Thread by @business

President Biden is scheduled to deliver his first #SOTU address to Congress tonight at 9 p.m. ET.

Follow along for live coverage now ⬇️ bloom.bg/3psKLC8

For #SOTU updates in DC, follow our @bpolitics team here ⬇️ twitter.com/i/lists/171740…

WATCH: Biden will deliver his first #SOTU address, set against the turmoil of Russia invading Ukraine, surging inflation, deadlock over his domestic legislative agenda, and lingering effects of the pandemic bloom.bg/3psKLC8 twitter.com/i/broadcasts/1…

Biden will announce that U.S. airspace is being closed to Russian airlines in his #SOTU address, according to two people familiar with the government’s decision trib.al/xb4Foxn

Ukraine Ambassador Oksana Markarova will join first lady Jill Biden, offering a high-profile display of solidarity bloom.bg/3psKLC8

Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo isn’t at the Capitol for Biden’s #SOTU, taking the role known as designated survivor bloom.bg/3psKLC8

Lawmakers dress in blue and yellow at #SOTU in support of Ukraine bloom.bg/3psKLC8

Speaker Pelosi welcomes Biden into the House chamber: "I have the high privilege and the distinct honor of presenting to you the President of the United States" bloom.bg/3psKLC8

"Last year COVID-19 kept us apart. This year we are finally together again," Biden starts his speech to applause, with a theme of unity bloom.bg/3psKLC8

In his opening sentences, Biden criticizes Putin's invasion of Ukraine, saying the Russian president "miscalculated" bloom.bg/3psKLC8

Biden praises the Ukrainian resistance, calling them a "wall of strength [that Putin] never imagined" bloom.bg/3psKLC8

Biden reiterates his commitment to NATO: "I have made crystal clear the United States and our Allies will defend every inch of territory of NATO countries with the full force of our collective power" bloom.bg/3psKLC8

"Let us continue to draw inspiration from the iron will of the Ukrainian people," Biden says.

"Putin may circle Kyiv with tanks, but he will never gain the hearts and souls of the Ukrainian people" bloom.bg/3psKLC8

Biden: "When the history of this era is written Putin’s war on Ukraine will have left Russia weaker and the rest of the world stronger" bloom.bg/3psKLC8

Biden is met with boos and cheers as he references Trump tax breaks before touting his own agenda: "The American Rescue Plan helped working people—and left no one behind" bloom.bg/3psKLC8

Biden brings his focus back to China and his plans to "transform America" and put the country "on a path to win the economic competition of the 21st Century that we face with the rest of the world" bloom.bg/3psKLC8

Biden's #SOTU plans by the numbers bloom.bg/3psKLC8
➡️ Building national network of 500,000 electric vehicle charging stations
➡️ Fixing over 65,000 miles of highway and 1,500 bridges in disrepair

Biden said that his top priority will be controlling inflation, which has surged to the fastest in four decades, undermining support for the administration despite a rapid economic recovery trib.al/4XckGdy

Biden pledges to cut the cost of child care.

"Many families pay up to $14,000 a year for child care per child," Biden says, before sharing his own experience raising children as a single father for 5 years, with "lots of help" bloom.bg/3psKLC8

Biden says his plan will cut the cost in half of childcare for most families and help parents, including millions of women, who left the workforce during the pandemic bloom.bg/3psKLC8

Biden sought to rebrand his spending package, formerly known as “Build Back Better,” into a proposal he’s calling “Building a Better America” bloom.bg/3psKLC8

"One way to fight inflation is to drive down wages and make Americans poorer," Biden says. "I have a better plan to fight inflation" bloom.bg/3psKLC8

"While you're at it, confirm my nominees for the Federal Reserve," Biden tells Congress, saying it will help battle inflation bloom.bg/3psKLC8

Biden's #SOTU plans by the numbers bloom.bg/3psKLC8
➡️ "Nobody earning less than $400,000 a year will pay an additional penny in new taxes. Nobody."
➡️ A 15% minimum tax rate for corporations
➡️ More than 130 countries agree to a global minimum tax rate

Biden says Covid-19 should no longer control Americans' lives.

"I know some are talking about 'living with COVID-19,'" Biden says. His response ⬇️ bloom.bg/3psKLC8

Biden weighs in on the work from home debate: "It’s time for Americans to get back to work and fill our great downtowns again. People working from home can feel safe to begin to return to offices" bloom.bg/3psKLC8

Biden addresses the Senate to pass key legislation from his agenda: "Pass the Freedom to Vote Act. Pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act. And while you’re at it, pass the Disclose Act so Americans can know who is funding our elections" bloom.bg/3psKLC8

Biden thanks retiring Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer and discusses his nomination of Ketanji Brown Jackson bloom.bg/3psKLC8

Biden is met with "Build the wall" chants after touching on his immigration policy: "If we are to advance liberty and justice, we need to secure the Border and fix the immigration system" bloom.bg/3psKLC8

In light of new restrictive anti-abortion laws in states and an upcoming Supreme Court debate, Biden reaffirms his support for Roe v. Wade and the woman's right to choose, as well as better maternal health care in America bloom.bg/3psKLC8

Biden pushes Congress to protect LGBTQ Americans: "Let’s finally get the bipartisan Equality Act to my desk. The onslaught of state laws targeting transgender Americans and their families is wrong" bloom.bg/3psKLC8

"While it often appears that we never agree, that isn’t true," Biden says, furthering his idea of unity.

"I signed 80 bipartisan bills into law last year" bloom.bg/3psKLC8

Biden cites the bipartisan Violence Against Women Act bill.

"It is important for us to show the nation that we can come together and do big things" bloom.bg/3psKLC8

Another high profile #SOTU guest is Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen.

Biden says social media platforms must be held "accountable for the national experiment they’re conducting on our children for profit" bloom.bg/3psKLC8

Biden ends on a note of strength and optimism for the future of America.

"We are stronger today than we were a year ago. And we will be stronger a year from now than we are today" bloom.bg/3psKLC8

Gov. Kim Reynolds responds to Biden's #SOTU speech bloom.bg/3psKLC8

Reynolds says Biden's #SOTU speech doesn't reflect America in reality: "His actions over the past few months don't match the rhetoric" bloom.bg/3psKLC8

The past year has shown Americans "what conservative leadership looks like," Reynolds says in her #SOTU rebuttal bloom.bg/3psKLC8

"Republicans may not have the White House" but are doing what they can to "fill the leadership vacuum," Reynolds says in her #SOTU rebuttal bloom.bg/3psKLC8

Biden's unity plea in his #SOTU address collides with the reality of a bitterly divided U.S. bloomberg.com/news/articles/…

If you're wondering why #SOTU addresses (including Biden's) always turn into bland laundry lists, @jbview has the answer bloomberg.com/opinion/articl… via @bopinion