Former President Barack Obama hugs former first lady Michelle Obama as he is introduced during the Democratic National Convention Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024, in Chicago. (Photo: AP/Brynn Anderson)
Warning of a difficult fight ahead, former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama on Tuesday called on the nation to embrace Kamala Harris in urgent messages to the Democratic National Convention that were at times both hopeful and ominous.
“America, hope is making a comeback,” the former first lady declared. She then tore into Republican Donald Trump, a sharp shift from the 2016 convention speech in which she told her party, “When they go low, we go high.”
“His limited and narrow view of the world made him feel threatened by the existence of two hardworking, highly educated, successful people who also happened to be Black,” Michelle Obama said of Trump.
Barack Obama, the first Black president in U.S. history, insisted the nation is ready to elect Harris, who is of Jamaican and Indian heritage and would be the nation’s first female president. He also called Trump “a 78-year-old billionaire who hasn’t stopped whining about his problems since he rode down his golden escalator nine years ago.”
“It’s been a constant stream of gripes and grievances that’s actually gotten worse now that he’s afraid of losing to Kamala,” he said.
The fiery messages from two of the Democratic Party’s biggest stars underscored the urgency of the moment as Harris works to stitch together a broad coalition in her bid to defeat Trump this fall. The vice president is drawing on stars like the Obamas and other celebrities, officials from the far left to the middle, and even some Republicans to boost her campaign.
Former President Barack Obama speaks during the Democratic National Convention Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024, in Chicago. (Photo: AP/Charles Rex Arbogast)
And while the theme of the night was “a bold vision for America’s future,” the disparate factions of Harris’ evolving coalition demonstrated, above all, that they are connected by a deep desire to prevent a second Trump presidency.
In an appearance perhaps intended to needle Trump, his former press secretary Stephanie Grisham — now a harsh critic of her former boss — also took the convention stage.
Trump “has no empathy, no morals and no fidelity to the truth,” Grisham said. “I love my country more than my party. Kamala Harris tells the truth. She respects the American people. And she has my vote.”
Sens. Chuck Schumer, the Senate Democratic leader, and Bernie Sanders, the Vermont independent beloved by progressives, both praised Harris.
Schumer called on voters to elect another Democratic majority to the U.S. Senate. “She can’t do it alone,” he said of a prospective President Harris.
Sanders, a self-described democratic socialist, said he was eager to work with Harris in the White House as well. Their policy goals, he said, are «not a radical agenda.”
Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris arrives with running mate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz at the Fiserv Forum during a campaign rally in Milwaukee, Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024. (Photo: AP/Jacquelyn Martin)
As Democrats addressed the nation from Chicago, Harris faced an estimated 15,000 people in battleground Wisconsin in the arena where Republicans held their convention last month. She said that she was running “a people-powered campaign.”
“Together we will chart a new way forward,” the vice president said in remarks that were partially broadcast to the DNC. “A future for freedom, opportunity, of optimism and faith.”
Still, it was not all serious on the second night of the four-day convention.
A symbolic roll call in which delegates from each state pledged their support for the Democratic nominee turned into a party atmosphere. A DJ played a mix of state-specific songs — and Atlanta native Lil Jon ran out during Georgia’s turn to his hit song with DJ Snake, “Turn Down for What,” to the delight of the thousands inside the cavernous United Center.
And various speakers offered personal stories about Harris, who has served as a California senator and vice president, but remains largely unknown among many voters.
Second gentleman Doug Emhoff, who would become the nation’s first gentleman if his wife wins the presidency, shared details about his relationship with the vice president — their cooking habits, their first date and her laugh, which is often mocked by Republican critics.
“You know that laugh. I love that laugh!” Emhoff said as the crowd cheered. Later, he added, “Her empathy is her strength.”
Trump, meanwhile, was out on the campaign trail as part of his weeklong swing-state tour during the Democratic convention. He went to Howell, Michigan, on Tuesday and stood aside sheriff’s deputies as he labeled Harris the “ringleader” of a “Marxist attack on law enforcement” across the country.
“Kamala Harris will deliver crime, chaos, destruction and death,” Trump said in one of many generalizations about an America under Harris.
Throughout their convention, Democrats have sought to balance a message of unity with an embrace of diversity.
Barack Obama’s speech Tuesday night made perhaps the most forceful case for that model as a logical step forward for a bitterly divided nation. In contrast to the party’s rhetoric in the recent past around race, Obama framed the Democrats’ approach as “a new way forward” for a modern society in contrast to a “divisive,” “old” and “tired” strategy of vision offered by the party’s chief opponent, Trump.
Michelle Obama also addressed race directly as she jabbed Trump, referencing a comment he made in a June debate.
“Who’s going to tell him that the job he’s currently seeking might just be one of those ‘Black jobs’?» she said. ”It’s his same old con: doubling down on ugly, misogynistic, racist lies as a substitute for real ideas and solutions that will actually make people’s lives better.»
Barack Obama returned to the convention stage 20 years after making his first appearance at a national convention, a 2004 appearance in Boston that propelled him into the national spotlight ahead of his successful presidential run. And he praised President Joe Biden, who ended his reelection bid last month and endorsed Harris.
Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris is seen on a video monitor after the roll call during the Democratic National Convention Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024, in Chicago. (Photo: AP/Morry Gash)
“History will remember Joe Biden as a president who defended democracy at a moment of great danger,” Obama said Tuesday as the crowd chanted, “Thank you, Joe.” “I am proud to call him my president, but even prouder to call him my friend.”
Harris, meanwhile, cast the election in dire, almost existential terms. She implored Americans not to get complacent in light of the Supreme Court decision carving out broad presidential immunity, a power she said Trump would abuse.
She has also seized on Trump’s opposition to a nationally guaranteed right to abortion.
“They seemingly don’t trust women,” she said of Trump and his Republican allies. “Well, we trust women.”
The vice president’s speech in Milwaukee evoked some of the same themes that underlaid Biden’s case for reelection before he dropped out, casting Trump as a threat to democracy. Harris argued that Trump threatens the values and freedoms that Americans hold dear.
Someone with that record “should never again have the opportunity to stand behind the seal of the president of the United States,” Harris said. “Never again.”
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y.,speaks during the Democratic National Convention Monday, Aug. 19, 2024, in Chicago. (Photo: AP/Brynn Anderson)
The Democratic convention presents Fox News Channel with a delicate challenge: how to cover a party suddenly enthused about its election chances when much of the network’s audience has a different political viewpoint.
During the Democrats’ first two days, Fox personalities called the proceedings “boring” and filled with “a lot of hate.” There was a focus on demonstrations outside the arena while many of the speakers inside went unheard on the air. Presidential nominee Kamala Harris was given nicknames like “the princess” and “comrade Kamala.”
“We’re at the DNC,» Sean Hannity quipped, “so you don’t have to be.”
Fox’s telecast illustrated the challenges inherent in covering news events on networks that are filled with both breaking news and partisan political talk, sometimes mashed up — where opinion personalities like Hannity, MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow and CNN’s Van Jones freely mix with reporters and blur boundaries. During the GOP convention last month, the liberal-leaning MSNBC cut off Nikki Haley in favor of a discussion about how she debased herself, and ignored Ron DeSantis entirely.
The feel-good Republican gathering gave Fox News the biggest convention audience ever for a cable network, a feat at a time when millions of Americans are pulling the plug on subscriptions, and a staggering audience of 10.4 million people for the opening moments of former President Donald Trump’s acceptance speech, the Nielsen company said.
No one expects such numbers this week for Fox, where 93 percent of people who called it their main news source identified as Republican in a 2019 Pew Research Center survey. Fox’s audience has shown a marked tendency to tune away from news that doesn’t reflect its beliefs, such as the Jan. 6 committee hearings.
For Monday’s DNC coverage, Fox had 2.5 million viewers, compared to 6.9 million for the first night of the GOP session a month ago.
Not mincing words
Hosts on “The Five,» Fox’s most-watched show, were nothing if not direct in setting the stage for the Democrats’ week. “You can’t believe anything the Democrats tell you,” Jesse Watters said. “Everything is a lie … There is no joy here. The only joy is that Joe’s gone.”
Watters said “no one believes” that the economy is good, or that polls showing Harris rapidly making up ground against Trump since replacing Biden at the top of the ticket are real. Later Monday evening, Watters declared the event boring, saying “this is like a convention your boss makes you go to.” Hannity described the convention as “far-left radical protesters outside and manufactured unity, deception and lying inside.”
Fox hosts uniformly rejected the Democrats’ interpretation that Biden had committed a selfless act by giving up his re-election bid and called the president’s appearance on Monday more humiliating than valedictory. “You had to wrestle this job away from him like it was car keys from a drunk,” said Greg Gutfeld, who called former President Obama the “Barack-stabber.”
Harris was depicted as an inexperienced, risky choice. Onscreen messages, or chyrons, during Laura Ingraham’s show drove home the point: “Dems Overconfident in Their Unproven Backup,” read one. Others: “Kamala’s All Vibe, No Substance” and “Comrade Kamala Fails Econ 101.”
“This is like booking tickets on the Titanic,” analyst Keith Kellogg said.
During most of Hannity’s show on Tuesday, an onscreen camera was focused on a non-violent protest outside of the convention. “The convention has been full of a lot of hate,” Hannity said, “instead of the politics of joy, which you’ve been promised.”
Who made it and who didn’t
Fox News has made room for Democrats willing to come on its shows this week for interviews, including Harris campaign co-chair Cedric Richmond, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingel and U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly. Fox said it has seen a 40% increase in bookings of Democrats compared with last year, and that its sister business network presents full coverage of convention speeches.
Fox says it has the same footprint on the ground for the DNC in Chicago as it did for the Republican convention in Chicago last month. It rejects the notion that it is unwilling to show the Democrats’ point of view.
“You can’t access the engaged and politically diverse audience with the scale that FNC provides anywhere else,” Fox said in a statement.
Fox carried Biden’s speech in its entirety Monday night, as well as some other moments including Harris’ short, surprise address, which occurred during Hannity’s show. Both Barack and Michelle Obama were carried on Tuesday night. Speeches by Hillary Clinton and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez — both deeply unpopular with many in Fox’s audience — were also carried in full. Fox’s Dana Perino said Ocasio-Cortez made a great speech, “but it didn’t make any sense.”
Several podium appearances covered elsewhere went unheard on Fox News Channel: Olympics basketball coach Steve Kerr, UAW President Shawn Fain, Rev. Jesse Jackson, U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn, U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth. Fox analyst Brit Hume complained that a group of women who talked about abortion policy went on too long — even though the network did not follow their remarks.
Tim Graham, director of media analysis for the conservative Media Research Center, said Fox programs to its audience in much the same way that Nicolle Wallace and Rachel Maddow say they won’t show Trump because of concerns that he’ll lie, “but it’s because they don’t want to watch it.”
Brian Stelter, author of “Network of Lies: The Epic Saga of Fox News, Donald Trump and the Battle for American Democracy,” said that while Fox News Channel recognized the news importance of the convention, he saw it as reluctant to give its viewers an unvarnished view of what was being said.
“Fox did very little listening and a lot of talking,” he said.
Interestingly, there was an effort by the campaigns Monday to reach beyond friendly territory: The Harris campaign ran a commercial on Fox, while Trump advertised on CNN.
Fox has been particularly sensitive about not threatening audience loyalty. Concerns about its audience’s anger with Fox following coverage of the 2020 presidential election were cited in evidence presented by Dominion Voting Systems in its defamation suit against Fox. That suit was settled when Fox agreed to pay $787 million.
La virtual candidata a la presidencia por el Partido Demócrata, la vicepresidenta Kamala Harris, aparece en las pantallas después de una votación nominal durante la Convención Nacional Demócrata, el martes 20 de agosto de 2024, en Chicago. (AP Foto/Morry Gash)
Kamala Harris congregó el martes a miles de votantes en un estadio abarrotado, mientras el expresidente Barack Obama y la ex primera dama Michelle Obama se alistaban para sus esperados discursos de la noche.
Los Obamas pidieron el voto dentro y fuera del partido para Harris dentro de otro recinto, durante una jornada diseñada para demostrar la vitalidad y alcance de la siempre cambiante coalición de la virtual candidata presidencial demócrata.
“Siento esperanza”, dijo Obama ante la Convención Nacional Demócrata en Chicago apenas minutos después de que su esposa declarara ante esa misma multitud que “hay algo maravilloso y magnífico en el aire ¿cierto?”.
EFE/EPA/CAROLINE BREHMAN
“Estados Unidos, la esperanza está de regreso”, subrayó Michelle
La ex primera dama electrizó a la Convención Nacional Demócrata con certeras ofensivas al expresidente y candidato republicano Donald Trump, y un espaldarazo a Kamala Harris, a quien describió como heredera de la «esperanza».
Hija de esta ciudad, fue recibida con un estruendoso aplauso y gritos de alegría de las miles de personas en el estadio United Center en Chicago.
Agradeció los aplausos y afirmó que había algo «maravillosamente mágico en el aire», no solo en el estadio, sino en todo el país, un «sentimiento familiar que había estado enterrado por demasiado tiempo».
«¿Saben de lo que estoy hablando, verdad? Es la anticipación, la energía, la emoción de estar de nuevo al borde de un día más brillante», afirmó Harris, quien enseguida clamó despertando la ovación del público: «¡Estados Unidos, la esperanza está haciendo un regreso!»
De esa forma, la exprimera dama aludió al lema de «esperanza» que llevó a su marido, Barack Obama, a la Casa Blanca en 2008 y trazó un paralelismo con la historia personal de Harris, quien, como la propia Michelle Obama, idolatraba a su madre y tuvo que guardar luto por su muerte.
Michelle Obama, con un discurso contundente contra Trump, emocionó a los miles de asistentes.
La carismática exprimera dama cargó contra la «limitada y estrecha» visión del mundo de Trump, afirmando que se sintió amenazado por la presencia de una familia negra en la Casa Blanca y consideró que en esta campaña ha vuelto a las mismas «feas, misóginas y racistas mentiras».
De esa forma, pidió a los asistentes que acudan en masa a las urnas en noviembre para elegir a la que podría ser la primera mujer negra y la primera persona de origen indio en llegar a la Casa Blanca.
El ex presidente estadounidense Barack Obama habla durante la segunda noche de la Convención Nacional Demócrata (DNC) en el United Center en Chicago, Illinois.EFE/EPA/CAROLINE BREHMAN
Por su parte, Barack Obama aseguró que el país está listo «para una nuevo capítulo».
Obama, el primer presidente negro en la historia del país, volvió al escenario de la convención 20 años después de su primera aparición, una presentación en 2004 en Boston que lo impulsó a los reflectores nacionales antes de postularse con éxito a la presidencia.
“La historia recordará a Joe Biden como un presidente que defendió a la democracia en un momento de gran peligro”, dijo Obama el martes mientras la multitud gritaba: “Gracias, Joe”.
“Estoy orgulloso de referirme a él como mi presidente, pero estoy más orgulloso aún de llamarlo mi amigo”, añadió.
«No necesitamos cuatros años más de fanfarronería y caos. Hemos visto ya esa película y sabemos que las secuelas son normalmente peores. Estados Unidos está listo para un nuevo capítulo. Estados Unidos está listo para una historia mejor. Estamos listo para una presidenta Kamala Harris», aseguró el exmandatario entre vítores.
En un reflexivo discurso, Obama animó a los estadounidenses a centrarse en las características que los unen como país e insistió que, a pesar de la polarización, los ciudadanos «quieren algo mejor».
«La gran mayoría de nosotros no queremos vivir en un país amargado y divido», señaló el mandatario ante un público emocionado que interrumpió su discurso con aplausos y vítores.
Obama presentó a Harris como la candidata que puede unir a EE.UU. y luchar por los intereses del pueblo en contraste con Trump: «Como presidenta, no va a atender solo a sus votantes (…) trabajará en nombre de cada estadounidense».
Sobre el compañero de fórmula y aspirante vicepresidencial demócrata, el gobernador de Minesota Tim Walz, dijo: «Me encanta este tipo. Tim es el tipo de persona que debería estar en la política», empezó Obama. «Se puede ver que esas camisas de franela que lleva no vienen de un consultor, vienen de su armario, y han pasado por algunas batallas», afirmó, provocando sonoras carcajadas del público y su esposa Gwen.
Obama atacó con dureza a Trump, describiéndole como un multimillonario egoísta y bravucón, que solo ve el «poder como un medio para conseguir sus fines», y que recurre a «apodos infantiles» y «teorías conspirativas locas» para combatir su mayor «miedo», que dijo es perder ante Harris en las elecciones de noviembre.
«No necesitamos cuatro años más de fanfarronería y caos. Hemos visto esa película y sabemos que la segunda parte siempre es peor. Estados Unidos está listo para un nuevo capítulo. Estados Unidos está listo para una historia mejor. ¡Estamos listos para una presidenta Kamala Harris!», clamó.
La vicepresidenta de EE.UU., Kamala Harris, participa en un mitin de campaña en el Fiserv Arena en Milwaukee, Wisconsin, EE.UU., el 20 de agosto de 2024. EFE/EPA/Justin Lane
Kamala y Tim hicieron una alquimia peculiar
Harris se presentó en la arena en donde los republicanos celebraron su convención el mes pasado en Wisconsin, un estado sin clara preferencia política, donde declaró que su campaña era “impulsada por el pueblo”.
“Juntos trazaremos un nuevo camino hacia adelante”, dijo la vicepresidenta en declaraciones que se transmitieron parcialmente hacia la sede de la Convención Nacional Demócrata. “Un futuro para la libertad, la oportunidad, de optimismo y fe”.
Los eventos paralelos en dos estados dejaron de manifiesto la diversidad de la coalición en la que trabaja la campaña de Harris en su intento de derrotar al republicano Donald Trump el próximo mes de noviembre. Ha echado mano de las mayores estrellas del partido, líderes que van desde la izquierda extrema a figuras centristas, e incluso de algunos republicanos para impulsar su campaña.
Y aunque el tema de la velada fue “una visión osada para el futuro de Estados Unidos”, las distintas facciones de la coalición de Harris dejaron en claro, por sobre todas las cosas, que están conectadas por un profundo deseo de evitar un segundo mandato de Trump.
Democratic presidential candidate US Vice President Kamala Harris (L) and Democratic vice presidential candidate Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (R) participate in a campaign rally at Fiserv Arena in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, 20 August 2024. The rally is overlapping with the second night of the 2024 Democratic National Convention being held in Chicago, Illinois, from 19 to 22 August 2024 in which delegates of the United States’ Democratic Party will vote on the party’s platform and ceremonially vote for the party’s nominees for president and vice president, Vice President Kamala Harris and Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota, for the upcoming presidential election. (Estados Unidos) EFE/EPA/JUSTIN LANE
Delegada demócrata llega a la Convención Nacional del partido en Chicago con un traje que refleja su energía hacia la candidatura de Harris. (Foto: VOA)
Los asistentes a la Convención Nacional Demócrata en Chicago dicen estar ante una “renovada energía” del partido con la candidatura de Kamala Harris tras la renuncia de Joe Biden a su campaña a la reelección. Lo que algunos veían como una batalla perdida contra Trump, hoy aseguran estar optimistas.
Hace cuatro semanas, la candidatura de Kamala Harris a la presidencia de Estados Unidos transformó el panorama electoral del país que hasta ese momento se enfrentaba a una revancha que muchos rechazaban entre el presidente Joe Biden y el expresidente Donald Trump. Ante una “renovada energía”, miles de demócratas llegaron a Chicago para celebrar su Convención Nacional(DNC) con la mente puesta en “no volver atrás”.
Algunos delegados, decidieron mostrar su optimismo en vistosos atuendos con los que buscaban expresar su apoyo a Harris. Jackie Andrews, delegada de Mississippi, vestía de azul, blanco y rojo desde el sombrero hasta los zapatos a su llegada al United Center, donde se celebra la programación principal de la convención.
“Me siento fantástica… estamos listos para hacer de mi estado uno azul… espero que al regresar a casa podamos continuar el trabajo de llevar a Kamala Harris a la presidencia y hacerla la primera presidenta afroamericana”, dijo Andrews a la Voz de América.
Antes de la salida de Biden, el Partido Demócrata se encontraba ante una base que dudaba de la capacidad del actual mandatario de vencer al republicano Trump en las elecciones de noviembre. Su salida de la contienda es vista por algunos como un movimiento “heroico”.
“Estábamos trabajando en eventos y, francamente, nos costaba encontrar gente que se presentara. Y luego, el día después de que Kamala anunció y Joe Biden, nuestro maravilloso presidente, hizo lo que hizo por nuestro país, aparecieron 50 personas, de la nada, para ofrecerse como voluntarios”, dijo a la Voz de América Michelle Dappert, delegada demócrata de Maryland.
Dappert, quien asiste por primera vez a una convención, dijo sentirse “abrumada de emoción y disfrute” ante la candidatura de Harris.
Algunos presentes dijeron a la VOA que antes de la salida de Biden sentían que estaban ante una “derrota asegurada” con Trump. Sin embargo, desde que Harris tomó la candidatura, perciben “una energía increíble».
“Fue un camino difícil, no vamos a mentir, fue un camino muy difícil, pero estamos acá. Tenemos un ticket que es bastante sólido”, apuntó Antonieta Cádiz, directora ejecutiva de Climate Power, una organización enfocada en la justicia climática.
Los demócratas presentes en la convención aceptan que hace apenas cuatro semanas, la base del partido parecía “no estar organizada”, y en tan solo unos días, el panorama se transformó.
“En unos veinte días ya tenemos una base organizada, una convención que tiene mucha energía y un plan económico que atiende los asuntos más importantes de la nación”, dijo a la VOA Carmelo Ríos, delegado por Puerto Rico y senador en ese territorio.
La otra cara del renovado optimismo
A pesar de la energía que los demócratas aseguran ha inyectado Harris a la campaña, otros estadounidenses se mantienen frustrados con la administración actual y aseguran que las elecciones no supondrían un cambio significativo para el país.
“Nosotros no tenemos optimismo en las elecciones. Sabemos que cualquier candidato, sea demócrata o republicano, no nos van a poner atención”, dijo a la VOA Génesis González, activista por los derechos de los inmigrantes y miembro del Colectivo Capybara.
González viajó desde Seattle, Washington, hasta Chicago para participar de manifestaciones junto a cientos de personas que exigen un cese al fuego en Gaza y rechazan los fondos asignados por la administración Biden a Israel.
“Sí tenemos optimismo en el pueblo, en la gente migrante, porque como ven atrás de mí, aquí estamos peleando y no nos vamos a ir y no tenemos miedo”, agregó la joven latina.
KB, una activista de la Alianza Nacional Contra la Represión Racista y Política de Washington DC, agregó a la VOA que “hay mucha frustración” pero acordó en que “hay optimismo en los movimientos sociales que se unen… podemos unirnos alrededor de estas demandas, de estos problemas, para tener lo que queremos”.
Aunque como vicepresidenta, Harris se ha hecho eco en gran medida de Biden al respaldar el derecho de Israel a defenderse después del ataque de Hamas el 7 de octubre, en ocasiones se ha adelantado un poco al presidente al criticar el enfoque militar de Israel e incluso ha dicho tener esperanza en un cese al fuego.
Harris ofrecerá su discurso de aceptación oficial a la nominación presidencial demócrata en el último día de la convención, en la que según adelantó, también incluirá aspectos de política exterior. Mientras tanto, con el discurso de apertura de Biden, el evento continúa con importantes personalidades políticas como protagonistas, entre ellas Barack y Michelle Obama, Bill Clinton y la fórmula vicepresidencial de Harris, Tim Walz.
Fotografía de integrantes y simpatizantes de la International Brotherhood of Teamsters que participan en un mitin ante una posible huelga en Atlanta, Georgia, EE.UU. (Foto: EFE/ERIK S. MENOR)
Los Teamsters, un sindicato mayoritariamente de camioneros, que hace un mes habló por primera vez en una convención republicana a petición del expresidente Donald Trump, fue homenajeado este martes en el cónclave del Partido Demócrata en Chicago, que ha dado un apoyo masivo al sindicalismo.
El homenaje a los sindicalistas, que contó la historia de Kenenth Stribling, responsable de pensiones de los Teamsters de Wisconsin, fue una muestra más del apoyo demócrata a los sindicatos y a la clase trabajadora, un grupo de votantes clave para ganar las elecciones, sobre todo en los estados del cinturón de óxido (Rust Bbelt) y del medio oeste.
En la primera jornada de esta Convención Nacional Demócrata intervino Shawn Fain, presidente del mayor sindicato del motor, UAW, un actor clave para movilizar a los votantes en el medio oeste.
Los más de 4.000 delegados demócratas convocados a este cónclave, que culminará el jueves con la aceptación de la nominación de la candidatura presidencial de Kamala Harris para las elecciones de noviembre, han presumido del apoyo sindicalista con carteles con el lema «Sí al sindicato».
Además, lo portavoces del partido han reiterado que el presidente Joe Biden, que renunció a la reelección hace un mes, ha sido el presidente más prosindicatos de la historia reciente del país.
Trump (2017 -2021) intentó en la convención republicana de julio recibir un histórico apoyo del presidente de los Teamsters, Sean O’Brien, que hizo una defensa a ultranza de la representación colectiva el poder de los trabajadores organizados ante una audiencia conservadora normalmente opuesta a esos discursos.
O’Brien no ha sido invitado a hablar en esta convención demócrata, algo que es interpretado por analistas como un intento de afear su acercamiento a Trump.
The proclamation cuts red tape and authorizes state agencies to use all available resources to expedite response efforts for counties that experienced significant damages from the remnants of Tropical Storm Debby.
HARRISBURG, PA – Today, Governor Josh Shapiroamended the August 9, 2024, proclamation of disaster emergency to add seven additional counties to include Cambria, Cameron, Centre, Clearfield, Elk, Indiana, and York as ongoing assessments show significant damages due to catastrophic flooding from the remnants of Tropical Storm Debby. This amendment places a total of 28 counties under the disaster proclamation, originally issued for the following 21 counties of Adams, Bedford, Berks, Bradford, Carbon, Chester, Cumberland, Dauphin, Fulton, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Lycoming, Monroe, Pike, Potter, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Tioga, Union, Wayne, and Wyoming.
The Governor’s disaster declaration allows the Commonwealth to quickly access funds and to provide state agencies with the resources needed to assist counties and municipalities with ongoing recovery efforts. The Shapiro Administration will continue to work with localities to assess damages and provide resources as needed. Additional counties may be added to the declaration as damage assessments are completed.
“Following the storms caused by the remnants of Tropical Storm Debby, the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency worked with our counties to quickly assess the damage and start the recovery process. I have updated the disaster declaration to ensure all impacted residents and businesses across the Commonwealth will have access to the available assistance they need,” said Governor Shapiro. “My Administration is in regular contact with federal and local leaders and is working hand in hand with our emergency management partners to deliver help where it is needed and to get appropriate resources there as quickly as possible.”
The Governor’s proclamation makes $5 million of state funds immediately available to assist with immediate response and recovery and authorizes state agencies to use all available resources and personnel as necessary, plus provides $2 million of state funds available for interstate mutual aid assistance if needed. The proclamation also cuts red tape, waiving bidding and contracting procedures, as well as other formalities normally prescribed by law. Per the constitutional amendment approved in 2021, this proclamation will remain in place through August 30, 2024, unless extended by the General Assembly.
Teams from the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) are currently working with federal and municipal partners to complete joint preliminary damage assessments to determine if the Commonwealth meets the requirements for federal disaster assistance.
Any disaster survivors across the Commonwealth in need of recovery assistance should contact the Pennsylvania Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (PAVOAD), a coalition of local, state, and national volunteer organizations providing aid during disaster recovery, including clean up assistance. PAVOAD has established a Debby-specific website and crisis hotline 1-844-965-1386. For other disaster assistance available, survivors can contact PA 211 by dialing 2-1-1, or 1-855-567-5341.
PEMA encourages anyone who sustained damages or impact from Debby to contact their municipal or county emergency management office to report it as soon as possible. These damage reports help to provide information for eligibility for potential state and federal disaster assistance.
Concejal y pastor Nicolas O’Rourke. (Foto: Leticia Roa Nixon)
Sereyrath “One” Van, de 44 años, fue detenido durante una cita para reportarse en la oficina de Servicio de Control de Inmigración y Aduanas (ICE) en el centro de Filadelfia el 15 de agosto. Tras una campaña de un mes, coordinada por la comunidad del sureste asiático y organizaciones de defensa de los inmigrantes, el equipo legal de Van le informó al grupo que protestaba en la calle 8 que era muy probable que este refugiado tailandés fuera transferido al centro de detención de ICE, Moshannon Valley Processing Center, en el área central del estado y de ahí sería deportado.
LA HISTORIA
Debido al genocidio en Camboya, como resultado de los bombardeos estadounidenses durante las guerras en el sureste de Asia, sus padres y sus hermanos mayores huyeron a un campamento de refugiados en Khao-I-Dang en Tailandia. Sereyrath nació prematuramente en ese campamento. Su familia emigró a Estados Unidos en 1984, cuando él tenía 4 años, y se asentó en la sección suroeste de Filadelfia.
Fue hallado culpable de un caso de tráfico de drogas y terminó su condena de casi seis años de encarcelamiento en el condado Bucks. El confinado reconoció que su delito afectó a la comunidad y realizó esfuerzos para su rehabilitación. Durante su estancia en prisión, ICE comenzó los procedimientos de deportación.
Según Van, la orden original de deportación indicaba que sería enviado a Tailandia, con Camboya como un destino alterno, pero el nombre de Tailandia fue cubierto con líquido correctivo blanco. El detenido está preocupado de ser deportado a un país en donde no nació y donde nunca ha estado: territorio camboyano.
Manifestantes frente a las oficinas de ICE en 114 N. 8th St. (Foto: Leticia Roa Nixon)
Su abogado David Bennion, director de Free Migration Project, expresó que, de ser enviado a ese país asiático, Sereyrath puede estar en la situación de no tener patria.
El senador Estatal Nikil Saval y el concejal Nicolas O’Rourke estuvieron presentes en la protesta y acompañaron a Van cuando entró a la oficina de ICE. El reverendo Christopher Neilson, de la iglesia Christianity Ministries, miembro de la organización Movimiento Nuevo Santuario, también mostró su solidaridad.
Altar colocado durante la manifestación en apoyo a Sereyrath “One” Van. (Foto: Leticia Roa Nixon)
La campaña #AllforOne incluyó una petición de más de 900 firmas en apoyo a “One”, entregadas a la representante estatal Mary Gay Scanlon, al senador John Fetterman y al senador Robert Casey, casi 4,000 correos electrónicos y llamadas a las oficinascongresualespara intervenir.
Van, que obtuvo su “green card” en 1988, actualmente tiene pendiente una solicitud de visa U. La visa U, para inmigrantes que son víctimas de un delito, proporciona un permiso de residencia y una vía potencial para obtener la ciudadanía como inmigrante que es víctima de un delito. Con muy pocas excepciones, el ICE no puede deportar a alguien con una solicitud de visa U pendiente, pero Bennion dijo que ninguna de esas excepciones se aplica a Van.
Cartel con la imagen de Sereyrath “One” Van, quien deja a 6 hermanos. (Imagen: Cortesía de VietLead)
Van, como muchos refugiados, enfrentó acoso y racismo en el suroeste de Filadelfia, en un vecindario donde la pobreza y el crimen eran algo común. Ingresó al sistema de justicia juvenil cuando era adolescente.
Durante el tiempo que fue encarcelado en la prisión estatal, ICE revocó su tarjeta verde y emitió su orden final de expulsión.
Van fue liberado en octubre. ICE lo detuvo durante casi 90 días en el Centro de Detención de Moshannon Valley y lo liberó en enero antes de que expirara el período de detención de 90 días.
Senador estatal Nikil Saval apoya a los defensores de los inmigrantes. (Foto: Leticia Roa Nixon)
El 9 de julio Van asistió a un control inesperado de ICE y recibió un aviso de expulsión final de 14 días.
Desde que Estados Unidos y Camboya firmaron un acuerdo bilateral de repatriación en 2002, más de 1.000 personas han sido deportadas a ese país, incluidas muchas que, como Van, crecieron en Estados Unidos y no nacieron en Camboya.
Van dijo que asume la “plena responsabilidad” por sus acciones que llevaron a su condena, pero considera que una orden de deportación a Camboya es un “triple castigo”.
“Ya cumplí mi castigo, mi condena. Ser deportado es otro castigo. Pero enviarme a un país en el que nunca he estado, o en el que no nací, es un tercer castigo. Entonces, ¿Cuántos castigos se supone que debo recibir?”, se preguntó Van.
La próxima manifestación será en la oficina de ICE el miércoles 21 de agosto a las 3:30 pm para protestar por los derechos de los inmigrantes. Piden que se detengan las detenciones y deportaciones.
Protesta por el cierre de los centros de detención
Este contenido forma parte de Every Voice, Every Vote, un proyecto colaborativo gestionado por The Lenfest Institute for Journalism. El apoyo principal para Every Voice, Every Vote en 2024 y 2025 lo proporciona William Penn Foundation con fondos adicionales de The Lenfest Institute for Journalism, Comcast NBC Universal, The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, Henry L. Kimelman Family Foundation, Judy y Peter Leone, Arctos Foundation, Wyncote Foundation, 25th Century Foundation y Dolfinger-McMahon Foundation. Para obtener más información sobre el proyecto y ver una lista completa de los patrocinadores, visite Every Voice, Every Vote . El contenido editorial es creado sin intervención de los donantes del proyecto.
Taylor Swift actúa en el estadio de Wembley como parte de su Eras Tour el 21 de junio de 2024 en Londres. El candidato presidencial republicano, el expresidente Donald Trump, ayudado por imágenes generadas por inteligencia artificial, aceptó un respaldo falso de Taylor Swift. (Foto: AP/Scott A Garfitt/Invision/Archivo)
El expresidente Donald Trump ha estado activo en sus redes sociales mientras los demócratas están reunidos en su convención en Chicago, pero algunas de sus publicaciones no tienen mucho que ver con la realidad.
Previo a la Convención Nacional Demócrata, publicó una imagen falsa de alguien que se parece a la vicepresidenta Kamala Harris dirigiéndose a lo que parece ser un mitin comunista en Chicago con una representación de una pancarta roja y un símbolo comunista. Eso siguió a su republicación de un video falso de sí mismo bailando junto al multimillonario Elon Musk, uno de sus partidarios más vocales.
Justo antes de que comenzara la convención, volvió a publicar una imagen de Taylor Swift con un atuendo del Tío Sam que decía que respaldaba su campaña, algo que ella nunca ha hecho.
Son los más recientes ejemplos de cómo Trump promueve imágenes producidas por herramientas de inteligencia artificial para atacar a sus oponentes o crear ilusiones de apoyo en torno a su propia campaña. Esto va en consonancia con una estrategia de larga data en la que Trump amplifica ciertos mensajes, desde los partidarios de QAnon hasta los que niegan los resultados de elecciones justas, para ganar puntos políticos y satisfacer a su base promoviendo realidades alternativas.
Algunas de las imágenes y videos que Trump ha compartido son caricaturescas u obviamente falsas. Sin embargo, el aumento del contenido generado por IA en las redes sociales políticas preocupa a los expertos, que dicen que puede usarse para impulsar desinformación más insidiosa y creíble. A medida que las imágenes, videos y audios falsos creados por modelos de IA generativa comienzan a saturar las redes sociales, también corren el riesgo de erosionar la confianza de las personas en lo que ven y escuchan.
“Los deepfakes generados por IA de Taylor Swift son otro ejemplo del poder de la IA para crear información errónea que engaña y estafa a los votantes”, dijo Lisa Gilbert, copresidenta de Public Citizen, un grupo progresista de defensa de los derechos del consumidor que ha presionado para que se legisle para regular la IA. “Los daños potenciales a nuestra sociedad que podrían resultar de dicha desinformación, incluidos los abusos en nuestras elecciones, son de gran alcance e inmensamente dañinos”.
Una imagen generada por IA en la publicación de Truth Social de Trump, compartida el domingo, mostraba a mujeres con camisetas de “Swifties for Trump”, una referencia a los fanáticos devotos de la artista. La imagen falsa que mostraba a Swift vestida como el Tío Sam incluía un texto que decía: “Taylor quiere que votes por Donald Trump”. En su republicación de la imagen, Trump agregó: ”¡Acepto!”.
Una de las imágenes que compartió Trump incluía una pequeña etiqueta de sátira, aunque no aclaró si se refería a que su publicación era en broma.
Swift, que sigue en su gira mundial y tiene un espectáculo programado para el martes por la noche en Londres, no ha hecho ningún respaldo en la contienda presidencial de Estados Unidos de este año. Su portavoz no respondió a varios mensajes en busca de comentarios.
Para los republicanos fuera de la órbita de Trump, la atención a alguien como Swift, una de las artistas más populares del mundo, se trata generar ruido para Trump en un momento en que gran parte de la atención está en Harris y los demócratas.
“Así es como él y la campaña pueden recuperar los ciclos de noticias”, dijo Doug Heye, portavoz y operador republicano desde hace mucho tiempo. “No creo que se pueda decir que es a su favor, pero creo que todos sabemos, si quieres que hablen de ti, Taylor Swift es una gran manera de hacerlo”.
Un portavoz de Harris no respondió a las preguntas sobre el uso de imágenes generadas por inteligencia artificial por parte de Trump.
Los partidarios de Trump suelen crear publicaciones en las redes sociales y memes utilizando imágenes generadas por IA, algunas de las cuales son compartidas por el expresidente.
Antes de que Trump compartiera las imágenes falsas de Swift, sus partidarios habían creado y publicado sus propios videos e imágenes generados por IA en los que la estrella del pop que parecía apoyar a Trump. También compartieron numerosas imágenes de Harris vestida como una líder comunista o dirigiéndose a una multitud soviética.
Los operadores políticos han estado preocupados durante mucho tiempo por lo que el aumento de la inteligencia artificial podría significar para las elecciones.
Algunos miembros del Congreso han presionado para que se apruebe una legislación que regule el uso de imágenes generadas por IA en la política, pero no se ha aprobado ninguna legislación para hacerlo. La Comisión Federal de Comunicaciones (FCC, por sus siglas en inglés) ha propuesto exigir a los anunciantes políticos que revelen su uso de la inteligencia artificial en los anuncios de televisión y radio, pero tal regla no afectaría a las plataformas de redes sociales.
Si bien varias empresas de redes sociales tienen reglas para etiquetar el contenido generado por IA, no siempre se cumplen. En todas las plataformas, las imágenes engañosas y realistas de Trump y Harris acumulan millones de visitas, y algunos usuarios no reconocen que lo que están viendo es falso.
Dada su influencia y sus millones de fans, Swift a menudo se ha convertido en un tema político de tendencia durante los años electorales.
En 2020, la cantante apoyó al presidente Joe Biden, escribiendo un mes antes de las elecciones que iba a apoyar a la entonces candidata a la vicepresidencia Harris, la candidata presidencial demócrata de este año, en su debate contra el entonces vicepresidente Mike Pence. También criticó abiertamente a Trump antes de las elecciones de 2020, diciendo que había avivado “los fuegos de la supremacía blanca y el racismo”.
Si bien se ha mantenido al margen en lo que va del año, no ha escapado a la atención de destacados conservadores que se preocupan por un respaldo de Swift a la candidatura presidencial demócrata.
Jeanine Pirro, de Fox News, advirtió a principios de este año a Swift que no “se involucrara en política”. Sean Hannity, de Fox News, la instó a “pensarlo dos veces” antes de respaldar a Biden cuando se postuló para la reelección. Y Vivek Ramaswamy, excandidato presidencial republicano y partidario vocal de Trump, calificó a Swift y a su novio estrella de la NFL, Travis Kelce, como “una pareja artificialmente apuntalada por la cultura» que podría hacer “un importante respaldo presidencial” este otoño.
Algunos de sus partidarios han respondido a las publicaciones de Trump recurriendo a las redes sociales y declarando sus intenciones de votar por el expresidente. La campaña de Trump está aprovechando ese apoyo.
Steven Cheung, portavoz de Trump, no abordó el uso de imágenes falsas en respuesta a las preguntas, pero calificó a “Swifties for Trump” como un “movimiento masivo que crece cada día”.
El presidente Joe Biden se dirige a la audiencia en la noche inaugural de la Convención Nacional Demócrata en el United Center en Chicago, Illinois, EE.UU., 19 de agosto de 2024. (Foto: EFE/JUSTIN LANE)
Pro-Palestinian protesters «have a point,» US President Joe Biden said on Monday, acknowledging for the first time criticism of his stance on Israel.
“Those protesters out in the street, they have a point. A lot of innocent people are being killed on both sides,” Biden said, during his Democratic National Convention speech in Chicago.
As Biden was speaking pro-Palestinian protesters took to the streets of Chicago.
Biden said he had put forward a proposal a few days ago “that brought us closer to achieving» a ceasefire «than we have been since” the war broke out in Gaza in October least year.
«We will keep working to bring hostages home and end the war in Gaza, and bring peace and security to the Middle East,» he said.
He reiterated his commitment to prevent a wider war in the region and surge humanitarian health and food assistance into Gaza to end the civilian suffering of the Palestinian people.
“Finally, finally, finally deliver a ceasefire and end this war,» he said.
The remarks signal a softening of Biden’s stance months after condemning similar protests on college campuses earlier this year.
(Foto: EFE/JUSTIN LANE)
In May, at the peak of the student movement, Biden asserted that the protests had not swayed his stance on supporting Israel. «Dissent is necessary in democracy, but it should never lead to disorder,» he said at the peak of student protests over the war in Gaza.
Police had to intervene to clear a number of encampments as students protested Israel’s offensive in Gaza, launched after a Hamas attack on Oct. 7 that killed over 1,200 people.
Israel has killed nearly 40,000 Palestinians in response to the Hamas attack in the last 10 months of war, according to Gaza health authorities.
Since the escalation of the Gaza war, dozens of cities across the US have witnessed protests in support of Palestine, with significant backing from young people.
In Chicago, thousands of protesters gathered outside the United Center, urging Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris to reconsider her support for Israel.
The chants of thousands of activists and citizens outside could be heard from inside the sports center on the first day of the Democratic convention.
Harris, who has historically supported the pro-Israel lobby in Washington, has not yet explicitly addressed her stance on the conflict.
At a recent campaign event in Michigan, she responded to pro-Palestinian protesters by saying, “If you want Trump to win, say so.”
The Gaza conflict has become a significant political issue for Democrats, particularly among younger voters. A Siena College/New York Times poll indicates that 45 percent of voters under 30 disapprove of the current administration’s handling of the war.
President Joe Biden waves with Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris and second gentleman Doug Emhoff during the first day of Democratic National Convention, Monday, Aug. 19, 2024, in Chicago. (Photo: AP/Jacquelyn Martin
Former President Barack Obama, Michelle Obama and second gentleman Doug Emhoff will speak at the DNC, a day after the unofficial farewell for President Joe Biden, who served eight years as Obama’s vice president. Biden won’t be in the hall to see his former running mate speak, as he departed Chicago after delivering his own speech.
Turning to the men gathered behind him in uniform, he asked “do you want to be defunded?” Some in the crowd booed at the question.
Turning to the DNC, Trump said Harris must have been laughing when President Joe Biden spoke in Chicago on Monday night.
“It was a vicious violent overthrow of a president of the United States,” he said of Biden’s decision to not seek reelection.
At Michigan event, Trump entered to light applause and whistles as he took the podium
“Nice people by the way,” he said in greeting.
About 100 people including uniformed and non uniformed officers gathered inside an equipment hanger at the sheriff’s office, according to his campaign.
Trump spoke against a backdrop of sheriff’s vehicles, police shields, red and blue lights and signs that read “Michigan is Trump Country.”
Trump quipped that he has the back of the “blue” as well as those in brown, a reference to the sheriff’s department law enforcement officers who stood behind him in brown uniforms as he began his remarks.
President Joe Biden embraces Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris during the first day of Democratic National Convention, Monday, Aug. 19, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
RFK Jr. shows up too late to testify against Democrats’ ballot challenge in Pennsylvania
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. showed up too late to testify Tuesday in a court case in Pennsylvania where Democratic activists are trying to bar him from the ballot for president in the premier battleground state, prompting testy exchanges between the judge and Kennedy’s lawyer.
Lawyers for the two Democratic activists who filed the challenge say Kennedy’s candidacy paperwork states a fake home address — an allegation being aired in other state courts — and falls short of the signature-gathering requirement applied by state law to third-party candidates.
Kennedy showed up an hour and 40 minutes late, blaming a canceled flight from Massachusetts to Harrisburg, and never testified after Commonwealth Court Judge Lori Dumas chose to proceed without him as a witness.
“This is the first that I’m hearing about this,” Dumas said when told about Kennedy’s absence. Shortly after Kennedy arrived, the judge adjourned the hearing and did not say when she’ll rule.
A delegate holds a sign as President Joe Biden speaks during the first day of Democratic National Convention, Monday, Aug. 19, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
Top reproductive rights group enthusiastic that Harris can win in November
Vice President Kamala Harris was “an hour one endorsement” for Emily’s List, a group that advocates for Democratic women who support abortion rights running for office, said president Jessica Mackler at a Tuesday news briefing in Chicago.
“We’ve seen firsthand how accomplished, qualified, and ready she is to win and also to lead this country forward,” Mackler said.
“The Dobbs decision fundamentally changed the political landscape,” and having Harris instead of President Joe Biden at the top of the Democratic ticket kickstarted political enthusiasm, especially for women under 45, according to Mackler.
“These women are excited about Kamala Harris,” she said.
Delegates hold signs as President Joe Biden speaks during the first day of Democratic National Convention, Monday, Aug. 19, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
Israel supporters gather in downtown Chicago
Israel supporters, including some relatives of people kidnapped by Hamas, gathered at a pro-Israel art installation Tuesday morning in downtown Chicago to call on U.S. leaders to continue backing Israel and pushing for the release of hostages.
The art installation included giant milk cartons bearing photos of some of the hostages.
“We are here to sound a voice,” Michael Herzog, Israeli ambassador to the United States, told the small crowd. “We are here to keep the issue of the hostages high on the agenda.”
He noted that 319 days have passed since the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas. “We need to call on Hamas to let our people go,” he said, prompting the crowd to chant “let them go.”
Elan Carr, CEO of the Israeli-American Council, condemned the pro-Palestinian protesters who have descended on Chicago this week, calling them “fringe crazies” and demanding that U.S. leaders “stand unequivocally with the state of Israel.”
Consul General of Israel to the Midwest Yinam Cohen said he was disappointed by the “institutional support of the city of Chicago for the anti-Israel protests.”
DNC roll call will be ceremonial, but expected to be festive nonetheless
Democratic delegates already voted virtually to nominate Harris as their presidential nominee.
Regardless, they’re still holding a celebratory in-person roll call vote on Tuesday — and it’s expected to be a party.
The roll call will feature a live DJ playing songs to represent each of the 57 delegations present, a convention spokesperson said. It also will feature music, lights, visuals and special effects.
The spokesperson said those present in person or tuning in from home can expect to hear a range of diverse voices during the roll call, including elected officials at all levels of government and delegates who will share moving personal stories.
The roll call will start with Delaware — Biden’s home state — and end with California and Minnesota, home states to Harris and Walz.
In Michigan, Republican senate candidate speaks to law enforcement before Trump’s arrival
Mike Rogers, who cinched the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate earlier this month, spoke to law enforcement for about an hour and a half ahead of Trump’s scheduled arrival.
“We will have your back,” he said to applause from the crowd of about 50 while standing in front of banners that read “Make America Safe Again.”
The Michigan U.S. Senate race is one of several that could determine the control of the chamber in the fall.
Trump will speak Tuesday afternoon at the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office on law enforcement and crime.
Multiple Michigan sheriffs criticized the Biden and Harris administration over border policy, speaking about the effects drug trade and fentanyl in their communities. Van Buren County Sheriff Daniel Abbott listed a series of recent crimes in remarks he said were committed by people in the country illegally, suggesting the crimes could have been prevented if the perpetrators were stopped from entering the country.
“Come November, make the obvious choice, reelect Donald Trump,” Abbott said.
Secret Service looking into bomb threats in downtown Chicago
The U.S. Secret Service was checking into bomb threats made Tuesday at “various locations” in downtown Chicago where the Democratic National Convention is taking place.
Law enforcement was screening the affected areas and examining the credibility of the threat, according to a message from the joint information center established for the convention.
A reporter for Fox 32 in Chicago said in a post on X that their station received an email making a pipe bomb threat at four hotels in downtown Chicago.
Vance talks crime at campaign event in Kenosha, Wisconsin
Republican vice presidential candidate JD Vance took the stage about 10 minutes early at a rally outside the county courthouse in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on Tuesday.
Kenosha was the site of several days of protests against police brutality that turned violent in 2020. Illinois teen Kyle Rittenhouse shot three protesters during one of the demonstrations, killing two of them. A jury later acquitted Rittenhouse of homicide and endangerment charges after he argued he fired in self-defense.
The GOP held him as a symbol of gun rights. Vance used the setting to attack Kamala Harris as soft on crime. He said that feeling safe is an American birthright and promised that he and Trump would end sanctuary cities for people in the country illegally, deport those who are violent and push for the death penalty for drug dealers.
He also called for tougher prosecutors and pledged to end frivolous lawsuits against police.
“All this stuff is common sense,” he said.
Vance also took questions directly from reporters in the press area. Asked for his thoughts on the Democratic National Convention taking place only about 60 miles south in Chicago, Vance decried that city’s murder rate. He also dinged Harris for not taking questions from reporters like he was doing and instead always making sure a teleprompter stands between her and the public.
State Sen. Mallory McMorrow says oversized Project 2025 book will be seen again at DNC
Michigan State Sen. Mallory McMorrow kicked off her speech at the opening night of the Democratic National Convention with a bang, slamming down an oversized hardcover copy of the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 book on the podium.
The book, which McMorrow joked in an interview weighs as much as her 3-year-old daughter, is filled entirely with actual text from Project 2025, the term used for the Heritage Foundation’s nearly 1,000-page handbook for the next Republican administration.
The idea to create an oversized version of Project 2025 first came about several weeks ago when Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign manager, Julie Chavez Rodriguez, contacted McMorrow about speaking about Project 2025 at the convention.
McMorrow said she had never spoken to an arena full of people before and wanted to come up with something that would “play well both at home and in the arena.”
According to McMorrow, Monday night won’t be the last appearance of the massive Project 2025 book at the convention. It will be displayed by various speakers throughout the week, with a designated “keeper of the book” ensuring its safekeeping in the interim.
“There will be others who pick up the book baton,” McMorrow said. “That won’t be the last time you see that Cheesecake Factory menu.”
Broadway stars form group to back Harris
A list of Broadway heavy hitters — including Audra McDonald, Kristin Chenoweth, Sara Bareilles, Tony Kushner and Sarah Paulson — have gathered to back the Democratic ticket, creating the volunteer group Broadway for Harris.
The group says it will use phone banks, canvass, social media and host special fundraising events to increase voter participation in key swing districts. A Democratic National Convention watch party on Thursday in Manhattan will launch the group.
Members include more than 70 industry leaders, current and former Broadway performers, producers, writers, directors, choreographers and marketing specialists. A public Zoom call has been set for Aug. 26 to learn about how fans can get involved.
The group includes actors Rachel Brosnahan, Adrienne Warren, Idina Menzel, John Leguizamo, Billy Porter and Alan Cumming; songwriters Alan Menken, Jeanine Tesori, Stephen Schwartz and Benj Pasek and Justin Paul; playwrights David Henry Hwang and Jeremy O. Harris; and producers Jordan Roth, Thomas Schumacher and Jeffrey Seller.
At Trump’s campaign event
Asked about a comment Trump has made several times through the years at political events about using the U.S. military to help control urban crime, Rep. Byron Donalds said that “saying something at a rally is not public policy. It’s not.”
“If you go to his website, you’re not going to find that written in stone on the website under what he’s going to do the help solve crime issues,” Donalds added.
According to campaign policy positions listed on his website, Trump “has committed to deploying federal assets, including the National Guard, to restore law and order when local law enforcement refuses to act.”
Walz: ‘We’re not going to make that mistake again’
Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz says he listened to Hillary Clinton address the party’s convention Monday night and couldn’t help but imagine “how different things could have been in 2016, if we’d gotten the work done.”
“We’re not going to make that mistake again,” Walz said at a meeting of the convention’s Women’s Caucus.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul says Harris nomination could be barrier breaking moment
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul called the nomination of Vice President Kamala Harris a historic, potentially barrier breaking moment for women in politics during a gathering of the Democrat’s Women’s Caucus.
Hochul referenced past trailblazing Democratic women like Rep. Shirley Chisholm, a Jamaican American New Yorker who ran for president in 1968, and Geraldine Ferraro, who served as the party’s presidential nominee in 1984.
“Maybe this means that women can do more than be the supporting cast,” Hochul said.
“There will be no more barriers. That’ll be proof that every little girl can be whatever she wants because someone came before,” Hochul said. She urged the audience to prevent a “Trump travesty” this year.
At a JD Vance event in Wisconsin
Republican U.S. Senate candidate Eric Hovde warmed up a crowd of about 150 people waiting for Sen. JD Vance outside the county courthouse in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on Tuesday by bashing Kamala Harris’ public safety record.
He accused her of allowing San Francisco to slide into crime during her tenure as district attorney there. He called her stint as California attorney general a failure, accusing her of allowing the rise of sanctuary cities for undocumented immigrants, sex trafficking and drug use. She’s also been unable to control the influx of undocumented immigrants across the southern U.S. border during her time as vice president, he said.
“She has a history of failure,” Hovde said.
Chicago police superintendent: ‘We’re up to the challenge’ as more protests expected
Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling said there was a “brief breach” of security fencing “within sight and sound of the United Center” on Monday evening.
He said 13 people were arrested on charges ranging from criminal trespass and resisting and obstructing an arrest to aggravated battery of police officers.
Speaking at a news conference Tuesday morning, Snelling praised officers’ actions, saying they didn’t overreact. “Our officers showed great restraint,” he said.
He said an estimated 3,500 protesters participated in the march and rally, and just a small group breached the security fence.
“I’m not going to tie that event — what happened with the breach — with the entirety of the protest,” he said, saying the vast majority of protesters were peaceful.
Snelling said more protests are expected as the week goes on, and his department is prepared to de-escalate situations whenever possible.
“Again, we’re up to the challenge,” he said. “The city is up to the challenge.”
Harris campaign ties Trump event in Michigan town to far-right demonstration
Donald Trump is hosting an event Tuesday tied to the theme of “Make America Safe Again” in a Michigan city that has long been linked to the Ku Klux Klan.
Howell, a city of about 10,000 people, is a Republican stronghold west of Detroit. Nicole Matthews-Creech, executive director of the Livingston Diversity Council, said the public perception of the area has been stained by its past as the decades-long residence of a KKK grand dragon from the 1970s to the 1990s.
A Trump campaign spokesperson said they didn’t know about the KKK link and chose the location because it’s part of the Detroit media market and has a supportive sheriff in what the campaign considers an important area.
Last month, a group of about a dozen masked demonstrators marched through downtown Howell and dispersed after a library board member confronted the group at the Howell Carnegie District Library, according to a news release from the city of Howell, the Livingston Diversity Council and the Howell Area Chamber of Commerce.
Another group of people, similarly dressed, were seen at an interstate overpass nearby. Video from the overpass appears to show someone yell, “We love Hitler, we love Trump,” according to reporting by the Livingston Daily.
Matthews-Creech said it hasn’t been confirmed if the two groups were one and the same.
Harris’ campaign played up the connection between Trump’s past remarks on far-right demonstrations, including comments he made about white supremacists in Charlottesville, Virginia, in 2017, and the recent demonstration.
“Trump’s actions have encouraged them, and Michiganders can expect more of the same when he comes to town,” Harris for President Michigan Communications Director Alyssa Bradley said in a statement several days before his visit.
The Trump campaign decried any connection to white supremacy.
“Did the media write this same story when Joe Biden visited Howell in 2021, or when Kamala Harris visits cities where racist protests and marches have occurred in the past?” Karoline Leavitt, national press secretary for the Trump campaign, said in a statement.
New security measures in Chicago a day after activists clashed with police
A Chicago park, which had erupted into chaos during the first day of the Democratic National Convention as several dozen activists clashed with police, was calm Tuesday morning but now fortified with new security to prevent further breaches.
During a march of several thousand calling for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war, the group paused at a park a block from the convention center. Several dozen activists then broke away from the larger group, breaching police fencing before being pushed back by officers, leading to multiple arrests.
On Tuesday morning, an extra line of fencing was installed at the park and the tall metal barriers were reinforced to prevent protesters from lifting and removing the panels in the future. No police officers or protesters were present at the park early Tuesday.
Closer to downtown Chicago, security was tighter than usual — including law enforcement officers with weapons slung across their bodies — outside the office building that houses the Israeli consulate and a major city transportation hub. Metal barricades were set up and an officer said they were preparing for a 7 p.m. demonstration.
Most of the largest demonstrations have been organized by the Coalition to March on the DNC, which has focused on calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. But smaller protests have popped up around the city, including disruptions at the convention’s welcome party at Navy Pier.
Harris campaign blames convention process for party platform that wasn’t updated
The Harris campaign is blaming a long-established process at the convention for a party platform that was approved without being updated to reflect that the vice president replaced President Joe Biden at the top of the Democratic ticket.
Convention delegates on Monday approved a sweeping set of Democratic policy goals for the next four years that repeatedly referred to Biden seeking reelection. Party officials spent more than a year compiling the platform delegates were to consider, but they also approved it days before Biden dropped out of the race and endorsed Harris.
No effort was then made to change it before it was approved on the convention floor.
“Obviously, the platform was voted on before the switch here, and so it’s part of the process as it played out,” Harris campaign communications director Michael Tyler told reporters at a Tuesday morning briefing at the convention.
Rep. Byron Donalds says Harris and Walz don’t support law enforcement enough
Rep. Byron Donalds is warning against the negative effect he says Harris and Walz would have on American policing if elected to the White House.
The Florida Republican said Tuesday at a Trump campaign media availability that Harris and Walz don’t support law enforcement ranks strongly enough. Donalds said Harris, a former prosecutor, “incentivized states to move toward cashless bail,” a policy he said “creates a turnstile for criminals to be arrested and go right back out on the streets.”
Donalds is among the Trump surrogates offering Republican counterprogramming in Chicago as Democrats gather for the DNC.
Donalds also said Walz had a delayed response to the Minneapolis violence after the killing of George Floyd, noting that the areas affected by violence “mostly are inhabited by Black people and Hispanic people — that’s what was burning.”
Donalds also made brief mention of the Day 1 DNC delays that meant a late start to Biden’s speech but paused before he levied more specific criticism of the president: “It’s a shame to do that to somebody — well, I’m going to stop there.”
North Carolina governor says he isn’t concerned by Harris shifting stances on hot-button issues
North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper says it’s a sign of growth since she last ran for president in 2019.
Harris has dropped her opposition to fracking and her onetime support for progressive proposals like Medicare-for-all and the “Green New Deal” in recent weeks.
“I think the policy and how it affects people is always important, but clearly the character of the candidate can be more important,” said Cooper, speaking at an event hosted by Bloomberg at the Democratic National Convention.
Cooper, who leads a key battleground state has known Harris since they both were state attorneys general.
Cooper noted Harris had a seat at the table as President Joe Biden passed major legislation in their first two years in office and said the vice president “saw the give and the take.”
“And I think that’s just part of growing as an elected official and growing as a candidate and being a president for everybody,” he added.
To avoid running late again, DNC organizers plan to start earlier on 2nd day
Organizers are planning an earlier start to day two of the Democratic National Convention in hopes avoiding scheduling that ran hours late and into the wee hours of the night on day one.
DNC director Alex Hornbrook said Tuesday morning that “we made some real-time adjustments last night” and “we’re working with our speakers and making some other adjustments this evening” including starting at 5.30 p.m. local time in Chicago “to make sure that we stay on track.”
During a briefing with reporters, Hornbrook ducked a question about speakers who were canceled on night one as the program ran long — including a performance by acclaimed singer-songwriter James Taylor — would be rescheduled. He said only, “Our program team is working very hard right now to ensure that we can be on schedule” without providing further details.
President Joe Biden gave Monday’s night key address, but didn’t take the stage until around 11:30 p.m. on the East Coast, and the program didn’t wrap up until well after midnight for a large chunk of the audience watching around the country.
Trump’s campaign is getting started on Day 2 of its counterprogramming around the DNC
Ahead of a news conference at the Trump Hotel Chicago, placards were on display with statistics on homicide rates in various U.S. cities under the heading “Kamala Crime Crisis.”
Rep. Byron Donalds of Florida, one of Trump’s top U.S. House allies and surrogates, is expected to give remarks and take media questions.
North Carolina governor says he feels good about Democrats’ chances of winning his state
North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper says he has “that 2008 feeling” about Democrats’ chances of winning his state with Vice President Kamala Harris on the top of the ticket.
Speaking at an event hosted by Bloomberg at the Democratic National Convention, Cooper pointed to demographic shifts that have made the state more amenable to Democrats, but also a contentious race to replace him in the governor’s mansion that will generate its own “bottom-up” effect on the ticket.
Cooper acknowledged that he didn’t have the same optimism about his state just weeks ago when Biden was at the top of the ticket.
“Democrats were not united,” said Cooper said, before Biden dropped out. “I’m grateful for his decision to do that because it brought everybody together.”
Cooper pointed to the rave reception for Biden at the convention’s opening night to say, “Everyone loves President Biden.” But he added of Biden’s decision to step aside: “It was the time to do this, it was the time to make history.”
The DNC won’t only feature speeches by Democrats
The Harris campaign announced Tuesday that several Republican leaders will also offer remarks in Chicago, including former U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Illinois, former Georgia Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan and the mayor of Mesa, Arizona, John Giles.
Also speaking are former Trump White House staffers Olivia Troye, a former national security official, and Stephanie Grisham, who was a White House press secretary.
Grisham said she knows Harris will “defend our freedoms and represent our nation with honesty and integrity.”
“I never thought I’d be speaking at a Democratic convention,” she said in a statement. “But, after seeing firsthand who Donald Trump really is, and the threat he poses to our country, I feel very strongly about speaking out.”
Harris travels to Milwaukee for a rally before returning to Chicago in the evening
The Harris campaign said Tuesday it will spotlight “trusted messengers” from key battleground states over the convention’s three remaining days. They include Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada; Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Sen. Gary Peters and Rep. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan; Sen. Bob Casey of Pennsylvania and Sen. Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin. From Arizona, Sen. Mark Kelly will speak along with John Giles, the Republican mayor of Mesa.
Gov. Roy Cooper of North Carolina — a state that voted for Trump in 2020 but is now a major pickup opportunity for Harris — will be among the final speakers before Harris accepts the Democratic presidential nomination on Thursday.
After DNC speech, President Biden and his family arrive in California
President Joe Biden and his family are spending the rest of this week in California at the Santa Ynez Valley ranch of longtime Democratic donor and medical device mogul Joe Kiani.
The Bidens arrived at the property of Kiani, the founder of Masimo and Cercacor Laboratories, early Tuesday after Biden delivered his address Monday at the opening day of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
Biden has called Kiani “one of my closest friends,” and the president in 2021 appointed his billionaire host to the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.
Kiani has also previously hosted the president’s son, Hunter, at the 8,000-acre property.
Masimo’s companies have been locked in a costly legal dispute with Apple. Kiani has accused Apple of violating patents for their watches from his companies, which pioneered technology related to measuring blood-oxygen levels.
DNC panelists discuss war in Gaza as Harris tries to ease tension with pro-Palestinian activists
The Democratic Party has been riven for months by the war in Gaza, giving rise to a protest movement that threatened Biden’s electoral coalition.
But with Biden gone from the race and Vice President Kamala Harris now leading the party, there were some indicators at the Democratic National Convention on Monday that Harris is taking more assertive steps to ease that tension.
In what organizers called a first, party activists were given space at the convention to hold a forum to discuss the plight of people in Gaza, who’ve been under Israeli bombardment since Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack and its taking of hostages, as well as to share deeply personal — and often heartrending stories — about family members lost in the conflict.
Though their core demands — a cease-fire and withholding U.S. support for Israel’s prosecution of the war — remain unmet, the decision to allow activists to hold a forum amounted to the offering of an olive branch by Harris. And it’s one that many doubted Biden would have extended if he were still the nominee.
US intelligence officials say Iran is to blame for hacks targeting Trump, Biden-Harris campaigns
U.S. intelligence officials said Monday they were confident that Iran was responsible for the hack of Donald Trump’s presidential campaign, casting the cyber intrusion as part of a brazen and broader effort by Tehran to interfere in American politics and undermine faith in democratic institutions.
Although the Trump campaign and private-sector cybersecurity investigators had previously said Iran was behind the hacking attempts, it was the first time the U.S. government had assigned blame for the attack.
The joint statement from the FBI and other federal agencies also indicated that Iran was responsible for attempts to hack Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign, saying hackers had “sought access to individuals with direct access to the Presidential campaign of both political parties.”
The goal of the hacking and other activities, federal officials said, was not only to sow discord but also to shape the outcome of elections that Iran perceives to be “particularly consequential in terms of the impact they could have on its national security interests.”
