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Takeaways from Biden’s State of the Union address

Scrappy tone: President Joe Biden appeared comfortable as he delivered his third State of the Union address before Congress on Thursday evening. Ahead of the November election, Biden used the speech to draw contrasts between himself and former President Donald Trump, including on issues like foreign policy and border security. Biden’s emphatic address was sprinkled with attacks on Trump, accusing him of espousing “resentment, revenge and retribution” in the U.S. Without ever mentioning the former president by name, Biden laced into his “predecessor” — 13 times in all. On his Truth Social site, Trump responded to the speech, saying he thinks it “may be the Angriest, Least Compassionate, and Worst State of the Union Speech ever made.” Full breakdown >
 
GOP hecklers: A handful of Republican lawmakers shouted at Biden throughout his remarks in the House chamber, including Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga. Greene’s yells prompted an unusual back-and-forth between herself and Biden about Laken Riley, the Georgia student who police say was killed by a man who illegally crossed the border. At one point when the president discussed the southern border, Greene yelled, “It’s about Laken Riley” with others shouting, “say her name.” Biden then held up a Laken Riley pin he received from Greene and said, “Laken Riley, an innocent young woman who was killed by an illegal. To her parents I say my heart goes out to you having lost children myself. I understand.” Though some pointed out Biden’s pronunciation of “Laken” sounded like “Lincoln.” Ahead of Thursday’s speech, Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., urged Republican lawmakers to maintain decorum during the president’s remarks. When asked about lawmakers who heckled Biden, Johnson said people listening to the address grew “very emotional” because of the “overly partisan” nature of the remarks. The latest >
 
The issues: New policies introduced in Biden’s speech included a proposed minimum 25% tax for billionaires, efforts to cap the price of prescription drugs for everyone and tax credits to help homeowners with the burden of high mortgage rates. He also used the speech to demand actions from Congress on immigration, calling on lawmakers to pass a bipartisan border compromise that was blocked by Republicans, pass gun control laws to protect children and raise the minimum wage. What to know >
 
Republican rebuttal: Following the State of the Union, Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala., delivered the Republican rebuttal. Britt criticized Biden for the situation at the border, high prices at the grocery store and at the pump, and for crime in cities. How the White House is responding >
 
Surprise: During the address, former Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., announced he will run for Congress just a few months after being expelled from the House. Santos was ousted from his seat in December and faces more than 20 criminal charges connected to allegations he misled donors, fraudulently received unemployment benefits and charged donors’ credit cards without authorization. Why he says he’s running again >

House Republicans push bill to arrest migrants accused of theft after Georgia student killed

What to know: The House on Thursday passed legislation that would require federal authorities to detain unauthorized immigrants who have been accused of theft. Republicans rushed the “Laken Riley Act” to the House floor the day of Biden’s State of the Union address. It passed 251-170, with all Republicans and 37 Democrats voting for it. Riley, a 22-year-old Augusta University nursing student, was killed late last month while on a morning run. Authorities arrested Jose Ibarra, a Venezuelan man who entered the U.S. illegally, on murder and assault charges in connection with Riley’s death. Watch the “Elizabeth Vargas Reports” interview with the Georgia representative backing the bill >

International Women’s Day commemorated with celebration, call to action

What’s happening: Women across the world will demand equal pay, reproductive rights and justice during demonstrations Friday marking International Women’s Day. Demonstrations are planned from Tokyo to Mexico City. Officially recognized by the United Nations in 1977, this year’s International Women’s Day global theme is “Inspire Inclusion.” History and what the future holds for International Women’s Day >

Communication devices found on Chinese-made cranes in US ports

What’s going on: A congressional investigation into Chinese-built cargo cranes at U.S. ports has uncovered concerns about potential national security risks. According to a report from The Wall Street Journal, some of the cranes were found to contain communications equipment, including cellular modems, that could be accessed remotely. Lawmakers worry about the threat of espionage and disruption posed by these cranes, which are predominantly manufactured by ZPMC, a Chinese company. The Chinese government denies any national security threat. Full report >

How springing forward to daylight saving time could affect your health — and how to prepare

Springing forward: Most of America “springs forward” Sunday for daylight saving time. Losing that hour of sleep can sometimes result in sleep trouble for weeks or even longer. Ways to ease the adjustment >

 WHAT WE’RE WATCHING 👀

We’re keeping an eye on these topics today. Make sure you tune in to our latest coverage and share your thoughts with us on social media!

• The Republican National Committee hosts an election to select a new chair.
• Third-party group No Labels is expected to meet privately to consider whether to launch a presidential ticket.
  

NEWS ACROSS AMERICA

Families of children killed at Robb Elementary School walked out of a Uvalde City Council meeting Thursday as the city unveiled a report that recommended all Uvalde police officers be exonerated of wrongdoing in their response to the shooting. More on the independent investigation >
 
The search for Sebastian Rogers, a missing teen from Tennessee, took investigators to Kentucky on Thursday, where they are reportedly searching a landfill. The latest >
 
Two suspected smugglers are facing felony charges in connection with the death of a woman they allegedly abandoned in the desert before she was struck and killed by a train in New Mexico. What court documents about the case show >
 
The attorneys representing the man accused in the Delphi, Indiana, murders want the trial moved up from its current scheduled date of Oct. 15. The latest >
 
A DNA evidence scandal is threatening to undermine thousands of Colorado criminal cases after anomalies were discovered in the work of a forensic scientist. What to know >
 
A gray whale, believed to be extinct from the Atlantic Ocean for 200 years, was recently spotted off the coast of Massachusetts. What researchers are saying about its presence >
 
A 450-pound pig named Kevin Bacon who wandered from his Wisconsin pen has been lured back home with snacks. What the family who found him says about the “gentle giant” >

Miami woman reunited with dog in Tampa after ten years

A Miami woman and her lost dog have been reunited after spending
10 years apart. The Humane Society of Tampa Bay said the 14-year-old cockapoo showed up to the shelter as a stray. “We were hoping for a happy ending and for her to be reunited with her owners, but we did not foresee the joy that her story brought,” the humane society posted on Facebook. Read more >

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