CNN Inside Politics SOTU Comes at Pivotal Time for Trump
Feb 24, 2026
Tina Smith, Minnesota senator focused on Senate strategy and protests, and Jim Jordan, House Judiciary chair known for conservative oversight. They debate whether a long State of the Union can shift Trump's standing. They unpack voters’ focus on the economy, political optics around public events, and the decision by some lawmakers to skip the speech.
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Hockey Visit Turned Political Moment
- Trump visited the U.S. men's hockey locker room after their golden win and joked about bringing the women's team.
- The women's team declined the invitation citing prior commitments, turning a unifying moment political.
Democrats Use Moderate Response To Highlight Affordability
- Democrats picked moderate Abigail Spanberger for the response to project pragmatic, affordability-focused contrast to Trump.
- David Chalian says the choice highlights Democrats' bid to showcase a centrist alternative to Trump's chaos.
Democratic Playbook Balances Presence And Counterprogramming
- Democrats plan counterprogramming and some will skip the chamber to avoid becoming the story.
- Panelists say silence or social-media responses aim to keep focus on Trump's record rather than theatrics.