What We Learned at the DNC

Greetings, Meteor readers,

I’ve been near tears all week and it’s not just because of this guy. But it’s college move-in week for lots of youngsters, including the eldest Gen-Zer in my family, and for anyone else out there trying not to weep in the doorway of a dorm room, we send hugs.

In today’s newsletter, we’re looking at another reason you might be tearing up: the emotion on display at the Democratic National Convention—heading into its final night tonight and a Big Speech from the candidate. Also, an alarming new study about LGBTQ+ asylum seekers, and, of course, your weekend reading list.

Congrats to all the new freshmen,

Shannon Melero

WHAT’S GOING ON

What we saw at the DNC: The final night of the Democratic National Convention is upon us, and it’s been a rousing few days. There was Michelle Obama temporarily abandoning “we go high” to dunk on Trump the way only Michelle Obama can: “Who’s gonna tell him the job he’s currently seeking might just be one of those ‘Black jobs’?” There was the queen of the mic Oprah Winfrey reminding us that when a house is on fire, we try to save everyone—and if the place happens to belong to a childless cat lady, we try to get the cat out, too.” And there was Tim Walz stepping up to be America’s Ted Lasso, using what writer Jessica Bennett calls his “jock insurance” to show a warmer side of political manhood. Basically, the Party has never felt so in step with the actual people (sort of; we’ll get to that in a second).

As incredible as the energy was on the main stage, it felt doubly charged at The Meteor and Emerge’s Power Lounge, where we heard from brilliant women, men, and non-binary people about the issues they care about. Deja Foxx and other Gen Z political players highlighted the economy as a Gen-Z issue; we hung out with Wonder Woman; we got inside the “White Dudes for Harris” movement; and, in what was really a breathtaking moment, several of the fierce and determined women who have testified about their experiences under abortion bans came together onstage to tell Busy Philipps why this issue matters so much. Of course, the Harris candidacy was a prime topic. As San Francisco Mayor London Breed said, in reference to the media’s usual handwringing about whether America is ready for a Black woman president, “They’re not ready? They better get ready.”

One of the most powerful moments of the talk series came during a conversation with  Rep. Jasmine Crockett. “We have to win this election because there is danger lurking around the corner,” she said. “I don’t think people should be convinced their freedoms can’t be cut. So if you think that you’re safe, I promise you, you are not. This isn’t about whether you agree with abortion or not. This is about whether you think we should live in the land of the free.”

You can view all of the Power Lounge panels here, but we highly suggest starting with the video below.

However, while the goal of the DNC was inclusion, not quite everyone got an invite to the main stage. Missing from the grand narrative of the DNC’s success have been Palestinian voices. While protests continue inside and outside the convention center, with activists and delegates applying pressure on the Democratic party to put their full force behind an “immediate and permanent” ceasefire, on-stage speakers have either chosen silence or shared vague statements about ceasefires. Meanwhile, the Uncommitted Movement spent the week making their presence felt and spoke to whoever was willing to listen, including our favorite OB-GYN, Dr. Heather Irobunda.

That issue won’t be going away any time soon: Once the confetti is swept away and the celebrities, speakers, and delegates go their own way, the Harris campaign will still have to, as Rep. Crockett said on her panel, “connect with people on a deeper level.” They will still have to show voters that all of this hope and enthusiasm will convert to action and a presidency that reflects the needs of all Americans.

And that would be truly historic.

AND:

• Arkansas’ Supreme Court has denied a petition that would have put abortion on the ballot in the state due to a hiccup in the paperwork. Had the petition with its more than 101,000 signatures been accepted, Arkansans would have voted on expanding the abortion window in the state to eighteen weeks of gestation, but because of a document that wasn’t turned in by organizers on time, voters will have to wait until the next election cycle for their chance to expand abortion access in the highly conservative state. A devastating snafu as abortion is on the ballot in several states in November. As the president of Reproductive Freedom for all, Mini Timmaraju told us in the Power Lounge “And this just underscores the connection between reproductive freedom, abortion…We got to be thinking about all of the levers of democracy to protect our freedoms.” You can support people seeking abortions in Arkansas here.

• A new report chillingly titled “No Human Being Should Be Held Here” has found that a majority of LGBTQ+ asylum seekers in the U.S. allege they were subject to abuse and inhumane living conditions while being detained by ICE.

• Babe, wake up, a new collective bargaining agreement for the NWSL just dropped.

• The icon known only by his superhero name, Pommel Horse Guy, will be on this season of Dancing with the Stars.

• As a reluctant J.Lo-ologist, I have been asked many times this week for my thoughts about THE divorce. And truly, all I have to ask is, why are any of you surprised this happened? Did you not see their documentary???

THIS MAN JUST WANTS TO GO HOME TO HIS DUNKIES AND CIGARETTES.

WEEKEND READING 📚

On 📠: Who fact-checks the fact-checkers? (Popular Information)

Sobre El Amor es Ciego: Netflix recently wrapped up its first season of Love Is Blind: Mexico which, like its American predecessor, had a little bit of everything, including unabashed colorism. (De Los)

On a good tax: What could a carbon tax do for the economy? For starters, it could fund universal basic income. (Atmos)

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