Divided congress outlining the challenges facing americans at home and abroad the war in ukraine now at a critical crossroads while fears remain of a wider war spreading in the middle east. Here at home despite an improving economy, americans under pressure with the cost of living and still stubbornly high. Plus, growing tensions over some key issues including immigration and abortion rights. With eight months until the general election and his Approval Rating under water, can the president make the case that the state of the union is strong . Announcer from nbc news, President Bidens state of the union, live from washington here are lester holt and Savannah Guthrie good evening and welcome, everyone, to our nbc News Coverage of President Bidens state of the Union Address. Tonight is a pivotal night for the president as he prepares to deliver what could be the most important speech of his presidency. We are still eight months out from the general election, but with that rematch now set
Im Shannon Bream and washington. President biden making his way through the capital to the House Chamber. This is the final state of the Union Address of his first term and it comes as he is facing tough challenges in his effort to get reelected by the American People to a second term. In the latest fox poll shows that the Job Performance approval numbers from voters are at 42 overall. Now tonight he has a chance to move that needle using the power of the presidency to reach a broad audience across multimedia platforms. He has a lot of work it to do. He is supposed to focus on key issues voters think he is managing poorly. Only 37 of voters approve of his Job Performance on the economy, which is one of their top issues. Only 31 approve of how he is handling the israel hamas war. And a whopping 66 disapprove of his handling of immigration. And its that last topic, the last number highlighted by republicans most including the trump campaign. Just today, the g. O. P. Led house passed the
[gavel banging] mr. Speaker, the president of the United States. [cheers and applause] [applause] [applause] ■z[cheers and applause] v51 [applause] [applause] four more years. Four more years. Four more years. [indistinct chatter] [applause] ■c[cheers and applause] pres. Biden thank you. ■t■4■[gavel banging] pres. Biden good evening. If i were smart, i would gme now. [laughter] speaker, madam Vice President , members of congress, my fellow americans. In january, 19 41, Franklin Roosevelt came to this chamber to speak to the nation and he i address you at a moment unprecedented in the history of the union. War was raging in europe. T roosevelts purpose was 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. Now we who face an unprecedented moment in the history of the union. Yet my purpose tonight is to wake up the American People that this is no ordinary
Warning in the dobbs decision, right, from the dissenters from the liberal justices. They said, look, this is a slippery slope. Republicans dispute this. Of course, we should note. But there are they do legislators here and there who have i mean, when you believe that fertilization that that life begins at conception, that there are some consequences there. And when you start to talk about the technologies, i mean, its entirely, you know, were seeing unintended consequences. Lets just put it that way. Just to note, i mean, how important this issue is, dozens of democrats have brought guests related to ivf and including The First Lady, including The First Lady. So thats another way that they show, you know, their priorities for this address. Thats from what weve gathered from the president s excerpts of his speech. Its going to be a big part of his remarks. Its also the most i mean, maybe second to democracy, if youre talking about base democratic voters, probably the most important iss
[gavel banging] mr. Speaker, the president of the United States. [cheers and applause] h [applause] [applause] [cheers and applause] [applause] ■m[applause] [chanting] four more years. Four more years. Four more years. ■i■ [indistinct chatter] ■z [applause] and applause] pres. Biden thank you. [gavel banging] pres. Biden goodif i were smare now. [laughter] mr. Speaker, madam Vice President , members of congress, my fellow americans. Roosevelt came to this chamber to speak to the nation and he said, i address you at a moment unprecedented in the history of the union. War was raging in europe. President roosevelts purpose was 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. Now we who face an unprecedented moment in the history of the union. Yet my purpose tonight is to wake up the congress and alert the American People that this is no ordinary moment, eit