“Now, it’s summer. The winter has passed. With a grateful heart, I stand before you now on this August night to report that democracy has prevailed. Democracy has delivered, and now democracy must be preserved”
– Joe Biden, DNC speech
‘Biden passes the torch to Harris’
What are the US newspaper headlines this morning?
Paper Talk
Politics continues to dominate America’s front pages this Tuesday morning as the Democratic Party “ushers in a new guard” at the Democratic National Convention, according to The Washington Post.
As President Joe Biden “hands off to Harris,” the Chicago Sun-Times says, the Democrats have to strike a “delicate balance” between celebrating Biden and building up his younger hand-picked successor, the Chicago Tribune adds.
The Boston Globe reports Biden’s convention “swan song” was an “unconventional address,” whilst the Philadelphia Daily News says his “goodbye kiss” was “bittersweet” for the Biden faithful as he “passes the torch to Harris.”
“The final insult,” is New York Post’s take on Biden’s speech. The paper notes his “shouty” speech was pushed to 11:30 pm when most had tuned out. The paper calls it an “angry, bitter” speech.
Phil Donahue
1938-2024
America TV talkshow legend Phil Donahue is also remembered across Tuesday’s front pages following his death at 88.
The New York Times remembers Donahue as the “talk show titan who elevated a new co-host: the audience.” The Post remembers him as the “King of Daytime TV,” who “pioneered breezy format.” The talk show hosts “indelible television genre” brought “success to Oprah Winfrey, Montel Williams, Ellen DeGeneres and many others,” the Tribune adds.
The main story
DNC night one: Joe Biden passes the torch to Kamala Harris
What happened
Joe Biden closed the first night of the DNC on Monday with an emotional speech recapping his political career and urging voters to elect Kamala Harris.
His message was clear and simple. “Beat Donald Trump.”
Hillary Clinton, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr and UAW President Shawn Fain were amongst others who gave speeches.
What did Joe Biden say
Biden’s speech was him ‘formally passing the torch’ to the vice president, The Washington Post said. His speech was met with a four-minute standing ovation and a “bittersweet moment that marks the unofficial end of his half-century in politics.”
Politico claims the president “basked in the applause” even if the “adulation was as much about his decision to step aside” for the younger Harris. He embraced both Harris and “the role he’d long resisted: passing the baton.”
“I love my job, but I love my country more,” Biden said. Choosing Harris as his vice president was the “best decision I made my whole career,” he added. “She’s tough. She’s experienced. And she has enormous integrity.”
“America, I gave my best to you” for 50 years, Biden concluded. “I’ve been too young to be in the Senate” and “too old to stay as president. But I hope you know how grateful I am to all of you.”
What happens now
Joe Biden is off to California for a family holiday and when he returns to the political fold he’ll be spending his time tying up loose ends and working out how he wants to close his political career. He’ll still have just over two months before the presidential election and then a handover period of several months.
Vice President Kamala Harris will accept the Democratic nomination on Thursday.
Bias comparison
How does the media cover the DNC
- The left frames Biden’s speech as a bridge for party unity, emphasising his historical achievements and selflessness in stepping down.
- The centre focuses on the fresh energy Harris brings, detailing the strategic pivot and her gratitude towards Biden while highlighting internal divisions before his resignation.
- The right critically highlights potential disunity, presenting Biden’s withdrawal as coerced and implying dissatisfaction within the party.
Buried Related stories
What the Left and Right are ignoring
Kamala Harris has not held press conferences or agreed to any sit-down interviews since her campaign. It’s a fact that has angered the right but received little coverage from the left.
Former President Barack Obama and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff will speak at the DNC. The right is ignoring tonight’s political heavyweights turning out for Harris
Related articles worth a read
Go Deeper
The newspapers
