Glenn: This is how the State of the Union became the 'political pep rally' it is today

President Donald Trump will give his first State of the Union address tonight, Tuesday, January 30, at 9 pm ET. The annual update to Congress will be broadcast live, just as it has been every year since 1947 when the 33rd President of the United States, Harry Truman, became the first to deliver the speech to a live television audience.

But the State of the Union Address, once simply known as the “Annual Message,” was never meant to be the star-spangled spectacle it has become today, at least not according to the Constitution.  Article II of the Constitution reads:

He shall from time to time give to the Congress information of the state of the union, and recommend to their consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient.

"From time to time, not every year," said Glenn. "This is a modern tradition. It's driven by presidential overreach. It's driven now by radio [and] television."

Watch the clip above to learn more about the history of the state of the Union and how it has evolved into what Glenn calls, "nothing more than a political pep rally."

"We don't need it," said Glenn of the pomp-and-circumstance speech.  "Americans have common sense. They have down-to-earth priorities, and those are the priorities that I don't think you're going to hear any president talk about in a State of the Union. But, boy, do they need to be discussed."

To see more from Glenn, visit his channel on TheBlaze and watch full episodes of “Glenn” live weekdays 5–6 p.m. ET or anytime on-demand at TheBlaze TV.