Biden urges Congress to finish economic fightback

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US President Joe Biden called on Republicans to help “finish the job” of delivering for hard-working families in his annual State of the Union address. The Democrat stressed the importance of finding consensus as he addressed a divided Congress, where the lower chamber now has a Republican majority. But a series of interruptions and heckles showed the uphill task it will be to find co-operation. In their speech, Republicans accused the president of “woke fantasies”. Mr Biden’s words were received by a packed chamber and high-profile guests – including U2’s Bono – as well as Supreme Court justices. Over the president’s shoulder at the rostrum in the House of Representatives was one of his most vocal critics, the Republican Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Mr Biden extended an olive branch to the opposition party, which took over the lower chamber last month with vows to investigate the president’s family and Cabinet. “To my Republican friends, if we could work together in the last Congress, there is no reason we can’t work together in this new Congress,” said the president. “We’ve been sent here to finish the job!” he added.(BBC)…[+]