Kansas City OPEN THREAD: Prez Biden's State Of The Union

Close readers know we posted this last night by mistake because . . . Honestly, we use this time to catch up on important Internets work . . . And video games, of course.

Still . . .

Right now we share a place for news links, insight and discourse as the Prez addresses the nation amid war, the last remnants of the COVID plauge and a great deal of apprehension regarding the future.

Just a bit of fashion insight to keep it light . . .

We'll be watching to see how many Beltway denizens adorn themselves with the colors of the Ukraine flag as an homage to brave souls getting slaughtered whilst everyone cheers from a safe distance.

Meanwhile, from both progressive and conservative perspectives, here's a preview of the remarks along with just a bit of context . . .

Biden set to use first State of the Union to condemn Putin for 'premeditated and unprovoked' war | CNN Politics

President Joe Biden will deliver his first State of the Union address in the US House chamber Tuesday evening, using his biggest platform of the year to condemn Russian President Vladimir Putin for invading Ukraine.

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds will deliver GOP rebuttal to State of the Union. Who is she?

Reynolds has bucked Biden's COVID protocols, is a supporter of Donald Trump and may have her eyes on a higher office.

Biden under pressure on Ukraine, inflation and more as State of the Union looms - live

President warns crisis and sanctions could drive up gas prices

Biden to promote allied unity against Russia, economic gains during State of the Union address

WASHINGTON - President Joe Biden plans to use his State of the Union address Tuesday to emphasize the united response by the U.S. and its allies against Russia while seeking to promote the condition of the economy and sell an optimistic view of the country's future, administration officials said ahead of the address.

Biden to announce plan to lower costs for American families during State of the Union address

When President Joe Biden discusses the state of the US economy during Tuesday night's State of the Union address, he will focus on a new plan to lower costs for American families and his administration's efforts in the labor market's recovery, senior administration officials told reporters on a call previewing the remarks.

Cori Bush sends message to Biden with State of the Union outfit

Rep. Cori Bush, D-Mo., an outspoken member of the progressive House " Squad" who favors efforts to defund police, is hoping to earn the attention of President Biden through her choice of attire for his State of the Union address.

Josh Hawley sits out State of the Union because he didn't want to be tested for COVID-19

Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley announced he was skipping the State of the Union on Tuesday, saying on Twitter that he didn't want to comply with the event's COVID-19 policies. In order to sit in the House Chamber for the speech, members of Congress and the press had to be vaccinated and test negative for COVID-19.

GOP lawmakers slammed for boycotting State of the Union amid Ukraine crisis

A number of Republican lawmakers in both the House and Senate announced their intent to boycott President Joe Biden's State of the Union address, his second since taking office last year, despite the deepening crisis in Ukraine amid Russian President Vladimir Putin's invasion.

NYT claims Biden 'redefining the arc of his presidency,' gives positive review for handling of Russia, SCOTUS

The New York Times claimed Sunday that President Biden was "redefining the arc of his presidency" following a number of policy setbacks throughout his first year in office and a sinking approval rating to one of the lowest in modern presidential history.

Dems liken 'Squad' member Tlaib's SOTU rebuttal to 'keying your own car'

Far-left "Squad" member Rep. Rashida Tlaib will ​give one of two Democratic rebuttals to President Biden's State of the Union speech on Tuesday, drawing the ire of centrists in her own party, including one who described it as "keying your own car."​ Tlaib (D-Mich.)

Poll: Ahead of State of the Union, 61% of Americans say Biden hasn't kept most of his promises

As President Biden prepares to deliver his first State of the Union address Tuesday night, a Yahoo News/YouGov poll shows that a combination of Republican rancor and Democratic disappointment has left his approval rating near an all-time low after a tumultuous first year in office.

Accordingly, close readers might want to check back for an update of news following the speech as well.

UPDATE . . . Here's some of our favorite news links after the fact:

Lawmakers wear blue and yellow to State of the Union in nod to Ukraine

First Lady Jill Biden was among those wearing blue, and one of her guests was Oksana Markarova, Ukraine's ambassador to the U.S. Early in his address President Joe Biden directed attention to Markarova and led the room in an extended standing ovation in honor of Ukraine.

Marjorie Taylor Greene, Lauren Boebert heckle Biden at State of the Union

Republican Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Lauren Boebert heckled President Biden Tuesday at his first State of the Union address - making rare breaches of etiquette to show their disapproval of various Biden policies. Greene (R-Ga.) made faces and muttered throughout Biden's roughly one hour speech, particularly when he spoke about administering COVID-19 vaccines to children - but Boebert (R-Colo.)

Lauren Boebert heckled Biden at the State of the Union as he talked about his son Beau, who died of brain cancer after serving in Iraq

Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert interrupted President Joe Biden during his State of the Union address on Tuesday as he spoke about how his dead son Beau Biden's death could be linked to burn pit exposure during his deployment to Iraq. "When they came home, many of the world's fittest and best trained warriors were never the same.

State of the Union: Congress overwhelmingly eschews masks after CDC changes guidance

The verdict is in: masks are out. President Biden's first State of the Union of his presidency saw the overwhelming majority of Congress eschew their masks after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) changed their guidance on the subject this week.

AP FACT CHECK: Biden's claims in his State of Union address

The Associated Press is fact-checking President Joe Biden's first State of the Union speech as he grapples with Russia's invasion of Ukraine, a stalled domestic agenda and the lingering COVID-19 pandemic. Some of the claims we've examined: COVID-19 BIDEN: "Severe cases are down to a level not seen since July of last year."

Analysis: Hits and misses from Joe Biden's State of the Union speech

President Joe Biden delivered his first State of the Union address on Tuesday night, a speech that came amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine and lagging poll numbers in advance of the 2022 midterm elections.

Excerpts from President Biden's State of the Union Address as Prepared for Delivery | The White House

Throughout our history we've learned this lesson - when dictators do not pay a price for their aggression, they cause more chaos. They keep moving. And, the costs and threats to America and the world keep rising. That's why the NATO Alliance was created to secure peace and stability in Europe after World War 2.

Biden in State of the Union vows to check Russian aggression, fight inflation

Addressing a concerned nation and anxious world, President Joe Biden vowed in his first State of the Union address Tuesday night to check Russian aggression in Ukraine, tame soaring U.S. inflation and deal with the fading but still dangerous coronavirus.

Republicans leading 'pro-family revolution,' Kim Reynolds says in State of the Union response

Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds argued in a high-profile, prime-time speech Tuesday that Democratic President Joe Biden has taken the country backward for working families like the ones in Iowa.

9 viral moments from Biden's State of the Union address

The roughly hour-long speech was also filled with plenty of humorous or just plain head-scratching moments that lit up social media, with many of Google and Twitter's trends coming from Biden's address or the guests and lawmakers inside the House Chamber. Missed it?

5 takeaways from Biden's State of the Union speech

WASHINGTON - President Joe Biden delivered his State of the Union speech Tuesday night at a perilous time for the U.S. and for his presidency, facing low approval ratings as his party braces for a tough midterm election this fall.

'FUND The Police': Biden Calls For More Police While Promoting His Gun Control Agenda

President Joe Biden spoke out against defunding the police and instead called for more police, better training and increased accountability during Tuesday's State of the Union address. "I know what works: Investing in crime prevention and community police officers who'll walk the beat, who'll know the neighborhood, and who can restore trust and safety," the president said Tuesday.

Kansas, Missouri lawmakers react to President Biden's State of Union address

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Following President Joe Biden's State of Union address , Missouri and Kansas lawmakers reacted to his remarks. Republicans representing Kansas and Missouri slammed Biden following his address. Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley didn't attend President Joe Biden's State of Union address on Tuesday due a COVID-19 vaccine policy that was in place.

Developing . . .