talkingpointsmemo--2020-08-19--‘Blow It Out’: How The Trump Campaign Mobilized Around Russian-Hacked Emails

A bipartisan Senate intelligence report offered bountiful insight into the degree to which the Trump campaign mobilized around WikiLeaks ’ release of Democratic emails hacked by Russia in a messaging push only described in broad strokes by special counsel Robert Mueller .
The campaign ’ s “ preoccupation ” with WikiLeaks , according to the Senate report , went into overdrive after its October release of Clinton campaign chair John Podesta ’ s emails .
But even before that , campaign officials were strategizing around hints from Roger Stone about upcoming releases .
The report revealed new details about how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s messaging around WikiLeaks .
From emails titled “ The WikiLeaks BOMB !
” circulated among campaign staff to pre-release “ brainstorming sessions , ” the new report lays out extensively how excited campaign staffers were to jump on the hacked emails to draw public attention away from damaging moments in Trump ’ s candidacy — even after it became clear that Russia was meddling in the election .
How the Campaign Handled Early Clues From Stone “ Approximately ” in May — and as early as April — Stone told Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to release information damaging to Hillary Clinton .
Stone ’ s prediction reached campaign Chairman Paul Manafort by June , according to the report , before WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange began previewing the dumps publicly .
According to the report , campaign officials including Gates , Stephen Miller , Jason Miller and , potentially , pollster Tony Fabrizo — who had phone conversations with Stone around key dates in the WikiLeaks timeline — had “ brainstorming sessions ” before even the first tranche of emails came out to figure out what anti-Clinton themes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ At first , Manafort was wary of Stone ’ s promises and worried about Trump being distracted “ by the titillation of a WikiLeaks release.
” He instructed Stone not to tell Trump about WikiLeaks ’ plans before they were confirmed , according to the report .
Trump and Stone had several phone calls during this period where , the Senate panel believes , WikiLeaks was likely discussed .
Once emails started coming out , the report said , Manafort found them to be a useful way to deflect from Trump ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including Trump ’ s continued sparring with Ted Cruz over Trump ’ s sexist insults towards Cruz ’ s wife .
Both Manafort and Michael Cohen discussed with Trump the potential for weaponizing hacked emails about high-profile Democrats like Sen. Bernie Sanders and then-DNC chair Debbie Wasserman Shultz , according to the report .
That strategy soon became apparent in public campaign statements and Trump tweets .
Despite the campaign ’ s willingness to fully embrace the email dumps for its messaging , the Senate committee surfaced evidence that at least Manafort was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ came with some risk .
“ Manafort advised Gates and others throughout the Campaign that no one should ‘ touch ’ Assange , ” the Senate report said , adding that the comment suggested Manafort believed communications between the campaign and WikiLeaks “ could be perceived as problematic.
” Manafort , on Trump ’ s directive , told Stone to keep up the hunt after the first July 22 release for more information about what WikiLeaks had in store , and Stone played an active role in helping to develop the campaign ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ report .
After a series of phone calls with Manafort , Gates and Trump himself in late July , Stone emailed Trump ’ s assistant draft tweets that , according to the email ’ s subject line , were being sent at Trump ’ s request .
“ Many of the draft tweets attacked Clinton for her adversarial posture toward Russia and mentioned a new peace deal with Putin , such as ‘ I want a new detente with Russia under Putin , ’ ” the lawmakers ’ report said .
In August @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign — including to incoming campaign CEO Steve Bannon — the potential for more releases , and Gates recalled Stone promising information about Clinton campaign chair John Podesta .
Stone shared that hunch publicly later that month .
Throughout September , Stone was in contact with Trump ’ s inner circle and likely with Trump himself , the report said , as Trump ’ s allies pressed him for more information on further releases .
They were agitated that by early October , the release hadn ’ t come , despite promises from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from WikiLeaks itself that something big was one its way .
Gates recalled Trump expressing his own disappointment , on Oct. 4 , that WikiLeaks had not released the emails as expected : “ When is the other stuff coming out ?
” Trump supposedly said .
WikiLeaks As a Way To ‘ Refocus The Narrative ’ When WikiLeaks did release the Podesta emails — a dump that came 32 minutes after the Access Hollywood tape was published — the campaign ramped up its efforts to incorporate that and future releases into its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Senate committee a loosely organized effort to pay attention to the internet ’ s reaction to what was in each release .
“ We ’ d kind of see which ones were hot .
And then we would kind of debate ways to try to get them out further , whether it be having the candidate read them at rallies , or tweet about them , or whatever it is , ” he told the committee .
Dan Scavino , Hope Hicks , Bannon , Stephen Miller , and Jason Miller were all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hacked emails , according to emails obtained by the committee .
Their exchanges had gleeful subject lines like “ WIKI ABOUT TO DROP SOME BOMBS … 4 pmE ” and “ The WikiLeaks BOMB !
” “ Blow it out , ” Donald Trump Jr. responded to one such email .
Even as campaign officials told Senate investigators they were unaware of who was behind in hacks , the committee noted that that supposed ignorance didn ’ t stop Trump from minimizing Russia ’ s role .
While Trump was frequently praising WikiLeaks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ staff was drafting at least two tweets a day from Trump ’ s account linking to the releases .
Ivanka Trump told other staffers this would “ refocus the narrative , ” in an email obtained by the committee .
The Senate report recounts a Twitter direct message Donald Trump Jr. received from WikiLeaks , highlighting the launch of an anti-Trump website , that Trump Jr. then circulated to others on the campaign .
Bannon offered the committee this assessment of the episode : “ I ’ d describe Don Junior , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a guy who believes everything on Breitbart is true.
” Trump Jr. admitted to the committee that a tweet highlighting a WikiLeaks ’ release may have been a response to WikiLeaks ’ private outreach to him , though it could have also been part of the general strategy around the email dumps .
Trump Jr. told the committee he viewed WikiLeaks as “ a media organization ” that was “ reaching out to me to essentially promote what they had put out.
” It didn ’ t occur to Trump Jr. , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was operating as a pass-through for a government hostile to the United States .

A bipartisan Senate intelligence report offered bountiful insight into the degree to which the Trump campaign mobilized around WikiLeaks’ release of Democratic emails hacked by Russia in a messaging push only described in broad strokes by special counsel Robert Mueller.
The campaign’s “preoccupation” with WikiLeaks, according to the Senate report, went into overdrive after its October release of Clinton campaign chair John Podesta’s emails. But even before that, campaign officials were strategizing around hints from Roger Stone about upcoming releases. The report revealed new details about how Stone helped to focus then-candidate Donald Trump’s messaging around WikiLeaks.
From emails titled “The WikiLeaks BOMB!” circulated among campaign staff to pre-release “brainstorming sessions,” the new report lays out extensively how excited campaign staffers were to jump on the hacked emails to draw public attention away from damaging moments in Trump’s candidacy — even after it became clear that Russia was meddling in the election.
How the Campaign Handled Early Clues From Stone
“Approximately” in May — and as early as April — Stone told Trump campaign official Rick Gates that WikiLeaks planned to release information damaging to Hillary Clinton. Stone’s prediction reached campaign Chairman Paul Manafort by June, according to the report, before WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange began previewing the dumps publicly.
According to the report, campaign officials including Gates, Stephen Miller, Jason Miller and, potentially, pollster Tony Fabrizo — who had phone conversations with Stone around key dates in the WikiLeaks timeline — had “brainstorming sessions” before even the first tranche of emails came out to figure out what anti-Clinton themes the campaign would hit in response.
At first, Manafort was wary of Stone’s promises and worried about Trump being distracted “by the titillation of a WikiLeaks release.” He instructed Stone not to tell Trump about WikiLeaks’ plans before they were confirmed, according to the report.
Trump and Stone had several phone calls during this period where, the Senate panel believes, WikiLeaks was likely discussed. Once emails started coming out, the report said, Manafort found them to be a useful way to deflect from Trump’s more controversial moments on the trail, including Trump’s continued sparring with Ted Cruz over Trump’s sexist insults towards Cruz’s wife.
Both Manafort and Michael Cohen discussed with Trump the potential for weaponizing hacked emails about high-profile Democrats like Sen. Bernie Sanders and then-DNC chair Debbie Wasserman Shultz, according to the report. That strategy soon became apparent in public campaign statements and Trump tweets.
Despite the campaign’s willingness to fully embrace the email dumps for its messaging, the Senate committee surfaced evidence that at least Manafort was aware that getting too close to WikiLeaks came with some risk.
“Manafort advised Gates and others throughout the Campaign that no one should ‘touch’ Assange,” the Senate report said, adding that the comment suggested Manafort believed communications between the campaign and WikiLeaks “could be perceived as problematic.”
Manafort, on Trump’s directive, told Stone to keep up the hunt after the first July 22 release for more information about what WikiLeaks had in store, and Stone played an active role in helping to develop the campaign’s messaging strategy, according to the report.
After a series of phone calls with Manafort, Gates and Trump himself in late July, Stone emailed Trump’s assistant draft tweets that, according to the email’s subject line, were being sent at Trump’s request.
“Many of the draft tweets attacked Clinton for her adversarial posture toward Russia and mentioned a new peace deal with Putin, such as ‘I want a new detente with Russia under Putin,’” the lawmakers’ report said.
A Hunger For More Dumps
In August, Stone began again hinting to the campaign — including to incoming campaign CEO Steve Bannon — the potential for more releases, and Gates recalled Stone promising information about Clinton campaign chair John Podesta. Stone shared that hunch publicly later that month.
Throughout September, Stone was in contact with Trump’s inner circle and likely with Trump himself, the report said, as Trump’s allies pressed him for more information on further releases. They were agitated that by early October, the release hadn’t come, despite promises from Stone of Podesta-related document dumps and hype from WikiLeaks itself that something big was one its way.
Gates recalled Trump expressing his own disappointment, on Oct. 4, that WikiLeaks had not released the emails as expected: “When is the other stuff coming out?” Trump supposedly said.
WikiLeaks As a Way To ‘Refocus The Narrative’
When WikiLeaks did release the Podesta emails — a dump that came 32 minutes after the Access Hollywood tape was published — the campaign ramped up its efforts to incorporate that and future releases into its messaging.
Jared Kushner described to the Senate committee a loosely organized effort to pay attention to the internet’s reaction to what was in each release.
“We’d kind of see which ones were hot. And then we would kind of debate ways to try to get them out further, whether it be having the candidate read them at rallies, or tweet about them, or whatever it is,” he told the committee.
Dan Scavino, Hope Hicks, Bannon, Stephen Miller, and Jason Miller were all involved in developing campaign messaging around the hacked emails, according to emails obtained by the committee.
Their exchanges had gleeful subject lines like “WIKI ABOUT TO DROP SOME BOMBS … 4 pmE” and “The WikiLeaks BOMB!”
“Blow it out,” Donald Trump Jr. responded to one such email.
Even as campaign officials told Senate investigators they were unaware of who was behind in hacks, the committee noted that that supposed ignorance didn’t stop Trump from minimizing Russia’s role.
While Trump was frequently praising WikiLeaks from the campaign stump, his senior staff was drafting at least two tweets a day from Trump’s account linking to the releases. Ivanka Trump told other staffers this would “refocus the narrative,” in an email obtained by the committee.
The Senate report recounts a Twitter direct message Donald Trump Jr. received from WikiLeaks, highlighting the launch of an anti-Trump website, that Trump Jr. then circulated to others on the campaign. Bannon offered the committee this assessment of the episode: “I’d describe Don Junior, who I think very highly of, as a guy who believes everything on Breitbart is true.”
Trump Jr. admitted to the committee that a tweet highlighting a WikiLeaks’ release may have been a response to WikiLeaks’ private outreach to him, though it could have also been part of the general strategy around the email dumps.
Trump Jr. told the committee he viewed WikiLeaks as “a media organization” that was “reaching out to me to essentially promote what they had put out.” It didn’t occur to Trump Jr., according to his Senate testimony, that WikiLeaks was operating as a pass-through for a government hostile to the United States.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-08-19--Pool Parties Provide Relief For Wuhan Residents After Strict COVID Lockdown

BEIJING ( AP ) — For more than two months , the 11 million residents of Wuhan endured a strict lockdown as coronavirus raced around the city in central China .
Now , some are letting loose en masse at rocking nighttime pool parties at a popular amusement park chain .
The Wuhan Maya Beach Water Park reopened in late June , and the crowds have picked up this month .
Wuhan was the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in China and saw the most deaths .
The city and most of the surrounding province was locked down from late @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t leave or enter the city and were mostly restricted to their homes .
The spread of the disease has been all but eradicated in China , though isolated outbreaks pop up sporadically .
Outdoor attractions and tourist sites have gradually reopened across the country with restrictions .
In order to enter the Wuhan water park , party-goers need to reserve tickets online in advance with their national ID number .
On the day , they need to present their ID and a green health code generated from mobile apps that track @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are subject to virus quarantine .
The Maya Beach chain is holding similar parties at other water parks including those in Shanghai and Chongqing .

BEIJING (AP) — For more than two months, the 11 million residents of Wuhan endured a strict lockdown as coronavirus raced around the city in central China.
Now, some are letting loose en masse at rocking nighttime pool parties at a popular amusement park chain. The Wuhan Maya Beach Water Park reopened in late June, and the crowds have picked up this month.
Wuhan was the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in China and saw the most deaths. The city and most of the surrounding province was locked down from late January to early April. People couldn’t leave or enter the city and were mostly restricted to their homes.
The spread of the disease has been all but eradicated in China, though isolated outbreaks pop up sporadically.
Outdoor attractions and tourist sites have gradually reopened across the country with restrictions.
In order to enter the Wuhan water park, party-goers need to reserve tickets online in advance with their national ID number. On the day, they need to present their ID and a green health code generated from mobile apps that track people’s movements and whether they are subject to virus quarantine.
The Maya Beach chain is holding similar parties at other water parks including those in Shanghai and Chongqing.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-08-20--Weekly Jobless Claims Tick Up To 1.1 Million

The Department of Labor reported on Thursday that 1,106,000 jobless claims had been filed in the week ending on August @ @ @ @ @ of 135,000 from the previous week ’ s revised level.
” The figures indicate that @ @ @ @ @ in the U.S. brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic has yet to be contained .

The Department of Labor reported on Thursday that 1,106,000 jobless claims had been filed in the week ending on August 15, “an increase of 135,000 from the previous week’s revised level.”
The figures indicate that the streak of mass unemployment in the U.S. brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic has yet to be contained.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-08-20--‘HE SPIED ON MY CAMPAIGN’: Trump Livetweets His Meltdown Over Obama’s DNC Speech

President Donald Trump has been regularly issuing several angry tweets in response to various speeches at the 2020 Democratic National Convention this week .
But he took his fury to a whole other level on Wednesday night when former President Barack Obama took the ( virtual ) stage .
“ HE SPIED ON MY CAMPAIGN , AND GOT CAUGHT !
” Trump howled on Twitter about a half hour into Obama ’ s speech , once again pushing his evidence-free conspiracy theory about his predecessor .
“ WHY DID HE REFUSE TO ENDORSE SLOW JOE UNTIL IT WAS ALL OVER @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
WHY DID HE TRY TO GET HIM NOT TO RUN ?
” the President tweeted several minutes later .
And then he fired off one last unhinged tweet during Obama ’ s speech .
“ BUT DIDN ’ T SHE CALL HIM A RACIST ?
?
?
DIDN ’ T SHE SAY HE WAS INCOMPETENT ?
?
?
” Trump wrote of Biden ’ s running mate , Sen. Kamala Harris ( D-CA ) .
He was likely talking about the viral moment during a Democratic primary debate last year in which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stance and friendliness with anti-segregationists in Congress back when he served as a senator .
However , the California Democrat stated clearly that she was not calling him a racist before making her point .
“ I do not believe you are a racist , and I agree with you when you commit yourself to the importance of finding common ground , ” she told Biden .
As for the second half of Trump ’ s tweet , Harris did not say that Biden is incompetent .

President Donald Trump has been regularly issuing several angry tweets in response to various speeches at the 2020 Democratic National Convention this week.
But he took his fury to a whole other level on Wednesday night when former President Barack Obama took the (virtual) stage.
“HE SPIED ON MY CAMPAIGN, AND GOT CAUGHT!” Trump howled on Twitter about a half hour into Obama’s speech, once again pushing his evidence-free conspiracy theory about his predecessor.
“WHY DID HE REFUSE TO ENDORSE SLOW JOE UNTIL IT WAS ALL OVER, AND EVEN THEN WAS VERY LATE? WHY DID HE TRY TO GET HIM NOT TO RUN?” the President tweeted several minutes later.
And then he fired off one last unhinged tweet during Obama’s speech.
“BUT DIDN’T SHE CALL HIM A RACIST??? DIDN’T SHE SAY HE WAS INCOMPETENT???” Trump wrote of Biden’s running mate, Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA).
He was likely talking about the viral moment during a Democratic primary debate last year in which Harris called out Biden’s anti-busing stance and friendliness with anti-segregationists in Congress back when he served as a senator.
However, the California Democrat stated clearly that she was not calling him a racist before making her point.
“I do not believe you are a racist, and I agree with you when you commit yourself to the importance of finding common ground,” she told Biden.
As for the second half of Trump’s tweet, Harris did not say that Biden is incompetent.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-08-20--Harris Ends Night Three With An Inclusive Appeal Touching On Her Historic Nomination

Sen. Kamala Harris ( D-CA ) , a Black and South Asian woman , didn ’ t shy away from noting how her vice presidential candidacy is historic as she accepted her nomination as Joe Biden ’ s running mate during the third night of the Democratic National Convention .
And she nodded to some came before her .
Harris kicked off her speech by remembering women — especially Black women — who paved the way for expanding voting rights .
“ Without fanfare or recognition , they organized and testified and rallied and marched and fought not just for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the table , ” Harris said .
“ These women and the generations that followed worked to make democracy and opportunity real in the lives of all of us who followed.
” Harris said that the fight for women ’ s voting rights “ paved the way for the trailblazing leadership of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton ” before going on to pay tribute to her late mother — an Indian woman who came to the U.S. at age 19 to “ pursue her dream of curing cancer ” and met Harris @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for justice in the 1960s civil rights movement .
In acknowledging that her parents split when she was just 5 years old , Harris said that her mother raised her and her sister , Maya , to be “ proud ” Black and Indian women who put “ family first.
” Harris vowed that she is committed to the values that her mother taught her , which , she said , “ Biden shares.
” She and Biden stand for “ a vision of our nation as a beloved community — where all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ look like , where we come from , or who we love , ” Harris said .
Harris noted that nowadays the “ country feels distant ” due to President Trump ’ s “ failure of leadership ” as the nation grieves from the COVID-19 pandemic .
Her pointed jabs at Trump included saying that there ’ s “ no vaccine for racism ” as she acknowledged the deaths of George Floyd , Breonna Taylor and countless other Black people at the hands of police brutality .
“ We ’ ve got to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of equal justice under law , ” Harris said .
“ Because here ’ s the thing : none of us are free until all of us are free.
” Harris argued that the country is at an “ inflection point ” where “ incompetence makes us feel afraid.
” But , she said , “ we can do better and deserve so much more.
” “ We must elect a president who will bring something different , something better , and do the important work , ” Harris said .
“ A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ together—Black , White , Latino , Asian , Indigenous—to achieve the future we collectively want .
We must elect Joe Biden.
” Harris also spoke to her relationship with Biden ’ s late son Beau , recalling their time serving as attorneys general .
The California senator went on to slam Trump again for turning “ our tragedies into political weapons ” while saying that Biden will “ be a president who turns our challenges into purpose.
” “ We may stumble .
We may fall short , but I pledge to you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with our challenges honestly , ” Harris said .
“ We will speak truths , and we will act with the same faith in you that we ask you to place in us .
We believe that our country , all of us will stand together for a better future .
And we already are.
” Harris concluded her acceptance speech by describing the Democratic fight she would help lead as an “ awesome responsibility , ” and an “ awesome privilege.
” “ So let ’ s fight with conviction .
Let @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s fight with confidence in ourselves and a commitment to each other , ” Harris said .
“ To the America we know is possible .
The America we love .
”

Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA), a Black and South Asian woman, didn’t shy away from noting how her vice presidential candidacy is historic as she accepted her nomination as Joe Biden’s running mate during the third night of the Democratic National Convention. And she nodded to some came before her.
Harris kicked off her speech by remembering women — especially Black women — who paved the way for expanding voting rights.
“Without fanfare or recognition, they organized and testified and rallied and marched and fought not just for their vote, but for a seat at the table,” Harris said. “These women and the generations that followed worked to make democracy and opportunity real in the lives of all of us who followed.”
Harris said that the fight for women’s voting rights “paved the way for the trailblazing leadership of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton” before going on to pay tribute to her late mother — an Indian woman who came to the U.S. at age 19 to “pursue her dream of curing cancer” and met Harris’ father while they were marching together for justice in the 1960s civil rights movement.
In acknowledging that her parents split when she was just 5 years old, Harris said that her mother raised her and her sister, Maya, to be “proud” Black and Indian women who put “family first.” Harris vowed that she is committed to the values that her mother taught her, which, she said, “Biden shares.”
She and Biden stand for “a vision of our nation as a beloved community — where all are welcome, no matter what we look like, where we come from, or who we love,” Harris said.
Harris noted that nowadays the “country feels distant” due to President Trump’s “failure of leadership” as the nation grieves from the COVID-19 pandemic. Her pointed jabs at Trump included saying that there’s “no vaccine for racism” as she acknowledged the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and countless other Black people at the hands of police brutality.
“We’ve got to do the work to fulfill that promise of equal justice under law,” Harris said. “Because here’s the thing: none of us are free until all of us are free.”
Harris argued that the country is at an “inflection point” where “incompetence makes us feel afraid.” But, she said, “we can do better and deserve so much more.”
“We must elect a president who will bring something different, something better, and do the important work,” Harris said. “A president who will bring all of us together—Black, White, Latino, Asian, Indigenous—to achieve the future we collectively want. We must elect Joe Biden.”
Harris also spoke to her relationship with Biden’s late son Beau, recalling their time serving as attorneys general.
The California senator went on to slam Trump again for turning “our tragedies into political weapons” while saying that Biden will “be a president who turns our challenges into purpose.”
“We may stumble. We may fall short, but I pledge to you that we will act boldly and deal with our challenges honestly,” Harris said. “We will speak truths, and we will act with the same faith in you that we ask you to place in us. We believe that our country, all of us will stand together for a better future. And we already are.”
Harris concluded her acceptance speech by describing the Democratic fight she would help lead as an “awesome responsibility,” and an “awesome privilege.”
“So let’s fight with conviction. Let’s fight with hope. Let’s fight with confidence in ourselves and a commitment to each other,” Harris said. “To the America we know is possible. The America we love.”


talkingpointsmemo--2020-08-20--A Tribute To The Power Of Democratic Women

As Hillary Clinton reminded viewers on the third night of the Democratic Convention , it has been an especially exhausting four years for women .
President Donald Trump was caught on tape bragging about committing sexual assault , has been accused of sexual misconduct by over 20 women and routinely saves special monikers — “ nasty , ” “ dog , ” “ pig ” — for his female opponents .
It barely rates outrage anymore .
Rage at his triumph over Clinton fueled a millions-strong women ’ s march throughout the country and world in 2017 .
It sent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , to the polls in 2018 , powering a massive blue wave .
It inspired a record number of female lawmakers to run for office and ride that wave , the vast majority of them members of the Democratic party .
It has Biden up an astronomical 21 points ahead of Trump with women , according to an NBC poll .
The third night of the convention felt like a tribute to that power .
It featured some of the party ’ s biggest power brokers .
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( D-CA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was introduced with a montage reminding viewers that she is the first and only female House Speaker .
“ The power of the speaker is awesome , ” she says , as video of her ripping up Trump ’ s state of the union speech takes over the screen .
It showcased young activists like Emma Gonzalez and Carly Dryden , who survived gun violence and sexual assault respectively , to become the next generation of female leaders .
Singer Billie Eilish , all of 18 years old , spoke eloquently about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for legislation to address climate change .
But the programming didn ’ t shy away from the hatred and violence women face either .
Clinton , also clad in white , reminded viewers that she hammered on the glass ceiling and won 3 million more votes than Trump — but that still wasn ’ t enough .
“ For four years , people have told me ‘ I didn ’ t realize how dangerous he was .
I wish I could do it all over.
’ Or , worse , ‘ I should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Look , this can ’ t be another woulda , coulda , shoulda election.
” The package on domestic violence opened with Ruth Glenn , CEO of the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence , telling her story in a flat tone , devoid of emotion .
“ In 1992 , my husband shot me and left me for dead , ” she said .
Nominee Joe Biden was sprinkled throughout the segments , sober in clips where his younger self listened to women testify about being beaten by their partners as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Women Act created and passed in Congress .
But the night was Harris ’ .
As she took the stage , introduced by the first Black president , the power of the moment was undeniable .
In the face of a President who routinely demeans and despises women stood the first Black and first Asian-American woman to be nominated as vice president on a major party ’ s ticket .
“ I know a predator when I see one , ” she said , while speaking about her experience in fighting for victims @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And she placed herself where she belongs — pounding against that same glass ceiling , raised up on the shoulders of women who came before .
“ Without fanfare or recognition they organized and testified and rallied and marched and fought not just for their vote but for a seat at the table , ” she said of Black women excluded from the suffrage movement .
“ These women and the generations that followed worked to make democracy and opportunity real in the lives of all of us who followed.
” “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leadership of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton , ” she added .
“ And these women inspired us to pick up the torch and fight on .
”

As Hillary Clinton reminded viewers on the third night of the Democratic Convention, it has been an especially exhausting four years for women.
President Donald Trump was caught on tape bragging about committing sexual assault, has been accused of sexual misconduct by over 20 women and routinely saves special monikers — “nasty,” “dog,” “pig” — for his female opponents. It barely rates outrage anymore.
Rage at his triumph over Clinton fueled a millions-strong women’s march throughout the country and world in 2017. It sent women, especially those in the suburbs, to the polls in 2018, powering a massive blue wave. It inspired a record number of female lawmakers to run for office and ride that wave, the vast majority of them members of the Democratic party. It has Biden up an astronomical 21 points ahead of Trump with women, according to an NBC poll.
The third night of the convention felt like a tribute to that power.
It featured some of the party’s biggest power brokers. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), dressed in suffragette white, was introduced with a montage reminding viewers that she is the first and only female House Speaker. “The power of the speaker is awesome,” she says, as video of her ripping up Trump’s state of the union speech takes over the screen.
It showcased young activists like Emma Gonzalez and Carly Dryden, who survived gun violence and sexual assault respectively, to become the next generation of female leaders. Singer Billie Eilish, all of 18 years old, spoke eloquently about the direness of the election and the necessity for legislation to address climate change.
But the programming didn’t shy away from the hatred and violence women face either.
Clinton, also clad in white, reminded viewers that she hammered on the glass ceiling and won 3 million more votes than Trump — but that still wasn’t enough.
“For four years, people have told me ‘I didn’t realize how dangerous he was. I wish I could do it all over.’ Or, worse, ‘I should have voted,'” she said. “Look, this can’t be another woulda, coulda, shoulda election.”
The package on domestic violence opened with Ruth Glenn, CEO of the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, telling her story in a flat tone, devoid of emotion.
“In 1992, my husband shot me and left me for dead,” she said.
Nominee Joe Biden was sprinkled throughout the segments, sober in clips where his younger self listened to women testify about being beaten by their partners as he worked to get the Violence Against Women Act created and passed in Congress.
But the night was Harris’. As she took the stage, introduced by the first Black president, the power of the moment was undeniable. In the face of a President who routinely demeans and despises women stood the first Black and first Asian-American woman to be nominated as vice president on a major party’s ticket.
“I know a predator when I see one,” she said, while speaking about her experience in fighting for victims of sexual assault and against criminal organizations.
And she placed herself where she belongs — pounding against that same glass ceiling, raised up on the shoulders of women who came before.
“Without fanfare or recognition they organized and testified and rallied and marched and fought not just for their vote but for a seat at the table,” she said of Black women excluded from the suffrage movement. “These women and the generations that followed worked to make democracy and opportunity real in the lives of all of us who followed.”
“They paved the way for the trailblazing leadership of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton,” she added. “And these women inspired us to pick up the torch and fight on.”


talkingpointsmemo--2020-08-20--Obama Appeals To Young Americans To ‘Give Our Democracy Meaning’ In ‘Dark Times’

Painting the current President as a failure and a cynic , former President Barack Obama on Wednesday urged Americans to vote in November rather than sitting out of electoral politics .
Speaking on the third night of the Democratic National Convention from the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia , Obama focused much of his remarks on the Black Lives Matter movement , casting it as an heir to the Civil Rights Movement and other protest efforts throughout history .
“ For all its messiness and frustrations , your system of self-government can be harnessed to help you realize @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” he said , calling young racial justice activists “ in so many ways , this country ’ s dreams fulfilled.
” “ You can give our democracy meaning , ” he said , adding : “ But any chance of success depends entirely on the outcome of this election .
This administration has shown it will tear our democracy down if that ’ s what it takes for them to win.
” Obama celebrated his former vice president Joe Biden and running mate Kamala Harris , saying that in contrast to President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about every American ” and America ’ s democracy .
That was one of a number of jabs against Trump in the 20-minute remarks : The former president first recalled how he ’ d hoped “ for the sake of our country , that Donald Trump might show some interest in taking the job seriously — that he might come to feel the weight of the office , and discover some reverence for the democracy that had been placed in his care.
” Later , referencing various ideals — rule of law , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to facts and science ” in the face of a pandemic — Obama said “ these are American principles ” rather than partisan ones .
“ But , ” he said , “ at this moment , this President and those who enable him have shown they don ’ t believe in these things.
” “ Tonight I ’ m asking you to believe in Joe and Kamala ’ s ability to lead this country out of these dark times , ” he continued , before slipping in the Biden campaign them .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ”

Painting the current President as a failure and a cynic, former President Barack Obama on Wednesday urged Americans to vote in November rather than sitting out of electoral politics.
Speaking on the third night of the Democratic National Convention from the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia, Obama focused much of his remarks on the Black Lives Matter movement, casting it as an heir to the Civil Rights Movement and other protest efforts throughout history.
“For all its messiness and frustrations, your system of self-government can be harnessed to help you realize those convictions for all of us,” he said, calling young racial justice activists “in so many ways, this country’s dreams fulfilled.”
“You can give our democracy meaning,” he said, adding: “But any chance of success depends entirely on the outcome of this election. This administration has shown it will tear our democracy down if that’s what it takes for them to win.”
Obama celebrated his former vice president Joe Biden and running mate Kamala Harris, saying that in contrast to President Donald Trump, “they actually care about every American” and America’s democracy.
That was one of a number of jabs against Trump in the 20-minute remarks: The former president first recalled how he’d hoped “for the sake of our country, that Donald Trump might show some interest in taking the job seriously — that he might come to feel the weight of the office, and discover some reverence for the democracy that had been placed in his care.”
“He never did,” Obama said.
Later, referencing various ideals — rule of law, a free press, “a fidelity to facts and science” in the face of a pandemic — Obama said “these are American principles” rather than partisan ones.
“But,” he said, “at this moment, this President and those who enable him have shown they don’t believe in these things.”
“Tonight I’m asking you to believe in Joe and Kamala’s ability to lead this country out of these dark times,” he continued, before slipping in the Biden campaign them. “And build it back better.”