Abigail Spanberger's SOTU Rebuttal Was Just Plain Weird

 Teri Christoph; RedState   

"As RedState has previously reported, the choice of Spanberger to deliver the State of the Union rebuttal was intended to introduce her to a national audience. Democrats see her as a rising star who will have a big impact on the 2026 and 2028 elections – possibly as a candidate in the latter." 

"Having just watched Democrats beclown themselves at the State of the Union address, a clearly-nervous and fidgety Abigail Spanberger – the new governor of Virginia – had the unenviable task of trying to put a positive spin on her party's dire and decidedly unpatriotic behavior. Like all Democrats, when faced with espousing how her party's policies help everyday Americans, she merely resorted to attacking President Trump. The whole thing was pretty weird.

"Spanberger had a few reasons to be nervous. She was the follow-up act to Trump's barnburner of a speech that saw the president celebrate the best of America while also calling out Democrats for their skewed priorities, particularly when it comes to prioritizing illegal immigration over the safety of American citizens. 

"Secondly, she was under fire from the left for choosing to deliver the official Democrat response from Colonial Williamsburg ... because slavery? She knows who put her in the Governor's Mansion, so she may have been feeling the beady eyes of the radical left on her as she spoke from the House of Burgesses. " . . .

This Moment of the State of the Union Just Lost the Democrats the Midterms

 PJ Media  

"This wasn’t a political miscalculation on their part; it was a confession. Republicans have been accusing Democrats of prioritizing illegals over American citizens for years, and Trump handed them an opportunity to prove them wrong, and they didn’t take it."

"President Donald Trump’s 2026 State of the Union speech gave every American a front-row seat to see exactly who Democrats are — and more importantly, what they refuse to stand for.

"According to reports, more than 70 Democrats chose not to attend the speech, but most did, and several times over the course of the evening, they made a choice. They sat. They scowled. They heckled. While Republicans rose time and again in applause, the left side of the chamber looked like a group of children being punished.

"And Trump noticed.

He called them out — repeatedly — for refusing to show even the most basic bipartisan enthusiasm for moments that should have been beyond politics. But nothing cut deeper than one specific challenge he laid down for every lawmaker in that room.

"One of the great things about the State of the Union is how it gives Americans the chance to see clearly what their representatives really believe," Trump said. "So, tonight, I'm inviting every legislator to join with my administration in reaffirming a fundamental principle. If you agree with this statement, then stand up and show your support. The first duty of the American government is to protect American citizens, not illegal aliens."

"Republicans exploded. They stood, clapped, and whistled for a solid two minutes. It was the kind of raw, spontaneous reaction you can't manufacture.

"Democrats didn't move.

"Not a shuffle. Not a courtesy clap. Nothing.

"Trump let their refusal to stand do the work for a moment.

"Then he turned the knife.

" 'Isn't that a shame? You should be ashamed of yourself, not standing up," he said.

"Oh, but he wasn’t done." . . . More...

Murdered Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska’s mom breaks down during State of the Union 2026 as Trump rips Dems: ‘How do you not stand?’

 NY Post  . . . "“Mrs. Zarutska, tonight I promise you that we will ensure justice for your magnificent daughter, Iryna,” the president assured, to raucous applause.

"Erika Kirk, widow of slain Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk, was sitting beside Anna and appeared to offer words of condolence while the man offered her a handkerchief.

"During the emotional moment, Trump called out Democrats, who didn’t appear to rise for the standing ovation with Republicans.

" 'How do you not stand?” Trump said, gesturing toward Democrats.". . . 

He brought up the horrific death of Iryna Zarutska, murdered on a public railcar by a deranged lunatic in Charlotte, and the Democrats wouldn’t stand to honor Iryna’s mother. “How do you not stand?” Trump asked them.

NOW - Democrats refuse to stand for Anna Zarutska, the mother of Iryna Zarutska. pic.twitter.com/rB2atshSk1

— Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) February 25, 2026

Disclose.tv on X: "NOW - Democrats refuse to stand for Anna Zarutska, the mother of Iryna Zarutska.

 Bondi slams Democrats for not standing for Iryna Zarutska, calls it 'heartbreaking'   . . . "Zarutska, originally from Ukraine, was stabbed to death on August 22 while riding a light rail train in Charlotte, North Carolina. Trump highlighted her story during his State of the Union address, and her mother was present in the chamber as he spoke about her daughter’s death and vowed justice. Many Republicans in the chamber applauded, while most Democrats remained seated during portions of the tribute. Bondi described the reaction as a missed opportunity for bipartisan empathy. “It was heartbreaking that Iryna’s mother had to experience that. That should be nonpartisan,” she said." . . .  

President Trump Outs Dems: ‘These People Are Crazy’

"More significantly, he stripped naked the out-of-touch positions of Democrats on immigration, transgenderism, and voter identification requirements. This last blow against his political opponents appeared more self-inflicted than struck by the president." . . .

White House Says Democrats Refused To Applaud Mother Of Slain Ukrainian Refugee During Trump’s SOTU Address | The Daily Caller 

Trump put Democrats between a rock and a hard place. Applaud, and earn the ire of constituents who think you’re cooperating with the devil. Sit on your hands, and appear indifferent to the sorrow of a mother who has lost her daughter. 

The Donald’s Brand-Building – And Bulldozing – State Of The Union Spectacular

 Issues & Insights 

The American Spectator

"Who knew that a State of the Union address would feature more medal ceremonies than the Winter Olympics?

"OK, it just seemed that way.  But the made-for-TV award-aganza – incredibly including, twice, America’s top military honor – was just one feature of perhaps the most spectacular event of its kind ever. 

“ 'Spectacular” in the word’s original sense, “of the nature of a spectacle or show.” As in:

• The bombastic beginning: “Our nation is back. Bigger, better, richer, and stronger than ever before.”
• The theatrical call-in of the Olympic champion U.S. men’s hockey team, followed by the stunning announcement that its goalie would receive the nation’s top civilian honor.
• Honoring another American war hero whose believe-it-or-not 100th birthday will fall squarely on America’s 250th.
• A waitress reaping thousands in tax savings from the One Big Beautiful bill, and an infertile couple realizing YUGE Trump RX (“I didn’t name it that”) discounts for IVF. 
• A Houston mom outbid on 20 homes by investment firms, a practice targeted by a Trump executive order.
• A new “Somali pirate”-inspired War on Fraud initiative to be led by VP JD. 
• An adorable five-year-old, recovered from a collision with an illegal alien truck driver granted a commercial driver’s license, whose name will grace a proposed law barring the practice. 
• Heartbroken mothers of a cheerleader slaughtered in a bathtub by another illegal, and a Ukrainian refugee slashed by a troubled career criminal.
• A beautiful teenager whom school officials tried to transition to a boy while hiding that effort from her parents. 
• The grieving but unbowed widow of the martyred Christian conservative, Charlie Kirk.
• Topped off by the heartstring-tugging reunion of a just-released Venezuelan political prisoner with the niece seeking his freedom. 

"But the chief executive’s oration was equally spectacular in achieving its dual objective: rebuilding the Republican brand for the all-important midterm elections while blunting the Democrats’ recent momentum in denting Trump’s Teflon armor.

"The president’s strategy on the former: overwhelm his nationwide audience with his extraordinary accomplishments in one short year." . . .More...

UPDATE: Trump delivered a State of the Union like a man who was indicted, impeached, and shot... - Revolver News  

"Yes, this is a man who’s been to hell and back, and he came before the American people on a very focused mission. That mission was to lay out the progress he and his team have made to undo the colossal damage from the Biden regime while also mapping out what comes next to Make America Great Again."

SOTU 2026: Now There Are Truly Two Americas

 The American Spectator

"Some six dozen Democrat lawmakers — including the AWFL Katharine Clark, the Democrats’ House Minority Whip — boycotted the State of the Union speech, evincing a level of disrespect for the president that would have been unthinkable a decade ago, and most of them were performative about the boycott"

" . . . [the horrific Al Green] left the building almost immediately after the speech began, verbally sparring with Republican House members on his way out in a gruesome, if wholly unsurprising, display of low class.

"And it turned out that Trump’s speech was a celebration not just of the Olympic hockey champions, but of Americans of every color and creed who are doing extraordinary things. This has become a standard State of the Union theme, because it’s good politics for the president and also because it’s what a country desperately needs when it’s so riven by political disagreement that simple civic functions like letting law enforcement arrest child molesters, cartel thugs, and human traffickers draw actual violent protesters out of yoga studios and PTA meetings.

"We have to be able to celebrate each other. We must relearn that politics is not religion, and that it does not solve the problems of the human soul." . . .

President Trump Outs Dems: ‘These People Are Crazy’

Trump Made the Democrats an Offer They Couldn't Refuse, But They Did

Yes, they have all of the cultural power. They have most of the wealth. What they don’t have are the people. If they did, they would not have lost to the guy they tried to impeach, throw in jail, remove from ballots, and even assassinate.

Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib Melt Into a Puddle of Rage As Trump Calls Out Dems at SOTU: ‘Should Be Ashamed’

Wearing her pro-Hamas scarf

An American patriot runs on stage during Chris Murphy's SOTU boycott: “Go Trump! Go Trump!"

🤣 pic.twitter.com/agn42K4MRT

— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) February 25, 2026

Highlights of the Trump SOTU; The State of the Union is in its best since Reagan retired.

 Don Surber

"As for the spin by Democrats and the media, why should I care? America had a great year once President Trump returned."

'President Donald John Trump took over a nation from a feeble old man 13 months ago—a nation overrun by invaders, mocked on the world stage after surrendering Afghanistan and suffering an economic malaise not seen since Jimmy Carter roamed the Oval Office.

'On Tuesday, Trump delivered a State of the Union address that was chockful of accomplishments in the Return of the Jedi President.

"Border? Closed.

"Iran’s nuclear program? Ancient history.

"DC? Cleaned of the homeless, crime and graffiti.

Deportations? 2.5 million including 1.9 million self-deporting.

"Homicides? Lowest rate since 1900 or earlier.

"Economy? Inflation is fading back to the level he left Biden the Befuddled.

"Drug overdoses? Reduced with every drug boat the Navy picks off in the Caribbean.

"War? He negotiated 8 peace agreements ending wars.

"Taxes? Trump exempted waitress tips and working overtime. He also gave us old folks a nice tax break. I just did my taxes on Turbo Tax. All I can say is thank you." . . .

"He continued: “After four years in which millions and millions of illegal aliens poured across our borders totally unvetted and unchecked, we now have the strongest and most secure border in American history by far. In the past nine months, zero illegal aliens have been admitted to the United States. But we will always allow people to come in legally, people that will love our country and will work hard to maintain our country.” . . . More...

Sunny Hostin Defends Pro-MAGA Host Against 'Outraged' Fans

2026 Mediaite  

"The View’s Sunny Hostin came to the defense of pro-MAGA View guest host Savannah Chrisley against “outraged” fans upset the conservative was invited to the table."

. . . "On Monday’s Behind the Table podcast, Hostin joined View producer Brian Teta and they both pushed back against backlash from fans upset over Chrisley taking Alyssa Farah Griffin’s seat on the show for a week. The open supporter of President Donald Trump brought an unusual pro-MAGA voice to the table, leading some fans, according to Teta, to believe the other hosts were “forced” to accept Chrisley on multiple shows.

Teta said reaction to Chrisley’s run from “more ardent” fans was “loud” and some of it personally accusing him of mandating a conservative voice on the show, something he completely dismissed.

“They were outraged at the idea that we would — they did not like the idea that there was anybody here that would be a supporter of Trump or MAGA at the table,” the producer said.

“Well, that’s what The View is. You have to be able to sit with people that, you know, voted for him three times and support him and continue to support him,” Hostin said.

"Both said they have experience dealing with pro-Trump voices because they still talk to family members who support the current administration.

"Teta told Hostin that complaining fans have been saying, “‘well, they’re being held in check. They’re being forced to do this.'”

“ 'No, this is what we do. And I think what was good about Savannah is, I think she understood that. If you go low, I go low. But if you go high, I go high. We can meet energy. And I thought her energy was pretty earnest and pretty harmless,” Hostin said.

"She acknowledged Chrisley has a very different point of view from her, but also praised her as brave and courageous for joining The View with so many opposing voices."

“I don’t know that many 28-year-old young women would be able to sit at the table,” Hostin said. “It takes a lot of courage and bravery and confidence, and she had that.”

The Five Deadly Sins of the Left

American Compass  

"After 40 years of decline, perhaps it’s time for the Left to try something new." . . .

. . . "After all, capitalism has been underperforming as an engine of prosperity since the latter part of the previous century, in terms of both the rate and distribution of growth. But these many decades of rising inequality do not appear to have benefitted the western Left. Mass publics have not seen what the Left has on offer as a plausible cure for what ails their societies and they have voted accordingly.

"It is especially striking that even the Great Financial Crisis of 2008–09 did not spur any realignment of voters toward the Left. In the greatest crisis of capitalism since the 1930s, with widespread suffering and plummeting incomes, forces of the Right benefited the most, particularly Right-populists. Of course, Right-populists are themselves vulnerable, as their significant losses in the 2018 election made clear. In 2020, they face the possible defeat of their standard-bearer, Donald Trump. But such outcomes reflect Trump’s own weaknesses more so than the Left’s ability to govern effectively or sustain a majority coalition over time. On those counts, the record for decades has been poor.

"The Left has theories about this failure. One is that the true Left has the right formula but has not been able to make its case, thanks to the pernicious influence of neoliberal incrementalism and the craven politicians who espouse it within the Democratic Party. Another is that the globalized capitalist class has become more powerful and, in alliance with a cleverer and better-organized Right, has bent societies and politicians in its direction, despite the Left’s resistance.  Still another is that, precisely because of this globalization, national Lefts cannot succeed on the level of the nation-state." . . . More...

Ruy Teixiera is a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and politics editor of the Substack newsletter, The Liberal Patriot.

Erika Kirk to Join Trump at State of the Union

 The Political Insider

"Erika Kirk, widow of assassinated conservative leader Charlie Kirk and now CEO of Turning Point USA, attends President Trump's State of the Union as a special guest tonight. Trump honors her late husband, whom he called a "martyr for American freedom" after his September 2025 shooting at a Utah campus event, and plans to spotlight a revival of faith while condemning political violence that has plagued patriots like Kirk and Trump himself after the 2024 Butler rally attempt."

Related Coverage

WebsiteErika Kirk will attend State of the Union and be featured in Trump's speech — The Blaze

WebsiteThat ‘tax loophole’ might be the reason America still builds things — The Blaze

SubstackICE Detention Centers Face Huge Backlash—Before They’ve Even Been Built — The Bulwark

Recess Rules: Democrats Are the Playground Bullies, and Republicans Keep Handing Over Their Lunch Money

Will Republicans Ever Grow A Backbone? – GrrrGraphics

"Traditions? Buddy, the only tradition here is the Republicans playing nice while Democrats play dirty."

"Remember when Donald Trump had everyone chanting “Lock her up!” during his 2016 campaign? During one debate, he told Hillary she should be in jail, but once he was elected he turned kind and forgiving and even said Clinton was a ’nice lady.’ Trump played nice and what did get for it? Hillary was NOT nice—she played it mean and triggered the Russia collusion hoax, which clouded his first term. He’s learned his lesson now—he lives by the acronym, ‘FAFO.’

"Too many other Republicans claim they are taking the high road and being statesmen, but in fact their non-confrontational approach is seen by Democrats as being wimpy. Republicans get swat-teamed while Democrat suspects get asked politely to show up before a Democrat judge—who promptly lets them off the hook.

"The Democrats can disrupt, threaten violence, hurl vile insults at conservatives and break the law with impunity. Obama used security agencies to spy on the Trump campaign. Nothing happened. They outright stole the 2020 election. Nothing happens. They can shut down the government and walk out on Trump’s SOTU speeches without consequences. The Democrats are the bully in a schoolyard in dire need of a punch in the nose, but the Republicans are not up to that task. They’re the skinny, nerdy kid with the thick glasses, pocket protector, and self-help books who gets threatened by the Democrats. What do the Republicans do about it? Nothing.

"That’s exactly what’s happening right now with the SAVE America Act—the commonsense bill that says, “Hey, maybe voters should prove they’re actual American citizens before registering.” It sailed through the House like a well-aimed spitball, backed by President Trump and every Republican who can count to 218. But in the Senate? Cue the dramatic music. Senate Majority Leader John Thune and the GOP crew have 50 votes locked in—enough to move it forward—but Democrats are threatening the filibuster like it’s their favorite wedgie move. “You want this to pass? Gotta get 60 votes or talk us to death!” they sneer, while Republicans stand there clutching their binders, mumbling about “bipartisan decorum” and “Senate traditions.”   

Why Democrats fight so hard for their illegals; Dems have now figured out how to use other people’s money to buy human beings.

 M. Walter - American Thinker

"Who says Democrats can't learn? 

"Back in the 19th century when the Democrats actually, physically owned human beings, they had to pay for them themselves. They not only had to pay for them up front, but then pay to transport them, house them, feed them, and care for them (to the extent that they did at all, simply to preserve their investment). And they did all this in their own backyards. Literally. On their own plantations. 

"Now? Well, we don’t have those kinds of plantations anymore. Nowadays we call those plantations “key congressional districts.” And we now call those slaves “illegal immigrants.” They are collected deposited like so much chattel in key congressional districts Democrats need to keep or turn blue. And, crucially, Democrats now use other people’s money — our tax dollars, specifically — to import, house, feed, and care for these human beings. In that regard nothing’s really changed: Human beings still cost money. Lots of it. 

"At first some of us wondered why Somalis (for instance) were being dumped, en masse, in places like Minneapolis or Portland, Maine, but now we know why. You almost have to admire it, it’s so cynically perfect. They needed warm bodies for votes (and money-laundering). 

"Joe Biden and Democrat governors gave them all Social Security cards and drivers’ licenses — with motor-voter registration — because, really, who’s gonna know? Worse, who at the DMV is gonna even care? Why Democrats fight so hard for their illegals. . . 

M. Walter blogs at www.mwalterwriter.com

Gavin Newsom a ripe candidate for Parody

 Gavin Newsom's Presidential Ambitions Sunk After Nation Discovers He's The One Running California | Babylon Bee

"SACRAMENTO, CA — Governor Gavin Newsom's presidential prospects tanked sharply this week after the nation finally realized he was the guy running California.

Though long considered one of the leading candidates to win the Democratic nomination in 2028, Newsom's chances took a devastating hit once everyone discovered he was the one who had been ruining California for the last several years.

"Oh, that was him?" voter Randal Caspian said. "I didn't realize he was the governor of that state. California isn't really the state I want to model the entire country on. That place is the worst."

Many other Americans expressed similar feelings of surprise after learning Newsom is the one running the Golden State. New data showed that once people learned Newsom runs California, his prospects of winning the election evaporated.

"Yikes, that's awful." American Rachel Robinson said. "He looks qualified, he's got hair and a nice smile, I guess. He can talk. But I didn't realize he was the Governor of California. Didn't part of their state just sort of, like, burn to the ground last year?"

Other voters admitted they thought Newsom was in charge of something entirely different this whole time.

"I thought that guy was the CEO of Wendy's or something." Clark Gardner admitted. "He's the one behind the wheel in California? Oh, nope. Can't let him be in charge of the entire country."

At publishing time, Gavin Newsom asked his advisors if he could get in touch with someone about becoming the CEO of Wendy's.    End quote