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DNC 2024 Day 2 live updates: Former Trump official Grisham speaks in favor of Harris

Grisham is the first of several former Trump officials slated to speak.

Last Updated: August 20, 2024, 6:32 PM EDT

After an emotional tribute to President Joe Biden Monday night, the scene at the Democrats' gathering on Tuesday shifts to appearances by former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama.

In their highly anticipated prime-time speeches, the Obamas are expected to help clearly "pass the torch" to Kamala Harris, who will be holding a rally in Milwaukee this evening ahead of her acceptance speech Thursday night.

8 hour and 44 minutes ago

Israeli American Council hosts 'Hostage Square' art exhibition just blocks from United Center

A group of Israeli and American artists showcased their work throughout the day Tuesday to draw attention to the more than 100 hostages still being held by Hamas in Gaza.

The Israeli American Council (IAC), a nonprofit organization that advocates for the Israeli American community, held the pop-up exhibition it called "Hostage Square" in an empty lot about five blocks east of the United Center, where the DNC is being held through Thursday.

A person holds a representation of milk carton with hostage photos as the Israeli-American Council hosts an event to launch "Hostage Square Chicago", in Chicago, Aug. 20, 2024.
Eduardo Munoz/Reuters

All the art was created in response to the Oct. 7 attacks in Israel, said Jeff Aeder, a Chicago-based real estate investor who put the exhibition together over the last four weeks.

The show "is a much more effective way at looking at a different narrative, opposed to two groups yelling at each other, to highlight the plight of the hostages and the trauma that has been felt by the Jewish world," he said. "Art is a good way for people to tell these stories."

Throughout the day Tuesday, about a thousand people visited the exhibition, according to Aeder, including Michael Herzog, Israeli ambassador to the U.S., and families of several hostages.

Aeder said he is determining if the art will travel to different locations. He said he is realistic, knowing "it's very hard" to summon change through artwork. But he hopes the exhibition is one of "a thousand different points of contact" with the public to create awareness about the plight of the hostages and their families.

"We need to continually do everything we can to bring attention to it, because we never know what’s going to touch somebody," he said. "Being silent is not an option."

-ABC News' Mark Guarino

8 hour and 54 minutes ago

Bernie Sanders to discuss economy in prime-time speech

Sanders is slated to speak in the 9 p.m. ET hour tonight, and according to released excerpts of his speech, he will focus on the economy.

The independent senator worked with the Biden-Harris administration to achieve price negotiations with Medicare on commonly used prescription drugs. The administration announced last week that a deal was reached to lower the cost of 10 medications.

"When the political will is there, government can effectively deliver for the people of our country," Sanders will say. "We need to summon that will again -- because too many of our fellow Americans are struggling every day to just get by -- to put food on the table, pay the rent, and get the health care they need."

"These oligarchs tell us we shouldn’t tax the rich; we shouldn’t take on price gouging; we shouldn’t expand Medicare to cover dental, hearing and vision; and we shouldn’t increase Social Security benefits for struggling seniors," he'll go on to say. "Well I’ve got some bad news for them. That is precisely what we are going to do, and we're going to win this struggle because this is precisely what the American people want from their government."

-ABC News' MaryAlice Parks

9 hours and 45 minutes ago

Emhoff, Schumer, Sanders and more will speak tonight

Before the Obamas take the stage Tuesday, the DNC will feature speeches from second gentlemen Doug Emhoff, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Sen. Bernie Sanders, according to the convention's schedule.

Maryland Senate candidate Angela Alsobrooks will deliver the keynote remarks.

Remarks are also expected from former Trump White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham, as well as Jason Carter and Jack Schlossberg, the grandsons of former Presidents Jimmy Carter and John F. Kennedy, respectively.

An attendee wears a hat on the opening night of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Aug. 19, 2024.
Caroline Brehman/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

9 hours and 58 minutes ago

Rep. Frost on Gen Z's excitement for Harris

Rep. Maxwell Frost, the youngest member of Congress, spoke with ABC News Live anchor Kyra Phillips about the enthusiasm Gen Z has for Kamala Harris.

"Young people are excited about Kamala Harris and I think it's for many different reasons," he said. "No. 1, it's her authenticity. She's been going viral on TikTok, online, Twitter and a lot of it has to do with her as a human, her as a person, the things she loves, who she is, and the things she says."

Frost added that young people like Harris because "they hear her message, and then they see themselves represented in her and what she's fighting for and all the amazing people that we have here today."

Watch more from Frost's interview below.

Rep. Maxwell Frost, the first member of Generation Z in Congress, talks about the importance of Kamala Harris and the role of young Americans in politics.
Rep. Maxwell Frost, the first member of Generation Z in Congress, talks about the importance of Kamala Harris and the role of young Americans in politics.

-ABC News' Isabella Meneses