Unfiltered Insights: A Close Look at Biden's State of the Union Speech 2024

Hello Fam, 

*There are some F*** words* *You have been Warned*

This podcast episode delves into a wide array of topics, starting with a fun fact about Texas and Florida being significant cattle-producing states in the U.S. The conversation quickly shifts to a detailed analysis of President Biden's State of the Union address, highlighting how it stood out from typical speeches with its direct approach and numerous ad-libs, particularly addressing former President Trump. The speech's unique delivery, and focus on foreign policy, particularly concerning Israel, Ukraine, and immigration, alongside domestic issues like social security and infrastructure, are critically examined. Amidst this, the host expresses personal opinions on Biden's capability and approach, Republican stances, and potential legislative solutions to pressing issues like rent control and credit card late fees. Furthermore, the episode teases future discussion points, including Alabama's new IVF law and the political trajectory post-Nikki Haley's campaign withdrawal, while also appreciating the podcast's global listener base.

0:00 Bidens State Of Union Speech 2024
13:58 What the president needs a strong case for American leadership abroad
18:37 What Has Biden Been Up To
29:40 Upcoming Episode 
30:51 What's Going On with The Last Conversation Podcast 

To all my Melanated People (Black & Brown), it's never a sign of weakness to ask for help when you really need it. Life is not cupcakes and rainbows—struggles are what make us stronger!

Transcript

Stephan: 0:00

Did you know that. Texas. Is one of the biggest cattle producing. Like farms here in United States of America. I would have never guessed that. And you know what? Let's play a little guessing game. Guess what? The second state that large it. Produce cattle. Are you in a second? It's Florida. You know, these are just some random facts that just go through my head throughout the day. It's not really useful, but Hey. Maybe one day I will be on the wheel of fortune and the last act question. What did you do? Yesterday around seven o'clock. I'm in a second. I watched Biden's state of the union address last night. I don't even know. What to say? No, I'm kidding. So. I watched the entire thing from start to finish. And. In my personal opinion. I felt that there was, this was a. Unique. Steely union speech. Most of the state union speeches, they're kind of like boring and you hear like, okay, this is what I'm going to talk about. These are what I've done, and this is what I want to do. But this one. In particular. Man all man. Did he come for Trump? Like I thought. Whoever wrote that speech. Like now there are other people out there who are speech writers who say they would have never done this. But to be honest, we needed it. We needed. By then to finally have the spotlight. To go after Trump. And when I say go after it was more of a comparison, it was more of, this is what I've done, and this is what he's done. He's going to take us back decades, right? And I'm going to take us forward. That's the message that I got. But let's also look and see what other people thought about. His state of union, by the way. It has been noted that he said, My predecessor to 13 times. And you know who he was talking about. And two. Differ rent. Between the two. Right. So one of the statements he says is in the very opening of his speech, he referred to my predecessor. I'm referring to, you know, who. Was encouraging Russia to invade natal members who don't meet defense spending targets. Now, this is all about Biden's stadion so I'm not wanting to go down my rabbit holes. Like I usually do. But that would be dramatic. Like what the drawing from NATO, which is the biggest military. Alliance in the world. And then we just got Sweden just got involved as well. So we'll, it's just becoming more and more powerful. But to tell Russia to do something like that. Is agregious. Because it just gives the notion of. Pretty much as a dictator, tell them. Whatever he wants to do. Right. And the notion is, is that if we back out of Ukraine, I said I was not really old. I don't one of these rabbit holes, but I am. If we back out of Ukraine. There is fear that Russia is going to continue. Going right. Now. Like I said, there's two sides to every story. Tupper, Carson, Carlson, whatever the hell his name is. I don't like him. He did go over to Russia and interviewed Putin. And Putin said that he has no intentions on going any further than Ukraine. He's only going to Ukraine because he believes. That. The west that Ukraine is essentially like it'll be used as like a military spot to make sure that, you know, if Russia does do something, you have you frame right there. You know, lay some fire down. But I digress. So that's the fear. What people are saying about Trump is that Trump said, oh, if I become president, we're going to leave Ukraine. Right. Leading crane, who cares? And I'll just like Russia do already wants to do. It's like, dude, if he does that, He could go after Poland. We would literally be in. World war three with Russia. If. He moves to any of our NATO allies. Why do you think so many of these smaller countries have been joining NATO? They feel. This pressure. They feel as though Russia might try and, and they gave them. And if it's not Russia. It could be China. Anyways. As I said, I don't like doing my rabbit holes, but. Let's keep doing. So bison deliveries that he on predictable, free willing speech is what they're calling it. The state of the union speeches are often affairs, which predictable list of policies and. Proposals. That was not the case. On Thursday as Biden frequently veered off script to ad lib lines and. Parlay with Republicans, which is always fun. I love when they like shout things and he literally stops a speech and he's like, so. You're not going to cut social security, like in his last state of union monitoring, retailer rain, they yelled out and they're like, no, no. He's like, okay, all right. Now where can people you hold them? Right. They said. And I'm not going to touch social security. What have these, Fockers been trying to do this entire time. They've been trying to cut social security. They've been trying to up. The retirement age. So now my granddad has to work until he's like 80 something years old. Instead of wars hiring at like 60 or 70. So the result was the most. I would say feisty, stay to union in yours with the house chamber. Brimming with election year frustration. The casual jokes with earth joist or joust, I would say with Republicans over their plans on taxes, social security and immigration, clearly 10th, the presence, energy as he was delivering his speech. Biden seem to have built the moments into his speech after last year's address, when his back and forth with Republicans in the crowd. Emerged as a standout moment. The moments allow Biden to show that he's willing to engage with Republicans, but also in his view, take. Take apart. Some of their arguments. When he was interrupted by Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor green or AKA the green goblin. Who was calling attention to the murder of the nursing students. Lincoln Riley. By an undocumented immigrant biters want to directly by picking up. One of the pins that the junior Republican. Had passed out reading, say her name. Lake and Riley and using the term illegal, which isn't how Democrats. Ordinary light to describe immigrants, bud. I mean. It's not unheard of. I don't in my personal opinion. Biden shows up energetic and forceful and concerns over his age. We all know that Biden is old as dirt. Okay. But I think some of us who voted for him. I'm mainly just concerned that is he going to make it through the four years? Like he's in his eighties. He already has some health issues, which has been public. But I just. Like when he went to the war zone in Israel, I was like, what the fuck is this old man doing? Like, please do not. Get hurt. Like this is not what we need. Like now, like send someone who's younger. We can run. Like we don't need you. Out there getting hurt in a war zone, an active war zone by that. Anyways, by now question's over Biden's age and fitness for office have become one of the principal backdrops of the presidential campaign. It's one of the main reasons many Democrats say they would have preferred a different candidate. So it was unavoidable that Biden, would they see a shooter in his state of the union, whether he wanted to or not? Apart from the substance of his speech, how he spoke and how he looked while he was speaking. We're important factors in how American absorbed his message. President came out, fire it up and gave an interim energetic speech. That was a far cry from some of his more subtle effects that have concerned supporters. He delivered much of the speech at a high value. As I was watching this, I was like, where has this Biden been? Like, this is the Biden that we've wanted the last four years to literally tell the American people that truth. Right. Tell people that, Hey, you need to call your Congress person because they're not over here doing their damn job. Right. We sit here and we made. Legislation. And then it's like, they fall down on it. The Republican side does mostly, especially when you know, who asked them to. So it's like, you guys are listening to the guy who's not even in office anymore. And you know what the other guy's reason is. Well, don't pass it. Now. It's going to help Biden. So when Biden doesn't get reelected. It will help me. Right. And it's like, dude, that's not why we put you in these positions. We don't select congressmen to hold off on doing their job. Just so someone else can tell you when to do your job and whatnot, like. The last guy. Is out of office. You're still in your seat. You work for the American people, you do not work for him. Anyways, let me get off my soap box. As you guys know how I can go on for that. So Biden spent most of the last week fine tuning and rehearsing his speech, both at the white house and at his presidential retreat camp, David. And the pier to pay off in his forefoot forceful. Delivery. Yesterday night aides at knowledge, the head of the speech that it was a topic on voters' minds and something the president was prepared to address. If not dwell on and his speech, his argument on the F on that front. That Trump is almost the same age, but with the adequate and vengeful outlook sought to diffuse the issue and turn it around on his opponent. He goes in, say,"when you get to be my age, certain things become clearer than ever". Biden said in his speech with some laughs. He went on to say"the issue facing our nation. Isn't how old we are. It's how old our ideas are adding later. We can't we with ancient ideas." And even that, like, for me personally, I was like, okay, Like it pisses me off the most when people are like, oh my God, well, he's old. And oh, oh, let me tell you this. Let me tell you this, this little short story. So we, I was watching super Tuesday. And one of the CNN people you know, had a, had a panel with them. And he, he had Trump and Biden supporters. Right. And he asked one person. He was like, she. She said. She was not voting for Biden. And he said, why are you not voting for Biden? She said his age. His remarked to her was. Well Trump's is it is old as Biden. Close to it. You know, she said it's not the same. I looked at that TV and I was like, what the fuck is wrong with you? What. What do you mean? It's not the same because he's a little bit younger. He's going to be in his eighties. If he becomes friends with it again. Like that was one of those statements where I'm like, what the fuck is wrong with you? Like. You can't say someone his age and then someone comes back and be like, well, Trump is. Old to while it's not the same. Huh. Like. Are you smoking something? If you are, please pass it along to the rest of the class. It's all. It always kills me when people say his age, like if people said now, most people say his age because he's old. Like health reasons why. There was only so much you can expect from an 80 something year old. And like that to give him credit. He's the president of the United States. Still. Doing it. Now if he was like forgetful. Oh, I forgot where I put those things up. And then maybe we have a different, you know, Story. Anyways, I am digressing a lot. We're going to take a brief break. All right. So as I've said, The present is. Trying to make a strong case for Israel and Ukraine. It's been that it is for most. Issues. It's something that has been hurting him in the polls. For a while now. You know, his approval rating. Hasn't been very good at all because they want him to call for a ceasefire in Israel. And. My take on that is that even if the president calls for a ceasefire, it does not mean that Israel is going to do it. Like we have to face the reality that we can tell another puncher he wanted to do. But they're not going to do it. And you have to understand that they are an ally. We don't own them. We can't sit here. And talk to them. Any kind of way. And I don't think that people understand that. And I, I understand, like I want to seize fire as well, but I understand that. Dynamics of it. To where it's like, even if we call for a ceasefire, Israel's want to do whatever they want to do. Right. It's real has the right to defend their country to the fullest extent of how they see fit. We can golfer a cease fire and maybe we can cut off their Abe. Remember. Remember, they are an ally in the middle east. We are trying to get. More allies than just Israel in the middle east, because we, I mean, it's other world trying to control the middle east, but we're trying to at least make sure there's some type of peace. I think that Biden should call for a ceasefire. Way before November. And see what happens. At least here at home. It would help him in the polls because they would be like, okay. He called for a ceasefire. So puzzling is onboard. Right. And then it's just going to be up to the universe. Whether or not Israel does it because, like I said, you universe. The universe, Israel is an ally. And. Countries don't like listening to the United States. Remember they are an ally. They do not have to do what we say. We can say for receipts. Fire does not mean they're actually going to do it. So going back to what. We had originally talked about the foreign policy typically takes a back seat during the state of the union speeches. The intended audience is Congress of the American people and their concerns about usually within the us borders. But for reasons, not certainly within his control Biden is a foreign policy present at a moment. Of deep global tensions, the Russia Ukraine war grinds on with the future of American assistance in doubt. And Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza. Prompted by the terror attack, October 7th as generated a humanitarian crisis. It's dividing the Bidens. Political coalition. So it was inevitable that four and a feeling is what. Occupy a larger chunk of Biden's time. And in previous addresses. Even if his aides acknowledged it's not a topic that is always at the top of voters' minds, it's also led many. Of the early portions of his speech, even before he entered the Capitol, it was evident from protestors along his motorcade route at the widespread discontent over his handling of the Israel. And Hamas war. In his speech, five may clear the. Imperative of allowing more humanitarian aid into Gaza. And announced that he was directing the us military to construct a temporary port. In Gaza that will allow more food, water, and medicine to control the strict. But who knows how long that's going to last, because as we know how Hamas works is that they blend in with the people. Aye. I don't know, I have mixed feelings about that because in theory, we're not really supposed to be putting troops on the ground and creating this temporary port is like putting troops on the ground, but not really putting troops on the ground. And I just don't want something devastating to happen. To where we have to put more troops on the ground. Which is why. It's asking. Israel to step up. People feel that Israel is doing this on purpose. Of starving kids. But you have to remember that. It's it's a whole different country. But the port is good. It should win some voters. I don't like the idea of, to be honest with you. Incumbent president takes a shot at reshaping and resettling the 2024 narrative. If there was one task by an inter yesterday speech with it was reminding of American voters. Many of whom may have turned out the last three years. What exactly he's been up to pole show. Many voters are still sour about the direction of country's heading despite the economy that is by most measured. Roaring back from the COVID-19 years. Asked in surveys, many Americans have a little, ideally accomplishments. Biden has been working on. That has helped bring the economy back. That is part of why Biden in his speech refers to the greatest combat story. Never towed. Part. Brushed back against what he views as precisely narrative media coverage. Part of the knowledgement that he could do more to explain his agenda to everyday Americans. At the same time buying the team acknowledges there's a balance to be struck. And that Americans have valid concerns about the economy. Don't necessarily want to be. Lectured about positive economic indicators that aren't filling them themselves. That's why Biden chose to focus heavily on populist themes, like raising tax rates on the wealthy and corporations and the laying the. The cost of prescription medicine, which Democrats are confident, it will be winners. So to do Democrats. Believe showing. Over corporate greed and price Galdjie will play well. Particularly at cost of living concerns. Continue to drag down Biden's poll numbers. It's going to be quite interesting on how this plays out with voters. I mean, there was a couple of wash parties. That were happening. And, you know, people are saying they liked it. You know, Democrats are saying that they like it. Republicans obviously want to be earned saying, no, we don't like it. He should've said this. He showed us sit down and blah, blah, blah. You know, he was yelling and this and that. And. It's like, you can just call the man old. Of course he's going to yell. So you know that, Hey, he's got some filer in his back pocket. I definitely think one of the biggest things that I've been hearing a lot is the possibility the cost of living is. Outrageous people can't afford. Rent people have to work two or even three jobs to even afford rent. I think if he wants to really gain people's attention. He has to start working on some type of legislation that the decreased rent. Or just make it more affordable, right? I mean, you could even do like. Something to where you. Like went caps, right? Like a one bedroom cannot be less amount of money. Because the average person cannot afford that a two bedroom cannot be more than this, right. Because what that does is that will be, that will put a cat. And people can start. 40 mils places, right? A one bedroom should not cost one$1,600. Especially when the walking at. A normal job. Let's just say they're working at Chipola making$17 an hour.$17 is not going to help them pay for$1,600 month. Apartment. And still have to take care of renter's insurance still has to take care of the electric stuff to pay their own phone bill. So I have to put food on the table. Imagine if that's just one single mother. And now she has to try and afford. All this by herself. We got to do something about rent. I think rent cap is probably going to be the best way of doing it. But as I said before, in all of my podcasts is that we have a Congress that doesn't want to do shit. Let me rephrase that. We have a Republican Congress that does not want to do shit. They have their own agenda. Which is not the American people. Right. Today is Friday, March 8th, and we're already on a, another potential government shutdown And you have some Republicans who want the government to shut down. Matt gates. Republican congressmen for Florida. He always wants the government to shut down. And it's ironic because when the government shuts down, That's our grandparents that don't get their social security. That's our service men. And the army reserves all that they don't get paid. You can't say. You care about our troops when you're going to sit here and let the government shut down because you don't get everything you want. In a budget. You're trying to cut social security. You're trying to cut Medicare. You're trying to cut like childcare. You're trying to cut all these programs that the American people need and rely on. And then I'll try to cut them by like maybe one or 2%. You are trying to cut them like five, 10, 20%. These programs are essential. So as we sit here and we look at. 2024 in our election year. Remember that in November, you're also voting for senators. As well. We have to look better at our representation. Who is going to Congress representing us? Are they going to vote for bills that are actually going to be supportive of the American people? Or are we going to send people who want our vote, they get our vote and then they go to Congress and do absolutely. Nothing. For us. Biden and his speech talked about the infrastructure bill to help with roads and such form. And those Republicans who fought so hard against it. Our racking in that money. And he says it in his speech. He's like, oh, I know you guys didn't want to pass the infrastructure bill, but that money that you got, your share liken it. Huh? I thought it was amazing. Call them out on their shit. We have a very conservative immigration bill. That was bipartisan. Democrat. Republicans all worked on it. Even the most conservative one. I forgot what his name is. And the people who helped it. Create it. Everything like that. Right. It got to the floor. And they voted against it. Biden came out and was like, There's things I'm at bill. I don't even like myself, but I had the compromise in order to get something done for immigration. Right. The Dell came to the house floor and the people who helped create it. Worked on it. Walked away from it. He walked away from it. And he says they walked away from it because they got a call from my predecessor that said, kill the bill. We'll use that bill when I become president. So ladies and gentlemen. That is. Biden's stay the union address. And to be a thousand percent honest with you. I don't even know. I thought his speech was very well received. I'm hoping and hoping and praying that when he gets back on the campaign trail, he starts talking about the table issues. So like housing jobs, stuff that people care about day to day. And honestly put more pressure on the Republicans for. The immigration and yeah, people are like, well, he fucked it up. So now he wants to fix it. And it's like, well, to be honest, it's been fucked up for years. It wasn't just Biden. Trump fucked it up. Obama fucked it up. Bush fucked it up. Everyone's fucked it up. It's never been solid. Right? And now. He's like, okay, let's fix the integration. I will agree. It's a little, it's all eight. You should have been doing this. A little sooner, like a lot sooner. Because then if you were doing this a lot sooner, Then you wouldn't have, then you have the upper hand of look. I've been working on this bill. Since 2022. And Congress has still yet to Cass. If that was the point, but he said last November. In 2023. That's when they started working on this bill. Voters is going to ask about it. But what was I going to ask about? Went voters want to ask about the cost of food and he did talk about it. Which I thought. I was like, oh, okay. That's a new spin on things about how we buy a bag of Doritos chips. And the company takes out like four chips. So same size bag, just your four chip shorter. It's called. I think they called, they called it like prowess price gouging. I don't know. I'll find the exact word. What it is. Another thing that he talked about was resorts charging, all those extra fees. And now those results are going to have to. Explain what all those small little fees are, you know how like sometimes you'll go to a resort and they're charging you. Like$50 and it just says fees and you're like, what the fuck is 50$50 for fees for. Under his administration a lot that they're trying to pass, or maybe it's already passed. I don't know. I have to update myself. They would have to explain what that$50 is going to, so they can't have any more hidden fees. One thing and I'm going to go because I have to actually get ready for work. One thing that I actually liked is if you have a credit card, Right. You know how your credit card late fee is like$38, some 48, some 58. Right. Biden proposed the bill that will lower that to$8. Let that sink in. Let's say that you have a capital one credit card and I'm not just calling capital one because I'm picking on them. And they're charging you a$48 late fee. How would you feel if that$48 became$8 of the late feet? Do you know how much. Money you would save. Yeah, cause it happens. Americans can't pay a debt that we incur. So my late fee is$8. Versus 48. They'll have to come up with. And now it's on my statements and. It, it will actually save us a ton of money. The company has won't like it. But you will, because now you only have to pay$8 versus 48 or 38. Or if you go with one of these other third party, Places that no one's ever heard of like. From near credit or something like that, or they're trying to view some outrageous late fee. Now it's only$8. Well, that's what it's being proposed. So I thought that was a real interesting. So I'm going to get outta here. So the next step is. We are going to talk about two topics that I feel are pretty important. We're going to talk about. Alabama's. New law for IVF. As most of you guys know IVF has became under fire. And now. You know, it's pretty much in the same realm as abortion to where they want to restrict it or just get rid of it all together. And now they're saying there's new levels of. When. An egg is in theory, a child, and it's just blowing up the entire world. Second thing. We're going to talk about Nikki Haley. She ran an amazing campaign. I even said myself, like if it was between her and Joe Biden. It would have kind of been hard at the polls. The side, which one? But now that she has officially dropped out as a, this last Tuesday from super Tuesday. Where is she going to go? Where are her? Voter, who's going to go. So we'll talk about that. And the next step is. Right here on the last conversation. So a lot of you may have been wondering where I disappeared to. For the last two months, and I promise you in our next episode, I will tell you the aids, Zack, whole story of where I've been and what I've been up to. But before I leave, I wanted to give a special shout out to. You all. For continuing to listen, because even though I was gone for two months, People are still listening to our show. Whether they're sharing it while listening to that, to the first time, and I just want to. Do you like a little shout out to the countries? They're listening. Now obviously most of you are all here in the United States, but we have some people in Australia. I love that. I love Australia. Not the spiders, but I love the country United Kingdom. I love it. I love. Just, I love the medieval and I love learning about the Kings. And just all that. It's amazing. We have some people in India. We have some people in Canada. You know, they're their neighbors up there. We have some people in Nigeria, which is amazing. South Africa. A few friends out there Ireland, all don't even get me started in Ireland. Ireland is where the castles are. Like when I get old, like that's where I want to retire is Ireland is to buy me a castle. We have Egypt. And then we have Romania. So I just want to give you a nice shout out to all those countries. I just listed to the people who are listening. From them. Because it's nice to show appreciation to you guys and hopefully you guys show appreciation back. You can always catch us on social media. I'm on Instagram at the last on your score conversation. We are on Twitter. So always shout me out. Or if there's something that you see and you want my opinion. Our Twitter handle is the last underscore convo. And you can find us on all those, my link tree wall. So we'll be in the description. So you can always just click and find out which best linked or social media platform works for you. Better. Until then. Today is. March 11th. I recorded this. A couple days ago and I'm still recording on it. Be safe, be kind, be different and treat everyone the way that you want to be treated. I'm done with this episode, one, edit, want to push it out? And then I'll get started on the Nikki Haley episode. All right here on the best podcast for black and brown people. And white people. The last conversation. Goodnight everyone. We're good morning.

33:49

so much for watching, and I'll see you in the next video.