Links to the Must-Watch DNC Night 1 Speeches, Ad-Free
If you need me today, I'll just be sitting here rewatching and eating Doritos.
Am I jealous that I am not among the many credentialed content creators at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago right now? A billion percent. Is that up there in the top ten geekiest things I’ve ever said in my life? Also a billion percent.
(Do I misuse percentages because I lean heavily on hyperbole? Maybe like 90%.)
I’m reminding myself that watching the DNC from home, I don’t have to wear Spanx, I’m not overpaying for wine, and there are only 4 people max ahead of me in line for the bathroom at any given time. Plus, I get to yell OH MY GOD YOU HAVE TO SEE THIS multiple times an hour to whoever might be within earshot, and that’s always fun for me.
For those of you watching from home too, allow me to direct you to the full videos of speeches you may have missed, or that you may want to see again.
The full speeches truly are better than watching highlights or reading the transcripts, which can’t possibly convey the perfect deliveries, the gestures and smiles that ad meaning, the standing ovations and extended “hold for applause.”
My mind keeps replaying the humor of Jasmine Crockett, the moral clarity of James Clyburn, the righteous indignation of Jamie Raskin and Raphael Warnock, the painful personal stories of loss of reproductive freedom, the enduring fire of Hillary Clinton (and egoless celebration of fellow glass-ceiling-shatterers), the surprise Harris appearance that brought the house down, Joe Biden showing us what real love of country looks like, the infectious excitement of the crowd for what can be.
And what will be — if we work to make it so.
Free and without commercial interruption thanks to PBS Newshour:
Watch Steve Kerr here
Watch Lauren Underwood here
Watch Mallory McMorrow here
Watch Shawn Fein here
Watch James Clyburn here
Watch Jasmine Crocket here
Watch Jamie Raskin here
Watch Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez here
Watch Raphael Warnock here
Watch Hillary Rodham Clinton here
Watch Kamala Harris here
Watch Jill Biden here
Watch Ashley Biden here
Watch Joe Biden here
I love the job. But I love my country more.
- President Joe Biden, who means it. Literally. He’s not joking folks. It’s true.
Related: This week, a reader on Instagram asked me what exactly I like about Kamala Harris and her policies. I took the question in good faith and answered in good faith. You can find the full Thread here or read it as an Instagram Highlight here. It seems to have helped a lot of people, and maybe it will help you too.
So what were your favorite moments? What are you looking forward to the rest of the week? Will you sob like I will on Thursday night as she accepts the nomination in a sea of Suffrage-inspired white? Anyone else suddenly craving nacho cheese Doritos?
What a tremendous showing by the Dems! It's even more impressive when you think of the absolute scramble that took place once Pres Biden decided not to run. The DNC had to completely rework its program (and speakers had to rework their speeches) to ensure that night #1, typically sort of a sleepy stepping stone to build to the nomination, hit hard and orchestrated great respect for the president. Personally, I cried. A lot. Watching HRC and realizing what could have been, what we've lost, and what a remarkable person she is. Listening to Sen Warnock (GA represent!) and seeing how he has grown into a statesman with echoes of Dr. King. AOC is now part of the core of the Dems. It's a whole new party, all of sudden!
Thank you, Liz. You continue your public service with such love and gusto.