DNC dazzled by the Obamas

Chicago

We are back with another dispatch from the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, which is on its third day following Tuesday night remarks from Senator Bernie Sanders, Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff and Michelle and President Barack Obama.

The DNC crowd was thrilled to hear from the Obamas, but the reality of their speeches was much more grim. Michelle, despite being one of the most successful and beloved black women in America, is still peddling the trope that America is a hopelessly racist country. Barack, who is largely responsible for the dearth of young talent in the Democratic Party, gave a twisted eulogy for his buddy Joe Biden, who he reportedly never wanted to run for president and to whom he gave the final shiv as the party establishment sought to force him out of his reelection bid. Obama’s status as the perpetual heart and soul of the Democratic Party despite leaving office eight years and two presidencies ago smacks of the Reagan worship that kept the Republican Party quite stagnant in the face of an evolving political landscape. It’s no wonder the DNC has been light on policy and instead obsessed with fear-mongering about Trump and the Republican Party, the same playbook deployed in 2016 and 2020. 

There have been plenty of unforced errors at the convention of “joy” and “vibes.” Kentucky governor Andy Beshear appeared to wish rape on one of Senator J.D. Vance’s family members. When speaking about Vance’s past comments on abortion exceptions for rape and incest, Beshear intoned, “make him go through it.” He declined to apologize, instead claiming in an interview with NBC News’s Andrea Mitchell that Vance was “trying to make himself the victim” and that he would “never wish harm on anyone.” I reached out to Beshear’s office to ask them to clarify what the governor meant by “make him go through it” but did not receive a response. 

Tonight, Minnesota governor and Harris running mate Tim Walz will grace the stage. His appearance comes after another one of his claims about his personal life was found to be dishonest. Walz heavily intimated on multiple occasions that his wife went through IVF treatments (which they falsely accuse Republicans of trying to ban), but she actually underwent IUI, a far less invasive fertility treatment that does not have life-related ethical issues. The Minnesota Star-Tribune corrected its past stories about Walz’s fertility treatments, but other mainstream media outlets have declined to do so. The IVF controversy comes as Walz has also been accused of lying about his military service and embellishing other parts of his résumé, including things as petty as whether he coached a football team to the state championship or seasons his tacos. 

Another struggle facing the Democrats is that the post-convention bump is threatened by news that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. might suspend his independent presidential campaign on Friday and endorse Trump. RFK has been critical of the Democratic Party’s decision to coronate Harris as the new presidential nominee without putting her through the primary process, an anti-democratic move he sees as akin to their attempts earlier this year to keep him off the ballot and choke him from using party resources. 

-Amber Duke

On our radar

HUNTER TO THE HILT President Joe Biden’s son Hunter Biden will appear in Los Angeles federal court Wednesday for a preliminary hearing in his tax charges case. Biden stands accused of evading a tax assessment, failing to file and pay taxes and filing a false or fraudulent tax return. 

WOULD-BE KAVANAUGH KILLER IN COURT The man who attempted to assassinate Supreme Court justice Brett Kavanaugh over the court’s plans to overturn Roe v. Wade in the summer of 2022 had his first trial date set for June 2025. Nicholas Roske traveled to Kavanaugh’s home with a firearm, tactical knife and tools for a home invasion. 

BOOM-BERG The House Majority PAC, the largest Super PAC dedicated to electing House Democrats, received $10 million in cash from the billionaire former mayor of New York City. He previously gave $22 million to the PAC during the 2022 midterms. 

Elon Musk for DOGE secretary? 

Former president Donald Trump said that he is open to giving tech billionaire Elon Musk an advisory role in his administration or a position in his cabinet in a Monday interview with Reuters. He also said that, if elected, he would consider ending a $7,500 tax credit for electric vehicle purchases.

“He’s a very smart guy. I certainly would, if he would do it, I certainly would. He’s a brilliant guy,” Trump said when asked about considering a position in the administration for the Tesla CEO.

So, is Musk interested in the gig? It appears so. He tweeted, “I am willing to serve,” Monday with an AI-generated picture of himself holding onto a “Department of Government Efficiency” podium — short for “DOGE,” the famous meme and viral digital currency.

It could just be memery or back-scratching, but Trump reiterated his love for Musk in an interview with comedian and podcast host Theo Von this week. 

–Juan P. Villasmil

Iowa Democrat bungles abortion interview 

Iowa Democrat Lanon Baccam accidentally let the mask slip in showing how radical his positions on abortion are during an interview with radio host Simon Conway during the state’s legendary State Fair.

Conway repeatedly pressed Baccam for his stance on late-term abortion but received only canned talking points in return. Baccam at one point claimed “pregnancy is too complicated to legislate,” to which Conway quickly pointed out, “you just said you’re going to legislate it,” referring to  Baccam’s promise to pass the Women’s Health Protection Act.

At times, the interview got quite testy. “I’m not asking Iowans, I’m asking you,” Conway said. “Would you be OK with it at nine months?” Baccam did not respond directly to the question.

Baccam continuously refused to say if he supports any restrictions on abortion, claiming that it’s not a simple question with a simple answer. Eventually, the segment ran out of time and Conway, exasperatedly told Baccam, “I’m going to say nine months because you won’t answer me.”

Baccam is facing an already-uphill battle against Representative Zach Nunn in November. 

–Matthew Foldi