STATE OF THE UNION

Common Sense or Class Warfare?

By Ron Fournier January 24, 2012

Are we divided, asked Obama. His answer amounted to this: Hell yes, we're divided. Now what are you going to do about it?

Obama Announces New Unit To Investigate Unfair Trade Practices

By George E. Condon Jr. January 24, 2012

Daniels Counters Obama's Take on Rich Republicans

By Julia Edwards January 24, 2012

Graphics

Taking the Stage for Reelection

By Peter Bell

Like his predecessors, President Obama could use his election-year State of the Union address as a launchpad for his campaign.

Obama's Approval: A Year of Ups and Downs

By Julia Edwards

Since his last State of the Union address, President Obama’s job approval has fluctuated on the tumult of the year’s news. Most presidents have enjoyed approval ratings in the 50 percent range during their third year in office, while Obama’s have remained in the 40s.

TECHNOLOGY January 25, 2012

Tech Industry to Washington: It's Your Turn

By Josh Smith

President Obama sounded many of the right notes during Tuesday's State of the Union speech , but continued economic uncertainty and political deadlock has many in the tech industry skeptical of any plans coming out of Washington. Read more »

WHITE HOUSE January 25, 2012

State of the Union: Watch the Moments That Brought Members to Their Feet -- VIDEO

By Theresa Poulson

President Obama on Tuesday called on Congress to work with him to advance his policy agenda. But were they with him? Several times the president brought members from both sides of the aisle to their feet to applaud his mission. Read more »

CAMPAIGN 2012 January 24, 2012

QUICK TAKE: Santorum Criticizes Obama, Says America 'Deserves Better'

By National Journal Staff

President Obama, far from delivering the State of the Union, instead kick-started his reelection campaign on Tuesday, said Republican presidential contender Rick Santorum, who had harsh words for the president. Read more »

ANALYSIS January 24, 2012

Obama’s Message to GOP Rivals: I’m No Sitting Duck

By Jill Lawrence

President Obama's speech itself rang true to his goals, temperament, and political identity. But for anyone who has been paying attention to Republican lawmakers and presidential candidates, it carried a lot of other messages as well. Here’s what Obama said, followed by what he or his strategists may have had in mind. Read more »

January 24, 2012

QUICK TAKE: Gingrich to Obama: You Only Want to Keep Power

By National Journal Staff

President Obama is concerned only about staying in power and keeping money out of the hands of people responsible for jump-starting the economy, Newt Gingrich said in a statement on Tuesday night in reply to the State of the Union. Read more »

ANALYSIS January 24, 2012

In Address, Obama Bets It All On Fairness

By Major Garrett

Everyman. Fair man. Read more »

January 24, 2012

QUICK TAKE: Daniels Counters Obama's Take on Rich Republicans

By Julia Edwards

Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels, in the GOP response to President Obama's State of the Union address, said Republican policies will do more to help the middle-class, poor, and unemployed than those proposed by the administration. Read more »

January 24, 2012

Breaking Down the Speech(es): State of the Union 2012 vs. 2011

By Kenneth Chamberlain

NATIONAL SECURITY: Obama Touts Bin Laden Killing, End Of Iraq War In Speech

By Kevin Baron

Calling for a post-war era of unity and selflessness reportedly not seen since the wake of World War II, President Obama led and closed his State of the Union address with an invocation of the impressive list of national security accomplishments under his watch in the past year. Read more »

WHITE HOUSE January 24, 2012

QUICK TAKE: Rick Santorum Hasn’t Cornered the Market on Rust Belt Outreach

By Jim O'Sullivan

Touting his administration’s “bet on American workers” and nourishment of the domestic auto industry through the Detroit bailout, President Obama early in his State of the Union address on Tuesday night cited cities struggling with post-industrial changes. Read more »

WHITE HOUSE January 24, 2012

Obama Announces New Unit To Investigate Unfair Trade Practices

By George E. Condon Jr.

President Obama announced Tuesday the creation of a Trade Enforcement Unit, singling out China as a country that has had an unfair advantage over American competitors and requires more scrutiny. “I will not stand by when our competitors don’t play by the rules,” the president said in his State of the Union address. The unit is charged with investigating unfair trade practices in countries like China. Senior administration officials said the president acted because there is a backlog of cases involving China but not enough lawyers or investigators to pursue them. Obama claimed his administration has “brought trade cases against China at nearly twice the rate as the last administration – and it’s made a difference.” He cited the case of tires, contending that “over a thousand Americans are working today because we stopped a surge in Chinese tires." Read more »

HEALTH CARE January 24, 2012

HEALTH CARE: Jobs Will Be Hard to Create

By Meghan McCarthy

In an address that barely mentions health care, President Obama hits on the message heard repeatedly from the health care industry: If you want more jobs, don’t cut off federal funding. Read more »

STATE OF THE UNION January 24, 2012

Full Text: State of the Union

Below is the full text of tonight's State of the Union address released by the White House. Read more »

ANALYSIS January 24, 2012

ENVIRONMENT: President Walks a Tightrope on Fossil Fuels

By Coral Davenport

President Obama’s State of the Union proposal to boost new natural-gas drilling on land and increase oil-and-gas drilling offshore will advance a number of his political and policy goals at once. Read more »

TECHNOLOGY January 24, 2012

TECHNOLOGY:Obama Addresses Tech Industry Concerns Over Jobs, Education

By Josh Smith

Revisiting his call from last year for more American innovation and better education, President Obama said on Tuesday that such an America is within reach. Read more »

SEE MORE STORIES