DNC Live: Oprah gets biggest applause of the night before Tim Waltz’s speech

EGOT award-winning artists John Legend and Sheila E led the DNC in dancing.

The two performed “Let’s Go Crazy,” from Prince’s 1984 debut album.

Pete Buttigieg used his comments to criticize Donald Trump and his running mate, J.D. Vance, saying, “At least Mike Pence has some manners.”

“What they’re selling is darkness,” he said. “The thing is, I don’t think the United States today is a dark market,” he said.

Unspoken delegates at the Democratic National Committee say their request to Kamala Harris’ campaign to have a Palestinian-American speak at this week’s convention was denied.

About three dozen uncommitted delegates — delegates sent to the DNC by Democratic primary voters who chose to remain “uncommitted” in protest of the Biden administration’s support for Israel’s war in Gaza — have been trying to win Harris’ delegates over their demands for a ceasefire and arms embargo.

But leaders of the Uncommitted Nationals movement announced Wednesday that the Democratic National Committee had rejected their request for a speech.

“This is not over,” said Abbas Allawi, co-founder of the nonpartisan National Movement.

Delegates said they planned to stage a sit-in outside the convention hall until DNC officials reversed their decision.

Maryland Governor Wes Moore began by speaking about the March 26 collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore and praising Vice President Kamala Harris for her support of the Biden administration during the crisis.

“A port that represents 13% of our state’s economy is now closed. Thousands of workers are going to wake up and find out they’re out of work,” he said of the night this spring the ship struck the bridge.

“Six Marylanders died in the middle of the night while fixing a pothole on the bridge, and the first call I got that morning was those three words, ‘Governor, it’s Kamala,'” he added.

Moore quoted the vice president as saying Harris told him: “I want you to know that we are here for you and we will be there for you.”

The Independent Team Description:

“Oprah may be in her hometown, but despite her stellar television career, she has never spoken at a major political convention” – Alex Woodwardsenior journalist

“Ironically, Trump has said he would consider Oprah as his running mate,” – Eric GarciaWashington Bureau Chief

“Oprah was speaking but I checked under the seat and didn’t find my new car keys. How sad!” – Andrew FeinbergWhite House Correspondent

Oprah welcomed Amanda Zulawski, Caitlin Joshua and Hadley Duvall to this year’s Democratic National Convention, where the three women shared their harrowing stories of life-threatening pregnancies and abortion and miscarriage care.

She said their anti-abortion state tried to “deny them a medically necessary abortion as explained by their doctor.”

She added that they said the words “to prevent what happened to us from happening to others.”

“The American dream cannot be fulfilled if you don’t have autonomy over it, if you don’t have control over when and how you bring your children into the world and how you raise and support them,” Winfrey said.

Anti-abortion lawmakers are trying to return America to “an age of despair and shame,” while women like Zulawski, Joshua and Duvall “are the new freedom fighters and are without a doubt the best talent America has to offer.”

Winfrey also paid tribute to the first six black children who entered New Orleans schools in 1960 and faced death threats as a result.

from The Independent Eric GarciaLive from the Democratic National Convention in Chicago: Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro speaks during prime time. Vice President Kamala Harris conspicuously did not choose Shapiro as her running mate, while many speculated she might choose him.

“It’s not freedom to tell our children what books they can read,” he declared, a phrase he had previously used to criticize Republicans who often talk about “freedom.” He then listed other freedoms that Democrats support, such as the freedom to marry the person you love, to join a union, to seek abortion care or to breathe clean air.

Shapiro first made the argument during the 2022 gubernatorial race, when he defeated the Republican candidate endorsed by Trump in a landslide. Other Democrats, including Harris, have also tried to use the frame.

In fact, Harris has chosen Beyoncé’s “Freedom” as her campaign theme song.

The liberal framework was just the latest in a series of closing arguments by the Democratic National Committee, which had been publicly courting former Republicans who loathe Trump all evening.

Oprah Winfrey has taken to the stage in Chicago.

The Independent Andrew Feinberg The American TV talk show host reportedly received the loudest cheers and standing ovation of the night.