OK, so…what did we think? First: thank you to everyone who pulled up to the Subtext watch party and live-texted your way through President Donald Trump’s record-length, 107-minute State of the Union. Misery loves company.

My take: I thought Trump mostly hit the notes he had to hit, had strong visual moments, stayed on message (for him), and came across more or less in command. I’ve also watched so many Trump speeches at this point in my life I think I know his mannerisms better than my own wife’s. Like when he starts to do the thing where he breathes in through his bottom teeth? That means he’s getting tired.

It's safe to say my lively Subtext group don't find such mannerisms endearing, but at least they kept me sane.

The chat basically split into two camps: the “good TV” caucus and the “turn it off before I throw my phone” coalition. And then there was the pure, uncut despair, which Cheryl voiced perfectly:

“I don't think I can stand listening to this pack of delusions. So many, who can name them all!!!!! This is all about Trump praising Trump. Congress doesn't exist anymore for him.”

“I don't think I can stand listening to this pack of delusions. So many, who can name them all!!!!! This is all about Trump praising Trump. Congress doesn't exist anymore for him.”

Timothy responded to what might’ve been the biggest actual-news morsel of the night: Trump saying “we” took down a cartel kingpin in Mexico. And he immediately went full foreign-policy-brain about it, and called on the president to give his Mexican counterpart some credit.

“Yes. I'd like to see Trump compliment Sheinbaum. She led the very tough dangerous task. It's hard to take care of the bully. She and the team did it. And I'm glad that the U.S. is on that team even within Mexico. Not U.S. troops on foreign sovereign land, just intelligence.If only Trump knew that giving others credit when due is the way to soar in getting respect. And for future continued progress.”

“Yes. I'd like to see Trump compliment Sheinbaum. She led the very tough dangerous task. It's hard to take care of the bully. She and the team did it. And I'm glad that the U.S. is on that team even within Mexico. Not U.S. troops on foreign sovereign land, just intelligence.

If only Trump knew that giving others credit when due is the way to soar in getting respect. And for future continued progress.”

Also: a recurring theme raised by Linda was the parade of SOTU “guests” and "awards." Linda put it bluntly.

"Why does Trump insist on parading these people, some even young children, in front of everyone? Many are still grieving. There doesn't seem any purpose to this except to allow Trump to talk about anything except the true "State of the Union". As far as the awards, he could hold an Awards ceremony."

"Why does Trump insist on parading these people, some even young children, in front of everyone? Many are still grieving. There doesn't seem any purpose to this except to allow Trump to talk about anything except the true "State of the Union". As far as the awards, he could hold an Awards ceremony."

I chimed in that I hate the SOTU guest segment because it feels exploitative, and Linda replied with what might be the most relatable line of the night:

“I’m glad it just wasn’t me.”

“I’m glad it just wasn’t me.”

If this sounds like your kind of fun, Subtext is a new service that allows Newsweek members to contact me directly via text message. Here's how to sign up in two simple steps:

If you aren't already (why not?), become a Newsweek member by signing up here for just $4.99 a month.

Then join me on Subtext here for free. It really is that easy.

I also said on our Subtext chat that I think the opposition party should boycott the SOTU as a matter of principle, regardless of who's POTUS. It's the president's night, just let him have it. No lame "response," no heckling from the cheap seats. Just don't show up. It's all a big dog and pony show anyway now. Why participate? At the very least, they shouldn't make the Supreme Court justices go. That just looks like torture, having to figure out exactly when to clap or sit still so you look patriotic...but not partisan. I feel for them. Anyway, a few of you pushed back on that in the chat, telling me that it's important for what's left of any chance of bipartisanship that everyone show up, even if only to sit in stone-cold silence. Point taken.  

As for the style, Trump produced some good TV. I loved how he brought out the men's hockey team fresh off their gold medal win over Canada. On Subtext, someone mentioned there was some kind of controversy around this? I didn't even clock it. The little SOTU stunts with people in the audience play right into Trump's knack for showmanship. He also executed a masterful troll by calling on everyone in the room to stand if they agreed that “the first duty of the American government is to protect American citizens, not illegal aliens.” This put Democrats—at least those Dems who showed up—in the awkward position of either standing and appearing to support the man they think is the devil incarnate, or keeping their butts in their seats and providing a visual tableau that will assuredly be used against them in the fall.  

When it comes to substance, I think Trump missed some opportunities. When you consider the speech as a whole, it was very backward-looking. I appreciated that he didn't throw out a bunch of pie-in-the-sky policy proposals that will never happen, but he didn't exactly give a big, stirring reason for any non-MAGA diehards to vote R in November. I didn't note any big vision for the remainder of his term. There was no call on Congress to get off its ass and help him pass legislation on tariffs, or immigration, or AI, or...anything. No call for a bipartisan war powers resolution on Iran. It was just a laundry list of things he alone did, or claimed to do, mixed in with a lot of bashing of his predecessor. There was nothing, really, about the future. If I were a struggling, low-information voter who tuned in to hear what the president was doing for my money, I would come away disappointed. (Abigail Spanberger essentially made this point in her perfectly fine response.) 

But let's be real. This will be forgotten by the end of the week. All in all, Trump hit his marks, didn't go wildly off script to attack a SCOTUS justice, and got through nearly 2 hours mostly unscathed. Spanberger did her main job in the response (don't go viral), as well as her secondary job (mention 'affordability' as many times as you can). Many of the Democrats in the room did not comport themselves particularly well. Al Green and his golden cane got kicked out for the second year in a row. Rashida Tlaib appeared to mouth "KKK" during a "USA" chant, which is really not helpful. The "Squad" never misses an opportunity to make their party look bad. Susie Wiles is surely breathing a sigh of relief this morning, but whether she can keep her boss on-message through the campaign season—or even the week—is another question.  

In a polarized era, the center is dismissed as bland. At Newsweek, ours is different: The Courageous Center—it's not "both sides," it's sharp, challenging and alive with ideas. We follow facts, not factions. If that sounds like the kind of journalism you want to see thrive, we need you.When you become a Newsweek Member, you support a mission to keep the center strong and vibrant. Members enjoy: Ad-free browsing, exclusive content and editor conversations. Help keep the center courageous. Join today.

In a polarized era, the center is dismissed as bland. At Newsweek, ours is different: The Courageous Center—it's not "both sides," it's sharp, challenging and alive with ideas. We follow facts, not factions. If that sounds like the kind of journalism you want to see thrive, we need you.

When you become a Newsweek Member, you support a mission to keep the center strong and vibrant. Members enjoy: Ad-free browsing, exclusive content and editor conversations. Help keep the center courageous. Join today.

© Newsweek