MSNBC DAILY

Understand today's news with Jen Psaki

Saturday, August 17, 2024

I spent the day in Chicago on Thursday at the United Center, where the Democratic National Convention will be held next week. And while there will still be lots of speeches and plenty of balloons, I can already tell the event is going to feel different from past conventions.

For one thing, the baton will be passed from President Joe Biden, who was the presumptive Democratic nominee just one month ago, to Vice President Kamala Harris. Biden is expected to speak on Monday night instead of Thursday night, when the nominee traditionally speaks, and I am hearing that the Biden campaign and White House alumni will be flying in for an unofficial gathering after the speech.

And while presidential candidates have been a part of fraternities and sororities in the past, a nominee has never been a member of one of the historically Black "Divine 9" sororities. Harris proudly sports the green and pink colors of Alpha Kappa Alpha. Minyon Moore, the chair of the convention, told me while I was in Chicago that Harris' connection to the sororities will be celebrated next week.

Finally, the way Americans consume news and information has changed a lot since the last fully in-person convention was held eight years ago. This year, the communications team has created an additional stage for content creators, allowing them "to capture 360 degree content of the convention hall, conduct interviews with delegates and other Democratic voices on the convention floor, and share the convention experience with their audiences." We got a sneak preview of the view from the stage on Thursday. It's clear this event will be historic — in more ways than one.

Read more exclusive insights from Jen Psaki here. And tune into "Inside with Jen Psaki" Mondays at 8 p.m. ET, and Sundays at 12 p.m. ET on MSNBC.

TOP STORIES

SARAH POSNER

Project 2025's training videos just took Trump's clumsy abortion stance from bad to worse

Project 2025 lays out multiple anti-abortion plans, including revoking FDA approval of mifepristone and using the Comstock Act as a means of instituting a national abortion ban. Read more.

THE REV. DR. WILLIAM BARBER & JONATHAN WILSON-HARTGROVE

Pay attention to this campaign slogan at Harris-Walz rallies

Kamala Harris isn't just listening to workers. She's sounding like them. Read more.

JA'HAN JONES

RFK Jr. apparently reached out to both Harris and Trump and their reactions are telling

Robert F Kennedy Jr.'s campaign reportedly dangled an endorsement to both the Harris and Trump campaigns. Only one called back. Read more.

LISA RUBIN

Why Kimberly Cheatle's journey from Secret Service director to protectee isn't shocking

Details from a recent Justice Department case show how determined and unrepentant those making threats against federal and state officials have become. Read more.

TOP VIDEOS

DEADLINE WHITE HOUSE

'Disgusting and shameful: Nicolle Wallace on Trump's latest disrespect of medal of honor recipients

WATCH NOW

ALL IN

'Strong, progressive agenda': Sen. Bernie Sanders reacts to Harris' economic agenda

WATCH NOW

KATY TUR

Baby Reem is sole survivor of an Israeli airstrike on Gaza that killed 20 people

WATCH NOW

ANDREA MITCHELL REPORTS

Psaki: DNC is Harris' 'last best opportunity' to communicate with broad swath of the public

WATCH NOW

This weekend on MSNBC

SATURDAY

MSNBC's "Velshi" at 10am ET: Rep. Katie Porter (D-Calif.)… Rep. Summer Lee (D-Pa.)… Nancy Northup… Amanda Zurowski
MSNBC's "The Katie Phang Show" at 12pm ET: Minn. Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan… Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio)… Democratic National Committee Chairman Jaime Harrison… Calif. Attorney General Rob Bonta

SUNDAY

MSNBC's "The Weekend" at 8am ET: Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-N.Y.)… Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.)… Chairman of the Democratic National Committee Jaime Harrison… Quentin Fulks
MSNBC's "Inside with Jen Psaki" at 12pm ET: Gov. JB Pritzker (D-Ill.)… Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.)… Martin Sheen… Melissa Fitzgerald

*Subject to change