State of the Union stakes? Sky high.
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President Joe Biden will deliver the State of the Union address on the five-month anniversary of the war in Gaza. And a power company acknowledged it likely played a role in sparking a massive Texas wildfire.
👋 Hey there! Laura Davis here. Let’s get going with Wednesday’s news.
But first: Floating a ban. 🎈 Why letting go of a balloon could soon be illegal in Florida.
Stakes are sky high for Biden's State of the Union
As President Joe Biden looks to silence skeptics about his ability to keep serving, convince restless Americans of a strong economy, and reestablish the stakes of a likely rematch against Donald Trump, it's clear his State of the Union address on Thursday will be pivotal. 🔎 A look at how it will set the tone for a race against Trump.
🎤 What he's talking about: Themes Biden will touch on include lowering health care premiums and the cost of prescription drugs, making the wealthy and corporations pay their fair share and protecting women’s reproductive health.
Follow our live updates. The State of the Union address starts at 9 p.m. ET.
⚓️ All that, plus: As the humanitarian crisis rages in Gaza, Biden will also announce that the U.S. is launching an emergency mission to establish a port that can receive large shipments of aid.
After 5 months of war in Gaza, grows the situation for Palestinians grows more dire by the day.
🗣️ Some advice for Biden: "What he needs to try to do is begin to shape a narrative about the upcoming election because right now he's on his heels. This is an opportunity to push back," said political scientist William Howell.
Play along at home with our State of the Union bingo cards!
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How did the Texas Panhandle wildfires start?
A utility company on Thursday acknowledged its role in sparking the largest wildfire in Texas history, which has burned for almost two weeks, claimed two lives, destroyed hundreds of buildings and killed thousands of cattle. Minnesota-based Xcel Energy also said it "disputes claims that it acted negligently," likely addressing a lawsuit filed last week that alleges a dilapidated power pole operated by a subsidiary of the company collapsed and started the historic blaze.
A swath of destruction: A cluster of wildfires broke out on Feb. 26 in the Texas Panhandle and quickly spread, fueled by unseasonably dry conditions and strong winds. The Smokehouse Creek Fire – the largest of the blazes – has ripped through over 1,650 square miles, more than five times the land area of New York City. 👉 Everything we know.
A DIY airport security scan
Imagine this: You make your way through the airport security line, send your bags through the scanner, empty your pockets and go through a body scanner – all with little to no interaction with a TSA agent.
Check yourself: Airport security that basically looks like a grocery store self-checkout lane could be a reality in the not-too-distant future. The Transportation Security Administration is running a six-month trial of self-serve security screening pods at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas. 🧳 Here's what to know.
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Laura L. Davis is an Audience Editor at USA TODAY. Say hello: laura@usatoday.com. Support quality journalism like this? Subscribe to USA TODAY here.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: State of the Union, Texas wildfires, TSA self-screening: Thursday's news
