The Democrats go on offense
The Democratic National Convention was a joyful, inclusive reminder of what politics is supposed to feel like. And Vice President Kamala Harris ended the week by delivering a fierce, patriotic and refreshing speech that combined her positive vision for the country with an absolute takedown of Donald Trump.
She looked and sounded like she was going to walk off that stage right into the Oval Office.
But it’s important to remember that this race is far from over. It is going to be a grind. It is going to be nasty, and Trump and MAGA land are going to do everything they can to take her down.
This race is far from over. It is going to be a grind. It is going to be nasty.
One of the issues the Trump campaign is betting on is immigration. But what this week also showed us is that Harris and her campaign are not going to avoid the hot-button topic. They are going to address it head-on.
In her speech on Thursday, Harris smartly emphasized her border record and the ways she has advocated for increased security. She gave us a preview of how she will challenge Trump during the Sept. 10 presidential debate stage. “I refuse to play politics with our security,” she told the convention. “And here is my pledge to you: As president, I will bring back the bipartisan border security bill that he killed, and I will sign it into law.”
And this theme was present during earlier convention nights as well. Texas Sheriff Javier Salazar took the stage on Wednesday with a speech ready-made for a campaign ad. Salazar highlighted how Trump’s actions led to the collapse of the most prominent border reform bill in recent history. The appearance underscored how much Democrats do care about border security, and reaffirmed their commitment to the tough conversations.
This strategy isn’t just talk. Rep. Tom Suozzi, who won a tough special election in February to replace GOP Rep. George Santos, successfully embraced this same strategy. He addressed immigration issues directly and demonstrated that Democrats can be both strong on security and compassionate in policy.
This is a classic lesson in political communication: When facing a perceived weakness, confront it head-on. And on Wednesday and again on Thursday, we saw the Harris team do just that.
A story you should be following: Trump’s ‘J6 Awards Gala’
On Sept. 5, Trump will host an event at his Bedminster golf club honoring those convicted for their roles in the 2021 Capitol attack. Billed as the “J6 Awards Gala,” the event will include a raffle for a plaque commemorating a song by Trump and the “J6 Prison Choir,” composed of Jan. 6 defendants.
This gala is more than just a fundraiser. It’s also another warning highlighting Trump’s ongoing efforts to rewrite history. And it’s a chilling reminder of the lengths Trump will go to reshape reality. (Although with $400 million in legal fees hanging over his head, Trump could probably use a fundraising gala of his own).
Two people you should know: Minnesota HS stars Sean Kooman and Ben Ingman
Coach Walz had us all feeling like Minnesota state champions when former members of his football team took the DNC stage on Wednesday night. Ben Ingman, a track athlete and former student of Walz’s, recalled the time his former teacher helped push Ingman’s car out of a snowbank, just one of many examples of Walz’s lifelong generosity.
I spoke with both Ingman and Sean Kooman, a state champion kicker, on our show after their DNC appearance. “It really feels kind of like magic,” Kooman told me. “I’ve never met anybody with as much integrity as him.”
This may be the most Americana DNC I’ve ever been a part of, and I’m here for it. Moments like these remind us what true leadership looks like: grounded in community, integrity and simple acts of kindness. As President Barack Obama said, Tim Walz is exactly the kind of person who should be in politics.
Luke Russert’s weekend routine
This week Luke Russert, the host and creative director of MSNBC Live, wrote a powerful piece on the enduring significance of party conventions and why we shouldn’t take them for granted. During our conversation, I asked Luke about his experience at this DNC and why, like many of us, he was so deeply moved by Walz’s heartfelt speech.
Reflecting on the moment, Luke said, “Anybody watching that with a soul left knows, ‘Hey, this is a good guy.’ The way his son just cheered for him brought me back to so many memories of my own childhood, cheering on my father, and knowing that my father loved me.”
What show are you bingeing right now?
My wife got me hooked on “Bridgerton,” which I should say I happily enjoyed. But the show I binge constantly and rewatch is “Conan O’Brien Must Go.” Conan’s humor is getting better with age.
What’s the last book you read?
I read two at the same time: An old-school gem “Post Office” by Charles Bukowski and a galley copy of “The Barn: A Secret History of a Murder in Mississippi” written by my friend Wright Thompson. “The Barn” comes out in a month and will be the book of the year. It’s the best thing I’ve read in quite a while.
What time do you wake up on the weekends?
Usually by 9:30 a.m. I’m a night owl so it can be a sliding scale, but my pug pretty much makes the call.
How do you take your coffee?
Black. But I’m very strange because I will drink one cup hot and then one iced right after, and for the rest of the day.
