Welcome to a special edition of From the Policy Desk, bringing you highlights from the second day of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
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The Obamas bring a dose of nostalgia and energy to Chicago
By Natasha Korecki
CHICAGO — He once built his political career here, but on Tuesday, former President Barack Obama returned to his hometown to play elder statesman.
“It’s good to be home!” Obama began a nearly deafening reception at the United Center. “I don’t know about you, but I feel nervous!”
A nostalgic reference to Obama’s famous “fired up, ready to go” song brought another buzz.
As the second night of the Democratic National Convention approached, Obama wove in party principles along with what he saw as a road map for the future. He paid tribute to his former vice president, Joe Biden, who was one of several speakers to do so Tuesday night, saying that making the choice was one of the best decisions he’s ever made.
He urged Americans to avoid divisiveness that turns into blind hatred of each other. Obama looked to his accomplishments as California attorney general, then vice president, saying he helped buy drug companies and the high cost of insulin and helped reduce health care costs.
At the same time, Obama took shots at former President Donald Trump, including chastising the Republican nominee for “this weird obsession with crowd sizes,” pointing with his hands to indicate something small. It was one of his biggest laugh lines of the night.
“We don’t need four more years of confusion, nonsense and chaos,” Obama said to cheers. “We’ve seen that movie before and we all know the sequel is usually worse.”
Shifting focus: Former First Lady Michelle Obama served as host for her husband. Although he is known for saying “when they go down, we go up” Jonathan Allen notes Tonight, he steered toward a more direct confrontation with Trump that better fits Harris’ slogan: “If we fight, we win.”
“Her limited and narrow view of the world made her feel threatened by the presence of two hardworking, highly educated, successful people who happened to be black,” Obama said of Trump’s treatment of her and her husband.
He condemned Harris, saying that he hoped he would win and that Trump had repeatedly used the term “black job”. “Who’s going to tell him that the job he’s looking for right now might be a black job?” he said.
Personal touch: Meanwhile, Doug Emhoff tried to introduce the country to “Momala” as many Americans are still getting to know the new Democratic presidential candidate.
Alex Seitz-Wald writes They went on a first date with self-deprecating ease as the nation’s first second-in-command called his wife a “jolly warrior” and the loving co-parents of their children, who forced her to listen to the “embarrassing” voicemail he left to ask her out every year on their anniversary.
“My mom is the only one who thinks Kamala is lucky to be married to me,” he said with a laugh.
More from Night 2 of the Democratic Convention
The Democratic Party is strengthening its institutional strength
By Chuck Todd
CHICAGO — One running gag among many Democratic activists on social media is mocking the media with the “Democrats are in a mess” meme.
That’s true of an earlier generation of Democrats who regularly used the media to discuss the right direction for their party, whether on the policy front or on the campaign trail, while Republicans kept their internal squabbles more private.
But since the start of the Trump era, it’s been the GOP that’s been in constant turmoil. It makes sense, given that Trump is trying to remake the GOP in his own image, and that image is in stark contrast to the belief system of the more traditional GOP brand names of the past 30 years—think Bush, Romney, Cheney, Ryan, or McConnell. Aside from beating Democrats on Election Day and cutting taxes, there’s not much Republicans agree on these days. There are major disagreements over trade and economic policy, and more fundamental disagreements over America’s role in global security. On character, rule of law and more, the division in the party is there for all the world to see.
On the contrary, the Trump era has made the Democrats more united and, in turn, more pragmatic and public. What unites the party most is defeating Trump, and that can create clarity of purpose. Senator Joe Manchin and Rep. When Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez can both endorse Harris on the same news streak, you know you’ve got a pretty healthy Democratic Party as an institution… at least for now.
This convention demonstrates this institutional strength and discipline. Every living president speaks or is represented (Jimmy Carter’s grandson spoke for his ailing grandfather). In fact, each night features a different president: Joe Biden on Monday, Obama on Tuesday and Bill Clinton on Wednesday — and maybe the next president with Harris on Thursday.
Compare that to the Republicans. Bush has not spoken at the GOP convention since 2012. Before that, a member of the Bush family had addressed every Republican convention since 1956.
🗞️ Other top stories tonight
- 👀 2025 vision: Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said he would consider changes to the 60-vote filibuster rule to pass a pair of key bills that would expand voting rights nationwide if Harris is elected and Democrats retain control of the Senate. More →
- 🤝 For this: Trump told CNN that he would be willing to give Robert F. Kennedy Jr. a role in his administration if an independent candidate drops out of the race. More →
- 💰 Track the money: Wealthy businessman Timothy Mellon and former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg wrote eight-figure checks in July to support major Republican and Democratic super PACs. More →
- 🗳️ Election night: Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida won the GOP primary, defeating an opponent backed by former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. More →
- ✅ On the ballot: An initiative proposing to enshrine access to abortion in the Montana constitution will appear on the state’s November ballot. More →
- 🐄 On the ground: NBC News’ Shaquille Brewster and Kailani Koenig report on how young voters now feel about the Democratic presidential ticket after replacing Harris Biden of Madison, Wisconsin. More →
That’s all for the Policy Desk for now. If you have feedback – like it or not – email us politicsnewsletter@nbcuni.com
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