Friday briefing: Five key takeaways as Harris closes the Democratic national convention

Good morning. For today’s newsletter, we’re bringing you coverage of Kamala Harris’s speech accepting the Democratic nomination for president courtesy of Rachel Leingang, in a preview of our newsletter covering the US election, The Stakes. You can sign up here.
Hello from Chicago, where it’s like the Oscars, but for people with slightly less charisma.
The last day of the Democratic national convention brought out A-list actors, iconic music artists, swing-state politicians and Harris family members – a better lineup, to be sure, than Hulk Hogan and Kid Rock, the stars at the Republican convention.
But the real star of the show was Kamala Harris, who shared her personal biography, the threats Trump poses to the country and some of the policy ideas she wants to enact if she wins.
Harris’s moment in the spotlight capped off a four-day convention that went as well as Democrats needed it to, leaving most of the party faithful energized to carry out the full-court press needed for the short timeframe from now until November.
Today’s newsletter brings you five takeaways from the last day of the convention. Here are the headlines.
1. The climax of Kamala Harris’s whirlwind month
Harris officially accepted the Democratic presidential nomination by nodding to the “for the people” oath she took, which has entered into speeches about her multiple times this week. Her only client, she said, has been “the people”, and those people come from all political backgrounds and walks of life.
She said: “So, on behalf of the people, on behalf of every American, regardless of party, race, gender or the language your grandmother speaks, on behalf of my mother and everyone who has ever set out on their own unlikely journey on behalf of Americans, like the people I grew up with, people who work hard, chase their dreams and look out for one another, on behalf of everyone whose story could only be written in the greatest nation on Earth, I accept your nomination for president of the United States of America.”
“Our nation, with this election, has a precious, fleeting opportunity to move past the bitterness, cynicism and divisive battles of the past, a chance to chart a new way forward – not as members of any one party or faction, but as Americans,” Harris said.
In the last few weeks of a whirlwind campaign, Harris has perfected the way she tells her own story and how she contrasts with Trump. She started with the lessons she learned from her mother, Shyamala Gopalan Harris, a breast cancer researcher who immigrated to the United States from India at the age of 19, and wove her mother’s teachings throughout her speech.
Her family members – her sister Maya Harris; niece Meena Harris; stepdaughter Ella Emhoff and goddaughter Helena Hudlin – all had some stage time to take about the Kamala they know.
She then drew a clearer picture of her vision than she has to date: giving broad policy ideas on affordable housing, abortion protections, foreign policy and middle-class tax relief.
She called Trump “an unserious man” but also a dangerous person who should not return to the White House. “Consider the power he will have, especially after the United States supreme court just ruled that he would be immune from criminal prosecution. Just imagine Donald Trump with no guardrails.”
Trump responded to Harris’s speech in post after post on Truth Social, one of which said simply: “IS SHE TALKING ABOUT ME?”
2. Gun violence survivors call for change
People who survived mass shootings or lost loved ones to gun violence spoke about the devastation they have faced – reiterating a theme throughout the convention of those who have survived horrible situations and think Harris will help address the causes of these problems.
To emphasise the need for policy changes, the convention program brought out those most affected by draconian abortion bans or loose gun control laws.
Four of the Central Park Five, the group of Black and Latino boys falsely convicted over the rape of a jogger in New York, whose prosecution Donald Trump promoted, spoke about the danger Trump poses.
Gabby Giffords, the former congresswoman from Arizona who was shot in an assassination attempt and now fights for gun control, spoke about her recovery, her husband Mark Kelly standing beside her.
“Thank you. Joe Biden, thank you for everything. Joe is a great president,” Giffords said. “My friend Kamala will be a great president. She is tough. She has grit. Kamala can beat the gun lobby. She can fight gun trafficking.”
3. Gaza protests end with no voice on stage
I’ve spent most of the week following the uncommitted delegation, the anti-war movement that’s working to pressure Biden and Harris to end the war in Gaza. On Thursday, the DNC did not relent on the decision not to allow the group a speaking slot for a Palestinian American speaker on the main stage.
The group was not asking for much – a couple of minutes for a swing-state Democrat to talk about their background and the call for a ceasefire. Ruwa Romman, a state representative from Georgia, gave the speech she would have given on stage outside the arena instead.
The final denial came after months of activism and days of negotiations at the convention to amplify a call for a ceasefire and arms embargo in Gaza. And outside the convention perimeter, other activists held another protest, marching near the United Center with more militant messages.
4. Celebrities on celebrities on celebrities …
Swing-state governors and senators got key spots in the lead-up to Harris’s speech – several of whom were in the running to be the vice-presidential nominee – in a nod to the places Harris needs to win in November to keep Democrats in the White House.
But those swing staters are only really celebrities in a place like this. The real celebrities showed up here, though, too.
The Chicks were the third country artist to sing at the DNC despite the common belief that Republicans are the party of country music. Pink (above) sang alongside her daughter.
Kerry Washington interviewed Harris’s nieces about how to pronounce Kamala, and Washington was joined by Tony Goldwyn, her Scandal co-star, on stage at one point.
Basketball star Steph Curry said in a video that “the Oval Office suits her well”. And Eva Longoria, the actor and activist, praised Harris’s background: “She worked at McDonald’s, I worked at Wendy’s, and look at us now.”
5. … and one who didn’t make it
The persistent rumour all day Thursday was that Beyoncé, whose song Freedom is used by the Harris campaign in its ads, would show up at the convention.
Just before Harris went on stage, Beyoncé’s team told media Queen Bey would not be in Chicago to perform. When you’re expecting Beyoncé to introduce the potential next president of the United States, North Carolina governor Roy Cooper is a rough consolation prize.
Athletics | Keely Hodgkinson’s season has been ended by injury less than three weeks after she became the Olympic 800m champion. The 22-year-old Briton, pictured above, whose victory in Paris was the most-watched event of the Games on terrestrial television in the UK, had been due to compete in September’s Diamond League meetings.
Cricket | A fine unbeaten 72 from wicketkeeper-batter Jamie Smith meant England ended day two with a first innings lead of 23 runs and four wickets remaining. Asitha Fernando was the pick of the bowlers, asking questions throughout for figures of three for 68.
Football | Substitute Noni Madueke sealed Enzo Maresca’s first win as Chelsea manager in the Blues’ 2-0 Conference League playoff first-leg win against Servette. A tense atmosphere at Stamford Bridge after controversy over Raheem Sterling’s future was lifted when Christopher Nkunku opened the scoring with a penalty.
Our Guardian print edition leads with “Concern over ‘attainment gap’ as GCSEs return to pre-Covid levels”. The Times has “Don’t lock up criminals till next month, courts urged”. “Fury as dementia drug denied to patients on NHS” – that’s the Daily Mail, while the Daily Express asks “Why is it only rich can get Alzheimer’s wonder drug?”. The same story is also the Daily Telegraph’s splash: “Alzheimer’s drug is blocked for use on NHS”. “Sacked” – the Daily Mirror reports on the “Jermaine Jenas shock” at the BBC, while the Sun leads with the same story. Top story in the i is “UK trade union chiefs split over how to get best pay deals out of chancellor” while at the other end of town in the Financial Times it’s “AstraZeneca threatens vaccine plant shift to US after Reeves weighs aid cut”. Today’s Metro brings us “Jab hope in fight against lung cancer”. A jab for the lungs certainly sounds better than a poke in the ribs.
Our critics’ roundup of the best things to watch, read and listen to right now
MusicNick Cave & the Bad Seeds: Wild God
Joy, a song seemingly about Cave’s late son, Arthur, feels like Wild God’s mood in miniature: the album doesn’t stint on darkness, but suggests that life can still provide transcendent euphoria despite it all. Elsewhere, O Wow O Wow (How Wonderful She Is) – about the passing of Cave’s former collaborator and partner, the late Anita Lane – is gorgeously melodic, decorated with a telephone recording of Lane giggling as she recalls their dissolute past. Alexis Petridis
TVPachinko (Apple TV+)
A historical epic, filmed in Korean and Japanese and following several generations of a family along two separate timelines? It sounds like a time investment you might never get around to making, but season two of Pachinko confirms that this show is worth the effort. An excellent drama powered by a rare emotional intelligence, a series as deft and heartfelt as this can never be a chore. Jack Seale
FilmKneecap
Irish-language hip-hop trio Kneecap caused much spluttering from the DUP in 2019 when, one day after William and Kate’s royal visit to Belfast’s Empire Music Hall, they showed up there raucously shouting “Brits out” on stage. A blazingly fierce presence, they’re now playing versions of themselves in this hyperactive, slightly Guy Ritchie-esque biopic, whose musical sequences have originality, comedy and freedom. Peter Bradshaw
The sex lives of strangers: creating ‘This is how we do it’
A look at some of the brave couples who shared the joys and challenges of their sex lives in the Guardian column
A bit of good news to remind you that the world’s not all bad
Sphen and Magic’s heart-lifting same-sex love story first made headlines in 2018 when they got “engaged” and became foster parents. The fact that they were penguins and their child was an egg just added to the cuteness of their tale.
The gay penguin power couple raised two chicks and became a universal symbol for LGBTQ+ equality. When Sphen died on Thursday, Magic cried out and the other gentoo penguins in the colony joined in, filling their aquarium in Sydney with song, in what staff called a “one in a million” moment. “It was a very beautiful moment, the air was just filled with their singing,” said penguin keeper Renee Howell. “It showed the impact [Sphen] had on his partner”.
And finally, the Guardian’s puzzles are here to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until Monday.