- State of the union style speech to tout his accomplishments
- Includes an appeal to working-class voters on economic recovery plans
- White House announces sweeping plan for childcare and pre-school
There’s no “designated survivor” tonight.
Usually, when the president speaks at a joint session of Congress, all members of the presidential Cabinet attend. Tonight, due to coronavirus phsyical distancing protocols, many members of the Cabinet aren’t there.
There are far fewer people in the chamber today than usual, due to coronavirus restrictions.
The sparse, masked attendees will each have to be doubly aware of their reactions during the speech. TV cameras will now even more easily than usual capture lawmakers’ reactions during such addresses – since there’s no hiding in this crowd.
With so few members in attendance at speech, members realize their reactions will be magnified. Thune told me attendees “have to think about how they want to be perceived to the outside world.”
