DNC Night Four: A Disheartening End to the Convention
Special Edition 005
I think night four of the convention answered my question, they indeed frontloaded all the good shit.
The final night of the DNC was all about Kamala Harris—getting to know her as a prosecutor, attorney general, senator, vice president, sister, mother, wife, best friend, and dedicated advocate “for the people.” With all eyes on her as she prepared to accept the party’s nomination, the Democrats seized this moment to make a compelling case to millions that Kamala Harris is the right choice for president.
From an economic plan to the Democrats’ “Big Tent” approach, and Harris’s troubling acceptance speech, here’s how the DNC stumbled its way over the finish line.
The Dems are Taking Trump to School
On Wednesday night, Tim Walz took the stage, and the final night of the DNC focused heavily on education. For teachers, students, and anyone who values pro-child policies, the night clearly demonstrated why Trump and Vance are the wrong choice. Trump aims to cut public school funding, dismantle the Department of Education, and more.
But who actually has a strong record and effective policies on education? Here’s a hint: it’s the ticket with the teacher. The case was made for Harris-Walz as the champions of strengthening schools, supporting educators, and helping students thrive. Key highlights included affordable college, increased funding for universities, and relief from education-related debt, with public service loan forgiveness standing out as a major achievement.
An Opportunity Economy for the Middle Class
Kamala Harris she emphasizes key parts of her economic agenda designed to support the middle class and promote fairness.
Healthcare for All: While Trump threatens Medicare and Social Security cuts, Kamala Harris promises to protect and expand these vital programs.
Support for Parents: Kamala Harris emphasizes the importance of affordable childcare and paid leave, contrasting sharply with Trump’s plans to cut Head Start and raise childcare costs. Building a future worthy of our children starts with putting childcare at the top of list.
Fair Prices: Kamala Harris will combat price gouging on essentials like food and diapers by fining corporations.
Small Business: Durham Mayor Leonardo Williams, who faced challenges starting America’s first Zimbabwean restaurant under Trump, praises Harris for her efforts to support entrepreneurs and create an opportunity economy.
Workers First: Harris and Walz back unions and prioritize working families over big corporations.
Wait, How Big is this F*cking Tent?
“We would love nothing more than to be inside celebrating the politics of joy, but not everyone was included.” — Jeremiah Ellison, Minneapolis City Council Member
The Democrats have consistently championed the concept of a "Big Tent," aiming to include diverse voices within the party. This has led them to accommodate Republicans at the DNC who have distanced themselves from Trump and are now supporting Kamala Harris as their presidential choice. At the convention, a range of controversial figures were invited to speak—including Trump’s former press secretary, a war criminal on Epstein’s flight logs, a former CIA director, an anti-immigrant border sheriff, and even another sheriff—please CUT IT OUT, they’re playing into the Kamala is a cop a little too hard. However, a Palestinian-American Democratic state representative was not given a platform.
This "Big Tent" seems to make room for those who have dedicated their political careers to undermining minority communities, yet it excludes members of those very communities that the Democratic Party claims to support.
For a tent that's supposed to be big, it feels remarkably small.
You Get a Home, You Get a Home, and You Get a Home!
[Yes I’m aware this is an Oprah joke and she spoke other night, I’m making it anyway.] One of the key elements of Kamala Harris’s economic policy package, which she unveiled last week, has finally made its way to the DNC main stage: a commitment to safe, affordable housing for all within an opportunity economy. This includes tackling big banks and addressing predatory lending practices for homeowners.
Hello Momala, Goodbye Trump
She listens and cares. Compassionate and hopeful, Kamala Harris is dedicated to fighting for opportunity, rights, freedoms, and justice—unlike Donald Trump. On night four, Democrats made their case.
A Commander in Chief, Not a Dictator: Trump’s Project 2025 threatens to abandon our troops and NATO allies. While Trump undermines democracy, Harris stands for American leadership and integrity.
Criminal vs Prosecutor: As highlighted by Rep. Pat Ryan and Senator Elizabeth Warren (everyone’s favorite Indigenous woman—joking, clearly), Harris’s record of protecting families contrasts sharply with Trump’s scandals and insults. Rev. Al Sharpton and the exonerated “Central Park 5” emphasized the deep disparities between the two candidates on racial issues. Survivors like Courtney Baldwin praised Harris for her fight against sex trafficking. They put in work to combat some criticisms of her record, and let Harris’s achievements shine.
Climate Future vs Crisis: While Trump exacerbates climate change, Harris is committed to a clean energy future. The climate crisis is a current emergency, not a distant threat.
Gun Violence: Trump ignored gun violence and dismissed victims' families, while Harris actively seeks meaningful gun safety reforms. Personal stories from survivors and families underscore the urgent need for reform to ensure safer futures for all.
Is Kamala Harris for the People?: The DNC’s Big Finish
“My mother had another saying: Never let anyone tell you who you are, you show them who you are!” — Vice President Kamala Harris
Kamala Harris took the main stage tonight to show us who she is. Unfortunately, it’s someone many may find disappointing.
Before Harris even hit the stage, I found myself nervously wondering: “What will she say? What won’t she say? Can she pull this off?” Sadly, the answers were not what I hoped for. And in my opinion this may have be one of the worst convention speeches I’ve ever been witness to. All momentum was lost, and I couldn’t help but question who wrote this and who did they write it for. But let me start from the beginning.
Her speech started off reasonably well—slightly unconventional, but then again, this is an unconventional election cycle. Describing her humble beginnings and focusing on her background and values, Kamala emphasized her career of serving "the people.”
“And to be clear, my entire career I’ve only had one client: the people!” — Vice President Kamala Harris
But this is when a joyride started to become a car crash.
Her sharp criticism of Trump seemed overly reminiscent of 2016 and felt like it was too focused on him rather than her own vision. What about Kamala’s policies? Does she really have any?
The speech lacked policy insights, offering little beyond what was in a recent press release about her economic plan. [I did a breakdown of these policy proposals that you should read!] Promises to strengthen the middle class were unsupported by concrete policy.
If the lack of policy depth was disappointing, what followed was even worse. In an appeal to a “big tent,” she alienated those within her own party. Harris continued down the path towards more stringent, right-wing border policies and expressed troubling views on foreign policy. Her statement, “I will ensure America always has the strongest and most lethal fighting force in the world,” was particularly jarring—but I guess she was just taking after Obama and preparing to go full war criminal.
But after yelling about Yemen and attacking Iran, she moved to the portion of her speech that I was waiting for with baited breath: the Israel-Gaza “war.”
Her comments on the Israel-Gaza conflict were particularly disappointing, as she defended Israel’s “right to defends itself” and vowed to support them while hitting the egregious talking point of Hamas sexual violence when there is reporting and evidence of Israelis raping Palestinians in concentration camps, sometimes to death. Harris’s calls for an end to Palestinian suffering, are willfully disingenuous especially given the DNC’s recent exclusion of a Palestinian-American representative from the mainstage.
THE MOMENTUM THEY BUILT IS GONE. Biden’s departure and Walz’s selection signaled a shift towards progressive action, but Harris’s speech feels like a step back to the center.
Kamala’s “next great chapter” is not one I’m eager to read. Fundamentally, nothing has changed. It’s the same old neoliberal policy in new packaging, now delivered by a Black woman instead of a decrepit old white man. And the Democratic Party seems to think that’s enough—and a “brat” meme can’t fix that.
A moment that should have been celebratory was marred by the party’s consistent failure to learn from its mistakes and listen to its constituents. Harris’s big finish was, unfortunately, a big disappointment.
excellent.