(Barak Ravid) President Trump said in his State of the Union speech on Tuesday that he prefers a diplomatic solution to the crisis with Iran, but at the same time laid out a case for a potential war against the Islamic Republic. Why it matters: Trump’s remarks about Iran were relatively short and were not the center part of his speech, but it was the first time he detailed the reasons that led him to consider launching a military campaign. – Trump says he prefers diplomacy with Iran, but lays case for war
(Josephine Walker) President Trump’s State of the Union speech set a new record Tuesday for the longest address to Congress, at 108 minutes — eight longer than his 100 minute speech in 2025. The big picture: The annual speech has stretched to ever longer lengths in recent years, not just because of the address but from frequent interruptions — applause, heckling — from spectators. – Trump sets new record for SOTU speech length
(Courtenay Brown) President Trump said on Tuesday he believes tariff revenues could one day “replace” U.S. income tax, the government’s primary revenue source. Why it matters: Customs duties fall well short of the trillions of dollars that Americans pay in taxes each year — income taxes generated roughly 13 times more revenue than tariffs did in the latest fiscal year. – Trump promised to replace taxes with tariffs. Here’s what it would cost
(Andrew Solender) Almost from the moment Trump entered the House chamber Tuesday night to deliver his State of the Union address, Democrats began to disrupt. It only deteriorated from there. Why it matters: It’s the new normal for presidential speeches to Congress, with Republicans heckling Democratic presidents and vice versa. – Democrats defy their leaders by relentlessly disrupting Trump SOTU speech
