The third night of the Democratic National Convention did not disappoint when it came to emotional moments.
From impassioned pleas for the return of Israeli hostages to tearful reactions to a speech by Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, the night was full of headline-grabbing events.
Here are five that impressed me the most.
Parents of Israeli-American hostages submit emotional plea
The parents of Israeli-American hostage Hersh Goldberg Pollin took to the stage earlier in the evening to call for the return of Israeli hostages being held by Hamas and an end to the humanitarian crisis caused by the Israeli-Hamas war in Gaza.
Rachel Goldberg Pollin and John Pollin received a warm welcome from the audience, who at one point chanted “Take them home!”
Goldberg-Polin, who responded emotionally to the slogan, closed her eyes and placed her hand over her heart. She was wearing tape that read “320,” referring to the number of days her son has been held hostage.
Hersh Goldberg Pollin was kidnapped by Hamas militants on October 7, 2023, while attending the Nova music festival in Israel.
“That was 320 days ago, and we’ve been living on a different planet since then,” Rachel Goldberg Pollin said. “Anyone who is a parent or has had a parent can imagine the anguish and misery that John and I and all of the hostage families are enduring.”
The Israel-Hamas war overshadowed the convention throughout the evening, as independent representatives of the Democratic National Committee held a press conference to reveal that the DNC had rejected a request for a Palestinian speaker at the convention.
Clinton ditched the teleprompter
Clinton deviated from the teleprompter during her speech, not an unexpected move for a former president who often went off script.
Reports surfaced early Wednesday that Clinton had withdrawn a speech she had planned to give earlier this week after watching the first night of the convention.
During her speech, Clinton joked that Harris, who worked at McDonald’s during her college years, has spent more time at the fast food chain than she has.
“When she actually walks into the White House as president, I’m going to be very happy because she’s going to break my record for the president who spent the most time at McDonald’s,” he said.
He also mocked Trump for talking too much about himself.
“What’s her opponent doing vocally? He’s talking mostly about himself. The next time you listen to him, don’t count the lies, count the I’s,” Clinton said.
“His vindictiveness, his revenge, his frustrations, his intrigues. He’s like a tenor singer who tries to open his lungs before going on stage by raising his voice and screaming me, me, me, me,” the former president added.
“With Kamala Harris as president, every day will start with you, you, you, you,” he said.
Oprah criticizes Vance for childfree, cat-loving women
Oprah Winfrey slammed Republican vice presidential nominee J.D. Vance for previously saying the country is run by “childless, cat-loving women.”
“When a house is on fire, we don’t ask what race people are or what religion they have. We don’t care who their partner is or how they voted,” Winfrey said. “We just do the best we can to help them.”
If the location “happens to belong to a woman who doesn’t have kids and loves cats,” Winfrey said, “we’ll try to get rid of those cats, too.”
During her speech, Winfrey endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris and said “civility and respect” would be on the ballot in November.
“Common sense would dictate that Kamala Harris and Tim Walz would give us civility and respect,” she said.
“Let us choose loyalty to the Constitution over loyalty to individuals. That’s what is best about America. Let us choose optimism over cynicism. Let us choose inclusion over retaliation.”
Videos shown at the rally showed footage of the violence at the Capitol on January 6th.
Videos shown at the convention showed shocking images of the violence that occurred during the storming of the Capitol on January 6, including footage of President Trump encouraging protesters at a rally held before the attack.
Many speakers, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), referenced President Trump’s denial of the 2020 election results and subsequent storming of the Capitol.
“January 6 was a dangerous moment for our democracy,” Pelosi said. “Never before has a president of the United States more brazenly attacked the foundations of our democracy, more willingly embraced political violence or more willfully betrayed his oath of office.”
“Let’s not forget who attacked our democracy on January 6th,” she continued. “He did!”
Gus Waltz sobbed throughout his father’s speech.
Gus Waltz was emotional throughout his father’s speech at the rally, crying throughout as he sat with his mother, Gwen Waltz, and sister, Hope Waltz.
Walz sobbed as he took the stage to deliver his speech and as the governor cheered on his family.
“Hope, Gus, Gwen: you guys mean my world and I love you,” the Governor said, and a still-crying Gus Waltz stood up and pointed at his father.
