WEAPON… IN WASHINGTON/ON CAPITOL HILL I’M RACHEL HIRSCHHEIMER. SEVERAL DEMOCRATS CHOSE ááNOT TO ATTEND PRESIDENT TRUMP’S STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS LAST NIGHT. INCLUDING VERMONT CONGRESSWOMA N BECCA BALINT, WHO INSTEAD JOINED PEOPLE OUTSIDE THE CAPITOL BUILDING IN PROTEST. WE HAVE NBC5’S YAMUNA TURCO HERE WITH MORE ON THE MIXED RESPONSE… FROM LAWMAKERS WHO REPRESENT VERMONT AND NEW YORK. YAMUNA? WELL ERICKA, ADRIAN BECCA BALINT JOINED THE “MOVE ON” NETWORK’S EVENT áOUTSIDE THE CAPITOL – WHICH THEY CALLED “THE PEOPLE’S STATE OF THE UNION”. EACH LAWMAKER BROUGHT A GUEST TO SPEAK… AND SHARE THEIR OWN áPERSONAL STORIES ABOUT LIFE IN THE U.S. BALINT BROUGHT PALESTINIAN STUDENT ACTIVIST, MOHSEN MAHDAWI…WHO WAS DETAINED IN COLCHESTER LAST YEAR DURING A SCHEDULED IMMIGRATION INTERVIEW. LAWMAKERS AND SUPPORTERS ALSO WORE PINS CALLING FOR THE CONTINUED RELEASE OF THE EPSTEIN FILES, WHICH PRESIDENT TRUMP DID áNOT MENTION DURING HIS ADDRESS. BALINT HIGHLIGHTED WHAT SHE CALLS A NEED FOR POSITIVE CHANGE AND COMPASSION. <“we are the ones that we’ve been waiting for that are going to change the course, turn the tide on this dark, dark time. It’s us. It’s not that man in the building behind me who spreads division and fear. It’s us.”> VERMONT SENATOR PETER WELCH ATTENDED THE PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS… BRINGING A STATE LAWMAKER, WHO HE SAYS HAS BEEN “PERSONALLY IMPACTED” BY RECENT HEALTH CARE POLICIES. NORTHERN NEW YORK CONGRESSWOMA N ELISE STEFANIK – WHO ALSO ATTENDED – RELEASED A STATEMENT AFTER THE SPEECH, SAYING IT WAS AN “HONOR TO ATTEND THE STATE OF THE UNION” AND THAT HER FAVORITE PART WAS WHEN THE PRESIDENT HONORED THE USA MEN’S HOCKEY TEAM. STEFANIK SAYS AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF LAKE PLACID, THEY HA
Vermont, New York federal lawmakers sharing mixed responses to State of the Union address
Updated: 4:47 PM EST Feb 25, 2026
Vermont Congresswoman Becca Balint joined a protest outside the Capitol during President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address, emphasizing the need for positive change and compassion.Balint participated in the MoveOn Network’s event, dubbed “The people’s State of the Union,” where each lawmaker brought a guest to speak and share personal stories about life in the U.S. Balint brought Palestinian student activist Mohsen Mahdawi, who was detained in Colchester last year during a scheduled immigration interview. Lawmakers and supporters wore pins calling for the continued release of the Epstein files, which Trump did not mention during his address. “We are the ones that we’ve been waiting for that are going to change the course, turn the tide on this dark, dark time. It’s us. It’s not that man in the building behind me who spreads division and fear. It’s us,” Balint said.Vermont Sen. Peter Welch attended the president’s address, bringing a state lawmaker who he says has been “personally impacted” by recent health care policies. Northern New York Congresswoman Elise Stefanik also attended and released a statement after the speech, saying it was an “honor to attend the State of the Union” and that her favorite part was when the president honored the Team USA men’s hockey team.She said that as a representative of Lake Placid, they have continued the legacy of the 1980 Miracle on Ice team.
MONTPELIER, Vt. —
Vermont Congresswoman Becca Balint joined a protest outside the Capitol during President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address, emphasizing the need for positive change and compassion.
Balint participated in the MoveOn Network’s event, dubbed “The people’s State of the Union,” where each lawmaker brought a guest to speak and share personal stories about life in the U.S.
Balint brought Palestinian student activist Mohsen Mahdawi, who was detained in Colchester last year during a scheduled immigration interview. Lawmakers and supporters wore pins calling for the continued release of the Epstein files, which Trump did not mention during his address.
“We are the ones that we’ve been waiting for that are going to change the course, turn the tide on this dark, dark time. It’s us. It’s not that man in the building behind me who spreads division and fear. It’s us,” Balint said.
Vermont Sen. Peter Welch attended the president’s address, bringing a state lawmaker who he says has been “personally impacted” by recent health care policies.
Northern New York Congresswoman Elise Stefanik also attended and released a statement after the speech, saying it was an “honor to attend the State of the Union” and that her favorite part was when the president honored the Team USA men’s hockey team.
She said that as a representative of Lake Placid, they have continued the legacy of the 1980 Miracle on Ice team.