First ladies Barack and Michelle Obama lit up the Democratic National Convention on Tuesday, delivering back-to-back speeches that delivered a thoroughly scathing critique of Donald Trump and urged the public to reject the Republican nominee once and for all.
Here are some highlights from Day 2 of the DNC.
“Kids with funny names”: Twenty years after Barack Obama burst onto the political scene by speaking at the 2004 Democratic National Convention, he delivered his closing address. “This convention has always been so good for kids with funny names who believe in a country where anything is possible,” Obama said. The 44th president made many references to his campaign, including the slogan “Yes we can,” once commonly heard at Obama rallies, but now resurrected as “Yes she can.”
‘Hope is back’: Few people have captured the hearts of Democrats more than Michelle Obama, who was greeted with the loudest and longest applause when she took the stage in her hometown. “Hope is back,” she said of Harris’ candidacy, echoing the theme of her husband’s 2008 presidential campaign. “My beloved Kamala Harris is more than ready for this moment,” she said. “She is one of the most qualified and most commanding people to seek the presidency.”

Warning against ‘stupidity’: Michelle Obama urged her audience not to lose sight of the goal. She told Democrats to avoid the “stupidity” of waiting until they are asked to act, and made a personal appeal to them to “do something” between now and Election Day. “Yes, Kamala and Tim are doing great right now. We’re so happy. They’re filling arenas all over the country. People are fired up. We’re feeling good,” she said. “But let’s not forget, there are still a lot of people desperately hoping for a different outcome.”
Emhoff introduces “Momala”: The second gentleman tried to give America a more personal side of his wife, telling the story of how the two met and how she became “Momala” to their two children. But Emhoff’s speech wasn’t just about anecdotes. He also described Harris as tough. “The thing about a jolly warrior is that she’s still a warrior, and Kamala is as tough as it gets,” he said.
Republican speakers endorse Harris: Democrats weren’t just trying to appeal to their own party. Throughout the night at the DNC, former Republicans took to the stage to urge independents and Trump critics to vote for Harris, including Mesa, Arizona, Mayor John Giles, former Trump adviser Stephanie Grisham and Kyle Sweetser, a Nikki Haley supporter who plans to vote for Harris.
“VP Harris, Governor Waltz”: The convention’s traditional roll call was replaced with an hour-long primetime mashup of state-specific songs by DJ Cassidy while state representatives gave speeches and voted for their delegates. Songs included songs by musicians synonymous with each state, including Eminem (Michigan), Prince (Minnesota), Bruce Springsteen (New Jersey), Jay-Z and Alicia Keys (New York), and Petey Pablo (North Carolina).
Georgia stole the show. Lil Jon rapped “Turn Down for What” to get the party started. Then, as the track “Get Low” began, Lil Jon changed the lyrics a bit. “Up to the windows, up to the walls” became “Vice President Harris, Governor Waltz.” The video ended with a live cut from the Democrats’ roll call to Harris and Waltz taking the stage in Milwaukee, where they held a rally that night.
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