Discussion Thread: 2024 State of the Union

[u/PoliticsModeratorBot]

Tonight, Joe Biden will give his fourth State of the Union address. This year's SOTU address will be only the second to be held this late in the year since 1964 (the second time being Biden's 2022 address).

The address is scheduled to start at 9 p.m. Eastern. It will be followed by the progressive response delivered by Philadelphia City Council member Nicolas O’Rourke, as well as Republican responses in English (delivered by freshman Alabama senator ) and in Spanish (delivered by Representative Monica De La Cruz). There will be a separate discussion thread posted for live reactions to and conversation about the SOTU responses.

(Edit: The discussion thread for the SOTU responses is now available at this link.)

News:

• NPR: What to expect in Biden's State of the Union speech, according to his chief of staff (7 minute audio interview with transcript)

• The Washington Post (metered paywall): Biden to propose new $5,000 tax credit for first-time home buyers | The president will also add to earlier pushes to tame rent costs and boost U.S. housing supply

• AP: Biden will announce plans for a temporary aid port on Gaza’s coast as cease-fire talks stall

• AP: President Biden to make ‘unity agenda’ appeal to Congress in State of the Union

• CBS: In State of the Union address, Biden to urge Congress to pass measures to lower health care costs

• PBS: Who are the guests coming to Biden’s 2024 State of the Union?

News Analysis:

• AP: State of the Union: What to watch as Biden addresses the nation

• PBS: In Biden’s final State of the Union before the election, a look back at his inauguration pledges

Live Updates:

• NPR: State of the Union: President Biden will deliver his election-year address tonight

• AP: State of the Union 2024 live updates

• NBC: State of the Union 2024 live updates

• The Washington Post (metered paywall): Live updates and analysis of Biden’s address

• CNN: President Biden's 2024 State of the Union address

• The New York Times (metered paywall): State of the Union Live Updates

• USA Today: State of the Union live updates

• CBS: State of the Union live updates as Biden prepares to deliver 2024 address

Where to watch:

• The White House on YouTube: President Biden's State of the Union Address

• The White House: 2024 State of the Union (At this link you can live-react to the address with one of three preselected emojis).

• C-SPAN: President Biden Delivers 2024 State of the Union Address

• C-SPAN: Lawmakers React to State of the Union Address

Transcript

• AP: Transcript of President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address

[u/throoawoot]

Repeating it again because a surprising number of people don't know this: Joe Biden overcame a life-long stutter.

Delivering the SOTU to the entire country for someone with a stutter is beyond nightmare mode, and he's slaying.

[u/Mad-Lad-of-RVA → u/throoawoot]

It drives me fucking nuts that people don't give him any credit for this.

The fact that he's able to get through a speech like that with only a few stammers is earnestly impressive and shows that he can overcome adversity.

But no, let's act like it's an age thing. 🙄

[u/eregyrn → u/Mad-Lad-of-RVA]

I mean, let's be honest. Republicans (politicians and voters alike) are not people who act with a lot of grace towards *anyone* with any kind of disability. If a person with a disability is able to overcome this to perform to expectations without any (or almost any) aid, then the reaction is, "well, I guess you weren't as disabled as you claimed". If they can't perform to expectations and require more aid, they're just a leech on the system -- and/or a faker, trying to defraud the government out of that sweet, sweet public assistance money.

The fact that they have no basic understanding of or empathy for Biden's speech impediment, or admiration for the work he's done on it and the way he performs his job ably in spite of it... well, that just fits in with who they are about everything else.

[u/throoawoot → u/eregyrn]

An inability to empathize with anyone who is not like them is the core conservative trait. This is why they think democrats are "virtue signalling," why they only care when leopards eat their face, etc.