Democrats kickstart virtual national convention

The Democratic National Convention began on Monday night with the usual cheering crowds replaced by video speeches as the party unified behind Joe Biden’s candidacy for president. Actress Eva Longoria Bastón served as host and guests included the family members of George Floyd, whose death sparked nationwide protests against racism and police brutality.

What were the key takeaways? Several speakers highlighted the Trump administration’s record as an urgent reason to support Biden. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo accused the current administration of mismanaging the pandemic, while former first lady Michelle Obama said President Donald Trump is "in over his head" and urged voters to turn out for Biden “like our lives depend on it.” Four high-profile Republicans, including former Environmental Protection Agency chief Christine Todd Whitman and former Ohio Gov. John Kasich, declared their support for Biden.

Dig deeper: Read Jamie Dean’s journal on the planned presidential debates ahead of the election.