Obama enjoys a 50 percent approval rating ahead of the State of the Union

published 19 January 2015

A rising economy and increased optimism about the overall direction of the country have boosted Obama's approval ratings to levels he hasn't seen since the spring of 2013, according to a Post-ABC poll. Lower gas prices are also helping Americans' economic outlook, and consumer confidence is at its highest level since the recession began in 2008.

President Obama will, for the first time in his presidency, address a Republican Congress in his State of the Union address Tuesday. He is expected to call for reshaping the tax code by raising rates and fees for high income-earners and big financial firms while cutting taxes for the middle class.

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Lauren Hansen produces The Weekâ€™s podcasts and videos and edits the photo blog, Captured. She also manages the production of the magazine's iPad app. A graduate of Kenyon College and Northwestern University, she previously worked at the BBC and Frontline. She knows a thing or two about pretty pictures and cute puppies, both of which she tweets about @mylaurenhansen.