Reporting The Democratic National Convention

This morning, when I turned on the computer, I thought how pleasant it would be if the major news outlets covered Tim Walz’s acceptance speech last night in a reasonably positive way. Not as cheerleaders, but noting the enthusiasm and unity in the Democratic Party, the continuity indicated by the participation of former presidents in the convention, the number of music stars who gladly support the convention but took legal action against Donald Trump when he used their music without asking.

The obvious love in Walz’s family.

I decided not to harsh my buzz by actually checking those major news outlets, but I found other good coverage and analysis.

Kevin Kruse on the use of “Freedom” as a theme.

For all the conservative claims that they own that term in that sphere — an insistence that economic “freedom” means tax cuts, deregulation, and a blank check to big business — Walz has furthered a case Democrats are making increasingly in recent days, that true economic “freedom” is offered by things like union rights, fair wages, and yes, government protections that shield individual Americans from the whims of billionaires and big business.

In many ways, it signals a return to the framing that FDR famously advanced during the Second World War, when he articulated “The Four Freedoms” that Americans were fighting to defend. Half of his formulation was framed in a way liberals and leftists of recent decades would understand them, as individual rights of the “freedom of speech” and “freedom of worship.” But the other half showed a more expansive understanding, as FDR also spoke of “freedom from want” and “freedom from fear.”

Walz explicitly said that housing and health care are human rights.

Heather Cox Richardson is always good at reporting this kind of thing.

But the dark dangers of the assault of Trump and the MAGA Republicans on the country have finally pushed the party to move away from its customary caution and focus on policy to embrace the possibilities of a new future. The convention is electric, packed with young people who push jokey memes and poke fun at themselves, much as Walz and presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris are doing to deflect criticism, and who are sharing homemade politically-themed friendship bracelets that echo the homemade paraphernalia of singer Taylor Swift’s Eras tour. 

And, after decades in which Republicans claimed the mantle of patriotism, now that the fate of democracy itself is on the line, Democrats are joyfully claiming the symbols and the principles of American democracy for their own. 

Emptywheel uses commentary on last night’s program to give us “Five ways to find new voters and new activists.

You don’t need me to explain why Tim Walz expands the field of potential voters (though polling doesn’t, yet, show him helping, much, in rural areas). At the very least, he’s virtually guaranteed to ensure Harris-Walz wins the Omaha electoral vote that puts the ticket at 270 in a thin Blue Wall strategy.

There are three things about his speech that merit notice, however. First, bringing Walz’ football players on stage was great theater, just like having Kamala and Coach pack a Milwaukee venue and the Chicago convention at the same time. It continues to highlight a different kind of white masculinity, besides the toxic aggression Trump offers.

The image of Gus Walz weeping for his father is yet another expression of the love that has drenched the Democratic side this year, even as Melania has shied from Trump’s kiss.

With all that, there was no need for whatever snark the major outlets might have served up.

SPECIAL NOTICE: I just saw a notice on Bluesky that there will be a BIG surprise guest tonight! Bigger than Oprah! You may speculate in the comments.