DNC in Chicago: What happened Tuesday — and what’s coming Wednesday

The Obamas came back home on Tuesday.

Former President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama received a boisterous welcome from their old hometown at the United Center in Chicago at the Democratic National Convention. Meanwhile, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker seized his prime time speaking slot to tie Illinois’ progressive policies to the message of economic progress Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris is promoting.

One thing all three had in common on day two of the DNC: slamming former President Donald Trump.

The former first lady, in a roughly 20-minute address that brought conventioneers to their feet, attacked Trump and warned against complacency in the short 77 days until the election. Her husband, meanwhile, harkened back to the themes of hope and unity that helped catapult him to the national political scene 20 years ago. The Tribune’s Rick Pearson has the rundown from the full day’s proceedings.

In his eight-plus-minute speech, Pritzker did not shy away from his status as a billionaire. Dan Petrella and Olivia Olander have the dispatch.

Much of the day was focused on one of the most animating issues for Democratic voters: reproductive rights. It was a lead topic at Illinois’ delegation breakfasts, the evening’s speeches, and at one point, was the source of an interruption of Vice Presidential nominee Tim Walz during a morning address to the DNC Women’s Caucus.

U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth used her brief remarks on the United Center stage Tuesday night to warn “Republicans won’t stop at banning abortion.”

That abortion access message is one Democrats are likely to repeat. The theme for Wednesday’s proceedings is “A Fight for Our Freedoms,” and will feature a speech from one of the sparringest members of the Democratic Party: former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Former President Bill Clinton also takes the stage Wednesday night. The last time he was at a Chicago DNC, party chiefs — including then-Sen. Joe Biden — were celebrating a tough new anti-crime law and touting an endorsement from the National Fraternal Order of Police. While a former prosecutor leads the ticket today, the party is walking a finer line on crime, the Tribune’s Jeremy Gorner reports.

Here’s what happened Tuesday

Fresh off a star turn on “The Daily Show” Tuesday night, and an interview on the Politico-CNN stage at the convention, Pritkzer took to the United Center stage shortly after U.S. Sen Bernie Sanders Wednesday. He paid tribute to Illinois favorites Abraham Lincoln, Obama, and Michael Jordan within the first two paragraphs of his primetime speech, almost immediately pivoting to one of his default stances: swatting at Trump.

“Donald Trump thinks we should trust him on the economy because he claims to be very rich. Take it from an actual billionaire,” said Pritzker, not shying away from his estimated $3.5 billion worth and garnering applause. “Trump is rich in only one thing: stupidity.”

“I think it’s time we stop expecting women to clean up messes without the authority and the title to match the job,” Pritzker said of Harris. “Vice President was a good title for Kamala Harris. You know an even better one? President of the United States of America! Let’s go get ’em!”

The Obamas’ roughly hourlong closing appearance both riled up party faithful with digs at Trump while encouraging a return to civility in political dialogue.

“Hope is making a comeback!” Michelle Obama declared, drawing comparisons between the values of her late mother, Marian Robinson, and those of Harris.

Both she and her husband urged a departure from the anger, bitterness and racism of Trumpism and hailed Harris’ steely spine, honesty, and joy.

Obama closed by calling for Democrats to help “elect leaders up and down the ballot who will fight for the hopeful, forward-looking America we all believe in.”

Tuesday’s celebrity performances included Patti LaBelle, rapper Common and gospel singer Jonathan McReynolds. Celebrities popped up throughout the evening’s roll call: “Rudy” actor Sean Astin joined with the Indiana delegation, director Spike Lee joined New York, and rapper Lil John stood beside the Georgians.

Throughout the day, protests supporting Palestinians in the war in Gaza continued. On Tuesday, a demonstration led by the pro-Palestinian group Behind Enemy Lines outside the Israeli consulate downtown led to dozens of arrests. Chicago police lined up to form a barrier to protect the building and to separate counter-protestors supportive of Israel. Tribune reporters witnessed multiple protesters being taken into custody, including two independent journalists, before the crowd dispersed around 9 p.m.

The two protesters who breached one of the security fences Monday near the evening’s proceedings were ordered Tuesday morning to stay away for the rest of the convention. One was charged with throwing liquid at a police officer, and another was charged with resisting arrest. In all, 13 were arrested Monday, the Tribune’s protest team reported.

Despite some tense moments at protests largely focused on the war in Gaza, along the lakefront, a pair of runners — one Jewish, one Palestinian — have teamed up to push for both a ceasefire and a return of hostages. The Tribune’s Tess Kenney happened to be following the two on Tuesday when Gov. Tim Walz jogged by at the same time.

Tuesday brought other public safety incidents: Police responded to an anonymous bomb threat targeted at four downtown hotels, including the St. Regis on east Wacker Drive, where Mayor Brandon Johnson headlined a luncheon. After investigation, officials said they were not credible.

Other must-reads from the convention

• Conventions are nothing without delegates, volunteers, and merch hawkers. The Tribune team fanned out across the city to talk to all types about what brought them out for the festivities. The Tribune’s Jonathan Bullington also caught up with several delegates at the United Center Monday, including a chance encounter with Patrick Kane’s aunt. Don’t miss the portraits by our E. Jason Wambsgans and Terrence Antonio James.
• Outside the confines of McCormick Place and the United Center, urban historian Shermann “Dilla” Thomas is showing off the history of Chicago’s South and West Sides on a bus tour with delegates this week, the Trib’s Sylvan Lebrun reports. Wednesday’s tour focuses on the labor history of the Far South Side, and Thursday highlights the Mexican American heritage of Little Village and Pilsen.
• Trib’s Christopher Borrelli has a recap of “Late Show” host Stephen Colbert’s adventures across the city (including anonymously handing out hot dogs and hot dog water) and his broadcast from the Auditorium Theatre. Colbert is a Northwestern University and Second City graduate and seemed to relish — no pun intended — his time back in his adoptive home.

Here’s who is speaking Wednesday night

• House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who is rumored to be partially responsible for President Biden’s decision to step away from a re-election bid, takes the stage tonight.
• Former President Clinton is slated to speak tonight, two days after spouse Hillary Rodham Clinton’s glass-ceiling address Monday night. When accepting the party’s nomination for a second term here in 1996, Clinton opened his more-than-hour-long speech saying he loved Chicago for many reasons: “for your powerful spirit, your sports teams, your lively politics, but most of all for the love and light of my life, Chicago’s daughter, Hillary.”
• Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz rounds off the night in one of his first national addresses as Harris’ vice presidential nominee.

Here’s what else is happening Wednesday

• Trump campaign counterprogramming kicks off for a third day at Trump Tower. Tuesday’s focus was public safety. Wednesday’s focus: national security, featuring Florida Congressman Mike Waltz.
• Catholics for Kamala and Catholics Vote Common Good are holding a 10:30 a.m. presentation about the importance of Catholic voters in 2024. The group says Catholic voters make up almost a quarter of the electorate in the battleground states of Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin. RSVP here.
• Think Big America, Gov. Pritzker’s pro-abortion organization, will join Personal PAC Executive Director Sarah Garza Resnick and several other abortion access leaders for an 11:30 a.m. panel to discuss abortion rights ballot initiatives and go through polling about “how to connect Republican candidates with the extremism of the MAGA movement and their policy agenda.”
• At 12:30 p.m., U.S. Sen Tammy Duckworth will lead a press conference with the state’s Asian American Caucus sharing a roadmap “for successful political growth and increased representation” at New Furama Restaurant. A panel discussion will follow.
• At 2 p.m., the City Club hosts the U.S. Conference of Mayors, including Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker and San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria at The Chicago Firehouse Restaurant.
• Mayor Brandon Johnson will join New York Mayor Eric Adams, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens and Politico’s Suzanne Lynch for a mayoral panel at 3:30 p.m. at the CNN Politico Grill (United Center Lot C). Adams and Johnson are sure to touch on each city’s migrant crisis. New York and Atlanta were also contenders for the DNC last year and lost to Chicago. U.S. Sen Tammy Duckworth opens the day at the grill at 2:40 p.m. Members of the public can RSVP here.
• Drag PAC, a political action committee led by drag artists, will host a special “voter registration kiki,” drag show and meet and greet at Metro Chicago. Doors open at 7 p.m., tickets start at $5.