Democratic National Convention Readies for Protesters in Chicago

Get ready, it’s DNC time: The Democratic National Convention kicks off today in Chicago, and the tensions surrounding Israel/Palestine that have been simmering within the left since October 7 may reach a boiling point this week.

Tens of thousands of protesters are expected to gather right outside of the security perimeter to protest the party’s support of Israel; Kamala Harris’ husband, Doug Emhoff, who is Jewish, is set to speak about Judaism on stage; and similar to the Republican National Convention, families of hostages taken by Hamas will make appeals onstage for the return of their loved ones.

Some delegates who refused to vote for Kamala Harris, identifying themselves as the Uncommitteds, have gone against the party’s choice due to their opposition to U.S. backing of Israel in the Gaza conflict. The Uncommitted factor is particularly significant in Michigan, a swing state with a sizable Middle Eastern population, and Democratic officials have been working to connect with the dissatisfied group in recent weeks; they aim for a DNC that conveys unity, and the presence of massive protests just outside the venue threatens this goal.

“The crucial question for Democrats this week is whether the demonstrators represent a substantial voter base that could influence the November election, or if they are outliers on the left who should be resisted in favor of appealing to the center,” summarizes The New York Times.

Hamas rejects latest ceasefire proposal: On Sunday, following intense negotiations and Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s trip to Israel with hopes of reaching an agreement, Hamas turned down a proposed ceasefire deal with Israel.

“After being briefed by the mediators on the latest round of talks in Doha, we concluded once again that Netanyahu is still obstructing the path to an agreement, setting new conditions and demands to undermine the mediators’ efforts and prolong the conflict,” Hamas stated, adding that the U.S.-brokered ceasefire “aligns with” Israel’s demands.

The main sticking point was that the ceasefire did not mandate a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. Israel proposed maintaining a strong security presence on the Egypt-Gaza border and retaining control over the Netzarim Corridor, dividing north and south Gaza.

Blinken has described this round of talks as a “decisive moment” for Israel and Hamas. In recent weeks, Iran and its proxies, including Hezbollah, have threatened to retaliate against Israel for the July assassinations of Hezbollah official Fuad Shukr in Beirut and Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran. While a broader conflict has been averted so far, it remains uncertain for how long; the ongoing negotiations may have played a role in preventing escalation. That may no longer be the case now.

Scenes from New York: One of New York City’s hospital systems, Northwell Health, is launching a studio to produce its own movies and TV shows following the success of the Netflix series Lenox Hill, which followed doctors and patients within the system. However, just a few years ago, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center had to pay over $2 million in a settlement to federal regulators for failing to safeguard patient privacy during a television filming inside the hospital. Expect more ethical and legal challenges to arise.

QUICK HITS

• “The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, which handle about a third of all U.S. container imports, experienced their third busiest month in July, coming close to an all-time high set in May 2021. At that time, a surge of incoming consumer goods caused supply chain bottlenecks and a growing line of cargo ships waiting offshore for a berth,” reports Bloomberg. “Current demand is being driven by retailers and other importers stockpiling ahead of U.S. tariffs on Chinese products and a potential strike by a large group of American dockworkers—adding to the usual pre-holiday ordering frenzy this time of year.”
• Planned Parenthood Great Rivers is providing free vasectomies and abortions for DNC attendees at a van near the convention center, which seems counterproductive if the goal is to expand the political party.
• Also on the DNC abortion front: Some protesters have dressed up as abortion pills.
• Georgia officials appreciate the economic potential of producing electric vehicles but are hesitant about the California-style regulations supporting them. They acknowledge the job opportunities but share the sentiment of many constituents who view electric vehicles as a manifestation of the Democrats’ progressive agenda,” reports Politico.
• Donald Trump’s running mate, J.D. Vance, responded over the weekend to news of a Kamala Harris poll boost by accusing the media of using fake polls.