Stakes Are High for Biden’s Historic Address to Congress

JOE BIDEN’s first address before a joint session of Congress will make history on a few different fronts: He’ll deliver a speech more than a year into the pandemic with the smallest audience in recent memory and a backdrop of two women sitting behind a president for the first time.

His prime-time speech on Wednesday night comes together after a months-long delay in order to safely convene but now coincides almost exactly with his 100th day in office – a symbolic marker the administration has used to set certain benchmarks as it pertains to defeating the coronavirus and fulfilling campaign promises either through legislation or executive order.

But the unprecedented and unusual nature of the rite of passage for nascent presidencies reflects the moment America is in as it confronts multiple crises, an increasingly polarized electorate and slow but steady efforts toward social progress and equity.

Biden will likely strike