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One of the many constitutional duties of the president is giving a State of the Union address to Congress. Article II, Section 3 only mandates that this act happen “from time to time,” but it has become an annual event. Tuesday, February 24, will technically mark President Trumps first State of the Union address of his second termeven though he lectured Congress in 2025. That speech was labeled an address to a joint session of Congress, so Trump could speak on his goals for his second term. Heres everything you need to know about tonights SOTU address. What topics could Trump speak about? Most pundits agree, the economy will be front and center. President Trump even teased this himself last Wednesday, February 18, at the White House. Watch the State of the Union. Were going to be talking about the economy. We inherited a mess, he stated. This could mean he will spend some time blaming his predecessor President Joe Biden for the country’s ills. Vice President JD Vance also confirmed that economics will take precedence. Youre going to hear a lot about the importance of bringing jobs back into our country, of reshoring manufacturing, of all these great factories that are being built, he explained in a Fox News interview. Recent polling shows the need for Trump to tackle this important issue ahead of the midterm elections. According to a recent Associated Press NORC Center for Public Affairs Research survey, only 39% of American adults approve of his economic leadership. He loses a percentage point for immigration. Add these low numbers predate Fridays Supreme Court ruling, which declared that some of Trumps tariffs exceeded executive powers. Either way, Trump is going into the State of the Union with low poll numbers. Are Democrats boycotting the SOTU? The Democratic party is expected to display varying acts of dissent during Trumps State of the Union Address. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries plans to attend, but outlined his expectations for his fellow party members. Either attend with silent defiance or not attend, he instructed. He doesnt want a repeat of last years ejection of Texas Representative Al Green. Many are taking the second option, including Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut; and representatives Greg Casar of Texas and Pramila Jayapal of Washington. These lawmakers are instead attending another event, the Peoples State of the Union, organized by MoveOn and MeidasTouch. This will take place on the National Mall. Another counter-programming event will be held at the National Press Club: It’s is being called the State of the Swamp. Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon is scheduled to appear. Additionally, Senator Patty Murray of Washington is planning on meeting with constituents instead. Who is giving the Democratic response? After President Trump has his say, the Democrats have their turn to speak. This year, they have elected Governor Abigail Spanberger of Virginia to represent their interests. She is a vocal Trump critic and is not expected to hold back. Senator Alex Padilla of California will give the Democratic Spanish-language response. Who is giving the Progressive response? Democrat Representative Summer Lee of Pennsylvania will also speak. She will give the Working Families Partys response. Since American politics is dominated by a two-party system, this progressive group allows members to be a part of another party while also closely aligning with Democrats. How to stream the SOTU live The State of the Union 2026 speech is scheduled to begin tonight (Tuesday, February 24) 9 p.m. ET. Most major networks such as NBC, CBS, and ABC will cover the speech, as will major cable networks including C-SPAN. If you have an over-the-air antenna, you can watch it for free on a broadcast network or PBS. Traditional cable subscribers are also covered. You can also find SOTU 2026 on live-TV streaming services such as Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, and FuboTV. Last but not least, you can easily live-stream the State of the Union speech for free on the YouTube channel of PBS News. We’ve embedded that video below.
Category:
E-Commerce
In the past, women’s work bags were designed to assert power. Women marched into the boardroom with hyper-structured “girlboss” totes or aggressively minimalist tech clutches. But there’s a shift taking place. Many worklife bags today are softer, both visually and physically. They’re lighter. They collapse. They transition seamlessly from the office to the many other things that fill your life: The mid-day grocery run, a coffee meeting that turns into school pickup, dinner with friends straight from the office. Every year, I test dozens of bags in search of the ones that best capture how were actually living and working right now. It’s clear that work bags are slowly shedding their armor. Rigidity and structure have given way to something more fluid. And perhaps they say something about our identity as working women. We’re not longer looking for a bag that assert power and competence, but rather one that reflects how work is just one part of our lives. This years standout bags share a clear through line: Theyre soft without being sloppy. Structured enough to carry a laptop securelybut relaxed enough to collapse into something chic and compact once the tech is removed. Theyre built for a hybrid life. After months of testing, here are the five bags that rose to the top. [Photo: Strathberry] Barra Tote Strathberry, $895 At first glance, the Barra Totemade by the fast-growing Scottish startup Strathberrylooks like a classic, polished work bag. It’s made with 100% grain calf leather in a family-owned factory in Spain. The clean lines and signature gold bar detail give it a distinctly elevated feelone that would be perfectly at home in a boardroom. But once you start carrying it, you realize its more versatile than it appears. The leather has structure but isnt stiff. With my 14-inch laptop inside, the bag feels balanced and intentionalnot boxy or overstuffed. Theres enough organization to keep everything upright and easy to access, but not so much that it feels over-engineered. What surprised me most is how the bag transforms when you remove the laptop. It relaxes slightly, softening into a sleek everyday tote. Add the crossbody strap and it becomes commuter-friendly, freeing up your hands for coffee, phone, or a childs hand on a busy sidewalk. Its the rare bag that signals professionalism without locking you into it. [Photo: Cuyana] Forma Satchel Cuyana, $698 Cuyana has built its reputation on the idea of fewer, better things, and the Forma Satchel embodies that philosophy. This bag has two distinct silhouettes, an architectural hexagonal satchel that transforms thanks to hidden magnetic side panels into a spacious tote bag. With it’s rounded edges, it feels refined rather than rigid. The pebbled Italian leatherwhich has been environmentally certified by the Leather Working Groupfeels substantial but not heavy, and the bag holds its shape beautifully when a laptop is inside. Thanks to metal feet at the base, my computer sits upright, making it easy to slide in and out during meetings. Yet once the laptop is removed, the Forma doesnt collapse awkwardly or gape open. It simply becomes a polished everyday satchelsleek enough for work, understated enough for weekend errands. It pairs just as well with tailored trousers as it does with denim and sneakers. It doesnt demand attention, but it quietly pulls an outfit together. This is the bag for someone who wants versatility without visual clutter. [Photo: Vestirsi] Bella 2-in-1 Convertible Backpack Tote Vestirsi, $679If any bag on this list fully embraces the fluidity of modern life, its this one. The Bella can be worn as a tote or converted into a backpacka feature that genuinely changes how you move through your day. In tote mode, it reads polished and office-ready. In backpack mode, it becomes a practical companion for commuting, travel, or long days on your feet. The bag is made by the Australian startup Vestirsi, which makes all of its products in Italian factories. The leather, now in a chic woven design, gives the bag visual softness and texture, which helps it avoid the overly technical look of many laptop backpacks. Even with my computer inside, it doesnt scream tech bag. Instead, it feels artisanal and thoughtfully designed. When worn as a backpack, the weight distribution is noticeably more comfortable, especially during longer walks. And when th laptop comes out, the bag slouches just enough to feel relaxed and lifestyle-oriented. Its a reminder that functionality doesnt have to sacrifice aesthetics. [Photo: MZ Wallace] Medium Park Satchel MZ Wallace, $325 MZ Wallace has long mastered the art of the ultra-lightweight bag, and the Medium Park Satchel is a standout example. Before you put anything inside, it feels almost featherlight. Even with a laptop, charger, and daily essentials, it never crosses into shoulder-aching territory. The quilted nylon construction makes it durable and practical, but the shape remains feminine and refined. It’s the little details that made it feel refined: The Italian leather trim, the gold hardware, the straps that come down the front, adding visual interest. The color options this yearespecially the bold apple pinksignal a shift away from the traditional black-and-brown work bag palette. Work bags dont have to be neutral to be professional. When I remove my laptop, the Park Satchel instantly feels like a playful everyday carryall. The crossbody strap makes it easy to navigate crowded sidewalks or public transportation without feeling weighed down. Its the most low-maintenance bag of the groupand thats precisely its appeal. [Photo: Jorja] Jorja Puffy Tote Jorja, $625 The Puffy Tote represents perhaps the clearest aesthetic shift of all: toward softness. Made by Jorja, a startup that uses the same nylon and factories as luxury brands like Prada, the padded body feels almost cloud-like against the shoulder. Its protective without appearing corporate, and theres something inherently comforting about carrying it. With a laptop inside, the cushioning adds a sense of security. Without one, the bag gently slouches into a fashion-forward tote. Unlike traditional structured work bags, this one feels casualbut not careless. It works with tailored outfits and athleisure alike, making it especially well-suited for days that move between multiple settings. It doesnt look like a laptop bag. And thats the point.
Category:
E-Commerce
San Francisco restaurant Mister Jius is kicking off its 10th anniversary celebration next month with a three-part dinner series in its Chinatown kitchen. The restaurant will host 10 celebrated Chinese chefs from around the world, including Dan Hong from Sydney, Australias Mr Wong, and ArChan Chan from Ho Lee Fook in Hong Kong. Guests, seated in tables of four or eight, pay $285 each for 16 dishes from four chefs, all inspired by classic banquet-style dining. The even is nearly sold out, and, according to executive chef and owner Brandon Jew, an exciting creative collaboration that the restaurant couldnt afford to produce on its own. The extravaganza is sponsored by Resy, the reservations provider used at Mister Jius and one of two reservations platforms owned by American Express. The payments company acquired Resy in 2019 and competing service Tock in 2024 to help its card members access both tables and special events at top restaurants, like the dinner collabs at Mister Jius. (Amex card members were able to secure bookings to the event 48 hours before everyone else.) The series is among hundreds of events that Resy will put on this year to try to coax more diners into restaurantsand more restaurants onto Resy. That platform is about to get a shot in the arm. This summer, Amex will merge Tocks restaurant inventory with Resys, adding roughly 8,000 bookable venuesincluding 1,200 wineries, a handful of tattoo parlors, and at least one goat farmto Resys app and website. The move boosts Resys venue count to 25,000, but will sunset the Tock brand, formally uniting two onetime startups against reservations market leader OpenTable, the incumbent provider they each hoped to disrupt. Crucially, it also bolsters Amexs position amid increased competition: Delivery company DoorDash spent $1.2 billion to acquire reservations platform SevenRooms last year and offers diners delivery credit for booking tables, and Chase Sapphire linked up with OpenTable last spring as part of its larger Visa partnership to offer exclusive restaurant bookings. Chase also has a longstanding partnership with DoorDash, offering Sapphire holders credit. Resy will be the singular app for the best culinary experiences used by the hospitality world’s most ambitious operators, with a membership benefit for card members, says Pablo Rivero, CEO of Resy and Tock and SVP and head of American Express global dining. And all of that will come together under the umbrella of a new era for the Resy ecosystem. Behind the Resy-Tock merger The merger follows efforts by American Express to link its cards to reservations services that provide valuable access to restaurants. When the card issuer raised its Platinum card fee by $200 last September, it added a $400 annual credit for diners to use in Resy restaurants. This summer, Tock restaurants will start to become eligible for the credit, with the majority eligible by the end of 2027. Brandon Jew [Photo: Courtesy of Resy] It was a powerful move; in the three weeks following the announcement, there was a 36% increase in Resy reservations made by users with a U.S. Platinum card linked to their accountand a five times increase in the daily average number of accounts being linked. People using the Resy credit are spending, on average, 25% more, according to Rivero. Resy wants its restaurants to notice; in January, it sent partner restaurants a Spotify Wrapped-style digest that included the value of Resy credits earned by Amex users at their business. Look out for more of these card members in your seats in 2026, it promised in its note to restaurants. Amex is already seeing results: In the fourth quarter of 2025, global restaurant spend by American Express card members was up 9% overall, but spending by American Express card members at Resy restaurants was up more than 20%. Both Resy and Tock launched in 2014 with new approaches to restaurant reservations. Resy challenged OpenTables longtime model of charging restaurants per reservation. Instead, it offered a monthly subscription to its reservations and table management software. Around the same time, Tock pioneered a new model, prepaid ticketing, with the thesis that diners should book and pay for dinner the same way theyd buy tickets to a Broadway play or a football game. Founder and CEO Nick Kokonas, a former derivatives trader, launched the tech inside Alinea, the Chicago fine dining restaurant that he cofounded. One platform, two systems Tocks structure immediately attracted fine dining restaurants drawn to a fresh idea. Kokonas, meanwhile, seemed to relish antagonizing chief competitor OpenTable, which he accused of peddling outdated technology and a stale business model. In one memorable marketing stunt, he planned to distribute 5,000 plastic dinosaurs at an industry trade show, each branded with the URL OpenTableSaurus.com, which then led to Tocks homepage. A cease-and-desist letter from OpenTable thwarted the plan, and Tock eventually gave them the domain. But Kokonas, refusing to accept defeat, pointed a second URL, DinosaurTable.com, at Tocks homepage to underscore his position. (Both URLs still work.) Kokonas wanted the restaurant industry to embrace the prepaid model that eliminated nearly all of the dreaded and expensive no-shows at its restaurants. Eventually, Tocks competitors added prepaid ticketing to their platforms, and Tock started offering free reservations. By th time American Express acquired Tock from website-building platform Squarespace for $400 million in 2024 (Squarespace paid the same amount to acquire the business in 2021), its diner-facing productsfree reservations, deposits, ticketshad become standard across providers. But Tock maintained an impressive roster of high-end restaurants, which bought into the platforms adaptable technology and the companys reputation for serving them well, something that Tocks restaurant customers hope wont vanish when the brand does. Its so clear [Tock] was built by restaurant people that understand service, says Anya Abrams, managing director at Blue Hill in upstate New York. Blue Hill operates the two-Michelin-starred restaurant Blue Hill at Stone Barns, alongside the more casual Cafeteria, which serves lunch and communal-style dinner. It uses prepaid ticketing on Tock for both. It also uses the platform to facilitate experiences like farm tours and cocktail demonstrations. Abrams says that at her request, Tock has added product features and changes that fit the companys complex needs. [Photo: Courtey of Resy] Once bookings at Tock restaurants are moved to Resy, Rivero says that diners will see and be able to book the exact same tables and experiences that they would on Tock, cocktail tastings and farm visits included. Restaurants using Tocks software to manage their venues wont notice any tech changes on their end besides a switch to Resys logo. Restaurants already using Resy won’t see any changesthough if they prefer to switch to Tocks operating system, which many say offers better tech, they can. Tock has built an incredible product that so many restaurants have come to use and love, and we dont want to mess with that, Rivero says. Eventually, Rivero says, Amex will combine Resy and Tocks restaurant-facing tech, made up of the best of both, along with new features and integrations. He didnt share a timeline, but restaurants have been told to expect the change in 2027. A battle for restaurants Amid this heightened competition between platforms and credit cards, restaurants have gained more negotiating power. Over the last year or so, reports and rumors have surfaced of restaurants receiving five-, six-, or even seven-figure payments to switch between booking platforms including Resy, Tock, OpenTable, and SevenRooms. The services and their deep-pocketed owners and partners are hoping that the cash infusions, along with promises to fill dining rooms with people eager to spend, will net them the most desirable restaurants. In San Franciscos Chinatown, Brandon Jew is happy the platforms, including Resy, see the value in restaurants like his, which work to create great experiences for diners. Restaurants have a very natural way of being able to storytell and provide experiences, entertainment, and food and beverage that contribute to memorable events, he says. I think thats what the reservation systems are interested in providing, especially for their elite users. It’s such a weird era, he adds. I feel like we’re so used to paying for their products. For now, at least, the tables have turned.
Category:
E-Commerce
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