The State of the Union is....

WASHINGTON, D.C. – As a bitterly divided nation anticipates President Joe Biden's State of the Union address tonight, all eyes are on Capitol Hill where the President is set to deliver his formal address to Congress with a migration crisis of his own making at the border, escalating violence brought on by economic strife, and an economy held together by energy production and deficit spending.  

Earlier this year, Biden said that Jan. 6 2021, marked a moment where “we nearly lost America — lost it all.” He said the presidential race — a likely rematch with Trump, who is the far and away GOP frontrunner — is “all about” whether American democracy will survive.

That speech, the president’s first political event of the election year, was intended to clarify the expected choice for voters this fall. Biden, who reentered political life because he felt he was best capable of defeating Trump in 2020, believes focusing on defending democracy to be central to persuading voters to reject Trump once again.

It seems there are two audiences for Biden; Americans who support his policies and his socialist views and the insurrectionists who are a threat to his brand of democracy.

The State of the Union address, a tradition dating back to George Washington's presidency, serves as a crucial moment for the President to outline his administration's priorities, achievements, and vision for the future.

Originating from Article II, Section 3 of the United States Constitution, which mandates that the President "shall from time to time give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union," this annual speech has evolved into a significant event on the political calendar.

Throughout history, Presidents have utilized the State of the Union address as a platform to communicate with the American people, shape public opinion, and advance their policy agendas. It has often been employed as a tool for reelection campaigns, with Presidents using the speech to highlight their achievements and outline their plans for the future in a bid to garner support from voters.

In previous State of the Union addresses, President Biden has emphasized the need for unity and cooperation to address the nation's most pressing issues. In his first address to a joint session of Congress in April 2021, President Biden spoke about the COVID-19 pandemic, economic recovery, racial justice, and climate change, calling for bipartisan action to tackle these challenges.

"We have stared into an abyss of insurrection and autocracy – of pandemic and pain – and ‘We the People’ did not flinch," President Biden remarked in his 2021 address. "We must meet this moment as the United States of America. If we do that, I guarantee you, we will not fail."

According to CNN, the president is expected to go much further than he is used to in bashing corporations for gouging consumers and racking up profits. But with anger about rising prices driving so much of the bad vibes surrounding the economy, Biden is going where he long resisted, in an effort to redirect the fury that has been weighing him down in the polls.

In a country of 50 states, glued together by a federal government that sometimes seems far away and out of touch, the State of the Union address serves as a reminder of the interconnectedness of our nation and the importance of collective action in shaping our shared future. As President Biden takes the podium tonight, he will have the opportunity to inspire the American people, unite the country, and set the course for the year ahead.