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Announcing MeidasTouch & MoveOn’s “People’s State of the Union” Counterprogramming with hosts Katie Phang, Joy Reid
RSVP FOR PRESS CREDENTIALS HERE; MORE AT MOVEON.ORG/LIVE
WASHINGTON – As reported by The New York Times, MeidasTouch, MoveOn Civic Action, and coalition partners will host the “People’s State of the Union” on February 24 at 8:30 p.m. ET, a rally counterprogramming President Trump’s night full of lies and misplaced priorities for the American people.
The lineup includes Senators Markey, Merkley, Murphy, Smith, Van Hollen, Reps. Ansari, Balint, Casar, Jayapal, Ramirez, Watson Coleman, and other soon-to-be announced elected officials, leaders, and advocates. Along with hosts Katie Phang and Joy Reid, Democratic lawmakers will be joined on stage by the everyday Americans most impacted by Trump’s dangerous agenda.
WHAT: “People’s State of the Union” Rally and Presser
WHEN: February 24, 2026, 8:30 p.m. ET
WHERE: 3rd St. between Jefferson and Madison on the National Mall
Livestream: MeidasTouch YouTube and MoveOn.org/Live
WHO: People/constituents impacted by Trump administration
Senator Ed Markey (D-MA)
Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR)
Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT)
Senator Tina Smith (D-MN)
Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD)
Representative Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03)
Representative Becca Balint (D-VT)
Representative Greg Casar (TX-35)
Representative Veronica Escobar (TX-16)
Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-07)
Representative Delia Ramirez (IL-03)
Representative Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12)
Katie Phang
Joy Reid
Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush, CEO & President, Interfaith Alliance
Sara Haghdoosti, Chief of Program, MoveOn Civic Action
More guests to be announced
“President Trump has spent the first year of his administration making all of our lives worse: slashing health care, sending masked ICE agents to terrorize our neighbors, and passing tax cuts for the Epstein class. Trump wants the attention and the ratings, but we cannot treat this year’s State of the Union like business as usual. That’s why MoveOn is hosting the People’s State of the Union, where we will hear directly from the people facing the consequences of Trump’s disastrous administration,” said MoveOn Chief of Program Sara Haghdoosti.
Said Ben Meislas of MeidasTouch Network, the most-viewed news YouTube channel in America and No. 1 podcast on YouTube podcast charts, “People don’t want to be gaslit and belittled by a president who covers up the Epstein files and sends masked agents to kidnap and kill them. So the MeidasTouch Network has made the easy programming decision not to stream the State of the Union live. Instead, it will be the exclusive streaming partner with MoveOn for the People’s State of the Union, where our viewers can watch lawmakers who support democracy discuss thoughtful policies and how best to resist Trump’s fascism.”
“The State of the Union should be a reckoning with reality, but Donald Trump will use it to spin fiction and normalize the gross abuse of power,” said Senator Ed Markey (D-MA). “He will claim everything is fine while families struggle to afford health care and housing, immigrant communities live in fear, and his billionaire allies loot the country under the cover of chaos – I will not legitimize those lies. Two hundred and fifty years ago, the American Revolution began in Massachusetts because we refused to bow to a king, and Donald Trump does not believe in ‘We the People’ or the democratic Union forged here in 1776 – he believes in power for himself. If Trump will not honor the American people, then the people should turn off his remarks and turn toward each other – toward their neighbors, their communities, and the real power of this country. I’m proud to join the People’s State of the Union to make clear that in America, power belongs to the people, not to a corrupt and immoral president who thinks he is above the law.”
“Donald Trump has made a mockery of the State of the Union speech – taking a moment that is meant to bring the country together and turning it into a campaign rally to spew hatred and division. Democrats have no obligation to reward him with an audience as he lies and attacks people who disagree with him,” said Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT). These aren’t normal times and showing up for this speech puts a veneer of legitimacy on the corruption and lawlessness that has defined his second term.”
“I will not normalize Donald Trump’s march toward fascism by attending his state of the union address. We cannot pretend this is business as usual. Trump’s second term has been defined by utter lawlessness and contempt for our Constitution – from his out-of-control ICE operation terrorizing our communities, to relentless attacks on our federal workforce and the essential services they provide, to a full-out assault on the individual constitutional rights we hold dear. And all the while he has leveraged the power of the presidency to enrich himself and his billionaire buddies at the expense of every day Americans. He is presiding over the most corrupt White House in American history, selling out our national interests to the highest bidder. I look forward to joining real patriots who are standing up and speaking out against Trump’s lawless agenda – as we fight to protect our democracy and the country we love,” said Senator Van Hollen (D-MD).
“Last year, I walked out of President Trump’s State of the Union because I refused to normalize the most corrupt and authoritarian administration in American history,” said Representative Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03). “This year, we are elevating the voices of those directly harmed by this administration’s policies. My guest will speak to the horrifying human consequences of ICE’s actions, stories this administration has tried to suppress. Americans deserve an honest account of the state of our union.”
Said Representative Becca Balint (D-VT): “The State of the Union is meant to be a serious reflection of our nation’s progress, our shortfalls, and the common goals ahead of us. Instead of sitting through what has become President Trump’s annual self-congratulation, misinformation, and division speech, I look forward to a night of standing with colleagues, organizers, advocates, and everyday Americans who are committed to doing the real and honest work of protecting our rights, strengthening our communities, and holding those in power accountable.”
“Since day one, the Trump Administration has been clear about their priorities and the pain they are willing to inflict on our communities to benefit their billionaire bosses. Donald Trump will use the State of the Union address as a platform to gaslight the American people and normalize and justify their terror, abuse, and violations of our rights. I refuse to legitimize it,” said Congresswoman Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03). ”The State of the Union is reflected in the people in the street fighting fascism and authoritarianism, protecting each other, and mourning those who we have lost to the violence of the administration. I will be standing at the People’s State of the Union, clear that the power of the people is stronger than the weapons they would yield against us.”
“Trump is making life unaffordable and more difficult each day for the American people,” said Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (WA-07). “He is trampling on our constitutional rights and completely disregarding the rule of law in this country — all while saying everything is going great. We don’t need to hear his take on the State of the Union, because I hear it at my town halls, I hear it from strangers on flights and people who stop me on the street: the American people are struggling to get by. I’m proud to be joining the People’s State of the Union to lift the voices of those directly impacted by this administration’s cruelty.”
Interfaith Alliance’s president and CEO Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush said: “In its first year in office, this administration has launched attacks on faith leaders, charities and communities that are unprecedented in modern times. While President Trump tries to exploit and weaponize a narrow idea of “religion” to advance a repressive, authoritarian agenda, people of faith across the country keep mobilizing to show that true religious freedom is about democracy, equality for all, and demonstrating empathy and solidarity with our neighbors. During the People’s State of the Union, the voice and spirit of these morally courageous Americans will drown out the president’s message of fear, hate and discrimination.”
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MoveOn is a people-powered force for progress. MoveOn mobilizes the left to enact progressive change. We are the home base for millions of members who refuse to accept the status quo and are moved to take action. For more than a generation, MoveOn has been a bulwark against the radical right, channeling our voices to end wars, protect democracy, and advance justice for all.