Spanberger Rebuts Trump SOTU as Fact-Checks Reveal Economic Gaps

[00:00] Daniel Brooks: From Neural Newscast, I'm Daniel Brooks. [00:03] Daniel Brooks: And I'm Elise Morel. [00:04] Daniel Brooks: Today is Wednesday, February 25, 2026. [00:08] Daniel Brooks: We examine the fallout from President Trump's longest-ever state-of-the-union address [00:13] Daniel Brooks: and the Democratic response from Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger. [00:18] Announcer: We also look at the Justice Department's decision to drop a case against six members of Congress. [00:23] Announcer: We also have the latest economic data on rising energy costs. [00:26] Daniel Brooks: President Trump delivered the longest state-of-the-union address in history on Tuesday night. [00:32] Daniel Brooks: He spoke for over 100 minutes. [00:35] Announcer: The length of the address served as a backdrop for expansive claims about the economy. [00:40] Announcer: However, many of those numbers require a closer look. [00:43] Daniel Brooks: While the president boasted about record job creation, data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows only 181,000 jobs were added in 2025. [00:55] Announcer: This slowed down contrasts with the administration's claim of the hottest economy in the world and the purported $18 trillion in global investment. [01:03] Daniel Brooks: Energy costs also took center stage. [01:06] Daniel Brooks: The president suggested prices are falling despite a nearly 7% increase in household utility bills. [01:14] Announcer: These rising costs for heating and electricity reflect a broader shift in utility rates that affect millions of families across the country. [01:21] Daniel Brooks: The president also claimed to have ended eight wars. [01:25] Daniel Brooks: But several of those ceasefires, including the one between Thailand and Cambodia, have already collapsed. [01:32] Announcer: It is a complex landscape where the form of the announcement does not always match the reality of the geopolitical friction on the ground. [01:40] Daniel Brooks: In other news, Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger delivered the official Democratic rebuttal. [01:46] Daniel Brooks: She centered her critique on urban safety and the cost of living. [01:50] Announcer: Spanberger specifically highlighted recent immigration enforcement operations in Minneapolis. [01:56] Announcer: These resulted in the deaths of two American citizens last month. [02:00] Daniel Brooks: She described federal agents as poorly trained. [02:04] Daniel Brooks: She also criticized the administration for deploying masked agents into cities without proper warrants or accountability. [02:11] Announcer: The deaths of Alex Priti and Renee Good have fueled a significant outcry over how these federal interventions are designed and executed in urban centers. [02:21] Daniel Brooks: Turning to the economy, the governor also attacked the president's tariff policies. [02:26] Daniel Brooks: She claimed they have cost the average American family $1,700 annually. [02:32] Announcer: She noted that while the Supreme Court ruled against some tariff policies, the financial damage to the American public remains a pressing concern. [02:40] Daniel Brooks: Spanberger, who cannot seek re-election due to Virginia's term limits, used the platform to suggest Democrats are well positioned for the upcoming midterm elections. [02:51] Announcer: Her perspective brings a unique observation of the current political structure, [02:55] Announcer: given her history of flipping a traditionally Republican district. [02:58] Daniel Brooks: Meanwhile, the U.S. Attorney's Office in Washington has reportedly shelved its pursuit [03:04] Daniel Brooks: of six Democratic lawmakers over a social media video. [03:09] Announcer: This decision follows a federal grand jury's refusal to indict the group for a video urging military members not to follow unlawful orders. [03:19] Daniel Brooks: Legal experts view this as a significant moment for protected political speech and the limits of Justice Department authority in the current administration. [03:30] Announcer: It marks a shift from the aggressive legal posture seen earlier this month when the grand jury first rejected the proposed charges. [03:38] Daniel Brooks: I'm Daniel Brooks. [03:40] Announcer: And I'm Elise Murrow. [03:42] Daniel Brooks: Neural Newscast is AI-assisted, human-reviewed. [03:45] Daniel Brooks: View our AI transparency policy at neuralnewscast.com. [03:50] Elise Moreau: Neural Newscast uses artificial intelligence in content creation [03:54] Elise Moreau: with human editorial review prior to publication. [03:57] Elise Moreau: While we strive for factual, unbiased reporting, [04:00] Elise Moreau: AI-assisted content may occasionally contain errors. [04:03] Elise Moreau: Verify critical information with trusted sources. [04:06] Elise Moreau: Learn more at neuralnewscast.com. [04:09] Elise Moreau: you