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News 12 Staff

LIREPUBREACT22526_2026-02-25-08-16-50

Both sides of the aisle about the State of the Union. And joining us right now is Republican Congressman Nick Lalota. Congressman, thanks for joining us. Do you think the president did enough to make the case when, as you know, you're hearing it, there are so many who are concerned about affordability? Yeah, good morning, Erin. Good morning, Rich. Good to be with you from my DC office this morning. Yes, uh, I believe the president properly communicated to both the Congress and the American people that the State of the Union is strong. We are on the right track on this economy. And by the way, not just the claim, but he enumerated the evidence behind that claim. Not only is the stock market up 15% since he was elected and all the 401k s and the IRAs and 62% of the investments that Americans have are up. But inflation is down. It used to be 4.95% under Biden. It's 2.6% now under Trump. Thirty-year mortgage rates went from about 7% to 6%, saving the average Long Islander about $500 a month in borrowing costs, gas prices. are down. We're not there yet. We still have more work to do, but the policies that Trump and Republicans here in Washington are implementing are helping everyday Americans afford life a little bit better. You were there. It seemed very divisive at times, many Democrats not standing at all. Many Republicans standing up and clapping. Did you feel that in the crowd? Well, I'm feeling my legs be a little tired this morning from all the standing and sitting and standing and sitting. It felt like a very long church session. Uh, but nevertheless, yes, unfortunately, politically speaking, our nation is divided. Uh, we've come to a point where, you know, Trump could cure cancer and his political adversaries would say he's putting doctors out of jobs. It's, it's unfortunate that, My colleagues from their side of the aisle, many of whom I have a friendship with, couldn't stand for celebrating some of those economic successes, public safety successes, um, the murder rate nationwide is way, way down, the border is secure. We have asserted American strength properly overseas, uh, in Iran, and Venezuela, and brought our troops home safely each time. These are things everybody should stand for, putting American citizens first. But we live in a very divisive time and I'm hoping that temperatures cool a little bit here at least at some point in time. And Nick, real quickly, you spoke about, uh, Democrats not standing at all. There, there was one who was caught sleeping. This has happened before. Both Long Islanders, um, I, I don't know if you caught that. I just maybe a warning. You don't get caught sleeping because you may be next. It was this trend. I got my coffee right here. I'm, I'm fired. Fired up. Uh, it's a cool job that we have here. Uh, yeah, sure, it's, it was a long speech, my understanding, it was a record speech last night. Perhaps that will, that will be a reason cited for a little bit of sleepiness, but, uh, I'm fired up. I was excited about the speech. The midterms are around the corner where the president outlined the successes that, uh, our party has had, uh, and the policy wins we've had, of course, uh, celebrate American patriotism, the gold medal hockey. Uh, players were there. Uh, two military guys, one from the Korean War who shot down 4 Soviet MiGs, got his, uh, medal upgraded from a Navy Cross to a Medal of Honor. Tremendous honor for anybody to get, especially at the State of the Union Army helicopter pilot during that operation in Venezuela, taking gunfire to his leg while, uh, delivering troops in that area. Uh, a lot of things to be proud about, uh, that, that were, uh, outlined last night.

https://vod.prod.alticeustech.com/transcode/b00220ed-d524-46f3-ab4a-9d2cb72b8d01/b00220ed-d524-46f3-ab4a-9d2cb72b8d01.transcribe

U.S. President Donald Trump delivered his State of the Union address Thursday night, and local lawmakers are having their say.

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