Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds delivers GOP response to Biden's State of the Union address
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) delivered the Republican response to President Biden's State of the Union address on Tuesday night. She gave her speech standing in front of the Iowa State Capitol, wearing a pin of crossed American and Ukrainian flags.
Reynolds began by criticizing Biden's foreign policy record, especially the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan, and argued that U.S. sanctions on Russia are inadequate. "Weakness on the world stage has a cost, and the president's response has consistently been too little too late," Reynolds argued.
Turning to domestic issues, she recalled working as a grocery store cashier in the 1980s and seeing how devastating high inflation was for working-class Americans.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Reynolds slammed Biden for what she described as the reckless spending contained in his stalled Build Back Better bill. "Even members of his own party said, 'Enough is enough,'" she said.
She then waded into hot-button cultural issues, telling her audience that Americans are "tired of people pretending the way to end racism is by categorizing everybody by their race," of "politicians who tell parents they should ... let government control their kids' education and future," and of COVID-19 "theater."
Reynolds also addressed rising violent crime, blaming "liberal prosecutors" for "letting criminals off easy" and alleging that "many prominent Democrats still want to defund the police."
Reynolds then pivoted to Republicans' accomplishments, beginning with many GOP governors' refusal to allow strict COVID-19 lockdowns, mandates, and school closures.
Iowa, she boasted, "was the first state in the nation to require that schools open their doors."
On the economic front, Reynolds touted her tax cuts in Iowa and noted that of the 20 states with the lowest unemployment rates in the country, 17 have Republican governors.
"Republicans may not have the White House, but we're doing what we can to fill the leadership vacuum," she said. "We're respecting your freedom."
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Grayson Quay was the weekend editor at TheWeek.com. His writing has also been published in National Review, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Modern Age, The American Conservative, The Spectator World, and other outlets. Grayson earned his M.A. from Georgetown University in 2019.
-
7 beautiful towns to visit in Switzerland during the holidays
The Week Recommends Find bliss in these charming Swiss locales that blend the traditional with the modern
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
The Week contest: Werewolf bill
Puzzles and Quizzes
By The Week US Published
-
'This needs to be a bigger deal'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Has the Taliban banned women from speaking?
Today's Big Question 'Rambling' message about 'bizarre' restriction joins series of recent decrees that amount to silencing of Afghanistan's women
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Cuba's energy crisis
The Explainer Already beset by a host of issues, the island nation is struggling with nationwide blackouts
By Rebekah Evans, The Week UK Published
-
Putin's fixation with shamans
Under the Radar Secretive Russian leader, said to be fascinated with occult and pagan rituals, allegedly asked for blessing over nuclear weapons
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
A brief history of third parties in the US
In Depth Though none of America's third parties have won a presidential election, they have nonetheless had a large impact on the country's politics
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Last updated
-
Chimpanzees are dying of human diseases
Under the radar Great apes are vulnerable to human pathogens thanks to genetic similarity, increased contact and no immunity
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Deaths of Jesse Baird and Luke Davies hang over Sydney's Mardi Gras
The Explainer Police officer, the former partner of TV presenter victim, charged with two counts of murder after turning himself in
By Austin Chen, The Week UK Published
-
Quiz of The Week: 24 February - 1 March
Puzzles and Quizzes Have you been paying attention to The Week's news?
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Will mounting discontent affect Iran election?
Today's Big Question Low turnout is expected in poll seen as crucial test for Tehran's leadership
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published