He won the White House by projecting a mix of competence, empathy and renewal to American voters after four years of Trumpism. Joe Biden will now have to translate all that into governing at a wrenching moment in US history https://on.ft.com/35WZ9c9 

The shock of the mob attack on the US Capitol had barely subsided when Biden took the stage to lay out his $1.9tn relief plan for the world’s largest economy, emphasising its urgency http://on.ft.com/35WZ9c9 

Many Democrats believe Barack Obama spent too much of his first year trying to win bipartisan support for his plans. They are well aware that to be successful, Biden will need to show rapid, concrete results http://on.ft.com/35WZ9c9 

Biden is no stranger to tough starts, given that he became vice-president to Obama at the height of the financial crisis. But the problems now confronting the country are arguably more severe and multi-faceted than they were in 2009 http://on.ft.com/35WZ9c9 

The president-elect’s transition team has already set out plans for a barrage of unilateral executive orders during the first 10 days, to rejoin the Paris climate agreement and scrap the travel ban imposed on certain Muslim-majority countries http://on.ft.com/35WZ9c9 

The Biden administration is aware that new presidents often have a short window to make use of their political capital. It is hoping to get some Republican support for its plans, which would broaden the political appeal http://on.ft.com/35WZ9c9 

Some progressives are calling for the Senate to scrap a rule requiring a 60-vote supermajority threshold to pass most legislation, in order to bypass working with Republicans http://on.ft.com/35WZ9c9 

In the Senate, the biggest trouble for Biden may actually come from moderate lawmakers, who may be wary of the high price tags and tax increases involved http://on.ft.com/35WZ9c9 

Either way, Biden will need to win round progressives and moderates alike if he is to get anything done. Find out more here: http://on.ft.com/35WZ9c9