(Jacquelyn Martin / AP; NBC News) Republicans are quick to suggest that President Joe Biden has lost a step, but he proved nimble enough Tuesday night to box them in on Social Security and Medicare. And he did it, in part, by going off script, Jonathan Allen writes in an analysis. Nearly halfway through his State of the Union address, Biden said some Republicans want the two programs to "sunset every five years" and that others would like to use the possibility of defaulting on federal debt as leverage to cut those programs. Republicans jeered. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene yelled, "Liar!" At first, Biden argued back. Then, he simply accepted the response as agreement from the GOP to keep the programs intact. There's a duality to what sounded like a snap policy victory for Biden, Allen writes. Biden may have protected Medicare and Social Security, but he also made it harder to campaign on the idea that Republicans are bent on destroying those programs. But more importantly, as the president gears up to run for reelection, he demonstrated his mental dexterity — and seemed sharper without a script. Read the full analysis here. More highlights and analysis from the State of the Union: Key takeaways: Biden boasts about his wins and lays out populist 2024 themes In the Republican response, Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders drew a significant contrast with Biden. Biden says his economic agenda is working. The public is skeptical. Sen. Mitt Romney called Rep. George Santos a "sick puppy" who should have been "sitting in the back row" during the speech. |