Obama fighting lame duck status, will deliver ‘non-traditional’ State of the Union

President Barack Obama plans to change things up next month when he delivers the annual State of the Union address.

Obama will speak to both houses of Congress on Jan. 12, and instead of the usual laundry list of policy proposals, he will speak in more rhetorical terms about the issues facing America, CNN reported.His last year in office, 2016 will prove to be a particularly irksome year for the President: Republicans control the nation’s legislature and polarizing issues, like gun control, continue to draw national attention.

Still, liberal news site Talking Points Memo saidObama hopes to urge action on issues that unite both parties –like criminal justice reform.

The Hill explainedthat three of Obama’s actionable goals will involve climate change, the Iran nuclear deal, and continuing to restoreties with Cuba. Earlier this year, Obama officiallyrestored diplomatic relations with that country, ending a decades-long chill between the U.S. and the island nation.

His rhetorical goals notwithstanding, Obama has an uphill battle in terms of getting America’s attention; GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump and the rapidly approaching presidential primary season both dominate most political news coverage.

Nonetheless, White House officials insisted to The Hill that Obama will remain relevant.

“It goes without saying,” said one official, “we reject the lame duck idea out of hand.”