State Dept. condemns arrests, repression in Russia
It called for the release of protesters and opposition leader Alexey Navalny.
This is the fifth day of the administration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.
Top headlines:
Incoming White House adviser previews Biden's speech on Capitol West Front
In an earlier interview on ABC's "Good Morning America," incoming White House communications director Kate Bedingfield spoke about Biden’s inaugural address, reiterating Biden plans to strike an optimistic tone in the forward-looking remarks calling for unity and drawing inspiration from his time on the campaign trail.
“He spent the last year and a half traveling the country and then when he couldn't travel the country speaking virtually with people all over the country, hearing their story, hearing about their resilience, seeing them being the best that they could be in their communities in incredibly hard times,” Bedingfield said.
On NBC's "Today" program, incoming White House press secretary Jen Psaki said despite heighted concerns around security, Biden’s team thought it was “important” to take the oath of office outside at the Capitol.
“It sends an incredibly powerful message to the country and to the world, to see the president of the United States being sworn in outside. We've taken a number of precautions. We have heeded the advice and guidance of our security team, of the secret service, who have been preparing for this for a year,” she said.
After attending Mass with bipartisan congressional leaders, Biden and Harris are headed to their inaugural ceremonies on Capitol Hill where leaders on both sides of the aisle have already showed up.
Obama tells Biden: 'This is your time'
Former President Barack Obama has tweeted to his former vice president, "Congratulations to my friend, President @JoeBiden! This is your time."
After the inaugural ceremonies on Capitol Hill, Obama and Michelle Obama are expected to join Biden and Harris at Arlington National Cemetery in the afternoon, where the new leaders of the free world will lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. In a show of unity, President George W. Bush and Laura Bush, and President Bill Clinton and Secretary Hillary Clinton are also expected to attend.
Biden plans 'dozens' of executive actions in first days
Not long after he takes the presidential oath Wednesday, Joe Biden will use the power of his pen to begin a sweeping transformation of U.S. policy through dozens of executive orders, presidential memoranda and other official directives.
The wave of executive action will unfold over Biden’s first 10 days, according to incoming administration officials. If the plan plays out as expected, the number, scope and impact of the new president’s early moves would exceed those undertaken by his three most recent predecessors.
-ABC News' Devin Dwyer
Harris promotes Black designers, Bidens wearing American designers
#Harris promotes Black designers for inauguration look
Harris -- making history as the first woman, first Black woman and first South Asian American to be sworn in as vice president -- will be wearing a look designed by Black designers when she takes the oath of office.
Harris is wearing Christopher John Rogers and Sergio Hudson. Christopher is a young Black designer, from Baton Rouge, and lives in New York City. Sergio is Black designer from South Carolina, according to a Harris aide. The second gentleman is wearing a Ralph Lauren suit.
The future first couple is also wearing American designers for Inauguration Day.
Biden is wearing a navy suit and overcoat, both by Ralph Lauren. Jill Biden is wearing a custom-made ocean blue wool tweed coat and dress by emerging designer Alexandra O’Neil of Markarian, according to the Biden transition.
-ABC News' Molly Nagle and Averi Harper