The Story The Democratic National Convention kicks off today. But hold the balloon drop. Because of the coronavirus? Yes. The pandemic means the four-day event is almost entirely virtual. Delegates, politicians, entertainers, and other speakers will be tapping into the convention from all over the country, with both live and pre-recorded videos. The Dems will run their control room out of Milwaukee, WI, the original host site and a key Electoral College state. But even without the cheering crowds, the purpose of the convention remains the same: Dems will formally nominate their 2020 ticket (hi, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris), present their party platform, and make a big, public pitch about why Americans should vote blue in November. Alright, so who are we hearing from? Here's the lineup:
Monday...it's former first lady Michelle Obama and Sen. Bernie Sanders' (I-VT) time to shine. Plus Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D), among others.
Tuesday...the next generation. Get ready to hear from the "rising stars" of the Dem party including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and onetime Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams.
Wednesday...drumroll for Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA), who will formally accept the vice presidential nomination. Former President Barack Obama will also take the virtual stage. And former Sec. of State Hillary Clinton will be there trying to forget how this all went down in 2016.
Thursday...oh yes it's Biden's night, when he'll accept the presidential nomination from his home state of Delaware. And don't forget performances by The Chicks, Billie Eilish, John Legend, and others that'll be sprinkled across all four nights. What are the talking points? The convention's theme is "Uniting America" â and the Dems are highlighting that they'll have progressives, moderates, and even some Republicans making the case for Biden. The main issues they'll focus on: how to fight the coronavirus outbreak, the economic downturn, and racial injustice. How can I watch? Take your pick. The DNC will livestream on its own site, plus YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter each night from 9 to 11pm ET. If you haven't cut the cord, you can tune into the major broadcast networks starting at 10pm ET each night. And if that leaves you wanting more, cable networks are expected to have extra hours of coverage. theSkimm The DNC marks a transition from a primary season that saw 11 debates and 27 Dem candidates (yeah, remember that?) to a Biden-Harris ticket. Now, it's up to Dem leaders to fire up voters amid a once-in-a-century pandemic, high unemployment, and nationwide calls for racial justice. They'll have to make a long-lasting impression, because it's already on to the Republican National Convention next week.
Skimm More: Our podcast "Skimm This" has more about what to expect and why party conventions matter. Plus we spoke to officials on both sides of the aisle about how COVID-19 is impacting this year's plans. | 