The Morning Meeting "Best Speech EVER!" MAGA Goes Wild for Trump Speech as Democrats, AOC's "Squad" Members, Jeer
Feb 25, 2026
Mike Lawler, New York congressman focused on district policy and oversight. Melissa DeRosa, former senior political operative with sharp Democratic analysis. They break down reactions to the State of the Union, debate housing and reconciliation prospects, discuss congressional stock trading reform, and tackle Iran, Epstein-related politics, and China influence in the Western Hemisphere.
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State Of The Union Was A Rorschach Test
- The State of the Union functioned as a Rorschach test that reinforced preexisting views rather than changing many minds.
- Mark Halperin, Melissa DeRosa, and Rep. Mike Lawler agreed it energized supporters and provided few net polling gains, but supplied GOP messaging fodder like the standing-for-Americans moment.
Theater Turned Into Political Weapon
- The speech's theatrical moment — asking who would stand for prioritizing American citizens over illegal immigrants — was engineered to create a viral visual and political test.
- Mark Halperin and Mike Lawler said the staged pause and reaction-making framed Trump as capturing the center on an issue that polls extremely high.
Don't Tell Voters Everything Is Fine
- Avoid claiming total victory on the economy when many voters still feel strain; temper triumphalism with acknowledgment of lingering problems.
- Melissa DeRosa warned overstating economic success risks backlash from voters who feel disconnected from Washington.