Biden Brings the Fire

Our State of the Union takeaways. March 8, 2024 Good morning! We’ll start in D.C. with [the key takeaways from last night’s State of the Union]( address. Then, I’m heading to Austin for SXSW, where I’ll be co-headlining [an exciting panel on women in media](. We’ve also got some essential reading for International Women’s Day, including [a moving meditation on the value of domestic labor]( and [13 empowering movies about female figures](. And just in time to change the clocks, we’re looking at [which states want to end daylight saving time](. Read on!   In the News [President Biden]( Getty Images Biden Brings the Fire The stakes couldn't have been higher for President Biden's third State of the Union address. With the election looming and doubts about his fitness for office abounding, he had to reassure, energize — and warn his audience. [Here's how it went]([.]( Touting his achievements: Biden drew attention to lower inflation and an unexpectedly strong job market, stating: “It doesn’t make the news, but in thousands of cities and towns the American people are writing the greatest comeback story never told." Dire warnings: Biden invoked the threat of conflict, declaring: "What makes our moment rare is the freedom of democracy, under attack both at home and overseas.” He didn't mention Donald Trump by name, but referred 13 times to "my predecessor," lambasting Trump's lax attitude towards President Putin and his lie that the 2020 election was stolen. “You can’t love your country only when you win,” he said. We've got more on all this, the GOP's rebuttal, and how Biden handled concerns about his age, reproductive rights, and an unscripted interruption by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene](. [READ MORE](   More Stories [Migrants walk on a dirt road after crossing the nearby border with Mexico near the Jacumba Hot Springs on February 23, 2024 in San Diego, California.]( Protesters mark International Women's Day by calling for the release of female hostages in Gaza. (Getty Images) Israel-Hamas war: The U.S. military is constructing a floating pier to deliver aid to Gaza by sea as civilians struggle to feed their families amid the Israeli onslaught. Negotiators had hoped to reach a temporary ceasefire deal before the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, but that's looking increasingly unlikely. New revelations: A laboratory studying the brain of the gunman responsible for [Maine's deadliest mass shooting]( has discovered cell damage comparable to that seen in veterans who've repeatedly been exposed to weapons blasts. It's unknown whether this damage was responsible for Robert Card's altered behavior before the 2023 shooting, but the report said "It is likely that brain injury played a role in his symptoms.” Skin in the game: More and more women are participating in scientific patents, according to data analyzing trends since the year 2000. Though this is hopeful progress, there's still a huge gap between the number of inventions involving men and the number involving women. This has an important knock-on effect: A 2021 study published in the journal Nature revealed that fewer women inventors in biotech results in fewer health products for women.   Saddle Up! [Nancu Yuen, Meghan Markle, Katie Couric and Brooke Shields]( Getty Images / KCM I'm kicking off my SXSW adventure in Austin, Texas, this afternoon with a keynote panel you do not want to miss — and it‘s perfectly timed for International Women’s Day. Joining me for an important conversation about women in media are Meghan, Duchess of Sussex; acting legend Brooke Shields; sociologist Nancy Wang Yuen; and our moderator, Errin Haines, editor-at-large of The 19th News. You can [stream the conversation live right here]( at 2 p.m. Eastern, and we'll have a recap in tomorrow's Wake-Up Call.   International Women's Day [Illustrations of women]( Getty Images / KCM International Women's Day is about recognizing women's social, economic, cultural, and political achievements — but it's also meant to shine a light on issues they face. So we're highlighting some necessary reading: - Women in the workforce face a unique combination of sexism and ageism — and it impacts their careers at every stage. Here's more on [what this discrimination means for your career]( and how to fight it. - Many wives and moms automatically assume the homemaker role. In [this moving essay](, a writer reflects on her mother's legacy and the often under-appreciated value of domestic work. - My pal Joanne Lipman makes a fascinating case about why the record increase in working women is our economy’s secret weapon in [this feature for TIME](. - Then, celebrate and honor the contributions made by important ladies in history by checking out [these 13 movies about powerful female figures](.   In Conversation Tomorrow morning, [I'm joining SHE Media at SXSW]( for an important conversation about rare diseases and how we treat them. I'll chat with a panel of esteemed experts (including Tania Simoncelli, vice president of Science in Society at the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative) about accelerating research around these puzzling illnesses and supporting the families affected by them. And stay tuned — we'll bring you highlights from this thought-provoking event soon!   Extra Credit Spring forward: Will there ever be a time when we don't have to change the clocks? We've got a list of [the states trying to end daylight saving time](. Crunch time: Salads don't have to be sad. This [flavorful sesame ginger dish](, inspired by the recipe from a famous NYC diner, is a party for your palette. Sleep tight: Tossing and turning at night? This National Sleep Awareness Month, we're sharing [25 products that can help you get some rest](.   Good Buys [twenty/twenty lash serum, model wearing gray Jenni Kayne cashmere sweater, briogeo curl charisma]( KCM We're showing some extra love to these trailblazing female-focused brands today — and we think you'll enjoy their stellar products year-round. - [Jenni Kayne]( is known for their high-quality cashmere, though this brand is all about elevated basics of all kinds. - Ophthalmologist Dr. Diane Hilal Campo created [twenty/twenty beauty]( to provide healthy, eye-safe makeup options. - Born out of a tiny East Village apartment, [Briogeo]( is now a haircare powerhouse that uses clean ingredients to help everyone have their best hair days.   [Ripple Effect by Katie Couric Media](   Thank you for reading Wake-Up Call and being part of our community! If you have questions or comments, drop us a line at info@katiecouric.cominfo@katiecouric.com. See you tomorrow! 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