President Biden previewed an optimistic re-election platform in his State of the Union speech Tuesday — but veered off script to take on rowdy Republicans in a series of confrontations that captured America's political chasm.
Why it matters: Biden used much of his speech to emphasize what Americans can do when they work together — while also baiting Republicans to agree with his push to protect Medicare and Social Security as Congress weighs budget cuts.
The big picture: Republicans were worried about hot mic moments heading into the State of the Union. But it looks like one of those moments was caught on screen.
A 22-year-old Black man filed a lawsuit against the city of Memphis and the five police officers accused of fatally beating Tyre Nichols, saying they assaulted him three days before they beat Nichols in early January.
Why it matters: Monterrious Harris alleges in the lawsuit that the conduct of a now-disbanded special unit formed "a clear pattern" of police abuse and a constitutional violation against Black men in Memphis.
Vice President Kamala Harris on Wednesday praised President Biden's "command" during his State of the Union address despite the "theatrical element" from some Republicans who repeatedly interrupted and heckled him.
The big picture: During his first SOTU as president with a GOP-led House, Biden went off script Tuesday night and took aim at Republicans in a series of confrontations, provoking strong reactions from some of his colleagues across the aisle.
Rep. Nick LaLota (R-N.Y.) called Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) "a sociopath" on CNN Wednesday morning for continuing to seek out attention even as he faces a number of investigations into his background, financial disclosures and campaign finances.
Driving the news: LaLota was asked about Sen. Mitt Romney's (R-Utah) tense exchange with Santos at the State of the Union, in which Romney called him an "ass," per Semafor. Romney later said Santos is "a sick puppy" who shouldn't have been there.
"Mitt Romney is right on this one," LaLota said. "He does not deserve to be in Congress."
Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R-Ark.) delivered the Republican response to President Biden's State of the Union on Tuesday night, ridiculing the president's policies and leadership.
The big picture: Sanders, who served as the White House press secretary for two years during former President Trump's administration, aimed to draw a sharp generational contrast between Biden and the "new generation of Republican leadership."
One of the former Memphis police officers charged in connection with Tyre Nichols' death allegedly took photos of the bloodied and beaten driver and sent it to several people, according to newly released state records.
Details: Demetrius Haley is accused of using his cellphone to take "two photographs while standing in front of the obviously injured" Nichols after he was handcuffed and propped against a police car during the Jan. 7 incident, per the documents obtained by the New York Times.
President Biden made unity the focal point of his State of the Union address to a newly divided Congress on Tuesday night even while using the speech as a traditional victory lap.
Driving the news: "I promised to be the president for all Americans. We’ll fund your projects. And I’ll see you at the ground-breaking," the president said in touting passage of the bipartisan infrastructure deal.
A tense State of the Union address on Tuesday was punctuated by subtle swipes at the GOP by President Biden and raucous disruptions by Republican lawmakers.
Why it matters: It underscores the tense relationship between Biden and Republican lawmakers as Washington kicks off two years of divided control and stares down potential crises on the debt ceiling and government funding.
President Biden asked Congress to “do something” about police reform during his State of the Union speech Tuesday night, once again signaling that Democrats have no clear path forward on this issue even after 29-year-old Tyre Nichols’ death in Memphis, Tennessee.
Why it matters: Congress isn’t going to pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act and there’s so far no alternative bipartisan legislation being discussed.
Several more Memphis Police Department officers are being investigated in connection with a traffic stop on Tyre Nichols, a 29-year-old Black man who died days after being beaten during the Jan. 7 incident.
Driving the news: City chief legal officer Jennifer Sink said Tuesday that in addition to the six police officers "who have received disciplinary action resulting in termination," an additional seven officers were under investigation in connection with the incident.
