WASHINGTON, D.C. – Good morning! It’s Karen Drew.
I’ve never covered an Inauguration, so today will be a day of firsts for me and, honestly, for many here at the nation’s capital.
I’ll be looking for Michiganders who made the trip and following everything that goes on as Donald Trump is sworn in as president.
You can follow along live all day with the updates below.
10:15 a.m.: Michiganders lined up for watch party
9:35 a.m. Monday: Buses of supporters arrive
9 a.m. Monday: Navigating chaotic scene
8:05 a.m. Monday: Birmingham teacher
On Sunday night, Seaholm High School teacher Kellie Howe spoke with Karen. Howe brought 15 students from her AP Government class to witness Inauguration Day.
The only problem: They don’t have a place to watch because the proceedings were moved inside.
“We went through a whole array of trial and error to try to find someone,” Howe said.
She said they found a restaurant that will give them the back room to hang out and watch the inauguration.
“They had the initial bummed out reaction of not being able to witness the inauguration firsthand,” Howe said. “But today was a really special day for us, actually.”
Here’s the full conversation:
6:47 a.m. Monday
We can see the sunrise from our vantage point in the capital. It’s going to be a busy day!
Here’s a rundown of what Trump’s early plans are once he’s sworn in as president:
5:41 a.m. Monday
Donald Trump’s supporters are different from his last inauguration: more of a mixed crowd than last time he was sworn in.
The protests we saw the last time are not as big, nor as loud. With the frigid weather, crowd size and energy will most assuredly be different.
I’m here to tell the story of this historic day through the eyes of Metro Detroiters. I’ve already talked to Pastor Lorenzo Sewell from 180 Church in Detroit.
Sewell told me as an African American, he felt Trump heard him and his concerns. Sewell, in return, helped Trump campaign and get the support from Black voters in Michigan, which proved pivotal in the state going for the Republican.
Sewell will be one of three giving Trump’s Benediction today.
I’ve talked to many Democrats as well who have a different tone -- that we need to get along and figure out how to work together with this new administration.
Many here tell me it is a challenge to push aside emotions from this last campaign, but today is a start.
I’ll be hitting as many different spots as I can along the route, popping into watch parties, and sharing some of the behind-the-scenes as a reporter so you can see the day unfold.
I have four layers and so many hand and foot warmers -- it’s going to be a cold one.
Our live reports started at 6 a.m. and go through 6 p.m.
10 p.m. Sunday: Pastor Lorenzo Sewell
We caught up with Pastor Lorenzo Sewell, who is part of the benediction and hosted Trump for a campaign event at his church.
“President Donald Trump, he won Michigan by 80,000 votes,” Sewell said. “Now, think about this: 20,000 Black people voted for him. In 2016, it was 7,000. Now, what is that? Because he’s willing to go to the hood, right? He was willing to go to the part of Detroit that most people won’t go to, let alone a politician.”
Sewell said Trump went to listen, not to hold a rally.
“When he did that, he said to me, ‘At the Inauguration, you’ll be there,‘” Sewell said. “Promise made, promise kept.”
You can watch the full conversation here:
9:30 p.m. Sunday: Troy mayor
We spoke with Troy Mayor Ethan Baker on Sunday night to talk about the issues facing Michigan.
“The issues facing us in Michigan are the issues that are facing everyone throughout the country,” Baker said. “The economy is always important, but immigration has really become a big thing and I look at Michigan -- and Troy, specifically -- the immigration policies are a little bit different.”
He said many immigrants are working as in our hospitals, in the auto industry, and as engineers.
“We know we need comprehensive immigration reform,” Baker said. “We know we need to allow the good people to come over here and do the work that we need to help support our economy, as well.”
You can watch a clip of the conversation here:
9:08 p.m. Sunday: Checking in from D.C.
Karen checked in from Washington, D.C., with a look at where Local 4 will be set up during our live appearances throughout the day Monday.