Hello from Chicago, where it’s like the Oscars, but for people with slightly less charisma.
The last day of the Democratic national convention brought out A-list actors, iconic musical artists, swing-state politicians and Harris family members – a better lineup, to be sure, than Hulk Hogan and Kid Rock, the stars at the Republican convention.
But the real star of the show was Kamala Harris, who shared her personal biography, the threats Trump poses to the US and some of the policy ideas she wants to enact if she wins.
Harris’s moment in the spotlight capped off a four-day convention that went as well as Democrats needed it to, leaving most of the party faithful energized to carry out the full-court press needed for the short timeframe from now until November.
What you need to know
1. The climax of Kamala Harris’s whirlwind month
Harris officially accepted the Democratic presidential nomination by nodding to the “for the people” oath she took, which has entered into speeches about her multiple times this week. Her only client, she said, has been “the people”, and those people come from all political backgrounds and walks of life.
She said: “So, on behalf of the people, on behalf of every American, regardless of party, race, gender or the language your grandmother speaks, on behalf of my mother and everyone who has ever set out on their own unlikely journey on behalf of Americans, like the people I grew up with, people who work hard, chase their dreams and look out for one another, on behalf of everyone whose story could only be written in the greatest nation on Earth, I accept your nomination for president of the United States of America.”
In the last few weeks of a whirlwind campaign, Harris has perfected the way she tells her own story and how she contrasts with Trump. She started with the lessons she learned from her mother, Shyamala Gopalan Harris, a breast cancer researcher who immigrated to the US from India at the age of 19, and wove her mother’s teachings throughout her speech.
Her family members – her sister Maya Harris, niece Meena Harris, stepdaughter Ella Emhoff and goddaughter Helena Hudlin – all had some stage time to take about the Kamala they know.
She then drew a clearer picture of her vision than she has to date: giving broad policy ideas on affordable housing, abortion protections, foreign policy and middle-class tax relief.
She called Trump “an unserious man” but also a dangerous person who should not return to the White House. “Consider the power he will have, especially after the United States supreme court just ruled that he would be immune from criminal prosecution. Just imagine Donald Trump with no guardrails.”
Trump responded to Harris’s speech in post after post on Truth Social, one of which said simply: “IS SHE TALKING ABOUT ME?”
2. Gun violence survivors call for change
People who survived mass shootings or lost loved ones to gun violence spoke about the devastation they have faced – reiterating a theme throughout the convention of those who have survived horrible situations and think Harris will help address the causes of these problems.
To emphasize the need for policy changes, the convention program brought out those most affected by draconian abortion bans or loose gun control laws.
Four of the Central Park Five, the group of Black and Latino boys falsely convicted over the rape of a jogger in New York, whose prosecution Donald Trump promoted, spoke about the danger Trump poses.
Gabby Giffords, the former congresswoman from Arizona who was shot in an assassination attempt and now fights for gun control, spoke about her recovery, her husband, Mark Kelly, standing beside her.
“Thank you. Joe Biden, thank you for everything. Joe is a great president,” Giffords said. “My friend Kamala will be a great president. She is tough. She has grit. Kamala can beat the gun lobby. She can fight gun trafficking.”
3. Gaza protests end with no voice on stage
I’ve spent most of the week following the uncommitted delegation, the anti-war movement that’s working to pressure Biden and Harris to end the war in Gaza. On Thursday, the DNC did not relent on the decision not to allow the group a speaking slot for a Palestinian American speaker on the main stage.
The group was not asking for much – a couple of minutes for a swing-state Democrat to talk about their background and the call for a ceasefire. Ruwa Romman, a state representative from Georgia, gave the speech she would have given on stage outside the arena instead.
The final denial came after months of activism and days of negotiations at the convention to amplify a call for a ceasefire and arms embargo in Gaza. And outside the convention perimeter, other activists held another protest, marching near the United Center with more militant messages.
4. Celebrities on celebrities on celebrities
Swing-state governors and senators got key spots in the lead-up to Harris’s speech – several of whom were in the running to be the vice-presidential nominee – in a nod to the places Harris needs to win in November to keep Democrats in the White House.
But those swing staters are only really celebrities in a place like this. The real celebrities showed up here, though, too.
The Chicks were the third country artist to sing at the convention despite the common belief that Republicans are the party of country music. Pink sang alongside her daughter.
Kerry Washington interviewed Harris’s nieces about how to pronounce Kamala, and Washington was joined by Tony Goldwyn, her Scandal co-star, on stage at one point.
Steph Curry, the Golden State Warrior, said in a video that “the Oval Office suits her well”.
Eva Longoria, the actor and activist, praised Harris’s background: “She worked at McDonald’s, I worked at Wendy’s, and look at us now.”
One funny thing …
… was the persistent rumor all day on Thursday that Beyoncé, whose song Freedom is used by the Harris campaign in its ads, would show up at the convention.
Just before Harris went on stage, Beyoncé’s team told media that Queen Bey would not be in Chicago to perform. When you’re expecting Beyoncé to introduce the potential next president of the United States, the North Carolina governor, Roy Cooper, is a rough consolation prize.
There was no surprise guest – no Thursday version of Oprah, who shocked the convention the day before. The memes were fire, though. “The special guest was the friends we made along the way,” one person wrote on X.
What to expect tomorrow
The Democratic national convention is finally over. Go home. Get some sleep. If the lines at the convention are any indication, prepare for some long waits for ride-shares and lines at the airport tomorrow. The Harris theme may be “we’re not going back” – but people do have to get back home somehow.
