).These Republicans voted yes on the War Powers resolution By Clare Foran, Haley Byrd, Holmes Lybrand, & Caroline Kelly, CNN, January 10, 2020House Passes Resolution to Limit Trump's War Powers in Bipartisan Vote By David Badash, New Civil Rights Movement, January 9, 2020 Tom Steyer will join Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, Pete Buttigieg, Amy Klobuchar, and Andrew Yang in the 7th Democratic presidential debate on January 14.Surging Steyer qualifies for Democratic debate by Zach Montellaro, Politico, January 9, 2020 Anti-war protests in 370 U.S. cities.‘No War With Iran’ Protesters Demonstrate Across U.S. By Josephine Harvey, HuffPost, January 9, 2020 Staff for the Andrew Yang 2020 presidential campaign unionize. Workers for Buttigieg, Warren, Sanders, and Biden are also unionized.Yang campaign recognizes union for its workers By Tal Axelrod, The Hill, January 9, 2020 January 10 – Marianne Williamson announces she has ended her presidential campaign.Marianne Williamson Drops Out Of Presidential Race By Antonia Blumberg & Lydia O’Connor, HuffPost, January 10, 2020 January 11 Two American soldiers are killed and two wounded by an improvised explosive device (IED) in southern Afghanistan.2 US service members killed by IED explosion in Afghanistan By Luis Martinez & Steff Thomas, ABC News, January 11, 2020 Independent Congressman Justin Amash (MI-3) accuses President Trump of selling U.S. troops to after Trump tells Laura Ingraham that Saudi Arabia deposited $1 billion in a bank account in return for an increased military presence.Amash accuses Trump of selling military support to Saudi Arabia by Tal Axelrod, The Hill, January 11, 2020 January 12 – A report by the Texas Department of Public Safety warns that "involuntary celibates" (Incels) are a domestic terrorism threat.‘Involuntary Celibates’ Are an ‘Emerging Domestic Terrorism Threat’: Texas Warns of ‘Incel Rebellion’ By Bob Brigham – Raw Story, January 12, 2020 January 13 Senator Cory Booker drops out of the 2020 presidential campaign. He will run for reelection to the U.S. Senate instead.Booker drops out of presidential race by Nolan D. McCaskill, Politico, January 13, 2020 All 16 Roman Catholic bishops in TexasEvery Catholic bishop in Texas is slamming Gov. Abbott's decision to bar refugees By Daniel Burke, CNN Religion Editor, January 13, 2020 and two large newspapers, The Dallas Morning News and the Houston Chronicle condemn Texas governor Greg Abbott's decision to bar refugees from settling in the state.Incomprehensible: Texas papers slam Republican governor for making state first to block refugees by Gabe Ortiz, Daily Kos, January 13, 2020 January 14 Two white women and four white men participate in the 7th Democratic Party presidential debate in Des Moines, Iowa.6 takeaways from the Democratic debate in Iowa By Eric Bradner, Dan Merica, and Gregory Krieg, CNN, January 15, 2020 January 15 U.S. Speaker of the United States House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi names the seven managers of the impeachment team and the House votes to send its impeachment resolutions to the Senate for a trial of President Donald Trump.House votes to send Trump impeachment articles to Senate, triggering trial by Heather Caygle and Sarah Ferris, Politico, January 15, 2020 President Trump signs an initial trade deal with China.Trump signs first stage of trade deal with China By Donna Borak, CNN, January 15, 2020 Whitefield Academy in Kentucky expels a 15-year-old girl for wearing a rainbow sweater and blowing out candles on a rainbow birthday cake in her home.Christian school expels teen after rainbow sweater and cake were deemed 'lifestyle violations' By Brooke Sopelsa, NBC News, January 15, 2020 Virginia becomes the 38th state to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment. It is unclear if, or when, it will become law.Virginia passes Equal Rights Amendment by Tal Axelrod, The Hill, January 15, 2020 January 16 Chief Justice of the United States John Roberts and 99 senators are sworn in at the Trump impeachment trial.Chief Justice John Roberts swears in senators for Trump's impeachment trial By Rebecca Shabad, Frank Thorp V and Jane C. Timm, NBC News, January 16, 2020 Senator Jim Inhofe (R-OK) misses the vote because he is in Oklahoma with a sick relative.Senators take oath for impeachment trial BY Jordain Carney, The Hill, January 16, 2020 The U.S. Senate ratifies the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA) on a vote of 89 to 10. Environmentalists argue the treaty does not go far enough. Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (D-MA-7) reveals she has Alopecia areata, also called "spot baldness".Rep. Ayanna Pressley has alopecia, and she's ready to talk about it. By Anagha Srikanth, The Hill, January 16, 2020 January 17 The National Archives acknowledges that it altered photographs of the 2017 Women's March on Washington, blurring the word Trump in a sign that reads, "God Hates Trump" and another that reads, "Trump & GOP – Hands Off Women".National Archives says it altered Trump signs, other messages in Women's March photo by Tal Axelrod, The Hill, January 17, 2020