Beyond Politics: Trump Needs a Not-So-Trumpy State of the Union
The State of the Union is one of those grand traditions of the American Republic. The spectacle and political theater. The time-honored practices that have evolved over the last century into a made for tv event showcasing the strength and stability of our government. A welcoming of the nation’s chief executive by the Legislative Branch and in the presence of the Judicial, it’s a thrill every time it’s delivered. When I was a kid, I snuck out of bed into my parents’ bedroom and watched it on a black and white television with rabbit ears. It’s always an event.
In today’s age of digital media, it is a rather unique moment each year in that all the major broadcast and cable networks carry it live. For any president it is still an enormous opportunity to speak to a massive audience at once. Large majorities will watch clips on their phones for 24-48 hours afterward.