Thread by @DoorstepPodcast

Narrative themes from @POTUS #SOTU: A 🧵... Connecting to the work done by the U.S. Global Engagement project of @carnegiecouncil ... 1/

The "democratic community" narrative. In speaking about confronting Putin, @POTUS cited creation of a "coalition of other freedom-loving nations from Europe and the Americas to Asia and Africa." 2/

But to reassure Americans about his commitment to a foreign policy for the middle class, "I will use every tool at our disposal to protect American businesses and consumers." 3/

Domestic rejuvenation at home as way to compete w/ China: "We’re going to have an infrastructure decade. It is going to transform America and put us on a path to win the economic competition of the 21st Century that we face with the rest of the world—particularly with China." 4/

But a nod to the climate narrative in that. 5/

Back to the domestic rejuvenation (with a nod to reshoring and limiting supply chain vulnerabilities)--asking Congress to pass legislation for "record investments in emerging technologies and American manufacturing." 6/

Then he makes it explicit: "instead of relying on foreign supply chains, let’s make it in America." 7/

If we have to assess, it seems that tonight, the domestic rejuvenation narrative as basis for U.S. global engagement was the main theme, alongside containing and beating back the Russia challenge--itself couched in more "restorationist" language. 8/

For a discussion of the narratives the @carnegiecouncil project identified, a link to our report: END carnegiecouncil.org/publications/a…