Everything You Need To Know About President Obama's Final State Of The Union

President Obama delivered his final State of the Union address on Tuesday night. Here's a quick rundown of what happened:

* Let's get this out of the way: "The state of our union is strong."

* Overall, the speech stuck largely to his achievements and his vision for the future — touching upon the economy, inequality, changing technology, national security, and campaign finance — and not specific policy proposals.

* Right off the top, Obama set few policy expectations for this year "because it's an election season." He said he hoped both parties could accomplish criminal justice reform, "and helping people who are battling prescription drug abuse and heroin abuse."

* Two science issues got big mentions: global warming and battling cancer. On the latter, he announced a new national effort to cure the disease led by Vice President Joe Biden.

* Obama also took veiled shots at two GOP presidential nominees: Texas Sen. Ted Cruz — who has called for carpet bombing in order to defeat ISIS — and Donald Trump, for his remarks on Muslims.

* Obama notably made little reference to refugees from Syria and Iraq — resettling people has become a flashpoint in the nation.

* And people really aren't happy with Obama's version of Middle Eastern history.

* Oh also everyone wanted to know WTF Vermont senator and Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders was reading during the address.

* Kentucky clerk Kim Davis showed up — even though the congressman who essentially invited her said he didn't know he invited her. (Read more about BuzzFeed News' interaction with Davis below.)

And it wouldn't be a State of the Union speech without the best applause and ~laugh~ lines, both in earnest and ironic:

* "And for this final [speech], I'm going to try to make it shorter. I know some of you are antsy to get back to Iowa. I've been there. I'll be shaking hands after if you want some tips."

* "We also need benefits and protections that provide a basic measure of security. After all, it's not much of a stretch to say that some of the only people in America who are going to work the same job, in the same place, with a health and retirement package, for 30 years, are sitting in this chamber."

* "Now, I'm guessing we won't agree on health care anytime soon." (Even Obama was surprised this one got reaction.)

* "Sixty years ago, when the Russians beat us into space, we didn't deny Sputnik was up there. We didn't argue about the science, or shrink our research and development budget. We built a space program almost overnight, and 12 years later, we were walking on the moon."

* "I told you earlier all the talk of America's economic decline is political hot air. Well, so is all the rhetoric you hear about our enemies getting stronger and America getting weaker. The United States of America is the most powerful nation on Earth. Period. It's not even close. It's not even close. It's not even close." (Video clip here.)

* "If you doubt America's commitment  —  or mine  —  to see that justice is done, ask Osama bin Laden." (Here's a video clip of that one.)

* "We need to reject any politics that targets people because of race or religion."

* "We have to end the practice of drawing our congressional districts so that politicians can pick their voters, and not the other way around."

But Obama did not shy away from making thinly veiled criticisms directed at certain Republican presidential candidates, specifically Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and Republican frontrunner Donald Trump.

Referencing Cruz's comments about "carpet bombing" ISIS, Obama said, "The world will look to us to help solve these problems, and our answer needs to be more than tough talk or calls to carpet bomb civilians. That may work as a TV sound bite, but it doesn't pass muster on the world stage."

He saved his strongest condemnations for Trump, urging Americans to "reject any politics that targets people because of race or religion." Later in the speech, he added, "As frustration grows, there will be voices urging us to fall back into tribes, to scapegoat fellow citizens who don't look like us, or pray like us, or vote like we do, or share the same background."

And in an allusion to Trump's call to ban Muslims from entering the country, Obama said, "When politicians insult Muslims, when a mosque is vandalized, or a kid bullied, that doesn't make us safer. That's not telling it like it is. It's just wrong. It diminishes us in the eyes of the world. It makes it harder to achieve our goals. And it betrays who we are as a country."

In many ways, Obama's address was a response to Republican rhetoric about the state of the country under his stewardship.

"I told you earlier all the talk of America's economic decline is political hot air," Obama said. "Well, so is all the rhetoric you hear about our enemies getting stronger and America getting weaker. The United States of America is the most powerful nation on Earth. Period. It's not even close."

And Obama defended his record on issues like health care, foreign policy and the environment — and announced a push to cure cancer.

He hit the issue of climate change the hardest, saying, "Look, if anybody still wants to dispute the science around climate change, have at it. You'll be pretty lonely, because you'll be debating our military, most of America's business leaders, the majority of the American people, almost the entire scientific community, and 200 nations around the world who agree it's a problem and intend to solve it."

While Obama signaled his willingness to work with Republicans on issues like criminal justice and prescription drug abuse, he also reaffirmed his commitment to more politically divisive issues, like immigration, gun control, and raising the minimum wage.

And here's his full quote on cancer:

Last year, Vice President Biden said that with a new moonshot, America can cure cancer. Last month, he worked with this Congress to give scientists at the National Institutes of Health the strongest resources they've had in over a decade. Tonight, I'm announcing a new national effort to get it done. And because he's gone to the mat for all of us, on so many issues over the past forty years, I'm putting Joe in charge of Mission Control. For the loved ones we've all lost, for the family we can still save, let's make America the country that cures cancer once and for all.

Medical research is critical. We need the same level of commitment when it comes to developing clean energy sources.

Notably, Obama made little reference to refugees from Syria and Iraq.

U.S. resettlement of refugees has been intensely debated over the past several months, with many Republicans raising security concerns surrounding the vetting process of refugees from the two countries. Also absent was any mention of the ongoing war in Afghanistan.

On Syria, a country plagued by the rise of ISIS and a deadly civil war, Obama said that the U.S. is "partnering with local forces and leading international efforts to help that broken society pursue a lasting peace." And on Iran, where 10 U.S. sailors are currently being held, Obama touted the nuclear deal, saying, "As we speak, Iran has rolled back its nuclear program, shipped out its uranium stockpile, and the world has avoided another war."

Here's more BuzzFeed News coverage of the State of the Union:

—People Really Aren't Happy With Obama's Version Of Middle Eastern History
—Both Sides Pile On Trump At State Of The Union
—What Was Bernie Sanders Reading During The State Of The Union?
—Here's President Obama's Entire Final State Of The Union Address

And here's some earlier coverage:

—Meet The Ex-Convict President Obama Will Host At The State Of The Union
—Congressman Didn't Know He Invited Kim Davis To The State Of The Union
—Rand Paul: Obama Should Say He's A Failure, Then Resign In State Of The Union
—Syrian Refugee Featured On Humans Of New York To Attend State Of The Union Address

Reporting by Tom Namako, Kyle Blaine, and Austin Hunt.