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State of the Union: Abrams delivers Democratic response to Trump – live State of the Union: Trump attacks Democrats and Mueller in divisive speech – live
(35 minutes later)
In an interview with Sean Hannity on Fox News, Eric Trump says tonight was “the best speech [his father] had ever given.”
If you need a easy summary of reactions tonight, this is a good one.
Republican and a Democrat meet in Statuary Hall.GOP Rep: Greatest speech everDem Rep: Worst speech ever
Regardless of the reactions to the State of the Union, Republicans had one guaranteed win, picking up a previously Democratic state senate seat in a special election in Minnesota. The seat had been won twice by Barack Obama but Donald Trump won it in 2016.
We've updated the @DKElections special elections tracker with the results from MN #SD11, which the GOP picked up by a 52-46 margin. While that spread was 7% better than Hillary Clinton's performance, it was a steep (18%) plunge from Obama '12: https://t.co/qKXCHN4Cfj
Joe Kennedy III who gave the Democratic response last year, tweeted his thoughts on the speech tonight.
President Trump’s real record wasn’t on that teleprompter tonight. It is etched in the experiences of the people he has scapegoated, excluded, targeted and ignored over the past two years.
In an interview with MSNBC, Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota announced that she would make a decision about running for President on Sunday at an event in Minneapolis. Klobuchar would be the fourth female senator to join the 2020 Democratic presidential primary.
I’m making a big announcement on Sunday. Join me there: https://t.co/Hz91NGE8hB pic.twitter.com/7Yz1dgaa31
Trump fell just short of Bill Clinton’s record for the longest State of the Union address ever. Clinton spoke for 89 minutes in 2000 and Trump spoke for 83 minutes tonight, just edging his 82 minute speech in 2018.
Delaware Democrat Chris Coons had an interesting response to Trump’s speech tonight
“It was a slap in the face with an olive branch,” Sen. Chris Coons says of Trump’s #SOTU speech
The Republican National Committee has issued its formal response to Abrams.
“With extreme policies and an anti-free market agenda, Stacey Abrams was rejected by her home state of Georgia last November. Tonight, Abrams’ speech for a national audience replayed the same broken ideas that capsized her failed campaign. While President Trump outlined a unifying agenda to advance America’s progress, Democrats are still living in the past, mourning Abrams’ loss.”
Stacey Abrams’s response is getting good reviewsStacey Abrams’s response is getting good reviews
As rebuttals go, solid by @staceyabrams. No regrettable moments, gaffes or "they're laughing at you not with you" episodes. Lot of political skill.As rebuttals go, solid by @staceyabrams. No regrettable moments, gaffes or "they're laughing at you not with you" episodes. Lot of political skill.
Responses are hard, so it counts as a win just to get through without anything meme-able. Mission accomplished.Responses are hard, so it counts as a win just to get through without anything meme-able. Mission accomplished.
There's a laundry list feel to this Abrams speech. Otoh there was one to the SOTU and she is, again, doing better than just about anyone else who's given these.There's a laundry list feel to this Abrams speech. Otoh there was one to the SOTU and she is, again, doing better than just about anyone else who's given these.
Abrams chastises Trump once againAbrams chastises Trump once again
So even as I am very disappointed by the president’s approach to our problems – I still don’t want him to fail. But we need him to tell the truth, and to respect his duties and the extraordinary diversity that defines America.So even as I am very disappointed by the president’s approach to our problems – I still don’t want him to fail. But we need him to tell the truth, and to respect his duties and the extraordinary diversity that defines America.
Abrams does use particular language talking about “eligible citizens” after her Republican opponent attacked her last year for claiming she wanted undocumented immigrants to vote.Abrams does use particular language talking about “eligible citizens” after her Republican opponent attacked her last year for claiming she wanted undocumented immigrants to vote.
This is the next battle for our democracy, one where all eligible citizens can have their say about the vision we want for our country.This is the next battle for our democracy, one where all eligible citizens can have their say about the vision we want for our country.
Abrams, who lost a tight race in Georgia with accusations of malfeasance against her opponent, now focuses on voting rights.Abrams, who lost a tight race in Georgia with accusations of malfeasance against her opponent, now focuses on voting rights.
Voter suppression is real. From making it harder to register and stay on the rolls to moving and closing polling places to rejecting lawful ballots, we can no longer ignore these threats to democracyVoter suppression is real. From making it harder to register and stay on the rolls to moving and closing polling places to rejecting lawful ballots, we can no longer ignore these threats to democracy
Abrams now attacks Trump’s desire for a border wall and insists Democrats do not support “open borders.”Abrams now attacks Trump’s desire for a border wall and insists Democrats do not support “open borders.”
We know bipartisanship could craft a 21st century immigration plan, but this administration chooses to cage children and tear families apart. Compassionate treatment at the border is not the same as open borders. President Reagan understood this. President Obama understood this. Americans understand this. And Democrats stand ready to effectively secure our ports and borders. But we must all embrace that from agriculture to healthcare to entrepreneurship, America is made stronger by the presence of immigrants – not walls.We know bipartisanship could craft a 21st century immigration plan, but this administration chooses to cage children and tear families apart. Compassionate treatment at the border is not the same as open borders. President Reagan understood this. President Obama understood this. Americans understand this. And Democrats stand ready to effectively secure our ports and borders. But we must all embrace that from agriculture to healthcare to entrepreneurship, America is made stronger by the presence of immigrants – not walls.
Abrams now attacks the Trump tax cut.Abrams now attacks the Trump tax cut.
The Republican tax bill rigged the system against working people. Rather than bringing back jobs, plants are closing, layoffs are looming and wages struggle to keep pace with the actual cost of living.The Republican tax bill rigged the system against working people. Rather than bringing back jobs, plants are closing, layoffs are looming and wages struggle to keep pace with the actual cost of living.
Abrams now hits two key Democratic priorities, the need for increased gun control legislation as well to control the cost of higher education.Abrams now hits two key Democratic priorities, the need for increased gun control legislation as well to control the cost of higher education.
Abrams now attacks Trump as was previewed in an excerpt released before the speech.Abrams now attacks Trump as was previewed in an excerpt released before the speech.
The shutdown was a stunt engineered by the President of the United States, one that defied every tenet of fairness and abandoned not just our people - but our values.The shutdown was a stunt engineered by the President of the United States, one that defied every tenet of fairness and abandoned not just our people - but our values.
She contrasts this with her experience in Georgia and a call for bipartisanship.She contrasts this with her experience in Georgia and a call for bipartisanship.
We may come from different sides of the political aisle; but, our joint commitment to the ideals of this nation cannot be negotiable.We may come from different sides of the political aisle; but, our joint commitment to the ideals of this nation cannot be negotiable.
Abrams starts by describing her blue collar background, saying “These were our family values – faith, service, education and responsibility.”Abrams starts by describing her blue collar background, saying “These were our family values – faith, service, education and responsibility.”
Stacey Abrams, the losing Democratic candidate for Governor in Georgia, is now beginning her response.
If I had not been elected President of the United States, we would right now, in my opinion, be in a major war with North Korea.
This is one of Trump’s bolder claims. It is a bit of a stretch. Tensions were building steadily over decades, particularly since the first North Korean nuclear test in 2006. There were four tests during the Obama administration, and one during the Trump era, in September 2017.
But the standoff came to the brink as a result of Trump’s rhetoric in late 2017 became as heated as Pyongyang’s, threatening to destroy the country with “fire and fury”.At the start of 2018, Kim Jong-un, declared that the mission to produce a viable nuclear arsenal, and that the regime would henceforward pivot towards the economy. There have been no nuclear or missile tests since. It is unknowable to what extent this pause is due to Trump’s threats and to the international sanctions on Pyongyang.
Many North Korean experts have said that regime’s goal was to build a nuclear arsenal to guarantee its survival, and then negotiate with the West from a position of strength.
President Trump’s proposal to end transmission of HIV by 2030 with a new initiative comes amid criticism of the administration’s efforts to curtail LGBT rights.
“The American public deserves a real commitment from their government to end the HIV epidemic,” said David Stacy, director of government affairs with the Human Rights Campaign.
“If this administration wants to combat the spread of HIV, they need to immediately end their efforts to cut Medicaid funding, undermine the Affordable Care Act, and license discrimination against communities most impacted by HIV. When it comes to public health, we cannot afford any more harmful attacks and empty promises from this president.”
About 47,500 people are newly infected with HIV each year, according to the CDC, two-thirds of whom are gay men. About 8% are injection drug users. Roughly 1.1 million Americans live with HIV/AIDS.
The initiative reportedly comes at the urging of US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention director Dr. Robert Redfield, who was a controversial HIV researcher before leading the department.
The Trump administration has often worked to undermine programs many say are critical to stopping the spread of HIV. For example, the administration proposed cutting funds to a successful anti-AIDS program called Pepfar, and worked to gut Medicaid, a public health insurance program for the poor and disabled which HIV/AIDS patients disproportionately rely on.
After a long speech, Trump finishes and works his way out of the House chamber
Trump ends on an optimistic note as the closing rhetoric is far more poetic than the rest of the speech.
We must keep America first in our hearts. We must keep freedom alive in our souls. And we must always keep faith in America’s destiny -- that one Nation, under God, must be the hope and the promise and the light and the glory among all the nations of the world!
As the speech ends, Trump pivots back to the beginning and asks once again for America to “choose greatness.”
This is the time to re-ignite the American imagination. This is the time to search for the tallest summit, and set our sights on the brightest star. This is the time to rekindle the bonds of love and loyalty and memory that link us together as citizens, as neighbors, as patriots.
This is our future -- our fate -- and our choice to make. I am asking you to choose greatness.
Congress has broken out into a rendition of Happy Birthday for Judah Samet, a survivor of the Holocaust and the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting who turned 81 today.
Trump ad libs afterwards “they wouldn’t do that for me.”
Trump now details negotiations with the Taliban in Afghanistan
I have also accelerated our negotiations to reach a political settlement in Afghanistan. Our troops have fought with unmatched valor -- and thanks to their bravery, we are now able to pursue a political solution to this long and bloody conflict.
Trump now describes his foreign policy as “principled realism.”
Trump takes a pointed shot at those on the far left of the Democratic Party.
Here, in the United States, we are alarmed by new calls to adopt socialism in our country. America was founded on liberty and independence –- not government coercion, domination, and control. We are born free, and we will stay free. Tonight, we renew our resolve that America will never be a socialist country.