Watch & Comment Live: Democratic National Convention, Day 4

The Democratic National Convention is in full force, with speeches from party leaders, including President Joe Biden, Barack and Michelle Obama, Gov. Tim Walz, and more. The third night of the convention held the theme of "freedom" as Democrats slammed the GOP on issues of LGBTQ+ rights, reproductive rights, the book ban, and more.  

Tonight, Kamala Harris will accept her party's nomination to be the Democrat's presidential candidate with a closing speech. Tune in from 7-11 p.m. ET for the final night of the convention.

Highlights from Nights 2 and 3: 

Gov. and neighbor Tim Walz

• Gov. Tim Walz introduced himself to millions of Americans for the first time, delivering a tight speech focused on praising Kamala Harris and boosting his Midwestern background. Walz highlighted his many roles and titles, including schoolteacher, father, veteran, hunter, high school football coach, and neighbor. 

"That family down the road — they may not think like you do, they may not pray like you do, they may not love like you do, but they are your neighbors. You look out for them, and they look out for you...No matter who you are, Kamala Harris is going to stand up and fight for your freedom to live the life that you want to lead because that's what we want for ourselves."

Former presidents reflect

• Former President Bill Clinton, who has spoken at 13 consecutive DNCs, used his speech to emphasize the importance of a new generation in politics. He portrayed himself as a member of "Generation Old," ready to be led by Harris. He noted:

"Lord, I'm getting old. But here's what I want you to know — if you vote for this team, if you can get them elected and let them bring in this breath of fresh air, you will be proud of it for the rest of your life...The only personal vanity I want to assert is that I'm still younger than Donald Trump."

• The Obamas gave energizing speeches on Night 2 of the convention. Former President Barack Obama reminisced on his first convention in 2004, saying:

"I am feeling hopeful — because this convention has always been pretty good to kids with funny names who believe in a country where everything is possible."

• Michelle and Barack both took swipes at Trump, with the former President calling him "a 78-year-old billionaire who hasn't stopped whining about his problems since he rode down his golden escalator nine years ago." Michelle Obama laced into Trump during her speech with:

"For years, Donald Trump did everything in his power to try to make people fear us. His limited and narrow view of the world made him feel threatened by the existence of two hardworking, highly educated, successful people who also happened to be Black."

Second gentleman's speech

• Doug Emhoff, the second gentleman, focused his speech on his and Kamala's love story, giving voters a glimpse into their personal lives. Emhoff gave hopeful words to Democratic voters that Harris finds "joy in pursuing justice," "stands up to bullies," and knows how to take down Trump in November. 

Highlights from Night 1: 

Biden's speech

• Biden took the stage as the final speech of night one of the convention, delivering a reflective and encouraging address to the nation. He passed the torch of leadership to Kamala Harris, urging voters to elect the Harris-Walz team in November to protect American democracy. He said:

"With a grateful heart, I stand before you now on this August night to report that democracy has prevailed. Democracy had delivered, and now democracy must be preserved."

• Biden looked back on his decades of public service and his four years as president, reminding the audience that he took office just two weeks after the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, and during the first year of the pandemic. He told the audience that besides the troubles and tribulations, he was filled with appreciation for the tens of millions of Americans who have voted for him over the years. 

"I hope you know how grateful I am to you all...I made a lot of mistakes in my career, but I gave my best to you. For 50 years, like many of you, I gave my heart and soul to our nation, and I've been blessed a million times in return with the support of the American people...I love the job, but I love my country more."

Harris and Hillary take the stage

• Harris had an unexpected appearance last night to thank Biden for a "lifetime of service to our nation." Harris told delegates:

"Let us fight for the ideals we hold dear, and let us always remember: When we fight, we win."

• Hillary Clinton took the stage after Harris, expressing support for the vice president and telling Democrats that the "future is here." Clinton's presence was monumental, as she was the first woman to secure a major party nomination for president. 

Emphasis on equal rights

• Advocates for abortion rights, civil rights, and worker rights spoke at various points, sharing personal stories and encouraging words for the crowd.
• Abortion rights activists Amanda Zurawski, Kaitlyn Joshua, and Hadley Duvall spoke of the hardships of a post-Roe v. Wade America, emphasizing how harmful a second Trump term would be to abortion rights. 
• President of the United Automobile Workers Union, Shawn Fain, endorsed Harris during his speech, underscoring her commitment to workers and proclaiming, "Trump's a scab." Civil rights leader Jaime Harrison, who is also head of the Democratic National Convention, stressed how Harris is making history by being the first female person of color to accept the Democratic nomination. Harrison opened the night by saying:

"Black convention chair and a Black D.N.C. chair lead us in nominating a Black and A.A.P.I. woman to be the next president."

And, check in to our Election Updates to see what's happening in the polls, behind the scene of the presidential campaigns, and more.