Boyz II Men, Demi Lovato, Paul Simon Perform Monday at Democratic Convention (Full Speakers Schedule)
Impressive All Star Lineup All Week Long at Democratic National Convention
The 2016 Democratic National Convention has just been gaveled in, and the DNC has released the list of speakers and performers for tonight. Watch live here or below.
4:00 PM – 8:00 PM (EDT)
Call to Order
The Honorable Stephanie Rawlings-Blake
Secretary, Democratic National Committee
Mayor of Baltimore
Invocation
Rev. Dr. Cynthia Hale
Founding and Senior Pastor, Ray of Hope Christian Church — Decatur, Georgia
Presentation of Colors
Members of Delaware County American Legions and Veterans of Foreign Wars
Pledge of Allegiance
Ruby Gilliam
Ohio Democratic National Delegate. At 93 years old, she is the oldest member of the Ohio delegation.
Clarissa Rodriguez
Texas Democratic National Delegate. At just 17 years of age, she is the Youngest DNC national delegate.
National Anthem
Bobby Hill
14 years old, Veteran member of Keystone State Boychoir (KSB)
Roll CallÂ
The Honorable Stephanie Rawlings-Blake
Secretary, Democratic National Committee
Mayor of Baltimore
Performance
Boyz II Men
Nathan Morris, Wanya Morris, Shawn Stockman, House Band
Introduction of and Report by the Credentials Committee
Lorraine Miller
Co-Chair, Credentials Committee
35th Clerk of the United States House of Representatives
James Roosevelt
Co-Chair, Credentials Committee
Grandson of President Franklin D. Roosevelt
Introduction of and Report by the Rules Committee
The Honorable Barney Frank
Co-Chair, Rules Committee
Former Member of the US House of Representatives, Massachusetts
The Honorable Leticia Van de Putte
Co-Chair, Rules Committee
Former State Senator, Texas District 26
The Honorable Nancy Pelosi
House Democratic Leader
Member of the US House of Representatives, California
The Honorable Marcia Fudge
Member of the US House of Representatives, Ohio
The Honorable Maxine Waters
Member of the US House of Representatives, California
The Honorable Gina Raimondo
Governor of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations
The Honorable Hilda Solis
Former United States Secretary of Labor
The Honorable Norman Mineta
Former United States Secretary of Transportation
The Honorable Gary Peters
United States Senator, Michigan
The Honorable Wellington Webb
Former Mayor of Denver
The Honorable Stephanie Rawlings-Blake
Secretary, Democratic National Committee
Mayor of Baltimore
Turning Over the Gavel
The Honorable Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, Secretary of the Democratic National Committee, turns over the gavel to The Honorable Marcia Fudge, Permanent Chair of the 2016 Democratic Convention.
Remarks
The Honorable Marcia Fudge
Member of the US House of Representatives, Ohio
Presentation of Rules Report
The Honorable Wellington Webb
Former Mayor of Denver
Remarks
The Honorable Steny Hoyer
Parliamentarian, Democratic National Convention
House Democratic Whip
Member of the US House of Representatives, Maryland
Introduction of and Report by the Platform Committee
The Honorable Elijah Cummings
Member of the US House of Representatives, Maryland
The Honorable Shirley Franklin
Former Mayor of Atlanta
The Honorable Dannel Malloy
Governor of Connecticut
Presentation of Platform
Paul Booth
Member, Platform drafting committee
Voice Vote On Platform Committee Report
The Honorable Marcia Fudge
Member of the US House of Representatives, Ohio
The Honorable Shirley Franklin
Former Mayor of Atlanta
The Honorable Dannel Malloy
Governor of Connecticut
Remarks and Moment of SilenceÂ
The Honorable Robert Brady
Member of the US House of Representatives, Pennsylvania
RemarksÂ
The Honorable Brendan Boyle
Member of the US House of Representatives, Pennsylvania
RemarksÂ
The Honorable Raúl Grijalva
Member of the US House of Representatives, Arizona
RemarksÂ
The Honorable Nita LoweyÂ
Member of the US House of Representatives, New York
Introduction of New York Electeds and Leaders
The Honorable Nita LoweyÂ
Member of the US House of Representatives, New York
The Honorable Adriano Espaillat
New York State Senator
Remarks by Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee
The Honorable Tina Kotek
Member, Oregon House of Representatives
The Honorable Kevin de León
California State Senator
The Honorable Stacey Abrams
House Minority Leader, Georgia General Assembly
Member, Georgia House of Representatives
Remarks
The Honorable Keith Ellison
Member of the US House of Representatives, Minnesota
Remarks by Democratic Governors Association
The Honorable Dannel Malloy
Governor of Connecticut
RemarksÂ
Rev. Leah Daughtry
CEO of the 2016 Democratic National Convention
RemarksÂ
John Podesta
Clinton Campaign Chair
Congressional Hispanic CaucusÂ
Remarks
The Honorable Linda Sánchez
Member of the US House of Representatives, California
Remarks
The Honorable Marty Walsh
Mayor of Boston, Massachusetts
Remarks by Labor Leaders
Lee Saunders
President, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees
Lily Eskelsen Garcia
President, National Education Association
Mary Kay Henry
International President, Service Employees International Union
Richard Trumka
President, AFL-CIO
Sean McGarvey
President, North America’s Building Trades Unions
Randi Weingarten
President, American Federation of Teachers
COMBATING SUBSTANCE ABUSE
RemarksÂ
Pam Livengood
Keene, NH. Pam and her family have been personally affected by the growing substance abuse epidemic and are guardians for their grandson because of their daughter’s struggle with addiction.
The Honorable Jeanne Shaheen
United States Senator, New Hampshire
PerformanceÂ
Demi Lovato
Singer-songwriter
Band
Steven Rodriguez, Charity Davis, Ayana Williams, House BandÂ
RemarksÂ
The Honorable Jeff Merkley
United States Senator, Oregon
8:00pm – 10:00pm
Â
KEEPING FAMILIES TOGETHER
RemarksÂ
Karla Ortiz (11-yr old) and Francisca Ortiz (mother)
Karla is an American citizen but her parents, including her mother, Francisca, are undocumented and live in fear of deportation.
Astrid Silva
DREAMer sharing her story and her fight to keep families together
The Honorable Luis Gutiérrez
Member of the US House of Representatives, Illinois
ENSURING EQUALITYÂ
Remarks
Jason and Jarron Collins
Twin brothers and former professional basketball players
Jesse Lipson
Founder, ShareFile
The Honorable Pat Spearman
Nevada State Senator
AN ECONOMY THAT WORKS FOR ALL
Remarks
The Honorable Bob Casey
United States Senator, Pennsylvania
The Honorable Luke Feeney
Mayor of Chillicothe, Ohio
The Honorable Kirsten Gillibrand
United States Senator, New York
The Honorable  Al Franken
United States Senator, Minnesota
RemarksÂ
The Honorable Bernie Sanders
United States Senator, Vermont
IntroductionÂ
Sarah Silverman
Comedian, Actress and two-time Emmy Award winner
The Honorable Al Franken
United States Senator, Minnesota
Performance
Paul Simon
American musician, singer-songwriter and actor.
BandÂ
Mick Rossi, Carmen “CJ” Camerieri, Joel Guzman, Jim Oblon, Bakithi Kumalo, Vincent Nguini
RemarksÂ
Anastasia Somoza
International Disability Rights Advocate, Speaker And Consultant
10:00 PM – 11:00 PMÂ
IntroductionÂ
Eva Longoria
Actress
Founder, The Eva Longoria Foundation
Remarks
The Honorable Cory Booker
United States Senator, New Jersey
Video Introduction of Michelle Obama
Remarks
Michelle Obama
First Lady of the United States
RemarksÂ
Cheryl Lankford
San Antonio, TX
Introduction
The Honorable Joseph P. Kennedy, III
Member of the US House of Representatives, Massachusetts
Keynote Remarks
The Honorable Elizabeth Warren
United States Senator, Massachusetts
Benediction
Rabbi Julie Schonfeld
Executive Vice President of the Rabbinical Assembly, first female rabbi to hold a chief executive position in an American rabbinical association
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Maine Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Graham Platner is under fire after releasing a video declaring that new allegations against him are false, yet he is “taking time to reflect” on a path forward.
Politico on Monday afternoon reported that a woman who dated Platner, Jenny Racicot, “says he forced her to have sex with him nearly five years ago despite her repeated objections, an allegation Platner denies.”
“Racicot said she had an on-and-off relationship with Platner,” Politico reported, “for more than two years before he entered her rural Maine home uninvited one night in late 2021, deeply intoxicated, and forced himself on her while she repeatedly told him to stop. She said she cut off contact with him after telling him the encounter was not consensual.”
In a video posted to social media eleven minutes after the Politico story dropped, Platner says, “I wanted to directly address the troubling, serious, and false allegations against me. Any accusation of nonconsensual behavior is categorically false.”
He said he and his supporters “were united in a love of Maine, a belief that our politics must change, in a focus on defeating Susan Collins.”
“So, regardless of the inaccuracy of the reporting, but mindful the political reality will inflict, we are taking the time to reflect on the best path forward for the state that I love, the people that I love, the movement I belong to, and the goal of defeating Susan Collins.”
“Those were the goals when we launched this campaign. And they remain my goals today.”
“Throughout it all, you never turned your back on me. And I will not turn my back on you now. Every one of you deserves to see that vision come to fruition and see Susan Collins defeated. And we will use every tool at our disposal to do so.”
The Bulwark’s Tim Miller, a political commentator who served as the communications director for the Jeb Bush 2016 presidential campaign, blasted Platner.
“I’m sorry but ‘we are taking time to reflect on the best path forward’ is not an option on the table,” Miller wrote. “Either it’s false and you campaign with vigor or it’s true and you get out / apologize to everyone you let down.”
Journalist Ryan Grim, commenting on Platner’s video, noted that Platner “strongly suggests he is considering dropping out. Already Troy Jackson and Chellie Pingree, both gubernatorial candidates, are being kicked around in Maine circles as potential replacements.”
Several others, including Puck News’ Peter Hamby, predicted Platner will be dropping out.
Platner had postponed several campaign events before the Politico story was published.
— Graham Platner for Senate (@grahamformaine) July 6, 2026
President Donald Trump is facing backlash after posting a video of children — including showing their unblurred faces — graduating from kindergarten, with some of the girls purportedly wearing hijabs.
“President Trump posted a captionless video of graduating kindergarteners on Truth Social on Monday, goading his supporters into verbally attacking little children simply for being Muslim,” The New Republic reported. “The clip is from Gateway STEM Academy, a majority-Black K-8 public charter school in St. Paul, Minnesota. It shows about 21 children in caps and gowns on stage singing a song together. Most of the girls are wearing hijabs.”
The original post of the video which Trump reposted reads: “Public school in St. Paul, Minnesota. Every girl is in a hijab … in kindergarten.”
Trump did not add any comments. TNR called the post “Islamophobic, weird, and creepy,” while noting that the comments section of Trump’s post was filled with calls “by racist, xenophobic MAGA supporters” to “deport the children and ban hijabs.”
TNR also noted that it “should come as no surprise that Trump isn’t above attacking children who just learned how to read, but this post is still particularly discomforting—and will certainly contribute to the already potent level of anti-Muslim sentiment in the U.S. and in Minnesota.”
Critics blasted Trump.
“There is something deeply unsettling about the president of the United States—the most powerful person in the world—going after kindergarten schoolchildren in Minnesota because they wore hijabs, as Trump has done this morning on his website,” The Bulwark’s Sam Stein wrote.
One social media commentator wrote, “Trump posted an unblurred video of more than a dozen Muslim kindergartners to Truth Social, exposing the children’s faces while targeting them for their religion.”
Another added, “Trump is a bigot. The president took to Truth Social to attack kindergarteners in hijabs. These are little kids. The president isn’t just a bigot, he’s also a coward.”
The original video was posted to the X social media platform in June.
U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) at the time commented, “If you are in a public school in America, you should be speaking english.”
Image via Reuters
President Donald Trump’s apparent efforts to delay releasing the $5.8 million civil judgment to E. Jean Carroll are being met with a warning by the journalist’s legal team, who suggest there could be a legal maneuver for Trump to employ to forgo paying the judgment in either of the two cases he lost.
According to The Guardian, on July 4, U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan ordered Trump to release the $5.8 million judgment, which is in escrow, to Carroll by this coming Tuesday — or explain why he would not do so.
Carroll’s attorneys think Trump may be trying to buy time to mount another legal strategy, telling the judge that Trump’s request for an extension “appears to be little more than yet another play for time.”
“The case is separate from Trump’s appeal of a Manhattan civil jury’s 2024 award of $83.3m to Carroll for defamation,” The Guardian explains. “But her lawyers have suggested a legal scenario in which the president might seek to conjoin the cases and further delay payment of both.”
Carroll’s attorney Roberta Kaplan (no relation to the judge) wrote, “We can only assume that defendant is seeking … to buy time so he can try to concoct some new basis to put off paying plaintiff presumably in connection with his forthcoming petition and motion for a rehearing.”
Trump’s former attorney, Justin Smith, in one of his final acts, wrote to the Supreme Court suggesting that his client would be appealing the $83.3 million civil judgment.
Smith argued that the Supreme Court “may wish to consider the petitions together,” given they involve the same parties.
The larger judgment case involves possible questions of presidential immunity, and that has Carroll’s attorneys concerned.
“A conjoined case, Carroll’s lawyers fear, could result in both judgments being wiped out,” The Guardian reports.
The president has also made clear he is no fan of Judge Kaplan, after the jurist made several rulings that “angered” Trump.
“What else can you expect from a Trump Hating, Clinton appointed judge, who went out of his way to make sure that the result was as negative as it could possible be,” Trump wrote on Truth Social in 2023, “speaking to, and in control of, a jury from an anti-Trump area which is probably the worst place in the US for me to get a fair ‘trial’.”
Image via Reuters
Platner Scorched Over ‘Taking Time’ Video After New Accusation
Trump Sparks Fury Online After Posting Unblurred Video of Muslim Kindergartners in Hijabs
One Legal Maneuver Threatens to Undo Everything E. Jean Carroll Won
Inside the Group Helping MAGA Voters Walk Away — And What Finally Pushed Them
