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, 5:39 PM EST

Biden to signal new phase in pandemic

President Joe Biden tonight will shy away from any suggestion of "mission accomplished" when it comes to the pandemic, or even that the virus had morphed into an "endemic" state -- a term reserved to describe a virus that persists but is mostly predictable -- a White House official told ABC News.

Instead, the official described the president's speech as noting the nation is now able to "move forward safely in a way in which COVID no longer disrupts our lives the way it has previously."

The president also will "emphasize the need for the U.S. to remain vigilant in the face of an unpredictable virus, including by preparing for future variants," said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity in order to discuss details in advance of the speech.

-ABC News' Anne Flaherty

Mar 01, 2022, 5:23 PM EST

Iowa Gov. Reynolds to deliver GOP response

Republicans are tapping Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds to deliver the Republican response to Biden’s State of the Union address, seizing an opportunity to feature a rising female leader in the party.

In this Jan. 11, 2022, file photo, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds delivers her Condition of the State address before a joint session of the Iowa Legislature, at the Statehouse in Des Moines, Iowa.
Charlie Neibergall/AP, FILE

Reynolds’ staunch conservative approach on "culture war" issues, such as prohibiting "critical race theory" in schools, and opposition to strict mandates and statewide lockdowns during the pandemic make her an appropriate fit for the message Republicans want to send.

In a preview of tonight’s speech, Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel said Republicans plan to offer an "optimistic alternative method to Joe Biden" as it relates to his foreign policy, rising gas prices and inflation, the border, crime, and the Biden administration’s pandemic response.

-ABC News' Lalee Ibssa

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