Biden addresses Congress as Russia, China pose threats to U.S.

Biden takes the rostrum tonight as Russia’s brutal struggle in Ukraine enters its second yr with tens of hundreds of casualties and no finish in sight.

Whereas Russia poses an pressing menace to world peace, China presents an excellent longer and trickier problem to america.

This was compounded by the high-altitude Chinese language surveillance balloon that moved over america within the final week earlier than it was shot down by the U.S. army.

Biden will deal with the U.S.-China relationship within the speech, however he is not going to announce new retaliatory actions in opposition to Beijing over the balloon, White Home aides advised NBC Information. 

Following Biden’s deal with, Arkansas Republican Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders will ship the GOP response to the speech. This might be adopted by a Republican Spanish-language response, delivered by the newly elected Rep. Juan Ciscomani of Arizona. 

— Christina Wilkie

President Joe Biden is anticipated to put out a hopeful and optimistic message in his deal with Tuesday evening. However to Home Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., America’s lingering inflation woes paint a extra dire image of the state of the union.

“It isn’t nice,” McCarthy, the highest Republican in Congress, stated Tuesday morning on CNBC’s “Squawk Field.”

“I imply, individuals are fearful. Each breakfast, individuals used to have eggs and suppose it was no massive deal, just a few protein. Now it is virtually a specialty as a result of the value is so excessive,” McCarthy stated.

Individuals are “fearful in regards to the gas, they’re fearful about their jobs,” he stated, “after which while you have a look at the newest polling, they’re fearful in regards to the authorities.”

McCarthy chalked that pattern as much as the general public notion that politicians are “simply bickering backwards and forwards and never fixing issues.”

One strategy to counteract that, he argued, could be for either side to interact in negotiations on elevating the debt ceiling. Biden has taken a tough line in opposition to these proposed talks, vowing to not let the specter of a U.S. default be used as a “bargaining chip” for Republicans to attempt to minimize spending.

“We have to do essentially the most staple items. And what’s that? Move a price range,” McCarthy stated on CNBC. “Not bickering a few debt ceiling however sitting down like adults and using it to place us on a path to extra fiscal accountability.”

— Kevin Breuninger

Biden delivers his second State of the Union deal with with a 41% approval ranking, larger than his predecessor Donald Trump however beneath that of the earlier 4 presidents on the similar time in workplace, based on Gallup information.

Trump’s approval ranking sunk to 37% in January of his third yr in workplace. On the similar level of their phrases, former presidents Barack Obama had 49%; George W. Bush 60%; Invoice Clinton 47%; and George H.W. Bush 75% at the start of the Persian Gulf Battle in 1991.

The common for a president at this level in workplace is 54% approval, based on Gallup historic information. Biden’s highest approval ranking was 57% shortly after he took workplace and once more in April of his first yr.

— Emma Kinery

Republican Home Speaker Kevin McCarthy gave a proper speech Monday evening on the debt ceiling, however one which echoed the fashion of a presidential State of the Union deal with.

“Good night. I am Kevin McCarthy. I’ve the glory of serving because the Speaker of the Home. Tonight, nevertheless, I stand earlier than you not solely because the Speaker, I communicate to you as a father,” McCarthy stated at a lectern earlier than a proper backdrop of American flags.

McCarthy defended Home Republicans’ longstanding refusal to move a debt ceiling enhance the Home except they safe main federal spending cuts in return.

The Republican chief didn’t break any new floor in his remarks, however the prose and the pomp of the televised deal with had been unmistakable.

Biden and McCarthy are at present engaged within the early phases of what’s anticipated to be a months lengthy negotiation on the debt ceiling vote.

— Christina Wilkie