Updated as of 12:11 p.m. on Aug. 22 to include more video.
2:20 a.m.
Gov. Tim Walz accepted the Democratic nomination for vice president as “the honor of” his life. As a veteran and a school teacher, Walz spoke about the importance of building a nation where people can respect, love and look out for their neighbors — despite personal differences.
“That family down the road, they may not think like you do, they may not pray like you, they may not love like you do,” Walz said. “But they're your neighbors, and you look out for them, and they look out for you.”
After serving in the national guard for 24 years, Walz also spoke about how he fell in love with teaching social studies and coaching football.
“It was those players and my students who inspired me under Congress. They saw in me what I had hoped to instill in them: a commitment to the common good, an understanding that we're all in this together and the belief that a single person can make a real difference,” Walz said. “So there I was, a 40-something high school teacher with little kids, zero political experience and no money — running in a hate, red district. But you know what? Never underestimate a public school teacher.”
Drawing on his teacher perspective, Walz also brought up gun control in the context of school shootings.
“Your kids can’t even go to school without worrying about being shot down,” Walz said. “I believe in the Second Amendment, but I also believe that our first responsibility is to keep our kids safe.”
11:19 p.m.
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg was greeted by affectionate chants of his name. He spoke about what it was like for him to grow up in Indiana as gay and build a home for himself where he struggled to feel like he belonged.
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg takes the stage at the Democratic National Convention on Aug. 21.
In tandem with the message delivered at the LGBTQ+ Caucus earlier that day, Buttigieg marketed that a vote for Harris would be a vote for inclusivity and belonging.
10:58 p.m.
Talk show host Oprah Winfrey used her time in the spotlight to plead for voters of independent or different parties to vote for Harris this November.
Talk show host Oprah Winfrey walks onto stage in front of a cheering crowd of nearly 25,000 at the United Center on Aug. 21.
“Decency and respect are on the ballot for 2024,” Winfrey said. “Let us choose truth, let us choose honor and let us choose joy.”
10:31 p.m.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro kept the energy up in the United Center as he demanded that the nation vote to persevere, protect and fight for freedoms on the ballot this election cycle.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro invokes the crowd's energy in the United Center on Aug. 21 as he demands that the nation vote to persevere, protect and fight for freedoms on the ballot this election cycle.
“Real freedom comes when she can look at Madam President and know that this is a nation where anything and everything is possible,” Shapiro said. “It's your rights, tt's our rights, it's our future and freedoms that are on the line. And you have the power to shape the future of this country.”
10:16 p.m.
Former President Bill Clinton made remarks following a performance and entertaining crowd work from Stevie Wonder and Kenan Thompson, respectively. Clinton encouraged delegates and guests to support Vice President Kamala Harris.
“Kamala Harris will work to solve our problems, seize our opportunities, ease our fears and make sure every single American, however they vote, has a chance to chase their dreams,” Clinton Said.
The former president thanked President Joe Biden and acknowledged his decision to step down from reelection was not an easy thing for a politician to do.
“It’s a stark contrast to what goes on in the other party,” Clinton said. “I want to thank him for his courage, compassion, his class, his service, his sacrifice.”
Clinton praised Minnesota Gov. and vice presidential nominee Tim Walz and said Harris “knocked it out of the park” with her pick.
“If you fight for Kamala, you’ll be proud of it for the rest of your life,” Clinton said.
The former president concluded his remarks and explained that the fight is not over, then urged Democrats to reach out and “meet people where they are.”
8:44 p.m.
The roster of Republicans making Harris-endorsing remarks at the DNC continues to grow into night three, featuring both former Georgia Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan and former Trump administration national security member Olivia Troye.
“If you vote for Kamala Harris in 2024, you’re not a Democrat, you’re a Patriot,” Duncan said.
8:33 p.m.
The first two nights of the Democratic National Convention brought in over 81 million viewers, according to a convention press release.
This “mammoth” audience tuned in, using everything from streaming platforms, to social media streams to traditional TV broadcasts for last night’s ceremonial roll call and remarks. Among others, the United Center heard from Barack and Michelle Obama, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and Sen. Tammy Duckworth.
The 20.6 million broadcast viewers on Tuesday evening tuned in across 12 networks and surpassed both night one and night two of last month’s Republican National Convention, which drew in 14.8 million.
Tuesday also marked the second night in a row of DNC TV ratings beating those of the RNC.
A new source of convention viewership is online platforms and social media. For the first time ever, 200 content creators have been credentialed for the convention, and events are being streamed on Tiktok, Instagram and YouTube. According to the press release, partner-created content has surpassed 55 million views.
This evening, viewers across all platforms will hear from Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as he officially accepts his vice presidential nomination.
8:20 p.m.
Jon Polin and Rachel Goldberg took the stage to share how their only son, 23-year-old Hersh Goldberg-Polin, was taken hostage by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023. Overwhelmed by support from the crowd, Goldberg was moved to tears.
“Hersh’s left forearm — his dominant arm — was blown off before he was loaded onto a pickup truck and stolen from his life, and me and John into Gaza,” Goldberg said. “That was 320 days ago. Since then, we live on another planet.”
Rachel Goldberg breaks down at the DNC podium before telling an audience of approximately 25,000 that her only son has been a hostage of Hamas' since Oct. 7. "You've kept us breathing in a world without air. There is a surplus of agony on all sides of the tragic conflict in the Middle East. In a competition of pain, there are no winners.”
Goldberg and Polin also thanked those who have been advocating for the safe and immediate return of all hostages, as well as an immediate stop to conflict in Gaza.
“We're also profoundly thankful to you — the millions of people in the United States and all over the world — who have been sending love, support and strength to the hostage families,” Polin said. “You've kept us breathing in a world without air. There is a surplus of agony on all sides of the tragic conflict in the Middle East. In a competition of pain, there are no winners.”
Jon Polin and Rachel Goldberg hold hands as they walk off the United Center stage on Aug. 21. The two wore stickers with the number 320, drawing attention to the number of days their son — 23-year-old Hersh Goldberg-Polin — has been held hostage by Hamas.
Goldberg ended their remarks with a message to Hersh, in case he was listening.
“If you can hear us, we love you. Stay strong. Survive,” Goldberg said.
6:09 p.m.
The Environment & Climate Crisis Council highlighted some of Biden-Harris’ biggest sustainability efforts, but it also warned that neither the U.S. nor the world is on track to reduce climate change.
During the event, senior adviser to Vice President Kamala Harris Ike Irby said he took great pride in how much Harris and the Democratic Party care about sustainability and spreading climate awareness.
Ike Irby, senior advisor to the vice president, analyzes U.S. climate initiatives at the Environment & Climate Crisis Council on Aug. 21.
“The vice president in every briefing, in every discussion and in every decision, is intentional about asking how our policies will impact individuals,” Irby said. “And then taking the next step of asking who we have not thought about, who is not in the room or at the table — or even aware that this discussion is happening at all.”
According to Irby, Harris is on track to remove every lead pipe in America.
“We know there are those who seek to slow or stop our progress, leaders who deny climate science, delay climate action and spread misinformation,” Irby said. “In the face of their resistance, and in the context of this moment, we must do more.”
Maryland Congressman Jamie Raskin — who spoke on stage Monday night about the aftermath of the Jan. 6 insurrection on democracy — and Oregon Sen. Jeff Merkley also took to the podium to discuss the climate crisis.
Merkely, who said he’s been “immersed in this fight” for 26 years, urged attendees that there needs to be a drastic change in the way the U.S. speaks about and practices sustainability.
“This is a path to climate catastrophe. The ultimate arbiter about how we're doing is to measure the carbon in the atmosphere, and we are failing right now,” Merkley said. “Fossil gas. Please, call it fossil gas. Call it methane. Do not call it natural gas. There's nothing natural about pulling it out of the ground and killing our planet.”
2:36 p.m.
The convention’s LGBTQ+ Caucus featured a brief appearance by Delaware state Sen. Sarah McBride, who’s running next election cycle to be the first transgender member of Congress.
“In state legislatures across the country, they've given us a glimpse. They've given us a glimpse into the America they will build for our community. And we are not going backwards. We are not going back,” McBride said. “They are trying to tell us that we do not belong. We are going to show them in November that we do belong.”
Prior to McBride, National LGBTQ+ Engagement Director Sam Alleman opened up about his own personal experience.
Because of his sister, who got health insurance through the Affordable Care Act just seven months before being diagnosed with breast cancer, Alleman said he’s fighting to make sure everyone in this country feels like they belong and has access to the resources and care they need.
“It's been a two months of a lot of high highs and really low lows,” Alleman said. “We've been through a lot together as we endeavor to make sure that we have a champion for equality at the top of our ticket.”
1:15 p.m.
In a press briefing, Convention Director Alex Hornbrook revealed more speakers for the night’s line up, including U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz will be accepting the party’s nomination for vice president toward the end of the evening around 10:30 p.m. EDT.
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, who spoke on stage at the United Center on Tuesday, commented on the importance of upholding the day’s theme to fight for freedom, but also fight for the nation.
“We are seeing more momentum on the ground and across the country than I have ever seen in politics,” Beshear said in the briefing. “This country can’t be, ‘I want Democrats to do better’ or, ‘Just Republicans to do better.’ It’s gotta be that we all do better.”
10:45 a.m.
Chicago, Ill. - Now more than half way through the convention, delegates are eagerly waiting to see Vice President Kamala Harris take the stage tomorrow as they hope to elect the first woman and woman of color as president of the U.S.
But before that can happen, the convention sets the stage for Wednesday night with the theme ‘A Fight for Our Freedoms,’ in which the Democratic Party will highlight how Harris will fight to protect the country’s freedom — while also portraying former President Donald Trump’s candidacy as a threat and regression to these freedoms.
Attendees are expected to hear from Minnesota Gov. and vice presidential candidate Tim Walz, former President Bill Clinton and former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. at the United Center later this evening. Programming is set to begin at 6:30 p.m. EDT.
Mayor of Chicago Brandon Johnson also spoke to North Carolina delegates this morning about North Carolina’s crucial role in the upcoming presidential election.
“We're in a battle. A battle for the consciousness and soul of our country,” Johnson said. “This city electrified the world, built industry and brought workers and business leaders together. This is the same city that's going to make history again when we launch Vice President Kamala Harris to the White House as the person who will get the people right, the person who will get the politics right, the one that will make sure that you can afford to live.”