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TOP 10: Moments from Night 1 of the 2024 DNC

BY Bob Erlenback

Monday, August 19, was Night 1 of the 2024 Democratic National Convention, and boy did it deliver.  It was a night full of celebration, both for Joe Biden’s legacy and for the future of possibility a Harris/Walz administration would bring Americans. There were so many touching and raw moments, fiery speeches, calls to action, and an all-around joy for the future of our country. If you missed the night, we did our part and have pulled together our Top 10 speeches of the night!

Note: If you are just looking for a place to watch the convention without the commentary of network pundits, C-SPAN is the place to go!

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10. Vice President Kamala Harris

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Full of excitement, Kamala leaves us gagged by her unexpected appearance and tribute to Joe!  Werk, stunt queen!

9. Amanda and Josh Zurawski, Kaitlyn Joshua, and Hadley Duvall

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Advocates for reproductive rights, everyday people whose lives were — or would have been — dramatically impacted by the Trump abortion bans. This segment drew on raw emotions. These folks remind us what is at stake.

8. Steve Kerr

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The coach of the Golden State Warriors basketball team, who recently brought home gold with the U.S. Men’s Basketball Team at the 2024 Paris Olympics, delivered an unexpectedly powerful speech early in the night. Full of surprises, Steve delivers to a specific audience who needs to hear.

7. U.S. Representative Jasmine Crocket

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The U.S. Representative from Texas delivered the quotable and meme-able moments we expect from her. Jasmine fuels our hope.

6. Ashley Biden

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The President’s daughter, Ashley spoke about the President as a father, reflecting on his lifetime of service and love for his family. This was an emotional and nostalgic speech, and a great tee-up for Joe himself.

5. The Reverend Senator Raphael Warnock

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The Georgia Senator and Baptist preacher laid down a sermon — we mean, speech — full of passion and divine power. Warnock quite literally took us to church.

4. U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

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Delivering an intense call to action full of urgency and the perspective of our youth, the Representative from the Bronx and Queens reminded us why she’s the future of the Democratic Party, and why we are lucky to have her.

3. First Lady Jill Biden

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Full of love for her husband and country, First Lady Jill Biden reminds us how a classy first lady gets the job done.

2. Hillary Clinton

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A stark reminder of what might have been, the 2016 Democratic presidential nominee delivered an epic speech full of intelligence, experience, and a dire warning of what we’re up against. Hillary brings it to us every time.

1. President Joe Biden

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Even though he didn’t take the stage until nearly midnight on the East Coast, President Biden gave a substantial speech full of energy and fire, getting visibly agitated in certain moments. Still, the overall tenor was positive, hopeful, and grateful to our nation and its people. This was a celebration of everything Joe!

What were your favorite moments from the night? Feel free to drop them in the comments.

And make sure to check out our other Top 10 lists for more great pop-culture rankings!