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Charles Kushner reaches out to French foreign minister after protocol breach International | 3 minutes ago

Opinion Dozens of Dems boycotting State of the Union; Jeffries urges restraint  Opinions - Lindsey's Lens | 3 minutes ago

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Dozens of Dems boycotting State of the Union; Jeffries urges restraint 

Democrats are walking into this year’s State of the Union with a real dilemma: How do you oppose Donald Trump without making him the center of your resistance?  

Last year, the images were unforgettable. Members holding signs. Lawmakers walking out mid-speech. Al Green standing, pointing his cane toward the president, heckling him and ultimately being escorted out. It was dramatic. It was viral. It also became the story.  

This year, Democratic leadership wants something different. What Hakeem Jeffries is calling “silent defiance.” Fewer theatrics. More discipline. But unity? That’s still a work in progress.  

Some Democrats aren’t going at all.  

Here’s what Sen. Ruben Gallego said:  

“Right now this country is hurting. You know, whether it’s what’s happening in Minnesota, whether it’s our families trying to make every dollar stretch longer, whether its veterans trying to make sure they their benefits don’t get cut by this administration. There’s a lot of work to be done, and it’s not gonna happen in that chamber for two hours when the president’s just gonna be using that bully pulpit as a way to just push further and further his agenda.”  

Connecticut Rep. Jim Himes is also skipping it. “I’ve never missed a #SOTU. But I’m sick of Trump’s lies, boasts and attacks on our democracy. This Tuesday, I’ll be at the People’s State of the Union with @MoveOn and @MeidasTouch, standing up for healthcare, affordability and decency.”  

Instead, many Democrats are leading counterprogramming on the National Mall — the “People’s State of the Union,” hosted by Katie Phang and Joy Reid and organized by MeidasTouch and MoveOn Civic Action. Others will attend the “State of the Swamp,” featuring lawmakers like Ron Wyden and Eric Swalwell alongside celebrities including Robert De Niro and Don Lemon.  

Meanwhile, inside the chamber, some members will sit quietly. And a few could test leadership’s request for restraint.  

Here’s the bigger question: When everyone is resisting in their own way, is the message amplified, or diluted?  

Democrats are fresh off reassuring election wins and are trying to mobilize every part of their coalition ahead of the midterms. That means progressives, moderates, suburban voters, young activists, all of it. But when the strategy splinters, the optics can look like too many cooks in the kitchen.  

Which brings us to the official response. Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger will deliver it. She’s a moderate who won her race by the largest margin for a Democrat in Virginia in six decades. That choice is not accidental.  

It suggests party leaders may believe the path forward isn’t louder resistance, but broader appeal. Not viral moments, but suburban margins. Not confrontation, but contrast.   

The Democratic Party is still deciding whether its future runs through its loudest voices or its most electable ones. This State of the Union won’t just test their opposition to Trump, it will test whether they can present a clear, unified vision of what comes next.  

Lindsey Granger is a NewsNation contributor and co-host of The Hill’s commentary show “Rising.” This column is an edited transcription of her on-air commentary.   

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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