The State of the Union speech — and the alternatives
Writing this blog requires keeping track of as much as possible, so tonight my devices will be tuned to the usual State of the Union address and to the counter programming.
After President Trump speaks at the Capitol, Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger will deliver the Democratic response, and California Sen. Alex Padilla will give the party’s Spanish-language response.
A People’s State of the Union, sponsored by Moveon, MeidasTouch and more than 20 other organizations, will be live-streamed from 8 to 11 p.m. EST. You can sign up here.
You can sign up here to watch the State of the Swamp beginning at 6:45 p.m. ET at The National Press Club, featuring lawmakers and others, including Robert DeNiro and a personal favorite of mine, comedian and commentator Baratunde Thurston.
Robert Reich recently quoted Abraham Lincoln during earlier difficult times in America. It turns out that the quote is from Lincoln’s own second annual message to Congress, in 1862, shortly after the battle of Antietam, the bloodiest single day in American military history:
“The fiery trial through which we pass, will light us down, in honor or dishonor, to the latest generation … We shall nobly save, or meanly lose, the last, best hope of earth.”
Also in the news
European officials visiting Ukraine to show support as country marks 4 years since Russian invasion
France curtails U.S. Ambassador Charles Kushner's government access after he fails to attend meeting
NYTimes: If China invades Taiwan and cuts off its chip exports to U.S. firms, tech industry and U.S. economy would be crippled
WSJ: Inside Apple’s effort to build an all-American chip
Trump says Joint Chiefs Chairman Caine told him Iran military action would be easy, but Caine has warned of risks
ICE training is ‘deficient’ and ‘broken,’ former agency lawyer tells forum held by congressional Democrats
NYTimes: D.C. shooting put Afghans' immigration status in jeopardy, brought attention to long-hidden dimension of U.S. war
Education Department handing off more of its responsibilities to other federal agencies
Judge Aileen Cannon permanently blocks release of special counsel report on Trump classified documents case
Supreme Court agrees to hear from oil, gas firms trying to block climate change lawsuits
Federal court rejects GOP-led Utah Legislature’s latest effort to block House map that helps Democrats
Prosecutors stand by murder conviction of former militant H. Rap Brown but blast judge’s prior conduct as prosecutor
WSJ: Viral doomsday report lays bare Wall Street’s deep anxiety about the future of AI
The ways refill stores are changing how consumers reduce waste
FDA proposes new system for approving customized drugs, therapies for rare diseases
You can call the Capitol switchboard, (202) 224-3121, and be connected to the offices of your representative and senators. To email your House member and your two senators, you can connect to their websites at Congress.gov. Most lawmakers seem to only accept emails from their constituents, but these leaders accept emails from Americans nationwide, at:
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer
Senate Majority Leader John Thune