President Biden will deliver his first address to the US Congress on Tuesday during a difficult period that some of his closest advisers called the most important moment of his presidency.
In his speech, Mr. Biden is expected to strike a balance between addressing immediate challenges – the Supreme Court nomination and his administration’s response to the escalating war in Ukraine – and assessing his progress in addressing long-term challenges, such as the Covid-19 pandemic. and the resulting economic problems.
Among them, the president is expected to speak about rising inflation and highlight his administration’s efforts to ease the pressure on consumers and businesses suffering from global supply chain bottlenecks and other disruptions.
The performance is scheduled for 9 p.m. ET.
How to watch
The New York Times will broadcast the speech on nytimes.com with reporters live.
How will legislators respond?
After the president’s speech, Kim Reynolds, Governor of Iowa, will deliver the traditional rebuttal to the Republicans.
A vocal opponent of the president’s public health policies, Ms. Reynolds has worked to weather resistance to indoor mask-wearing and other pandemic-related restrictions that have been put in place under former President Donald J. Trump, especially in Iowa public schools.
In an unusual turn of events, the progressive wing of Mr. Biden’s own party will also issue a separate response in the form of Michigan Representative Rashida Tlaib.
Ms. Tlaib and other progressive Democrats are increasingly at odds with the White House, culminating in a clash over Mr. Biden’s infrastructure bill, which Ms. Tlaib and her allies say was passed at the expense of broader social policies. and climate change priorities. .
Another Democrat, Representative Colin Allred of Texas, is also expected to respond on behalf of the black caucus in Congress.
What will the stage look like?
Unlike the first joint address to Congress that Mr. Biden delivered just months after being sworn in last year, all members of Congress were invited to speak, reflecting positive trends in the pandemic. Lawmakers will also have the option to attend without masks if they are fully vaccinated or test negative for Covid, according to new guidance released Sunday by the Capitol’s attending physician.