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State of the Union: Not Good—Plus, Jackie Robinson v. Paul Robeson

Trump’s State of the Union speech was predictable, but revealing of his state of mind. John Nichols has our analysis.

Jon Wiener

February 25, 2026

President Donald Trump addresses a joint session of Congress.(Ricky Carioti / The Washington Post via Getty Images)

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State of the Union: Not Good; plus Jackie Robinson v. Paul Robeson / Start Making Sense
byThe Nation Magazine

Trump’s State of the Union speech was predictable, but nevertheless revealing of his state of mind. John Nichols has our analysis.

Also: In 1949 when Jackie Robinson appeared before HUAC, the House Un-American Activities Committee, to discredit Paul Robeson. Howard Bryant talks about why that happened, and what happened afterwards – to each of them. His new book is “Kings and Pawns.”

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Trump’s State of the Union speech was predictable, but nevertheless revealing of his state of mind. John Nichols has our analysis.

Also: In 1949, Jackie Robinson appeared before the House Un-American Activities Committee to discredit Paul Robeson. Howard Bryant talks about why that happened, and what happened afterward—to each of them. His new book is Kings and Pawns.

Subscribe to The Nation to support all of our podcasts: thenation.com/podcastsubscribe.

The Nation Podcasts

Here's where to find podcasts from The Nation. Political talk without the boring parts, featuring the writers, activists and artists who shape the news, from a progressive perspective.

Why Harvard Won’t Settle; plus Struggles of Supermarket Workers / Start Making Sense
byThe Nation Magazine

In his campaign against elite universities as centers of resistance, Trump hasn’t been able to force Harvard to submit. And it seems less likely now that they will settle. Harvard law professor Randall Kennedy has our analysis.

Also: the essential workers at our supermarkets: Ann Larson talks about poverty wages and worker solidarity. Her new book is Cleanup on Aisle Five: Essential Work, Poverty Wages, and the View From Behind the Supermarket Register.

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Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Subscribe to The Nation to Support all of our podcasts

Jon WienerTwitterJon Wiener is a contributing editor of The Nation and co-author (with Mike Davis) of Set the Night on Fire: L.A. in the Sixties.


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