Thread by @washingtonpost

President Biden opened his State of the Union address with a message touting unity and the power of democracy, setting up a sharp response to Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.

“Freedom will always triumph over tyranny," Biden said. washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/…

Biden went on to say Russian president Vladimir Putin badly misjudged the resolve of U.S. and European allies to counter his aggression, and said the free world would continue to hold Putin accountable for his decision to invade Ukraine. washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/…

Biden: "Six days ago, Russia’s Vladimir Putin sought to shake the very foundations of the free world. ... But he badly miscalculated. … Instead he met with a wall of strength he never anticipated or imagined. He met the Ukrainian people."

President Biden led a standing ovation for the Ukrainian ambassador to the United States, Oksana Markarova.

“Let us, each of us, if you’re able to stand, stand and send an unmistakable signal to the world, and to Ukraine,” Biden said. washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/…

President Biden announces that the U.S. will close its airspace to all Russian airlines.

Biden: “Tonight, I’m announcing that this year we will start fixing over 65,000 miles of highway and 1,500 bridges in disrepair."

Fact Checker: “The single biggest investment in history was a bipartisan effort.”

While certainly the largest packages of infrastructure spending in decades, the infrastructure bill would not qualify as the largest in U.S. history, according to analyses. washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/…

A majority of Supreme Court justices are attending Biden’s first State of the Union address.

Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. was joined by Justices Stephen G. Breyer, Elena Kagan, Brett M. Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett. wapo.st/3Mbbey9

The first boos came as Biden criticized the tax bill signed into law by Trump.

“Unlike the $2 trillion tax cut passed in the previous administration that benefited the top one percent of Americans — ” he said, prompting loud boos from the GOP side. washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/…

The crowd chanted “U.S.A.! U.S.A.!” as Biden spoke about the power of American manufacturing.

“One way to fight inflation is to drive down wages and make Americans poorer. I have a better plan to fight inflation — Lower your costs, not your wages.” washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/…

Biden: “We’re going to go after the criminals who stole billions of relief money meant for small businesses and millions of Americans. And tonight, I’m announcing that the Justice Department will soon name a chief prosecutor for pandemic fraud.”

“Let’s use this moment to reset,” Biden said.

“So stop looking at covid as a partisan dividing line. See it for what it is: A godawful disease. Let’s stop seeing each other as enemies and start seeing each other for who we are: fellow Americans.” washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/…

Biden vowed to fund the police, receiving bipartisan applause.

“The answer is to fund the police,” Biden said. “Fund them! Fund them with resources and training resources and training they need to protect our community.” washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/…

Rep. Lauren Boebert, a critic of Biden’s immigration policies, chanted “Build the wall!” as the president spoke of the southern border.

The chant was drowned out by bipartisan applause for Biden’s comments on immigration. wapo.st/3MfauId

As his remarks neared a close, Biden declared that "the State of the Union is strong because you, the American people, are strong.”

“It is in this moment that our character of this generation is formed, our purpose is found, our future is forged.” washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/…