At The State Of The Union, Biden Wooed Moderates And Slammed Putin

The NPR Politics Podcast

NPR

Politics, Daily News, News

4.5 • 24.9K Ratings

🗓️ 2 March 2022

⏱️ 19 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In his speech, the president emphasized policies with broad, bipartisan support, including sanctions against Russian oligarchs and military aid to Ukraine. He also drew Republican applause when he called for more funding for police departments. Many priorities popular among the Democratic base, including voting rights legislation and climate action, got very little air time during Biden's remarks.

This episode: White House correspondent Scott Detrow, White House correspondent Ayesha Rascoe, and congressional correspondent Susan Davis.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Hey there, it's the NPR Politics Podcast.
0:06.4	I'm Scott Detro, I cover the White House.
0:08.6	I'm Aisha Roscoe, I also cover the White House.
0:11.6	And I'm Susan Davis, I cover Congress.
0:13.8	And it is 10.51 PM Eastern on Tuesday, March 1st.
0:19.4	And we're taping about 45 minutes or so after President Biden came to the House Chamber
0:23.8	to deliver his first state of the union.
0:26.3	And my report is this, the state of the union is strong because you the American people
0:32.4	are strong.
0:33.4	After a year where Biden mostly stuck to strict COVID protocols, it was notable that
0:39.6	Biden spoke before a crowded and mostly mask-free chamber.
0:44.1	And of course, it was notable that Biden gave his most high profile speech of the year
0:48.9	at a moment when Russian forces are pummeling Ukraine and the rest of the world is economically
0:54.2	isolating Russia.
0:56.1	Biden has unleashed violence and chaos.
0:59.2	But while he may make gains on the battlefield, he'll pay a continuing high price over the
1:04.2	long run.
1:06.0	And a pound of Ukrainian people, the proud, proud people, pound for pound, ready to fight
1:11.5	with every inch of earnings that they have.
1:14.4	They've known 30 years of independence, have repeatedly shown that they will not tolerate
1:19.9	anyone who tries to take their country backwards.
1:23.3	And I think it's best to start there, Ayesha.
	...

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