On Thursday, Vice President Kamala Harris will officially be nominated as the Democratic presidential candidate. Following a week filled with Democratic National Committee celebrations in Chicago, voters will see the final options solidified as the 2024 election gains momentum heading towards November.

The events on Thursday occur just after Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz accepted his vice presidential nomination alongside Harris the previous night, capping off a busy week filled with campaigning from both Republicans and Democrats.

With just 75 days remaining until Election Day, YSL News Opinion columnists are eagerly discussing the changes on the Democratic ticket. We’ll provide live insights and analysis along with comprehensive coverage from the convention at the United Center.

Gen Z is here, and the DNC acknowledges it

Generation Z has been a hot topic at the DNC, and for good reason: Kamala Harris has devoted significant time addressing our generation directly.

Mariah Cooley, a former intern at the White House, shares that she has witnessed Harris’ commitment to our generation up close.

“There’s a strong focus on getting us mobilized and encouraging us to vote,” says Cooley, who now serves on the board of March For Our Lives.

This is crucial for Generation Z, which ranges from those born between 1997 and 2012. Now, the attendees in this group are actively working to inspire their peers to engage.

In 2022, Olivia Julianna became an internet sensation after creatively using a Matt Gaetz insult to raise $2 million for reproductive rights. On Wednesday, she addressed the crowd at the DNC, speaking directly to Gen Z viewers.

“The only way we will be heard is if we vote,” Julianna declared.

This is the right mindset to adopt.

— Sara Pequeño, YSL News

Ann Coulter mocks Gus Walz for crying during his dad’s speech. Typical for bullies.

Gus Walz is a proud son.

This was evident to anyone watching, regardless of their political affiliation, as he wept during his father Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz’s acceptance speech for the Democratic vice presidential nomination on Wednesday night.

Gus’s ADHD, anxiety disorder, and nonverbal learning disorder should not be relevant here.

His age of just 17 shouldn’t matter either.

What matters is that Gus was showing his admiration for his father and was not afraid to display it.

It was a touching moment.

Conservative commentator Ann Coulter, however, found it “odd.”

That was the term she used after witnessing a moment that many others found endearing.

Without hesitation, she reacted.

Coulter tweeted, “Talk about weird ”

Though she deleted the post shortly after, it was captured in screenshots. It’s disappointing to see such a low blow. Read the full column.

— Amelia Robinson, The Columbus Dispatch

The most powerful voice at the DNC is the one absent from the stage: Palestinian Americans.

On the third night of the Democratic National Convention, emotions ran high as Rachel Goldberg-Polin and Jon Polin, the parents of Israeli American hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin, who has been held captive in Gaza since the Hamas assault on Israel on October 7, addressed the crowd.

It’s a situation no one would wish to be in.

Yet as the DNC reaches its closing day, many attendees are questioning, “Where are the Palestinian American voices?” Where are the healthcare workers who stepped up to help in Gaza and treated infants wounded by conflict? Where are the parents of lost or missing Palestinian children? Why is the Democratic Party not allowing their stories to be shared as well? Are they not parents, too?

Despite all the uplifting messages of hope, integrity, and good behavior we’ve heard throughout the week at the convention, I am left wondering: Where is the compassion of the Democratic Party?

With the presidential race tightening, Democrats need to engage progressives, as well as Arab and Muslim communities to ensure success in November.

Ignoring the voices of the Palestinian American community won’t garner the crucial independent votes, nor will it appeal to progressive, Muslim, or Arab voters.

In fact, it might cost them the election.

— Carli Pierson, YSL News

Someone should remind Tim Walz to mind his own business

Tim Walz tries to portray himself as a typical Midwestern dad advocating for people to “mind your own damn business.”

This is directed at both pro-lifers and those who oppose allowing minors to transition genders, but conservatives have also used similar sentiments regarding lockdown measures, which Walz notably enforced as the governor of Minnesota.

Back in 2020, Walz set up a hotline for citizens to report neighbors not adhering to lockdown regulations. So where was his call for people to “mind their own damn business” then?

In truth, the current Democratic administration seems to intrude on personal freedoms more than any other, often limiting rights such as the ownership of firearms and implementing price controls that affect how Americans conduct their businesses. Walz has even shown contempt for free speech under the pretext of combating “misinformation” and “hate speech.”

The Democratic Party could genuinely be about “minding your own business” if they ceased their attempts to involve the government in every facet of our lives, allowing individuals to be free to make their own choices.

— Dace Potas, YSL News

Tim Walz brought the energy Democrats needed

Tim Walz delivered an electrifying performance on Wednesday night. He introduced himself to the nation, labeled Republicans as “weird” on a prominent platform, and addressed key issues that Democrats are prioritizing this election cycle. What caught my attention most was how much Walz reflects the values of the small town I grew up in and the vision of America we aspire to be. “That family down the street — they may think differently, pray differently, or love differently than you, but they are still your neighbors,” Walz expressed in his acceptance address.

That’s the sort of enthusiasm I have been yearning to see from the Democratic Party — and it certainly seems to have resonated with the national audience.

— Sara Pequeño, YSL News

Trump’s plan for live commentary on Harris’s speech excites me

On the concluding night of the Democratic National Convention, GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump plans to continue with his unconventional approach, providing a “LIVE PLAY BY PLAY on TRUTH Social of Comrade Kamala Harris’ Speech tonight.”

If you’re unfamiliar with Truth Social, you’re not alone. It’s the social media platform Trump established, which has seen a decline in stock value and lacks a substantial user base.

Whereas Facebook and what used to be Twitter can be seen as our digital gathering place, Truth Social resembles a back alley filled with rats, hosting questionable interactions.

Throughout the week, as the DNC has thrived on enthusiasm and star appearances, Trump has attempted to shift focus during his campaign events. Yet, these have often turned into low-energy speeches where he meanders through the main messaging of his campaign.

On Thursday, he appears to be trying a new strategy — sitting at home typing out angry posts as he watches Harris accept the Democratic nomination in Chicago.

To give you an idea of what to expect, here’s a snippet of what Trump tweeted about Harris earlier: “UNDER COMRADE KAMALA, AMERICA WILL BE THE MOST DANGEROUS COUNTRY ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD. IT WILL REVERT TO THIRD WORLD STATUS VERY QUICKLY!”

So, we can likely anticipate his usual style of sharp commentary come Thursday night.

Perhaps he just needs to vent through social media to get through it.

— Rex Huppke, YSL News

Billionaires for Harris: Wealthy Democrats guide us on how to vote

The Democratic National Convention, while claiming to represent the “everyman,” has showcased numerous Hollywood celebrities and affluent elites urging regular Americans to back a ticket that may not prioritize the well-being of many voters.

Oprah Winfrey, with a net worth of $3 billion, had the audacity to address the audience.

During Wednesday evening’s convention, she shared her experiences of hardship.

“I have witnessed racism, sexism, income inequality, and division,” stated Winfrey, who was raised in poverty and suffered sexual abuse as a child. “Not only have I seen these issues; at times, I have personally endured them.”

The iconic television figure proceeded to encourage independent voters to support Kamala Harris, despite her tax policies which may negatively impact a significant number of Americans. Such a message seems questionable coming from a billionaire.

However, Oprah is not the only one delivering mixed messages.

Former First Lady Michelle Obama delivered a compelling speech on Tuesday, reflecting on her late mother’s influence.

“My parents did not aspire to wealth − in fact, they were wary of those who took more than they needed,” Obama remarked. “They realized that it was insufficient for their children to thrive while everyone around them struggled.”

While I have no doubt that reflected her upbringing, it feels ironic considering she and her husband, former President Barack Obama, now have a combined net worth of $70 million, including several luxurious homes.

It’s blatantly hypocritical to see affluent celebrities like Oprah, John Legend, Stevie Wonder, and Mark Hamill championing Democratic policies that could harm the financial welfare of ordinary Americans. It is disingenuous, at best.

Oprah and the Obamas have a shared narrative: they embody the ultimate success of the American dream.

Yet, as they urge Americans to support Harris, they overlook that they are backing a candidate whose initiatives may not uplift those striving for success like they did.

— Nicole Russell, YSL News

Winning an election requires a coalition. That’s why we heard from Barack Obama and Bill Clinton

In America, presidential candidates cannot rely solely on support from their party; they need a diverse group of voters backing them. Former presidents are keenly aware of this fact.

Consequently, the speeches from President Barack Obama on Tuesday and President Bill Clinton on Wednesday shone not just for their enthusiastic reception in a Chicago arena but for their deliberate outreach to potential voters who were absent yet might have been listening.

This outreach is especially critical now for Vice President Kamala Harris as she seeks the presidency, particularly with reports of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. potentially ending his independent run on Friday.

Kennedy is notably recognized — although often controversially — as the most prominent third-party candidate for disillusioned voters seeking alternatives in November’s election.

Obama encouraged the enthusiastic audience to identify their “blind spots, contradictions, and biases” while trying to persuade undecided voters to support Harris.

“Our fellow citizens deserve the same respect and kindness that we hope they will extend to us,” he expressed.

Clinton urged the audience to honor individuals with differing perspectives as he aimed to connect with them on why they back Harris.

“I encourage you to meet individuals where they are,” he stated. “Show them respect, and feel free to express your disagreements without disrespecting them. Treat them as you wish to be treated.”

This consistent messaging from the two former presidents is not a coincidence. It reflects the Harris campaign’s desire to open up a “big tent” party, welcoming support from voters who are apprehensive about another presidential term for Donald Trump.

— Chris Brennan, YSL News