>> Braude: TONIGHT ON "GREATER BOSTON," WHAT A DAY!

YOU COULD ALMOST HEAR THE SIGHS OF RELIEF FROM ALL PARTS OF THE COUNTRY AND WORLD AS DONALD TRUMP LEFT THE WHITE HOUSE FOR THE LAST TIME AND JOE BIDEN TOOK THE OATH OF OFFICE, THE CULMINATION OF AN ELECTION THAT SHOOK THE NATION TO ITS VERY CORE.

>> WE'VE LEARNED AGAIN THAT DEMOCRACY IS PRECIOUS.

DEMOCRACY IS FRAGILE, AND AT THIS HOUR, MY FRIENDS, DEMOCRACY HAS PREVAILED.

AMERICA HAS BEEN TESTED AND WE'VE COME OUT STRONGER FOR IT.

>> Braude: WE'LL LOOK AT THE CHALLENGES AHEAD FOR BIDEN'S PRESIDENCY AND THE FUTURE OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

>>> DONALD TRUMP'S PRESIDENCY ENDED THE WAY IT BEGAN, WITH A CAMPAIGN-STYLE EVENT THAT BUCKED TRADITION AND FEATURED AN OFF THE CUFF SPEECH.

>> WHAT WE'VE DONE HAS BEEN AMAZING, BY ANY STANDARD.

WE WERE NOT A REGULAR ADMINISTRATION.

>> Braude: ON THAT I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE.

AND DON'T EVEN GET ME STARTED ON THIS MORNING'S 21-GUN SALUTE, OR THE SOUNDTRACK AT JOINT BASE ANDREWS, WHICH INCLUDED THE VILLAGE PEOPLE'S "MACHO MAN" AND "YMCA" AND JOURN'S "DON'T STOP BELIEVIN'," SUGGESTING TRUMP'S FUTURE IS AS MUCH IN DOUBT AS TONY SOPRANO'S.

BUT FROM THAT MOMENT ON, THIS MORNING THE NATION FINALLY GOT TO MOVE TOWARD SOME SENSE OF SMALL "D" DEMOCRATIC NORMALCY, ALBEIT SOCIAL-DISTANCED, AND UNDER EXTRAORDINARY SECURITY AND TWO WEEKS TO THE DAY AFTER RIOTERS TRIED TO STOP THE ELECTION CERTIFICATION PROCESS.

MIKE PENCE OPTED TO SKIP TRUMP'S FAREWELL, ATTENDING THE INAUGURATION INSTEAD, SYMBOLICALLY PASSING THE TORCH TO THE NEXT ADMINISTRATION, WHILE THE MAN HE WORKED FOR COULDN'T EVEN MENTION HIS SUCCESSOR'S NAME.

KAMALA HARRIS MADE HISTORY WHEN SHE WAS SWORN IN AS THE NATION'S FIRST BLACK, ASIAN AMERICAN, AND FEMALE VICE PRESIDENT, AND THEN JOE BIDEN OFFICIALLY BECAME THE 46th PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, DELIVERING AN INAUGURAL ADDRESS IN WHICH HE VOWED TO RISE TO THE OCCASION.

>> FEW PEOPLE IN OUR NATION'S HISTORY HAVE BEEN MORE CHALLENGED OR FOUND A TIME MORE CHALLENGING OR DIFFICULT THAN THE TIME WE'RE IN NOW.

ONCE IN A CENTURY VIRUS THAT SILENTLY STALKS THE COUNTRY, IT'S TAKEN AS MANY LIVES IN ONE YEAR AS AMERICA LOST IN ALL OF WORLD WAR II.

MILLIONS OF JOBS HAVE BEEN LOST.

HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF BUSINESSES CLOSED.

A CRY FOR RACIAL JUSTICE.

SOME 400 YEARS IN THE MAKING MOVES US, THE DREAM OF JUSTICE FOR ALL WILL BE DEFERRED NO LONGER.

A CRY FOR SURVIVAL COMES FROM THE PLANET ITSELF.

A CRY THAT CAN'T BE ANY MORE DESPERATE OR ANY MORE CLEAR, AND NOW A RISE OF THE POLITICAL EXTREMISM, THE WHITE SUPREMACY, THE DOMESTIC TERRORISM THAT WE MUST CONFRONT AND WE WILL DEFEAT.

>> Braude: SO TO QUOTE PRESIDENT FORD: "OUR LONG NATIONAL NIGHTMARE IS OVER."

OR IS IT?

I'M JOINED BY "NEW YORK TIMES" OPINION COLUMNIST PAUL KRUGMAN, WHOSE FORTHCOMING BOOK IS "ARGUING WITH ZOMBIES: ECONOMICS, POLITICS AND THE FIGHT FOR A BETTER FUTURE," MICHAEL CURRY, THE CHAIR OF THE NATIONAL NAACP ADVOCACY AND POLICY COMMITTEE, AND HEATHER COX RICHARDSON, HISTORIAN AND AUTHOR OF "LEADERS FROM AN AMERICAN."

>> Braude: WELCOME TO ALL THREE OF YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING ME.

MICHAEL, STARTING WITH YOU, PAUL AND HEATHER TWEETED TODAY ABOUT TEARING UP AND CRYING AT SOME POINTS DURING THE CEREMONY.

YOU WERE A LITTLE LESS FORTHCOMING WITH YOUR EMOTIONS.

WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION TO WHAT YOU HEARD AND SAW TODAY?

>> YEAH, JIM.

IT WAS EMOTIONAL FOR ME AS WELL.

I JUST FELT LIKE THAT WAS PERSONAL.

SO, YOU KNOW, I STOOD IN MY KITCHEN WITH MY MOTHER, AND WE WATCHED THE CEREMONY, AND I COULDN'T HELP BUT TO THINK ABOUT ALL THE VITRIOL AND RACIAL TENSION, THE STOKING OF THE FEARS AROUND RACE WITH NEONATS SEES THATNEONATZIS THAT HAVE BEEN IN POWER.

AND THE BEAUTY OF THE FACT THAT WE HAVE OUR FIRST FEMALE VICE PRESIDENT.

SHE IS THE FIRST ASIAN, THE FIRST WOMAN TO HOLD THAT OFFICE, AND I CHOKED UP AS WELL.

I RARELY HAVE FELT THAT MOVED, AND THE ONLY OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES AND ELECTIONS THAT I CAN THINK OF IS WHEN GOVERNOR PATRICK WON HERE IN MASSACHUSETTS, AND MANY OF US DIDN'T BELIEVE THAT WAS POSSIBLE.

WHEN BARACK OBAMA WON IN 2008, AND WHEN AYANNA PRESSLEY WON HER SEAT IN CONGRESS, THOSE WERE ALL EMOTIONAL MOMENTS, AND THIS WILL GO DOWN AS ONE OF THOSE.

>> Braude: HEATHER, KAMALA HARRIS ASSENTION IS WHAT DID IT FOR YOU AS WELL, YES?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

TO SEE HER GO AHEAD AND BE THE FIRST WOMAN IN A NATIONALLY ELECTED OFFICE, WEARING THE COLORS OF SHIRLEY PRISISM, WHO RAN IN 1972, WAS ENORMOUSLY MOVING, WHICH SEEMED OUT OF REACH FOR SO LONG AND FINALLY WITHIN GRASP.

>> Braude: HOW DID BIDEN'S SPEECH MEASURE UP TO THOSE WHO PRECEDED HIM?

>> I WAS SURPRISED HOW MUCH IT SOUNDED LIKE J.F.K., AND I EXPECTED HIM TO REACH OUT LIKE OBAMA, AND TALK ABOUT UNITY, BUT HE TALKED ABOUT AMERICA TO REACH WITHIN THEMSELVES AND WORK OR REBUILDING.

IT DOESN'T SEEM TO ME WE HEARD THAT SINCE J.F.K.

's VERY FAMOUS SPEECH.

>> Braude: PAUL, ANOTHER GUY WEARING HIS EMOTIONS ON HIS SLEEVE, AT LEAST ON TWITTER, THAT WOULD BE YOU.

WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION TO THE COMINGS AND GOINGS AND THE SPEECH -- WHY DID YOU TEAR UP?

>> I TEARED UP QUITE EARLY ON, EVEN BEFORE THEY WENT ON STAGE, SEEING THE SHOTS OF THE PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT AND THEIR FAMILIES COMING DOWN THE HALL.

IT'S JUST THE DECENCY.

IT IS A PRETTY BIG THING.

THE WHOLE THING SEEMED LIKE IT IS A DREAM OF WHAT AMERICA SHOULD BE.

THE -- >> Braude: DID THE JUXTAPOSITION OF TRUMP'S GOING AND BIDEN'S COMING -- I THINK IT WAS NOTABLE THAT BIDEN WAS GRACIOUS ENOUGH TO WAIT TO LEAVE FROM MASS UNTIL TRUMP WAS READY TO LEAVE.

DID THE JUXTAPOSITION DO ANYTHING FOR YOU?

>> NO.

I'M DOING MY BEST TO STOP THINKING ABOUT TRUMP AND THINKING ABOUT GOING FORWARD.

THIS WAS JUST A VERY -- AFTER A HORRIBLE THING.

THAT GUY IS GONE.

AND LOOKING FORWARD, I WAS ALL TOGETHER REALLY IMPRESSED NOT THAT BIDEN IS SOUNDING LIKE HE IS A DECENT MAN AND SURROUNDED BY THIS GROUP OF OBVIOUSLY DECENT PEOPLE, BUT THAT ALSO HE IS SERIOUS ABOUT TRYING TO ACTUALLY GET A GRIP ON THINGS, AND MAKING THAT AN ESSENTIAL MORAL PRINCIPLE OF WHERE HE IS GOING.

IT WAS JUST FAR BETTER THAN YOU MIGHT HAVE EXPECTED.

IT WAS CERTAINLY -- I HAVE TO SAY, I REMEMBER OBAMA'S INAUGURAL EVENT, AND I WAS DISAPPOINTED IN HIM.

I THOUGHT HE WAS REACHING NOT FAR ENOUGH.

AND WHO WOULD HAVE EXPECTED, BUT JOE BIDEN, I THINK, WAS A MUCH MORE FORWARD-LOOKING, WE'RE GOING TO GET OUR ARMS AROUND THIS AND WE'RE GOING TO MAKE AMERICA BETTER THAN BARACK OBAMA HAD BEEN IN 2009.

>> Braude: PAUL, YOU KNOW, TO TRY TO ADVANCE THE MENTAL HEALTH OF ALL OF US, WE'LL TAKE A 10-MINUTE HIATUS FROM DONALD TRUMP, AND LET'S TALK ABOUT JOE BIDEN.

HE SIGNED A SLEW OF EXECUTIVE ORDERS, INCLUDING REING REJOINING THE PARIS CLIMATE CHANGE AGREEMENT, ENDING THE MUSLIM TRAVEL BAND, STOPPING THE BORDER WALL CONSTRUCTION, AND NARROWING DOWN DEPORTATION PRIORITIES.

WITH A SMALLER DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY IN THE HOUSE, A 50/50 WITH A KAMALA HARRIS TIE-BREAKING VOTE IN THE SENATE, BIDEN WILL NEED AT LEAST SOME DEGREE OF BIPARTISANSHIP TO MOVE MUCH OF HIS AGENDA FORWARD.

HE BEGAN TO ADDRESS THAT TODAY, BY ASKING BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE TO JOIN HIM AND LATER IN HIS INAUGURAL ADDRESS.

>> Biden: MY WHOLE SOUL IS IN THIS, BRINGING OUR PEOPLE TOGETHER, UNITING OUR NATION, AND I ASK EVERY AMERICAN TO JOIN ME IN THIS CAUSE.

WE HAVE TO END THIS UNCIVIL WAR THAT PITS RED AGAINST BLUE, RURAL VERSUS URBAN, CONSERVATIVE VERSUS LIBERAL.

LET BEGIN TO LISTEN TO ONE ANOTHER AGAIN, HEAR ONE ANOTHER, SEE ONE ANOTHER, SHOW RESPECT TO ONE ANOTHER.

POLITICS DOESN'T HAVE TO BE A RAGING FIRE DESTROYING EVERYTHING IN ITS PATH.

>> Braude: UNLESS McCONNELL AND McCARTHY HAD EPIPHANIES AT MASS TODAY, THERE IS NO HISTORY OF GREAT BIPARTISANSHIP.

HEATHER, PLUS YOU ADD TO THAT EQUATION THAT JOE BIDEN IS ABOUT TO TAKE OVER, AND IT SEEMS TO ME, AS A NON-HISTORIAN, I'M INTIMIDATED SAYING THIS TO YOU, BUT SINCE THE LEAST BIPARTISAN SINCE LINCOLN -- >> YES.

I THINK WHAT YOU DIDN'T MENTION WITH THE THINGS GOING ON WITH BIDEN ALREADY, THE FACT THAT THE AMERICAN POPULATION HAS CHANGED A LOT IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS.

AS WELL AS DEMOGRAPHICALLY, IT IS ALSO THE FACT THAT AMERICANS NOW ARE REACHING FOR THE IDEA OF BIPARTISAN.

THEY ARE EAGER TO SEE THEIR POLITICIANS WORKING TOGETHER.

AND THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND ITS CURRENT INCARNATION HAS REALLY BEEN EXPOSED AS THE WHITE NATIONALIST DANGEROUS ORGANIZATION IT HAS BECOME, AND THAT IS NOT PART OF TRADITIONAL REPUBLICANISM.

I THINK HE HAS THE BENEFIT BOTH FROM THE FACT THAT AMERICANS ARE LOOKING FOR WHAT HE IS DELIVERING, AND ALSO WITH THE EXTENSION OF THE DEMOCRATS IN THE SENATE, YOU HAVE MAJOR SOCIAL MEDIA PLACES CALLING BACK THEIR EXTREMISM AND BEING WILLING TO CUT BACK ON THE Q-ANON ACCOUNTS TO HELP RETURN US TO A FACT-BASED POLITICAL SYSTEM, WHICH IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT BIDEN CALLED FOR.

>> Braude: PAUL, DO YOU BUY THAT ANALYSIS?

>> WELL, THE TROUBLE IS, LOOK, THERE ARE TWO WINGS EFFECTIVELY OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

ONE WING IS RELENTLESSLY PARTISAN.

AND THAT'S THE SANE WING AND ITS MINORITY.

MOST OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS CRAZIER THAN THAT.

THEY TACITALLY SUPPORTED ATTEMPTS TO OVERTURN THE ELECTION.

>> THERE IS GOING TO BE -- BIPARTISANSHIP IN THIS CASE WILL MEAN POSSIBLY TWO OR THREE REPUBLICAN SENATORS WILL SUPPORT A FEW THINGS THAT BIDEN PROPOSES.

THE IDEA THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET ANYTHING LIKE WHAT BIPARTISANSHIPBIPARTISANSHIP USED TO BE, THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET ECONOMIC RELIEF PASSED, LIKE THE WAY MEDICARE WAS PASSED -- THAT'S JUST NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

THAT'S NOT WHERE WE ARE IN 2021.

THE ONLY GOOD THING IS THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT.

>> Braude: SPEAKING OF PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT, I WANT TO ASK YOU, PAUL, IF BIDEN UNDERSTANDS THAT.

YOU'VE WRITTEN FOR YEARS, THAT THE STIMULUS OF '09 WITH OBAMA WAS MAYBE BECAUSE OF HIS NAIVE DESIRE FOR BIPARTISANSHIP.

WOULD A 1.5 TRILLION PACKAGE FILED BY JOE BIDEN, WOULD IT NOT SUGGEST THAT HE HAS GOTTEN YOUR MESSAGE?

>> YEAH, I THINK IT IS.

IT IS AN AMBITIOUS/AGGRESSIVE PACKAGE.

IT WOULD HAVE TO BE MORE FOR THE LONGER-RUN ISSUES, BUT THIS IS LOOKING ADEQUATELY FOR THE PROBLEMS THAT FACE US IN 2021.

IT SOUNDS LIKE -- THE THINGS ABOUT BIDEN, WE DON'T HAVE A POLITICAL SCIENTIST HERE, BUT BIDEN HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE DEAD CENTER OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

AND THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY AS A WHOLE HAS LEARNED A LOT.

THEY HAVE LEARNED A LOT FROM THE FAILURE OF OBAMA'S OUTREACH TO REPUBLICANS AND FROM THE CRAZINESS OF THE PAST FEW MONTHS.

SO BIDEN, IN EFFECT, HAS MOVED TOWARDS A MORE AGGRESSIVE POLICY AGENDA BECAUSE HE MOVES WITH HIS POLICY, AND THAT'S GOOD.

I WAS VERY HAPPY WITH THE ECONOMIC RELIEF PACKAGE THAT HE PROPOSED.

SURPRISED ON THE UPSIDE.

IT WAS MUCH CLOSER TO WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAN I HAD FEARED IT WOULD BE.

>> Braude: SO, MICHAEL, IT FALLS TO YOU TO BREAK THE TIE ON BIPARTISANSHIP, IF YOU CAN.

JOE BIDEN SAYS THAT CHARLOTTESVILLE IS WHAT CAUSED HIM TO RUN.

THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT BLACK VOTERS DELIVERED A VICTORY TO HIM, AND HE DID MENTION THE WORDS "WHITE SUPREMACY" WITH GREAT FERVOR, I WOULD SAY, IN HIS SPEECH TODAY.

IS THERE ANY HOPE OF BIPARTISAN ACTION ON THIS BUMPY ROAD TO RACIAL RECKONING THAT WE ALL TALK ABOUT ALL THE TIME?

>> I HAVE HOPE FOR BIPARTISANSHIP, BUT IT WILL NOT BE OVER POLICING.

IT WILL NOT BE OVER THE RACIAL RECKONING.

I THINK THE PARTY LINES ARE PRETTY CLEARLY DRAWN WHEN IT COMES TO THAT.

HIS LINE WHEN HE SAYS THE DREAM OF JUSTICE FOR ALL WILL BE DEFERRED NO LONGER, THAT KEYS UP THE JUSTICE AND POLICING ACT.

IT WILL BE A BILL THAT WILL BE A VERY PARTISAN BILL.

I THINK HE'LL NOW HAVE TO DELIVER FOR AFRICAN-AMERICANS AND DELIVER A CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM, AND HE MAY HAVE TO DO THAT WITH THE DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY.

BUT THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES WHEN IT COMES TO INFRASTRUCTURE.

THERE IS OPPORTUNITY WHEN IT COMES TO THE ECONOMIC RELIEF BILL, IN FINDING A PATH FORWARD TO REPOSITION SMALL BUSINESSES, REPOSITION MAIN STREET, WALL STREET, AND PEOPLE GETTING ON THE PATH TO A SHUTTLEHEALTH ECONOMY.

AND HE'LL HAVE TO STAKE OUT A POSITION AND BE WILLING TO TAKE SOME OPPOSITION FOR THAT.

>> Braude: I WANT TO STAY ON THIS TOPIC JUST FOR A SECOND, GOING BACK TO YOU, HEATHER, FIRST, IT SEEMS TO ME BEYOND THESE EXECUTIVE ORDERS, WHAT THIS PRESIDENT LEADS WITH WITH CONGRESS MIGHT DETERMINE THE FUTURE OF SOME LEVEL OF BIPARTISANSHIP, DESPITE PAUL'S SKEPTICISM, AND DESPITE THE EARLY NEGATIVE REACTION FROM SOME REPUBLICANS ABOUT THAT EXPANSIVE ALMOST $2 TRILLION CORONAVIRUS PACKAGE.

THAT IS THE ONE WHERE MANY PARTS ARE THE HARDEST FOR REPUBLICANS TO JUST SAY NO.

AM I NOT RIGHT ABOUT THAT?

>> I THINK THAT IS RIGHT.

I THINK WHAT MAKES THIS MOMENT DIFFERENT THAN WE'VE HAD REALLY SINCE THE 1980s, IS YOU HAVE AN AMERICAN POPULATION THAT IS FED UP WITH WHAT THE REPUBLICANS HAVE BEEN PULLING.

AGAIN, THE PRESSURE NOT ONLY ON POLITICIANS TO DELIVER WHAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WANT, AND ALSO ON CORPORATE AMERICA.

THE FACT THAT THE CORPORATIONS PULLED AWAY FROM THE 150 OR SO REPUBLICANS, THAT MATTERED.

THAT MATTERED IN THE FACT THAT MITCH McCONNELL SAID THAT HE WAS GOING TO STEP BACK AND LET PEOPLE VOTE THEIR CONSCIENCES ON WHETHER OR NOT TO CONVICT TRUMP.

THOSE WILL BE VERY HARD THINGS TO SAY NO TO.

AND AS PAUL KRUGMAN MENTIONED, IN THAT LARGE PACKAGE ARE THINGS THAT OVERWHELMING HELP CHILDREN, AND CHILDREN'S FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES.

IT IS SET AGAINST WHAT THE CURRENT REPUBLICAN PARTY ALWAYS STOOD FOR, AND McCONNELL PUT HIS LINE IN THE SAND WHEN HE SAID HE IS NOT GOING TO CHANGE THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE GOVERNMENT, AND I THINK THE AMERICAN PEOPLE MAY THINK THAT JOE BIDEN HAS MORE OF A MANDATE THAN MITCH McCONNELL.

>> Braude: MITCH McCONNELL SAID THE MANDATE QUITE CLEARLY WAS BIPARTISANSHIP.

PAUL, IF YOU WERE ADVISING BIDEN, WHAT IS THE LEGISLATIVE THING YOU WOULD LEAD WITH TO GET MORE THAN MITT ROMNEY AND SUSAN COLLINS ON BOARD?

>> I WOULD SAY GO WITH THE ECONOMIC PACKAGE BECAUSE THE DEMOCRATS HAVE MARGINAL CONTROL OF THE SENATE, AND THE REPUBLICANS WILL BE IN THE DECISION OF HAVING TO VOTE NO, NO ON UNEMPLOYMENT, NO ON STIMULUS CHECKS TO FAMILIES.

BIPARTISANSHIP IS NOT THE GOAL HERE.

GETTING STUFF DONE IS THE GOAL, AND THAT WILL BE TERRIBLY IMPORTANT POLITICALLY.

SO WINNING THE MID-TERM ELECTIONS IN 2022, AND THAT'S MIGHT BRING SOME BIPARTISANSHIP.

ACCOMMODATE, AND SCALE BACK IN THE HOPES OF WINNING SOME REPUBLICAN SUPPORT -- THAT'S A MISTAKE THAT OBAMA MADE.

DON'T DO THAT AGAIN.

>> Braude: WHEN TRUMP LEFT THE WHITE HOUSE, HE DID SO WITH THE LOWEST AVERAGE APPROVAL RATING, WITH JUST 41%, AND HE HIT A NEW PERSONAL LOW OF 39%.

BUT HE ALSO LEAVES OFFICE WITH REMARKABLY HIGH SUPPORT AMONG REPUBLICANS, AT 82%, EVEN AFTER HIS ELECTION PUSHED THOUSANDS OF HIS SUPPORTERS TO ATTACK THE CAPITOL.

AND HE HAS NO PLANS TO FADE INTO THE BACKGROUND.

>> President Trump: GOOD-BYE.

WE LOVE YOU, AND WE WILL BE BACK IN SOME FORM.

>> Braude: AND THIS AFTERNOON, SENATOR LINDSEY GRAHAM, WHO TWO WEEKS AGO SAID YOU CAN COUNT HIM OUT ON TRUMP, WENT AHEAD AND SAID THIS ON FOX NEWS.

>> I HOPE HE WILL STAY THE LEADER OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

IF THIS PARTY IS GOING TO SURVIVE, WE HAVE TO REALIZE THAT DONALD TRUMP HAD A PRESIDENCY FOR CONSERVATIVES, AND HE WILL BE THE STRONGEST VOICE IN THE PARTY.

>> Braude: PAUL, WILL LINDSEY GRAHAM GET HIS WISH?

>> YOU MEAN DONALD TRUMP WILL REMAIN IN CONTROL?

>> Braude: YEAH.

>> I MEAN, WE DO NEED TO REALIZE THIS IS A DEEPLY DIVIDED COUNTRY.

I THINK McCONNELL, PEOPLE LIKE HIM, WOULD LIKE TO MOVE ON AND FIND A MORE PERSONALABLE LEADER, BUT FOR A LOT OF REPUBLICAN BASE NOW, TRUMP -- EVERY PIECE OF THE TRUMP PACKAGE IS WHAT THEY WANT.

THEY WANT THE EXTREMISM.

THEY WANT THE HOSTILITY.

THEY WANT, IF YOU LIKE, TELLING PEOPLE WHAT THEY WANT TO HEAR, EVEN IF IT IS NOT TRUE.

SO I HAVE VERY SEVERE DOUBTS -- GRANT GRAHAM MAY BE RIGHT, DONALD TRUMP MAY BE THE LEADER OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY DESPITE EVERYTHING.

THE REAL CRAZIES ARE HAVING A MOMENT BECAUSE Facebook WAS SUPPOSED TO CUT THIS OFF, BUT THIS IS BY NO MEANS -- IT IS NOT AS IF THE POISON HAS BEEN PURGED FROM THE SYSTEM AT ALL.

>> Braude: HEATHER, I THINK IT WAS ADAM SCHIFF DURING THE FIRST IMPEACHMENT WHO CITED RESEARCH THAT HAD BEEN DONE ON THE 17 REPUBLICANS ON THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE WHEN NIXON WAS IN TROUBLE.

AND WHEN THE VOTE WAS ON IMPEACHMENT, SEVEN FOR AND 10 AGAINST, BUT THE POINT SCHIFF WAS MAKING ALL 17 OF THEM, IN THEIR OBITUARIES, MENTIONED THEIR POSITION ON NIXON.

DO MOST POLITICIANS NOT HAVE A SENSE OF HOW THEY'LL BE REMEMBERED IN HISTORY?

OR IS THE ONLY THING IT STANDS FOR IS RE-ELECTION?

>> WELL, THERE IS THAT FUNNY THING YOU ALWAYS HERE ABOUT, WHEN A POLITICIAN REACHES THE END OF HIS OR HER CAREER, THEY WORRY ABOUT LIAR THEIR LEGACY.

AND IT MAKES ME WONDER WHY THEY DIDN'T WORK HARDER ON IT WHEN THEY WERE IN OFFICE.

THE TRUMP WING OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, OF COURSE, WANTS TO TURN IT INTO A ONE-MAN PARTY, AND THAT IS ANTITHETICAL TO WHAT ESTABLISHED REPUBLICANS WANT.

THE ISSUE WITH THE CURRENT PARTY, IS THAT TURNING IT INTO A TRUMP PARTY, IT BECOMES AN AUDOCRATIC PARTY THAT IS SUBJECT TO THE WHIMS OF ONE PERSON.

IF YOU'RE AN ECONOMIC LEADER, YOU NEED THERE TO BE SOME GROUND RULES.

THERE IS A FUNNY SPLIT BETWEEN AUTHORITARIANISM AND FASCISM, THAT IS AT WORK HERE IN THE PARTY, AND I'M NOT TRYING TO MAKE IT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY -- PEOPLE WHO SAY DONALD TRUMP IS A FASCIST, IN A WAY HE REALLY IS NOT.

HE IS AN AUTOCRAT.

AND IT IS HELD AGAINST THE ENTIRE PARTY GOING HIS DIRECTION.

>> Braude: WE ONLY HAVE A COUPLE OF MINUTES LEFT, MICHAEL, I WANT TO END WITH A NOTRA DOMAS MOMENT, IF WE RECONVENE AFTER A YEAR, WHAT ARE WE SAYING ABOUT BIDEN AND HARRIS?

>> I THINK HE WILL PUSH TO GET SOME BIG THINGS EARLY, AND THEN IT WILL BE VERY DIFFICULT TO GET ANYTHING DONE IN THE LATTER PART OF HIS FIRST TERM.

>> Braude: HEATHER?

>> THANK GOD THE CORONAVIRUS IS FINALLY UNDER CONTROL.

THAT'S ALL HE HAS TO DO IN THE SHORT-TERM.

>> Braude: I HAVE TO SAY WE MENTIONED LAST NIGHT, BUT THE TALK ABOUT MOVING, THAT CEREMONY WHERE A LEADER FINALLY RECOGNIZED THE 400,000 LIVES THAT WERE LOST WAS SO POWERFUL AND APPROPRIATE AND NEEDED.

SO PAUL KRUGMAN, A YEAR FROM NOW, WHAT ARE WE SAYING?

>> I THINK WE'LL BE FEELING PRETTY HIGH AT THAT POINT.

THE CORONAVIRUS VACCINATIONS WILL HAVE TAKEN PLACE, AND THE ECONOMIC WILL PROBABLY BE ROARING BACK BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WILL HAPPEN ONCE THE CORONAVIRUS ISN'T OUT THERE.

BIDEN WILL HAVE THE WIND AT HIS BACK A YEAR FROM NOW.

TWO YEARS FROM NOW AND THREE YEARS FROM NOW, IT IS GOING TO BE HARDER.

A YEAR FROM NOW, I'M QUITE OPTIMISTIC.

>> Braude: LET'S LEAVE IT AT ONE YEAR FROM NOW.

>> Braude: PAUL KRUGMAN, MICHAEL CURRY, AND HEATHER COX RICHARDSON, THANKS.

WHILE THERE WAS PLENTY OF HISTORY MADE TODAY, ONE PARTICULAR MOMENT THAT WILL STAY WITH ME CAME COURTESY OF A YOUNG WOMAN WHO HAS NO ROLE AT ALL IN GOVERNMENT, AT LEAST NOT YET.

22-YEAR-OLD AMANDA GORMAN, THE YOUNGEST INAUGURAL POET IN U.S. HISTORY, AND A HARVARD GRAD, WHO'S VOWED TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT HERSELF SOME DAY.

>> WHEN DAY COMES, WE ASK OURSELVES, WHERE CAN WE FIND LIGHT IN THIS NEVER-ENDING SHADE?

THE LOSS WE CARRY, A SEA WE MUST WADE.

WE BRAVED THE BELLY OF THE BEAST.

WE LEARNED THAT QUIET ISN'T ALWAYS PEACE AND THE NORMS AND NOTIONS OF WHAT JUST IS ISN'T ALWAYS JUSTICE.

AND YET THE DAWN IS OURS BEFORE WE KNEW IT.

SOMEHOW WE DO IT.

SOMEHOW WE WEATHERED AND WITNESSED A NATION THAT ISN'T BROKEN BUT SIMPLY UNFINISHED.

WE, THE SUCCESSORS OF A COUNTRY AND A TIME WHERE A SKINNY BLACK GIRL DESCENDED FROM SLAVES AND RAISED BY A SINGLE MOTHER CAN DREAM OF BECOMING PRESIDENT, ONLY TO FIND HERSELF RECITING FOR ONE.

>> WE WILL NOT BE TURNED AROUND OR INTERRUPTED BY INTIMIDATION BECAUSE WE KNOW OUR INACTION WILL BE THE INHERITANCE OF THE NEXT GENERATION.

OUR BLENDERS BECOME THEIR BURDEN.

BUT ONE THING IS CERTAIN: IF WE MERGE MERCY WITH MIGHT AND MIGHT WITH RIGHT, THEN LOVE BECOMES OUR LEGACY AND CHANGES OUR CHILDREN'S BIRTH RIGHTS.

SO LET US LEAVE BEHIND A COUNTRY THAT WE WERE LEFT WITH EVERY BREATH FROM THE BRONZE-POUNDED STEPS.

AND WE'LL RAISE THIS WOUNDED WORLD INTO A WONDEROUS ONE.

WE WILL RISE FROM THE WIND-SWEPT NORTHEAST, WHERE OUR FOREFATHERS FIRST REALIZED REVOLUTION.

WE WILL RISE IN THE SUN-BAKED SOUTH, AND WE WILL REBUILD, RECONCILE, AND RECOVER IN EVERY NOOK OF OUR NATION.

AND CALL OUR PEOPLE DIVERSE AND BEAUTIFUL, WILL EMERGE BATTERED AND BEAUTIFUL.

WHEN THEY STEP OUT OF THE SHADE, A FLAME, UNAFRAID.

THE NEW DAWN BLOOMS AS WE FREE IT.

FOR THERE WAS ALWAYS LIGHT, IF ONLY WE'RE BRAVE ENOUGH TO SEE IT.

IF ONLY WE'RE BRAVE ENOUGH TO BE IT.

[APPLAUSE] >> Braude: IF YOU MISSED HER TODAY, MAKE SURE YOU WATCH IT ALL TONIGHT.

THAT'S IT FOR TONIGHT.

WE'LL BE BACK TOMORROW.

COMING UP JUST A HALF HOUR FROM NOW, YOU CAN CATCH PBS "NEWS HOUR'S" LIVE COVERAGE OF CELEBRATING AMERICA.

HOSTED BY TOM HANKS, AND IT WILL FEATURE REMARKS FROM THE PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT, ALONG WITH PERFORMANCES BY ANT CLEMONS, FOO FIGHTERS, JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE, BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN, AND MANY OTHERS.

THAT'S IT FOR NOW.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

STAY SAFE.

Captioned by Media Access Group at WGBH access.wgbh.org