The Fox News Rundown From Washington: The State of the State of the Union
Feb 22, 2026
Shyam Sankar, CTO of Palantir, explains AI deployments that boost productivity and reshape work. Tevi Troy, historian and former White House aide, reflects on the State of the Union’s changing cultural role and lasting constitutional purpose. They discuss AI’s workforce effects, reskilling, broadcast-era spectacle, prediction markets, and how ambition shapes technology’s impact.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
State Of The Union Lost Broadcast Era Reach
- The State of the Union's mass cultural power has declined with TV fragmentation and clip-driven social media consumption.
- Tevi Troy contrasts 60M+ broadcast-era audiences like Clinton/Reagan with modern clip viewership and lost institutional gravity.
Presidential Ubiquity Reduces Ritual Mystery
- A president's constant media presence changes the State of the Union's novelty and impact.
- Troy notes Trump being omnipresent reduces mystery but also makes viewers tune in to expect spectacle or unique moments.
Polymarket Bets Show Gamified Civic Attention
- Betting markets now predict State of the Union viewership, reflecting gamified public attention.
- Troy calls this part of a broader gambling culture and would personally bet the under on 45 million viewers.