US President Joe Biden is gearing up to deliver his first State of the Union address this afternoon (1.00pm AEDT), but the unfolding war in Ukraine has forced him to change focus. Just a few months ago, Biden’s speech was set to highlight his domestic agenda to renew attempts to pass his US$1.75 trillion (A$2.5 trillion) Build Back Better spending package – including a wide-ranging list of social policies on education, healthcare and climate change. Now, the speech is expected to emphasise America’s world leadership role and push for a unified global response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. And Biden is still expected to tout his major accomplishments during his first year in office: managing the COVID vaccination program and securing the funding for a US$1.2 trillion infrastructure plan. But with Biden’s approval rating plunging, his administration will get a sense of where voters are at as the midterm primaries kick off today.