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How to watch Trump’s 2026 State of the Union address and what to know

February 23, 2026 by WDNY Radio

(WASHINGTON) — President Donald Trump is set to give the first State of the Union address of his second term on Tuesday amid a backdrop of looming midterm elections and lingering questions about the economy, immigration and foreign policy.

Trump’s address comes as lawmakers are still at an impasse over funding for the Department of Homeland Security amid the administration’s immigration crackdown — and with the partial government shutdown in its second week. The United States’ tensions with Iran, affordability and the economy, the upcoming high-impact midterm elections and the Supreme Court’s recent rebuke of his tariffs will likely be topics the presidents touches on as well.

Though his allies have called Trump’s second term transformative and historic on many fronts, his address comes as majorities of Americans disapprove of how the president is handling inflation, tariffs, relations with other countries, immigration and the economy, according to a recently released ABC News/Washington Post/Ipsos poll.

Trump last delivered a joint address to Congress in March — the longest in history. On Monday, Trump previewed that this year’s address with be “a long speech because we have so much to talk about.”

Here’s what you need to know about the speech and how to watch.

When is the State of the Union address?

Trump will speak before Congress at the Capitol on Tuesday at 9 p.m. EST.

The State of the Union is a presidential duty mandated in the Constitution, which calls for the president “from time to time to give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union.”

Speaker Mike Johnson invited Trump to speak before the joint session of Congress last month.

How to watch and stream the State of the Union

ABC News will air the State of the Union live at 9 p.m. EST, ABC News Live will stream special coverage starting at 7 p.m. EST and ABC News Digital will have a live blog with up-to-the-minute updates, key takeaways of the address and analysis.

“World News Tonight” Anchor and Managing Editor David Muir will lead coverage from Washington, featuring ABC News’ political team, including “World News Tonight” Sunday and ABC News Live “Prime” Anchor Linsey Davis, Chief White House Correspondent Mary Bruce, “This Week” Co-anchor and Chief Global Affairs Correspondent Martha Raddatz, “This Week” Co-anchor and Chief Washington Correspondent Jonathan Karl, Chief Justice Correspondent Pierre Thomas, Senior Political Correspondent Rachel Scott and Correspondent Jay O’Brien.

Contributors Donna Brazile and Chris Christie along with former Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy will provide analysis across ABC News’ platforms, too.

Muir will anchor a special edition of “World News Tonight with David Muir” from Washington on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. EST. “Good Morning America,” “GMA3” and “This Week with George Stephanopoulos” will have pre- and post-show coverage of the State of the Union.

The speech is also set to stream live on the White House website, its YouTube and social media platforms.

An estimated 36.6 million people watched Trump’s speech to Congress last year — a 13% increase over former President Joe Biden’s 2024 State of the Union address, according to Nielsen.

What is Trump expected to say?

While we don’t yet know what Trump will say or announce during his address, it is expected that he will touch on tensions with Iran amid ABC News’ reports that he is considering a range of options for military strikes against Iran, including a possible limited strike aimed at enhancing the United States’ negotiating position.

When asked last week about the president’s thinking on potentially striking Iran and whether he would address the topic during his State of the Union address, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt implied more information will become clear during his speech.

“I will say with respect to the State of the Union you’ll be hearing more about what is to come from the president’s speech very soon at the appropriate time. It is going to be a very good and powerful speech,” Leavitt said.

Trump’s role in global conflicts was the focus of a video the White House posted on Sunday, saying that the “the State of the Union is STRONG because America is RESPECTED again on the world stage.”

Trump has claimed credit for ending a number of conflicts during his second term and taking limited military action to effect change.

Trump may also discuss his new tariff policy after the Supreme Court struck down most of his global tariffs, a key part of his economic policy, as illegal. Trump will face the Supreme Court justices in person on Tuesday night when he delivers his State of the Union address. The justices who attend are typically seated in front of the president in the first few rows.

Immigration, another key issue for the administration, will likely be discussed as Democrats demand changes to Immigration and Customs Enforcement after the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti — both U.S. citizens — at the hands of federal law enforcement in Minneapolis. Democrats’ demands and the ongoing negotiations with Republicans and the White House have held up funding for DHS, causing an ongoing shutdown of the agency.

Who will be there?

The State of the Union marks one of the rare times all branches of government are under the same roof. The president, members of Congress and Supreme Court justices attend — although all may not be there.

The speaker of the House and vice president sit behind the president while he speaks.

The White House and members of Congress typically invite guests with specific backgrounds and stories that are important to them both personally and politically — people they want to thank, to honor or even to highlight a particular issue.

Democratic Reps. Jamie Raskin and Suhas Subramanyam shared their guests would be Sky and Amanda Roberts — the brother and sister-in-law, respectively, of the late Virginia Roberts Giuffre, a survivor of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Who is speaking for the Democratic Party?

Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger will deliver the Democratic response to Trump’s State of the Union address.

Spanberger’s 2025 win, which flipped control of the governor’s mansion from red to blue, marked the first time a woman has held the position in Virginia.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said last week that in her speech, Spanberger “will lay out a clear path forward: lower everyday costs, protect healthcare, and defend the freedoms that define who we are as a nation.”

California Sen. Alex Padilla will deliver the Spanish-language response.

Dozens of Democrats are poised to skip Trump’s State of the Union address, opting instead to attend a counterprogram sponsored by MoveOn.org on the National Mall. The optics of their absence may not be apparent inside the chamber, as the Senate, Cabinet, Supreme Court and other dignitaries fill the already-crowded space.

The majority of congressional Democrats are expected to attend. As Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said, “you don’t let anyone ever run you off of your block.” He has made the case for his caucus to show its presence without any shenanigans or outbursts after Democratic Rep. Al Green was ejected and ultimately censured for shaking his cane and shouting at Trump during last year’s joint address.

ABC News’ John Parkinson, Lauren Peller and Lalee Ibssa contributed to this report.

‘Greater calm’ after violence erupted over killing of drug lord ‘El Mencho,’ Mexico’s president says

February 23, 2026 by WDNY Radio

(NEW YORK) — President Claudia Sheinbaum said there is a “greater calm” in Mexico on Monday, a day after violence ignited in the country following the killing of the drug lord known as “El Mencho.”

Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, was killed in an operation led by Mexican authorities on Sunday in Jalisco, Mexican officials said.

Widespread cartel-organized violence erupted following his death, with vehicles set on fire, hundreds of road blockages and attacks on gas stations and businesses, according to Mexican authorities.

“Today there is greater calm,” Sheinbaum said during a press briefing Monday. “The public can rest assured that peace, security, and normalcy are being safeguarded across the country.”

Sheinbaum said that as of Monday morning, there are no longer any blockades and “normal activity has largely been restored.”

Oseguera Cervantes was one of the most wanted criminals in both Mexico and the United States. He was one of the top traffickers of fentanyl into the U.S., and last year President Donald Trump designated the Jalisco New Generation Cartel as a Foreign Terrorist Organization, the White House said.

When Mexican forces moved in to arrest him on Sunday, “El Mencho’s security detail opened fire,” Mexico’s Secretary of National Defense Ricardo Trevilla Trejo said Monday.

El Mencho “fled the location, leaving behind a group heavily armed,” Trevilla said. “The attack by organized crime members was extremely violent.”

Mexican special forces members continued to pursue El Mencho and eventually were able to injure him and two of the bodyguards with him, according to Trevilla.

El Mencho and the two bodyguards died during the helicopter evacuation flight that was heading towards a medical facility in Jalisco, Trevilla added.

Ultimately, 25 members of the Mexican National Guard and 30 cartel members were killed in Jalisco, Mexican officials said. Four cartel members were also killed in Michoacan, officials said.

Among those killed was a “principal confidant” of El Mencho in Jalisco who was “coordinating road blockades, vehicle burnings, and attacks on military and government facilities,” Trevilla said.

Seventy cartel members have been detained across seven states, Mexican officials said Monday.

The U.S. Embassy in Mexico on Monday continued to urge Americans in locations throughout Mexico to shelter in place due to “ongoing security operations and related road blockages and criminal activity.”

“While no airports have been closed, roadblocks have impacted airline operations, with most domestic and international flights cancelled in both Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta,” the U.S. Embassy said in a security alert. “All ride shares are suspended in Puerto Vallarta. Some businesses have suspended operations.”

Ed Sheeran named honorary co-mayor of Ipswich, Australia

February 23, 2026 by WDNY Radio

Ed Sheeran grew up about 15 miles from the town of Ipswich, England, and has a minority stake in Ipswich Town Football Club, his favorite soccer team. He’s also been named the honorary co-mayor of Ipswich — but a completely different Ipswich, halfway around the world.

During his current Australian tour, Ed dropped by the town of Ipswich, located in the Australian state of Queensland, which had launched a massive citywide campaign urging him to visit. While there, he signed a mural of himself that the town had painted in his honor, and added, “There’s a new mayor in town.”

The actual mayor of Ipswich, Teresa Harding, has posted on Instagram photos of herself meeting Ed at his show in Brisbane on Sunday. She wrote, “I had the chance to meet Ed and thank him on behalf of our whole community.” She added, “When he visited Ipswich on Friday, he joked and asked if he was now the new Mayor.”

“So at his concert on Sunday night, I made it official and presented him with the Mayoral chains, naming him an honorary co‑Mayor of Ipswich,” Harding continued.

“He loved it, and while he insisted our Ipswich was the ‘second‑best Ipswich,’ I assured him ours is absolutely number one.”

Ed’s LOOP tour of Australia continues through March 5.

Alicia Keys says ‘it’s very crazy and wonderful’ to be celebrating 25 years of ‘Fallin”

February 23, 2026 by WDNY Radio

It’s been 25 years since fans were introduced to Alicia Keys via her debut single, “Fallin.'” In an interview with People, she describes how she feels about the song’s milestone anniversary.

“I’m not sure how I wrap my head around this whole existence called life. It’s very crazy and wonderful and exciting and amazing,” she said. “And just thinking back to that girl in me at that time and how she had no idea, none. That she was completely what you call ‘fake it till you make it’ — that’s what she was doing, and she did a damn good job.”

Alicia added that she’s appreciative of the 20-year-old version of her “because she was strong, she was clear.”

“Even though she didn’t know everything, she knew what she didn’t want and she knew what she had to hold onto,” she said, “and that was authenticity and truth and honesty and music.”

“So I’m very proud because I recognize her in me today. So that’s a beautiful thing,” Alicia concluded, noting she has “not even hit the tiny bit of where I’m going.”

“Fallin'” topped the Billboard Hot 100 on Aug. 18, 2001, and spent six nonconsecutive weeks at #1. It also won song of the year, best R&B song and best female R&B vocal performance at the 44th annual Grammy Awards.

The song appears on her debut album, Songs in A Minor, and was featured in Keys’ Broadway musical, Hell’s Kitchen, which ended its run at the Shubert Theatre Sunday.

Keys’ husband, Swizz Beatz, congratulated her for the run. “700 shows on broadway and now on to the world tour My love we’re so proud of you beyond !!” he wrote. “Congrats on this amazing run and leaving NYC with the trophy’s [sic].”

Jimi Hendrix street naming postponed due to New York blizzard

February 23, 2026 by WDNY Radio

New York is going to have to wait a little longer to have a street named after the late rocker Jimi Hendrix.

Earlier in February, it was announced that West 8th Street in Manhattan’s Greenwich Village, where Hendrix’s legendary Electric Lady Studios is located, was due to be co-named Jimi Hendrix Way. That renaming was supposed to take place Tuesday, but it was just announced that the weather has caused plans to be changed.

“Due to extensive snowfall in New York City; the JIMI HENDRIX WAY street naming ceremony for Tuesday morning has been postponed,” read a post on the late rocker’s X account. “The new date will be announced as soon as possible. Stay safe. Stay experienced!”

The naming ceremony was to coincide with the launch of a new education partnership with E Street Band guitarist Stevie Van Zandt’s TeachRock, which uses music and pop culture to expand learning in schools. The partnership will result in the addition of a Hendrix curriculum for middle and high school students.

Experience Hendrix LLC President and CEO Janie Hendrix, Van Zandt and NYC District 2 council member Harvey Epstein were scheduled to attend the Tuesday ceremony, along with group of local TeachRock teachers and students.

Nick Reiner pleads not guilty in stabbing deaths of parents Rob Reiner, Michele Reiner

February 23, 2026 by WDNY Radio

Nick Reiner pleaded not guilty to murder charges on Monday following his arrest late last year in the stabbing deaths of his parents, renowned director Rob Reiner and Michele Reiner.

The 32-year-old faces two counts of first-degree murder with the special circumstance of multiple murders.

His public defender, Kimberly Greene, entered not guilty pleas on his behalf during his court appearance in Los Angeles on Monday.

He will remain in jail on no bail. His next court appearance has been scheduled for April 29.

Nick Reiner was set to enter a plea in January at a hearing in Los Angeles, before his defense attorney, Alan Jackson, withdrew from the case during the court appearance. Nick Reiner agreed to delay his arraignment and was assigned a public defender.

Jackson told reporters after court that he had to withdraw as Nick Reiner’s counsel due to “circumstances beyond our control, but more importantly, circumstances beyond Nick’s control.”

“Pursuant to the law in California, Nick Reiner is not guilty of murder,” he added. “We wish him the very best moving forward.”

A Reiner family spokesperson said at the time, “They have the utmost trust in the legal process and will not comment further on matters related to the legal proceedings.”

Nick Reiner made a brief first court appearance on Dec. 17, 2025, during which he waived the right to a speedy arraignment.

Since then, sources told ABC News that law enforcement and defense attorneys had been working to piece together Nick Reiner’s psychiatric and substance abuse history.

He has a documented history of addiction and substance abuse treatment, and friends have told investigators that his mental health had been deteriorating prior to the fatal stabbings.

Rob Reiner and Michele Reiner were found stabbed to death in their Brentwood home on Dec. 14, 2025.

The night before, Nick Reiner — who had been living on his parents’ property — got into an argument with Rob Reiner at a holiday party and was seen acting strangely, sources told ABC News.

Nick Reiner was taken into custody in downtown Los Angeles hours after the bodies were discovered.

Rob Reiner and Michele Reiners’ other children, Jake Reiner and Romy Reiner, said in a statement following their parents’ deaths, “Words cannot even begin to describe the unimaginable pain we are experiencing.”

“The horrific and devastating loss of our parents, Rob and Michele Reiner, is something that no one should ever experience. They weren’t just our parents; they were our best friends,” they said.

See Chappell Roan’s ‘unexpected’ new M•A•C Cosmetics ad

February 23, 2026 by WDNY Radio

After being announced as a global ambassador for M·A·C Cosmetics in 2025, Chappell Roan is now starring in the brand’s new ad campaign celebrating its launch at Sephora on March 2.

In the campaign, which also features influencer and model Quenlin Blackwell and model Gabbriette, Chappell is shown with a mostly bare face, and then with a full face of makeup. However, her look is somewhat tame compared to her over-the-top onstage looks.

Chappell’s makeup artist, Andrew Dahling, says in a statement that Chappell’s look was inspired by the ’90s, calling it “an homage to an era of glamour that has lived on forever.”

He added, “It’s a bit unexpected for Chappell Roan, as we often use an array of color, but … we wanted to create a look that honored M·A·C’s legacy as a brand, by and for everyone.”

If you’re interested, Chappell’s look was created with M·A·C lip pencils in Auburn and Stripdown and Silky Matte Lipsticks in Marrakesh and Taupe on the lips, and Matte Liquid Colour in Brule and Stone and Stack Mascara on the eyes.

Linda Perry details upcoming solo album, ‘Let It Die Here’

February 23, 2026 by WDNY Radio

4 Non Blondes frontwoman Linda Perry has announced the details of her new solo album, Let It Die Here.

The record is due out on May 8. Its first single is a new rendition of the song “Beautiful,” which Perry had originally written before it became a hit for pop star Christina Aguilera in the early 2000s.

“When I wrote ‘Beautiful,’ I had no idea I was struggling inside,” Perry says in a statement. “‘I am beautiful no matter what they say.’ ‘They’ represents the insecurities we all face, the fear that makes people unkind simply because someone or something is different.”

“‘Beautiful’ is about self-expression, being free to be whoever you want to be,” she continues. “‘Don’t you bring me down today.’ Don’t you dare try to make me feel less than, not good enough, or ugly because I don’t look like you. Don’t treat me like I don’t matter just because I do not speak or think like you. I will shine in every single way, and no one can take that from me, you, or anyone.”

You can watch the video for Perry’s “Beautiful” streaming on YouTube. Perry will be performing the song on Tuesday’s episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live! on ABC.

Along with Let It Die Here, a Perry documentary of the same name is set to premiere in theaters in May. Perry is also working on the first 4 Non Blondes album since their 1992 debut, due out later in 2026.

Here’s the Let It Die Here track list:
“Balboa Park”
“Stupid Yellow Kite”
“Push Me in the River”
“Is That All You Got”
“Let It Die Here”
“Mourning”
“What Lies With You”
“I Am Daughter”
“Anxiety”
“The Suitcase”
“Beautiful”
“Feathers in a Storm”
“Deep Breath”
“Now That She’s Gone”
“Sunday Best”
“Liberation”
“Albatross”

Peter Mandelson arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office amid Epstein files fallout

February 23, 2026 by WDNY Radio

(LONDON) — Lord Peter Mandelson has been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office, police said Monday.

A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police issued a statement, saying, “Officers have arrested a 72-year-old man on suspicion of misconduct in public office. He was arrested at an address in Camden on Monday and has been taken to a London police station for interview. This follows search warrants at two addresses in the Wiltshire and Camden areas.”

Mandelson is a former U.K. ambassador to the United States.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

J. Cole releases ‘Legacy’ music video in latest Trunk Sale vlog

February 23, 2026 by WDNY Radio

J. Cole released the visual for his song “Legacy” as part of a recent vlog chronicling his trunk sale stops.

The video starts at two minutes, 50 seconds and finds Cole rapping in front of a convertible before getting in for a drive.

The vlog itself finds Cole interacting with fans in Nashville, giving them handshakes, signing CDs and having an in-depth conversation about his discography with a longtime supporter.

In the clip, he agrees with the fan’s theory that he was “completing the stories and all the chapters” of his life that he wanted to tell in The Fall-Off.

According to Cole, his albums The Come Up, The Warm Up, Friday Night Lights, Cole World:The Sideline Story, Born Sinner and Forest Hills Drive show the progression of his life.

K.O.D., 4 Your Eyez Only, The Off-Season and Might Delete Later, on the other hand, were just “side quests” and “lyrical exercise.” He explains, “It’s me practicing to get to The Fall-Off, which is the continuation of the J. Cole story — Jermaine’s life story in the form of this J. Cole character.”

While Cole feels there’s “nothing else to say as Jermaine via J. Cole,” he notes he may still work on some music. “Ima rap probably, I’ll hop on a song probably, I might even f*** around if I get inspired enough, I may do an album,” Cole says. “But I don’t care to continue that story.”

Cole kicks off his Fall-Off world tour on July 11 in Charlotte, North Carolina.

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