Scranton’s Last Stand

The turnaround in the Democratic party, both political and emotional, has been nothing short of remarkable. But the feelings on the first night of the DNC will be decidedly mixed for the the man who will deliver the evening’s keynote. “The sheer drama of Monday’s speech by President Joe Biden, following his decision to step aside and cede the nomination to Vice President Kamala Harris after weeks of mounting pressure, will be unlike anything ever seen. His party is electric with a sense of possibility and hope. The ticket is climbing ahead in the polls. At any other convention in history, it’d be a triumphant moment for the president. But every cheer Biden hears, every smile he sees, every fist raised in celebration will express enthusiasm for a political future without him.” The Agony and the Ecstasy of Joe Biden’s Convention Speech.

+ I imagine the ovation for Biden is going to be loud and long. One person who will be dreading that moment is showing increased signs of desperation today. Donald Trump Posts Fake Taylor Swift Endorsement Generated by AI: ‘I Accept!’ (He’s basically taunting Taylor into endorsing Kamala. Not a Swift move.)

+ Zoom raises its simultaneous viewer cap to 1 million after massive fundraising calls.

+ Another key story from Chicago will be the Gaza-related protests outside the convention hall. There’s a certain irony to this since Biden has clearly made a ceasefire the core goal of the final days of his presidency, and at the moment, it’s Hamas that is refusing to agree to the deal. Maybe someone should protest them. Blinken says Israel agrees to a U.S.-backed proposal for a cease-fire and calls on Hamas to do same.