>> from bloomberg's washington, d.c. studios to our tv and radio audiences worldwide, welcome to special coverage of the state of the union. alongside joe mathieu on capitol hill, i am kailey leinz. >> 30 minutes from now, president biden will deliver the last state of the union address. before the election. it will be marking one of his biggest opportunities to make the case to american voters why they should elect him for a second term. he is expected to highlight his administration's economic wins and proposed future policies including a hike on the corporate tax rate. >>. >> he will also lightly touch on immigration, abortion and foreign policy and is expected to draw a contrast between himself and his predecessor and likely open it november, donald trump. but as much as this speech is about policy, it will also be about presentation as full show most voters believe president biden is too old for

the job. joe, you are in statuary hall were all of it is happening. this evening is about policy and presentation and also about pomp and circumstance and atmosphere, what is the atmosphere right now? >> plenty of that to go around here. it's noisy room and a festive one here in study lori hall which is just outside the door to the chamber of the house of representatives -- statuary hall. speaker mike johnson just skimmed through. many members of the house and senate milling around now, waiting for the president of the united states, joe biden, who will soon be piling into a motorcade and making his way to the other end of pennsylvania avenue where we are waiting. to your point, there is a lot on the line tonight. we will hear about policy, but so many people will be watching his posture, his tone, his ability to see energetic as chief of staff. . and there are folks wondering whether they will find the spontaneity he found last year to work this room, and the people at home.

yvonne: ad-libbing with a big factor in last year's address. and to what extent would it be this time around, remains an open question. some members said it depends on what exactly the president has to say, and he well could have a lot of substance to say this evening shirley. asked with more of what we expect to hear from president biden is bloomberg's annmarie hordern, down from new york. . anne-marie, obviously this is a president who in some sense is giving the first real address of his reelection campaign. >> absolutely, this will start as a report to congress and the american people. . and then it will be about his vision if granted another four years. so it's not really so much what he says, but how he says it. will he look strong. does he look like an individual who can handle another four years, 81 years old? . continue to show that americans think he is too old.

hour. for sing states, and they will decide the election, they say 8 out of 10 voters think he is too old, our polls for city-states. voters who voted for him and 2020 say he is, quote, "just too old." then you get to the policy and the substance. when you get to that, there is a long list of what he thinks he is better for the country than former president donald trump. >> so part of it will be about drawing the contrast. we did get some experts of the president's planned speech, and essentially he was alluding to the fact that people see things. differently some see retribution whereas he feels it differently. we saw some remarks about reproductive rights that could be pretty telling about the stance the presidents will be taking on the issue of abortion. >> we got three excerpts. the first was an abortion.

this shows we democrats are willing to spend a lot of money and focus on the issue. the president is going to say that the supreme court majority wrote, quote, "women are not without electoral or political power. no kiddingp clearly those bragging about overturning roe v. wade have no clue about the power of women in america, that they found out reproductive freedom was on the ballot, and they voted about it in 2022 and 2023, and they will find out again in 2024." he is alluding to the republican losses because of abortion, ohio, kentucky and virginia. he will remind voters, the supreme court has three signature -- three conservative judges that overturned roe v. wade, because of donald trump. >> bloomberg's annmarie hordern, thank you. in anticipation of tonight, we have had a lot of conversations here with politicians, posters and strategist, discussing what exactly bidenomics to accomplish

in tonight speech. here is what some of them have told us on "balance of power." >> first is to lay out a clear vision of where he will take this country. that is incredibly important. the second thing is to start to draw the contrast between the men donald trump and the republicans. >>. >> he has to paint the picture of what [chanting "four more years!"] joe biden will be and what the hell for more years of donald trump will be. >> a think he will lay out a contrast of if you want democracy and freedom for american choice and reproductive rights on your person against someone who is not? >> i want to hear the president talk about the issues that are front of mind for so many americans and suddenly that begins with fundamental freedoms. immigration challenges. the need for border security and immigration reforms. >> american people are looking for his message on immigration and looking to see if his agent really does matter -- his agent really does matter.

>> he has to be vigorous. he has to be strong. he has to be clear about what he wants to achieve in the next few years. >> is the last time he will have with the whole country watching to go at it and, as he is the right man for the job. >> just some of the voices we have heard the last couple of days here on bloomberg tv and radio that have brought us in the house to the house of representatives. we just had the entire senate walked past us underwear in. mitch mcconnell walked in quietly -- past us on their way in. mitch mcconnell walked in quietly. we assemble our panel in our washington bureau, rick davis with us, partner at stonecourt capital. and jeanne sheehan zaino, political science professor at iona university. rick, you have done a couple of these in your time. it is such a contrast to me members like joshua hawley, followed by mitch mcconnell representing a much older style of politics and a much older

style of republican conservatism. will this be his last state of the union tonight? >>? >> i don't know if it is going to be his last state of the union, but this is a really historic occasion as you point out, in the land that isn't credibly provided by politics, that parties are even incredibly divided within the politics of their own parties. . it is a very divisive time. you have president biden coming into the very symbolic job of reporting to the nation the status of the nation, and doing it in a chamber where the parties don't even get along with each other nevertheless against each other. so the reality of tonight is, it's not just a political speech, not just a report, but it is historic and they think you feel that in this statuary hall. >> right now we are seeing vice president, the harvest walking into the chamber and greeting members as she goes. but the senate majority and minority leader, chuck schumer and mitch mcconnell are behind her, followed closely by the

number two republican in the senate as they make their way down to listen to the president's speech. jean, it reminds us on how everyone is there for this moment in terms of congress, the senate, the supreme court justices. and this is a moment from president biden and which has the attention of tens of millions of americans during what is frankly now a general election campaign. what does he most need to say to them this evening? >> what he needs to talk about our two big fees. number one, economic populism. these are themes that are near and dear to joe biden's heart, issues involving the economy certainly, but giving back to the working and middle class. we will hear a lot about corporate taxes, about taxing millionaires and billionaires and using that money to fund programs like social security, medicare, medicaid, prescription drugs, all the domestic programs. that is critically important.

but the other even more important seeing potentially will be freedom. freedom at home in terms of things you were talking about as it pertains to reproductive freedoms. also freedoms abroad. we have the swedish prime minister as the guest in the first lady's box. sweden going to nato, he will talk about the need to fund ukraine. the beach will lean heavily on these issues and it showed. economic policy and freedom. there is nothing more important in the united states to americans than liberty and freedom, and joe biden will play on that and try, in your words to contrast his vision of the united states from his predecessor and potentially future president donald trump who, as you said, wants to return us to a day that doesn't celebrate liberty, and he will use reproductive rights as an example of that will republicans have tried to go a from women across the country. >> now seeing a light view.

the speaker of the house, mike johnson and vice president kamala harris, have both arrived in that speaker's rostrum's, the backdrop of president biden speech prude there will be that his shoulder when he arrives and gives his speech. mitch mcconnell as well, we show images of the minority leader standing alone in the chamber, on the floor ahead of the speech. jeanne, was talking about security. the president will not collect donald trump by name, based on excerpts we got of his speech. he will say, "some other people my age" see a different story, an american story of resentment, revenge and retribution, rick davis, that would follow the tradition of the calling out your political opponent from the speaker's rostrum. is that a good move? >> i think so. so many of our political norms

have been broken in the last couple of decades and it is impressive that the president is sticking to this one. it will be quite a news topic and politically to his advantage to not go after trump by name on any given issue whether it is the ukraine, or the border, talking about how the country is in decline. . these are all things joe biden could do. but he will not do that tonight, he will try to create a contrast in his own terms and i think that's a good idea. i think trying to stay above the fray for as long as he can, realizing that this could be a campaign that is sort of a race to the bottom at some point in time. so his ability to stay off the bottom will be key. >> absolutely. we are still seeing members coming into the chamber. senator marco rubio, senator markwayne mullin, senator elizabeth warren, mitt romney, joe manchin, the latter two in that have announced they will not attempt to return to the senate. both of the retiring from this body.

as we awaited the arrival of the president of the united states, to this point about him not calling out trump by name, still trying though to draw the contrast. we know that one of the ways the biden campaign has tried to do that is to talk about the future of democracy. we have touched on this issue, but at a time when voters are very concerned with kitchen-table issues like the economy, like the border, how much is the democracy argument the president might try to make tonight, going to resonate? >> i think the campaign believes it will resonate. they think that once people realize, of course, we are just after super tuesday when we have a presumptive nominee in donald trump, so we are just getting to the general election stage and the campaign believes that once voters have a chance to contrast these two men, they will think about things like january 6 and not take a chance that we will return to something like that. because joe biden is fully

convinced that if donald trump doesn't win the election, he once again will not concede and will try to revert to violence to make a stand. . so they will keep talking about that. but to your point, they have to talk about issues involving the economy and things that americans care about, including immigration. that is something that they know. and economic populism is very much in joe biden's wheelhouse. i think he has to talk about it without using the word "inflation," but talk about the cost of living and blame that on corporations who have used rising costs to drive up the costs. we'll hear the president talk about that and he should. same thing, immigration. these are issues he can talk about. but in his mind, they are all under this general theme of our democracy is at risk, and we need to save it. >> jeanne sheehan zaino and rick davis are going to be sticking with us as we continue to bring you extended special coverage of the state of the union speech continuing, next here on

bloomberg and radio. ♪

joe: this is a special global coverage of a state of the union address on bloomberg tv and radio.

i am joe mathieu, live on capitol hill. kailey leinz with us in washington along with our panel, which davis and jeanne sheehan zaino, back with us as we prepare for the speech from joe biden roughly scheduled for 15 minutes from now. he is making his way soon in the motorcade from capitol hill. it's a reminder, rick, we talk about a lot of stuff here in washington and this is the house full of division, as elegant see democrats -- as i look around and see democrats and republicans who will not agree with the president on every issue tonight. but this is an important night. the super bowl of politics the one opportunity americans will have until the convention comes to hear from joe biden on his vision for the future. can you talk about how important it is what we are about to see? rick: and think everybody agrees that this is one of the advantages of incumbency, if you get this moment of the leader of the nation and of the free world, to give a report on the

status of the nation. and in so many years, it is the status of the world, because so much around the worldworld affes us. it will be seen by millions of people and by the way, but even hundreds of millions of people the day after, because i think as we all learned, the day after the state of the union is usually when the debate begins. that's when people really learn and distract what was in the speech. we will do our best to do it, tonight but we will be doing it for the violence of the weekend because there is always a much packed into these beaches -- and of these speeches. tonight is more viral because it is believed that first time a sitting president has known who is opponent will be prior to the election. this is a late state of the union, normally they are at the end of january, early february. now that the field is set, not only is this a president's task, but a candidate who knows who his opponent is going to be.

kailey: and to that point, he is asking americans for another four years in addition to reflecting on what this administration already has accomplished. how does he need to split the looking backward versus the looking forward, is this more about selling what you have done, or selling your vision for the future? rick: biden has one of the lowest approval ratings for president at this stage going into election, so he really does have the task of convincing people that he has done more than maybe they appreciate in the last four years that, for instance, in this case the economy is much better than they think it is. he has to use the best aplomb he has. uncle joe has to convince people that the future economics in this country is in solid footing because of his presidency. joe: we are seeing live pictures from the white house now for those of you with us on bloomberg television and our radio listeners, you can picture

joe biden and the first lady getting into the motorcade. it's an interesting ride from one end of pennsylvania avenue to the other. they will likely be putting finishing touches on this address, a point of flourish, maybe a line they argued about in that speech being loaded into the teleprompter. we all remember that night the wrong speech was loaded into the teleprompter for president clinton. consider spontaneity, jeanne sheehan zaino, which is a gift not all of us have for a room like this, at the end of a day like this for someone who has been criticized for not having the energy to do the job, how important would it be for him to find those moments like you did last year? jeanne: critically important. i am glad you mentioned last year, because that was a very strong woman for joe biden and he took on marjorie taylor greene and the heckling and responses from republicans. he won on that score. that quieted momentary concerns about is he up for the job and,

of course, the white house of the campaign are hoping he has another moment like that tonight. that he is able to do the same thing. they keep saying he can. "let joe be joe." but of course, that comes with a lot of risks because if he stumbles, both viral moments can come back to haunt you. so this will be the big challenge for joe biden tonightm it also becomes a question of whether he will have the opportunity to ad lib. around that because that would be reacting to something happening in the chamber. rick, should we expect something similar to last year where he was able to elicit responses from specifically republicans listening to the address that he was able to spin in his favor? rick: i am sure the conversations in the caucus have been this week, let's not give joe biden any opportunity to take advantage of us and our politicalization of his speech during the speech itself, and take over that opportunity. because it was really

republicans who gave him the moment in his speech last year around saving social security. these are smart pauls. they are in that room because they have been successful in politics, and they know better than to engage the president of the united states in the mid-level election cycle, from the biggest podium in the country and allow him to take advantage of it. so my guess is tonight will be a little bit more calm than what we have seen in the past. joe: it's interesting, lauren boebert just walked by a short time ago she walked into the chamber alone and relatively quiet had a couple of words with some of the folks on the rope line. you wonder if she would agree with you right now on not being able to resist the opportunity to have that viral moment you previously described, when hundreds of millions will see clips on twitter in the morning. you can raise money on that. jeane, is that the point?

jeanne: that is the point. but are they listening? that is the big question. by the way, it's not just on the republican side, let's not forget, a big challenge for the biden team is on the protests they have been getting over their policy vis-a-vis the middle east. we have seen protests of people, everybody from the president, vice president, adam schiff, alexandria ocasio cortez. will there be somebody on the other side who speaks out? they are trying to preempt that, of course, with the policy announced earlier today, that the president will talk about building this pier which will allow for more import of food and other humanitarian aid and boots into the gaza strip. who knows if it will be enough? those moments are what they are trying to preempt on the left. and on the right, he feels like you can handle them the way he did last year. kailey: israel and gaza is just one of the foreign policy

discussions the president will likely try to incorporate in his speech, as well as the issue of ukraine, considering he is addressing lawmakers, specifically those in the house, where it is unclear if they will ever advance more funding for that american ally even in the aftermath of this speech. how heavily should he feature that tonight, and it is also about convincing the american people avoid that is important, not just their elected representatives? jeanne: it absolutely is. he will call on republicans in the house to pass ukraine aid. an astonishing part of this is that most of them agree with it. but if they indeed were to show that by clapping or something like that, donald trump is live-tweeting and fact-check and, he tells us, this entire speech, so they have to be careful. i think the president will raise it, it will be part of his freedom agenda and he will be differentiating himself in his administration from donald

trump, saying we are the ones who have welcomed allies. we have sweden -- none of us thought sweden would join nato years ago. they have become the second country to that under the president's watch and he will make the case that this is good for the united states. it's good for our security and for alliances around the world and i celebrate that, as do most americans who aren't maga and following donald trump. he will not say "donald trump" by an but he will try to contrast his administration and his vision from that of his opponent. joe: we are awaiting the president's arrival here on capitol hill. if you are joining us, will come to special global coverage of the state of the union address. i am joe mathieu live from capitol hill. kailey leinz, rick davis and jeanne sheehan zaino in our studio. . much to follow in roughly 10 minutes time, unless he is not

on time. the speaker of the house who we are seeing now on bloomberg tv, will introduce the president after he makes his way down the aisle. you will hear the famous "mr. speaker" call from the sergeant at arms and you will see him walk down the aisle with the likely a few hugs from allies and likely having a few words with some of his political foes as well. rick davis and jeanne sheehan zaino are with us. considering, the guest list shawn fain will be in the first lady's box, the head of the u.a.w. but donald trump, of course, is heavily supported by the u.a.w.'s rank-and-file. what is joe biden's message to them tonight? rick: i think he will reiterate what you just said, joe that he has been the friendliest president to organized unions, may be in the history of the union movement. he will talk about the things he has done to create jobs in america.

he has a bit of a checklist to go through on that. talk about his infrastructure plan that will help create jobs. but at the end of the day, the question is, how will unions be able to impact this election. as you point out, a lot of rank-and-file union members are the perfect profile for maga members, for donald trump stormtroopers and a lot of these states. in a state like michigan where the u.a.w. has a big impact on the electorate, you wonder, can the union deliver the goods? part of what made them so powerful, is that if you got the endorsement of shawn fain, you got the rank-and-file voting behind him. i think those days of that kind of political discipline are over. kailey: shawn fain will be a guest of the president in the first lady's box, and he also will have two women who have been personally affected by state restrictions when it comes to, reproduction one woman from alabama who was affected by the supreme court's i.v.f. ruling,

and another woman who had to leave the state to get an abortion that was medically needed. seeing people standing out in the chamber as we are awaiting the arrival of the president of the united states. worth noting, for those watching on bloomberg tv, but for radio, a great deal of women in the chamber are wearing white. we understand that is in an effort to take a stand on reproductive rights in particular. you touched on this in the beginning about how president biden is likely to focus on those freedoms. we have seen that in the excerpt released on the speech, a lot of that will depend on congress. what can the president do on his own. jeanne: jeanne: this may be abortion, reflective rates, state of the union address. it has been the issue that has catapulted democrats across the country since the supreme court overturned roe. it's fascinating, we have

supreme court justices who will be in the audience. curious to see if they will respond to his vision of what he would like them to do which is to protect reproductive rights for women across the country. but what the president is going to do is say, "i am and the democrats are and some republicans, the party that wants to save your freedom to choose." this should be a decision between the woman and her doctor, not the federal government and not the state governments. , and oh, by the way, if you elect these folks, they will try to -- [applause] jeanne: to limit the freedom to choose. [applause] kailey: the supreme court justices are now indeed entering the chamber. to applause from many members. all nine of them now walking down the hall, joe, and we expect that just moments from

now, the president himself will make that same walk. joe: sets right, it is really something to imagine, the president addressing this issue of reproductive rights with the supreme court justices who we are watching coming in right now to be seated together, sitting right in front of him. furthermore a multitude guest, a woman from aloe -- furthermore, amongst his guests, a woman from alabama who was awaiting her embryo transfer as part of her ivf treatment when the supreme court's ruling abruptly canceled the procedure. she will be with the first lady tonight. the president will look to real-world examples, people who were impacted by the decision. a mother from texas who had to travel from out-of-state state to receive an abortion, she is also a guest tonight. we will hear about the economy, about raising taxes on the corporations and the wealthy. but this issue of abortion has played out from the midterms through to the special elections that we have covered here in the last two years and it will be a

major thrust of the speech this evening. kailey: absolutely. and rearmament the way we expect, from the arrival -- we are moments away, we expect, from the arrival of president biden. . we have seen all the supreme court justices entering. in our final moments before president biden speech it is also worth noting that there will be a republican response from the youngest woman to be elected as a republican into the senate, katie britt. does the president give this speech with that in mind, knowing he will be followed by someone much younger, who is likely to draw contrast from the president on his age in addition to>> i think it will influence senator britt's speech more than the president. the president has more to do with connecting directly with americans. he will not assume anybody watching his speech will watch

the republican response. but it is a great story to tell that the youngest woman ever elected to the united states senate as a republican is giving the response tonight. it has been applauded by both republicans and democrats alike who think it is a brilliant move by the leadership to have her give the response. i would say it is likely to get a lot more attention than the response typically gets. joe: the president has now arrived at capitol hill. we are making. -- waiting for him to make his way into the building and into the chamber. things are getting very quiet now in statuary hall. the cameras are up as they wait to get a glimpse of the president. we will only see him for a moment as he walks into the chamber. that is when we will hear the sergeant at arms introduce him and we are off to the races. there has been a lot made about this being a longer speech than usual because her questions about the president's age, energy level, stamina level, something president trump has been talking about. pretty long already.

as we see him enter the capital now. jeanne: they can get long. for all of our sakes, we hope he does not go too long. but i have to say, nobody has sat through, by my estimation, more states of the union then joe biden. he was in the senate from 1973 to 2009. he was in the white house from 2009 to 2017. and he is in his fourth year as president. about 50 years of listening to these or delivering them, either sitting in the dais or in the audience. he should know better than all of us that he could not go too long and how important the speeches, and i am sure he does know this. joe: the sergeant of arms will be up soon. we will be hearing from him in just a moment. kailey: absolutely. and we will await the walk of the president down as we are continuing to see justices chatting on the floor, members still conversing with each other. there was an interesting moment earlier in which we saw

nancy pelosi, still a member of the house but somebody who stepped down from her leadership position of that chamber, speaking with mitch mcconnell, who just last month announced he too will step down as the republican leader. it speaks to this idea that there is something of a changing of the guard happening, at least in the senate. but the president tonight will be making the case that the same man should remain in the oval office. as we have said many times, this is a campaign speech as much as it is a state of the. it is also worth noting as we await the president, that expelled congressman george santos is in the chamber tonight. did you catch a glimpse of him? i heard they were shiny shoes. joe: we just caught a glimpse of him. he did not walk past us at statuary hall, but what a club to be in. you maintain floor privileges even if you get fired. is that how it works? rick: it is very cringe worthy

sometimes to see what comes back to the house of representatives. i would say he is probably the only one who has walked through that dais with dazzled callers on in a former event like this --collars in a formal event like this. george santos was able to get elected and wreak havoc. i guess there is no shame left in mudville when he returns. [laughter] i think it is just one of those distractions from tonight's otherwise serious and important event. kailey: it is serious and important indeed. as we overweight the president -- as we await the president and we hear the chamber get quieter, he should be passing through the doors any minute, it is worth keeping in mind that this president, who is now in an

active general election campaign against donald trump, presumptively, they will both be the nominees of their parties come the convention, is also speaking to congress. as rick speaks about this idea that we saw a pretty disruptive time in which george santos was actually expelled, is this about contrasting with trump or contrasting with the republican party at large, including those sitting in the chamber right now? jeanne: i think it is both, but he is certainly going to make the case that the republican party today is donald trump's party, and it is. donald trump led it as he was president. he has continued to have enormous holdover in his post-presidency era, and now he is securing even more hold over it today as we saw. he is trying to put his daughter in law in charge of the republican party. his right to do as soon to be presumptive nominee. this is very much a chance for

him to contrast this do nothing, what he sees as maga trump led republican party with his own vision. i would say but dazzled has been in congress before. william ray quest used to adorn his robes with but dazzled -- bedazzled accoutrements. but i would not say he is anything like george santos. i just raise it because he did like a bit of fashion himself. joe: that is pretty good recall. we must the stripes. live coverage here from capitol hill. i am joe mathieu in statuary hall, in the house of representatives just outside the chamber where this event is about to unfold. the president has arrived. the motorcade it got here to the capital. they did have to pass quite a number of pro-palestinian protesters, we understand, on the way up to capitol hill today. this is something we will hear

the president talk about, his policies on israel and gaza, with many folks potentially not happy with what they are hearing and seeing on the other side of the break, and might not like with the president has to say about it. we frequently see republicans and democrats stand for standing ovations en masse. you might see a mixed crowd when it comes to some of these issues. the president was supposed to be walking down the aisle now. he is probably meeting with some folks behind the scenes, including his guests who will sit with the first lady. the second gentleman also with them. vice president kamala harris is with the speaker of the house, waiting for this to happen. lawmakers feeling pretty at ease. those we have spoken coming into the building this evening seem to be in very high spirits. they are dressed up. this is a night out. this is something they can tell their families about. and many brought families with them. we saw in some cases bringing

spouses, or bringing their children. this could be remarkable. the senators in this chamber might still have work to do tonight. this is a speech that could go until 11:00. they may go back next door to vote on a spending plan that passed the house earlier, and it looks like it will pass the senate. this is part of the two-tiered funding mechanism, the minibus keeping the government running until march 22. i expect the president will be taunting the speaker a little bit about his inability to pass a long-term budget so far. kailey: surely he is eagerly awaiting the moment when he can sign that into law and avert a partial government shutdown that could begin at midnight tomorrow. in the meantime, one of our reporters, tyler kendall, reports that the president is walking through the hall of columns with the first lady, jill biden. when asked how he was feeling, he said, great.

meantime, we know former president donald trump is paying attention. he has promised to give live reaction to the speech as biden gives it. he has posted that the president is substantially late. this is a quote. not a good start. but let's give him the benefit of the doubt. jeanne, this is a late speech as it is, 9:00 p.m. speech. jeanne: that's right. i love that you are looking at truth social, and i love the fact that donald trump is now our fact checker. anybody fact checking like donald trump. joe: we saw the president making his way through the corridor, but there are a number of folks to talk to before he makes his way in there. there is a massive group that have congregated around the door to the chamber because everybody wants to get a picture of this in the next couple moments when he walks in. folks will start taking their seats.

he will speak for likely a good hour. last year, we clocked him at 1:13. it will be a question as to whether he can top it. what would make this longer is not only the standing ovations that we spend time counting and obsessing over, and whether the left or right side of the room is up or down, but the back and forth, the jostling with the hecklers we saw last year. we mentioned this earlier. if the president goes off the script, all bets are off. this could be an interesting affair, and it is when he has been preparing for physically and mentally for the past several days. he took a long weekend to camp david, did not speak the evening of super, which we all noted, not even to thank his voters. he has been working on this speech with his advisers for the duration. and we now see the first lady enter the room with her guests. kailey, jeff is promising and energetic joe biden, so he has a high bar to top.

kailey: as jill biden enters the chamber, the first later -- the first lady getting a round of applause from those in attendance. we are awaiting the arrival of president biden as we hear the applause in the chamber at this time. it is worth noting you can follow the president's remarks on the terminal and on bloomberg tv and radio. the house speaker now gobbling. gambling as we await the president. -- gaveling as we wait the president. [applause] joe: secretary of defense testifying on capitol hill last week following his departure that had many wondering about communication between the pentagon and the white house for his surgery at walter reed. he seems to be moving well coming down the aisle this

evening. the cabinet among the last to get in place before the president is introduced. kailey: absolutely, as we see the remainder of them coming down the aisle now. the commerce secretary, the labor secretary coming into the chamber ahead of tomorrow's jobs report. as we continue to see the cabinet filing in, it is a pretty remarkable moment as we wait at 9:11 p.m. eastern for the president to begin this speech. you have talked about how critical this moment is for the president as this is a campaign speech in addition to the state of the union. what is he likely to be thinking in these final moments as he prepares to make this walk, to shake these hands, as we see his cabinet doing now, and ultimately walk up to that microphone and begin speaking to the american people? rick: you almost have to remind people that presidents are people, too. they have the same kind of tensions, they get nervous.

i have not met a single politician who had not given a big speech, either state of the or a convention speech like the party nomination, where they didn't get nervous. you have to find things you can do in the run up to this moment to get them relaxed and get them at ease with themselves and with the speech. obviously, you were just talking about how much practice joe biden has given the speech. in lieu of actually talking to his supporters on super tuesday. that is a calculation by him and the people around him to ease his way into this thing, to make sure he is not distracted. he is in the bubble now. everything that happens between now and when the speeches is over with, they have been gone over and over again dozens of times with he and his team in order to get the best possible performance out of him. this is as close to hollywood as you're going to get in politics. we will see what kind of actor joe biden has turned out to be. joe: as we get a view of the attorney general, and a very

active house of representatives here. a joist -- joint session of congress. i can tell you the advance press that traveled with the president, including bloomberg's reporter in the motorcade, have made their way up here. they are right outside the door waiting for him. this is a moment when the chamber comes to a more restive moment. you will see the sergeant at arms, and his second year on the job, have the opportunity to introduce the president, which is a high honor for anyone in that position. you will hear, mr. speaker, remembering that it is mr. mccarthy a year ago. it reminds us of the wild changes we have seen in this house of representatives since then. kailey: as we have seen most of the president's cabinet enter inside the chamber, the education secretary, we just

learned, is the designated survivor tonight. joe, we are seeing everyone in attendance now. the first lady looking quite relaxed, laughing in her box with her guests, and we are seeing secretary of state antony blinken on the floor. very likely to feature heavily in the speech, not only when it comes to the issue of ukraine and getting additional funding, but israel. we know protesters have been active in the grounds surrounding the capital tonight, as you have reported. that is ways in which we are looking at the democrats response. joe: we haven't mentioned ukraine much since we started a little while ago on bloomberg tv and radio. you've got the swedish prime minister also with the first lady this evening as a special guest of the white house, and certainly the president will be pointing to the gallery for moments like this, when it comes

time to reinforce a point when we are talking about israel, ukraine, issues like abortion and the economy. to put a face and a name on the story is a tool going back to ronald reagan, who i am sure rick davis remember swallowing that 14th street bridge crash back then. it has become a hallmark. rick: everybody is remembering the moment, and that is a real question tonight, what will be the moment? will there be something he says about the guests in dr. jill biden's box? is it a story he will tell about a compelling event that occurred in his presidency? or is it a speech that hammers home the accomplishments of his administration and his vision for the future? sadly, those are not the things people usually take away from these things. one remarkable thing last year was when the president engaged a

rebellious house republican caucus who were heckling him on social security, and he cut a deal right there during the state of union to not touch social security. advantage, president biden. tonight will be full of surprises, and one of those will be the thing we talk most about tomorrow. kailey: i believe we just saw the screen -- now we see president biden into the chamber. [cheers and applause]

[cheers and applause] joe: joe biden has made his way into the hall, already smiling as he shakes hands and hug supporters, and in some cases, political challengers. this is a long walk. things starting to loosen up at statuary hall as he finally made his way into the building. the clock is ticking on making his way to the rostrum, getting into position, getting the script in front of him, which has been placed in the rostrum, and getting himself in position to deliver this address. the president has got a purple tie on this evening and a dark blue suit, and he is taking his time here soaking up the moment that really does belong to him right now. we have heard repeatedly over the past couple days how important this is for not only the president to carve the path forward and telegraphed the direction of the country, but also in this case a candidate who is running for reelection.

imagine the cost of this kind of air time if you were to buy this for a political ad that likely no one would watch. this is the benefit of incumbency as we continue to hear. kailey, this could take a moment based on the throngs surrounding joe biden right now . kailey: just behind him, we see the leadership of the house and senate. the majority leader in the senate, of course, chuck schumer, mitch mcconnell, steve scalise, and hakeem jeffries, the house minority leader, is behind him as well. i was mentioning before we saw the president enter that we saw the presence of a journalist imprisoned in russia. as we talk about the issue of ukraine and the ongoing war with russia, it is worth keeping in mind, we have talked about how tonight is the president addressing congress, addressing american voters as he campaigns for reelection, but very likely he is addressing both allies and adversaries as well.

jeanne: he absolutely is. and we know that he did invite alexei navalny's widow to the speech. she was unable to attend. the first lady of ukraine as well. it is something the president wants to underscore. the astonishing thing is there was a not so recent past when support for ukraine and opposition to what vladimir putin has done with ukraine in terms of this war would have been something that would have been roundly applauded by republicans and democrats alike. but this is one of the things that joe biden wants to use to contrast, because of course we have all talked about the fact and noted that his opponent is famously very sort of soft hum vladimir putin and other strong men around the world. he wants to raise the question

as to what is going to happen in the world if we turn the country over to a donald trump? we have allies around the world who have voiced concern about this. do your point, it is not just speaking to members of congress and americans. he is speaking to our adversaries and allies around the world in saying, we have an interest, all the people who love a free state and a free government, in casting a vote in november for biden's team as opposed to the other opponent on the others who is famously america first. kailey: we are seeing the president still slowly making his way down and taking selfies as he goes. joe: he sure is. an interesting moment there as we saw our first maga hat on the isle. that was marjorie taylor greene. it looked like moore was running defense. she handed him something. did you get a glum sub that?

-- did you get a glimpse of that? kailey: it looked like a lincoln riley pin. this was a college student tragically killed by somebody in the country undocumented illegally and has become a resounding call on the republican side to address the issue of the border and immigration. the house passed the lincoln riley act just this week. it speaks to the issue of the border and how that is something that will be unavoidable for president biden in the speech tonight. joe: i see his friend from delaware, chris coons, there as well. the ranking member on the rules committee who has been in a disarray over attempts to move. this is where the president's

supplemental budget request included what we were told was a breakthrough compromise on the border. this is the chamber where it went to die. it was doa before we got here with the speaker making clear it would not get to the floor of the house. the president of the united states are standing in the chamber where this has become such a controversy, where we are talking about government shutdowns on a weekly basis. but we can't tell our listeners and viewers -- we can tell our listeners and viewers, the house has passed a bill to keep the government functioning the next couple weeks, and the senate could pass it as soonest tonight. this becomes the campaign part of the evening because we are already hearing chants of "four more years" in the house of representatives. kailey: the democratic side with claps to go along with it as we see the president greeting the supreme court.he just shook the hand of the chief justice making his way down the line as he gets closer to that lectern. it is now 9:23 p.m.

we are a little late in the evening. once again, it brings us to the question of just how long the president will want to go this evening, if he is going to want to show that stamina to deliver a long speech or if he is looking to the bites that will be circulating on social media -- bytes that will be circulating on social media tomorrow. rick: they will take the time to dominate the airwaves tonight. you don't want to shortchange it. but maybe there is a period of time where it goes too long. i would say if it takes half as long as it took for him to get from the capitol to the lectern, it would be quite an accomplishment because we are now approaching almost 25 minutes, and we hope the speech is at least maybe an hour, a little more or less. i remember a year ago betting jeanne that i would take the under for an hour because i did not think joe biden could last for the hour to get the speech done, and she won the steak

dinner. a lot of speculation about that. the real speech starts when you carve it up and set it out on the internet, and you will see social media all over the place. i think we can rely on tonight donald trump getting a head start as he sits in florida live tweeting the speech tonight. he will be there a little ahead of everybody else. joe: we can tell our listeners and viewers, clarence thomas, samuel alito, and amy coney barrett are absent as we keep an eye on the justices who chose to attend. is this part of the act as joe biden makes his way to the restroom? show people -- to the rostrum? show people how affable you are that you can shake hands as much as you want? jeanne: i think it is. i think he wants to get there quicker. i see he is there now. by the way, i never got my steak from rick davis.

i am still waiting for that. [laughter] joe: he is doing the traditional step here of giving his speech to the speaker of the house and giving a copy to the vice president. we are now seeing joe biden facing a joint session of congress. the room on its feet as we await his first words on his last state of the union address before the general election. even the vice president and speaker are standing with the president. his speech is about to begin. kailey: absolutely, as he looks up towards the first lady's box. [cheers and applause] pres. biden: good evening. good evening. if i were smart, i would go home now. [laughter] [cheers and applause]

mr. speaker, madam vice president, members of congress, my fellow americans. in january, 1941, franklin roosevelt came to this chamber to speak to the nation, and he said, "i address you in a moment unprecedented in the history of the union. hiller was on the march, war was raging in europe, president roosevelt's purpose to wake up congress and alert the american people that this was no ordinary time. freedom and democracy were under assault in the world. tonight, i come to this same chamber to divest the nation. now, it is we who face an unprecedented moment in the history of the union. and, yes, our purpose tonight is to wake up the congress and alert the american people that

this is no ordinary moment either. not since president lincoln and the civil war has freedom and democracy been under assault at home as it is today. what makes our moment rare is the freedom of democracy under attack at home and overseas at the very same time. putin of russia is on the march, invading ukraine, sowing chaos throughout europe and beyond. if anyone in this room thinks putin will stop in ukraine, i assure you he will not. [applause] but ukraine could stop -- [applause] ukraine can stop putin if we stand with ukraine and provide the weapons they need to defend itself. [applause]

that is all ukraine is asking. they are not asking for american soldiers. in fact, there are no american soldiers in the war in ukraine and i am determined to keep it that way. but now, assistance to ukraine is being blocked by those who want to walk away from our moral leadership. it wasn't long ago when a republican president thundered, mr. gorbachev, tear down this wall. [applause] now, my predecessor, a former republican president, tells putin, "do whatever the hell you want."

that is a quote. the former actually said that, bowing down to a russian leader. i think it is outrageous, dangerous, and unacceptable. [cheers and applause] america is a founding member of nato. the military alliance of democratic nations created after world war ii to prevent war and keep the peace. today, we have made nato stronger than ever. we welcomed finland to the alliance last year. and just this morning, sweden officially joined, and their minister is here tonight. please stand up. [applause] welcome. welcome, welcome, welcome. [applause]

and they know how to fight. mr. prime minister, welcome to nato, the strongest military alliance the world has ever seen. i say this to congress, we have to stand up to putin. send me a bipartisan national security bill. history is literally watching. history is watching. if the united states walks away, it will put ukraine at risk. europe is at risk. the free world will be at risk, emboldening others to do what they wish to do us harm. my message to president putin, who i have known for a long time, is simple -- we will not walk away. [cheers and applause] we will not bow down. [cheers and applause] i will not bow down. [cheers and applause]

in a literal sense, history is watching. history is watching. just like history watched three years ago on january 6, when insurrectionists stormed this very capital and placed a dagger at the throat of american democracy. many of you were here on the starkest of days. we all saw with our own eyes the insurrectionists were not patriots. they had come to stop the peaceful transfer of power, to overthrow the will of the people. january 6 lies about the 2020 election and the plots to steal the election posed a great, grievous threat to u.s. democracy since the civil war. but they failed. america stood. [applause] america stood strong and

democracy prevailed. we must be honest. the threat to democracy must be defended. my predecessor and some of you here seek to bury the truth about january 6. i will not do that. this is the moment to speak the truth and bury the lies. here is the simple truth -- you can't love your country only when you win. [cheers and applause] as i've done ever since being elected to office, i ask all of you without regard to party to join together and defend democracy. remember your oath of office to defend against all threats, foreign and domestic. respect free and fair elections.

restore trust in our institutions. and make clear, political violence has absolutely no place, no place in america, zero place. [applause] again -- [applause] -- it is not hyperbole to suggest history is watching. your children and grandchildren will read about this day and what we do. history is watching another assault on freedom. joining us is a social worker from birmingham, alabama. 14 months ago, she and her husband welcomed a baby girl thanks to the miracle of ivf. she scheduled treatments to have that second child. the alabama supreme court shut down ivf treatments across the street, unleashed by the supreme court decision to overturn roe v. wade. she was told her dream would have to wait. unless congress acts, it

could happen again. tonight, let's stand up for families like hers. don't keep this waiting any longer. guaranteed the right to ivf. guarantee it nationwide. [cheers and applause] like most americans, i believe roe v. wade got it right. i thank vice president harris for being an incredible leader, defending reproductive freedoms. [applause] thank you. my predecessor came to office to see roe v. wade overturned. he is the reason it was overturned, and he brags about it. look at the chaos that has

resulted. joining us tonight is kate cox, a wife and mother from dallas. she had a fetus with a fatal condition. her doctor told kate that her own life and her ability to have children in the future were at risk if she didn't act, because texas law banned her ability to act. kate and her husband had to leave the state to get what you needed. what her family had gone through should never happen, but it is happening to too many others. there are state laws banning the freedom to choose, criminalizing doctors to my forcing survivors of rape and incest to leave their states to get the treatment they need. many of you in this chamber and my predecessor are promising to pass a national ban on reproductive freedom. my god, what else freedom would you take away? look, since the decision to overturn roe v. wade, the mists

majority decision followed. with all due respect, women are not without electoral power. excuse me, electoral, or political power. you are about to realize how much. [cheers and applause] clearly -- [cheers and applause] clearly -- [cheers and applause] -- those bragging about overturning roe v. wade have no clue about the power of women, but they found out when reproductive freedom was on the ballot.we won and we will win again in 2024. [cheers and applause] if you, the american people,

send me a congress that supports the right to choose, i promise you i will restore roe v. wade as the law of the land again. [cheers and applause] folks, america cannot go back. i am here tonight to show what i believe the way forward is. i know how far we have come. four years ago next week, before i came to office, the country was hit by the worst pandemic and the worst economic crisis in a century. remember the fear? record losses? remember those spikes in crime and the murder rate? a raging virus that took more than one million american lives of loved ones, millions left behind? a mental health crisis of isolation and loneliness? a president, my predecessor, failed the most basic presidential duty that he owes

to american people, the duty to care. i think that is unforgivable. i came to office determined to get us through one of the toughest periods in the nation's history. we have. it doesn't make news, but in 1000 cities and towns, the american people are writing the greatest comeback story never told. [cheers and applause] so, let's tell the story here. tell it here and now. america's comeback is building the future of america possibilities, building an economy from the bottom up, not the top down, investing in all america and all americans to make sure everyone has a fair shot. we leave no one behind. the pandemic no longer controls our lives. the vaccine that saved us from covid is now being used to beat cancer, turning setback into comeback.

that is what america does. that is what america does. [cheers and applause] folks, i inherited an economy that was on the brink. now our economy is literally the envy of the world. 15 million new jobs in three years, a record. they record. -- a record. [applause] unemployment at 50 year lows. [applause] a record 16 million americans starting small businesses, and each one is a little act of hope. with historic job growth and small business growth for black and hispanic and asian americans, 800,000 new manufacturing jobs in america and counting. [applause] where is it written we cannot be the manufacturing capital of the world? we are. we will. more people have health

insurance today than ever before. the racial wealth gap is as small as it has been in 20 years. we just keep going up, inflation keeps coming down. inflation has dropped from 9% to 3%, the lowest in the world, and it can be lower. [applause] the landing will be soft. and now instead of importing foreign products and exporting american jobs, we are exporting american products and creating american jobs, right here in america, where it belongs. [applause] and it takes time, but the american people are beginning to feel it. consumer studies show consumer confidence is soaring. buy america has been the law of the land since the 1930's.

past administrations, including my predecessor, including some democrats as well in the past, failed to buy american. not anymore. on my watch, federal products you fund, like building american bridges and highways will be built with american products and built with american workers. [cheers and applause] creating good paying american jobs. [cheers and applause] and thanks to our chips and science act, the united states is investing more in research and development than ever before. during the pandemic, a shortage of semiconductors, chips drove up the price of everything from cell phones to automobiles. and by the way, we invented those chips right here in america. instead of having to import them, private companies are now investing billions of dollars to build new chip factories here in america, creating tens of thousands of jobs, many of those

jobs paying $100,000 a year and don't require a college degree. [cheers and applause] in fact, my policies have attracted $650 billion in private sector investment, in clean energy, advanced manufacturing, creating tens of thousands of jobs right here in america. [applause] and thanks to our bipartisan infrastructure law, 46,000 new projects have started across your communities. i noticed some of you strongly voted against it but are cheering that money coming in. [cheers and applause] i'm with you. i'm with you. if any of you don't want that

money in your districts, let me know. modernize our roads, bridges, ports, airports, public transit systems, removing poisonous lead pipes so every child can treat clean water. [cheers and applause] providing affordable high speed internet for every american no matter where you live, urban, suburban, or rural communities, in red states and blue states. record investments in tribal communities because of my investment in the family fund. [applause] led by my secretary of agriculture, who knows more about this than anybody i know. we are better able -- so they don't have to leave home to make a living. the great comeback story in belvidere, illinois, home to an

auto plant for nearly 60 years. before i came to office, the plant was on its way to shutting down. thousands of workers feared for their livelihoods. hope was fading. but i was elected to the office and we raised belvidere repeatedly knowing that unions would make all the difference. uaw works like hel to keep the plant openl, and together we succeeded. instead of auto factories shutting down, auto factories reopened. [applause] folks -- [applause] instead of your town being left behind, your community is moving forward again because instead of watching jobs of the future go overseas, 4000 union jobs with higher wages are building the

future in belvidere right here in america. [applause] here tonight is the uaw president. where are you? stand up. [cheers and applause] and don simms. a third-generation worker, uaw worker at belvidere. sean, i was proud to be the first president to stand in the picket line. today, dawn has a good job in her hometown, providing stability for her family and pride and dignity as well. showing again wall street did not build america. they are billed guys -- they aren't bad guys. they didn't build it, though.

americans built america. [applause] i say to the american people, when america gets knocked down, we get back up. we keep going. that is america. [cheers and applause] that is you, the american people. it is because of you america is coming back. it is because of you our future is brighter. it is because of you. and tonight, we can proudly say that our state of the union is strong and getting stronger. [cheers and applause] [chanting "four more years"]

pres. biden: tonight, i want to talk about the future of possibilities that we can build together, a future where the days of trickle-down economics is over, and the wealthy and biggest corporations no longer get all the tax breaks. by the way, i understand corporations. i come from a state that has more corporations than everyone of your states combined, and i have represented it for 36 years. i am not anti-corporation, but i grew up in a home where trickle-down economics did not put much of my dad's kitchen table. that is why i am determined to turn things around so the middle class does well. when they do well, the poor go up and the wealthy still do very well. there is more to feel the benefits of all we are doing. americans pay more for prescription drugs than anywhere in the world. it is wrong and i am ending it. [cheers and applause]

with a law that i proposed and assigned. not one of you republican s voted for it. we finally beat big pharma. they only get paid $35 a month and still make a healthy profit. [applause] i want to cap the cost of the $35 a month for every american who needs it. [cheers and applause] for years, people have talked about it, but finally we got it done and give medicare the power to negotiate lower prices for prescription drugs, just like the v.a. is able to do for veterans.

that is not just saving seniors money. it is saving taxpayers money. we cut the federal deficit by $160 billion. [cheers and applause] because medicare will no longer have to pay those exorbitant prices of big pharma. this year, medicare is negotiating lower prices for some of the costliest drugs on the market that treat everything from heart disease to arthritis. it is now time to give further negotiations for 500 drugs over the next decade. [cheers and applause] they are making a lot of money, guys. and they will still be extremely profitable. it will not only save lives, it will save taxpayers another $200 billion. starting next year, the same law caps drug costs for seniors on

medicare to $200 a year. expensive cancer drugs like cost $15,000. i will cap it for everyone. [applause] folks, i get into air force one and fly to toronto, berlin, moscow -- excuse me. maybe moscow, probably. [laughter] i promise i will get it for you for $40, the same drug, the same place. the affordable care act, the old obamacare, this still a very big deal -- is still a very big deal. [cheers and applause]

over 100 million of you can no longer be denied health insurance because of a pre-existing condition. my predecessor and many in this chamber want to take those prescription drugs away by repealing the affordable care act. [crowd booing] i'm not going to let that happen. [cheers and applause] we stopped you 50 times before and we will stop you again. in fact, i am not only protecting it, i am expanding it. the enacted tax credits of $800 per person per year reduces health care costs for billions of families. the tax credit expires next year. i want to make that savings permanent. [cheers and applause] to state the obvious, women are

more than half our population, but research for women's health has always been underfunded. that is why we are launching the first ever white house initiative on women's health research led by jill, doing an incredible job as first lady. [cheers and applause] past my plan for $12 billion for women's research and transforming lives across america. i know the cost of housing is important to you. inflation keeps coming down, mortgage rates will keep coming down as well, and the fed acknowledges that. but i am not waiting. i want to provide an annual tax credit that will give americans $400 a month for the next two years as mortgage rates come down to put towards their mortgage when they buy their first home or trade up for a little more space.

that's for two years. [cheers and applause] my administration is also eliminating insurance on federally backed mortgages. when you refinance your home, you can save $1000 more as a consequence. for millions of renters, we are cracking down on big landlords who break antitrust laws by price-fixing and driving up rents. we have cut red tape so builders can get federal financing, which is already helping build a record 1.7 million new housing units nationwide. now passed. [cheers and applause] now passed build and renovate affordable homes and bring those

rents down. [cheers and applause] to remain the strongest economy in the world, we need to have the best education system in the world. [cheers and applause] and i, like i suspect all of you, want to give a child, every child a good start by providing access to preschool for three and four years old. [cheers and applause] i think i pointed out last year -- [applause] i think i pointed out last year that children coming from broken homes where there's no books, who are not read to or spoken to very often, start school in kindergarten or first grade having heard one million fewer words spoken. studies show that children who

go to preschool are 50% more likely to finish high school, earn a two or four year degree, no matter what their background is. [cheers and applause] a year and a half ago, the leaders of the business roundtable, they were discussing why i wanted to spend money on education. i pointed out to them, as vice president i met with i think 182 of those folks. don't hold me to the exact number. i asked them what they need most, the ceo's, and you have had the same experience on both sides of the aisle. they say a more educated workforce. i say, i come from delaware. dupont used to be the eighth largest corporation in the world.

every new enterprise they bought, they educated the workforce to that enterprise. but none of you do that anymore. why are you angry with me inviting you the opportunity for the best educated workforce in the world? they all looked at me and said, we think you are right. i want to expand high-quality tutoring and some are learning to see that every child learns to read. [applause] i am also connecting local businesses and high schools so students get hands-on experience and a path to good paying jobs whether or not they go to college. we want to make sure that college is more affordable. let's continue increasing the programs for working and middle-class families, and increase record investments in hbcu's, including spanish

institutions -- including hispanic institutions. i was told i could not universally change the way you could deal with student loans. i fixed two student loan programs that already existed to reduce the burden of student debt for nearly 4 million americans, including nurses, firefighters, and others in public service. [applause] like a public educator from minnesota who shared with us -- where are you? he has educated hundreds of students so they can go to college. now he is able to help after debt forgiveness to get his own daughter to college. [cheers and applause] folks, look. such relief is good for the economy because folks can buy a

home, start a business, start a family. i want to give public school teachers a raise. [applause] the first couple years we cut the deficit. let me speak to fundamental fairness for all americans. i have delivered results in fiscally responsible ways, we have already cut the federal deficit over $1 trillion. i signed a bipartisan deal, cut another trillion dollars the next decade. it is my goal to cut it by $3 trillion by making corporations and the very wealthy finally pay their fair share. [applause]

look, i am a capitalist. you want to make millions, that is great. just pay your fair share in taxes. a fair tax code is how we invest to make this country great. health care, education, defense and more. the last administration enacted a $2 trillion tax cut overwhelmingly benefiting the very wealthy and biggest corporations and exploded the federal deficit. they added more to the national debt than any presidential term in american history. does anyone think the tax code is fair? does anyone think wealthy and big corporations need another $2 trillion tax break? [crowd says no]

i will fight to make it fair. no one earning less than 400,000 dollars will pay an additional penny in federal taxes. they have not yet. [applause] in fact, the child tax credit i passed cut millions for working families and cut child poverty in half. restore the child tax credit. no child should go hungry in this country. way to make the tax cut fair is to make the very wealthy and corporations pay their fair share. remember in 2020, 55 of the biggest companies in america paid for your -- paid zero in federal income tax. not anymore. big companies have to pay a minimum of 15%, but that is

still less than working people pay. it is time to raise the corporate minimum tax to at least 21%. [applause] so every big corporation finally begins to pay their fair share. i also want to end tax cuts for big pharma. end it now. there are 1000 billionaires in america. you know what the average federal tax is for them? 8.2%. that is far less than the vast majority of americans pay. no billionaire should pay a lower federal tax rate than a teacher, sanitation worker or nurse. [applause]

i propose a minimum tax for billionaires at 25%. you know what that would raise? $500 billion over the next 10 years. imagine what that could do for america. imagine a future with affordable childcare. to help grow the economy. no one should have to choose between working to take care of a sick family member. imagine the future of home care, elder care, people living with disabilities. they can stay in their homes and family caregivers can get the pay they deserve. tonight let's agree once again to stand up for seniors. many of my friends on the others

of thy want to put social security on the chopping block. if anyone here tries to cut social security or medicare or raise the retirement age, i will stop you. [cheers and applause] the working people who built this country pay more into social security then millionaires and billionaires do. it is not fair. we have two ways to go. republicans can cut social security and give more tax breaks to the wealthy, that is the proposal. [crowd booing] you don't want another $2 trillion tax cut? i kind of thought that is what your plan was. it is good to hear you will not cut another $2 trillion. i will protect and strengthen social security to make the wealthy pay their fair share.

[applause] too many corporations raise prices to pad profits, charging more and more for less and less. we need to crack down on corporations that engage in price gouging and deceptive prices. snack companies think you will not notice if they change the size of the bag and put a he lluva lot fewer chips. i'm not joking. it is called shrinkflation. pass bobby casey's bill and stop this. [applause]

we all saw the commercial on snickers bars. you get charged the same amount and have 10% fewer snickers. look, i am also getting rid of junk fees, those hidden fees at the end of your bill, there without your knowledge. we are cutting credit card late fees from $32 to $8. [applause] thanks and credit card companies are allowed to charge what it cost them to instigate the collection, and that is more like $8 than $32. credit company -- credit card companies do not like it, but i am saving american families $20 billion a year with the junk fees i am taking out. [applause] folks at home, that is why banks

are mad. $20 billion of profit. i am not stopping there. we propose rules to make cable, travel, utilities, online ticket sales, tell you the total price upfront so they are no -- there are no surprises. it matters. [applause] and so does this. in november my team began negotiations with a bipartisan group of senators. the result was a bipartisan bill with the toughest set of border security reforms we have ever seen. you don't think so? oh, you don't like that bill, huh? that conservatives got together and decided was a good bill? i'll be darned. 1500 more security agents and officers, more immigration judges to tackle the back load

of 2 million cases, 4000 more asylum officers to resolve cases in six months instead of six years. [cheers and applause] what are you against? 100 more high-tech drug detection machines to increase the ability to screen and stop vehicles smuggling sentinel into -- fentanyl into america that is killing children. this bill would save lives. also gives the president emergency authority to temporary close the border if the number is overwhelming. the federal chamber of commerce -- look at the facts. [cheers and applause]

i know you know how to read. i believe given the opportunity for the majority in the house and senate would endorse the bill as well. unfortunately, politics has derailed this bill so far. i am told my predecessor called members of congress and senate to demand they block the bill. he viewed it as a win for me and lose it for him. it is not about him or me. [crowd chatter] laken riley, an innocent young woman killed by an illegal. how many thousands have been killed by illegals?

your parents i say, my heart goes out to you having lost children myself. i understand. if we change the dynamic at the border -- people pay smugglers $8,000 to get across the border because they know if they get by, let into the country, it is six to eight years before they get a hearing and it is worth taking the chance. but if it is only six weeks, the idea is, it is highly unlikely people will pay that money knowing they will be kicked out quickly. [applause] i respectfully suggest, get this bill done. we need to act now. [applause]

if my predecessor is watching, instead of playing politics and pressuring members of congress to block the bill, join me in telling congress to pass it. we can do it together. that is what he will not do. i will not demonize immigrants saying they are poisoning the blood of our country. i will not separate families. i will not ban people because of their faith. unlike my pet assessor -- predecessor. secure border, provide a pathway to citizenship for dreamers and so much more.

i know who we are as america, the only nation with a heart and soul that draws from old and new, home to native americans, have been here thousands of years, home to people from every place on earth. some came in chains, some came when famine struck like my ancestral family in ireland, some flea persecution, to chase dreams impossible anywhere but here. that is america. we all come from somewhere. we are all american. [applause] we have a simple choice. you can fight about fixing the border or we can fix it. [applause] i am ready to fix it. send me the border bill now!

[applause] a transformational moment in history happened 59 years ago today in selma, alabama. hundreds of foot soldiers for justice marched across the bridge named after the grand dragon of the ku klux klan. they demanded their fundamental right to vote, but they were beaten and left for dead. our late friend and former colleague john lewis was on that march. we miss him. [applause] joining us tonight, our other marchers, in the galley and on the floor, including bettie mae fikes, known as the voice of selma.

a daughter of gospel singers and preachers she sang songs of prayer and protest on that bloody sunday to shake the nation's conscience. five months later the voting rights act passed and was signed into law. [applause] thank you. thank you, thank you, thank you. [applause] 59 years later, forces taking us back in time. voter suppression, election subversion, unlimited dark money, extreme gerrymandering. if you want to honor all that marched, it is time to do more than talk.

pass the freedom to vote act! the john lewis voting right act. [applause] and stop denying the core value of america, our diversity across american life. banning books is wrong. instead of erasing history, let's make history. i want to protect fundamental rights, passive the equality act. [applause] transgender america, i have your back. asked the proactive for workers rights -- pass the pro act for workers rights. raise the minimum wage. every worker has the right to make more than $7 an hour.

we are also confronting the climate crisis, not denying it. i do not think any of you think there is no longer climate crisis. at least i hope you don't. i am taking the most significant action on climate in the history of the world. i am cutting our carbon emissions in half by 2030, creating tens of thousands of energy jobs. 500,000 electric vehicle charging stations. conserving 30% of america's land and water by 2030. taking action on environmental justice, those smothered by the legacy of pollution. patterned after the peace corps and america core, i launched the climate corps, to put young people to work at the forefront

of our clean energy future. i will triple that number in a decade. [applause] to state the obvious, all americans deserve the freedom to be safe. america is safer today than when i took office. the year before i took office murder rates went up 30%. [indiscernible yelling] it was then through my american rescue plan which every voted against, we made the largest investment in public safety. the murder rates saw the sharpest decrease in history. violent crime fell to the lowest level in 50 years. but we have more to do. let's help cities invest in more community police officers,

mental health workers. give communities the tools to crack down on gun crime, retail crime, carjacking. take executive action on police reform. calling for it to be the law of the land. directing my cabinet to expunge thousands of convictions for the mere possession of marijuana, because no one should be jailed for simply using or have it on their record. [applause] take on crimes of domestic violence. i am ramping up the federal enforcement of the violence against women act that i proudly wrote as a senator so we can finally end the scorch against women in america. -- scourge against women in america. [applause] with us tonight is jazmin who's

nine-year-old sister jackie was murdered with others in uvalde, texas. jill and i spent hours with each of the families, we heard their message. everyone in this room and chamber can hear the same message. the constant refrain, we were there for hours meeting with every family. they said, do something. do something. i did do something by establishing the office of gun violence prevention with the vice president leading the charge. [applause] meanwhile, -- [cheers and applause] meanwhile my predecessor told the nra he is proud he did

nothing on guns when he was president. after another shooting in iowa recently he said when asked what to do he said, just get over it. that was his quote, "just get over it." i say, stop it. stop it, stop it, stop it. [applause] i am proud we beat the nra when i signed the most significant gun safety law in 30 years because of this congress. we must now beat the nra again. i am demanding a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. mass universal background checks. none of this -- i taught the second amendment 12 years -- none of this violates the second amendment or vilifies responsible gun owners.

we are also managing crises abroad including in the middle east. the last five months have been gut wrenching for so many people, the israeli people, the palestinian people, and so many in america. this crisis began on october 7 when the massacre by the terrorist group hamas. 1200 innocent people, women and girls, men and boys, slaughtered, including sexual violence. the deadliest day for the jewish people since the holocaust and 250 hostages taken. here in this chamber tonight, families and loved ones still held by hamas. i pledged all the families we will not rest until we bring everyone home. [applause]

we will also work around the clock to bring home evan and paul, americans unjustly detained by the russians and others around the world. israel has the right to go after hamas. hamas if they laid down arms and released hostages, they could end it, the rendering those responsible for october 7. israel as an added burden. hamas operates around daycare centers and hospitals. there is a fundamental responsibility to protect innocent civilians in gaza. [applause]

this war has taken a greater toll on civilians than all previous wars in gaza combined. more than 30,000 palestinians have been killed. most of whom are not hamas. thousands of innocent women, children, girls and boys orphaned. nearly 2 million palestinians under bombardment or displacement. neighbors in rubble, cities in ruin, no food or medicine. it is heartbreaking. i have been working to create a cease fire, to get prisoners and hostages released, to get the hostages home and ease the intolerable humanitarian crisis, and build toward something more enduring. the u.s. is offering

humanitarian assistance to gaza. tonight i am guiding the military to lead an emergency mission for a temporary spot on the coast of gaza to receive large shipments with food, water, temporary shelter. no u.s. boots will be on the ground, but a temporary pier will allow an increase to the amount of humanitarian assistance getting into gaza every day. [applause] israel must do its part. israel must allow more aid into gaza and ensure humanitarian workers are not caught in the crossfire. to the leadership of israel, humanitarian assistance cannot be a secondary consideration or bargaining chip. protecting and saving innocent

lives must be a priority. as we look to the future the only real solution is a two state solution, over time. [applause] i say this as a lifelong supporter of israel. my entire career, no one has a stronger record with israel than i do. i am the only american president to visit israel. there is no other path that guarantees security and democracy, to guarantee palestinians can live with peace and dignity, to guarantee peace with israel and its neighbors including saudi arabia. creating stability in the middle east means containing the threat posed by iran. that is why i will build a coalition of more than a dozen countries to defend international shipping, and

freedom of navigation in the red sea. i have ordered strikes to defeat houthi capabilities. i will not hesitate with measures and military personnel. [applause] for years i have heard many of my republican and democratic friends say china is on the rise, and america has fallen behind. they have it backwards. i have been saying it for over four years. america is rising. we have the best economy in the world. our trade deficit with china is down, the lowest point in over a decade. we are standing up against china's unfair economic practices. peace and stability across the taiwan straits.

we are strengthening alliances in the pacific. australia, japan, south korea, pacific islands. i have made sure the most advanced american technologies cannot be used in china, not allowing to trade them there. for all his tough talk on china in never occurred to my predecessor to do that. i want competition with china, not conflict. we are in a stronger position to win the conflict than anyone else for that matter than any time. here at home i signed over 400 bipartisan bills. there are more to pass my unity agenda. strengthen penalties on fentanyl trafficking. pass a partisan privacy legislation to protect our children online. [applause]

harness the promise of ai to protect us from peril. ban ai voice impersonations and more. keep our truly sacred obligation to trade and equip those we send into harm's way and care for them and their families when they come home and when they don't. [applause] that is why i signed one of the most significant laws, helping millions of veterans exposed to toxins who are battling more than 100 different cancers. many of them do not come home, but we owe them and their families support. we owe it to ourselves to keep supporting our new health

research agency and remind us we can do big things like end cancer as we know it, and we will. [applause] let me close with this. [applause] i know you do not want to hear anymore lindsay, but i have to say a few more things. it may not look like it, but i have been around a while. [laughter] when you get to be my age, some things become clearer than ever. i know the american story. again and again i have seen the contest between competing sources in the battle for the soul of our nation. those who want to pull america back to the past and of those

who want to take it to the future. my lifetime has taught me to embrace freedom and democracy, a future based on core values that defined america. honesty, decency, dignity, equality. to respect everyone, to give everyone a fair shot, to give hate no safe harbor. other people my age see it differently. the american story of resentment, revenge and retribution. that is not me. i was born amid world war ii when america stood for freedom. i grew up in scranton, pennsylvania from working-class people who built this country. i watched in horror as two of my heroes, like many of you did, martin luther king jr. and bobby kennedy, were assassinated, and it inspired me to pursue a career in service.

my city of bloomington was the only city in america occupied by the national guard after dr. king was assassinated because of the riots. i became a county councilman almost by accident. i got elected to the united states senate when i had no intention of running at age 29. then vice president to our first black president. now president with our first woman vice president. [cheers and applause] in my career, i have been told i was too young. [laughter] by the way, they did not let me on the senate elevator for votes sometimes. not a joke. i've been told i'm too old. young or old, i have always

known what indoors -- what endures. i've known our northstar. the very idea of america is that we are all created equal. we have never fully lived up to that idea, but we have never walked away from it, either. i won't walk away from it now. i'm not the victim. [applause] my fellow americans, the issue facing our nation is not how old we are. it's how old are our ideas. hate, retribution are the oldest of ideas, but you can not lead america with ancient ideas. to lead america, the land of

possibilities, you need a vision of the future and what can and should be done. tonight, you have heard mine. i see a future where defendant democracy, we don't diminish it. i see a future where we restore and protect our freedoms, not take them away. i see a future where the middle class finally has a fair shot and know they have to pay their fair share in taxes. i see a future where we save the planet from the climate crisis and our country from gun violence. above all, i see a future for all americans. i see a country for all americans, and i will always be president for all americans because i believe in america. i believe in you, the american

people. you are the reason we have never been more optimistic about our future than i am now, so let's build the future together. let's remember who we are -- we are united states of america, and there's nothing -- nothing beyond our capacity when we act together. god bless you all. may god protect our troops. [cheers and applause] >> president biden revving up a state address, his final before the election, in just over an hour's time, ending to

thunderous applause, at least from democrats in the room, now shaking hands as he steps down from the speakers rostrum, shaking hands with the still relatively new speaker of the house and saluting his colleagues as he steps down into the chamber. i'm joe mathieu in washington. this is a special global coverage of the state of the union address in washington, d.c. we try to unpack what we just heard, and laundry list certainly, but also a tone from this president that was predicted from the white house. high energy, behind the speech -- oomph behind the speech. it was the issue of the border that seemed to light up republicans. >> absolutely. marjorie taylor greene confronting the president from across many rows of seats about lake and riley, a college

student in georgia who was killed by a person who was in the country illegally. he did say her name and address her parents. leaning on his empathy, he understands what it is like to lose children. we knew the border would feature heavily in the speech, but interestingly he did not get into it until about 40 minutes in. he instead began with the issue of ukraine, then moving to the issue of democracy, one of the big highlight lines in the first portion of the speech, alluding to his predecessor, saying you cannot love your country only when you win, and he said that line after talking about january 6. from there, we saw him touch on many different issues like abortion and the economy, ending the speech addressing what many see as one of his biggest weaknesses as he campaigns for a

second term, his age. he said, i have been around a while, trying to make a joke about it, but also said the issue raising our nation is not how old we are but how old are your ideas are. it was toward the end of the speech that you saw biden in campaign mode, not just addressing the american people as president but as someone who would like to stay president for another four years. joe: we heard him use that line on "late night with seth meyers" a few weeks ago. he certainly used it with emphasis as he did the money line tonight, the state of our union is that it is strong and getting stronger. i will tell you that in this statuary hall, lawmakers are emerging from the chamber. senators and members of the house screaming by us and we will have conversations with some of them coming up on bloomberg for their impression. we will now be hearing the

official republican response to this address tonight from the president. kailey: a senator from alabama, 42 years old, the youngest woman republican ever to be elected to the chamber will shortly give the republican response and we will bring you that response live on bloomberg television and radio, but we also want to get the response of our political panel, who is still with us. this speech was over an hour long. one of the conversations we were having going into it is not what the president said but how he said it being important. how would you rate his performance this evening? >> i have to say, i think the performance himself was energetic. joe used the word, he had a lot of oomph. i think it was raucous. he was interacting with

congress, and i think performance-wise, he may have been able to do what he did last year, which was to quell some of the doubts about his age and his ability, so i think from a performance perspective, i am not sure that the white house or the campaign could have expected anything more from this president. i think his experience showed. this is joe biden in his element. he is, after all, a man of congress, having served in this body from 1973 to 2009 after which he went to the white house, so i think this was a night where he did exceed a lot of expectations, and that's the way joe biden likes it. he feels he has been underestimated for most of his political and professional career, and at those important moments, he has done what he needed to do, and i think tonight was one of those nights. joe: your impressions of this address. expectations were so high and

made even higher by this white house who promised an energetic joe biden at 9:00 at night, and it sure seemed like we got one. you might not agree with everything he said, but he had the room in his hand for extended periods of time tonight, even achieved some call and response with republicans. did he meet his goals? alexia, i think he did. look how he started the speech. strong wording around democracy, one of his favorite topics. they went with something that i think he thought he could get comfortable at and sound like he has really embraced it. i think we also saw the makings of the campaign speech. one of the things islands look at is what is happening in the first 15 minutes. with all due respect, not everybody sits through the entire speech like we did tonight, so you want to get the biggest audience around key terms, and it was a democracy, abortion rights, the pandemic come back, the economy, and infrastructure. after that, the rest of it was

much more of a traditional state and less campaigning until the end. he used this opportunity to contrast over a dozen times with his predecessor, the unnamed man in the speech, donald trump, and i think it was very aggressive in that case, so i would say this speech was an offensive speech. it was him taking it to donald trump, defending the turf he has created for himself and his presidency and talking to voters tonight, much more so than congress and much more so, frankly, then before and policy aspects of this. it was a domestic speech meant for the campaign. kailey: as you talk about, the idea he was referencing his predecessor without directly naming him. he also said at one point in the speech to say that america cannot go back. he went on with a kind of laundry list of the way that he envisions the future. i do believe we hear joe mathieu perhaps greeting a senator as they emerge from the chamber.

when he talks about the way forward, something else he mentioned was a unity agenda. is that what this campaign is now going to be about? what is a unity agenda? >> i would say it is surprising because it was stuck literally at the end of the speech. right as he was wrapping up, he sort of sprung the unity agenda, talked about bringing people home from conflicts around the world, taking care of them. it talked about ai. it did not seem to have the cohesiveness the rest of the speech he did, and, frankly, i did not take speech as a unity speech. he was not asking congress to get together and work things out. he was advocating for his views. he actually went after republicans in the house a number of times when they rejected conservative plans, like the immigration bill that came out of the senate. it must have been an afterthought or something that they tacked onto the end of the speech to try to keep a positive tone to the finish, but to be

honest, i did not really see how it fit in the speech. kailey: we want to go now back to joe in statuary hall where he is joined by dick durbin, the senate majority whip. joe: thanks. senator, it's great to see you. welcome back to bloomberg on this state of the union night. i don't know how you managed to get out of the chamber. the energy seemed high. we were promised a high energy joe biden late at night. did he pull that through for those in the room? senator durbin: absolutely. homerun. strong ideas, strong execution. for those who think somehow an elderly man cannot do the job, he projected strength tonight. joe: we started on ukraine. we heard about the economy, and a lot of iterations before we ever got to the border. that seems to be the issue that of the room. did he make any headway? you see half the room up, half

the room down. it really underscores the division. senator durbin: two out of three americans know what's going on. there's a bipartisan bill proposed in the senate which the president supported. james lankford of oklahoma, republican senator, was the lead negotiator. we were ready to move forward on a bipartisan solution. then donald trump said stop, we don't want to give joe biden the victory. he stopped any progress on a bipartisan solution. the president tonight said stop having your speeches on the republican side about the border. do something, join me in passing this bill. joe: you blame donald trump what happened? senator durbin: i sure do. he's the one who stopped the negotiation, stop any effort for bipartisanship, so let's ignore him for a bit and solve the problem on a bipartisan basis. joe: is majority whip, you have a sense of the votes. i wonder if we will see a vote

maybe even tonight on this stopgap budget plan, the minibus if we can call it that, that past the house. senator durbin: tomorrow. joe: will it pass? senator durbin: i think it will. it has strong bipartisan support in the house and i think that's a good indication of what will happen in the senate. this is a clear choice between biden and trump. we have seen this mess before, but we understand the gravity of it after the january 6 election mob. the violence president trump initiated against this very building and the people who work in it should not be easily forgotten. joe: thank you for spending time with us tonight on bloomberg. it's good to see you on a state of the union evening. kailey: thank you very much. of course, as we consider the senate moving forward on hunting, there to remain many

open questions that you have to deal with, not just including the bipartisan measure the president was encouraging be revived, if you will come after it was buried, quickly killed shortly after the announcement, but also on the issue of ukraine. remember that funding for these allies are tucked into a supplemental package that has passed the senate. especially in light of the fact that we were just talking about the unity agenda, if you will, there is the question of unity between the different parties. there's also the question of unity within the party and within the democratic party, the issue of israel is perhaps one of the more divisive ones. how do you think the president handled that? did he do a good job bridging the divide, if you will, from being supportive of israel but also trying to be supportive of palestinian life in gaza? >> yeah, he is in a really tough position, getting a lot of

pushback from his own party, as you mentioned. we even saw two members in the house tonight hold up a sign to democrats saying, cease fire now . he is getting that pushback. we saw it on super tuesday with the number of uncommitteds in places like minnesota. the president knows he is walking this line. as the president describes himself, he has been one of the closest friends for israel for most of his career, but at this point, he is trying to do both, support israel in their fight against hamas, and also make the case that they have to be cognizant of the impact they are having on innocent men, women, and children in palestine. he took the number 30,000 dead according to the health ministry over there that has been conflicting and a lot of people, and he said we are going to take steps to do better. i don't know how it will play on the democratic left.

this is an issue of real concern also to young people, not just arab americans. kailey: as you mentioned, we saw that uncommitted vote showing up in minnesota. we also saw it showing up in michigan. on that bill, we are joined by representative haley stephens from michigan. joe: we are here. she's no stranger to this network. congresswoman, it's great to see you. as a democrat from michigan, supporting joe biden tonight. what were your thoughts on his closing remarks about israel? he called for a two-state solution. coming off the uncommitted movement we have seen in your state and others, did he say enough? >> he absolutely said the right things on israel tonight. personally, i am here with the great aunt of four-year-old abigail, who was taken hostage for 50 days when she was three years old. she lost both of her parents.

there are so many other hostage families in the room here tonight. as the task force cochair, alongside republican fred hill, 4 american hostages. that was one of the most sobering pieces of his really resounding and comprehensive speech. it was a speech of vision and a speech of setting goals. what he said about getting to a two-state solution is still going to be the goal. there's lots of pain. there's lots that we are navigating. a terrorist operation in gaza known as hamas has not served its people well, and we need to find peace, and that will come when hamas surrenders. joe: are you disappointed he was not able to announce a cease-fire tonight? >> i know he is working with saudi arabia, working alongside israel, certainly. they presented their deal. it was rejected by hamas.

we need these remaining hostages , over 100 53 days there, to come home. that was an attack on humanity. we also need to see a delivered to the palestinians. we know that hamas is preventing aid from coming in. we know where this conflict is as well is preventing aid for palestinians, mothers and children, so we are setting up a special envoy to make sure aid gets delivered with no american troops. joe: we are waiting for the republican response. shawn fain from the uaw was with the first lady tonight,, out by joe biden -- called out by joe biden. we have talked about the rank and file in many cases voting for donald trump. what is the message you hope they heard from the president? >> he delivered a strong and resounding commitment to american manufacturing, investing in education and

skills training, but here's the thing -- joe biden is coming to michigan next week. he will be digging deep. he will be making sure these union members know who he is, that he is the tough guy in the room and he's also the honest guy in the room that has a commitment to protecting freedoms, toot standing up for job creation and making sure that our middle class is at the table while we do it, and that's why shawn fain was here tonight. i was so thrilled to see him get a shout out. cannot wait to have the president get back in michigan. joe: it's great to see you. part of our special coverage. this is the message that starts now. rick and jeannie were talking about this, not just members of the cabinet, but the president's democratic allies fan out across the country to deliver this message tomorrow. kailey: absolutely as we are now, for all intents and purposes, in the general election. we did have reaction to the

former president during the course of the state of the union speech. donald trump points out -- it took him over 20 minutes to get to immigration and then in trump's words, said nothing about it. did he say enough about this subject this evening? is the former president right? >> we were wondering if anybody was going to sleep with the speech, and it's pretty clear president trump did. i thought the piece on immigration was one of the most engaging parts because it was where he actually took up a discussion directly with marjorie taylor greene and engaged with her. it was an ad-libbed portion of the speech, and she was pushing in a very aggressive way for him to say riley's name. he picked it up and said the name and did something that i think will create a little bit of a backlash.

he may have said a lot more than donald trump thought he did, and that is he referred to illegals, and that was a term that he has not really used in reference to migrants coming across the border. we already see across the internet some of the more progressive groups within his coalition basically pushing back over this portion of the speech. what's interesting is donald trump and the progressives in the democratic wing seem to have something in common, which is the president sounded more conservative by defending the bill in the senate that did not get a hearing in the house, and that was something that always ruffled feathers of the democrats in the house, too. i think that's going to be one of the things we will talk about for days to come, this very aggressive approach he took on this speech. kailey: it's worth noting that as we discuss lakin riley, the

individual who has been accused of the crime has not been convicted and we should keep that in mind. one of the negotiators of the deal on the republican side, senator james and langford, announced its true, when the president was talking about the attributes. everyone else on the republican side of the chamber did not seem to have much reaction, but i thought that was very interesting. >> it absolutely was. kailey: we are seeing senator katie britt now. >> i had the honor of serving the great state of alabama in the united states senate, but that's not the job that matters most. i am a proud wife and mom of two school-aged kids. my daughter bennett and my son ridgeway are why i ran for the senate. i'm worried about their future and the future of children in every corner of our nation, and that's why i invited you into

our home tonight. like so many families across america, my husband and i just watch president biden's state of the union address from our living room. what we saw was the performance of a permanent politician who has actually been in office for longer than i've been alive. one thing was quite clear, though -- president biden just does not get it. he's out of touch. under his administration, families are worse off. our communities are less safe, and our country is less secure. i just wish he understood what real families are facing around kitchen tables just like this one. this is where our family has tough conversations. it's where we make hard decisions. it's where we share the good, the bad, and the ugly of our

days. it's where we laugh together, and it's where we hold each other's hands and pray for god's guidance. many nights, to be honest, is where wesley and i worry. i know we are not alone, so tonight, the american family needs to have a tough conversation because the truth is we are all worried about the future of our nation. the country we know and love seems to be slipping away, and it feels like the next generation will have fewer opportunities and less freedoms than we did. i worry my own children may not even get a shot at living their american dreams. my american dream allowed me, the daughter of two small business owners from rural enterprise, alabama, to be elected to the united states senate at the age of 40. growing up, sweeping the floor at my dad's hardware store and

cleaning the bathroom of mom's a dance studio, i never could have imagined what my story would entail. to think about what the american dream can do across just one generation in just one lifetime is truly breathtaking. but right now, the american dream has turned into a nightmare for so many families. the true, unvarnished state of our union begins and ends with this -- our families are hurting . our country can do better, and you don't have to look any further than the crisis at our southern border to see it. president biden inherited the most secure border of all time, but minutes after taking office, he suspended all deportations.

he halted construction of the border wall, and he announced a plan to give amnesty to millions . we know that president biden did not just create this border crisis. he invited it with 94 executive actions in his first 100 days. when i took office, i took a different approach. i traveled to the del rio sector of texas. that's where i spoke with a woman who shared her story with me. she had been sex trafficked by the cartels starting at the age of 12. she told me not just that she was raped every day but how many times a day she was raped. the cartels put her on a mattress in a shoebox of a room,

and they sent men through that door over and over again for hours and hours on end. we would not be ok with this happening in a third world country. this is the united states america, and it is past time in my opinion that we start acting like it. president biden's border policies are a disgrace. this crisis is despicable, and the truth is it is almost entirely preventable. from fentanyl poisonings to horrific murders, there are empty chairs tonight at kitchen tables just like this one because of president biden's

senseless border policies. just think about in my neighboring state of georgia, this beautiful 22-year-old nursing student went on a jog one morning, and she never got the opportunity to return home. she was brutally murdered by one of the millions of illegal border crossers. president biden chose to release into our homeland. as a mom, i cannot quit thinking about this. this could have been my daughter. this could have been yours. and tonight president biden finally said her name. but he refused to take responsibility for his actions. mr. president, enough is enough.