How To Watch The Democratic National Convention

Posted on August 19, 2024 by Trish Nelson

https://www.npr.org/dnc-convention

The convention will be held from Monday, Aug. 19, until Thursday, Aug. 22. Convention programming will be aired from the United Center in Chicago live from 6:15 p.m. to 11 p.m. ET on Monday, and 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. ET for all other days.

The theme of the convention is “For the People, For Our Future.”

The daily themes reflect that broader message:

  • Monday: “For the People”
  • Tuesday: “A Bold Vision for America’s Future”
  • Wednesday: “A Fight for Our Freedoms”
  • Thursday: “For Our Future”

As of this posting the DNC has not yet announced the full speakers’ list for each night. But Ameshia Cross, Democratic strategist and former Obama campaign advisor indicated Michelle Obama is going to make an appearance and “we are going to see a lot of Michelle Obama.”

How to watch the DNC:

You can subscribe to the Democratic National Convention YouTube channel here.

  • The D.N.C.  will stream the events nightly on its website and also share vertical video on YouTube, TikTok and Instagram. It will offer streaming on horizontal platforms, too, including Facebook, Twitch, X and Amazon Prime Video.

  • C-SPAN will be livestreaming from Monday through Thursday on C-SPAN.org and on the C-SPAN Now mobile app.

  • PBS will stream gavel-to-gavel coverage of the speeches on its digital and social platforms.

  • CBS’s streaming platform, CBS News 24/7, will begin streaming prime-time coverage of the convention at 8 p.m. each night.

  • NBC News will stream the convention on its streaming platform, NBC News Now, as part of its “Decision 2024” broadcast with Lester Holt and Savannah Guthrie. Coverage will air from 10 to 11 p.m. the first two nights, and from 9 to 11 p.m. the last two nights.

  • ABC News will carry prime-time coverage of the convention from 7 p.m. to midnight via its streaming platform, ABC News Live.

  • CNBC will livestream each night’s speeches in prime time on CNBC.com.

  • MSNBC will livestream all four days of the convention on its YouTube channel.

  • Fox News will stream each night’s speeches in full on its subscription streaming platform, Fox Nation.

    • C-SPAN will broadcast all four days of the convention uninterrupted, as it has done at every convention since 1984.

    • PBS will air its convention coverage from 8 to 11 p.m. each night, anchored by Amna Nawaz and Geoff Bennett of “PBS NewsHour.”

    • CBS Television Network will broadcast prime-time coverage of the convention from 10 to 11 p.m. all four nights, hosted by Norah O’Donnell.

    • NBC News will broadcast its “Decision 2024” programming during the same hours as its livestream — from 10 to 11 p.m. the first two nights of the convention, and from 9 to 11 p.m. the final two nights.

    • ABC News will air prime-time coverage, anchored by David Muir, from 10 to 11 p.m. the first two nights of the convention, and from 9 to 11 p.m. the last two nights.

    • Fox News will have a prime-time slot each night from 10 to 11 p.m., hosted by Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum. The Fox Business Network will air each night’s speeches in full.

    • CNN will air commentary and coverage of the convention each night from 8 p.m. to midnight, with anchors Jake Tapper and Anderson Cooper.

    • MSNBC will air special team coverage from 8 p.m. to midnight each night, led by Rachel Maddow.

    • NewsNation will air its prime-time broadcast, “Decision Desk 2024,” each night from 8 p.m. to midnight. It will be anchored by Chris Cuomo, Elizabeth Vargas, and Leland Vittert.

    • Scripps News will air “Path to the White House,” its prime-time broadcast, every night of the convention starting at 8 p.m. Del Walters will host.

 

Posted in Blog for Iowa | Tagged , , | Comments Off on How To Watch The Democratic National Convention

The Most Dangerous Man Nobody Knows

Posted on August 18, 2024 by Dave Bradley

Undercover In Project 2025

Despite Trump’s attempted denial of any knowledge of Project 2025 or any of the project’s authors or contributors, the Project is very much alive and is in its implementation planning phase. If Trump is elected, MAGA and the Christian Nationalists will be ready to radically change – one could say destroy – our form of government.

I caught this video on Democracy Now on freespeechTV.org Friday morning. It is an undercover video of reporters for the Centre for Climate Reporting meeting with the man behind the work of planning the implementation of the radical change to American democracy. A man many call “the most dangerous MAGA diehard you’ve never heard of.”

The video is ten minutes long. However, this video is fundamental to understanding what MAGAs and Christian Nationalists have planned for us and what will be going on if somehow Trump is put in the White House again. If, heaven forbid, that happens, Russel Vought (pronounced ‘vote’) will be ready to destroy the country:

The story behind this video can be found here:

On their website the Centre for Climate Reporting describes itself as:

The Centre for Climate Reporting is a not-for-profit investigative journalism organisation focused on the biggest story of our time: climate change.

Multinational corporations, high net worth individuals, populist movements, petrostates – across the world, powerful forces are obstructing efforts to tackle climate change and threaten even democracy itself.

Through bold, cross-border investigative reporting, our mission is to uncover how these actors build and wield political power – to hold them to account.

Posted in #nevertrump, #trumpresistance, 2024 election | Tagged , , | Comments Off on The Most Dangerous Man Nobody Knows

Sunday Funday: Democratic Convention Edition

Posted on August 18, 2024 by Dave Bradley

Just want to mention one thing. I watched a short bit of Old Donnie’s “press conference” a couple of weeks ago. Donnie’s “accordion hands” really grabbed my attention. Trump is always lying, but when he is telling his big whoppers and trying to wriggle out of some lie with even bigger lies he starts waving his hands as if he is playing the air accordion. The bigger the lies the bigger the accordion gets. So use this as a guide: “When the hands are flying, Old Donnie be a-lyin’”

Trump versus Johnathon Swann – watch them hands: (4 1/2 minutes)

Today we will add some questions about the times when political parties get together every four years to select a candidate.

Let me first thank Paul Deaton for covering for me most of the year so far. We had a family crisis, a small period of sanity followed by another crisis. We are hopefully stable now. All the while Paul was more than willing to jump in to help. That is what Democrats do. We think we are stable for a while, anyway.

On to the Quiz!

A) Folks running the Texas State Fair made the sensible decision to ban guns on the fairground during the fair this year. How did the Texas AG react?

B) The 1844 Democratic convention was the first reported on nationally using what new form of communication technology?

C) The lawsuit against the doctor who performed an abortion for a 10 year old Ohio girl was dropped by the AG of what state?

D) What presidential candidate is trying to get their sentencing for hush money convictions delayed until after the November election?

E) Out of touch much, JD? The MAGA VP candidate says that new cars cost how much?

F) Republicans (real ones) met for the first time in 1856. Who was defeated in the contest for Vice President?

G) Minnesota held its primaries last week. What former Iowa State basketball player was chosen by the MAGA party to oppose Senator Amy Klobuchar?

H) In a meeting of massive egos Tuesday what obscenely rich business man interviewed what narcissistic presidential candidate?

I) In that interview, the presidential candidate indicated they would move to what country if they lose the election?

J) in 1900, incumbent Republican VP Garret Hobart died just before the convention. Who did the convention choose to replace Hobart, despite the party leadership preferring another candidate?

K) The World Health Organization (WHO) declared a Global Health Emergency for a deadly strain of what disease currently raging in Africa?

L) Celine Dion and the estate of Isaac Hayes joined a long list of performers objecting to whose unauthorized use of their music as campaign music?

M) Using seismographs scientists were able to claim water has been found in what unexpected place?

N) In 1956, Democrats chose Tennessee’s Estes Kefauver as Adlai Stevenson’s VP, beating out what upcoming senator?

O) In a prime example of concentration in the business world what company bought Kellogg’s snack spinoff company Kellanova for $36 Billion?

P) Vice-President Kamala Harris unveiled parts of her economic agenda which included a child tax credit of how much for the first year of a child’s life?

Q) The Harris-Walz ticket is getting some unexpected support from what usually MAGA aligned group?

R) The first woman to be nominated for Vice-President by a major party was done by Democrats in what year?

S) In what is an aberration for political candidates, what national office nominee was revealed last week to own no stock, securities or real estate?

T) Who will be the first female, black South Asian to be nominated by a major party for president?

The politicians who said Clinton & Obama & Biden were coming for your guns… 

who now say Kamala Harris is coming for your guns…

…are the ones coming for your Social Security. – John Fugelsang

Answers:

A) Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said he will sue the Fair if people are not allowed to open carry at the fair.

B) telegraph

C) Indiana

D) Trump of course

E) $50,000 per year

F) Abraham Lincoln

G) Royce White

H) Elon Musk “interviewed” Old Don Trump

I) Venezuela – uh – doesn’t that make him a flight risk?

J) Theodore Roosevelt

K) Mpox – formerly known as Monkey pox

L) Trump’s  – he never gets permission just rips it off

M) Mars

N) John F. Kennedy

O) Mars

P) $6000

Q) evangelicals

R) 1984 – Geraldine Ferraro

S) Democratic VP candidate Tim Walz

T) Kamala Harris!

Tip of the hat to EarlG on democraticunderground.com

The pro lifers want children to have empty stomachs and full wombs when they’re shot in their classrooms. – Taylyn777

Posted in Blog for Iowa | Comments Off on Sunday Funday: Democratic Convention Edition

August 14th, 1935: The Birthday Of Social Security

Posted on August 17, 2024 by Dave Bradley

Roosevelt signing SSA into law (2 minutes)

A lot of folks took notice Wednesday that on August 14th of 1935 – 89 years ago – President Franklin Roosevelt signed the bill that created the Social Security Administration that allowed the elderly a chance to live with dignity rather than die in poverty. Most Americans saw this as a huge step forward. 

The Republican Party of the day saw it as as the beginning of socialism. Here we are 89 years later and the descendant of the old Republican Party, the MAGA movement, still sees Social Security as a policy that must be destroyed to cleanse America of its wayward ways. SS is still in their sights. They are just very reluctant to mention it. Hard to believe the MAGA will even go so far as to lie about their intentions for Social Security.

As we face down another election once again we have a policy issue that few people are discussing – If the MAGA party gets a majority in both houses of congress and old Don somehow gets the presidency you can bet the massive changes, even to the point of abolishing the SSA, will be on the table.

So while the corporate media tells us that the “issues” of this year’s election are things like immigration and Harris’s lineage, Democrats and real Americans are quite aware that behind the scenes are the dramatic changes that MAGAs are planning to make to our governing set up. Among such changes would be the overhaul, perhaps ending the SSA.

In a fundraising email sent out on August 14th, Iowa-01 candidate Christina took note of the date and noted that her opponent, Marionette Miller-Meeks is among the MAGAs ready to destroy Social Security:

“On this day in 1935, President Franklin Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act into law. For decades, Social Security has provided a vital social safety net for millions of retired or disabled workers and their families across the country.

But now, far-right Republicans like Mariannette Miller-Meeks want to slash Social Security benefits.

Not only has Miller-Meeks been a staunch supporter of extremist Speaker MAGA Mike Johnson – who has long been a proponent of drastically cutting Social Security – she has also voted to cut Social Security benefits and gut the Social Security Administration (SSA).

I’m running for Congress because I refuse to stand by while politicians work to take away Iowans’ hard-earned benefits.”

The DCC.org also took note of Miller-Meeks’ desire to scuttle Social Security Wednesday:   

Eighty-nine years after it was established, Social Security is bringing dignity and peace of mind to Iowans

Eighty-nine years after Social Security was created, Mariannette Miller-Meeks and her colleagues are trying to cut Iowa seniors’ hard-earned benefits.

This Congress, Miller-Meeks’ party endorsed $1.5 trillion in cuts to Social Security, including raising the retirement age and cutting disability benefits.

Miller-Meeks voted repeatedly to jeopardize these programs, including voting to shutter or cut hours for 240 Social Security field offices and making it harder for seniors to access services.

80% of voters oppose plans to cut Social Security benefits by raising the retirement age, and 81% oppose any cuts to retirement programs.

DCCC Spokesperson Mallory Payne:
“Mariannette Miller-Meeks won’t stand up for Iowa’s seniors because she is all in on DC politicians’ plans to cut Social Security and deny seniors their hard-earned benefits. Voters will make sure to reject Miller-Meeks’ dangerous agenda.”

All of Iowa’s current congressional representation will scuttle Social Security tomorrow if given the chance. If you think by voting for a MAGA candidate will solve some current made up crisis, you may instead shoot your own future to oblivion. Be careful and be informed when you vote.

Posted in #nevertrump, #trumpresistance, 2024 election, Social Security | Tagged , , | Comments Off on August 14th, 1935: The Birthday Of Social Security

Your Choice: Jail Or The White House?

Posted on August 17, 2024 by Dave Bradley

(3 minutes)

As the corporate media does all it can to make this presidential election something that will keep eyeballs glued to the TV screens so they can sell more life insurance and all over body deodorant we usually step back from the day-to-day blather to remind ourselves of the very basic reason that old man Trump is running: this is about the only way he can keep his sorrowful ass out of jail. 

Make no doubt he is scared to death of jail. With 34 convictions already in his kick and three more trials to go, the chance he will end up in a hoosegow somewhere is very high. Right now, it looks like the only way he can beat a stint at Rikers Island is to be elected as the highest official in the country. That way he can supposedly stop the trials and the sentences. Or so he reasons.

For those of us who attended 12 or so years of some sort of school, we probably learned that our election system allowed us to elect good people from among some good people. Not that Trump is the first, but he is by far the worst. Let us be very clear about Trump: he is a CONVICTED criminal. 34 times convicted. He has shown no remorse for what he did only open disdain for our system of justice.

Of course Trump wouldn’t be running for president if a sizable chunk of adults in the US didn’t surrender any moral values they have and in essence say “I support electing a criminal to the highest office in the country.” Nearly half of the country has chucked any moral values they ever had. Many of those folks claim their religion endows them with reality.

As Criminal Trump drones on in his speeches it is readily apparent that he has little comprehension what he is saying. Not that it matters to him. His only goal is to keep his ass out of jail. So anything he says or does in pursuit of that goal is OK. Remember that old morality question “Does the end justify the means?” Well in the world of Trump the answer is definitely yes.

Or perhaps Criminal Trump has no concept of right and wrong? That is what he acts like. The only thing that matters is how an action affects him. Forget the other 340 million Americans. Having America’s highest elected official who has no sense of right or wrong should scare our citizens to the very bottom of their being. Apparently it doesn’t, which says a lot about those who support Trump. 

When Kamala Harris made her first speech as a candidate for the highest office in the land she chose to highlight that her opponent is a convicted criminal. She also highlighted the fact that her life has been dedicated to prosecuting criminals. For those who still believe that our laws exist to bring order to our society and that punishing those who violate our laws should be prosecuted and punished, Kamala Harris is the perfect answer to the Trump criminality.

Now that weird has become a watch word for what MAGAs do, my first thought on MAGA weirdness is them claiming to support law ’n’ order while running a convicted criminal as their candidate for president. Also really weird is claiming moral superiority while running a convicted criminal for president.

What is really sad is to see Iowa, once the epitome of middle American values, become enthralled with a convicted criminal. Well the times they are a-changing. The ball is now in our court. It is up to us to decide if we support and even reward criminal activity or do we stand up to it as our forbearers did.

Let me add that electing those who are supporting the law breaker for president are as bad as the lawbreaker himself. Are you a person of values? Show it in November.

Posted in #nevertrump, #trumpresistance, 2024 election, Republican Policy | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Your Choice: Jail Or The White House?

Book Review: The Art of Power

Posted on August 16, 2024 by Paul Deaton

The Art of Power: My Story as America’s First Woman Speaker of the House by Nancy Pelosi is a solid read from a person at the center of American politics since first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1987. In a time when the average American adult finishes just over five books per year, Pelosi’s book is perfect. It is an easy read, about timely topics, and general enough to interest an average reader through to the finish.

Pelosi emphasizes the book is not a memoir. It is the story of her time as the 52nd Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. It is also a story of Democratic accomplishments during the last 37 years. We Democrats don’t tell our story in clear, measured prose often enough. More books like this are needed.

While I lived through this period as an adult, Pelosi pulls a narrative together that not only rings true to the times, it leaves out much partisan drivel a lesser writer might include. It brings focus on important events and legislation from her unique platform.

Some say Nancy Pelosi is a lightening rod in politics. What I say is she is a person with an accomplished life who wrote a book well worth reading.

Posted in book review | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Book Review: The Art of Power

Iowa Congressional Double-Talker Of The Year Award

Posted on August 15, 2024 by Trish Nelson

From the September 2024 edition of The Prairie Progressive, Iowa’s oldest progressive newsletter. The PP is  funded entirely by reader subscription, available in hard copy for $15/yr.  Send check to PP, Box 1945, Iowa City 52244. Click here for archived issues

Iowa Congressional Double-talker of the Year

by Tom Cook

Iowa 1st District Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks has received the 2024 Iowa Congressional Double-Talker of the Year Award.

A pool of ordinary, concerned Iowans has conscientiously reviewed the public and social media statements of all four of Iowa’s congressional representatives and unanimously concluded that Rep. Miller-Meeks deserves to be recognized for her persistent and skilled use of double-talk to convince her constituents that she represents their values and interests in the U.S. Congress. The fact that she is only now receiving this prestigious award, after three years in office, is a tribute to just how masterful her deception has been.

Rep. Ashley Hinson of the 2nd District, also a skilled double-talker, was a close second.  Randy Feenstra, who can say whatever he wants in the 4th district, came in third. Zach Nunn, who never says or does anything in the 3rd district, was fourth.

Here are just a few examples of the award-winning double-talk that earned this coveted recognition for Rep. Miller-Meeks.

RURAL HEALTH: “I met with the Iowa Rural Health Association to discuss ways that we can work to improve access and quality health care for rural Americans.”

BUT she voted against a bill that is funding 62 health projects in her district.

SAFETY: “I met with Warren, Mahaska, and Marion County law enforcement agencies to discuss the importance of making sure our local law enforcement agencies have the resources they need to do their jobs.”

BUT she voted against bills that are funding an ambulance and medical equipment in  Mahaska County; emergency response radios and upgrades to the jail, courthouse, and Law Enforcement Center in Marion County; and assistance to firefighters and support for the Justice Center and sheriff’s projects in Warren County.

INFRASTRUCTURE: “I met with Iowa county officials regarding the need for  infrastructure in southeast Iowa.”

BUT she voted against bills funding 148 transportation projects and over 300 other  projects intended to improve infrastructure in the district.

VETERANS: In her meeting with officials from the Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs. She posted, “I will continue to fight for these men and women every day in Congress.”

BUT in 2022 she initially voted against the Honoring our PACT (Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics) Act that expanded VA health care and benefits for veterans
exposed to burn pits, radiation, Agent Orange, and other toxic substances, a bill supported by eleven veterans service organizations.

DRUG PRICES: She says controlling prescription drug costs will “interfere with the doctor.”

BUT she voted against the Inflation Reduction Act to allow Medicare to negotiate drug prices, to establish a cap on out-of-pocket costs, and to lower healthcare premiums
for millions of Americans. She accepted $135,000 in donations from Big Pharm.

BORDER SECURITY: “I have visited the border multiple times and have spoken with law
enforcement about the need for increased border security…”

BUT, after months of negotiations in the Senate, Rep. Miller-Meeks and colleagues followed Donald Trump’s order and refused to even vote on the bipartisan package to secure the border.

REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM:  In 2021, she cosponsored the Life at Conception Act, legislation which would criminalize abortion entirely but would not allow the woman having the procedure to be prosecuted. When Roe v Wade was overturned, she issued a celebratory statement and said she would “continue to ensure women have access to affordable contraceptives.”

BUT the following month she voted against the Right to Contraception Act, a bill designed to safeguard the right to birth control. In the current legislative session, she has helped pass four anti-abortion bills. She has also renewed her support for legislation that would
include a national abortion ban, with no exceptions.

—Tom Cook is a University of Iowa professor emeritus of occupational and environmental health.

Posted in Blog for Iowa | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Iowa Congressional Double-Talker Of The Year Award

Lanon Baccam Iowa State Fair Soapbox Speech 2024

Posted on August 14, 2024 by Trish Nelson

Powerful speech by Lanon Baccam, Democrat running for congress in IA-03.  I hope you will give it a listen and support his campaign to defeat MAGA-R Zach Nunn.

Posted in Blog for Iowa | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Lanon Baccam Iowa State Fair Soapbox Speech 2024

State Legislatures Battlegrounds In Fight For Democracy

Posted on August 13, 2024 by Trish Nelson

Learn more about The States Project: statesproject.org/

-Sign up for free newsletters:
.democracydocket.com/youtu…

democracydocket.com/Iowa

Posted in Blog for Iowa | Tagged , | Comments Off on State Legislatures Battlegrounds In Fight For Democracy

Christina Bohannan Iowa State Fair Soapbox Speech 2024

Posted on August 12, 2024 by Trish Nelson


Christina Bohannan is a Democrat running for congress in IA-01.

“I will stand up for Iowa women. And I will say something to you right now that Mariannette Miller-Meeks will never say: When I am in congress I will vote to put Roe v. Wade back into federal law where it belongs.”

Posted in Blog for Iowa | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Christina Bohannan Iowa State Fair Soapbox Speech 2024