State of the Union: Trump interrupted by chanting as Pelosi rips up address on live TV
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Donald Trump has delivered his third State of the Union, a high-profile address made this year in the shadow of an ongoing impeachment trial and months away from the president's re-election.
The optimistic speech came just a day after Democrats oversaw a breakdown in its election processes in Iowa, where the 2020 Democratic primary season got off to a disastrous start that has still failed to deliver results nearly a day later.
But Mr Trump's speech was not without its own discord. Just before the address, the president was seen appearing to snub a handshake attempt from Ms Pelosi.
Then, after the speech, Ms Pelosi added to the night's drama by tearing up her copy of the speech, in plain view of the president and the cameras broadcasting the address across the nation.
The president had focused in his address on perceived victories over the past three years, and has remarked on his priorities for the coming year, reportedly including middle class tax cuts, school choice, immigration and the military.
President Trump delivers State of the Union address
Show all 22He told one Philadelphia student that she would be getting a school scholarship, surprised a military family with the return of their soldier from Afghanistan and also instructed the first lady to give Rush Limbaugh the presidential medal of freedom, the highest honour for a citizen in the US.
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Gallup: Economic confidence 'higher than at any point' in two decades
Gallup reports that American confidence in the economy is "higher than at any point in about two decades", with unemployment figures hitting record lows and the Dow hitting record highs.
The numbers mask the sky-high, trillion-dollar deficit, however, as well as static wages and a declining rate of growth in the fourth quarter of 2019.
Meanwhile, 41 per cent of Americans "are satisfied with the way things are going", the highest level in several years. The number of Republicans who are happy with the state of things is pushing that figure significantly higher. Seventy-two percent of Republicans and 37 per cent of independents are happy with how things are, compared to only 14 per cent of Democrats.
The Independent's Chelsea Ritschel asks whether the president will even acknowledge his wife's (only) signature campaign as first lady.
Meanwhile, Melania Trump welcomed a "remarkable group of people" to the address. They'll include Border Patrol deputy chief Raul Ortiz and Army veteran and PTSD survivor Tony Rankins, who has experienced homelessness.
CREW files ethics complaint against Jared Kushner
The Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington has filed a complaint against Jared Kushner for alleged violations of the Hatch Act, which prevents executive branch staff from using their position to interfere or affect the result of an election.
In a recent interview with Fareed Zakaria, Mr Kushner — the president's son-in-law — openly discussed his strategy to re-elect Mr Trump.
Adam Schiff: Trump is guilty as sin, but the voters should clean up this mess
As Donald Trump prepares for a State of the Union he will see as his coronation on the eve of his acquittal from his impeachment trial, Adam Schiff echoes Nancy Pelosi's comments to the New York Times that a decision over his removal from office now rests with voters.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump says Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez could kick Chuck Schumer's ass in a run for his senate seat.
Things you love to hear about a democratically elected leader: seizing control of an election.
Get ready for the State of the Union
We are just under five and a half hours away from Trump's third State of the Union address, and we'll be covering the whole thing right here.
Stay tuned and read along with us — with reporting from our DC and New York bureaus — for all the drama and news leading up to the main event.
Rand Paul brings up whistle-blower name on Senate floor
Kentucky Senator Rand Paul, who attempted to name the whistle-blower at the centre of the president's impeachment trial during a question-and-answer session helmed by Chief Justice John Roberts, read his question on the Senate floor this afternoon.
He defended his remarks on CNN, saying that it was the chief justice who had singled out the whistle-blower, not him: "By not allowing the question, he's sort of confirming to the public who it is. I have no idea who it is."
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to be a no-show this evening
The New York Democrat tweeted this afternoon to say she cannot "normalize" the president's "lawless conduct" that has resulted in his ongoing impeachment trial in the Senate.
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