Thread by @meganmineiro

Senators will soon cross over to the House chamber where I will be seated in the press gallery for Trump's third #StateOfTheUnion. After weeks of no devices in the Senate press gallery, I will be happily bringing you live updates for @CourthouseNews

@CourthouseNews I will actually be standing, but after weeks of sitting perched over the Senate impeachment trial it will be a welcome mini leg day.

@CourthouseNews House hallways are packed as attendees file into their seats. Just spotted Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, Senator James Lankford and other members, as well as lots of guests including children.

In we go!

Pence and Senate filing in now as they shake hands and exchange hugs with House members leaning over from the aisles.

House Leader Kevin McCarthy joking around with Iowa Senator Joni Ernst.

The House chamber is booming with voices as people get seated but Congressman Jerry Nadler is seated reading a small pamphlet.

Senators still taking their seats, with Ted Cruz at the front of the row headed through the door now.

Gavel sounds and Pelosi’s voice is slowly bringing the voices to a dim hum as conversations in the aisles wrap up. Trump to arrive shortly.

Dan Goldman, the House Dem attorney who questioned witnesses during the impeachments hearings, is on the floor standing behind railings that circle the members desks.

The House managers are seated together for the State of the Union close enough to the front that Trump will certainly spot all 7 in a row as soon as he steps to the pulpit.

Supreme Court justices enter to applause from around the room.

No RBG, but Roberts, Kagan, Gorsuch and Kavanaugh are in attendance. Justices Breyer and Sotomayor not here.

All heads turn as First Lady Melania Trump takes her seat in the balcony.

Cabinets members filing in now through a gantlet of members leaning in for handshakes.

Camera positioned in the aisle now for POTUS arrival.

Trump entering the chamber to the sound of whistles and hoorays from GOP side, behind him McConnell, McCarthy, Grassley, Thune and Barrasso.

Only about half the Democrats are clapping.

SCOTUS Justices, 1 Dem nominee and 3 GOP, with hands clasped in front as Trump steps to the platform.

Chants of “four more years!” as Trump launches into his State of the Union with talk of a thriving economy and respect for the USA.

“The years of economic decay are over,” Trump says and GOP leaps to their feet for another round of applause.

“We have rejected the downsizing of Americans,” gets another rising applause for Trump from GOP.

Trump admin in good spirits—Barr, Pompeo and Mnuchin in the front row with smiles.

Trump claims unemployment for African and Asian Americans is at all time low, Dems respond “nope.”

Dem Senator Kyrsten Sinema rises to clap when Trump says unemployment for disabled Americans is at all time low.

“This is a blue collar boom,” Trump says and GOP again leaps up for a booming applause.

First round the room bipartisan standing ovation goes to Venezuelan President Juan Guaidó.

Smile on Adam Schiff’s face as he applauds 100 year-old Tuskegee Airman Charles McGee and his great-grandson Iain Lanphier.

I was shuffling in the halls earlier behind Janiyah Davis and her mom Stephanie. Both seemed thrilled to be here.

“The only victories that matter in Washington are victories that deliver for the American people.”

Where does impeachment acquittal fall under that?

Chorus of “boos” and “oh come on” from House Democrats as Trump launches into immigration policies including eliminating healthcare for “illegal aliens.”

McConnell laughs as Trump tells Democrats to get a healthcare bill on his desk, they respond chanting HR3 standing with three fingers raised.

Strange. Seated two down from Ivanka is House Democrat attorney Douglas Letter, who argued many lawsuits in D.C. federal court for Democrat subpoenas and access to special grand jury material from the Mueller investigation.

Democrats stunned as Rush Limbaugh gets the presidential Medal of Honor, NOs rising up from the right side of the room as Trump makes the announcement.

Trump gets another brief standing applause from Senator Sinema on child tax credit.

Pompeo smiles and takes a long look at Dems as they clap to Trump’s call for building up America’s infrastructure.

Justices Roberts and Kagan both with a brief small and clap for their SCOTUS bench mates Gosuch and Kavanaugh.

Security tossing out audience member in the gallery who abrasively shouted something in response to Trump saying he protects the Second Amendment.

Representatives Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar have left the chamber. Their fellow #Squad members AOC and Ayanna Pressley boycotted the State of the Union address.

Based on the embargoed transcript of Trump’s state of the union handed out to press, he appears to be on script word for word.

No mention of impeachment.

Trump gets a stabding applause from@about one-third Dems when he says we need to bring our troops back home from the Middle East, but House Foreign affairs chair claps seated.

Spotted one Democrat congresswoman wiping her eyes as Trump surprises military spouse Amy Williams with her husband’s return.

GOP chants USA! USA! and Dems clap.

Caught slight slur there as Trump said “We are the pioneers.”

Trump closes out and seconds later Dems are emptying out of seats.

Trump's spoke for about 1hr 15mins with about a third of that focused on the economy, followed by healthcare, immigration.