'Here & Now' from the 2024 DNC in Chicago: Day Two

Frederica Freyberg:
You’re watching Democratic National Convention coverage from Chicago. I’m Frederica Freyberg. We’ll stay with News Hour coverage, but we want to check in now with Here & Now’s senior political reporter, Zac Schultz, who comes to us from Chicago. And, hi Zac. We know that tonight, coming up, we will hear from Michelle Obama and former President Barack Obama. But you are covering all manner of Wisconsin down there in Chicago. What can you tell us?

Zac Schultz:
Well, this morning the Wisconsin delegation at their official breakfast proceedings heard from a few more celebrities from the Democratic Party from around the country. Arizona Senator Mark Kelly came in, and Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear came in. And they will be speaking throughout the week from the podium in the main stage. But one of the highlights for everyone was hearing from their own, Congresswoman Gwen Moore, who represents Milwaukee in the Fourth Congressional. And one of the things that she was talking about is the importance for Democrats to focus on what Harris’, Kamala Harris’ agenda actually means for real people. And she said that they need to center that around what it means for families and for women. And here’s what she had to say about that.

U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore:
We have got to call it what it is. It’s a family centered economy that focuses on providing child care so that women can work. Focuses on expanding education, pre-K. Paid family leave. Restoring the child tax credit. Sounds to me y’all like a very feminine centered, family oriented agenda.

Frederica Freyberg:
So after meeting with delegates there in Chicago this morning, Gwen Moore zipped back up to Milwaukee to be at the Kamala Harris-Tim Walz rally that is happening at the Fiserv. But on the ground there in Chicago, Zac, there were pro-Palestinian protests, but not on the massive scale projected. Is that right?

Zac Schultz:
Yeah, that’s right. We had heard, coming into the convention, there could be up to 20,000 protestors. We saw very large police presence yesterday at the First Amendment zone where the protestors were to assemble. There were some clashes and interactions between protestors and police, tearing down some barriers. They definitely blocked traffic and made things more difficult for delegates to get in and buses to come through. But nothing of the sort that really impacted inside the building too much. The question is, what happens throughout the rest of the week? Do these protests continue, do they grow? And what happens from the floor on Thursday when Kamala Harris makes her acceptance speech? Are there disruptions there as well? That’s some of the things we’re watching.

Frederica Freyberg:
OK. Well we appreciate you being there, Zac, and filling us in. Thanks so much. We will be here at the same time tomorrow night with latest updates from day three of the DNC in Chicago. And on Friday, join Here & Now at 7 for a special one-hour program on the convention, and what it means for Wisconsin.