Kamala Harris visits 'Saturday Night Live' during its cold open

Do I have a highlights post of last night's Saturday Night Live for you, my readers! As if the title and preview image haven't already spoiled the big surprise, Kamala Harris dropped in to the 2024 Pre-Election Cold Open.

CNN's Kaitlan Collins (Chloe Fineman) checks in with Kamala Harris (Maya Rudolph) and Donald Trump's (James Austin Johnson) campaigns on the eve of the 2024 election.

Also starring Bowen Yang as JD Vance, Andy Samberg as Doug Emhoff, Jim Gaffigan as Tim Walz, Dana Carvey as Joe Biden, and Vice President Harris as herself. That's an even better trick than the real Nikki Haley crashing the fake Trump town hall, especially since it reused the fake mirror props from 'SNL' plays Family Feud Election Edition as Ariana Grande hosts. I'm an environmentalist, so I approve of reusing and recycling. I'm also a fan of politicians having fun while laughing at themselves, and Harris was certainly doing that.

Convicted criminal Trump's stunt with the trash truck was one of the stories in Weekend Update: 2024 Presidential Election, Trump's MSG Rally.

Weekend Update anchors Colin Jost and Michael Che tackle the week's biggest news, like a comedian at Trump's Madison Square Garden rally calling Puerto Rico a "floating pile of garbage."

As I wrote yesterday, "all the garbage references...came out of Trump's rally at Madison Square Garden. That deserves a post of its own, but I don't know if I will have time before Tuesday." Thanks to Weekend Update, I don't think I have to write it.

I wrote "I'm rooting for a retro Subway Series between the Dodgers and the Yankees" on Sweetest Day and I got the result I was hoping for, Dodgers Win World Series, NYC Legalizes Jaywalking.

Weekend Update anchors Colin Jost and Michael Che tackle the week's biggest news, like Sean "Diddy" Combs facing a new lawsuit.

I take perverse pleasure in Michael Che just skipping over the Dodgers winning the World Series. I also enjoyed Colin Jost turning the tables on Che; usually Jost the butt of the joke.

The news about Disney and Diddy — never thought you'd see those together — qualified this post as the Sunday entertainment feature, but follow over the jump for more entertainment news.*

'SNL' plays Family Feud Election Edition as Ariana Grande hosts

Happy Sunday during election season! It's time for another highlights post of last night's Saturday Night Live beginning, like the show, with Family Feud Election 2024 Cold Open.

Host Steve Harvey (Kenan Thompson) welcomes key players in the 2024 election, like Kamala Harris (Maya Rudolph), Doug Emhoff (Andy Samberg), Tim Walz (Jim Gaffigan) and Joe Biden (Dana Carvey), to face off against Donald Trump (James Austin Johnson), Donald Trump Jr. (Mikey Day) and JD Vance (Bowen Yang) in a game of Family Feud.

Also Chloe Fineman as Kaitlan Collins, Dana Carvey as Joe Biden, and no one as Melania Trump. Too bad, it could have been Heidi Gardner, but it was probably funnier that she didn't show. Here's to hoping that the election turns out like the game with the Democrats winning.

Now to make fun of the week's news on Weekend Update: Trump Agrees to Fox News Town Hall with All-Women Audience.

Weekend Update anchors Colin Jost and Michael Che tackle the week's biggest news, like Trump confirming he wouldn't agree to a second debate against Kamala Harris.

On the one hand, congratulations to Kamala Harris and Tim Walz on raising one billion dollars. On the other, my wife and I are looking forward to no longer receiving fundraising texts and emails from the campaign.

A possible subway series wasn't the only story covered last night. Watch Weekend Update: LeBron James and Son Bronny Make NBA History.

Weekend Update anchors Colin Jost and Michael Che tackle the week's biggest news, like the Supreme Court declining to hear R. Kelly's appeal in his sex crime case.

The R. Kelly and Diddy news is enough to qualify this as the Sunday entertainment feature, but there will be more over the jump.

'SNL' spoofs the VP debate in its cold open

The 6000th post on this blog, as I promised yesterday, is a highlights post of tonight's Saturday Night Live beginning with the VP Debate 2024 Cold Open.

Kamala Harris (Maya Rudolph) and Doug Emhoff (Andy Samberg) watch the vice presidential debate between JD Vance (Bowen Yang) and Tim Walz (Jim Gaffigan).

Also Dana Carvey as Joe Biden, who stole the skit, Heidi Gardner as Norah O'Donnell, and Chloe Fineman as Margaret Brennan. They gave the vice presidential debate exactly what it deserved, a good razzing. "Honey, we have the soundbite!" Yes, Tim Walz got JD Vance to give "a damning non-answer." Vance has bought the Big Lie.

Weekend Update: Trump Scrolled Twitter During Jan 6 concentrated on other news, including funnier findings from Jack Smith's filing.

Weekend Update anchors Colin Jost and Michael Che tackle the week's biggest news, like it being released that Trump was scrolling Twitter during January 6, Elon Musk attending a Trump rally and Trump not wanting to release his medical records.

I can tell SNL's writers regret missing out on RFK Jr. this summer when his shenanagans were fresh and took this opportunity to make fun of him before it was way too late. His candidacy has already turned into a pumpkin just in time for Spooky Season, but will rot in November, just like all the other jack-o'-lanterns.

The news about Diddy and Daniel Day Lewis was enough to qualify this post as the Sunday entertainment feature, but I couldn't resist including Weekend Update: Jane Wickline to introduce a new cast member playing and singing about parties, just not the political ones.

Jane Wickline stops by Weekend Update to perform a song about Gen Z partying.

Now I'm wondering if this song is eligible for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics at next year's Emmy Awards. I'll have to wait until July to find out!

Follow over the jump for a classic skit and its sequel.

Meyers, Kimmel, Colbert, and Kosta take more closer looks at the vice presidential debate

I finished Kosta, Colbert, and Hayes react to the VP Debate by telling my readers I might have more reactions to the debate. I do, beginning with Seth Meyers: Vance Lies About Obamacare, Jan. 6, Abortion; Trump Backs Out of 60 Minutes Interview: A Closer Look.

Seth takes a closer look at Trump backing out of a 60 Minutes interview while JD Vance brazenly lied about everything from health care to abortion to January 6.

As I wrote yesterday, "Vance saying Trump saved Obamacare didn't pass the smell test. Really? Even if it were true, most people wouldn't believe it." Seth certainly didn't.

Next, a monologue I should have embedded last night, Jimmy Kimmel Breaks Down the Vice Presidential Debate Between JD Vance & Tim Walz.

Tonight was the Vice Presidential debate between JD Vance and Tim Walz, Fox News is desperate to exploit any kind of oddness that they can conjure up about Tim Walz, the two candidates were pretty polite to each other, CBS opted to not fact check live but to have a QR code on the screen instead so we created our own – just go to MattDamonSucks.com, Trump did a play by play of the debate on Truth Social, he was in Wisconsin today where we was in full babble mode, and JD Vance (Haley Joel Osment) has released a new ad making his donut shopping a top priority.

Jimmy remarked about how polite the debaters were, but I'm reminding my readers that "the civility of the debate, the 'Midwestern nice,' masked two political movements at total odds with each other." Still are, as evidenced by convicted criminal Donald Trump's (un)truths. Histrionic him couldn't help but make it all about himself.

I wasn't planning on embedding Colbert's monologue from last night, but I forgot to turn off autoplay, so I watched Vance-Walz Debate Was “Normal” | Worn Out Trump Says “There’s No Hope” | It’s Fat Bear Week! Behold the power of the YouTube algorithm!

The Vance-Walz debate was universally hailed as “normal,” the former president looked tired and confused at recent speeches, and Stephen’s favorite Alaskan forest animal has returned in time to defend his Fat Bear Week title.

Stephen didn't buy Vance saying Trump saved Obamacare, either.

I also wasn't planning to share last night's opening segment of The Daily Show, but I saw Pundits Spin the Walz-Vance Debate While Trump Talks Baseball and couldn't resist.

Michael Kosta tackles last night's VP debate between JD Vance and Tim Walz and the cable news pundits who have been hard at work spinning who won. Plus, Troy Iwata is in the post-debate spin room with a definitive, scientific debate-scoring system.

I agree that Vance was slick. If he won, and the polling was a statistical dead heat, it was on style, not substance. He lied more smoothly than Walz told the truth. That's not a good thing.

I close with Governor Gretchen Whitmer on JD Vance vs Tim Walz Debate, Donald Trump & Americans Finding Unity from Jimmy Kimmel.

Governor Whitmer talks about all the artists on the “True Gretch” playlist from her book, her friendship with Tim Walz, her response to tonight’s VP debate between Walz and JD Vance, being 30 minutes late to her first debate, being described as a “Happy Warrior,” her grandmother teaching her to look for the best in everyone, something nice she could say about Donald Trump, her parents being in a mixed marriage politically, and whether or not Americans will ever be able to find unity.

That was an insightful take on both Walz and debating. I'm glad I included it in today's post.

That's a wrap for today. Stay tuned to see what I blog about tomorrow.

Kosta, Colbert, and Hayes react to the VP Debate

I closed Randy Rainbow sings 'Blank Space (Donald's Version)' with today's topic.

Stay tuned for reactions to tonight's Vice Presidential Debate. As I wrote in Dailyshowographies of Tim Walz and JD Vance plus 'The Daily Show's Emmy Awards, "May the better man win...and I'm pretty sure Walz is the better man."

I begin with The Daily Show's VP Debate: Tim Walz and JD Vance’s Biggest Moments and Misses.

Michael Kosta goes live after the first and only vice presidential debate between Tim Walz and JD Vance. The stakes are as low as possible: one of these men will lose and we’ll never hear from them again, and one will win, become vice president, and we'll never hear from them again.

The opening joke, which is in the video description, reminds me of the vice presidency being described by John Adams as “the most insignificant office that ever the invention of man contrived” as I quoted in A History of the US Vice Presidency for Veep Day. Kosta returned to the next joke at the end, when he pointed out that the civility of the debate, the "Midwestern nice," masked two political movements at total odds with each other. The Trump supporters could have just said "yes, we are" to "we're not going back," but instead they were vulgar and misogynistic. Yuck.

Stephen Colbert made different jokes in LIVE Monologue: Hillbilly Energy vs. Minnesota Nice | Fact Checks & Mic Drops.

Stephen Colbert delivers his monologue LIVE from New York City following the debate between vice presidential candidates J.D. Vance and Tim Walz.

Yes, a literal mic drop. ABC's moderators should have done that to convicted criminal Donald Trump the the last debate.

Follow over the jump for Chris Hayes joining Stephen for his reaction to the debate.

Dailyshowographies of Tim Walz and JD Vance plus 'The Daily Show's Emmy Awards

I'm looking ahead to tomorrow night's Vice Presidential debate for the final entry of September as well as following through on telling my readers to "Stay tuned for two or three posts about Emmy Award winners, another topic that will be good to share next month" with The Daily Show's Emmy Awards. Nothing like two birds with one stone!

I begin with Tim Walz: Radically Nice | The Daily Showography.

People think vice presidential candidate Tim Walz is nice. But is he... too nice? From his dangerously folksy upbringing, to the National Guard, to teaching America's future enemies in China, Tim Walz's "nice" act isn't fooling anyone. This is the Dailyshowography of Tim Walz.

*Snort* No matter how hard The Daily Show's writers try to make Tim Walz look sinister by imitating a right-wing attack ad, his niceness shines through.

Now it's JD Vance's turn in JD Vance: The Forgettin’ Man | The DailyShowography.

JD Vance grew up in a community of forgotten men and women. He left it behind for an Ivy League education and a career as a Silicon Valley venture capitalist, before leaving that behind for a career as a never-Trump literary success, and then leaving that behind to become Trump's running mate. How did it all happen? This is The DailyShowography of JD Vance: The Forgettin' Man #DailyShow #JDVance #DailyShowography

On the other hand, Vance's opportunism and misogyny shine right through this satirical biography. As for Hillbilly Elegy, it's one of the rare films that earned both Oscar and Razzie nominations. While I'm not sure about Glenn Close's Razzie nomination (fortunately, she didn't win), I am sure about Worst Screenplay, which earned Vanessa Taylor, but not Vance, a nomination. I think leaving Vance off the nomination was an oversight.

I return to the Democratic nominee with Desi Lydic Foxsplains Tim Walz.

Who is Tim Walz, and why is he putting tampons in the boys' bathroom? Desi Lydic has taken a break from watching Fox News in her Cybertruck and is ready to Foxsplain Kamala Harris's running mate.

I'm rolling my eyes at all the Faux Noise scaremongering over China. I think having a Vice President who speaks the language and understands the culture would be a good thing.

May the better man win tomorrow night's debate and I'm pretty sure Walz is the better man.

Follow over the jump for the Daily Show's Emmy Awards, including post-mortems of my predictions from 'Jon Stewart Debunks GOP’s City Crime Narrative' plus 'The Daily Show's Emmy nominations.

'SNL' returns with Maya Rudolph as Kamala Harris after winning six Emmy Awards

Saturday Night Live returned last night and the first episode of the new season began with Harris and Trump Rallies Cold Open.

News anchor David Muir (Andrew Dismukes) checks in with Kamala Harris (Maya Rudolph), Tim Walz (Jim Gaffigan), Doug Emhoff (Andy Samberg), Donald Trump (James Austin Johnson), JD Vance (Bowen Yang) and Joe Biden (Dana Carvey) at Harris' and Trump's campaign rallies.

That was a hilarious contrast between the two campaigns portrayed by an all-star cast for the speaking roles! Welcome back! The audience, including me, missed you this summer!

As I usually do, I'm skipping to Weekend Update: Trump Calls Kamala Harris “Mentally Disabled Person”.

Weekend Update anchors Colin Jost and Michael Che tackle the week’s biggest news, like SNL kicking off its 50th season and New York City’s Mayor Eric Adams indictments.

First, convicted criminal Donald Trump calling Kamala Harris a "mentally disabled person" is another example of Projection being the Right's favorite defense mechanism as well as Trump being unable to imagine Harris any other way. As I wrote in Stewart, Colbert, and Kimmel recap last night's debate, "the voices he's listening to aren't reliable sources. This includes JD Vance." It also includes the voices in his head.

Second, I told my readers "I expect NYC Mayor Eric Adams will be the subject of either the cold open or Weekend Update" and he earned two spots on Weekend Update. Here's the second, Weekend Update: New York City Mayor Eric Adams on His Federal Indictments.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams (Devon Walker) stops by Weekend Update to discuss his mayorship and his federal indictments.

I was right again, as "I also anticipate rat jokes in his (dis)honor" and I was not disappointed. Speaking of being right, I forecast the following in 'SNL' begins 2022 with a message from Biden about the pandemic and movies.

Welcome to being Mayor of New York City, Your Honor. It will be a great four years — for Chris Redd and his fans. I'm not so sure about you.

After the title story, Weekend Update: Meryl Streep Speaks at United Nations featured science, space, and technology stories, so of course I'm embedding it.

Weekend Update anchors Colin Jost and Michael Che tackle the week’s biggest news, like a scientists (sic) saying an asteroid will become earth’s mini moon.

"Space" made a good punchline for the origin of the Chicxulub impactor, but as LiveScience reported Dinosaur-killing asteroid was a rare rock from beyond Jupiter, new study reveals. There, value added.

Weekend Update concluded with a cute animal story, Baby Hippo Moo Deng on Fame.

Moo Deng (Bowen Yang) stops by Weekend Update to discuss her newfound fame.

Here's to hoping bits like this help earn Bowen Yang another Emmy nomination next year.

Follow over the jump for more clips from last night's episode and a celebration of SNL's Emmy Awards.

Project 2025 and Trump on Social Security and Medicare

I posted Musical question for today exactly one year ago. The impulse that made me write that is motivating me to post about something personal related to the anniversary of the same event.* I begin with Verify claiming No, Project 2025 doesn’t propose eliminating Social Security benefits.

Contrary to online claims, Project 2025 doesn’t call for ending Social Security benefits. But the Heritage Foundation has advocated for changes to the program.

By fact-checking for "eliminating Social Security benefits," Verify minimizes the risk to the program and its beneficiaries. To their credit, they do point out that people behind Project 2025 have advocated raising the retirement age and privatizing Social Security. Both of those will weaken Social Security and harm its beneficiaries.

Via KREM 2 News, they do much the same for convicted criminal Donald Trump in VERIFY | Does former President Trump want to cut social security benefits?

The campaign is in full swing and many people have questions about statements Kamala Harris has been making at her rallies.

"Currently" is doing a lot of heavy lifting here. He may not favor cutting Social Security now, but he talked out of both sides of his mouth about the issue in the past. Watch and listen to CNN Trump made promises to never touch Social Security. Hear what he thinks about it now to hear that history, including the quote first Joe Biden and now Kamala Harris and Tim Walz seized upon.

CNN's Abby Phillip breaks down what former President Donald Trump has said about federal entitlement programs in the past after Trump suggests he is open to making cuts to Social Security and Medicare. Then, she is joined by former Obama adviser Dan Pfieffer.

Pay attention to what Trump has done, not just what he said. As Phieffer noted, his administration proposed cutting Social Security and Medicare in every budget he proposed. Fortunately, Congress didn't go along then, although the current Speaker of the House favors them. Here's to hoping we don't have to find out if the next Congress would go along with that plan.

Follow over the jump for the latest on Trump's ideas on Social Security and Medicare.

Colbert, Meyers, and Kimmel return to take closer looks at the presidential campaigns

I haven't featured the late night talk show hosts since Closer looks at the DNC from Stewart, Colbert, and Meyers nearly two weeks ago. That's because I had changed over to posts I could share this week because I had made my page view goal for August and the shows weren't producing new content anyway. I guess The Late Show and The Daily Show needed the week to move from Chicago back to New York, then everyone took the week leading up to Labor Day off. It's a new month, so it's time to resume topical posts and nearly all the talk shows resumed releasing new shows last night. I begin with Colbert's monologue, Harris's Momentum Dominates The News | Trump's Crimes At Arlington Cemetery | RFK Jr. & The Whale.

VP Kamala Harris is leading in national polls, her opponent Donald Trump brushed aside federal law and Army personnel for his photo opp at Arlington National Cemetery, and we're learning of another bizarre animal-related scandal involving former presidential candidate RFK Jr.

Last week was really eventful and Colbert was just catching up. Speaking of which, I was missing his enthusiastic Chicago audience and I suspect he was, too, until his jokes finally starting landing. Welcome back, Stephen!

Seth Meyers didn't have to come back from Chicago — he was in New York during the DNC — but he took last week off, too. He was busy just catching up to convicted criminal's misdeeds last week in Declining Trump Rambles Incoherently About Bacon, Wind and Body Parts: A Closer Look.

Seth takes a closer look at a series of major controversies and sagging poll numbers causing Trump to devolve in a way that's unusual, even for him.

Hoover Cleveland has just enough self-awareness to say "I meant to do that" about his rambling, calling it "the weave." Sure you did. Throwing in the English professors makes it sound like another one of his "sir" stories.

As for The Former Guy including the detail about people, particularly, "big, strong men," crying, I consider it a tell that he's BSing or lying (there is a difference, but both involve not telling the truth) right up with with them addressing him as "Sir." Not only that, but both also mark this as a story in service to his ego and image. Don't believe any story that contains either.

Same with "the weave."

Seth only had a week to catch up. Jimmy Kimmel has been on vacation for two months with guest hosts filling in, so he had even more material to cover in Jimmy Kimmel Recaps All the Crazy Stuff Donald Trump Did Over the Summer.

Jimmy makes his return after being away for the summer with his family. He talks about all of the news he missed this summer, the craziness that came out of Trump’s bigly mouth, his comments at “The Moms for Liberty” event over the weekend, new VP picks JD Vance and Tim Walz, the incredible twist that Netflix put on their hot dog eating contest this weekend, and all of our summer guest hosts rate their experience at the show on Yelp.

Welcome back, Jimmy. I missed you.

Harris campaigns in Detroit on Labor Day

I closed Project 2025's plans for labor and unions, part 7 of MSNBC examines Project 2025, a Labor Day special with a program note.

By the way, Kamala Harris is speaking in Detroit for Labor Day as I type this. I might visit that tomorrow. Stay tuned.

CBS Detroit uploaded her speech as Vice President Kamala Harris speaks to union members in Detroit during Labor Day visit.

Vice President Kamala Harris made a stop in Detroit on Labor Day to speak with union members and leaders.

I watched this speech on Instagram yesterday, but I enjoyed CBS Detroit's coverage of it even more. I guess it took a second listen to appreciate it more fully, including Harris's applause lines and the enthusiastic crowd reaction.

MSNBC reacted to Harris's address in the following segments, beginning with David Jolly telling Nicolle Wallace ‘She’s putting in the work, Trump is sitting at his golf course’: VP Harris hits swing states hard.

Eddie Glaude, Princeton University Professor, David Jolly, former Republican Congressman from Florida join Nicolle Wallace on Deadline White House to break down the battle ground tour that the Harris campaign is embarking on for Labor Day and how VP Harris has begun to hone in her message to voters.

I agree with Wallace and her guests, particularly Jolly. Harris is working hard and becoming more effective, while convicted criminal Donald Trump AKA Hoover Cleveland is staying at one of his homes. His running mate JD Vance didn't hold any events yesterday, either. I guess they wanted to relax on the holiday. That's the point Jason Johnson made in Trump's 2024 nightmare: Women voting surge could elect Harris.

Kamala Harris takes the lead with women voters, as abortion access becomes a crucial issue on the ballot in key swing states. MSNBC’s Ari Melber reports and is joined by Molly Jong Fast and Jason Johnson.

My wife and I watched this clip together last night and it also benefited from a second viewing. In particular, the contrast between Trump and Vance staying home while not just Harris, but also President Joe Biden, Governor Tim Walz, and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff all campaigning yesterday. It's obvious which ticket has the energy.

That's a wrap for today's post. I might resume Emmy Awards coverage tomorrow. Stay tuned.

Closer looks at the DNC from Stewart, Colbert, and Meyers

I made an aside in Silly and serious looks at night 3 of the DNC from Colbert and FiveThirtyEight that I might feature The Daily Show today once it caught up with the convention.* I'm doing just that with Jon Stewart's DNC Recap: Oprah Calls Out Cat Ladies, Dem Vibes & Kamala’s Moment.

Jon Stewart closes out the last night of the DNC live from Chicago with a recap of the convention, including Kamala Harris's spotlight moment, Oprah's cat lady cam, and a roster of speakers as diverse and contradictory as the Democratic party itself. Jon also shows Dems what real joy looks like and tries to make sense of Fox News's convention coverage.

That's a good summary of the convention, never mind that The Daily Show didn't wait until it was actually over. On the other hand, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert did, so here's DNC Night 4: Kamala Harris Closes Out A Joyous, Highly-Rated DNC | Trump Is A Weak, Unserious Man.

Stephen Colbert brings a remarkable week of LIVE episodes to a close with one more monologue from the incredible Auditorium Theatre in Chicago following VP Kamala Harris's historic speech at night four of the Democratic National Convention.

Now, that's an update!

Listening to the audiences, I think both Stewart and Colbert will miss the Chicago crowds, even if Stewart tried to pick a fight with his over pizza. I could have told him that was a bad idea. My wife grew up in Chicago and she takes her local cuisine very seriously. Also, Chicagoans really don't care what New Yorkers think and especially aren't going to listen to attacks on their food.

I billed this entry as "closer looks" and it wouldn't be one without Seth Meyers, so I'm sharing Mike Lindell Humiliated by 12-Year-Old at DNC; Trump Whines About Obama "Size" Jab: A Closer Look.

Seth takes a closer look at Kamala Harris accepting the Democratic nomination to cap off a raucous convention that clearly got under Trump's skin.

LOL, double Razzie winner Mike Lindell. He deserved to get owned by a 12-year-old.

Follow over the jump for two features about Kamala Harris and the convention from The Daily Show and The Late Show.

Silly and serious looks at night 3 of the DNC from Colbert and FiveThirtyEight

I'm done grading and I'm sort of ready to return to my usual topical entries. Without any further ado, here is DNC Night 3: Oprah & Stevie Bring The Star Power | Getting To Know Tim Walz | Pete Takes Down Vance from The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

Stephen Colbert goes LIVE following the star-packed third night of the Democratic National Convention where Pete Buttigieg lit into the GOP's vice presidential candidate, and speakers like Oprah Winfrey and Stevie Wonder hyped up the crowd prior to the night's main event, a rousing speech from vice presidential candidate Tim Walz.

My wife and I have been watching these monologues, but I've been too busy grading final exams while recovering from my health crisis last week to feel like putting together posts based on them. Now I finally have the time and energy to do so.

I have more of Colbert's take on the convention, but first the serious take from FiveThirtyEight, Democrats Pitch 'Freedom' On Night 3 Of The DNC | 538 Politics Podcast.

In this late-night installment of the 538 Politics podcast, the crew reacts to the third night of the Democratic National Convention.

This isn't nearly as funny, but the podcast's emphasis on joy as the theme of the convention at least got close.

Follow over the jump for two more videos from The Late Show about the DNC.

A History of the US Vice Presidency for Veep Day

Happy National Veep Day, the 50th anniversary of Gerald Ford becoming President! I wrote yesterday, "I have something special planned in addition to writing more about Walz and Vance." That's The History Guy recounting A Most Insignificant Office: A History of the US Vice Presidency.

The history, prior to the 1967 ratification of the Twenty-Fifth Amendment, of what John Adams, the first man to hold the office, described as “the most insignificant office that ever the invention of man contrived” deserves to be remembered.

I don't recall even hearing about many of these Vice Presidents before. I didn't even remember that Elbridge Gerry, who I knew as the namesake of gerrymandering, ended his political career (and his life) as Vice President. That means I learned a lot of new things today. As I'm fond of writing, it's always a good day when I learn something new. Again, I hope my readers agree.

Follow over the jump for graphs of JD Vance's ideology from Voteview and On The Issues along with equivalent graphs for Tim Walz.

Harris, Walz, and Vance visit Michigan

I told my readers what to expect in today's post at the end of The Daily Show covers Tim Walz plus Walz's first speech as running mate.

I promised that I'd cover the results of Tuesday's primaries in Michigan and maybe Kansas and Missouri. Stay tuned for that tomorrow if I don't get distracted by a shinier object. The way the news has been lately, that's always a possibility.

I found a shinier object in FOX 2 Detroit's FULL SPEECH: Kamala Harris, Tim Walz Michigan rally, although Walz mentioned a primary result in his opening remarks.

Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz made a campaign stop in Michigan on Wednesday, a day after the Democratic nominee announced her running mate.

On the one hand, this was fun rally and both Harris and Walz were inspiring — joyful warriors, heckling aside, indeed! On the other, it must have been a little too warm for some of the attendees, several of whom needed medical attention. I'm glad the candidates cared and directed the medics to the people who needed them. I'm not sure convicted criminal Hoover Cleveland or his running mate JD Vance would have been so considerate. Hoover Cleveland would probably be annoyed that someone distracted from him. I'll show my readers Vance's reaction to the press over the jump.

Unlike Tuesday, when Walz was the star and Harris cut her remarks short to concentrate on introducing him, she was the star yesterday and gave her full stump speech yesterday, including her working the eye of Project 2025. It was worth listening to. I want to hear what it sounds like in October and November.

Finally, I used the Fox 2 Detroit video not only because it featured both Harris and Walz, but because its preview image showed all the top politicians at the rally taking a bow at the end. One of those was Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer Watch The Detroit Free Press's Gretchen Whitmer speech for Kamala Harris, Tim Walz names contrasts with Donald Trump, JD Vance.

Speaking at Kamala Harris's rally in metro Detroit was Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who praised the Harris-Walz ticket while calling out the contrasts between the Democrats and Republican ticket featuring Donald Trump and JD Vance.

Go Big Gretch! As my wife and I were watching this part of the rally, my wife turned to me and said "I like this Democratic Party!" So do I!

Follow over the jump for JD Vance's appearance in Michigan and the promised recap of Tuesday's primary elections.

The Daily Show covers Tim Walz plus Walz's first speech as running mate

I took a serious look at Kamala Harris selecting Tim Walz for VP yesterday, so it's time for a funny take today, beginning with Kamala Harris Picks Minn. Governor & Midwestern Dad Tim Walz as Running Mate | The Daily Show.

Michael Kosta gets to know Tim Walz, the Minn. governor Kamala Harris chose as her running mate. While the Trump campaign claims the vice presidential candidate will “unleash hell on earth,” Democrats love his political record and "Midwestern dad af" vibes. Plus, Josh Johnson weighs in on why Walz is the “right type of white guy” for this race.

I tell bad dad jokes myself — sometimes on this blog! — so I'm glad someone else who does is running.

Now, it's time for Tim to tell his story himself in MSNBC's Gov. Tim Walz’s first speech as Kamala Harris’ running mate.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz speaks to an energized Democratic rally in Philadelphia after being introduced for the first by by Vice President Kamala Harris as her running mate.

I was satisfied with Walz being chosen yesterday, but I was thrilled after watching this speech. I can tell Walz addressed a lot of pep rallies as coach and made sure to project his voice to the students in the back of the auditorium, just so they'd pay attention. He also made sure to inspire the student body. Yes, I played football in high school and later taught high school. I remember those days.

Not only did I find Walz an inspiring speaker, I found him an effective attack dog while still having a sense of humor. While I was waiting for him to call the Republican agenda "weird," which he did, he surprised me when he made a couch joke about JD Vance. Yes, I saw what he did there.

I promised that I'd cover the results of Tuesday's primaries in Michigan and maybe Kansas and Missouri. Stay tuned for that tomorrow if I don't get distracted by a shinier object. The way the news has been lately, that's always a possibility.

Kamala Harris selects Tim Walz for VP

I have a much shinier object today than "filtering the news since Thursday through comedy" as I thought I would write about yesterday.* Instead, I'm featuring MSNBC reporting ‘Great chemistry’: Harris picks Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate.

Vice President Harris has chosen Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate. NBC News' Yamiche Alcindor, Chuck Todd, former Senator Claire McCaskill and former senior adviser and chief spokesperson to VP Harris Symone Sanders-Townsend join Ana Cabrera to react to the pick.

I think Chuck Todd placing Walz in the mainstream of the Democratic Party is correct. When I arranged the five main contenders in the Veepstakes from left to center, Walz was the median candidate, smack in the center of the ideological spectrum of likely picks. On that basis alone, I think he was a good choice.

For a more tactical and strategic take, I turn to Kornacki breaks down the potential impact of Harris picking Walz.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz was chosen as Vice President Harris's running mate pick. MSNBC's Steve Kornacki is at the Big Board to break down the potential impact of the pick in certain states.

I was hopeful Kornacki would find something more optimistic to say about Walz that my comment that "they would get the Democratic base even more enthused, but I don't know if they would appeal to swing state independents beyond them being white men from the Midwest." Nope. Still, he won't hurt Harris's chances, either.

I also wrote that "I think any of the five would acquit themselves well" against JD Vance. The next clip shows that will be the case as 'Happy warrior' Tim Walz is 'complete opposite' of 'angry' JD Vance: Julián Castro.

Vice President Harris announced today that she has chosen Minnesota Governor Tim Walz to be her running mate. Former senior adviser and chief spokesperson to VP Harris Symone Sanders-Townsend, former HUD Secretary Julián Castro and former Rep. Carlos Curbelo join José Díaz-Balart to discuss.

I think Kamala Harris is also a "happy warrior," so the Democrats have two of them in contrast to the angry warriors on the Republican ticket. Also, Walz's experience contrasts with JD Vance's youth and inexperience in a way that balances Harris's relative youth contrasting with convicted criminal Hoover Cleveland's age. We get to have our cake and eat it, too!

I conclude with a graphic I should have made for the Veepstakes from left to center, Walz's ideological position from Voteview.



I didn't know Walz had been a member of Congress, so I didn't know about his Voteview score of -0.275, which was more conservative than 86% of Democrats in the 115th Congress while also being more liberal than 61% of the House. Based on the comments about Walz having had an A grade from the NRA at the beginning of his time in the House and having an F grade now, he has probably moved to the left since he became Governor. Still, he definitely has a more moderate reputation than Harris, who was the second most liberal member of the Senate when she became Vice President. Balance!

I still plan on writing more about Walz and Vance on Veep Day. Stay tuned.

*Also, The Daily Show was the only regular source with one of its regular hosts on last night. I wasn't feeling it.