live from washington, this is a bbc news special on us presidentjoe biden�*s state of the union address. amid calls for more weaponry for ukraine and greater humanitarian assistance for people in gaza, we'll break down a speech which was heavy on foreign policy. the economy, immigration, and reproductive rights also featured. so, how is his big night playing out with voters? republicans hit back in their response, calling the current american dream a "nightmare" underjoe biden. i'm helena humphrey. glad you could join me. it's almost 2a hours since us presidentjoe biden delivered his state of the union address and in it, he touched

on key issues at home — the economy, immigration, and reproductive rights — the type of issues you'd expect to hear in an election year. biden set out his achievements and what's next for his presidency. he also took aim at his likely republican opponent in november, former president donald trump, without mentioning him by name. and it was clear that the president saw his speech notjust as a state of the union address but also an address about the state of the world and america's role at the centre of it. history is watching. united states walks away, it will put ukraine at risk. europe is at risk. the free world will be at risk, and modern others to do what they wish, to do us harm. my what they wish, to do us harm. my message to president putin, who have known for a long time, is simple. we will not walk away.. cheering. i have had many of my republican and democratic friends say that china is on the rise. and america is

falling behind. they've got it backwards. the leadership, i say this. humanitarian assistance cannot be a secondary consideration or a bargaining chip. protecting and saving innocent lives has to be a parody. as we look to the future, the only real solution to the situation is a two state solution over time.. cheering. with me is barbara starr, senior fellow at the usc annenberg school of communications leadership and policy and veteran pentagon correspondent. very good to have you with us again. barbara, everyone is analysing what the president biden had to say on stage. especially with regards to israel. i want to play you something that was said off stage, and get your take on it. take a lesson. (speaks indistinctly). -

presindent biden saying he would have a come tojesus with prime minister netanyahu, bibi. there is no such thing as off the record on a state of the union night. what you think the contours of that would look like? ~ ., , ., contours of that would look like? ~ ., i. ~ contours of that would look like? ~ ., ,, ~ ., like? what you think he meant b that? like? what you think he meant by that? front _ like? what you think he meant by that? front and _ like? what you think he meant by that? front and centre, - like? what you think he meant by that? front and centre, the | by that? front and centre, the president is pressing the israelis on the issue of aid and assistance and civilian casualties. the whole idea i think is to get an immediate ceasefire, to get more alien, to get the hostages out of there. so far the immediate ceasefire does not appear to be going anywhere. release of hostages, we had a lot of mixed reports but it does not seem like it is imminent at this point. on more aid, this is now

a crisis. there's been no accountability, most aid organisations will tell you, children are dying of starvation, people are dying by the hundreds, if not more due to combat from the situation, due to starvation and illness, lack of healthcare, lack of basic food and water. getting more aid in front and centre and the president unveiled his latest idea of sort of maritime asset to supplement the air drops and try and bring some aid and by ships from the sea into gaza. aid and by ships from the sea into gaza-— into gaza. touching on the announcement _ into gaza. touching on the announcement about - into gaza. touching on the announcement about a - into gaza. touching on the - announcement about a seaport to be set up after gaza, for the pentagon operationally, how do they go about this and how much of a challenge visit? it is of a challenge visit? it is auoin of a challenge visit? it is going to _ of a challenge visit? it is going to be _ of a challenge visit? it is going to be very - of a challenge visit? it is going to be very tough. l of a challenge visit? if 3 going to be very tough. already today the pentagon has set about 1,000 us troops will be devoted to trying to build the floating pier and the causeway

that will run to the gaza sure and also be devoted to facilitating getting that aid into gaza on the same time it is not a combat operation, no boots on the ground in gaza, that old cliche. what talking, hundreds of us troops very close again, very much involved in that and it is a combat. what are we looking at? we're at the possibility of the reality, actually, of the backup that these forces will need. they will need security, they will need overhead from aircraft and satellites, reconnaissance and surveillance, intelligence gathering. they will need to know where the israelis are and where hamas is. very importantly, the need to know where civilians are and they are to have a rescue capability if us troops get into trouble because they will in fact be very close to the shore of

gaza. �* , ., ., very close to the shore of gaza. �*, ., ., gaza. let's zoom out a little bit on this. _ gaza. let's zoom out a little bit on this. what _ gaza. let's zoom out a little bit on this. what does - gaza. let's zoom out a little bit on this. what does this l gaza. let's zoom out a little l bit on this. what does this say about the fact that the administration has chosen to go this route, essentially taking matters into our enhancement comes to getting aid and as opposed to using diplomatic channels, powers of persuasion to try and ensure that israel is able to get more aid and? what is that say about the relationship between the us and speaking to netanyahu?- speaking to netanyahu? right, i think it is tough, _ speaking to netanyahu? right, i think it is tough, isn't _ speaking to netanyahu? right, i think it is tough, isn't it? - think it is tough, isn't it? there is a complete global understanding that they can't wait for that. everyone who does agree that the way to get massive amounts of, the largest amounts of aid into gaza is overland. forthe amounts of aid into gaza is overland. for the israelis to open up crossing points into the —— and facilitate massive truck convoys coming in literally every day with hundreds and hundreds of trucks into gaza with aid and assistance, medicine, food, water that so desperately needed. but is really so far

are not doing that, no indication they will. maybe biden can persuade netanyahu but he has not been able to do that yet. so we're having air drops which are very minimal, sadly, but needed, and this new initiative, but it is may still take up to 60 days to build that floating port, because latent port into gaza, 60 days, and children are dying of starvation already. fin and children are dying of starvation already. on that oint, starvation already. on that point, briefly, _ starvation already. on that point, briefly, if— starvation already. on that point, briefly, if you - starvation already. on that point, briefly, if you don'tl point, briefly, if you don't mind, in regards to efforts for a temporary ceasefire was something president biden could not come to the podium and tout. any thoughts on whether that option might be about a ceasefire being likely anytime soon? it ceasefire being likely anytime soon? ., ,, ., , ceasefire being likely anytime soon? ., , ., ceasefire being likely anytime soon? .,, .,, , soon? it appears to be very much tied _ soon? it appears to be very much tied to _ soon? it appears to be very much tied to the _ soon? it appears to be very much tied to the notion - soon? it appears to be very much tied to the notion of. soon? it appears to be very i much tied to the notion of the hostage release. the us has had moments of being fairly hopeful in recent days that they have made progress on this very quietly, top us intelligence officials are still talking to

their counterparts in the region, they hope to make progress, but we're seeing it yet. progress, but we're seeing it et. ., ,,., , ., yet. barbara starr, senior fellow at _ yet. barbara starr, senior fellow at the _ yet. barbara starr, senior fellow at the us - yet. barbara starr, senior fellow at the us the - yet. barbara starr, senior- fellow at the us the annenberg school of communications, leadership and policy and bat pentagon correspondent. good to talk to you, as ever. thank you. another country that featured in the us president's speech: china. i spoke with democratic congressman raja krishnamoorthi of illinois. he's the ranking member on the house select committee on china. congressmen, thank you for joining us again on bbc news. this editing address is now being digested. some people have reacted to it, calling it a campaign speech.- have reacted to it, calling it a campaign speech. what you make of that _ a campaign speech. what you make of that assessment? i l make of that assessment? i think it was the presentation of the contrast in positions the president has taken and people on the other side have taken a number of issues whether it is ukraine or the border, orwhether whether it is ukraine or the border, or whether it is what i want to live and work people

are embraced, with people of diverse backgrounds and come together and do great things or is it one where people are either raised and we practice xenophobia and we discriminate —— otherised. i think that's the hope of set of contrasts he was glinting last night. [30 the hope of set of contrasts he was glinting last night.- was glinting last night. do you think it was — was glinting last night. do you think it was a _ was glinting last night. do you think it was a speech - was glinting last night. do you think it was a speech with - was glinting last night. do you think it was a speech with an l think it was a speech with an eye on the election and going head—to—head with donald trump? sure. i think that the extent that the agenda that we are facing right now in congress is an issue even in the presidential election, i do think that making it clear what the choices are probably serves both purposes. unfortunately, what we have found out very quickly is that there's been benefit from publication of the republican caucus donald trump, essentially what he says don't do a broader deal because that

would provide a win tojoe biden and people on the other side listen to him, unfortunately there is a merging of the presidential contest and the republican caucus. in other words, contest and the republican caucus. in otherwords, it appears that the interests of his residential campaign over the interests of the constituents and that's wrong. i want to touch a little bit on some of the fine policy that was spoken about in that speech, including on china. resident biden saying, quote, the us is in a stronger position to win the competition for the 21st century against china or anyone else, for that matter. what do you think beijing will be taking away from last night's speech? the? from last night's speech? they would say _ from last night's speech? they would say he _ from last night's speech? they would say he is _ from last night's speech? they would say he is right. - from last night's speech? they would say he is right. they - would say he is right. they know the us economy is ascending. they know that our economy is growing, it is resilient, and that whatever they have been doing with regard to the economy has not been working. their own

economies is sputtering, as you know. they have 25% youth unemployment, they have a demographic problem in the population is getting much older and much is going to start, the population is falling over time. and there is a crisis of confidence at the grassroots in economic leadership of the country. in light of all those problems, i think they probably think that joe biden is right. i think they probably think that joe biden is right.— joe biden is right. i want to touch on — joe biden is right. i want to touch on a _ joe biden is right. i want to touch on a bill— joe biden is right. i want to touch on a bill that - joe biden is right. i want to touch on a bill that you've i touch on a bill that you've introduced which would force by dance, the company owning tiktok to sell the reassuring platform will be banned in the us. ~ , , platform will be banned in the us. , , ., ., us. why is it dangerous? there are two reasons. _ us. why is it dangerous? there are two reasons. beholden - us. why is it dangerous? there are two reasons. beholden to i are two reasons. beholden to the chinese communist party, is required by the chinese laws, specifically the national security laws, to provide access to american user data upon its request. the second

issue which is even more hideous is that bytedance routinely manipulates the argument of tiktok to suppress content that is critical of the ccp and amplify content that is favourable to the ccp. and now that has become well documented. after yesterday's's stance that bytedance and tiktok pulled to try to interfere and a vote in congress on the very bill that you are talking about, it has been clear that too many legislators that this legislation is necessary. the start was very simple. they basically used the app to geo locate minor children she call correctional officers to spread misinformation about legislation. our offices were flooded with calls from case asked the question, what is the congressmen, what is congress? they had no idea what was going on and of course their parents

did neither. this caused the house energy and commerce committee to the unanimously, 15-0 in committee to the unanimously, 15—0 in favour of this legislation. 15-0 in favour of this legislation.— 15-0 in favour of this legislation. 15-0 in favour of this leaislation. ~ ., ., ., , legislation. what that does show there _ legislation. what that does show there is _ legislation. what that does show there is young - legislation. what that does| show there is young people becoming very engaged in a political topic which is not always the case. tiktok is a way of life are many young people. way of life are many young --eole. ,, way of life are many young heole. , ., people. do you understand their concerns? _ people. do you understand their concerns? i _ people. do you understand their concerns? i definitely _ people. do you understand their concerns? i definitely don't - concerns? i definitely don't want to see tiktok go down, i don't want to see people not be able to enjoy the content on tiktok. however, the ownership of tiktok via bytedance is deeply problematic and that is why we have arrived at this bill that requires the divestment of tiktok by bytedance. this is not without precedent. we done this before with regard to grinder, the popular lgbtio dating site. at one point that was owned by a chinese company but because it

possessed sensitive personal data about military and government officials in the us government officials in the us government and military, the american administration require the chinese to divest that app and they did. there was no change whatsoever to the user experiences of americans and that's exactly what's going to happen with tiktok. but that's exactly what's going to happen with tiktok.- that's exactly what's going to happen with tiktok. but we know how critical _ happen with tiktok. but we know how critical and _ happen with tiktok. but we know how critical and sensitive - happen with tiktok. but we know how critical and sensitive data - how critical and sensitive data can be. critics might say here in america are, for example, with us social media giants it comes to meta for example owning facebook, instagram and whatsapp, one also cut down on us social media giants? lode whatsapp, one also cut down on us social media giants? we have to do all of— us social media giants? we have to do all of the _ us social media giants? we have to do all of the above _ us social media giants? we have to do all of the above we - us social media giants? we have to do all of the above we have i to do all of the above we have to do all of the above we have to start with this. why? this is a unique social media company. it is a social media app company. it is a social media app that is controlled by a foreign adversary, namely the chinese communist party. and we can hopefully work on those other issues, but as a start,

we can agree that this has to be addressed right away. congressman raja krishnamoorthi, thank you for being with us again on bbc news. . ~ being with us again on bbc news. ., ~ , ., foreign policy was a key part of the address, but coming just days after super tuesday, major domestic issues were also top of the agenda. biden touted his economic record, citing 50—year low unemployment rates and a record number of americans starting small businesses since he came to office, claiming that the us economy is now "the envy of the world". and in a preview of what to expect from his campaign, president biden touched on reproductive rights, january 6th and immigration laws. many of you in this chamber and my predecessor are promising to pass a national ban on reproductive freedom. my god, what freedom else would you take away? look, to evan turner roe v wade, the court wrote the following. with all respect, justices, women are not without

electrical power. excuse me, electoral or political power. you are about to realise just how much you got it wrong.. cheering. those bragging about overturning roe v wade have no clue about the power of women but they find out when reproductive freedom was on the ballot. we want in 2022 and 2020 and we will win again in 2024. i 2020 and we will win again in 202a. i must be honest stuff to democracy must be defended. my predecessor and some of you who seek to bury the truth about 6 january. i will not do that. this is a moment to speak the truth and bury the simple truth. you can't love your country only when you win. it's a simple choice. we confide about fixing the board or we can fix it. i am ready to fix it. send me the border bill

now! a cnn poll on the reaction to the state of the union says 65% of americans had a positive response to mr biden's address. but that may not be the case for the republican rebuttal, which has been making waves for quite a different reason. with a majority of voters concerned about president biden's age, republicans instead put forward the youngest woman ever elected to the senate — 42—year—old alabama senator katie boyd britt for their traditional rebuttal. take a listen. right now, as commander in chief is not in command. the free world deserves better than a dithering and diminished leader. america deserves leaders who recognise that secure borders, stable prices, safe streets and a strong

defence are actually the cornerstones of a great nation. in an unofficial response, former president donald trump posted this video friday morning in response to president biden's references to him. biden is on the run from his record and lying like crazy to try and escape accountability for the horrific devastation he and his party have created, all the while they continue very policies that are causing this horror show to go. we cannot take it any longer as the country. let's break this down with matt terrill, republican strategist and former chief of staff for senator marco rubio's presidential campaign, and stephanie rawlings—blake, former democratic mayor of baltimore. everyone welcome to you both and thanks for being with us. stephanie, i'd like to begin with you, if i may. the day after the night before, do you think president biden did what he needed to? absolutely. present biden was

strong, powerful, he talked directly to the democratic base. he is energised the democratic based. brydan has raised over $1 million since the state of being in and he did what he to do. he spoke about the things important american families.- american families. your thoughts _ american families. your thoughts on _ american families. your thoughts on matt, - american families. your| thoughts on matt, matt? certainly, many americans thought— certainly, many americans thought about notjust certainly, many americans thought about not just as the said — thought about not just as the said opinion address but people who watched the speech saw at the dsc— who watched the speech saw at the dsc convention, a speech that— the dsc convention, a speech that was_ the dsc convention, a speech that was planning to his political base, the party and the reason for that is president biden recognises he has had — president biden recognises he has had many struggles with respect _ has had many struggles with respect uniting the democratic party. — respect uniting the democratic party, having enthusiasm among many— party, having enthusiasm among many democrats for his candidacy. last night he spoke to the — candidacy. last night he spoke to the base. that something he certainly— to the base. that something he certainly did and as we heard ina— certainly did and as we heard ina general certainly did and as we heard in a general election, the critical— in a general election, the critical for president biden only— critical for president biden only to _ critical for president biden only to reach out into bennett

motors — only to reach out into bennett motors but having going to the upcoming election.— upcoming election. talking about how _ upcoming election. talking about how we _ upcoming election. talking about how we started - upcoming election. talking about how we started off, | upcoming election. talking l about how we started off, he spoke about freedom and democracy, saying it was under attack and started to speak about ukraine and pivoted to january the sixth. do you think those themes of freedom, democracy be under attack, resonates with voters? if democracy be under attack, resonates with voters? if you look at polling, _ resonates with voters? if you look at polling, believe - resonates with voters? if you look at polling, believe it - look at polling, believe it or not, _ look at polling, believe it or not, voters run out you former president — not, voters run out you former president trump and president biden— president trump and president biden the same with democracy. in biden the same with democracy. in the _ biden the same with democracy. in the anti- _ biden the same with democracy. in the anti— election will be about— in the anti— election will be about a _ in the anti— election will be about a lot of issues, much of it about — about a lot of issues, much of it about immigration, the economy. the issues will drive the election. ultimately 100,000 voters and feisty battleground states decide the election. the question is what they— election. the question is what they care _ election. the question is what they care about? italy's pocketbook issues, certainly foreign — pocketbook issues, certainly foreign policy and how they feel— foreign policy and how they feel stopped many a land election will be a referendum on that's— election will be a referendum on that's the incumbent officer. _ on that's the incumbent officer, the election at present biden we'll see how that— present biden we'll see how that takes shape stop we have a lon- that takes shape stop we have a long way— that takes shape stop we have a long way between alabama but

theissues long way between alabama but the issues with the front and centre — the issues with the front and centre among many americans going _ centre among many americans going into election day. stephanie, overto going into election day. stephanie, over to you. that idea freedom, democracy being under attack, the point from matt that much of the election will be decided in battleground states. what you make of that the way through and even biden starting with ukraine and linking it to 6january? be linking it to 6 january? be readil linking it to 6january? es: readily decided by linking it to 6january? e9 readily decided by a small number of people at a small number of people at a small number of people at a small number of states and those small number of people are tired of being gasly at by former president trump and the republican party. everyone saw their own eyes but i generally sexton —— muck creek. congressional members that were there. we have never thought of what they said immediately after and it is that as the world looks at our country, republicans are trying to refrain and redirect and like

the people into thinking they're interested in protecting democracy. the voters that are moderate, the voters that are moderate, the voters that are not on the fringes of either party are going to have a huge impact on the race in november and those murderers don't want to return to chaos. is that what is there jane hume lee sexton and i think that the protecting of our democracy is really going to resonate with them. match, the argument _ to resonate with them. match, the argument from _ to resonate with them. match, the argument from stephanie l the argument from stephanie that as biden put it, this is about the soul of our nation is what he said. you talked about the pocketbook issues, something that president biden sometimes faces criticism for replicants will say is an abstract way about talking about the economy, not being able to penetrate when it comes to on paper what are some strong economic wins the biden administration. he has spoken

economically a comeback for america. do you think voters will have the patience for that soft landing that he has promised?— soft landing that he has romised? :, , :, :, promised? voters want action and we saw — promised? voters want action and we saw at _ promised? voters want action and we saw at the _ promised? voters want action and we saw at the state - promised? voters want action and we saw at the state of. promised? voters want action | and we saw at the state of the union — and we saw at the state of the union address is president trumpets touch on economy day—to—day, essential issue election _ day—to—day, essential issue election. ultimately, it will come — election. ultimately, it will come down to the five critical battleground states, what suburban testing, how they feel that the — suburban testing, how they feel that the price of goods and services, _ that the price of goods and services, how they feel about inflation _ services, how they feel about inflation. in the end we saw president biden point of corporate america, shrink inflation, _ corporate america, shrink inflation, he sought in the speech, _ inflation, he sought in the speech, and any the addled bit out of— speech, and any the addled bit out of the _ speech, and any the addled bit out of the referendum on president biden, president biden— president biden, president biden has been office, you mentioned president trump are 13 times — mentioned president trump are 13 times last night, not by name. _ 13 times last night, not by name, spoke about corporations and tax — name, spoke about corporations and tax policy, all those things— and tax policy, all those things were addressed promoters care about records and the future _ care about records and the future. election is about the future, _ future. election is about the future, but what president biden— future, but what president biden has done, how they feel about— biden has done, how they feel about the trump years. we'll

see how— about the trump years. we'll see how that unfolds in terms of campaign shall go forward but the — of campaign shall go forward but the economy will be front and centre. | but the economy will be front and centre-— but the economy will be front and centre. i want to touch on the bottle, — and centre. i want to touch on the bottle, stephanie, - and centre. i want to touch on the bottle, stephanie, did - and centre. i want to touch on j the bottle, stephanie, did you make on the message that i, the fact that she was very likely chosen to contract directly with president biden in h? == with president biden in h? -- ate. with president biden in h? -- age- that _ with president biden in h? -- age. that was _ with president biden in h? -- age. that was a big mistake by the republicans. i have not had very many people in either party except the ones that are forced to be talking heads for the republicans applaud her performance last night. i think it was disturbing and it was out of touch with the performance of the president. i think the republicans had hoped that president biden would fall on his face, that he would have missteps, that he would miss me, that he would not bring the power and force that he brought in his speech. ——mr big. the republican response was

incongruous to be very powerful message biden put forward and the fear that i was trying to portray in her voice, this feeling that republicans do very well with their messaging around what americans are feeling and trying to spark this division and contention and fear of other immigrants. all of this things. split the end of the day, the facts show that biden has been strong for our company, jobs are growing, unemployment is down, it is adjusting our infrastructure, he has but a record to and none of this includes the chaos that we saw under the trump administration. stephanie rawlings-blake _ administration. stephanie rawlings-blake and - administration. stephanie rawlings-blake and matt| rawlings—bla ke and matt terrill, rawlings—blake and matt terrill, thank you for discussing all of this with us tonight. this is bbc world news. i am

tonight. this is bbc world news. iam helena humphrey. thanks forjoining us. thejoin us on bbc news if you can. hello there. there was a lot of dry weather around on friday, but cloud varied quite a bit from place to place. southern england had some lovely sunshine, with temperatures reaching 12 celsius in hampshire, 13 celsius in wiggonholt, in sussex — which was the warmest spot in the country — whereas eastern scotland, with all this cloud around, temperatures struggled to around six celsius. we also had something called the helm wind that blew across northern england. this is the uk's only named wind — prevailing winds 20—30mph across northern england. but look at that, 71mph up over the top of great dun fell, and those strong, gusty winds were pulled down into the eden valley, with gusts reaching 55mph there. that is the helm wind, the uk's only named wind. now, at the moment, we've got still a lot of cloud across the country, still with gusty winds — that's keeping the temperatures up at around 11—5 celsius

as we head into saturday. but the weekend really is dominated by this area of low pressure to our south. these weather fronts get a little bit closer and start moving across the uk as we head through the weekend, so there will be some rain at times. now, the greatest risk of seeing some rain, really, saturday morning will be southwest england, wales, northern england. through the day, we'll see some thicker cloud push into northern ireland and scotland, bringing the threat of some rain, as well. the rain is likely to be quite light and patchy. eastern coasts of england and scotland will stay cold, with that chilly north sea wind. but there should be some hazy sunshine for the midlands, east anglia, and south east england — and that will boost temperatures to around 13 celsius. on into the second half of the weekend — well, generally speaking, we're looking at further outbreaks of rain coming up from the south. this time, the will be a bit more extensive, and it'll be a bit heavier, as well. there'll be a few places that dodge the downpours — maybe south west england and southern wales doing ok. generally, temperature's a little bit lower and, on the whole, below average for the time of year, but feeling particularly cold around

those north sea coasts once again. into next week, well, the weather becomes quieter for a time, but then we start to see some weather fronts move in off the atlantic from the west. and so, there will be something of an east—west split, i think, for eastern areas. computer's probably a bit pessimistic, really — there will be some days that are dry and generally bright, probably tuesday and wednesday not looking bad at all. whereas across the western side of the uk, yes, you are more likely to see outbreaks of rain, and the rain will be quite heavy at times, especially towards southern wales and south west england.