President Joe Biden to Address Nation in Crucial State of the Union Address Tuesday Night

President Joe Biden is set to deliver his second State of the Union address Tuesday night at the US Capitol. The speech will provide an opportunity to speak to a politically polarized Capitol Hill and nation, as his administration faces an uncertain economic picture, renewed calls for police reform, a war in Ukraine and escalating tensions with China.

Brian Deese, director of the National Economic Council, said Biden would “acknowledge and meet American people where they are,” realizing their “economic anxiety is real.” A new poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that just a quarter of U.S. adults say things in the country are headed in the right direction.

Biden will confront those sentiments head on, aides say, while at the same time trying to avoid sounding insensitive to Americans’ concerns. He will stand at the House rostrum at a time when Republicans regained control of the House chamber, meaning new Speaker Kevin McCarthy will share the dais with Vice President Kamala Harris and sit directly behind the president.

The president is expected to focus on his plans for the economy, infrastructure, and climate change, as well as his efforts to tackle the coronavirus pandemic. He will also address the nation’s racial divisions, and the need for police reform. Biden will also likely touch on foreign policy, including the war in Ukraine and escalating tensions with China.

The speech will be a crucial moment for Biden, as he looks to rally the nation and demonstrate his leadership and vision for the future. It will also be a key moment for Republicans, who will be watching warily and sizing up Biden’s fitness for a likely reelection bid. The speech is scheduled to begin at 9 p.m. EST.