Links to the Must-Watch DNC Night 3 Speeches, Ad-Free (Bonus: Tears)
"That's my dad! That's my dad!"
I expected that the Democratic National Convention would give me hope, but one thing I did not expect was how much you all are giving me hope. The thank you notes and comments, the shares, the new subscribers — I see you. No matter what your typical level of political involvement or activism, I see you wanting to learn more. I see your considerate discourse. I see your growing enthusiasm and hope for what can be. Thank you.
As I roll into my roundup of Night Three of the DNC Convention (ad-free video of the full event), each day I feel like this task gets a little harder.
While I can quickly sum up the overall spirit of each night, or give a few highlights of a speech, I’m seeing something bigger happening and it’s hard to make sense of so many thoughts and feelings that I scribble down throughout the night.
We are seeing the Democratic party reclaiming American ideals like freedom, family, hard work, neighborly love, and opportunity for all.
(These are ideals we have always stood for by the way; we just haven’t always been so good at getting that point across. It seems like other ideals like humility and keeping our heads down without asking for credit for our work and accomplishments don’t make for good political strategy.)
We are seeing a redefinition of what it means to be “moral” in 2024, and it has everything to do with fairness, generosity and empathy, and nothing to do with chastity or godliness.
We are seeing the makings of America’s future, and it is a damn good one — provided we’re willing to put in the work, and acknowledge hard truths about our missteps and failures so we can push to do better.
We are also seeing after just three nights that wow, do we have a “deep bench,” as the pundits say, of political stars and future Democratic leaders: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Hakeem Jeffries. Gretchen Witmer. Wes Moore. Pete Buttigieg. Josh Shapiro. Malcolm Kenyatta. Mallory McMorrow. Latieefah Simon. Jasmine Crocket. Maybe even Harris’s own nieces and nephews.
We are seeing an unprecedented number of lifelong Republicans and Independents unapologetically calling for us to choose freedom and democracy over autocracy, and to reject the politics of hate and division — from Oprah Winfrey to Olivia Troye, ex-Georgia Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan to Jan 6 Capitol Police Sgt. Aquilino Gonell.
By the way, do not miss the January 6 compilation video shown last night which had my Threads commenters unanimously sharing feelings of disgust, horror, anger and trauma.
Trump and the Maga movement’s imminent threat to democracy is not hyperbole.
“If you vote for Kamala Harris in 2024 you are not a Democrat. You are a patriot.” - The Former Lt Gov of Georgia, Republican Jeff Duncan.
We are also, of course, seeing Big Dad Energy in all the best ways, including demonstrable, non-performative love of family and community.
If there was a parent (or childless cat lady, as I was aptly corrected on Threads!) who wasn’t moved watching Tim Walz’s 17-year-old son stand up, his pride bursting until it came out in a flood of joyful tears, mouthing the words “That’s my dad! That’s my dad!” — then there’s something deeply wrong with you.
I wrote last week about Tim Walz sparking the possibility of making a lot of Thanksgiving tables a better place this year, showing us “the dad that a whole generation of younger Americans remember — and wish they still had — before they lost him to Fox News.”
I’m seeing now there’s even more to it.
Walz is showing the entire country that masculine energy doesn’t have to be hard or cruel. That dads cry with pride when they hug their families too. That a straight, white, male, midwestern football coach can stand up for the gay kids. That a great big football bro reunion can be filled with genuine love. That leaders serve best when they remember their constituents are neighbors, not just voters. That humor and self-deprecation are signs of confidence, and displays of human emotion are signs of strength and self-actualization.
And Kamala Harris, in selecting Walz as her running-mate, is showing us — with the help of the entire Democratic party leadership last night — that power isn’t about who you dominate, but who you inspire.
Now onto the speeches!
Free and without commercial interruption thanks to PBS Newshour:
This is an abbreviated list, though I’m linking to more speeches than I did the preview two days Many of these speeches are quite short.
Watch the Prince tribute with Sheila El, John Legend, and Ari O’Neal here
Watch Stevie Wonder’s performance here
Watch Maren Morris’s performance here
Watch Keenan Thompson take down Project 2025 here
• • • •
Watch Hakeem Jeffries here
Watch Sherrif Javier Salazar here
Watch the parents of Hersch Polin-Goldberg here
Watch Andy Kim here
Watch Aquilino Gonell here
Watch Lateefah Simon here
Watch Geoff Duncan here
Watch Olivia Troye here
Watch Dana Nessel here
Watch Cecile Richards here
Watch Keith Ellison here
Watch Chris Murphy here
Watch Wes Moore here
Watch Catherine Cortez Masto here
Watch Cory Booker here
Watch Amanda Gorman here
Watch Josh Shapiro here
Watch Nancy Pelosi here
Watch Bill Clinton here
Watch Oprah Winfrey here
Watch Pete Buttigieg here
Watch Gwen Walz’s video about her husband here
Watch Ben Ingman (with surprise guests) here
Watch Tim Walz here, straight to the very end
“I’m calling on all you independents and all you undecideds: Values and character matter most of all. And you know this is true… Decency and respect are on the ballot in 2024.” - Oprah Winfrey
“When I was teaching, every year we’d elect a student body president. And you know what? Those teenagers could teach Donald Trump a hell of a lot about what a leader is. Leaders don’t spend all day insulting people and blaming others. Leaders do the work. So I don’t know about you, I’m ready to turn the page on these guys. So, go ahead. Say it with me: We’re not going back.”
- Tim Walz
Thoughts on Night 3? Favorite speeches? The lines that stuck with you? The moments that finally brought out the tissues?
I cried listening to Tim Walz. OMG! We're gonna be ok, aren't we? 😭😭
Your posts are a reminder of how powerful these nights are. I haven’t stayed up so late since I was in college. Wait! Not even then. But I refuse to miss a mlnute of this Proud-to-Be-a-Democrat moment. The tears and cheers, even in the quiet of my bedroom, are what will get me through the days until Harris-Walz become the 47th.