- Edward Luce thinks it was more directly political than in 2009, paraphrasing: “Together, we will pursue my objectives.”
- Gideon Rachman thinks Obama has made it clear that he wants his legacy to be domestic, but it may not work out that way.
- Ezra Klein says: “Obama’s first presidential campaign, and his first inaugural address, were about moving America past our old arguments. His second presidential campaign, and his second inaugural address, were about winning those arguments.“
- In his notes from the inauguration, David Remnick felt his speech was “infinitely better, more self-assured, more politically precise than his first” and… well, who doesn’t love Beyoncé?
In the rest of the world…
- Foreign Policy has looked at how peace is becoming a fringe position in Israel.
- It has also published some postcards showing France’s first intervention in Mali.



For views and opinions on the European Union from Peter Spiegel, Joshua Chaffin, Alex Barker and James Fontanella-Khan, follow the