The Morning Meeting (2WAY)

Episode: AOC, Adam Schiff to Join 30-Plus Democrats to Skip Trump's State of the Union for Anti-Trump Rally

Date: February 24, 2026
Host: Mark Halperin
Panelists: Larry O'Connor, Kevin Walling

Episode Overview

This episode, airing on the morning of President Donald Trump’s scheduled State of the Union address, offers a real-time newsroom-style look at the political, policy, and cultural dynamics shaping the day's biggest stories. The show dives into what to expect from the State of the Union (SOTU), the evolving rituals of presidential communication, Democratic counterstrategies—including the anti-Trump rally organized by over 30 members including AOC and Adam Schiff—and provides a behind-the-scenes guide to the news cycle. The panel also covers side stories such as the ongoing situation in Ukraine, fresh controversies for politicians like Gavin Newsom, and sobering domestic news.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. State of the Union: Context & Expectations

[08:20; 09:25; 10:13]

• Historical Significance & Format:

  • SOTU framed not as the “Super Bowl of Politics” but the “People’s Choice award of politics.” Emphasis on spectacle and tradition.
  • Unique elements this year: governor of Virginia giving Democratic response, U.S. Men’s Hockey Team attending, and notable guests in the First Lady’s box.
  • The anchor luncheon before the speech—a tradition evolving with media, now less exclusive and more on-the-record.

• Trump’s Approach:

  • Mark: “President Trump has broken the mold on a million things... he didn’t do [traditional policy teases] very much in the first term. In this speech... I see one single policy that’s being advertised as being in the speech.” [19:09]
  • Narrative expected: contrast between “where we were a year ago” and present accomplishments, especially on the border and economy.
  • Likely emotional moments, celebration of “great American heroes,” ambitious agenda for working-class Americans. [08:32]

• Democratic Strategies & the Optics of Protest:

  • Noted that 30+ Democrats, including AOC and Adam Schiff, plan to skip the SOTU in favor of an anti-Trump rally.
  • Panelists urge Democrats: if showing up, avoid disruptive behavior (walkouts, heckling) that could backfire optically. [12:03–12:44]
  • Kevin: “If we’re screwing around on the floor or walking out or heckling, that does nothing to support our cause.” [12:23]

• Speech Predictions & Post-Speech Spin:

  • Length of speech debated: estimates range from 70 minutes to 118 minutes. [28:24–28:52]
  • “There’ll be some great Made for TV moments.” [27:28]
  • After-speech narrative will be shaped by who’s on TV afterwards to interpret the speech for millions. Reference to Van Jones’s emotional response to Trump’s first SOTU. [27:28–28:21]

2. Major Policy Topics in Focus

a) AI and Energy: “Ratepayer Protection Pledges”

[19:09–23:46]

• Trump set to announce a new policy requiring tech companies to pay increased electricity costs where new AI data centers are built.
• Mark: “It’s a questionable constitutionality as far as I’m concerned.”
• Larry: “Many of them are meant to sort of offer ideas of a political nature but might not pass muster legislatively or constitutionally.”
• Discussion of why Trump’s team doesn’t preview policies: to prevent critics from organizing counterattacks before the president frames them.

b) The Economy & Deficit

[46:36–53:01]

• Guest segment: Richard Coffin of USAFacts visualizes federal finances ahead of the SOTU:
  • 2025 revenue: $5.3 trillion; spending: $7.1 trillion (60% mandatory programs, 14% interest on debt); deficit: $1.8 trillion [47:38–51:02]
  • Interest on national debt nearly equals military budget. “It’s now the size of entire programs.” [51:02]
  • Mark: “No president submits a balanced budget, including this one.” [50:12]

c) Foreign Policy

[29:06–32:18]

• Iran: Imminent talks, speculation on motives behind leaks from Pentagon officials—head fakes or genuine attempts to forestall/shape military action.
• Ukraine: Four years after Russia’s invasion; U.S. aiming for July 4th deal to pair with America’s 250th anniversary.
  • “[Russia] has not had a great deal time of it recently... the global oil market right now is not helping Putin.” [31:28–31:48]
• China: Professor Kenny calls in to emphasize the need for U.S. focus on China’s technology and trade moves, including the chips/Taiwan situation.
  • Kevin: “[China and Russia] are making huge investments in the global south... that’s why we’re trying to onshore so much of the chip manufacturing from Taiwan.” [44:31]

3. Political & Media Subplots

a) Media Coverage & Anchor Lunch Tradition

[24:33–27:28]

• Brief history of the anchor lunch, once an off-the-record session for TV news legends, now larger, more contentious, and occasionally on-the-record by presidential fiat.
• Expansion correlated with rise of cable/digital news, diluting exclusivity.
• Mark: “Trump said halfway through the lunch, hey, let’s just put this on the record.”

b) Gavin Newsom Under Fire

[34:34–42:10]

• Newsom’s book launch is overshadowed by controversy over SAT/dyslexia comments, accusations of pandering, and combative responses (including “fuck off” from his communications chief).
• Newsom’s own explicit Twitter retort to Sean Hannity read on air:
  • “Spare me your fake fucking outrage, Sean.” [36:40]
• Panel debate: Does fighting like Trump (profanity, pugnacity) help or hurt Newsom, especially among exhausted voters?

4. Notable and Emotional Moments

a) Savannah’s Video Plea about Her Missing Mother

[13:23–17:30]

• Emotional segment with Savannah offering a $1 million family reward for leads on her missing mother and announcing a $500,000 donation to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
• First time Savannah openly acknowledges the possibility her mother may be dead.
  • “We also know that she may be lost. She may have already gone home to the Lord that she loves... If this is what is to be, then we will accept it. But we need to know where she is.” (Savannah) [13:45]
• Kevin: “Just a heartbreaking... you can see how her face is drawn... it is just awful and tragic.” [17:48]

b) Live Audience/Call-in Segment

[42:28–45:28; 53:30–58:10]

• Professor Kenny highlights the risk of U.S. underestimating China—panel concurs.
• Call-in question about the constitutionality of energy rate policies and SCOTUS—Walt, an attorney, brings constitutional perspective.

5. Congressional & Political Intrigue

• Rep. Gonzalez, TX: Facing allegations over an affair and staffer suicide; panel expects him to be out by next week’s primary. [33:14–34:14]
• Democratic Primary in Maine: Graham Platner leads Janet Mills; possible implications for Susan Collins’s Senate reelection. [59:23–60:15]
• Epstein Survivors Attending SOTU: Coordinated by Democratic members to highlight issues of abuse and justice. [06:56]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• SOTU Preview & Conventional Wisdom – [08:20–10:13]
• Policy Preview “Ratepayer Protection Pledges” – [19:09–23:46]
• Anchor Lunch Tradition & Media Dynamics – [24:33–27:28]
• Speech Length Discussion/Bets – [28:24–28:52]
• Iran/Ukraine Foreign Policy – [29:06–32:18]
• Newsom Controversy, Media Response – [34:34–42:10]
• Savannah’s Heartfelt Appeal – [13:23–17:30]
• USAFacts Federal Budget Data – [46:36–53:01]
• Live Call-ins (Professor Kenny, Walt) – [42:28–45:28; 53:30–58:10]
• Political Horse Race (Platner in Maine, Gonzalez in TX) – [59:23–60:15]

Memorable Quotes

• “We seek the story of our future.” — Kevin [00:46]
• “It’s not the Super Bowl of politics. It’s more like the People’s Choice award.” — Mark [00:52]
• “If we’re screwing around on the floor or walking out or heckling, that does nothing to support our cause.” — Kevin [12:23]
• “He [Trump] didn’t do [policy teases] very much in the first term... this is quite unusual to not be forecasting stuff.” — Mark [19:09]
• “Many of [Trump’s policies] are meant to offer ideas of a political nature but might not pass muster legislatively or constitutionally.” — Larry [21:00]
• “I think flash means more than substance with all this.” — Kevin [22:22]
• "This proves the adage that someone said the United States is a health insurance company with nuclear weapons." — Kevin [49:39]
• “Spare me your fake fucking outrage, Sean.” — Gavin Newsom, quoted by Mark [36:40]
• “If this isn’t your thing, don’t try and play into it just to be on his [Trump’s] level.” — Kevin [40:02]
• “We also know that she [Savannah’s mother] may be lost. She may already be gone. ... But we need to know where she is.” — Savannah [13:45]
• “China’s always there whether you hear it as a big thrust of the president’s daily speech or not.” — Larry [43:49]
• “The deficit was about $1.8 trillion this year... certainly still one of the higher deficits we’ve run.” — Richard Coffin, USAFacts [50:31]

Tone & Style

The show is a blend of newsroom candidness, policy wonkishness, and cutting political banter, punctuated by passionate asides (especially on Newsom, Trump, and personal stories like Savannah’s). The panelists—and host Mark—shift seamlessly between gallows humor and serious analysis, welcoming listener calls for dynamic exchanges.

For Listeners

This episode provides a comprehensive preview of the State of the Union—including expected themes, political theater, media dynamics, and underlying policy stories (AI, economy, global affairs). It’s both a guide to the day’s news and a window into how decision-makers, journalists, and politicians game out the events that shape America’s political moment.

Useful links & further info:

• State of the Union in numbers: USAFacts.org/State-Of-The-Union
• Daily Mail & 2WAY post-SOTU coverage livestream: 8:30pm ET

Summary covers segment times: [00:49]–[62:39], skipping ads and extended banter/outros per instructions.