Biden State of the Union LIVE

Biden revises SOTU address

President Biden’s team has revised his first State of the Union address, according to The Washington Post.

It has been revised “to emphasize Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine as a major crisis facing the West,” the outlet noted, citing a person familiar with the text.

“The new version will reflect the way the crisis has added urgency to his longtime theme of defending democracies,” according to one adviser who spoke with the Post.

What is the America Competes Act?

The America Competes Act is also referred to as the China competition bill, according to The Hill.

It is “aimed at bolstering domestic supply chains and scientific research to make the U.S. more competitive with nations like China,” the outlet noted.

The bill passed the House in February along party lines, although one Republican voted in favor of it.

Plus, the Senate passed its own, smaller version of it in June.

Biden may discuss America Competes Act

“I don’t think you’re going to hear him say Build Back Better, but you are going to hear him say Competes Act instead,” Izzy Klein, former communications director for Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and co-founder of Klein/Johnson Group told The Hill.

“You’ll hear him talk about that and that’s something that I think a lot of folks have been working hard to pass— on the Hill, both sides, as well as other stakeholders.”

Approval ratings low

Only 35 percent approved of President Biden’s job as president as of a February 16 Quinnipiac University poll.

55 percent disapprove, and 9 percent didn’t offer an opinion on the matter.

The State of the Union speech has the potential to improve those numbers.

A balancing act

“Biden needs to give the best speech of his life,” said Hunter Bates, partner at Akin Gump and a former chief of staff to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, told The Hill of President Biden’s upcoming address.

“He has to walk along a very thin precipice balancing his accomplishments on infrastructure and economic growth with the pain of inflation, rising crime, and global instability,” Bates added.

Will Biden discuss Russia?

President Biden may discuss Russia’s invasion of Ukraine during his State of the Union address.

Just days before Biden’s speech, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared war on Ukraine stating that the neighboring nation “belongs to Russia” as he followed through on promises to seize territory given up by the country in the fall of the Soviet Union.

At this time, the United States has not stepped foot in Ukraine, however, troops have been sent out to help neighboring NATO countries.

Plus, Biden has also imposed heavy sanctions on the country.

Biden’s first speech not called a SOTU address

Most times when a president addresses Congress for the first time, it is called a State of the Union address.

But President Biden’s address to Congress in April 2021 was not a State of the Union address because recent tradition has not seen a president give a State of the Union address in their first year in office.

The last six presidents have not given an official State of the Union address in their first year because they had recently given an inauguration address.

What will President Biden say?

While it remains unclear what President Biden will speak about specifically, many believe that he will address the Covid-19 pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Although the United States has not stepped foot in Ukraine, troops have been sent out to help neighboring NATO countries.

As for Covid, the country has seen fewer cases and the CDC has begun lifting mask guidelines in some areas.

Last State of the Union

The last State of the Union speech was given by former President Donald Trump on February 4, 2020.

In it, he said he was “thrilled to report… that our economy is the best it has ever been.”

Rewrites possible

“These speeches go through many, many drafts,” Michael Waldman, president of the Brennan Center for Justice and a former chief speechwriter for President Bill Clinton, told the Associated Press.

“And I would bet they’re starting some new drafts right now.”

Waldman continued: “Two weeks ago the speechwriters probably thought they knew what was in the speech. Vladimir Putin had other ideas.”

What is a State of the Union speech?

Each president gives a State of the Union speech.

It is known as an annual message that is delivered to the US Congress near the beginning of each calendar year.

During this speech, the president updates Congress and the country on the current condition of the nation.

The Republican rebuttal to Biden’s speech

Iowa Gov Kim Reynolds will deliver the Republican Party’s rebuttal after President Biden’s speech.

“Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds represents what it means to lead with conviction and true faith in our fellow citizens,” House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy said in a statement.

“She handled Covid by choosing freedom over lockdowns and personal responsibility over mandates — leading to real economic recovery from the pandemic. She kept kids in school and critical race theory out.”

First State of the Union address

On March 1, 2022, President Biden will deliver his first State of the Union address.

Previously, President Biden delivered his first address to a joint session of Congress on April 28, 2021, at 9pm EST.

How to watch the State of the Union

The State of the Union address can be watched on several different TV stations.

It should air on local CBS, NBC, ABC, and PBS channels as well as on Fox News, Fox Business Network, CNN, MSNBC, NPR, and C-SPAN.

When is the State of the Union?

The speech is scheduled for Tuesday night.

It is set to begin at 9:00pm ET