BROADCASTING AND BY CONTRIBUTIONS TO YOUR PBS STATION FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU, THANK YOUS.

HELLO AND THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR OUR SPECIAL CHICAGO TONIGHT.

COVERAGE OF THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL BRANDIS FRIEDMAN DAY 2 OF THE CONVENTION GOT OFF TO AN ENERGETIC START WITH A RAUCOUS ROLL CALL.

THEN ILLINOIS DEMOCRATS TOOK CENTER STAGE WITH GOVERNOR JB PRITZKER AND SENATOR TAMMY DUCKWORTH IN PRIMETIME SPOTS.

ALL CULMINATING WITH THE FORMER FIRST COUPLE, BARACK AND MICHELLE OBAMA CAPPING OFF THE NIGHT.

BARACK OBAMA SPEECH CAME 20 YEARS AFTER HIS FATAL 2004 KEYNOTE SPEECH IN 16 YEARS AFTER ACCEPTING THE NOMINATION FOR HIS FIRST PRESIDENTIAL BID.

OUR OWN NIC LUMBERED WAS THERE.

NIC, WHAT IS IT LIKE IN THE UNITED CENTER TONIGHT?

BESIDES LOUD?

A FORMER PRESIDENT, LAST NIGHT, OBAMA SAID THE TORCH HAS BEEN PASSED.

IT IS UP TO ALL OF FOR THE AMERICA WE BELIEVE IN.

AND MAKE NO MISTAKE, IT WILL BE A FIGHT.

ALL THE INCREDIBLE ENERGY WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO GENERATE OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS FOR ALL THE ROLE IS IN THE MEMES.

THIS WILL STILL BE A TIGHT RACE.

IN A CLOSELY DIVIDED COUNTRY.

THE PEOPLE WHO WILL DECIDE THIS ELECTION.

ARE ASKING A VERY SIMPLE QUESTION.

WHO WILL FIGHT FOR GRAZE ON VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS SAYING SHE UNDERSTANDS THE GETTING IN A THOSE WHO HE IS.

AND HE KNOWS WHAT'S IMPORTANT.

YOU CAN TELL THOSE THOSE FLANNEL SHIRT HE WEARS DON'T COME FROM SOME POLITICAL CAN.

THEY COME FROM HIS CLOSET.

THROUGH SOME STUFF.

SHE ALSO NOTED THIS IS THE FIRST TIME SHE'S BACK IN AREA FOR AMERICANS TO SHE UNDERSTANDS THAT MOST OF US WILL NEVER BE AFFORDED THE GRACE OF FAILING FORWARD.

WE WILL NEVER BENEFIT FROM THE AFFIRMATIVE ACTION OF GENERATIONAL WEALTH.

BUSINESS SHOWED IN A CRISIS.

WE DON'T GET A SECOND 3RD OR 4TH CHANCE.

POLITICS NOW AND BACK TO YOU.

ALL THANKS.

WE'LL CHECK IN WITH YOU LATER ON IN THE PROGRAM FOR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS.

AS YOU SAID.

BUT NOW WE GO TO AMANDA VICKI, WHO WAS ALSO INSIDE UNITED CENTER WHERE SHE'S BEEN COVERING TONIGHT'S EVENTS.

AMANDA.

YES, BRAND AS HEADING INTO THE NIGHT, VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS WAS ALREADY DEMOCRATS.

PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE.

THE PARTY HAD DONE EARLY TO AVOID ANY POTENTIAL LEGAL RISK WITH MAKING IT OFFICIAL.

BUT TONIGHT THEY DID THE TRADITIONAL ROLL CALL.

THEY MIX IT UP A LITTLE BIT, THOUGH, WITH A DJ.

LITERALLY PLANE STATE SPECIFIC TUNES, FITTINGLY FOR AN EVENT HERE AT THE UNITED CENTER, ILLINOIS WAS INTRODUCED WITH THE SAME SONG THAT THE CHAMPIONSHIP CHICAGO BULLS WERE BACK IN THE 90'S.

AND 76 VOTES FOR PRESIDENT IF YOU'RE A JUROR, MADAM PRESIDENT.

GOVERNOR JB PRITZKER MADE IT ONTO THE BIG SCREEN THEN.

BUT HE'S AT TRUE MOMENT WAS A PRIME TIME SPEECH JUST AFTER 8.30, THIS EVENING.

HE BEGAN BY WELCOMING HIS FELLOW DEMOCRATS TO CHICAGO AND THEN HE TOUCHED ON ILLINOIS'S CONNECTIONS TO FORMER PRESIDENTS ABRAHAM LINCOLN AND BARACK OBAMA.

RESIDENTIAL PEDIGREE IS UNMATCHED.

AND GIVEN THE VICE PRESIDENT, KAMALA HARRIS SPENT SOME OF HER EARLY LIFE.

I SPEAK FOR THE ENTIRE ILLINOIS DELEGATION.

IT IS.

I TALKED THE GOVERNOR ON FRIDAY AND HIS SPEECH WAS REALLY ALREADY PREPARED.

THEN HE WAS JUST FINE TUNING IT.

HE SAID THAT HE WANTED TO FOCUS ON BRAGGING ABOUT ILLINOIS.

SO CHECK THERE.

BUT HE SAID HE ALSO WANTED TO FOCUS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF ELECTING HARRIS.

WE HAVE A CHOICE.

AMERICA BETWEEN THE MAN WHO LEFT OUR COUNTRY, A TOTAL MASS AND THE WOMAN WHO HAS SPENT 4 YEARS CLEANING IT UP.

I THINK IT'S TIME WE STOP EXPECTING WOMEN TO CLEAN UP MESSES WITHOUT THE AUTHORITY AND THE TITLE TO MATCH AND HE WANTED TO FOCUS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF BEATING TRUMP.

HE CALLED THE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE WEIRD, DANGEROUS AND CRUEL.

THINKS THAT WE SHOULD TRUST HIM ON THE ECONOMY BECAUSE HE CLAIMS TO BE VERY RICH.

BUT TAKE IT FROM AN ACTUAL BILLIONAIRE.

STUPIDITY.

PRITZKER IS A TOSSING THAT CASH AROUND.

HE HAS IN ORDER TO WIN THE OFFICE OF GOVERNOR.

BUT NOW MORE RECENTLY, HE'S AMONG THOSE WHO CONTRIBUTED 95 MILLION DOLLARS TO HELP PUT ON THIS CONVENTION.

WHEN I SPOKE WITH THE GOVERNOR, I ASKED HIM REPEATEDLY, HOW MUCH DID DONATE TO THE DNC CARS?

AND HE DIDN'T WANT TO SAY JUST THAT.

HE WAS NOT A TOP DONOR AND HE BELIEVES THAT HAVING THE DNC IN THE CITY IS GOING TO BRING A LOT OF ECONOMIC BENEFIT TO CHICAGO AND TO ILLINOIS.

ALSO THE GOVERNOR GOING TO BE PAYING TO THROUGH A PRIVATE CONCERT SHOULD BE GETTING STARTED ANY TIME NOW THAT DNC HAS ADJOURNED FOR THE NIGHT HE'LL BE PAYING TO BRING IN JOHN LEGEND, GRAMMY AWARD-WINNING ARTIST TO CHICAGO.

SALT SHED PRITZKER SAYING THAT HE EXPECTS ABOUT 1000 PEOPLE TO ATTEND.

WHEN I ASKED HIM WHY JOHN LEGEND, HE TOSSED THE QUESTION BACK TO ME AND SAID WHO DOESN'T LIKE JOHN LEGEND'S MUSIC.

BUT PRITZKER SAYS ALSO BECAUSE LEGEND BELIEVES IN THE DEMOCRATIC CAUSE.

FRIEND US OVER TO ALL AND IT SOUNDS LIKE FUN FOR THE FOLKS WHO ARE GOING.

WE'LL CHECK IN WITH YOU AGAIN LATER ON IN THE PROGRAM.

BUT FIRST, NOW SOME REACTION TO HOW DEMOCRATS FARED ON NIGHT 2 OF THEIR CONVENTION.

WE'RE JOINED AGAIN BY KAREN FREEMAN.

WILSON, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE CHICAGO URBAN LEAGUE.

AND SHE'S THE FORMER MAYOR OF GARY, INDIANA AND RICHARD PORTER, A CHICAGO ATTORNEY WHO WAS A MEMBER OF THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE FROM 2014 UNTIL LAST MONTH.

SO 10 YEARS BECAUSE MATH, THANKS AGAIN TO BOTH OF YOU FOR STICKING WITH US.

SO UP FIRST, LET'S GET YOUR REACTION TO WHAT YOU HEARD THIS EVENING AND WHAT STOOD OUT TO YOU.

RICHARD PORTER, LET'S START WITH YOU, PLEASE.

WELL, I WAS REALLY STRUCK BY HOW THE RHETORIC WAS COMING FROM THE HEART OF AMERICAN CULTURE.

AND IT WAS VERY I THINK MAINSTREAM.

BUT THE SAME TIME DISCORDANT WITH THE POLICIES THAT THE ADMINISTRATION BEEN PURSUING OVER THE LAST 4 YEARS, WHICH IS REALLY STABBED AMERICAN THE BACK WITH THE OPEN BORDERS, KIND OF THE LACKS CRIMINAL ENFORCEMENT AND THEN ALSO MAKING US MORE UNSAFE.

YOU THINK ABOUT THINGS LIKE HOW WE WITHDREW FROM AFGHANISTAN.

YOU KNOW, WE CAN MAKE WEAKENING IN THE ON THE WORLD STAGE.

AND SO TO ME, THERE'S A REAL DISCONNECT BETWEEN THE 2 IN THE OTHER THING.

KNOW IT IS THAT THE ADMINISTRATION SPENT ALMOST A TRILLION DOLLARS ON THE GREEN NEW DEAL.

AND THERE'S ONLY ONE MENTION OF THAT IN PASSING BY ANY OF THE SPEAKERS TONIGHT.

AND I THINK SHOWS BECAUSE THAT WAS A POLICY THAT DIDN'T WORK AND IT WAS WRONG FOR AMERICA TRYING TO FORCE PEOPLE OUT OF THEIR CARS AND INTO ELECTRIC CARS HERE FROM WILSON.

I THOUGHT IT WAS REALLY SIGNIFICANT THAT WE HEARD ABOUT A JOYFUL WARRIOR FROM THE PERSON WHO PROBABLY KNOWS HER THE BEST.

HER HUSBAND.

I ALSO THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT WE HEARD FROM 2 VERY TRUSTED AMERICANS.

PRESIDENT BARACK AND MICHELLE FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA.

THEY TALKED ABOUT NOT ONLY THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF WHO KAMALA HARRIS, HE IS BECAUSE THAT'S IMPORTANT TO DEFINE THIS WEEK.

BUT THEY ALSO TALKED ABOUT WHAT THIS COUNTRY NEEDED AND WHAT WE NEED TO DO AS AMERICANS AS THOSE LOVE THIS COUNTRY AND WHO LOVE FOR, YOU PHILIP, WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT THE ROLL CALL.

BECAUSE IT WAS INTERESTING.

WHAT WERE YOUR OH, MY GOODNESS.

LOW ON THE ROLL.

RISING.

YEAH, NO.

IT WAS LIVELY.

IT WAS INSPIRING OR INSPIRATIONAL.

AND I THOUGHT THE NUMBER OF WOMEN, THE NUMBER OF FIRST LADY SHACKLE FORD IS AN EXAMPLE AND OTHER WOMEN WHO WERE IN THEIR ROLL CALL IN THE ROLE CALL JUST THEIR STATES PARTICIPATING.

I THOUGHT IT WAS REALLY SIGNIFICANT RICHARD PORTER, YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE ROLL CALL?

I WAS A WASTE OF TIMES.

I WAS GLAD TO SEE HIM DO IT.

I MEAN, IT WAS IT WAS FUN FOR JUNKIES, RIGHT?

AND SO I GOT A KICK OUT OF THAT.

I THINK THEY DID A NICE BIT OF COLOR AROUND IT.

YOU KNOW, WITH ALL THE MUSIC AND KNOW THAT SO IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO IT, THEY DID WELL TO AD.

DO NOT THINK MAYBE IT WAS A SORT OF I MEAN, FUN FOR THE JUNKIES, RIGHT?

LIKE THE 3 OF US AND WATCH IT AND OTHERS LIKE US.

I THINK MAYBE IT WAS A WAY TO PULL IN PEOPLE WHO MIGHT NOT FIND A POLITICAL CONVENTION, VERY ENTERTAINING INTERESTING.

I DON'T THINK SO BECAUSE I THINK PEOPLE ARE TUNING IN.

THEY WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT KAMALA HARRIS.

AGAIN, I THINK SO MUCH AND IS GEARED TOWARD THE BASE.

I THINK THE SPEECH IS TOWARD THE END.

DOUG EMHOFF SPEECH WAS PARTICULARLY EFFECTIVE AND SHOW OBAMA WITH JUST ROCKED THE HOUSE.

BUT AGAIN, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, IT WAS JUST SO DISCONNECTED FROM THE REALITY OF HOW THE DEMOCRATS GOVERN.

ALL RIGHT.

THE MAIN QUESTION AMERICANS ARE GOING SIDE ON THIS FALL IS ARE YOU BETTER OFF TODAY THAN YOU WERE 4 YEARS AGO?

ARE YOU SAFER TODAY THAN YOU WERE 4 YEARS AGO?

AND I THINK THAT THAT THE ANSWER TO THAT IS THINK THAT'S WHY DONALD TRUMP WILL COME THROUGH IN THIS ELECTION.

MORE TO COME IN A LITTLE THE 2 OF YOU IN SPOTLIGHT POLITICS WITH THE REST OF THE TEAM, BUT THANKS TO RICHARD PORTER AND KAREN FREEMAN.

WILSON.

NOW WE'RE GOING GO BACK INSIDE THE UNITED CENTER, ARM AND A VICKI WHO IS WITH ONE OF THE STATES, TOP LEADERS, HIM DREA PRESIDENT OF THE ILLINOIS AFL CIO.

YES, THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

TIM TREY, I WANT TO TALK TO YOU FIRST ABOUT JUST THE UNION VOTE.

THERE'S A LOT OF TALK ABOUT IT'S UP FOR GRABS THIS ELECTION WE HAD AFTER ALL AT THE REPUBLICANS CONVENTION IN MILWAUKEE, THE PRESIDENT OF THE TEAMSTERS UNION.

HOW UP FOR GRABS IS RANK AND FILE.

YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, VOTERS REALLY ALWAYS UP FOR GRABS IN.

AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO EDUCATE UNION MEMBERS ABOUT THE ISSUES OF WHAT'S GOING ON OUT THERE WITH YOU KNOW, JUST LAY THE ISSUES OUT AND LET PEOPLE DECIDE WHAT THEY WANT TO JUST WE DON'T TELL ANYBODY HOW TO VOTE.

WE GOT SAY HERE ARE THE ISSUES THAT ECONOMIC WHAT DO YOU THINK WHAT MEANS?

KNOW, WHAT IS IT?

IS IT IS IT THE ECONOMY?

WHAT ISN'T PRESIDENT TRUMP AND A MESSAGE THAT HE HAS?

IT'S RESONATING WITH SOME OF YOUR MEMBERS.

I'M YOU KNOW, I THINK A LOT OF TIMES ECONOMY AND SOCIAL ISSUES SINCE, YOU KNOW, GUNS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO, YOU KNOW, ILLINOIS WERE 900,000 MEMBERS.

WE'RE GONNA HAVE A LOT OF 900,000 DIFFERENT OPINIONS.

SO WE'RE TRYING YOU KNOW, JUST WE JUST CONCENTRATE ON THE ECONOMIC WAGES, HEALTHCARE, PENSION, SO IS SHARE FOR THOSE YEAR HERE AT THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION.

A LOT OF UNION LEADERS ARE SPONSORS.

I TALKED EARLIER ABOUT GOVERNOR PRITZKER DONATING TO THE DNC AND A LOT OF UNIONS HAVE YET TO GET AS WELL.

WHY WHAT IS IT ABOUT POLICIES?

YEAH, NOW IT'S VERY, VERY IMPORTANT.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, WE REALLY CONCENTRATE ON PUTTING PEOPLE TO WORK PREVAILING WAGES, MAKING SURE PEOPLE HAVE AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE, MAKING SURE THEY HAVE A PENSION AND, YOU KNOW, MOST IMPORTANTLY, WHAT WE DO IS SOMEBODY LEAVES FOR SHIFT IN THE MORNING.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY RETURN HOME AT NIGHT.

WE THINK THAT BIDEN-HARRIS ADMINISTRATION LAYS OUT THE BEST RECORD FOR THAT.

I WAS WONDERING IF YOU COULD BRIEFLY ADDRESS WE HAD THE PRESIDENT OF THE UAW SPEAK THE DNC LAST EVENING.

WERE THIS TRUMP IS A SCAM SHIRT BUT ALSO TALKED ABOUT A PLANT IN ILLINOIS THAT SET TO RECEIVE BOTH FEDERAL AND STATE FUNDING TALKING ABOUT A POSSIBILITY OF A STRIKE WERE USED ON.

WELL, WE WOULD WANT TO SEE THAT THAT THE PROMISES MADE ARE PROMISES, CAPTAIN, IF THEY AGREED TO IN THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT, THEY NEED TO LIVE UP TO TO THEIR PROMISE.

SO THIS IS AGAIN, THE STELLANTIS PLANT IN BELVIDERE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

ONCE CAN'T IS PRESIDENT OF ILLINOIS ZANKEL CO TO THANK THANKS, AMANDA.

AND AFTER THE BREAK, OUR WHOLE TEAM IS BACK WITH MORE TAKEAWAYS FROM NIGHT.

2 OF THE DNC DON'T GO ANYWHERE.

IN CHICAGO TONIGHT IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART WHY THE ALEXANDER AND JOHN NICHOLS FAMILY.

THE GYM AND TAY MAYBE FAMILY.

THE POPE BROTHERS FOUNDATION.

AND THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

AND JOINING US ONCE AGAIN IS OUR SPOTLIGHT.

POLITICS BEEN A KEY.

HEATHER SHARON AND NICK LUMBERED ALONG WITH OUR STUDIO GUEST, CHICAGO URBAN LEAGUE PRESIDENT KAREN FREEMAN.

WILSON AND FORMER REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEEMAN FROM ILLINOIS, RICHARD PORTER.

THANKS, EVERYBODY FOR STICKING AROUND.

SO HEATHER, LET'S START WITH YOU, PLEASE OF THE PROTESTS BECAUSE PROTESTERS AND POLICE, THEY CLASHED OUTSIDE THE ISRAELI CONSULATE ABOUT A MILE FROM THE UNITED CENTER.

WHAT HAPPENED THERE?

WELL, THIS WAS A PROTEST THAT WAS NOT PERMITTED BY THE CITY AND IT WAS A GROUP THAT'S BEEN CALLING ITSELF BEHIND ENEMY LINES AND THEY SAY THEY WANTED TO TAKE THE FIGHT THAT IS HAPPENING IN GAZA TO THE STREETS OF CHICAGO.

BUT THE POLICE BLOCKED THEM FROM MOVING WHEN THAT HAPPENED.

SEVERAL SCUFFLES ERUPTED.

SEVERAL DOZEN PEOPLE WERE ARRESTED, PERHAPS AS MANY AS 5 DOZEN.

THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN TAKEN TO BELMONT AND WESTERN WHERE A SPECIAL COURT ROOM HAS BEEN SET UP TO PROCESS THOSE ARREST QUICKLY.

SO WE WILL KNOW MORE IN THE MORNING AND WE WILL HAVE A STORY ON OUR WEBSITE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

IT DOES NOT SEEM AS IF THERE WERE SERIOUS INJURIES AND WE WERE ABLE TO HEAR CHICAGO POLICE SUPERINTENDENT LARRY SNELLING WHO WAS PRESENT DURING THE INCIDENT, PRAISING HIS OFFICERS FOR THEIR RESTRAINT.

AND THIS WAS THE GROUP THAT CITY OFFICIALS HAD TOLD ME AND OTHERS THAT THEY WERE MOST WORRIED ABOUT BECAUSE THEY SEEM TO RELISH A CONFRONTATION AS OPPOSED TO THE GROUPS THAT HAVE PROTESTED UP UNTIL THIS POINT FOLLOWING MOSTLY THE CITY'S RULES.

SO WE'LL HAVE TO SEE NET TOMORROW.

WHAT WHAT SORT OF THE LEGAL SITUATION FOR THOSE PROTESTERS AND PERHAPS SOME MEMBERS OF THE INDEPENDENT PRESS ARE NOW FACING.

ALL RIGHT, HEATHER, THANK ONE THING THAT WE HEARD DURING THE ROLL CALL THAT MADE HER EARS PERK ILLINOIS CAST ALL BUT ONE OF THE STATE'S DELEGATION FOR VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS, ONE PRESENT VOTE.

WHAT WAS THAT ABOUT?

BRANDIS I MY EARS PERKED UP A BIT, TOO, AND I'M AFRAID THAT I DON'T HAVE A GOOD ANSWER.

AND I WANT TO BE REALLY UP FRONT ABOUT THAT BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN ASKING THE QUESTIONS, INCLUDING WITH PROMINENT MEMBERS OF ILLINOIS DELEGATION AND THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF ILLINOIS THAT REALLY HAS ORGANIZED THIS WHOLE SHINDIG.

WE GOT A PRESS RELEASE AUGUST 5TH.

THAT'S WHEN THE DIGITAL VOTE THAT I REFERENCED EARLIER WAS FINALIZED THAT ILLINOIS HAD UNANIMOUSLY BACKED HARRIS AND LO AND BEHOLD.

THEN TONIGHT WE HEARD PRITZKER, I ADMIT THAT HE WASN'T GOING TO GLAD TO SAY THAT HE CAST ALL BUT ONE OF THE VOTE FOR THE HARRIS-WALZ TICKET.

AGAIN, BEEN ASKING THE QUESTIONS.

I DON'T HAVE ANY GOOD ANSWERS.

JUST A LOT OF RUMORS AND WE DON'T REPORT ON OKAY.

I'M SURE WE'LL LEARN MORE ABOUT IT SINCE THE TEAM IS IS ASKING BIG QUESTIONS NATURALLY.

WE DID SEE THAT A COUPLE OF TIMES TONIGHT AS WELL WHEN FOLKS HAD TO CAST A VOTE OR CAST SOME VOTES AS PRESIDENT, THE KIND OF WHISPERED IT INTO THE MICROPHONE.

SO, NIC, WE ALSO HEARD FROM A RETIRED TEAMSTER EARLIER WAS HIS MESSAGE ON STAGE TONIGHT.

WELL, HE WAS OUT THERE TALKING ABOUT THESE ACTIONS THAT THE BIDEN-HARRIS ADMINISTRATION, YOU KNOW, WITH THE SUPPORT OF CONGRESS TOOK IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT, YOU KNOW, RETIRED UNION MEMBERS MAINTAIN THEIR PENSIONS.

NOW, THIS IS CLEARLY AN EFFORT TO PUSH BACK ON THE TEAMSTERS.

PRESIDENT SEAN O'BRIEN WHO SPOKE AT THE RNC LAST MONTH AND HAS GOTTEN A LOT OF BLOWBACK FROM SOME OF HIS MEMBERS.

WE ALSO HEARD FROM THE ONE OF THE U.S.

SENATORS FROM MICHIGAN WHO IS SAYING HE GREW UP IN A UNION HOUSEHOLD.

HE BROUGHT OUT A WHOLE RAFT OF UNION MEMBERS OUT ONTO STAGE.

SO CLEARLY THE MESSAGE HERE IS TO SAY, LISTEN, YOU MIGHT HAVE HEARD FROM A PROMINENT UNION LEADER AT THE RNC, BUT THE DEMOCRATS ARE STILL THE PARTY OF LABOR AND THAT THE BIDEN-HARRIS ADMINISTRATION HAS TAKEN ACTION TO PROTECT RETIRED UNION MEMBERS AND THEIR YOU KNOW, FOR SO LONG AS THEY MAY BE WITH US.

KAREN, FROM IN WILSON, YOU KNOW, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE MESSAGING A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF FOCUS ON A COUPLE OF THINGS.

ONE ON ABORTION ACCESS AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH SERVICES AND A BIT.

ALSO AN PROJECT 2025, WHAT DO YOU WHAT DO YOU THINK?

ARE THE WINNING ISSUES HERE FOR DEMOCRATS?

YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU THAT'S AT ALMOST 900 PAGES, I BELIEVE OF 2025.

YOU FIND SOME FRIGHTENING THINGS.

YOU FIND THREATS TO MEDICARE AND MEDICAID.

YOU FIND THREATS TO EDUCATIONAL FREEDOM.

YOU FIND THE.

THREATS TO REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM.

AND I THINK THE BEST EVIDENCE OF THE IMMINENT DANGER POSED BY 2025 IS THAT YOU HAD A LIFELONG REPUBLICAN, SOMEBODY I CONSIDER TO BE A FRIEND JON GILES.

TO BE A JOHN MCCAIN, REPUBLICAN, AS WE HEARD.

BUT SAID THAT HE WOULD SUPPORT HARRIS?

KAMALA HARRIS BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT HE BELIEVES THAT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AS EVIDENCE BY 2025 IS NOT WHAT HE HE IS ACCUSTOMED RICHARD PORTER, DO YOU THINK EITHER OF THOSE ISSUES ARE GOING TO BE ELECTION LIABILITIES FOR THE REPUBLICAN PARTY?

KNOW IF THE REPUBLICAN PLATFORM IS NOT THE PROJECT 2025 AND WHAT'S INTERESTING ABOUT THE REPUBLICAN PLATFORM IS THE EXTENT TO WHICH DONALD TRUMP HIMSELF EDITED IT.

HE WENT THROUGH IT TWICE AND VERSION THAT HE APPROVED WHAT WAS TO APPROVE BY THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

IT'S LIKE 15 PAGES LONG AND IT IS RIGHT DOWN THE LINE.

DONALD TRUMP.

SO IF YOU WANT TO SEE WHERE DONALD TRUMP'S GONNA DO IT, HOW IT'S GOING TO GOVERN.

TAKE A LOOK AT THE PLATFORM AND I THINK IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S GONNA HIM THAT THE ISSUES WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT, MAKING THE BORDER SECURE, MAKING OUR CITIES AND STREETS SAFE, WORKING ON EDUCATION, MAKING SURE IMPROVING THE EDUCATION, WHICH HAVE AND MAKING AMERICA'S STANDING IN THE WORLD STRONG AGAIN.

AND I THINK THESE ARE ISSUES THAT ARE ULTIMATELY GOING TO DRIVE THE KIND.

OF COURSE, THE ECONOMY IS GOING TO BE KEY ISSUE FOR FOR THE REPUBLICANS AS WELL.

DO YOU FEEL LIKE THE DEMOCRATS DID A BETTER JOB PAINTING A FULLER, MORE COMPLETE PICTURE OF WHO KAMALA HARRIS IS STUNNING.

I THINK HER HUSBAND DID A GREAT JOB IN THAT REGARD.

AND I THINK THAT MICHELLE OBAMA WAS VERY WAS VERY MOVING.

I THINK I GIVE THEM BOTH A SON THIS AND I THINK THAT REALLY HELPED THEIR CAUSE.

I THINK THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE VERY THIRSTY.

THEY'RE VERY HUNGRY FOR KNOWING MORE ABOUT WHO SHE IS AND HOW SHE'S GOING TO GOVERN.

AND WE GET TO HAVE A SAYING THAT AS WELL BECAUSE WHAT HER RECORD IS WHAT SHE ACTUALLY DID IN THE PAST MATTERS.

YOU CAN'T RUN AWAY FROM THAT PRETEND THAT THE THINGS YOU'VE STOOD FOR, THE THINGS YOU'VE DONE DIDN'T HAPPEN OR DIDN'T EXIST FOR WELL, JOYFUL WARRIOR.

I DON'T THINK YOU CAN ASK FOR A BETTER DEFINITION OF SHE IS AND THEY TALKED ABOUT IN THE COURTROOM.

THEY TALKED ABOUT IT AS ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR THE PEOPLE.

AND I THINK ULTIMATELY WHEN YOU HEAR SOMEBODY SAY KAMALA HARRIS FOR THE PEOPLE AFTER HEARING FROM ALL OF THESE FOLKS WHO HAVE TALKED ABOUT KNOWING HER FOR A LIFETIME, YOU HAVE TO BELIEVE THAT.

HEATHER, AMANDA COMING TO BOTH OF YOU.

BUT SEPARATELY, AMANDA, BRIEFLY, WE ALSO HEARD FROM SENATOR DUCKWORTH TONIGHT, OBVIOUSLY FROM GOVERNOR PRITZKER.

BUT WHAT WE HEAR FROM SENATOR DUCKWORTH.

SO WE HAD TO SPOKE WITH SENATOR DUCKWORTH AND WE KIND OF KNEW THAT SHE WAS GOING TO TALK ABOUT HER IVF JOURNEY BECAUSE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK IF THE DEMOCRATS ARE FINDING REALLY RESONATES WITH A LOT OF FAMILIES.

WE TALKED ABOUT HOW ABORTION IS PART OF THE CONVERSATION BUT CONNECTED WITH THAT.

IT'S MORE.

IT'S ABOUT REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH OVERALL.

AND SHE SAID THAT HER JOURNEY WITH FERTILITY WAS EVEN TOUGHER.

THEN THE BATTLEFIELD TO THAT SHE FOUGHT ON THE IS A MEMBER OF THE ARMED SERVICES.

SO THAT WAS THE FOCUS.

IT WAS AGAIN TRYING TO BRING I THINK THE WOMAN VOTE AND REALLY MAKE THE POLICIES THAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE, CONNECT WITH FAMILIES.

ALL RIGHT.

THANK HEATHER DID HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION FOR YOU.

BUT I'LL ASK YOU TOMORROW.

THAT IS OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS FOR THE NIGHT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH TO NICK LAMBERT, HEATHER SHARON DEMAND OF AN ICKY AND ARE IN STUDIO GUESTS, RICHARD PORTER AND KAREN FREEMAN.

WILSON, THANKS, EVERYBODY.

AND THAT IS OUR SHOW TONIGHT.

BE SURE TO JOIN US TOMORROW AT 5, 30 10 OR WHATEVER THE CONVENTION IS OVER FOR COVERAGE OF DAY 3 OF THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION AND BE SURE TO CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE FOR THE VERY LATEST CONVENTION COVERAGE AND SUBSCRIBE TO OUR E-MAIL NEWSLETTER.

THE DAILY CHICAGO AND AT W T TW DOT COM SLASH NEWSLETTER.

NOW FOR ALL OF US HERE AT CHICAGO BRANDIS FRIEDMAN, THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD THING.

CLOSED CAPTION WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY ROBERT A IS A PERSONAL INJURY LAW FIRM