I'm Isaac Saul and I'm the executive editor of The Tangle, where I write an independent, nonpartisan, subscriber-supported political newsletter that summarizes the best arguments from across the political spectrum in the day's news, followed by my take. For transparency in this type of work, subscribe to The Tangle here !

I spent this week at the Democratic National Convention.

This is my first routine. I've been covering politics for a decade and have personally covered many major political events, but the party convention was truly unlike anything I'd ever been to before. You won't find these high-profile politicians in one place anywhere other than walking around the halls of Congress. In fact, the star power at the convention is even greater than in Congress: Governors are in attendance, along with mayors, mayors, headliners, celebrities and influencers. One second I'm listening to Bill Clinton speak, the next John Legend is performing and Oprah Winfrey is firing off the audience.

I've been jotting down everything I notice, big and small. Today, as the conference wraps up, I'm clearing out my notebook.

Twenty-eight thoughts on conventions

  1. The whole routine of people is very different than what is seen on social media or television. On one hand, I'll see people say the arena was empty when it was packed, or that there was major damage inside, and I didn't even notice. Experiencing it this way is legitimately disorienting. Likewise, pro-Palestinian protests are all over social media but easy to miss in person. Throughout the week I was in Chicago, I saw a group of protesters - about 20 people holding flags, demanding a ceasefire and reading the names of the dead. That's it. All the images of chaos and fights with police didn't actually interrupt the convention in any meaningful way. Additionally, the conference program was highly choreographed, with instructions to cheerleading fans at certain times and signs posted everywhere you looked. But on TV, it looks more spontaneous.
  2. Democrats deliberately leaned toward patriotism and reinstated the word "liberty." Eight years ago, if I told you about the rallies that chanted “USA!” There would be an outburst every few minutes, with "freedom" as the theme, and you'd think I was talking about a Trump rally. But nearly every speaker throughout the week leaned toward themes of patriotism and freedom. Since taking over the ticket, the Harris campaign has made a clear pivot. I'm not the only one who noticed .
  3. The most notable speech of the week was Michelle Obama's on Tuesday night. Frankly, this was one of the most effective political speeches I have ever heard. It was so effective that she drew praise from conservative pundits all week , some of whom warned their colleagues not to underestimate how powerful it was. It's hard to pinpoint exactly why it works so well or how she manages to win praise from the aisles, but she does it. No policy — just a line between what she thinks Democrats stand for and everything she thinks Trump stands for. Every other speech (including her husband's immediate appearance) just feels like it doesn't have nearly the same juice.
  4. Speaking of lack of policy: The programming consistently avoids policy, instead focusing on defining Harris and Walz as people , not as executives. The DNC literally spoke to one of Harris' childhood friends and then to one of Walz's former neighbors from Minnesota. These men spoke after former presidents and current senators - recounting the small favors they did to each other or sharing (rather uninteresting) family anecdotes.
  5. Another thing I haven't heard is that Harris could be the first woman to become president. I'm fascinated by the decision to downplay this angle. In 2016, many speeches focused on Hillary Clinton breaking the glass ceiling. I can't think of a single speech for Kamala that made her candidacy historic (ironically enough). There were more mentions of Trump cheating on his wife than Harris being the first female president.
  6. Monday was keen on Biden's swan song. Those in attendance shed tears, put their hands to their mouths, and many screamed how much they loved him (I joked to Jon that dropping out of school was the most unpopular thing he'd ever done). Biden and his family looked at me like a man who had just survived something and was trying to find his way.
  7. An interesting little drama plays out here between content creators and traditional journalists. The DNC rolled out a blue carpet for content creators and influencers, who received private lounges, free food and booze, and access to a host of big-name politicians. Meanwhile, journalists are stuffed into nosebleed seats, fighting over credentials and competing with politicians for shoddy internet and bad access. Strategically, I think this is smart: The DNC knows it will get friendlier coverage and appeal to younger voters by relying on content creators. Ethically, I hate it - traditional journalists having access to real interviews (as opposed to PR hits) would promote greater transparency and balanced reporting. Personally, I straddle the line between journalist and online content creator, so I try to enjoy the benefits of both.
  8. I said something about this in a tweet on Monday. Apparently, this really pissed off some content creators and they started making videos and angrily tweeting about me . Ironically, they all seemed to think I was a mainstream media reporter who was frustrated that they were getting access, when in fact I was just reporting something very obvious to people who attended the conference (and I was getting similar access; it made sense to tell the DNC organizers that I had a YouTube channel). But now that I have their attention, let me say this: The reason the DNC invites you backstage and makes sure you can interview people insulated from other reporters and creators is not that you are the one who reports the news better than everyone else. They know you're a fan and they'll provide them with adoring coverage and help advance the agenda.
  9. Many conservatives participated! Charlie Kirk, Matt Walsh ( in disguise ), Kellyanne Conway, Rudy Giuliani and Mike Lindell ( in disguise ) all attended. Among cable news channels, Fox News is already by far the largest media setup and presence.
  10. I was on the floor about 20 feet away from Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro speaking, and it was incredible. I think as time goes by he will have less and less shtick. In terms of aesthetics, Tim Walz exudes authenticity and kindness, while Shapiro feels scripted and somewhat trim. The "Obama-think" criticism about Shapiro resonates with me, and after seeing the different ways the two played out to the larger public, I think I understand why Harris singled out Shapiro for Walz. I think she's very smart. Again: I'm just talking about political showmanship here, not policy or legislative prowess, but showmanship is a big part of winning an election when you're not an incumbent.
  11. Speaking of showmanship: I saw Shapiro, Senator Mark Kelly (AZ), and Governor Roy Cooper (NC) speaking on prime time this week. I also saw Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Governor JB Pritzker (IL), and Governor Andy Beshear (KY). Based on their speeches, how they interacted with the audience, how they were received, and how they conveyed their message, I think Harris clearly made the right choice with Walz.
  12. For what it's worth: By far the most effective part of Waltz's stump speech was when he discussed his own issues with infertility and the miracle of children. People in the audience cried as the now-viral moment with his son unfolded and this part of the speech — which emphasized freeing the government from individual family decisions and claimed Republicans could threaten treatment like IVF — landed in the room.
  13. J.D. Vance made a bit of a joke this week about Walz going to Chicago so he could finally serve in "The War Zone." I have to say, despite its problems, Chicago is a lovely city. I've been here a few times before, but I forgot how much I love it. Delicious food. Kind people. Beautiful waterfront and parks. Given how much news I consume, these aren't the things that come to mind when I think of Chicago, but this week, it was a good reminder of how distorted people can be to the more sensational news stories.
  14. Walz and Democrats have been attacking J.D. Vance for going to Yale. "Now, I grew up in Butte, Nebraska, which is a town of 400 people," Walz said. "I had 24 kids in my high school class, and none of them went to Yale. I really didn't like this offensive line at all. Vance's perspective is less, or is his rural "credentials" less valid because he's a smart guy who escaped poverty and went to an Ivy League school? This leads me to a very stupid, ugly and self-deceiving offensive line. I don't know who this is. Vance’s story is a powerful and outstanding one that deserves to be celebrated.
  15. Undercard speakers and big names, primetime makes a big difference. It's another reminder how much of politics is about speech, and how important public speaking is to getting promoted. Most viewers will only see the primetime speeches, but there are 3-4 hours of speeches each night from Democrats of all stripes and stations, many of them snoozers.
  16. Keep an eye on Maryland Governor Wes Moore. After meeting him at the convention center, watching his speech live, and listening carefully to the way people talked about him, it seemed like this guy was watching from the White House. I think he's going to run for president in the next four to 12 years.
  17. I spoke with North Carolina Rep. Wiley Nickel, who focused on the idea that Democrats should go all-out to win North Carolina, which would open up the Electoral College map for them. Looks like the party is listening. Harris visited the state 16 times as vice president, and her Tar Heel State poll numbers are looking better. It's an interesting strategy: Basically, North Carolina is Harris' insurance policy if she doesn't take up the entire blue wall of Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin. If she flips North Carolina and holds Pennsylvania, she only has to win one of Wisconsin, Michigan, Georgia or Arizona to win. And if she carries North Carolina and Nevada, that gives Harris a path to victory without Pennsylvania.
  18. President Obama has some very tangled messaging to communicate across aisles and give grace to your political opponents. He recommends treating people we disagree with the same way we would a loved family member who says something that makes us cringe. I appreciate the message and the five to six minutes he devoted to how we can better reach across the aisle. Unfortunately, in the same speech, he made a very subtle joke about Trump being insecure about the size of his penis, so it now overshadows all of his other statements.
  19. Democrats lean toward the law-and-order atmosphere of the Clinton era. They continually touted Harris' record as a prosecutor and, on the final night, ran out of uniform officers to give 180 speeches on their party platform to increase funding for the police. Harris ' introductory video even had a moment from one of them a few years ago.
  20. Harris' speech was a bit like a Rorschach test. I follow a group of thinkers on X and it's fascinating to read their responses in real time. The liberals I followed were over the moon and thought she hit home runs and gave powerful, down-to-earth speeches where she defined herself to the public as a happy warrior. The moderates I follow say it was a solid speech that did exactly that - a victory for Harris. Conservatives I follow say she looks nervous, sounds out of touch, and that the whole thing will remind voters how unlikely she is. As someone who watched nearly every address this week, I think Harris is in the top 8 in terms of effectiveness and delivery. I think she did a great job. In the words of conservative radio host Erick Erickson: "It's easy to dig, but her delivery was more disciplined than [Trump's] training. She took advantage of opportunities he missed."
  21. It's always difficult to be objective about these presentations, but one way to judge them more objectively is to look at focus groups and fundraisers. In Allentown, Pennsylvania, a CNN Focus Group of eight undecided voters watched Harris speak and then rated it. Three gave her an A, three gave her an A B+, one gave her a B, and one gave her an A. Seven out of eight voters were decided : They said they would vote for Harris. Democrats also raised millions of dollars in the hours after the speech. So if you don't believe I'm a good speaker, here are some indicators.
  22. Something notable happened in the middle of the DNC last night: Donald Trump tweeted about Republican Georgia Governor Brian Kemp Kemp, who has been attacking him (along with his wife) over the past few weeks: "Thank you @briankempga for all your help and support in Georgia, where a victory is critical to the success of our party and most importantly, our country. I look forward to working with you, your team, and all of my friends in Georgia to make America great again!" It's hard to overstate the rarity of this reversal from Trump, which makes me think the internal polling by his team in Georgia must be shocking.
  23. It's easy to drink Kool-Aid when you attend an event like this. It's like watching a game at a sports bar, with fans dedicated to one team. Still, the energy is palpable and being surrounded by all these democratic activists, pundits, and politicians makes me wonder what the ceiling is for this year. A thought occurred to me: What if this was the first strong, energetic, punchy Democratic run since 2012? What if Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden actually had pretty bad campaigns or mediocre campaigns, but had a tight race because Trump was unpopular with moderates? What if, in addition to good polling, grassroots momentum, and fundraising, there are hidden Harris voters ? If so - and if Harris-Walz can sustain the same momentum as Obama - can they win in a blowout? Maybe, this game won't be so intimate after all?
  24. Instead, there's a good chance we might be smacking the friendly media cycle with an unproven, untested candidate destined to return to Earth in the coming weeks. In this case, we're looking at another election that will be decided by tens of thousands of swing states, many of which are states where Harris ends up being the loser before Election Day.
  25. I think Democrats should put Palestinian voices on stage within a week. There is a lot of space for pro-Israel voices, and the moments between the audience and the parents of the American hostages held in Gaza are very powerful. But a pro-democracy Palestinian would also be powerful. No conference speaker will clarify the remarks, so why won't the Democrats show that they, too, are a big-ball party by giving those voices a few minutes? The RNC gives space to union bosses and Amber Rose — this is what the big tent activation looks like. The omission doesn't make sense to me. Also, with the strong uncommitment movement growing, I think this is an act of political malfeasance.
  26. The best argument that no Palestinian or person from the uncommitted movement can make is that this is the event that crowns the nominee. By definition, you will, without a doubt, disqualify yourself from the space on the stage in the room. But I still think that this could be a moment of unification and something that activates progressives and Muslim voters - cedes a little bit of ground.
  27. Harris drew the line on Israel and Gaza. Her comments made clear that she will continue to serve as a staunch ally to Israel, in line with most of the gathering. But she also spoke of the horrors many other candidates have failed to inflict on Palestinians.
  28. The end of the DNC may mark the end of the honeymoon phase for Harris and Walz. Sometime next week, the journalism sidelines will end - new stories will be written, criticism will continue, Harris will have to sit in for interviews, scrutiny will be dialed to 10. As we sit here today, I think Harris and Walz have successfully captured that momentum in this election and are now in the driver's seat. You don't need to take it from me - just look at the polls , down games, betting markets and fundraising struggles. But there's still a long way to go, and Harris and Walz can still get through.

Some other odds and endings

  • I saw New York Times columnist Ezra Klein riding a fancy garden and was intrigued by the brand.
  • The Senator has an aura. I can't fully explain it. Even if you don't recognize them, you just know them when you see them. They shine in a special way.
  • Our biggest obstacle in getting interviews is that people don’t know who we are and whether they can trust us.
  • Some pro-Palestinian protesters used loudspeakers to read the names of Gaza's dead, and several DNC attendees created some pretty bad optics by inserting their ears . Anyway, I've walked through protests too. As bad as these videos look, it sounds incredible.
  • Many at the convention seemed to share conservatives' distaste for traditional media.
  • Jon met Jon Favreau while browsing a Secret Service checkpoint and agreed with him for a ballpoint pen, initiating a more advanced security check.
  • Logistical issues were bad on day 1, bad on day 2, but resolved by day 3.
  • Every few speakers, organizers sprinted through the convention center and handed out thousands of new signs, like the "USA" sign or the "Coach Waltz" sign or whatever. These signs are all speaker dependent and they are a fun way to understand the optics that event organizers want to present.
  • There were 15,000 members of the media in attendance. Fifteen thousand.
  • On Day 1 of the convention, as we approached the center, an older black man was on the corner of the United Center, screaming at attendees that he was voting for Donald Trump, and so was the entire community, which Harris and Democrats broadly represented for him or his friends. It's a very interesting moment.
  • Extremely expensive suites throughout the convention center are filled with big-name donors and power players who don't have access. The News' Chris Cuomo called out the dynamic in a viral clip from the convention floor.
  • I have to say hello to Saager Enjeti who runs the podcast Breaking Point, one of my favorites. He is a classic example of a very nice, friendly person who is also a fastidious analyst.
  • When Harris showed up on Night 1, it was the second loudest I've ever heard an arena get. #1 was when I broke the NBA scoring record at Madison Square Garden, I was in the stands.
  • My most likely list of 2028 Presidents: Wes Moore, Josh Shapiro, Pete Buttigieg, and Gretchen Whitmer (in that order).
  • I'm kind of surprised that Bill Clinton is still invited to this stuff. Not only has he been credibly accused of sexual assault, but he's also a wildcard - he's the only speaker I've seen break away from the publicist for more than a few minutes, halfway through his speech.
  • I interviewed a member of Congress who accidentally walked away while wearing a lav mic I gave him. As I dragged him back to retrieve it, he told me a great story about how Al Gore once accidentally left a microphone in the bathroom and everyone heard his business. He's been worried about putting on a microphone and walking away since, and this is the first time he's actually done that.
  • When Tim Walz said "never underestimate a public school teacher," he got one of the biggest roars from the crowd I've heard all week.
  • I don't know who started the rumor that Beyoncé was attending, but I had multiple people at the DNC tell me it was true, and even TMZ's reporting (which, despite their reputation, rarely gets these reports wrong). I'm not sure there's anything coming south and they canceled it, but it seems like she'll be there.
  • Ro Khanna (D-CA) has a lot to offer. I can't find any reliable sources on his height (some people list him at 6'2", but we walked him and he was much bigger than I thought. Tall.

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