President Obama is back in his hometown of Chicago today. This is the last stop on his three day post State of the Union tour. Wednesday’s speech in Asheville, NC was focused on manufacturing. During Thursday’s speech in Decatur, Georgia President Obama discussed his early-education plan, and today he will be focusing on gun violence while also discussing rebuilding the middle class, a theme from his Tuesday State of the Union.
Today’s speech is just a few block away from where 15-year old Hadiya Pendleton was killed just days after performing at inauguration. First Lady Michelle Obama attended Hadiya’s funeral. During the State of the Union, President Obama called out Hadiya’s parents saying, "Hadiya's parents, Nate and Cleo, are in this chamber tonight, along with more than two dozen Americans whose lives have been torn apart by gun violence. They deserve a vote.” Thus, President Obama hit an emotional note during the State of the Union when he brought up the gun issue.
TIME’s Michael Crowley joins the conversation at 3 p.m. to help preview the president’s speech and look ahead to what is to come.