State of the Union: Biden rebukes Putin, offers 'unity agenda'

"We are stronger today than we were a year ago," the president said.

ByMeredith Deliso and Ivan Pereira
Last Updated: April 6, 2022, 10:13 AM EDT

President Joe Biden delivered his first State of the Union address as Russian strikes were killing civilians, forces were massing near Ukraine's capital Kyiv and Russian President Vladimir Putin showed no sign of backing down.

Latest headlines:

Here is how the news is developing today. All times Eastern. Check back for updates.
Mar 01, 2022, 5:20 PM EST

Biden says he'll discuss 'determination' to keep allies on same page over Russian sanctions

President Joe Biden told reporters he plans to talk during his address about his "determination to see to it" that Western allies are "on the exact same page" over sanctions against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.

"Because that’s the one thing that gives us power to impose severe consequences on Putin for what he’s done and one of the few things that I’m confident he’s going to have think twice about, long term, as this continues to bite," Biden said during a lunch with network TV anchors Tuesday.

"It’s the unity of NATO and the West," he added.

-ABC "World News Tonight" anchor David Muir

Mar 01, 2022, 5:15 PM EST

Judge Jackson won't be attending: Sources

Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, President Joe Biden's nominee for the U.S. Supreme Court, will not attend the State of the Union in person, ABC News has confirmed.

The president is expected to acknowledge the historic nomination in the speech, sources said. If confirmed, Jackson would be the first African American woman on the high court.

PHOTO: Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson makes remarks after President Joe Biden introduced her as his nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court during an event in the Cross Hall of the White House, Feb. 25, 2022.
Ketanji Brown Jackson, circuit judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, makes brief remarks after President Joe Biden introduced her as his nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court during an event in the Cross Hall of the White House, Feb. 25, 2022. Pending confirmation, Judge Brown Jackson would succeed retiring Associate Justice Stephen Breyer and become the first-ever Black woman to serve on the high court.
Drew Angerer/Getty Images

-ABC News' Devin Dwyer and Molly Nagle

Mar 01, 2022, 5:10 PM EST

At least 3 Democrats planning 'responses' to Biden's address

Just hours away from Biden delivering his first State of the Union speech, Democrats are sparring with each other over the response.

Not the Republican response -- but the growing number of Democrats giving speeches responding to a president of their own party.

Progressive Rep. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan is delivering a response for the Working Families Party. She says she will support Biden’s agenda but could take moderates to task for blocking the agenda in the Senate, likely targeting West Virginia Democrat Joe Manchin.

Rep. Colin Allred of Texas is delivering a response from the Congressional Black Caucus.

And moderate Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., who is expected to criticize progressives (he told Axios Tlaib’s speech is the political equivalent of "slashing your own tires"), will give a bipartisan response with the centrist group No Labels.
-ABC News' Benjamin Siegel

Mar 01, 2022, 4:56 PM EST

Manchin, hours before, reiterates 'There is no Build Back Better,' wants Biden to address inflation

In advance of tonight's speech, Sen. Joe Manchin reiterated his long-held view that has blocked Biden's domestic agenda, saying, "There is no Build Back Better."

"What we should be looking at is what we can do and what we have done," the West Virginia Democrat said.

PHOTO: Sen. Joe Manchin speaks to reporters after a closed door briefing with Senators at the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, Feb. 03, 2022.
Sen. Joe Manchin speaks to reporters after a closed door briefing with Senators at the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, Feb. 03, 2022.
Drew Angerer/Getty Images

He told reporters he wants Biden to talk about inflation and about energy independence instead.

"Inflation is basically destroying the country as we know it from the standpoint of making it harder on the people they were trying to help -- so we have to get energy under control," Manchin said. "And next of all, be energy independent. Putin has weaponized energy, so shouldn't we be using energy to counter what he's been doing?"
-ABC News' Allison Pecorin