At about 9 p.m., Eastern, President Biden will stand at the lectern on the floor of the House of Representatives and deliver his State of the Union address. The speech will offer Biden perhaps his best opportunity before Election Day to tell Americans at length about his record in office and what he would do if re-elected.

The president will use some of the time to boast about the economy, which during his tenure defied gloomy expectations and delivered strong growth and low unemployment.

While the address is not technically a campaign speech, Biden is expected to describe what he sees as the grim consequences for women’s rights, foreign policy and American democracy if Donald Trump is returned to power. Biden will also hint at his agenda for a second term, which would include efforts to increase corporate taxes and reduce the cost of housing.

Tonight’s event, which is nowhere near as staid as it once was, could be the most-watched moment of the 2024 campaign, giving Biden an opportunity to confront concerns about his age.

“The biggest question for many voters remains whether, at age 81, he’s up to the job for another four years,” my colleague Reid Epstein, a politics reporter, told me. “Democrats are hoping to see a vigorous and energetic president.”

The Times will carry his address live, with analysis from reporters.

For more: We took a look at the 20 guests who were invited to join Jill Biden in the first lady’s viewing box, and we built a quiz to test your knowledge of Biden and Trump’s economic accomplishments.