‘A truly extraordinary speech.’ Historian Heather Cox Richardson praises Michelle Obama’s “perfectly delivered” Democratic National Convention endorsement of Kamala Harris last night, making it clear “only the American people can preserve democracy” …
■ … and suggesting to Donald Trump that the presidency is one of those “black jobs” he talks about. (See her address here.)
■ Politico: So much for “When they go low, we go high.”
■ Her husband, former President Barack Obama, delivered what Politico describes as “his most animated address in nearly a decade.”
■ New York’s Jonathan Chait: Obama’s speech carried “a hidden message to Democrats.” (See that speech here. [Link corrected.])
■ Politico summarizes the Obamas’ approach to Trump: “Make him small.”
■ Wonkette’s Evan Hurst: the Obamas “absolutely ruined” Trump’s night.
‘Trump is rich in only one thing: Stupidity.’ Here’s the full text of self-described “actual billionaire” Gov. Pritzker’s rip into Trump last night. (Or watch it here.)
■ Stephen Colbert mocked the audience’s rousing response to Pritzker’s speech: “Woo! Bernie got us psyched up for attacking billionaires, but we like this guy! It’s an emotional and moral roller coaster!” (See that bit here.)
■ Illinois Sen. Tammy Duckworth shared her struggle with infertility as she condemned Republicans’ efforts to “endanger the dreams of countless veterans whose combat wounds prevent them from having kids without IVF.” (See her speech here.)
■ Potential First Gentleman Doug Emhoff described Harris as a “joyful warrior.” (Cartoon: Jack Ohman.)
■ Last night’s speakers included Trump’s former press secretary, Stephanie Grisham, who’s switching teams.
■ Harold Meyerson (no relation) at The American Prospect: “The new and improved Democrats sound like some very old and very good Democrats of long ago.”
■ Reuters: Harris’ fundraising has raised an unprecedented pile of cash over the last month.
‘Social media exploded in enthusiasm.’ The Democrats’ musical roll call of the states and territories was a hit. (Hear the full playlist here.)
■ Live from Milwaukee, Harris made a video guest appearance after that.
■ The Sun-Times: Here’s where Harris lived in Evanston as a kid.
‘Maybe this is a mistake.’ Wired: While social media influencers credentialed to cover the convention as part of Democrats’ attempt to energize young voters enjoy yacht parties, free snacks and multiple lounges, “credentialed journalists are struggling to find an outlet to plug in their laptops.”
■ Semafor’s Max Tani: “Is there any lamer story than the media whining about access?”
■ While most of the cameras are focused on the United Center, the Tribune’s Chris Borrelli says “a whole lot of everything” is happening at McCormick Place.
Protesters arrested. Dozens of pro-Palestinian demonstrators were taken into custody in a conflict with police outside Chicago’s Israeli consulate.
■ Activists also disrupted Colbert’s interview with ex-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
■ A courtroom unused since 2019 has been resurrected to process protest arrests.
■ Every morning of the convention, a Jewish attorney who grew up in Skokie and a former Oak Park mayor born in Gaza are running together along Chicago’s lakefront in support of a Mideast ceasefire …
■ Some workers and businesses on Chicago’s West Side are still waiting for their convention bump …
■ … but they haven’t given up hope.
■ Maybe they could get Rudy Giuliani and the MyPillow guy to stop in.
‘Trump is plotting a coup in broad daylight, again.’ Columnist Stephen Robinson sees “an authoritarian method to his madness” in the ex-president’s seemingly flailing campaign.
■ Columnist John Stoehr: “Trump is losing his audience.”
■ USA Today’s Rex Huppke: “As I left the United Center and rode past the not-burning buildings of Chicago, reluctantly un-murdered, I couldn’t wait to get home and rinse off the positivity.”
COVID’s real comeback. Wired: The virus’ latest surge is so big the FDA is considering early release for an updated vaccine.
■ Looking for a booster now? Good luck.
Did you miss Chicago Public Square? Not so much over the last week if you follow Square on Facebook (no registration required!)—where readers, as ever, found breaking news and commentary posts including these:
■ The Reader’s publisher is outraged that, ahead of the Democratic convention, the City of Chicago “removed at least 83 permanent newsracks across the Loop” without notice, leaving “thousands of copies of the Reader … nowhere to go.”
■ Illinois Republican Adam Kinzinger explains why he decided to speak to the convention.
■ Variety: How Colbert’s Late Show kept its Chicago studio audience entertained for hours as Monday night’s session ran long.
■ Wonkette’s Evan Hurst: Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s convention speech had that 2004 Obama vibe.
■ Columnist Mike Gold: “In August 1968, I was … in Grant Park, and I was pissed.”
■ Democrats projected snark onto Chicago’s Trump Tower.
■ Cartoonist Tom Tomorrow offered the Trump campaign some revised slogans.
■ ProPublica: The Trump assassination attempt laid bare the Secret Service’s long-standing vulnerabilities.
■ Western Illinois University has axed its entire library faculty.