Last night marked the close of the most unusual political conventions in American history. Both the Republican and Democratic national conventions looked radically different this year due to COVID-19 restrictions. For the Democrats, roll call was a virtual parade of state and territory landmarks, including Rhode Island’s trademark calamari.
For Republicans, it was an in-person roll call of people gathered at the convention in Charlotte. Standout speakers for the Democrats included former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama, while Republicans gave the mic to multiple members of Trump’s extended family. The conventions solidified Joe Biden and Kamala Harris for the Democratic ticket, while Republicans are sticking with Donald Trump and Mike Pence. The days of speeches reflected drastically different positions on the pandemic, racial justice and what factors pose the biggest threat to the future of the American people and economy. Host Frank Stasio talks with political analyst Ken Rudin about key takeaways from the DNC and RNC.