Top story: What to watch—and how to watch it—in Tuesday’s State of the Union speech.
- “Look for an address Tuesday tilted heavily toward policies pledging action on joblessness, growing the economy and expanding the middle class.” (National Journal)
- “Obama also will call on Congress to reduce the nation’s deficit and debt, including via entitlement reform, but he will say these cuts need to be balanced and not borne solely by the middle class.” (First Read)
- “Over 100 victims/survivors of gun violence will be in gallery during SOTU, [each] being given ticket by a sitting Member/Senator…this is huge” (Jimmy Williams)
- “Recent second inaugural addresses have adopted the same broad triadic frame: We have come a long way during the past four years; in so doing, we have built a strong foundation for future progress; but to seize the future, we must now build on that foundation.” (Brookings Institution)
- And for those political junkies who really like to nerd out on their SOTU listening, the White House will offer an online “enhanced version of the speech that offers charts, facts and other info as the President speaks.” (White House)
- “Following in the footsteps of Michele Bachmann & Herman Cain, Rand Paul will deliver the tea party response to SOTU” (James Hohmann)
- Poll: People trust Obama more on the deficit, the economy, health care, gun policy, immigration, the environment, foreign policy .. everything, basically. (Quinnipiac University)
- “When watching a basketball game, though your eye is drawn toward the player with the ball, it’s good to watch how the play’s developing away from the ball—trying to see how players without the ball are moving–looking not just where the play is, but where it will be a few passes ahead. That’s also the best way to listen to the State of the Union speech tomorrow night” (Jared Bernstein)
- “Why the GOP is and will continue to be the party of white people.” (The New Republic)
John Flowers