State of the Union 2022 - Boebert doubles down on heckle as veteran’s widow calls for her removal
As it happened: Joe Biden delivers his first State of the Union address to Congress
Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox
Get our free Inside Washington email
Joe Biden has woken up an encouraging reception for his first State of the Union address, which snap polling says met with the approval of more than two-thirds of Americans – a rare bit of good news for a president whose ratings remain underwater.
Mr Biden at times received bipartisan standing applause in the House chamber last night, especially during his remarks on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. “Putin’s war was premeditated and unprovoked,” the president said. “He rejected efforts at diplomacy. He thought the West and Nato wouldn’t respond. And, he thought he could divide us here at home. Putin was wrong. We were ready.”
However, progressives have given a lukewarm reception to the domestic elements of Mr Biden’s speech, in which he promised to “fund the police” while declining to go as far as some wanted on key issues like immigration.
Speaking on MSNBC, Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said that “there’s some themes that are left a little bit to be desired for key constituencies in the Democratic base, but the president’s goal was very clear on really projecting a theme of unity and I think he’s still stuck to that.”
Meanwhile, the White House has hit back at heckling from far-right Congresswomen Marjorie Taylor Greene and Lauren Boebert, with Press Secretary Jen Psaki remarking that their shouting at the president “says a lot more about them” than it does about the substance of his speech.
Biden speech preview: ‘Putin was wrong. We were ready’
In an excerpt of his State of the Union Address released by the White House, President Biden addresses the conflict in Ukraine.
Throughout our history we’ve learned this lesson – when dictators do not pay a price for their aggression, they cause more chaos. They keep moving. And, the costs and threats to America and the world keep rising.
That’s why the NATO Alliance was created to secure peace and stability in Europe after World War 2. The United States is a member along with 29 other nations.
It matters. American diplomacy matters.
Putin’s war was premeditated and unprovoked. He rejected efforts at diplomacy. He thought the West and NATO wouldn’t respond. And, he thought he could divide us here at home.
Putin was wrong. We were ready.
Biden speech preview: ‘I call it building a better America'
In a second excerpt of his State of the Union Address released by the White House, President Biden addresses inflation.
We have a choice. One way to fight inflation is to drive down wages and make Americans poorer. I have a better plan to fight inflation.
Lower your costs, not your wages. Make more cars and semiconductors in America. More infrastructure and innovation in America. More goods moving faster and cheaper in America. More jobs where you can earn a good living in America. And, instead of relying on foreign supply chains – let’s make it in America.
Economists call it “increasing the productive capacity of our economy.” I call it building a better America.
My plan to fight inflation will lower your costs and lower the deficit.
Biden to call out Russian ‘dictator’ directly in State of the Union speech
President Joe Biden will use Tuesday’s State of the Union address to call out Russian “dictator” Vladimir Putin for launching an unprovoked invasion of Ukraine and understimating the effectiveness of American diplomacy and the Nato alliance.
Andrew Feinberg reports from Washington, DC, ahead of tonight landmark speech.
‘Putin was wrong’: Biden to call out ‘dictator’ in State of the Union speech
Mr Biden will tell Congress that the US and the Nato alliance were ‘ready’ for Mr Putin’s assault on Ukraine
Voices: State of the Union is an opportunity to reboot — but war in Ukraine means Biden needs to thread needle carefully
There’ll be last minute changes to President Biden’s speech, given the situation in Ukraine. Here’s what Julie Norman and Thomas Gift believe it will say.
Biden’s State of the Union speech is likely being rewritten. This is why
With Biden’s approval ratings hovering at historically low levels, the State of the Union offers an opportunity for the White House to reboot — but war in Ukraine means he has to thread that needle carefully
GOP response: Biden has taken us ‘back in time'
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds will deliver the Republican response to the State of the Union following President Joe Biden’s address to Congress.
In excerpt released by the party, she accuses the president of taking America “back in time”.
“Instead of moving America forward, it feels like President Biden and his party have sent us back in time to the late ‘70s and early ‘80s,” she will say.
“When runaway inflation was hammering families, a violent crime wave was crashing on our cities, and the Soviet army was trying to redraw the world map.”
GOP on Ukraine
Despite attacking President Biden for his “disastrous Afghanistan withdrawal” and noting North Korea is testing missiles again, the Republican Party calls for national unity when it comes to Ukraine.
“Now all Americans must stand united in solidarity with the brave people of Ukraine as they courageously defend their country against Putin’s tyranny,” Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds will say.
Biden wears yellow and blue tie for Zelensky call ahead of State of the Union
Joe Biden wore a yellow and blue tie for a phone call with Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky ahead of his State of the Union address.
The president tweeted out a photo of the call, in which he discussed the United States’ continued security assistance and humanitarian aid for Ukraine in its fight against Vladimir Putin.
“We will hold Russia accountable, and our sanctions are already having a devastating impact,” Biden said in the tweet.
Joe Biden wears yellow and blue tie for call with Zelensky before State of the Union
Ukraine ambassador to the Oksana Markarova will watch the president’s address with first lady Jill Biden
Interview: Agriculture Sec spearheading global climate change initiative for farmers
Over nine years and two presidencies, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack has arguably shepherded American farmers through some of the toughest times since the Dust Bowl.
The 2008 recession, globalization, the impacts of corporate farming on family-run operations, the crisis of farmers’ suicides, and a pandemic have been among headline issues. And, overarching it all, the spiraling threat of climate change.
Speaking with The Independent on Friday, Secretary Vilsack said that American farmers had long since come around to addressing the existential issue.
“Years ago when I first started this job, there was a reluctance to acknowledge climate issues,” Secretary Vilsack told The Independent. “[Now] I don’t see that reluctance.”
Senior Climate Correspondent Louise Boyle spoke with Mr Vilsack.
US Agriculture Secretary on the $4bn global ‘sprint’ to tackle climate
Head of Agriculture in both the Obama and Biden administrations, Secretary Tom Vilsack is spear-heading a new global initiative for farmers
Virtual guests only: Virginia senator bringing pothole
Senator Mark Warner of Virginia is bringing a... er... special guest to the State of the Union to celebrate the bipartisan infrastructure law.
He tweets: “We can only bring virtual guests to the #SOTU tonight – so I’m bringing Patty, a soon-to-be-unemployed VA pothole. Thanks to the infrastructure law, VA is getting billions for upgrades to roads and more, so potholes like Patty are headed for obsolescence.”
For years, I’ve done all that can be asked of someone like me - I’ve welcomed cars, trucks, and motorcycles while bearing the profanities of startled motorists and the swerves of seasoned commuters. I’ve never missed a day of work, and have punctured more tires and damaged more transmissions than I can count.
It’s disheartening to know that all my years of dedication and hard work will soon be for naught, when this so-called infrastructure law ushers in a wave of pothole erasure, making my asphalt friends and colleagues obsolete.
Report: Biden expected to close US airspace to Russian aircraft
CBS News reports that President Biden is expected to announce that he will follow in the steps of European allies and close US airspace to Russian aircraft.
If you want a visual representation of the impact of Europe’s closure, here’s a flight from Moscow to Cancun.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies