Obama's day: State of the Union
President Obama spends Tuesday making final preparations for a big event tonight: The annual State of the Union speech.
The president addresses the nation and a joint session of Congress — including the new Republican-run Senate — shortly after 9 p.m. ET.
The speech comes exactly two years before the end of Obama's second term.
Over the past two weeks, Obama and aides have promoted a variety of items to be included in this year's State of the Union. They include proposals for tax hikes on the wealthy, tax breaks for the middle class, community college, housing, manufacturing, cybersecurity, and requirements for paid sick leave.
In his speech at the U.S. Capitol, Obama will be facing a large group of Republican lawmakers who believe his package of tax hikes, spending programs, and new regulations will damage the economy.
For his part, Obama is expected to focus on signs that the economy is recovering from the financial crisis of 2008.
"America's resurgence is real," the president said in his Saturday radio address. "Our job now is to make sure that every American feels that they're a part of our country's comeback. That's what I'll focus on in my State of the Union."