Hand on the Bible, eyes on the future at Biden’s inauguration | First Thing

Joe Biden will be inaugurated as the 46th president of the US later today, as Donald Trump hosts his own departure event and pardons Steve Bannon. Plus, wildfires hit California yet again

Good morning.

Joe Biden will be sworn in as the next president of the US today, taking the oath of office at the Capitol two weeks after it was stormed, smashed and looted by rioters seeking to overturn his election victory. Washington is a far cry from the usual inauguration setting: the parades and cheering crowds have been replaced by a militarised zone and 25,000 National Guard troops. A dozen troops were removed from their posts yesterday after FBI screening, amid fears of an insider attack.