As Russian troops invade Ukraine and inflation continues to put pressure on the economy, President Joe Biden will address the nation Tuesday evening in his first State of the Union address.
The speech comes at a time where Biden faces low approval ratings and growing voter frustration, after over two years of COVID-19 pandemic-induced stress and division. And while the president might prefer to be talking about updates to his economic agenda, the situation in Ukraine will likely dominate the address.
When does the 2022 State of the Union address air?
Biden is scheduled to begin his address shortly after 9 p.m. ET. The speech, historically, has lasted for about an hour, but in recent years that time has extended closer to 90 minutes.
Where can I watch the 2022 State of the Union?
The address will be widely covered by all major broadcast networks and cable news channels, each airing it live and having plenty of analysis before and after the speech. Networks won’t begin their coverage until 9:00 p.m. ET, but cable channels will begin focused coverage earlier.
CNBC will begin its coverage at 8:00 p.m. ET. CNN will air Anderson Cooper, as usual, at that time. And Fox will air Tucker Carlson. Expect both to focus on the speech, though.
How can I watch the State of the Union for free if I don’t have cable?
The best way to watch any network-aired program for free on a big screen is with a good HD antenna. The 2022 joint address to Congress will be broadcast by ABC, CBS, NBC, PBS, and Fox—meaning you’re almost certainly going to be able to find at least one channel airing it with a strong signal over the air. Be sure to test the antenna in multiple locations in your home to find the most reliable signal.
Can I stream the State of the Union live online?
Yes, on pretty much any service you can imagine.
ABC
You can log into ABCNews.com to watch the address. The ABC News Facebook page will also carry the address.
CBS
CBSN, the network’s online streaming news service, will carry the speech. You can also watch on the CBS News Facebook page. And the CBS News livestream on YouTube will carry the State of the Union as well.
FOX
You can either log into Fox.com to watch the address or use the Fox Now app.
NBC
Free options include NBCNews.com, MSNBC.com, and the NBC News app, which will all simulcast the address. You can also watch it live on the Facebook page of NBC News
PBS
The PBS Newshour livestream on YouTube will carry the address.
CNN
Video coverage will stream on the CNN.com homepage and can be watched on the CNNGo streaming service. (You’ll need to log in with your cable or satellite subscription for that service, though.)
MSNBC
Watch the address on the network’s website. (Sign-in required.)
Fox News
Live coverage will begin at FoxNews.com at 9:00 p.m. ET, but you’ll need to sign in first.
C-Span
The network will broadcast the address live on its website and take calls from viewers following the speech.
White House
The website of the president’s residence and workplace will air a livestream on its official website, on Twitter (both the @WhiteHouse and @Potus accounts) and on Facebook.
Looking for a more complete streaming option that extends beyond the State of the Union? Try these:
Hulu with Live TV
You can try the service free for a week. Once that’s up, you’ll pay $65 per month.
YouTube TV
After a two-week trial, you can expect monthly charges of $65.
Sling TV
Dish Network’s Sling lower-tiered Orange plan will run you $35 per month. Adding the more comprehensive Blue plan bumps the cost to $50 per month. You’ll have a seven-day free trial first, and right now, the cord-cutting service is dropping the first month’s bill to $10.
AT&T TV
Formerly known as DirecTV Now and AT&T TVNow, AT&T’s streaming service will run you $70 per month and up. There is no longer a free trial option.
Why is this Biden’s first State of the Union?
To deliver a State of the Union address, a president has to have been in office for a full year. Last year, the event was simply referred to as President Biden addresses a joint session of Congress.
What will President Biden discuss in the 2022 State of the Union?
The Russian invasion of Ukraine will likely be front and center this year, with Biden discussing the war’s impact on and threat to Western nations, and inflation in the U.S., which is at a 40-year high, will also be a prominent topic, as Biden is expected to discuss how he will lower costs and boost supply chains.
Expect Biden to talk up Ketanji Brown Jackson, his nomination to replace retiring Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer. And the state of the pandemic and what comes next are likely to factor in as well.
Who is giving the Republican response to the 2022 State of the Union?
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds will offer the Republican response following Biden’s address. She took office in 2017 and has been a vocal opponent of COVID guidelines, repealing her state’s mask mandates. She has been mentioned as a possible running mate for Donald Trump in 2024.
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