State of the Union 2023: What to know ahead of Biden’s speech

Biden’s speech will be broadcast on all major networks and cable news channels. The White House will also stream it live on YouTube and WhiteHouse.gov/live.

During a press briefing Thursday, Jean-Pierre confirmed that the president would address the economy and infrastructure. In recent speeches, Biden has frequently touted the bipartisan infrastructure act passed in 2021, as well as the sweeping Inflation Reduction Act that became law last year – legislation he’ll likely invoke in his address. Biden may also use his platform to address the debt ceiling debate unfolding in Congress, as House GOP members threaten to refuse to raise the limit. Jean-Pierre said the president will also talk about “how he is optimistic about the future of this country.”

Biden seems unlikely to mention the ongoing saga over classified documents found in his home and office, and he’s not expected to announce whether or not he will run again in 2024.

Since the speech is delivered during a joint session of Congress, all members of the House and Senate are invited – though not required – to attend. Last year, several GOP lawmakers boycotted the event because of the coronavirus testing requirement. And in 2020, a number of Democrats did not attend former President Donald Trump’s speech as he faced an impeachment vote in the Senate.

The president and first lady Jill Biden can invite family members and other guests, who sit with the first lady in her box in the balcony. The White House has yet to announce who will attend, but guests will likely help the president highlight some of the points in his speech. Last year’s guests included the Ukrainian ambassador to the U.S., Oksana Markarova, and Biden’s sister, Valerie Biden Owens.

Members of Congress can also invite guests this year, after coronavirus protocols prevented them from doing so last year. Rep. Steven Horsford (D-Nev.), the chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, invited RowVaughn and Rodney Wells, the mother and stepfather of Tyree Nichols, the Black man who was beaten to death by Memphis police officers earlier this month. And CNN has reported that Rep. Mike McCaul (R-Texas) will bring Roya Rahmani, former Afghanistan ambassador to the U.S., as his guest to draw attention to Biden’s controversial withdrawal of troops from the country.

Sanders, the daughter of former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, served as press secretary under former president Donald Trump for nearly two years, and has been floated as potential Trump running mate in 2024. She is the youngest governor in the U.S., and the first woman to serve as governor in Arkansas.

In a joint statement announcing Sanders’ response, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy touted Sanders as a powerful advocate for conservative values.

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, who gained national attention for her opposition to the Biden administration’s Covid guidelines, spoke for the GOP last year.

Speaking on behalf of the Working Families Party, the first-term representative will use her response to address social security, medicare, abortion and immigration, and will urge Biden to take executive action on progressive priorities like lowering drug costs.

It’s not the first time liberals will deliver a response to a Biden speech. Progressive Reps. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.) and Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) delivered responses to Biden’s speech in 2021 and 2022 respectively.

Tension has been growing between Biden and Congress lately, particularly in the House, where Republicans now hold a slim, five-seat majority. The president’s already icy relationship with Speaker Kevin McCarthy has only become more strained in recent weeks. The California Republican has instructed his party to begin several investigations into Biden administration officials, as well as the president’s son, Hunter Biden. And McCarthy and Biden are currently engaged in a high-stakes, public sparring match over the debt ceiling – though the two men said a recent meeting on the topic went well despite producing little in the way of tangible progress.

Though passing legislation in a divided Congress is an onerous proposition for any sitting president, it will likely prove particularly difficult for the Biden administration as Republicans look to block the president’s agenda ahead of the 2024 presidential election.

Though Biden has yet to officially enter the race, aides to the president have repeatedly said that he plans to run again in 2024. The president is moving like someone gearing up for a campaign, making post-midterm trips to several key states including Arizona, Michigan and Georgia. On Friday, Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris will make a rare joint appearance in Pennsylvania, touting their administration’s accomplishments just days ahead of Biden’s big speech. CNN is reporting that the president will launch his campaign shortly after the State of the Union.