Today in Washington

Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson testified for a third day at her confirmation hearing to be a Supreme Court justice before the Senate Judiciary Committee. She responded to questions on a variety of issues including limitations on executive power, court packing, overturning Supreme Court precedent, and being a defense attorney.

Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson testified at her confirmation hearing to be a Supreme Court justice before the Senate Judiciary Committee.

On the first day of her confirmation hearing, Supreme Court nominee Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson gave opening remarks to members of the Senate Judiciary Committee. She is introduced by retired DC Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Thomas Griffith and University of Pennsylvania Law School Professor Lisa Fairfax.

Governor Kim Reynolds (R-IA) delivered the Republican response to President Biden's State of the Union address. Gov. Reynolds argued that the Biden administration's policies have negatively impacted American families and have moved the country backward. She talked about foreign policy, border security, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the economy.

President Biden made his first State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress. The president addressed a wide range of domestic issues but began his speech talking about the Russian invasion of Ukraine, promising continued military, economic, and humanitarian assistance to the Ukrainians. President Biden went on to talk about the American economy, highlighting the American Rescue Plan and passage of the bipartisan infrastructure bill. He also spoke about the COVID-19 pandemic, funding for police, and immigration and border security.

President Joe Biden told graduates at South Carolina State University's 2021 fall commencement ceremony, "I've never seen anything like the unrelenting assault on the right to vote. Never." He also said "This battle is not over. We're going to keep up the fight until we get it done and you're going to keep up the fight and we need your help badly." He urged Congress to pass two Democratic-sponsored bills -- the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the Freedom to Vote Act -- that Senate Republicans have blocked.

NIH Director Dr. Francis Collins, who is retiring at the end of the month, spoke about Americans' low confidence in government's ability to handle crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic. He was interviewed by Washington Post Senior Writer Frances Stead Sellers

Roger Stone spoke with reporters following an appearance for a deposition before the January 6 Select Committee where he invoked his Fifth Amendment rights. He referred to the committee's investigation as "witch hunt 3.0."

@SenSchumer (D-NY): "Just because Republicans will not join us to defend democracy does not mean that the Democrats will stop fighting. This matter is too important not to act, even if it means we must act alone to get the Senate working."

@LeaderMcConnell (R-KY): "I understand my colleagues are frustrated … but believe me, lashing out at our democracy, at the Supreme Court, and at the Senate, itself is not going to solve anything."