Spiegel Stuff: The Hill's 12:30 Report - Sights and sounds from Biden’s State of the Union

TALK OF THE MORNING

Reset. Reset.:

During President Biden’s first State of the Union address, he sought to unify the country at a time when Russian aggression has intensified — and attempted to reignite his legislative agenda ahead of the midterm elections.

NEWS FROM THE ADDRESS:

Antiviral pills will be free at pharmacies for those who test positive for COVID-19: https://cnb.cx/3hySw5m

More free COVID-19 tests: Biden announced that starting next week, Americans can order more free at-home COVID-19 tests. How to order them: https://cnn.it/3sA4Msv

Biden is banning Russian planes from American airspace: "Tonight I am announcing that we will join our allies in closing off American airspace to all Russian flights — further isolating Russia — and adding an additional squeeze on their economy.” https://nbcnews.to/35I0pm6

Biden condemned Russian President Vladimir Putin and projected Western unity: Via The Hill’s Morgan Chalfant and Brett Samuels: https://bit.ly/35HXM3Q

It’s Wednesday. I’m Cate Martel with a quick recap of the morning and what’s coming up. Send comments, story ideas and events for our radar to cmartel@thehill.com — and follow along on Twitter @CateMartel and Facebook.

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PROGRAMMING NOTE: The Hill’s 12:30 Report will not publish tomorrow or Friday for a long weekend. We will be back on Monday. Cheers!

TAKEAWAYS AND REACTIONS:

“[President Biden] claims Western unity as a victory over Putin”
“’I get it’ were the words Biden used to address … inflation.”
“Biden heralds a new COVID-19 dawn, cautiously”
“An attempt to defang GOP attacks”
“High emotions, deep divisions”

Context and details for each from The Hill’s Niall Stanage: https://bit.ly/3tp234h

Five things Biden ~didn’t~ talk about: From The Hill’s Alex Gangitano: https://bit.ly/3C4HA92

The feeling in the room: “[T]here were signs everywhere that the customary speech had found extraordinary times: Russia’s invasion of Ukraine marks the first conventional war in Europe since the Second World War, and no one knows how it will end. That somber reality hung over the outer fanfare of the occasion like an anvil dangling over a Macy’s parade.” More from The Hill’s Mike Lillis and Cristina Marcos: https://bit.ly/3IEilg2

*Cue the womp womp sound*: Centrist Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin (W.Va.) shut down the possibility of reviving Biden’s Build Back Better Act. “I don’t know where that came from,” Manchin said. “Nothing’s changed.” https://bit.ly/3K7HQH5

SIGHTS AND SOUNDS:

The Ukrainian ambassador was first lady Jill Biden’s guest: Via PBS’s Judy Woodruff, here’s a photo of Ukrainian Ambassador Oksana Markarova after Biden recognized her: https://bit.ly/3MkJeZ0

There was a definite color scheme in the chamber: Lots of lawmakers wore blue and yellow in support of Ukraine.

First lady Jill Biden added a nod to Ukraine to her dress: CNN’s Kate Bennett tweeted, “[Jill Biden] had the customized sunflower added to her dress earlier today to honor Ukraine.” Photo of the small detail: https://bit.ly/3vxR4YY

Who was the designated survivor: Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo was selected to miss the address and stay in a secure location. https://yhoo.it/3IEXkBZ

Oh, how often these four are mentioned in the same paragraph: Here’s a photo of Sens. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.,) Mitt Romney (R-Utah), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) chatting before they sat down. Photo: https://bit.ly/3Hz4neb

Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) had an awkward false start: Schumer stood to give Biden a standing ovation, but just a little too early. Watch: https://bit.ly/3IENPml

Masks were optional in the chamber: But as The Huffington Post’s Matt Fuller pointed out, “everyone in the chamber tonight took a COVID test yesterday.” https://bit.ly/3vu4XaD

^ It was a notable sight for the first time since the early 2020 presidential primaries: ABC News’s Mary Bruce tweeted, “Joe Biden now doing what I don't think we've seen him do anywhere as president -- work a crowded room without a mask.” https://bit.ly/3syC4YX

President Biden and retiring Justice Stephen Breyer had a moment before the address: Photo from NBC’s Sahil Kapur: https://bit.ly/3htm3NQ

This was very cute: Biden gave a birthday shoutout to a young boy. Photo of his reaction, via CNN’s Kristin Wilson: https://bit.ly/3MkLsaO

JUSTICE BREYER BECAME A WHOLESOME MEME LAST NIGHT:

ImgFlip

Retiring Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer was thrilled: When President Biden gave a shoutout to Breyer, Breyer was overjoyed. Watch his reaction: https://bit.ly/3Cb7gku

Democratic consultant Tim Hogan tweeted: “pretending to be shocked at my surprise birthday party that i fully put together for myself” Screenshots to complete the meme: https://bit.ly/3MjiaJB

^ Oh and Hogan added the ‘Happy Birthday’ song to the clip: https://bit.ly/3sCAFRr

Mike Inacay, Sen. Brian Schatz’s (D-Hawaii) communications director tweeted: “[insert ‘Is it me? Am I the drama?’ sound].” https://bit.ly/3tlrBiV

THE LATEST IN UKRAINE

Russians reportedly hit a Holocaust memorial:

Via The Washington Post’s Isabelle Khurshudyan, Joyce Sohyun Lee and Miriam Berger, “A Russian missile strike that appeared to target a TV tower in Ukraine’s capital on Tuesday also hit the nearby Babyn Yar Holocaust memorial, the site of a World War II massacre, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Twitter. Five people were killed in the strike, according to Ukrainian officials.” https://wapo.st/3vvxc95

Keep in mind: “Tuesday’s strike was the latest example of what human rights groups have described as indiscriminate attacks by Russian forces. Moscow has said it’s only targeting military infrastructure, but missiles and artillery shells have struck residential areas in Kyiv, Kharkiv and across Ukraine. The strike on the Holocaust memorial carried particular symbolic weight.”

The full story: https://wapo.st/3vvxc95

WHERE THINGS STAND:

“Russian forces remain largely shut out of Kyiv. See how the battle for Ukraine’s capital has progressed.” Maps and explainer from The New York Times: https://nyti.ms/3hzC8RY

LIVE BLOG OF UPDATES FROM UKRAINE:

https://bit.ly/3tpgLs1

Remember the teenager that tracked Elon Musk’s movements? He has a new project now … :

Via The Wall Street Journal’s Ginger Adams Otis, “Jack Sweeney, the Florida teenager who garnered attention for tracking the private jet of Tesla Inc. Chief Executive Elon Musk, is now publicizing the movements of planes owned by Russian oligarchs and aircraft associated with Russian President Vladimir Putin.” https://on.wsj.com/3HBhc7Q

The Twitter accounts: @RUOligarchJets and @Putinjet

LATEST WITH COVID-19

We are in a new phase:

Via The Hill’s Peter Sullivan, “The White House on Wednesday unveiled a plan for fighting COVID-19 in its new phase, with the virus moving from a crisis to a lower-level risk that does not dominate daily life.” https://bit.ly/35plJNB

Timing: “The plan comes as the omicron wave has declined and many are eager to turn the page on the pandemic. President Biden in his State of the Union on Tuesday night said COVID-19 ‘no longer need control our lives’ in this ‘new moment.’”

What to know about the 96-page plan: https://bit.ly/35plJNB

CASE NUMBERS:

Coronavirus cases in the U.S.: 79,099,412

U.S. death toll: 952,759

Breakdown of the numbers: https://cnn.it/2UAgW3y

VACCINATION NUMBERS:

Total number of vaccinations administered in the U.S.: 553 million shots have been given.

Seven-day average of doses administered: An average of 156,773 doses

For context: The U.S. population is roughly 331 million.

Breakdown of the numbers: https://bloom.bg/3iVTPLH

NOTABLE TWEETS:

This is pretty remarkable timing:

Reuters’s James Oliphant tweeted yesterday, “Back in the Reuters DC newsroom for the first time in two years. Quite an odd feeling. Found this can of tuna I had left behind on my desk. Expiration date? March 1, 2022.” Photo of the tuna can: https://bit.ly/3tmBqwT

It’s Ash Wednesday:

President Biden has ashes on his forehead for Ash Wednesday. Photo of Biden outside the White House this morning: https://bit.ly/3pvEXYE

ON TAP:

The House and Senate are in. President Biden is in Wisconsin. Vice President Harris is in North Carolina.

8:30 a.m. EST: Vice President Harris left for Durham, N.C.

9:15 a.m. EST: President Biden received the President’s Daily Brief.

10:15 a.m. EST: President Biden and first lady Jill Biden leave for Wisconsin.

10:25 a.m. EST: Vice President Harris toured Durham Technical Community College in North Carolina.

2:30 p.m. EST: A Senate vote on COVID-19 vaccinations for health care staff. The Senate’s full agenda today: https://bit.ly/3C6UhQA

3:20 p.m. EST: Vice President Harris returns to Washington, D.C.

3:30 – 4:30 p.m. EST: First and last votes in the House. The House’s full agenda: https://bit.ly/3sAtKrT

7:40 p.m. EST: President Biden and first lady Jill Biden return to the White House.

Sunday, March 13: Daylight Savings Time begins.

WHAT TO WATCH:

11 a.m. EST: Vice President Harris delivered remarks on the administration’s investment in workers. Labor Secretary Marty Walsh also spoke. Livestream: https://bit.ly/3vyGiSr

11:30 a.m. EST: White House deputy principal press secretary Karine Jean Pierre speaks with reporters aboard Air Force One. Livestream: https://bit.ly/3IBfBjC

1 p.m. EST: The Hill is hosting a virtual event, “Breaking New Ground: Innovations in Alzheimer’s Research.” Featured speakers: Former National Institutes of Health Director Elias Zerhouni and the Alzheimer’s Association’s Maria Carrillo. Details and livestream: https://bit.ly/3sAAu91

2 p.m. EST: Secretary of State Antony Blinken holds a news conference. Livestream: https://bit.ly/3HB3odz

3:15 p.m. EST: President Biden and first lady Jill Biden deliver remarks in Superior, Wis., on the infrastructure law. Livestream: https://bit.ly/35LgVBO

IN LIGHTER NEWS:

Today is National Banana Cream Pie Day.

And because you read this far, here’s a pretty savvy alarm clock: https://bit.ly/3C9ZFCp