What Went Down On The First Night Of The Democratic National Convention

There is something kind of appealing about this video montage format. TV ads do tug at the heartstrings — I kind of think the DNC may be on its safest footing tonight when it leans into what TV does best!

I think the conventions are tricky, Clare, because the networks don’t love the idea of letting the parties air what is essentially an infomercial where there is no chance for much news to be made. But on the other hand, it’s not as though the talking heads (even the smart ones on PBS) necessarily have anything the audience desperately needs to hear, either.

This video montage is very intense and sets the tone of “year of crisis” right off the bat, using a song from an album that was written about 9/11.