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Trump's allies and family rally to his defense on first night of Republican convention – live Trump's allies and family rally to his defense on first night of Republican convention – live
(32 minutes later)
The former UN ambassador’s words generated strong reactions online as Republicans renominated the president on the first night of the conventionThe former UN ambassador’s words generated strong reactions online as Republicans renominated the president on the first night of the convention
Here’s a side by side comparison of Fox News – Trump’s darling network – and other new channels during tonight’s RNC. In some non-convention news, Jacob Blake is reportedly in stable condition after being shot multiple times by police officers in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
– MS Civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump, who is representing the Blake family, told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that the father of six remains in stable condition.
“At this point, we’re still waiting for the facts to be confirmed,” Crump said. “But we know what we saw in that video, and it was clearly an excessive use of force that was shocking and outrageous and devastating and nobody’s more devastated than his three sons.”
A video of the shooting appears to show Kenosha police repeatedly shooting Blake while his back is turned.
More fact checks from tonight...
Donald Trump: “I didn’t back down from my promises, and I’ve kept every single one.”
Fact check: Per a Politifact tally, Trump has kept 24% of his promises.
Donald Trump: “We’re taking good care of our postal workers. We’re not getting rid of any of our postal workers, you know...If anyone does it’s the Democrats, not the Republicans.”
Fact check: The USPS under Trump donor Louis DeJoy, earlier this month announced planning to seek early retirements of non-union employees. It only suspended an initiative cut work hours for postal workers after public scrutiny.
– Maanvi Singh
Notably, tonight, the Republicans offered few specific platforms of their own, choosing instead to keep the focus on bashing Democrats policies.
While the DNC adopted an official party platform last week, the RNC won’t be doing the same. This year, the RNC has resolved that it “enthusiastically supports President Trump and continues to reject the policy positions of the Obama-Biden Administration” and “will adjourn without adopting a new platform until the 2024 Republican National Convention”.
– Maanvi Singh
Here’s a side-by-side comparison of Fox News – Trump’s darling network – and other news channels during tonight’s RNC.
– Maanvi Singh
A few quickfire fact checks from tonight:A few quickfire fact checks from tonight:
Nikki Haley: “They want to ban fracking.”Nikki Haley: “They want to ban fracking.”
Fact check: Biden and Harris’ climate plan would not ban fracking, though it would end new leases for fracking on federal land.Fact check: Biden and Harris’ climate plan would not ban fracking, though it would end new leases for fracking on federal land.
Donald Trump Jr: “Courtesy of the Chinese Communist Party, the virus struck.”Donald Trump Jr: “Courtesy of the Chinese Communist Party, the virus struck.”
Fact check: Though the virus first flared up in China, genome evidence suggests that most people in New York caught the virus from travelers from Europe.Fact check: Though the virus first flared up in China, genome evidence suggests that most people in New York caught the virus from travelers from Europe.
Steve Scalise: “Joe Biden has embraced the left’s insane mission to defund [police].”Steve Scalise: “Joe Biden has embraced the left’s insane mission to defund [police].”
Fact check: He has not and it is not a part of Biden’s platform.Fact check: He has not and it is not a part of Biden’s platform.
– Maanvi Singh– Maanvi Singh
Biden’s campaign attacked the Republicans for failing to provide any plans to contain the coronavirus crisis during tonight’s convention.Biden’s campaign attacked the Republicans for failing to provide any plans to contain the coronavirus crisis during tonight’s convention.
Kate Bedingfield, the campaign’s deputy manager, said:Kate Bedingfield, the campaign’s deputy manager, said:
– Maanvi Singh– Maanvi Singh
Today’s roster of speakers included two rising stars of the Republican party – Nikki Haley and Tim Scott.Today’s roster of speakers included two rising stars of the Republican party – Nikki Haley and Tim Scott.
Haley, who was initially critical of Trump (she said in 2015, when she was governor of South Carolina, that he represents “everything a governor doesn’t want in a president”) has come a long way in delivering a full-throated endorsement today. She also used the opportunity to set herself up as a 2024 presidential candidate – providing a personal biography and outlining her vision for the country’s future.Haley, who was initially critical of Trump (she said in 2015, when she was governor of South Carolina, that he represents “everything a governor doesn’t want in a president”) has come a long way in delivering a full-throated endorsement today. She also used the opportunity to set herself up as a 2024 presidential candidate – providing a personal biography and outlining her vision for the country’s future.
– Maanvi Singh– Maanvi Singh
In the lead up to the RNC, Republicans struggled to pin down an attack against the Biden/Harris ticket, alternatively painting them as radicals, and socialists who want to defund the police (they are not and do not) but also as candidates too tough on crime.In the lead up to the RNC, Republicans struggled to pin down an attack against the Biden/Harris ticket, alternatively painting them as radicals, and socialists who want to defund the police (they are not and do not) but also as candidates too tough on crime.
That waffling continued tonight.That waffling continued tonight.
Vernon Jones, a Georgia state representative, lauded Trump for delivering a “historic criminal justice reform” and decried Democrats’ reform efforts in the same speech.Vernon Jones, a Georgia state representative, lauded Trump for delivering a “historic criminal justice reform” and decried Democrats’ reform efforts in the same speech.
– Maanvi Singh– Maanvi Singh
Senator Tim Scott received some praise for his convention speech, with many fellow Republicans saying he offered an uplifting message about America’s future.Senator Tim Scott received some praise for his convention speech, with many fellow Republicans saying he offered an uplifting message about America’s future.
Reflecting on how his grandfather was forced to leave school after third grade to pick cotton, Scott said, “Our family went from cotton to Congress in one lifetime. And that’s why I believe the next American century can be better than the last.”Reflecting on how his grandfather was forced to leave school after third grade to pick cotton, Scott said, “Our family went from cotton to Congress in one lifetime. And that’s why I believe the next American century can be better than the last.”
Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie said Scott’s speech was “authentic” and “the most effective” of the night.Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie said Scott’s speech was “authentic” and “the most effective” of the night.
The conservative-leaning website Drudge Report summarized the first night of the Republican convention with the headline: Trump or doom.The conservative-leaning website Drudge Report summarized the first night of the Republican convention with the headline: Trump or doom.
Heading into the convention, Republicans promised to offer a promising vision for the future of the country, but the night was dominated by dark warnings about the alleged dangers of electing Joe Biden president.Heading into the convention, Republicans promised to offer a promising vision for the future of the country, but the night was dominated by dark warnings about the alleged dangers of electing Joe Biden president.
“Do we want a society that breeds success, or a culture that cancels everything it even slightly disagrees with?” asked Tim Scott, posing a rhetorical that was meant as an endorsement of Donald Trump.“Do we want a society that breeds success, or a culture that cancels everything it even slightly disagrees with?” asked Tim Scott, posing a rhetorical that was meant as an endorsement of Donald Trump.
Nikki Haley, also asserted that Trump “knows that political correctness and ‘cancel culture’ are dangerous and just plain wrong”.Nikki Haley, also asserted that Trump “knows that political correctness and ‘cancel culture’ are dangerous and just plain wrong”.
Trump has tried to cancel many people and companies he disagrees with, including but not limited to: Paul Krugman, Goodyear tires, NFL players who kneel during the national anthem, CNN, Univision, social media companies that fact-checked him, journalists who’ve been critical of him...Trump has tried to cancel many people and companies he disagrees with, including but not limited to: Paul Krugman, Goodyear tires, NFL players who kneel during the national anthem, CNN, Univision, social media companies that fact-checked him, journalists who’ve been critical of him...
– Maanvi Singh– Maanvi Singh
Cori Bush, a nurse and Black Lives Matter activist who recently beat a 20-year incumbent in a Missouri primary race, was targeted earlier by Mark and Patricia McCloskey (the couple who waved guns at protesters outside their giant St Louis home). While Mark didn’t mention Bush’s name, he did call her a “Marxist revolutionary”, among other things:
Bush has now responded, expressing a small amount of confusion:
Update: Bush has now tweeted a longer response to the McCloskey’s attack.
The first night of the Republican convention has now concluded. The blog will have more reactions and analysis coming up, so stay tuned.
Senator Tim Scott criticized Joe Biden for some of his past comments about African Americans and his work crafting the 1994 crime bill.
“Joe Biden said if a black man didn’t vote for him, he wasn’t truly black,” Scott said. “Joe Biden said black people are a monolithic community.”
Scott did not reference some of Trump’s most controversial comments on race, such as the president telling congresswomen of color to “go back” where they came from.
Republican Senator Tim Scott argued that America had made strides toward equality during Trump’s first term in office.
“I believe in the goodness of America – the promise that all men, and all women are created equal,” Scott said. “Over the past four years, we have made tremendous progress towards that promise.”
Scott cited jobs gains for Americans of color before the pandemic hit, but it’s important to note that Americans of color have been disproportionately affected by coronavirus.
Multiple speakers tonight have tried to highlight the pre-pandemic economy to promote Trump’s policies, even though the unemployment rate is currently at 10.2%.
Republican Senator Tim Scott is now addressing the convention, arguing the election is not just about choosing between Trump and Joe Biden.
“It’s about the promise of America. It’s about you and me … our challenges and heartbreaks, hopes and dreams,” the South Carolina senator said.
Scott, the only African American Republican in the Senate, then pivoted to discussing his own biography, describing launching a small business and serving in local government.
“I know where I stand, because you see, I am living my mother’s American dream,” Scott said.
In his convention speech, Donald Trump Jr recognized the death of George Floyd, an African American man who was killed by a white police officer.
“What happened to George Floyd is a disgrace. And if you know a police officer, you know they agree with that, too,” Trump said.
However, the president’s son then added, “But we cannot lose sight of the fact that our police are American heroes. They deserve our deepest appreciation.”
Democrats have called for police reform in the months since Floyd’s death, while some progressive activists have called for defunding police departments.
Former UN ambassador Nikki Haley claimed that “America is not a racist country” in her keynote RNC speech tonight. Amid all of the misleading claims peddled by speakers tonight, it’s attracted some of the strongest reactions online:
Nikki Haley’s speech, delivered with conviction and emotion, also contained within it some odd contradictions.
Here’s one example: Haley touted her state’s removal of the Confederate flag from the state capitol following the Charleston Church massacre when 9 Black worshippers were killed by a white supremecist. While she was governor of South Carolina, her state “removed a divisive symbol” Haley said.
But the comments jarr against Trump and Republicans’ protests against the takedown of confederate symbols and monuments in the wake of Black Lives Matter protests. Trump criticized NASCAR for banning the Confederate flag from events, argued against renaming military bases named after Confederate generals and said in a Fox News interview that “When people proudly have their Confederate flags, they’re not talking about racism... It represents the South.”
– Maanvi Singh
The president’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr, is now addressing the Republican convention.
Trump defended his father’s record on the economy, even though US unemployment is currently 10.2%.
Echoing his father, Trump tried to wind back the clock, reminding voters of the country’s economic gains before the coronavirus pandemic struck.
“So if you’re looking for hope, look to the man who did what the failed Obama-Biden administration never could do and built the greatest economy our country had ever seen--and President Trump will do it again,” Trump said.
Many Democrats have argued the president is trying to take credit for the economy that Barack Obama built.
Former UN ambassador Nikki Haley is now addressing the Republican convention.
Haley embraced Trump’s vision for the future and denounced Democrats’ positions on foreign policy.
“Obama and Biden let North Korea threaten America,” Haley said. “President Trump rejected that weakness, and we passed the toughest sanctions on North Korea in history.”
That comment seemed odd, considering Trump repeatedly reached out to Kim Jong Un and met with him in person.
Shifting to a cultural critique, Haley also said, “In much of the Democratic Party, it’s now fashionable to say that America is racist. That is a lie. America is not a racist country.”