The DNC, Santos Guilty Plea, and DC Councilmember Arrested

Hello Everyone and welcome back to another week of Politics Explained. My name is Alex and I will be taking the start of this blog, I am pumped for this week, as we have started our Tik Tok account, so we hope everyone will go follow it! There will be so much fun content from that account, so make sure you stay tuned! With that being said, there was a lot in politics this week including the DNC, George Santos (again), and the DC Ward 8 council member being arrested. Again this week we will also have another opinion piece. With all of that being said, let's dive right in!

Former House Republican George Santos, who represented New York’s 3rd District and was ousted from the House in early December, has now pleaded guilty to felony charges of wire fraud and identity theft. The plea comes after Santos impersonated his entire life story, including claiming he attended NYC. The former Congressman faces a two year minimum sentence, which looks to be closer to 6-8 years. 

A story more close to home in the DMV is the D.C. Ward* 8 Councilmember Trayon White has been arrested and charged with one count of bribery. The FBI outlined how White had taken tens of thousands of dollars in bribes. He received envelopes filled with cash in exchange for pressuring DC government employees. A Democrat, White was the favorite in the upcoming election for Ward 8 but now the Democrats will need to find a new candidate. 

My Opinion:

Hi everyone. My name is Micah Bidner and I am a Junior in High School at the Schechter School of Long Island. I am a huge politics nerd and serve as my high school's POTUS Club (Politics of the United States) President. 

From a divided party, caught between the issue of what to do with its presidential nominee and a Middle East war, to a reunified party, rallying behind its first-ever women of color presidential nominee, the 2024 DNC will go down in history as a moment that defined American politics and reunited a split Democratic Party.

The DNC, or the Democratic National Convention, is a meeting of democratic delegates and officials that is held every four years. Both the DNC and its Republican equivalent, the RNC, are held before every presidential election. During the DNC, democratic electors officially nominated Kamala Harris and Tim Walz as their presidential nominees, rallying behind them as Election Day nears. Of course, Harris and Walz give keynote addresses, but the two are joined by a plethora of Democratic leaders, such as senators, representatives, and even celebrities. This year, the DNC was held in Chicago, Illinois, a Democratic stronghold.

Here are some of the biggest takeaways from the event:

1. Harris Takes on Trump Directly
   Unlike previous strategies that built up Trump as a larger-than-life threat, Harris and the Democrats aimed to cut him down to size. Former President Obama mocked Trump’s focus on crowd sizes, and Harris called him “an unserious man.” The convention also used humor, with comedian Kenan Thompson highlighting the absurdity of the Republican agenda, signaling a shift to portraying Trump as less of a threat and more as an out-of-touch figure. During the event, we saw a very noticeable transition from a Biden-led party to one led by Harris. Besides a limited number of public appearances in a presidential capacity, Biden will most likely spend the next few weeks out of the public eye. The convention spoke much about the threat of Trump himself as the Republican nominee. It seems that the democrats have used Trump's dominance in the republican party to their ability, using Trump almost as a euphemism for the entire republican party. Democrats, it seems, are trying to diminish Trumpso power and authority, attempting to make him appear “weird” and “unserious.”

2. Flexibility on Policy
   Specific policy details took a back seat during the convention, with a stronger focus on defeating Trump. Harris has shown a willingness to adjust her stance on issues like fracking and healthcare to align with broader party goals. This pragmatic approach reflects a strategic focus on winning the election rather than getting bogged down in policy specifics, although key topics like immigration and Middle East conflicts were addressed. 

3. Israel and the Middle East Conflict
   One of the biggest issues over the past few months, especially for the democratic party, has been the differing views on how to deal with the war in Gaza. The war in Gaza, which began with Hamas’s brutal massacre of Israeli Civilians on October 7th, left over 1,000 Israelis brutally murdered and hundreds of Israelis, Americans, and foreign nationals taken hostage by the terrorist organization. The Democratic party has found itself split. More moderate democrats align themselves more with Israel, reiterating their support for one of the United States' biggest foreign allies. At the same time, more radical liberals oftentimes find themselves supporting “Palestine” or the possibility of a Palestinian state. Despite tensions over Israel's actions, Kamala Harris has managed to keep the party relatively unified. Although she faces criticism for her stance on Israel, prominent progressive figures express optimism that Harris might adopt a different foreign policy approach than President Biden if elected. Harris has called for a cease-fire in Gaza, aligning somewhat with progressive demands, but without fully embracing their calls for an arms embargo on Israel. This criticism was also felt after DNC organizers refused to allow the uncommitted movement to have a speaking slot at the convention. Beyond this, organizers of the DNC anticipated large anti-Israel protests. Pro-Palestinian protests ended up being much smaller than anticipated, and Harris's handling of these issues is keeping most of the party satisfied for now. The event also hosted the parents of American Hostage Hersch Goldberg-Polin, who has been held hostage by Hamas for over 300 days, alongside the American Eight, a term coined to describe the eight American hostages being held by the terrorist organization in Gaza. On the final night of the DNC, in her closing address, Kamala Harris reiterated her strong support of the State of Israel and Israel’s right to self-defense. She also reiterated the need for a ceasefire and the release of the hostages. Politically speaking, Harris will most likely take a similar stance on Israel that her predecessor has, while also attempting to appease the more pro-Palestinian voices within the democratic party. 

4. Use of Social Media 

   In a sign of changing times, the DNC heavily incorporated social media influencers into its outreach strategy, recognizing the power of digital platforms in shaping public opinion and mobilizing voters. Influencers, alongside traditional journalists, documented key moments of the convention, ensuring that the event's highlights reached a broader, younger audience. This approach marks a significant shift in campaign strategy, acknowledging that conventional media may no longer be sufficient to reach and engage all voter demographics. The use of social media was seen with the Harris campaign's use of certain trends, such as Charli XCX’s Brat. On the same note, we saw growing speculation that Beyonce would make a surprise guest appearance at the DNC. This rumor stemmed from the Harris campaign's use of the Song “Freedom” by Beyonce, which has become a sort of anthem for her election. These rumors ended up being false, but they just demonstrate the campaign's successful use of social media and pop culture in order to relate to younger voters. This is especially important right now as Gen Z and young voters have been coming out in droves to vote, having the power to change election results. 

5. Notable Speakers

The Democratic Convention featured a lineup of notable speakers who energized the audience and underscored the party’s key messages. Former President Barack Obama delivered a powerful speech, criticizing Donald Trump’s leadership and portraying him as a self-absorbed figure disconnected from the needs of ordinary Americans. Michelle Obama spoke passionately about the need for hope and change, emphasizing the opportunity for a fresh start under Kamala Harris’s leadership. Michelle Obama’s speech proved to be extremely important given her popularity among the general American public. Oprah Winfrey added her voice to the chorus, urging Americans to look towards a future defined by promise rather than a return to the past. Additionally, comedian Kenan Thompson brought humor to the stage, using satire to critique Republican policies and highlight the stakes of the upcoming election. 

This DNC will certainly go down in history as a moment that defines American Politics. With less than ninety days to election day, both the Harris and Trump Campaigns have work to do. 

*Definition of the Week (Ward): In the United States, a ward is an optional division of a city or town for administrative and representative purposes, especially for purposes of an election.