Post by the Scribe on Mar 8, 2024 15:07:46 GMT
LIVE: President Biden delivers 2024 State of the Union address | NBC News
NBC News
State of the Union 2024 full coverage: Biden delivers energetic speech covering Israel, taxes, border security and more
www.yahoo.com/news/state-of-the-union-2024-full-coverage-biden-delivers-energetic-speech-covering-israel-taxes-border-security-and-more-010023863.html
The president also addressed concerns about his age head-on.
Dylan Stableford, David Knowles and Alexis Shaw
Updated Thu, March 7, 2024 at 10:32 PM MST
President Biden delivered an energetic State of the Union address in front of a joint session of Congress in Washington, D.C., addressing reproductive rights, inflation, prescription drug costs and the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, among other issues.
www.yahoo.com/news/how-to-watch-bidens-state-of-the-union-address-tonight-220216411.html
For Biden, 81, the speech was a chance to redirect attention from questions surrounding his advanced age and fitness for office to his first-term accomplishments as he prepares for a likely general election rematch with former President Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee.
yahoo.com/news/state-of-the-union-2024-what-to-watch-for-110001463.html
It was also a chance for Biden to highlight Trump’s vulnerabilities and make the case for his reelection to voters in front of a primetime audience.
LIVE COVERAGE IS OVER
37 updates
Thu, March 7, 2024 at 10:29 PM MST
Dylan Stableford
Here's what Biden is doing tomorrow
President Biden pumps his fists as he and first lady Jill Biden depart the White House Thursday. (Evan Vucci/AP)
Following tonight's State of the Union, President Biden is heading to Philadelphia tomorrow afternoon with first lady Jill Biden for a campaign event before traveling to Delaware for the weekend.
Reminder: Election Day is 242 days away.
Thu, March 7, 2024 at 9:45 PM MST
Dylan Stableford
Gold Star dad whose son died during U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan arrested for heckling Biden
A heckler, later identified as Steven Nikoui, interrupts President Biden's State of the Union address. (Andrew Harnik/AP)
The U.S. Capitol Police confirmed Thursday that a man who heckled President Biden during the State of the Union was removed by officers and arrested.
Here is a statement provided to Yahoo News by the U.S. Capitol Police public information office:
Tonight at approximately 10:15 p.m., a man disrupted the State of the Union Address by yelling. Our officers warned him to stop and when he did not, the man was removed from the House Galleries and was arrested for D.C. Code § 22–1307 - Crowding, Obstructing, or Incommoding. Disrupting the Congress and demonstrating in the Congressional Buildings is illegal. The man has been identified as 51-year old Steven K. Nikoui.
Nikoui was heard yelling "Abbey Gate!" before he was led out of the gallery by police. He was later seen in handcuffs.
The Biden administration faced harsh bipartisan criticism over the U.S. military's chaotic withdrawal from the war in Afghanistan during the president’s first year in office.
Remind the GOLD STAR father who heckled BIden that during Trump’s presidency, which ran from January 20, 2017, to January 20, 2021, there were 45 combat deaths among U.S. service members reported in Afghanistan, as well as 18 “non-hostile” deaths. Trump negotiated our withdrawal with the enemy Taliban while leaving the Afghan government out of the talks. Joint Chiefs Chair Gen. Mark Milley testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee that he had received an "unclassified signed order" from former President Donald Trump on Nov. 11, 2020 to withdraw all armed forces from Afghanistan by Jan. 15. Those dwindling numbers put our troops left behind at risk by the time Biden took office and necessitated a hasty withdrawal months later as recommended to Biden by the generals leaving a total of 73 aircraft, nearly 100 vehicles and other equipment abandoned by US troops as they pulled out. It also put those Afghans who assisted the US that were left behind at great risk. Unfortunately 13 troops died in the Kabul suicide bombing during Biden's term. Trump and republiconservative media have been misleading these facts since Biden became president in one of many attempts to mock the president. Troops know the risk they face and if they didn't accept those risks they should not have joined the military. I wonder what attempts that Gold Star father made to keep his son from joining the military? .......the Scribe
www.yahoo.com/news/state-of-the-union-gold-star-dad-whose-son-died-during-us-withdrawal-from-afghanistan-arrested-for-heckling-biden-050919369.html
www.yahoo.com/news/state-of-the-union-gold-star-dad-whose-son-died-during-us-withdrawal-from-afghanistan-arrested-for-heckling-biden-050919369.html
Andrew Romano
Analysis: Key takeaways from Biden's fiery State of the Union speech
There are worse places for a president to introduce the themes of his final campaign than in a primetime, nationally televised speech before a joint session of Congress.
That’s precisely what President Biden did Thursday night, capitalizing on the pomp and circumstance of his annual State of the Union address — and the massive media spotlight it commands — to implicitly frame the coming general election clash with his predecessor, former President Donald Trump, as an existential struggle over reproductive rights, America’s place in the world, the future of the middle class and even the integrity of U.S. democracy itself.
“My lifetime has taught me to embrace freedom and democracy,” Biden said. “A future based on the core values that have defined America: honesty, decency, dignity, equality. To respect everyone. To give everyone a fair shot. To give hate no safe harbor.”
“Now some other people my age see a different story,” the president continued. “An American story of resentment, revenge and retribution. That's not me.”
Click here for Yahoo News' full analysis of Biden's State of the Union speech.
www.yahoo.com/news/key-takeaways-from-bidens-fiery-state-of-the-union-speech-043842402.html
Thu, March 7, 2024 at 9:31 PM MST
David Knowles
Sen. Katie Britt mocks Biden's age, policies in State of the Union response: 'Bless his heart'
In her 17-plus minute response to President Biden's State of the Union address, Sen. Katie Britt of Alabama, the youngest Republican ever elected to the U.S. Senate, mocked Biden's age and his policies in an emotional appeal to voters.
"Biden proudly proclaims that ‘Bidenomics is working,' Britt said in tones that alternated from breathless to on the verge of tears. "Goodness, y'all. Bless his heart. We know better.”
Recounting what she said were stories she had heard from ordinary Americans struggling to get by, Britt portrayed Biden as out of touch.
"Let's be honest," Britt said. "It's been a minute since Joe Biden pumped gas, ran a carpool or even pushed a grocery cart."
The delivery of her speech will likely be remembered as much as its contents, but there was one notable thing that was not mentioned once: Donald Trump.
Thu, March 7, 2024 at 8:50 PM MST
Dylan Stableford
Biden concludes SOTU with a call for unity
President Biden's primetime address, which started more than 20 minutes late, lasted a little over an hour.
He closed with a call for unity.
"I see a future for all Americans," Biden said. "I see a country for all Americans. And I will always be a president for all Americans. Because I believe in America and I believe in you, the American people. You’re the reason I’ve never been more optimistic about our future. So let’s build that future together. Let’s remember who we are: We are the United States of America. There is nothing beyond our capacity when we act together."
Thu, March 7, 2024 at 8:49 PM MST
David Knowles
Biden riffs on his age: 'I know I may not look like it but I’ve been around a while'
President Biden. (Shawn Thew/Pool via Reuters)
During Thursday's speech, Biden directly confronted the issue that may be the greatest threat to his reelection: his age.
"I know I may not look like it but I’ve been around a while," Biden said. "When you get to be my age, certain things become clearer than ever. I know the American story. Again and again, I've seen the contest between competing forces in the battle for the soul of our nation between those who want to pull America back to the past and those who want to move America into the future. My lifetime has taught me to embrace freedom and democracy. A future based on core values that have defined America: honesty, decency, dignity, equality, to respect everyone."
"Now, some other people my age see a different story: an American story of resentment, revenge and retribution," he continued. "That's not me."
Thu, March 7, 2024 at 8:42 PM MST
Dylan Stableford
A heckler identified as a Gold Star dad is led out of chamber
An unidentified man is photographed heckling Biden during the State of the Union address. (Andrew Harnik/AP)
A man who reporters identified as a Gold Star father interrupted Biden's State of the Union address by yelling "Abbey Gate!" before he was led out of the gallery above the chamber by security. He was later seen in handcuffs.
In 2021, 13 U.S. service members and 170 civilians were killed in an attack by a suicide bomber at Abbey Gate outside Kabul's Hamid Karzai International Airport as American troops were withdrawing from Afghanistan.
The Biden administration faced harsh bipartisan criticism over the U.S. military's chaotic withdrawal from the war in Afghanistan.
Thu, March 7, 2024 at 8:32 PM MST
David Knowles
Biden: Israel has an obligation to 'protect innocent civilians' in Gaza
While President Biden touted his efforts to secure the release of hostages held in Gaza by Hamas militants, he also said Israel had "a fundamental responsibility ... to protect innocent civilians in Gaza."
"This war has taken a greater toll on innocent civilians than all previous wars in Gaza combined," Biden added.
Describing an emergency U.S. mission to build a pier in Gaza for the delivery of humanitarian supplies, Biden also said that "the only solution" to the hostilities between Israel and the Palestinians "is a two-state solution."
Thu, March 7, 2024 at 8:22 PM MST
David Knowles
Biden presses Republicans to pass immigration legislation
President Biden. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
During Thursday's speech, President Biden did not shy away from the subject of the surge of undocumented immigrants crossing into the United States.
"We can fight about fixing the border, or we can fix it. I'm ready to fix it," Biden said, placing blame on Trump for scuttling a compromise reached by Senate lawmakers to stem the flow of migrants lest it give Biden a political win in an election year.
In response, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene heckled Biden, continuing to demand that he say the name of Laken Riley, a 22-year-old University of Georgia student allegedly killed by an undocumented migrant.
Biden did just that, offering condolences to the woman's parents.
Thu, March 7, 2024 at 8:17 PM MST
Dylan Stableford
Biden says he wants to ‘make college more affordable’ and ‘give public school teachers a raise’
The president is using part of his speech to highlight his student loan forgiveness program, which canceled $138 billion in federal student loans for nearly 4 million people.
“I want to make college more affordable,” Biden said before pointing to Keenan Jones, a public school teacher from Minnesota who took advantage of a Biden administration program that allows teachers, nurses and social workers to have their debt erased after 10 years of public service.
Jones was among more than a dozen invited guests watching Biden’s speech from first lady Jill Biden’s box.
“While we’re at it, I want to give public school teachers a raise,” Biden said to applause.
Thu, March 7, 2024 at 8:12 PM MST
David Knowles
Biden: 'Does anybody think the tax code is fair?'
video
Going after former President Donald Trump on tax cuts for the wealthy and for corporations, he enacted during his term of office, Biden engaged in some audience call and response.
"Folks at home, does anybody think the tax code is fair?" he asked.
"No!" Democratic lawmakers shouted back.
"Do you really think the wealthy and big corporations need another 2 trillion tax break?" he asked in reference to Trump's stated priority of cutting taxes even more.
"No!" half of his audience responded.
"I sure don't," Biden added.
Thu, March 7, 2024 at 8:04 PM MST
Will Rahn
Biden promises to lower more drug prices
President Biden touted his plan to give the federal government more power to negotiate drug prices.
"Americans pay more for prescription drugs than anywhere else," Biden said. "It’s wrong and I’m ending it."
In 2022, Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act — a massive budget bill that included a provision allowing Medicare to negotiate prescription prices down on 20 different drugs. In advance of the speech, the White House said that Biden will push to give Medicare the power to negotiate the prices of 50 drugs.
finance.yahoo.com/news/biden-proposes-strengthening-medicare-drug-103600314.html
"With a law I proposed and signed and not one Republican voted for, we finally beat Big Pharma. Instead of paying $400 a month for insulin, seniors with diabetes only have to pay $35 a month. And now I want to cap the cost of insulin at $35 a month for every American who needs it. For years people have talked about it, but I finally got it done and gave Medicare the power to negotiate lower prices for prescription drugs."
Thu, March 7, 2024 at 8:00 PM MST
David Knowles
Biden: 'Obamacare ... is still a very big deal'
video
During his State of the Union address on Thursday, President Biden referenced his famous comment about the passage of the Affordable Care Act being a "big f***ing deal."
"Folks, the Affordable Care Act, the old Obamacare, is still a very big deal," he said.
Thu, March 7, 2024 at 7:53 PM MST
David Knowles
Biden: 'The state of our union is strong and getting stronger!'
President Biden
President Biden. (Shawn Thew/Pool via Reuters)
During Thursday's State of the Union address, President Biden recounted the economic successes the country has experienced since he took office in 2021, from the growth in manufacturing jobs to the increase in the number of Americans with health insurance.
Summing up the economic picture, Biden declared, "The state of our union is strong and getting stronger!"
Thu, March 7, 2024 at 7:51 PM MST
Dylan Stableford
Biden takes aim at Republicans over abortion and IVF
video
As expected, Biden is going after Republicans on the abortion issue and pointing to the recent decision by the Alabama Supreme Court that threatened in vitro fertilization treatments.
“To my friends across the aisle, don’t keep families waiting any longer,” Biden said. “Guarantee the right to IVF nationwide.”
Biden also took aim at Trump’s support for the overturning of Roe v. Wade.
“He’s the reason it was overturned. In fact, he brags about it,” Biden said. “Look at the chaos that has resulted.”
The president pointed out one of his State of the Union guests, Kate Cox, a mother of two from Dallas whose lifethreatening pregnancy forced her to travel out of state for abortion care.
“Many of you in this chamber and my predecessor are promising to pass a national ban on reproductive freedom,” Biden said. “My God, what freedoms will you take away next?”
Thu, March 7, 2024 at 7:38 PM MST
David Knowles
Biden finally begins his speech
President Biden points during his State of the Union address on Thursday night. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images)
After basking in the warm greetings from his fellow Democrats as he entered the House of Representatives, President Biden began his State of the Union address nearly half an hour late on Thursday.
From the start, Biden made it clear that he would deliver a combative speech that would target former President Donald Trump, his rival for 2024, quoting him as telling Russian President Vladimir Putin he could "do whatever the hell you want" when it comes to its war in Ukraine.
"My message to President Putin is simple," Biden said. "We will not walk away. We will not bow down. I will not bow down."
Thu, March 7, 2024 at 7:35 PM MST
Dylan Stableford
White House allows livestream viewers to react live to Biden’s SOTU with emojis — but only these 3
President Biden
Courtesy of Whitehouse.gov
The White House is streaming President Biden's State of the Union address on the WhiteHouse.gov website on a page that allows viewers to share their live reactions to the speech using emojis. The only catch is that there are only three emojis available, all of them positive — a thumbs up, a heart or a party popper: www.whitehouse.gov/state-of-the-union-2024/
👍❤️🎉
The White House disabled the chat feature for the State of the Union on its official YouTube channel.
Thu, March 7, 2024 at 7:31 PM MST
Dylan Stableford
Education Secretary Miguel Cardona is the designated survivor
Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona
Education Secretary Miguel Cardona. (Leah Millis/Reuters)
At every State of the Union since the start of the Cold War, one member of the president's Cabinet selected as the "designated survivor" to ensure that someone in the line of succession is kept safe in the event of a catastrophic event during the address. The person not in the Capitol and is typically moved to an undisclosed outside Washington, D.C., during the president's speech.
According to the White House, this year's designated survivor is Education Secretary Miguel Cardona.
Thu, March 7, 2024 at 7:27 PM MST
David Knowles
Democrats chant 'Four more years!'
video
Acknowledging that an election year State of the Union speech for an incumbent president seeking relection is, essentially, a campaign speech, Democrats chanted "Four more years!" Thursday as Biden made his way to the podium to deliver his address.
Thu, March 7, 2024 at 7:20 PM MST
Alexis Shaw
Democratic lawmakers’ white outfits are about ‘freedom to make choices’
Members of the Democratic Women's Caucus arrived wearing white to tonight's State of the Union. Calif. Rep. Norma Torres explained why.
“We are wearing white because certain decisions belong in our communities, in our homes, not in the hands of government,” Torres said in an interview before Biden’s address.
“We are wearing white because freedom of expression and freedom to make choices about when we want to have families should belong to us and our doctors and our spouses or significant others, not the government.”