DNC 2020: Michelle Obama gives powerful speech after Bernie Sanders calls on viewers to fight against 'bigotry' and back Biden

Kamala Harris responds after Trump promotes racist birther conspiracy

Kamala Harris has responded to a racist birther conspiracy theory promoted by Donald Trump which falsely claims she is not eligible to serve in the White House, telling a prominent black-oriented media outlet: "They're going to engage in lies. They're going to engage in deception."

The California senator selected by Joe Biden to join his presidential campaign spoke to TheGrio on Saturday in a wide-ranging interview after the president claimed in a White House press briefing last week that he had "no idea" whether she met the requirements to become vice president, adding: "I heard today that she doesn't meet the requirements."

Ms Harris was born in Oakland, California and can serve as both vice president and president -- despite racist claims published by Chapman University professor John Eastman in Newsweek that the president later attributed during his briefing with reporters. If elected, she would become the first black woman and person of Indian descent to serve in the White House. Conspiracy theories about her origins, similar to those Mr Trump used against Barack Obama throughout his presidency, are rooted in racism and have no basis in reality.

"They're going to engage in an attempt to distract from the real issues that are impacting the American people," Ms Harris said. "And I expect that they will engage in dirty tactics. And this is going to be a knockdown, drag-out. And we're ready."

Chris Riotta reports.

Biden to appear every night of convention, DNC confirms

Presidential hopeful Joe Biden will appear on every night of the convention ahead of his nomination speech on Thursday night, according to the Associated Press.

DNC chair Tom Perez confirmed to the wire that Biden would either speak or been seen on every night of proceedings, with Monday night's programming to include the ex-VP speaking to criminal justice reform activists.

The following days will see Biden address the coronavirus, health care and the economy.

Story of Joe and Jill Biden's alleged affair drops on first day of Democrat convention

A new piece dropped on the first day of the DNC convention from Jill Biden's ex-husband alleging she had an affair with Joe Biden and that the pair have lied about it for more than 40 years.

Bill Stevenson told The Daily Mail that the affair ended his marriage, while the story about how Mr and Mrs Biden met on a blind date was completely made up.

"I don't want to hurt anyone," Mr Stevenson, 72, said. "But facts are facts and what happened, happened."

Stevenson told the outlet that he is writing a book about the claims, but that he didn't want to harm his ex-wife's chances of becoming First Lady.

"It's not a bitter book -- I'm not bitter because, if it wasn't for my divorce, I would never have met my wife Linda and she's the greatest thing in my life -- but it does have facts in it that aren't pleasant to Jill and Joe," Mr Stevenson said.

He continued: "I considered Joe a friend. I'm not surprised he fell in love with Jill. Everyone who meets Jill falls in love with her immediately. It's hard not to."

TRUMP: 'Joe Biden is the puppet of left-wing extremists'

Speaking in Minnesota just hours before the start of the Democrat National Convention, Donald Trump said Joe Biden is a puppet of far-left extremists attempting to replace American freedom with left-wing fascism.

"Joe Biden is the puppet of left-wing extremists trying to erase our borders, eliminate our police, indoctrinate our children, vilify our heroes, take away our energy, you know all about that, take away our energy if you can believe it, no fossil fuel," Trump said at an airport hangar in Mankato. "Destroy our Second Amendment, attack the right to life, and replace American freedom with left-wing fascism."

Trump also renewed his attacks against Biden's cognitive state, saying that presumptive nominee would unintentionally unleash crime, chaos, corruption and economic collapse on the country.

"This is a puppet, he won't do it intentionally he just says, well whatever they want because he has no clue," Trump said.

Trump mocks Democratic National Convention

Speaking at a campaign event in Oshkosh, Donald Trump took aim at tonight's Democrat National Convention, asking who wants to listen to a taped speech by Michelle Obama.

"They're making speeches that are taped, who wants to listen to Michelle Obama do a tapped speech? No you've got to have her get up there," Trump said as the crowd booed. "But we're doing a real speech on Thursday, next Thursday... doing it live, live from the White House."

People around Biden 'mean and angry' like Kamala Harris, Trump said

"Biden is just a Trojan Horse for socialism, he is he has no clue but the people around him are tough, and they're smart, but we disagree with them very, very strongly, they're mean and they're angry, like her," Trump said, referring to Biden's running mate Kamala Harris.

"By the way, nobody treated Joe Biden worse than Kamala, right, she was worse than Pocahontas, she was worst than anybody on stage. Nobody treated him worse or with less respect, she had no respect, all of a sudden she's saying isn't he wonderful. She didn't feel that way a little while ago."

BREAKING: Trump to deliver Republican nomination speech 'live from the White House'

Donald Trump said on Monday he would deliver his nomination acceptance speech "live from the White House" next Thursday, 27 August.

Speaking at a campaign event in Wisconsin, the president said he would deliver a "real" speech to accept the Republican nomination for president as he mocked the pre-tapped speeches for the start of the Democratic National Convention.

"They're making speeches that are taped, who wants to listen to Michelle Obama do a tapped speech? No, you've got to have her get up there," Mr Trump said as the crowd booed. 

"But we're doing a real speech on Thursday, next Thursday... doing it live, live from the White House."

Confirmation of the White House as the president's venue to accept the party's presidential nomination comes after criticism that it could be in violation of the federal Hatch Act.

While the Hatch Act typically prevents political candidates from using government employees or property for campaign purposes, the president and vice president are exempt.

Follow the story as it unfolds.

 BREAKING: Michelle Obama to hail Biden's 'grit and passion' in Democratic convention speech

Michelle Obama has praised Joe Biden "grit and passion" in a speech that will be broadcast during the Democratic National Convention.

The former first lady, who spent eight years in the White House with Mr Biden when he served as her husband's vice president, is set to deliver the keynote speech on the first of the convention.

Other speakers include Vermont senator Bernie Sanders, who ran Mr Biden close in the early stages of the Democratic primary, and whose supporters the former vice president is desperate to win over.

Also speaking is congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a protégé of Mr Sanders whose progressive policies have been embraced by many younger Democrats.

Andrew Buncombe is reporting on the story as it unfolds.

OPINION: 'A Kamala Harris presidency is on the horizon. We should begin to prepare'

Earlier we heard from Independent Voices contributor Carli Pierson that she feels "disgusted" by the binary choice between Joe Biden and Donald Trump.

But perhaps the decision people should start thinking about, and preparing for, is the one between Trump and Kamala Harris.

Voices contributor Hannah Selinger writes that given Biden's age, if he becomes president so too will Harris.

"A two-term presidency was never likely for an 80-year-old man, meaning that Biden always knew his vice-presidential choice would be part of his legacy," Ms Selinger writes.

"His decision to choose Kamala Harris for the ticket is a decision to pass the baton; to get her into the Oval Office, come hell or high water."

Read the full column here.

Obama shares his DNC Convention playlist

The ex-president shared his playlist to go with this week's Democrat convention.

Here are a few notable selections he has for Democrat voters tuning into an historic virtual convention during the coronavirus lockdowns:

Don't Walk Away Gaslighter Be Honest For What It's Worth Be Afraid Let's Get lost Lockdown