■  Major themes. Much of President Obama’s second inaugural address consisted of a declaration of some central Democratic tenets: safety-net programs for the poor; equal rights for gays, women, and minorities; and government spending on health, education, new technology, and highways.

Obama is starting his second term with three immediate legislative priorities: resolving the federal debt crisis, overhauling immigration laws, and reducing gun violence. He also vowed to respond to the threat of climate change, but that will probably be addressed later.