Ahead of Donald Trump’s joint session address to Congress, the DNC is highlighting how Trump’s first six weeks in office have been an abject disaster for Americans across the country. Trump continues to fail to deliver on his campaign promises – like lowering costs on “Day One” – and instead is jeopardizing vital programs like health care and food assistance while his policies are threatening a recession for this country. Tonight, Americans will see Trump try to lie and distort his record while in reality, he is leaving hardworking American families out in the dust. 

Here’s what folks are reading ahead of Trump’s speech: 

AZ Mirror: ‘A disaster for Arizonans’: Dems blasts Trump’s first 6 weeks in office ahead of State of the Union

[Jim Small, 3/4/25]

“‘As Donald Trump prepares to take the stage tonight, there’s a reason he is the least popular president in modern American history at this point in his term,’ DNC Chair Ken Martin said in a written statement. ‘Trump has been a disaster for Arizonans — his dangerous funding freezes and mass firings have put seniors, kids, and families already struggling to make ends meet at risk.’

“The DNC report highlights several specific concerns for Arizona, including:

• State officials unable to access federal funds intended to modernize Arizona’s electric grid and improve local energy efficiency
• Federal employee terminations at Veterans Affairs and Department of Agriculture offices across the state
• Paused funding for Colorado River water management programs
• Delayed access to funds for community health centers
• Potential impacts to nearly 2 million Arizonans who rely on Medicaid and approximately 925,000 state residents who receive SNAP benefits
• Rising unemployment claims, with nearly 12,000 Arizonans filing for unemployment since January”

Atlanta Voice: DNC says Trump’s first month has been a disaster for Georgians

[Donnell Suggs, 3/4/25]

“According to economic impact numbers from the Democratic National Committee (DNC), the residents of the state of Georgia have reason to believe Trump’s first month in office has not been good for them.

“On the topic of federal firings and funding freezes taking place across the country, The Trump administration, and more specifically the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), is responsible for 10% of the workforce at the Center for Disease Control (CDC), which is located in Atlanta, being cut.”

Penn Live: Democrats issue preemptive rebuke of Trump speech: ‘A disaster for Pa.’

[Zach Hoopes, 3/4/25]

“The Democratic National Committee has already settled on its response to Pennsylvanians ahead of President Donald Trump’s address to Congress tonight: Trump is making stuff more expensive while cutting programs you actually need, the opposite of what he said he would do. …

“Consumer confidence in February notched its largest drop since August of 2021, according to the most widely used business survey, due in large part to Trump’s plan to implement steep tariffs – taxes on imports that caused price increases during Trump’s first term.

“The Atlanta branch of the Federal Reserve revised its benchmark economic projection downward on Monday, estimating that the nation is currently on course to lose 2.8% of its gross domestic product (GDP) in the first quarter of 2025 — which Democrats have described as an impending ‘Trump Recession.’”

News 8000: Ahead of Trump’s joint address, top Dems say he is failing Wisconsinites

[Kyle Jones, 3/4/25]

“The Democratic National Committee took Trump to task Tuesday, criticizing him for proposed cuts to federal assistance programs including SNAP and Medicaid. Nearly 1.2 million Wisconsinites are enrolled in Medicaid while over 700,000 utilize SNAP. …

“Data from non-partisan health research group KFF shows about a third of Wisconsin children are covered by Medicaid, and according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities – a progressive think tank – over 60% of Wisconsin’s SNAP participants are in families with children.

“A Republican budget proposal would see SNAP funding cut by over $230 billion through 2034. Additionally, the budget calls on the Energy and Commerce Committee to cut at least $880 billion in spending over the next 10 years, which is likely unfeasible without making cuts to Medicaid.”

Upper Michigan Source: What Michigan can expect in Trump’s address to Congress

[TV6 News Team, 3/4/25]

“The Democratic National Committee says the Trump administration is making life worse for those in Michigan. Trump won Michigan and its 15 electoral college votes in Nov. 2024 with 80,000 more votes than Kamala Harris.

“‘As Donald Trump prepares to take the stage tonight, there’s a reason he is the least popular president in modern American history at this point in his term,’ said Ken Martin, DNC Chair, in a statement. ‘Staring down the threat of a Trump Recession, Trump has been a disaster for Michiganders – his dangerous funding freezes and mass firings have put seniors, kids, and families already struggling to make ends meet at risk. And now, in the halls of Congress, his MAGA lackeys are advancing a budget plan that would take money out of the pockets of working Michiganders, kick millions off of their health insurance, and take food off the table of low-income families in order to finance a massive tax handout to the richest 1%. Trump isn’t just screwing over Michiganders – he’s playing politics with their lives.’

“Democrats specifically point to uncertainty for 2.4 million Michigan residents on Medicaid and nearly 1.5 million Michigan residents on SNAP benefits …”

CBS 17: NC Democrats, Republicans want different messages from Trump’s congressional address

[Deana Harley, 3/4/25]

“In information given exclusively to CBS 17, the Democratic National Committee points to data showing since Trump has been back in office, over 15,000 North Carolinians have filed for unemployment.

“The Trump administration has been vocal about cutting federal jobs. In North Carolina, the DNC says two of USAID’s largest contractors were impacted. …

“In North Carolina, 2.8 million people use Medicaid. The DNC points to data showing Medicaid also covers around 41% of children in the state.”

Spectrum News: DNC chair pushes party out of Washington, into local communities

[Cassie Semyon, 3/4/25]

“Martin said his party will oppose Trump’s agenda by seeking wins at the local level. 

“‘We are standing up. The democratic attorney generals are leading the way,’ Martin said. ‘It’s our governors, of course, and local elected officials who are using the power of their offices to actually create safe spaces for targeted communities.’ …

“Martin just wrapped up a multi-state tour, and plans to continue to travel to meet with voters around the country. He plans to get the DNC out of the beltway and into communities.

“’It’s a mindset change — it’s really making sure that we’re out there throughout all of our 50 states and our seven territories, competing up and down the ballot in every zip code across this country, it’s critical that we actually win again, and to do that, we have to organize everywhere,’ he said.”