You can watch President Barack Obama’s annual State of the Union address right here.
Obama is expected to begin the speech in front of a joint session of Congress at 9 p.m. ET.
See live updates on Obama’s address below:
live blog Oldest Newest Share + Today 11:17 PM ESTObama Warns Lawmakers: Stay Away From Iran Talks HuffPost’s Ali Watkins reports:
President Obama warned lawmakers in his State of the Union address on Tuesday against interfering with his administration’s nuclear negotiations with Iran, promising to veto any new sanctions legislation that makes it to his desk.
“New sanctions passed by this Congress, at this moment in time, will all but guarantee that diplomacy fails — alienating America from its allies and ensuring that Iran starts up its nuclear program again,” Obama said. “It doesn’t make sense. That is why I will veto any new sanctions bill that threatens to undo this progress.”
Read the full story here.
Howard Fineman joins HuffPost Live to weigh in on Sen. Joni Ernst’s Republican rebuttal to the State of the Union. Watch:
Here’s our mash-up of the best moments from tonight’s State of the Union address:
— Amber Ferguson
Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) gives the Republican rebuttal for President Barack Obama’s State of the Union speech. Watch:
The AP fact-checked Obama’s speech here.
President Barack Obama enjoyed a warm embrace with Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on Tuesday, as the commander in chief made his way into the House chamber to deliver the State of the Union.
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HuffPost’s Tyler Kingkade reports:
President Barack Obama didn’t mention college sexual assault during his State of the Union address Tuesday, an issue his administration has highlighted.
In an address that largely focused on economic issues, Obama chose to discuss higher education issues like the cost of a college degree, his free community college plan and simplifying the process of applying for federal financial aid.
The president skipped the chance to address college sexual violence as Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) brought as her guest Columbia University senior Emma Sulkowicz, who has been outspoken in criticizing her school after she reported being raped.
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On HuffPost Live, Howard Fineman and Zach Carter discuss President Barack Obama’s best joke from the State of the Union address.
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Some fun on the floor, as Gillibrand makes a "come onnnnn" hand gesture when the Repubs around her didn't stand for pay equity #SOTU2015
— daveweigel (@daveweigel) January 21, 2015
“To everyone in this Congress who still refuses to raise the minimum wage, I say this: If you truly believe you could work full-time and support a family on less than ,000 a year, go try it,” Obama said. “If not, vote to give millions of the hardest-working people in America a raise.”
“Today, we’re the only advanced country on Earth that doesn’t guarantee paid sick leave or paid maternity leave to our workers. Forty-three million workers have no paid sick leave. Forty-three million. Think about that. And that forces too many parents to make the gut-wrenching choice between a paycheck and a sick kid at home,” Obama said. “So I’ll be taking new action to help states adopt paid leave laws of their own. And since paid sick leave won where it was on the ballot last November, let’s put it to a vote right here in Washington. Send me a bill that gives every worker in America the opportunity to earn seven days of paid sick leave. It’s the right thing to do.”
Obama went back to speaking on Rebekah and Ben, saying for a couple like them, “Friday night pizza is a splurge.”
“Because families like Rebekah’s still need our help. She and Ben are working as hard as ever, but have to forego vacations and a new car so they can pay off student loans and save for retirement,” Obama said.
“Basic childcare for [their children] Jack and Henry costs more than their mortgage, and almost as much as a year at the University of Minnesota,” Obama added. “Like millions of hardworking Americans, Rebekah isn’t asking for a handout, but she is asking that we look for more ways to help families get ahead.”
“We can’t slow down businesses or put our economy at risk with government shutdowns or fiscal showdowns,” Obama said. “We can’t put the security of families at risk by taking away their health insurance, or unraveling the new rules on Wall Street, or refighting past battles on immigration when we’ve got a system to fix. And if a bill comes to my desk that tries to do any of these things, it will earn my veto.”
Many in the chamber gave Obama a standing ovation when he mentioned “ten million uninsured Americans [who] finally gained the security of health coverage” this year.
Obama told the story of Rebekah Erler, a guest of first lady Michelle Obama at the SOTU, and her husband Ben.
“America, Rebekah and Ben’s story is our story. They represent the millions who have worked hard, and scrimped, and sacrificed, and retooled. You are the reason I ran for this office,” Obama said. “You’re the people I was thinking of six years ago today, in the darkest months of the crisis, when I stood on the steps of this Capitol and promised we would rebuild our economy on a new foundation. And it’s been your effort and resilience that has made it possible for our country to emerge stronger.”
“Tonight, for the first time since 9/11, our combat mission in Afghanistan is over. Six years ago, nearly 180,000 American troops served in Iraq and Afghanistan,” Obama said. “Today, fewer than 15,000 remain. And we salute the courage and sacrifice of every man and woman in this 9/11 Generation who has served to keep us safe. We are humbled and grateful for your service.”
“We are fifteen years into this new century. Fifteen years that dawned with terror touching our shores; that unfolded with a new generation fighting two long and costly wars; that saw a vicious recession spread across our nation and the world. It has been, and still is, a hard time for many,” Obama said at the start of his speech. “But tonight, we turn the page.”
Read the president’s full remarks as prepared for delivery here.
President Barack Obama is making his way into the House chamber now.
HuffPost’s Sabrina Siddiqui reports:
The man in charge of keeping House Democratic votes in line isn’t holding out hope that Republicans will actually cooperate with President Barack Obama.
House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) said during an interview ahead of Tuesday night’s State of the Union address that it’s important for Obama to strike a conciliatory tone, but he’s seen little to suggest that Republicans plan to use their majority in both houses of Congress to find areas of common ground.
“The Republicans continue to send messages to their most conservative wing,” Hoyer told HuffPost Live. “If that’s all they’re going to do, we’re not going to go forward very quickly or very successfully.”
Read more here.