The State of the Union (According to Everyone, Everywhere, All at Once)
Every year, a nation gathers around screens, snacks, and carefully rehearsed expectations to hear The Speech. Not just a speech — The Speech . The one where everything is simultaneously going incredibly well, urgently in need of fixing, and somehow both caused and solved by whoever is currently holding the microphone. If you have ever watched one of these grand annual recaps, you know the rhythm. It’s a strange ritual, like political karaoke performed in a suit. The leader steps up. The applause happens in waves. Half the room claps like they just won the lottery; the other half applauds with the emotional enthusiasm of someone waiting at the DMV. And yet, we all watch. Or at least pretend we watched so we can debate it the next morning. This year’s imaginary State of the Union followed tradition with impressive discipline. Economic numbers were polished until they reflected studio lighting. International issues were arranged into digestible sound bites. Optimism was delivered in c...