Wednesday at the DNC showed a new side of the Democratic Party

Plus, a potential Trump-RFK Jr. alliance?

On the third day of the DNC —headlined by vice presidential nominee Tim Walz — the party continued to reappropriate certain blue-collar and Americana signs and values. 

In the first portion of the evening, speakers like Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro stressed the Democrats’ commitment to the concept of political and personal freedom — as well as speaking to the country’s tradition of fighting for a better society. 

And Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel interpolated the famous Charlton Heston speech, wherein the Hollywood star and NRA president challenged liberals to pry his gun “from his cold dead hands.” But instead, Nessel posited that marriage equality was just as much a fundamental right as any of the others outlined in the Constitution. 

And before bringing on the potential vice president, fellow Minnesotan Sen. Amy Klobuchar highlighted Walz’s dad-like presentation: His flannel shirts and his former life as a high school football coach were meant to signal his common sense and relatability. 

And during the final speech of the night, it was Walz’s down-to-earth, congenial manner that marked a real turning point for the party. In previous elections, the Democrats’ attempts to be relatable had seemed forced and insincere. Hilary Clinton and Joe Biden brought a certain level of technocratic, insider know-how to their tickets, which while maybe comforting for policy wonks, may have come off as a bit holier-than-thou.

Walz’s credentials weren’t Ivy League law schools or an extended tenure in DC, but rather his financial struggles after the passing of his father, the support he cultivated from students in his classroom and a unique brand of small-town optimism — one that can not be pantomimed. 

Suppose last night’s speech was an indication. In that case, it may be that the Democratic Party has finally figured out how to message to a most coveted demographic: the infrequent, disengaged and nonpartisan voter. 

However, as the festivities continued in Chicago, former President Donald Trump also sought to strengthen his coalition. This week, both independent presidential candidate and conspiracy theory magnet Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the equally paranoid Silicon Valley mogul Elon Musk were floated as potential cabinet picks for a hypothetical Trump administration. 

In the case of the former, that seems much more likely. RFK Jr. is set to be in Phoenix on Friday to speak on "the present historical moment and his path forward." Trump, maybe not coincidentally, will also be in Phoenix that day. 

And when asked if he would include the Kennedy scion in his administration, Trump said that he would "certainly be open" to the possibility. While it's unclear if an RFK Jr. endorsement would turn the tide for Trump, the GOP’s nominee is likely desperate to undermine Kamala Harris’ momentum.  

Less likely is the inclusion of Elon Musk in any sort of government position. While RFK Jr. can offer Trump potential voters, Musk is more useful to Trump: His large social media following and anti-liberal contrarianism is catnip for his base. 

“Trump and Musk’s alliance is in its infancy. If the election takes a darker turn and Trump again refuses to recognize the election results, we can expect that Musk will exacerbate any ensuing chaos,” Brian Merchant, a tech reporter, wrote in a recent Guardian column. 

The truth that undergirds Musk’s deepening bond with Trump is that he doesn’t have to go to Washington to wield influence over our institutions. With his vast wealth, addled megaphone and Trump’s ear, he already does.

Eric Hovde on appealing to female voters: ‘If I don’t have something good to say about somebody, I don’t say it’

Wisconsin Republican Senate candidate Eric Hovde made an appearance on Newsmax last week, where an awkward dodge made him imply that he has nothing good to say about female voters or women.

When Newsmax anchor Tom Basile asked about Hovde’s plan to appeal to female voters, the candidate responded by saying he takes a page out of President Ronald Reagan’s book.

“It’s just not my way, I’m kind of like President Reagan, if I don’t have something good to say about somebody, I don’t say it,” Hovde said, supposedly talking about his opponent Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D).

Hovde went on to say that Baldwin’s record is horrible and she is a “big do-nothing.”

Since launching his campaign, Hovde’s record of disparaging comments has become a subject of discussion. During his previous Senate run in 2012, Hovde bashed women for having children out of wedlock. More recently, Hovde claimed that morning-after pills are the same as abortion and compared them to narcotics.