Last week’s Democratic National Convention was a star-studded parade of the party’s top figures. President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, President Bill Clinton, Sen. Bernie Sanders, and an array of Hollywood celebrities delivered speeches. And of course, Hillary Clinton officially accepted the Democratic nomination for president, which gave the media much to talk about. While those speeches produced many notable moments, it appears that the speech that has reverberated the most in the days following the convention is that of Khizr Khan, the father of a fallen American Muslim soldier.

Mr. Khan, with wife Ghazala Khan at his side, criticized Trump for his Islamophobic and xenophobic rhetoric, and drew special attention for the moment he pulled out his copy of the Constitution and directly challenged Trump, saying, “Let me ask you: have you even read the United States Constitution? I will gladly lend you my copy.”

He followed up by declaring, “You have sacrificed nothing, and no one.”

These criticisms have proven to have had a powerful impact, one that the Trump campaign has been unable to effectively combat. When asked about his reaction to the speech by ABC’s George Stephanopoulos, Trump said that Khan “probably looked like a nice guy” but followed by saying, “If you look at his wife, she was standing there. She had nothing to say. She probably–maybe she wasn’t allowed to have anything to say. You tell me.”

I was viciously attacked by Mr. Khan at the Democratic Convention. Am I not allowed to respond? Hillary voted for the Iraq war, not me!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 31, 2016

The backlash against Trump’s comments was immediate. In an MSNBC interview, Mrs. Khan explained that she chose not to speak because she would not be able to keep her composure, due to her immense grief. In that same interview, Mr. Khan called his wife his “coach,” and said that he was “strengthened by her presence.” Mrs. Khan then went on to publish an op-ed in The Washington Post, where she refuted Trump’s claims and discussed her son’s sacrifices for his country.

The Khans’ son, Capt. Humayun Khan, was killed in 2004 at age 27 in Iraq after stepping into the line of fire to save his colleagues from a suicide bomb. His sacrifice reportedly saved over 100 of his fellow soldiers from death.

The speech has provoked a large public response. Major figures in the Republican Party, such as Paul Ryan, Mitch McConnell, and John McCain, have strongly condemned Trump’s comments. The presidential candidate has also drawn ire from veterans’ groups and other Gold Star families.

On Twitter, #TrumpSacrifices hashtag used Khan’s comment to mock Trump’s (lack of) sacrifices for his country. Another hashtag, #CanYouHearUsNow, attacked Trump’s insinuation that Muslim women were not allowed to speak.

.@realDonaldTrump This is me, giving a talk at @Georgetown. Do I look oppressed to you? #CanYouHearUsNow pic.twitter.com/NVVMJDbnlJ

— Rim-Sarah Alouane (@RimSarah) August 1, 2016

Today we raise our voices for Muslim women around the world who empower their community #LLSP2016 #CanYouHearUsNow pic.twitter.com/n6bId5Usjj

— KaramahDC (@KaramahDC) August 1, 2016

Khizr Khan’s DNC speech, and the response that has followed it, has been able to do what no one has seemingly been able to do: make Trump seem vulnerable. Last December, Trump made the comment that he could “stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody and not lose any voters.” And so far, it has seemed to be true, as he has gotten away with attacking nearly every group–Muslims, African-Americans, immigrants, Mexicans, women–and yet has still been able to maintain his base of support. This unwavering support has allowed him to make flat-out false statements and be blatantly hypocritical and offensive, without fear of repercussions.

This time, however, Trump’s insensitive remarks toward a Gold Star family, and inability to take any criticism aimed against him, have brought him into a battle he cannot win. By directly challenging Trump, a Muslim immigrant man might be Trump’s most forceful opponent so far.

Mariam Jaffery

Mariam was an Executive Assistant at Law Street Media and a native of Northern Virginia. She has a B.A. in International Affairs with a minor in Business Administration from George Washington University. Contact Mariam at mjaffery@lawstreetmedia.com.

The post Are the Parents of a Fallen Muslim Soldier Trump’s Biggest Threat? appeared first on Law Street.

This year, Law Street Media is attending both the RNC and DNC conventions, and bringing Law Street readers the inside scoop. We’ll be doing day-by-day rundowns and exclusive features. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Snapchat for even more content.

Here’s a look at the third day of the festivities, courtesy of Law Street reporters Alexis Evans and Anneliese Mahoney:

Big Tech Presence at DNC

Several tech companies, including Facebook, Twitter, and Microsoft, set up shop inside the Wells Fargo Center for the Democratic National Convention. The arena quickly turned into an analytics lover’s paradise, as each company seemingly competed for the award for biggest data tech screen.

Microsoft Station Courtesy of Anneliese Mahoney for Law Street Media

#TweetShop Courtesy of Alexis Evans for Law Street Media

Pokémon Go Break

In between speeches I had time to quickly catch a cp 36 Rattata that was hiding in a camera guys lap. Hey, Ash told me I “gotta catch em’ all” right?

Image Courtesy of Alexis Evans for Law Street Media

Bernie Protesters Take Over the Media Tent…Again

For the second night in a row, protesters took over the media tent. They were protesting the fact that Nina Turner, a Sanders’ delegate and backer, was allegedly blocked from being one of Sanders’ nominators.

Image courtesy of Anneliese Mahoney for Law Street Media

A few celebrities even joined the protest, including Danny Glover, Susan Sarandon, and Rosario Dawson.

Image courtesy of Anneliese Mahoney for Law Street Media

Gun Violence Theme

There was a strong gun violence theme day three at the convention. Democrats called upon the mother of one of the Pulse nightclub victims in Orlando, the daughter of  the slain Sandy Hook Elementary principal, two of the three survivors from the Mother Emanuel Church shooting in Charleston, SC, and Gabby Giffords to rally support against the gun lobby.

Watch Christine Leinonen, mother of Pulse victim Christopher “Drew” Leinonen, give an emotional plea for gun control below:

Christine Leinonen’s son died in the Orlando shooting; she made an emotional plea about gun control at the @DNCinPHLhttps://t.co/OzFmhuMCWR

— Business Insider (@businessinsider) July 28, 2016

Joe Biden Loves the Word Malarkey

Biden made a clear case against Donald Trump last night, calling out the Republican nominee’s “malarkey” and “you’re fired” catchphrase.

VP Joe Biden calls out Donald Trump’s ‘malarkey,’ says he ‘has no clue.’ https://t.co/ZlJFcMn4hn #DemConvention https://t.co/CaVzWLXtob

— ABC News (@ABC) July 28, 2016

Tim Kaine Became the DNC’s Dad

When Hillary’s VP first stepped onto the DNC stage Wednesday night, he was still a relatively unknown senator from Virginia to many Americans. But thanks to some smooth Spanish, hilarious “believe me” Trump impersonations, and corny Dad jokes, Tim Kaine quickly won over the crowd–becoming the DNC’s newly appointed dad. Here are some of Twitter’s best dad jokes during Kaine’s speech:

Tim Kaine absolutely SCOURED Consumer Reports to get the BEST car seat for his kid

— Charlie Warzel (@cwarzel) July 28, 2016

Tim Kaine is your friend’s dad who catches you smoking weed at a sleepover and doesn’t rat you out but talks to you about brain development

— PJ Vogt (@PJVogt) July 28, 2016

Tim Kaine just wants one word alone with your prom date.

— Jordan Weissmann (@JHWeissmann) July 28, 2016

Tim Kaine really wants you to have a good time at this party but would ask that you just remember to use a coaster!!!!!!

— Kevin O’Keeffe (@kevinpokeeffe) July 28, 2016

Tim Kaine comes off as that super goofy high school teacher who always made terrible jokes and is also the reason you got to go to college.

— Ian Millhiser (@imillhiser) July 28, 2016

Obama and Hillary Hug

Unlike Monday and Tuesday, every seat in the stadium was filled in anticipation for the president’s speech Wednesday night–and he sure delivered. Obama warned the American public against electing Trump, declaring “America is already great!” Obama stated,”Our power doesn’t come from some self-declared savior promising that he alone can restore order. We don’t look to be ruled.” 

Obama then gave a strong endorsement of his formal rival saying,

I can say with confidence there has never been a man or a woman–not me, not Bill, nobody–more qualified than Hillary Clinton to serve as President of the United States of America.

At the conclusion of Obama’s speech, Hillary surprised the audience by joining him onstage for a warm embrace. Looks like some rivals can truly become friends.

Hillary Clinton joins President Obama on DNC stage after his speech #DemsInPhilly pic.twitter.com/fQOhrPd2aT

— BuzzFeed (@BuzzFeed) July 28, 2016

Alexis Evans

Alexis Evans is an Assistant Editor at Law Street and a Buckeye State native. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and a minor in Business from Ohio University. Contact Alexis at aevans@LawStreetMedia.com.

The post What’s up at the DNC?: Law Street’s Day 3 Coverage appeared first on Law Street.

For Bernie button collectors and Hillary diehards, the Democratic National Convention is the mother of all opportunities for Democrats to show their favorite politicians some love by donning their best DNC outfits. Here is a collection of  some of the best dressed attendees we found over the course of the convention.

Red, White, and Bernie

Mississippi delegate is decked out in red, white, and blue to show her support for Bernie Sanders.

Image Courtesy of Alexis Evans for Law Street Media

Alexis Evans

Alexis Evans is an Assistant Editor at Law Street and a Buckeye State native. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and a minor in Business from Ohio University. Contact Alexis at aevans@LawStreetMedia.com.

The post Inside the DNC: A Look at Some of the Best Dressed Attendees appeared first on Law Street.

This year, Law Street Media is attending both the RNC and DNC conventions, and bringing Law Street readers the inside scoop. We’ll be doing day-by-day rundowns and exclusive features. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Snapchat for even more content.

Here’s a look at the second day of the festivities, courtesy of Law Street reporters Alexis Evans and Anneliese Mahoney:

There was a Gender Neutral Bathroom, Without Any Fuss

Image courtesy of Anneliese Mahoney for Law Street Media

Given all the of the hubbub about gender neutral bathrooms in the U.S. this past year, it was a nice “f you” to the GOP to see a gender neutral  bathroom at the DNC.

Of course, some conservative attendees of the DNC were freaked out by the horror. Personally I went in, and wasn’t surprised to see no less than five drug-filled orgies.

I’m kidding. It was just a bathroom.

Hillary Clinton Became the Democratic Nominee After a Delightful Roll Call Vote

Have you ever wanted to see a bunch of adults–some of them famous and important politicians–grin and recite fun facts about their states? If your answer is yes, look no further than the roll call vote held today. DNC Secretary Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, who is also the Mayor of Baltimore, asked each state and territory (in alphabetical order) to cast their votes for either Hillary Clinton, or Bernie Sanders.

Some delegates had passionate messages for the group assembled, like DC’s Mayor Muriel Bowser, who used the moment to rally for DC statehood.

Mayor @MurielBowser casts 5 votes for @BernieSanders & 39 votes for @HillaryClinton & full support for #DCStatehoodpic.twitter.com/RV6kCQdN9X

— John J. Falcicchio (@falcicchio) July 26, 2016

Others had deeply personal moments, like Hillary Clinton’s childhood friend Betsy Ebeling speaking for Illinois:

HRC’s childhood best friend Betsy Ebeling doing roll call for Illinois gave me all the feels ❤️ #DemConvention https://t.co/fnwC1qEByf

— Sarah Lerner (@SarahLerner) July 26, 2016

And Bernie Sanders’ brother, Larry Sanders, spoke for the Democrats abroad. He currently resides in the UK and is affiliated with the Green Party of England and Wales.

An emotional Larry Sanders cast a vote for his brother Bernie at the DNC: https://t.co/QwxtEQFo8lhttps://t.co/PqAP5Bz5dw

— Los Angeles Times (@latimes) July 26, 2016

#DemsInPhilly even if this roll call serves no real purpose other than being endearing, it’s certainly changed the mood in here.

— Anneliese Mahoney (@amahoney8672) July 26, 2016

Hillary Officially Became the Nominee

Hillary Clinton made history today. She is the first woman to be nominated for president of the United States by a major party.

History. pic.twitter.com/1ayWTx8SPH

— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) July 26, 2016

But Not Everyone was Happy

Image courtesy of Alexis Evans for Law Street Media

As we moved through the roll call vote, many Sanders supporters decided to show their frustration by staging a walkout and then sitting down in the media tent. For a look at the protest, check out Law Street Media’s coverage here.

Mothers of the Movement Moved Arena to Tears

While the Bernie sit-in was still underway inside and outside of the media tent, the crowd inside the arena erupted into chants of “Black lives matter” as the Mothers of the Movement–a collection of black women whose children had been killed in police shootings or by gun violence–took the stage to endorse Hillary Clinton and share stories of their slain children.

This is a pretty profound moment. The “Mothers of the Movement” on stage at the DNC. pic.twitter.com/SrMyPOSGms

— Trymaine Lee (@trymainelee) July 27, 2016

The nine women included: Sybrina Fulton, the mother of Trayvon Martin; Geneva Reed-Veal, the mother of Sandra Bland; Lucy McBath, the mother of Jordan Davis; Gwen Carr, the mother of Eric Garner; Cleopatra Pendleton, the mother of Hadiya; Maria Hamilton, the mother of Dontre; Lezley McSpadden, the mother of Michael Brown; and Wanda Johnson, the mother of Oscar Grant.

Fulton dismissed concerns that the women were being used by the Clinton campaign as political pawns saying:

This isn’t about being politically correct. It’s about protecting our children. That’s why we’re here tonight with Hillary Clinton. And that’s why, in the memory of our children, we are imploring you — all of you — to vote in this election.Hillary is the one mother who can ensure our movement will succeed.

‘This isn’t about being politically correct’: Watch Trayvon Martin’s mother make an emotional plea at the DNChttps://t.co/wTZhdtmclK

— Business Insider (@businessinsider) July 27, 2016

Bill Clinton Shares Really Long Love Story

Former President Bill Clinton officially became the first man to give a first lady speech with a really, really, long retelling of his and Hillary’s love story.

“Third time was the charm”- says @billclinton on asking @HillaryClinton to marry him #DNC

— Alexis Evans (@Lex_vans) July 27, 2016

Bill documented what seemed like each year with Hillary including moving Chelsea into college in 1997 and the later events of 1999, but unsurprisingly fast forwarding over 1998’s Monica Lewinsky scandal. All in all Bill’s speech was clearly an attempt to humanize Hillary with voters, and I think he succeeded.

Anneliese Mahoney

Anneliese Mahoney is Managing Editor at Law Street and a Connecticut transplant to Washington D.C. She has a Bachelor’s degree in International Affairs from the George Washington University, and a passion for law, politics, and social issues. Contact Anneliese at amahoney@LawStreetMedia.com.

The post What’s up at the DNC?: Law Street’s Day 2 Coverage appeared first on Law Street.

Here at the DNC, there’s a cushy little area for the press. Giant tents, creature comforts like snacks and water, and (most importantly) enough charging stations for our phones/laptops/tablets/obscene amount of technology we lug around. The DNC media tent is, for many, a peaceful workspace, and a quiet respite from the complete and utter craziness that is the Democratic National Convention.

Tonight it was a little less peaceful.

Sanders supporters walked out of the convention in protest after Hillary Clinton became the official Democratic nominee, and ended up staging a sit in inside and around the media tent.

Here are some scenes from the protest:

Image courtesy of Anneliese Mahoney for Law Street Media

Image courtesy of Anneliese Mahoney for Law Street Media

Image courtesy of Anneliese Mahoney for Law Street Media

Image courtesy of Anneliese Mahoney for Law Street Media

Image courtesy of Alexis Evans for Law Street Media

Many of the protesters were the picture of tranquility, with taped mouths, or cloths wrapped around their faces. Many clutched each others’ hands, while others held signs ranging from protesting TPP to outright animosity toward Hillary Clinton.

Image courtesy of Anneliese Mahoney for Law Street Media

Fellow Law Streeter Alexis Evans talked to a protester, 20-year-old Caitlin Gladwell, who explained that the protest was arranged via social media, around when the North Dakota delegates were announced. She explained that there wasn’t a theme to the protest, saying:  “No it was just meant to be a walkout, saying we are walking out of there, we’re not going to lie down and accept this decision by the DNC.” When asked if she could ever see herself actually voting for Hillary Clinton she stated:

I don’t know. I will have to go home and do a lot of self thought a lot of research and see what her actions are in the coming months. The number one thing she could do is come clean and take responsibility for the email scandals. And then maybe some of us might considering trusting her.

Stay updated on the conventions by following Law Street on Twitter, Facebook, and Snapchat for even more content.

Anneliese Mahoney

Anneliese Mahoney is Managing Editor at Law Street and a Connecticut transplant to Washington D.C. She has a Bachelor’s degree in International Affairs from the George Washington University, and a passion for law, politics, and social issues. Contact Anneliese at amahoney@LawStreetMedia.com.

The post Sanders Supporters Take Over DNC Media Tent to Protest Clinton’s Nomination appeared first on Law Street.

This year, Law Street Media is attending both the RNC and DNC conventions, and bringing Law Street readers the inside scoop. We’ll be doing day-by-day rundowns and exclusive features. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Snapchat for even more content.

Here’s a look at the first day of the festivities, courtesy of Law Street reporters Alexis Evans and Anneliese Mahoney:

A View of the Convention Center

Delegates, supporters, and press waited in lines to attend several caucus and council events throughout the day at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.

Image Courtesy of Anneliese Mahoney for Law Street Media

Best Supporter Outfits

Image Courtesy of Alexis Evans for Law Street Media

Image Courtesy of Alexis Evans for Law Street Media

Convention goers in Philly got decked out in festive campaign apparel to advocate for both Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders. One Clinton supporter from Hillary’s hometown of Chappaqua, New York had a “Yaaas-worthy” shirt, while these Bernie supporters from Maine rocked crocheted Bernie beer caps. Check back later for more coverage on the best DNC outfits in Philly.

Who Said It: Trump Vs. Internet Troll

NARAL Pro-Choice America enticed people to its booth with this “Who Said It: Trump vs. Internet Troll” misogyny themed poster.

Image Courtesy of Alexis Evans for Law Street Media

Wet Hot American Summer

Image Courtesy of Alexis Evans for Law Street Media

So far this has been one wet, hot American summer, and the Democratic National Convention was no exception. The city of Philadelphia kicked off the DNC with an excessive heat warning, as temperatures climbed well above 90 degrees.  The sticky temps made waiting in line for shuttles from the Pennsylvania Convention Center to the Wells Fargo Center close to unbearable. Once the buses finally arrived, sweaty, frustrated delegates, who had been waiting for over an hour due to heavy traffic and Bernie supporters’ protests, pushed and shoved their way toward the buses. The disorganized mess lead to some heated exchanges between convention goers and volunteers. Later that evening, day one’s weather was capped off by some intense thunderstorms and flash flood warnings, which forced the media tents outside of the convention to evacuate. Philly appears to be rebelling against the democrats’ convention.

At #DNCinPHL, there’s been 95°+ weather and flash floods because nothing says “hey guys our democracy is fine” like apocalyptic weather.

— Anneliese Mahoney (@amahoney8672) July 25, 2016

What’s Next for Bernie Sanders Supporters

Walking around the Democratic National Convention today, one thing was abundantly clear–despite the fact that Hillary Clinton is the presumptive Democratic nominee, delegates that showed up to support Sanders aren’t going to take this convention sitting down. Almost everywhere we went there were people decked out in full on Bernie gear, chants erupted at the drop of a hat, and Bernie Sanders’ rally–during which he tried to push for party unity–ended with his supporters booing him for that sentiment. And observing all of that today, feeling the palpable tension in the crowd, and seeing hundreds of supporters burst into chants, it’s hard not to wonder what could possibly come next.

Here’s the scene as Sanders tried to push his fans to support Hillary:

BERNIE: “We have got to defeat Donald Trump, & we have to got to elect Hillary Clinton & Tim Kaine.”
CROWD: pic.twitter.com/uYpi1yex3L

— David Mack (@davidmackau) July 25, 2016

After that response, Sanders also sent out an email to his supporters, urging them to stay calm at the convention.

Here’s the email version of the text Bernie Sanders sent to delegates this afternoon (via @kasie) #DemsInPhillypic.twitter.com/zr8ZO8uQeF

— Monica Alba (@albamonica) July 25, 2016

Yet, a handful of Sanders supporters have gotten arrested, and there are still plenty of protests going on at the DNC.

Hashtag Controversy

Twitter had trouble committing to an official DNC hashtag Monday. Hopefully Philly can figure it out before the convention’s over.

CAN WE PLEASE AGREE ON ONE HASHTAG FOR THIS THING?!? #DemConvention #DemsInPhilly #DNCinPHL

— Ellie Hall (@ellievhall) July 25, 2016

Michelle Obama’s Epic Takedown of Trump–Without Ever Saying his Name

Michelle Obama was one of the primary speakers of the night, and made a compelling argument about why we shouldn’t vote for Trump. While plenty of viewers made Melania Trump plagiarism jokes during the first lady’s speech, many others commented on the elegance and weight of her rhetoric.

She said:

That is the story of this country, the story that has brought me to this stage tonight, the story of generations of people who felt the lash of bondage, the shame of servitude, the sting of segregation, but who kept on striving and hoping and doing what needed to be done so that today I wake up every morning in a house that was built by slaves. And I watch my daughters, two beautiful, intelligent, black young women playing with their dogs on the White House lawn. And because of Hillary Clinton, my daughters and all our sons and daughters now take for granted that a woman can be president of the United States.

After an evening where many of the speakers were left with some level of discontent–boos abounded during many of the earlier speeches, mostly from voters who aren’t #WithHer–Obama’s speech was almost universally beloved.

“If they go low we go high” @MichelleObama filled me with hope for people, not just this current outcome What a supreme champion. #DNCinPHL

— Minnie Driver (@driverminnie) July 26, 2016

Why can’t Michelle Obama just be the next president? She is seriously the best option

— Camilla Long (@camillalong) July 26, 2016

Incredible speech by an incredible woman. Couldn’t be more proud & our country has been blessed to have her as FLOTUS. I love you, Michelle.

— President Obama (@POTUS) July 26, 2016

Bernie Sanders Called for Party Unity

Bernie Sanders called for the party to come together to support Hillary Clinton when he gave the final speech last night. When he took the stage, a lot of people were really freaking out. 

Some Bernie Sanders supporters looking super emotional … crying in the crowd pic.twitter.com/yDhJ7CEbxO

— Oliver Darcy (@oliverdarcy) July 26, 2016

Photos & Memes: Crying Bernie Sanders’ Supporters at DNC https://t.co/GRbudCDIJIpic.twitter.com/GAalZG96pZ

— PoliticsS2 (@Politic2k) July 26, 2016

Sanders speech, as expected, was a strong approval of Clinton–he didn’t have a “Ted Cruz” moment and refuse to endorse her. But Sanders is now still faced with the rather monumental task of getting his supporters to calm down. Maybe Sarah Silverman can help.

Sarah Silverman: “To the Bernie or bust people — you’re being ridiculous” https://t.co/gyUMMophnv #DemsInPhilly https://t.co/NZTj1DHUcM

— CNN (@CNN) July 26, 2016

Alexis Evans

Alexis Evans is an Assistant Editor at Law Street and a Buckeye State native. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and a minor in Business from Ohio University. Contact Alexis at aevans@LawStreetMedia.com.

The post What’s up at the DNC?: Law Street’s Day 1 Coverage appeared first on Law Street.

Some of the exchanges question Bernie Sanders’ faith. Some show attempts to undermine his campaign’s credibility. One describes him as an outsider with “no understanding of what we do.” Monday morning, the FBI announced they will be investigating the leak of the nearly 2,000 emails sent between top Democratic National Committee members, which were released by WikiLeaks on Friday. Hillary Clinton insists the leak is the work of Russia, in an attempt to give Donald Trump a boost.

The emails–part one of WikiLeaks’ “Hillary Leaks series”–proved so damaging that Debbie Wasserman Schultz, the DNC chairwoman, announced her resignation on Sunday. She will address delegates at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia this week before ceding her post to Donna Brazile, the vice chairwoman of the DNC. Monday morning, Wasserman Schultz was booed at a Florida delegate breakfast in Philadelphia.

While journalists have been combing through the emails, which include over 8,000 attached documents, some shocking exchanges between key party figures have been revealed. In one, Brad Marshall, chief financial officer of the DNC suggests questioning Sanders’ Jewish beliefs as a way to dissuade pious voters in Kentucky and West Virginia from voting for him:

He had skated on saying he has a Jewish heritage. I think I read he is an atheist. This could make several points difference with my peeps. My Southern Baptist peeps would draw a big difference between a Jew and an atheist…It’s these Jesus thing.

In a statement issued on Sunday, Sanders, who has been claiming that the DNC rigged the primary fight in favor of Clinton for months, thanked Wasserman Schultz for her years of service, but said she made the “right decision” by resigning. “The party leadership must also always remain impartial in the presidential nominating process, something which did not occur in the 2016 race,” he added.

The Democrats are in a total meltdown but the biased media will say how great they are doing! E-mails say the rigged system is alive & well!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 24, 2016

For her part, Clinton also thanked her “longtime friend” for her five years as DNC leader, and announced she will act as a Clinton surrogate in Florida, a key swing state, as well as other states. “I look forward to campaigning with Debbie in Florida and helping her in her re-election bid–because as President, I will need fighters like Debbie in Congress who are ready on day one to get to work for the American people,” Clinton’s statement read.

Trump quickly seized on the second email scandal involving his rival party during the campaign. He took to Twitter to publicize his views on the matter, firing off a round of tweets Monday morning: “Crooked Hillary Clinton knew everything that her ‘servant’ was doing at the DNC–they just got caught, that’s all! They laughed at Bernie.”

The Democratic Party will seek to show itself as unified, in contrast to the fractured Republicans, during the convention in Philadelphia this week. But the email leak could prove difficult to paper over, especially for Sanders’s supporters and delegates who remain steadfast in their support, even as the senator endorsed Clinton and ended his White House ambitions a few weeks ago.

Alec Siegel

Alec Siegel is a staff writer at Law Street Media. When he’s not working at Law Street he’s either cooking a mediocre tofu dish or enjoying a run in the woods. His passions include: gooey chocolate chips, black coffee, mountains, the Animal Kingdom in general, and John Lennon. Baklava is his achilles heel. Contact Alec at ASiegel@LawStreetMedia.com.

The post DNC Emails: Wasserman Schultz Resigns, FBI to Investigate the Leak appeared first on Law Street.

He remained committed to his own campaign as long as he could. But on Tuesday morning, in front of a packed high school auditorium in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Bernie Sanders finally budged, endorsing Hillary Clinton as the Democratic presidential nominee.

“This campaign is about the needs of the American people and addressing the very serious crises that we face, and there is no doubt in my mind that, as we head into November, Hillary Clinton is far and away the best candidate to do that,” said the 75-year-old Vermont senator, who electrified the progressive wing of the Democratic Party during his campaign.

Sanders represents the final–and perhaps most coveted–endorsement of the former secretary of state from key liberal figures. President Obama endorsed Clinton in June, and Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), another progressive stalwart, followed a few weeks later, stoking rumors of an all-female Democratic ticket.

#BernieSanders just endorsed #Clinton, did she blackmail him or threaten his life? Either way this is bad for the world.

— Partisangirl (@Partisangirl) July 12, 2016

And although his presidential hopes are all but officially dashed (the Democratic National Convention in less than two weeks will likely be the final blow), Sanders has his thumbprints all over the party’s platform, which was released as a draft on July 1. At Tuesday’s rally, Clinton touched on points likely to go over well with Sanders supporters, a cohort that has proved difficult to attract to her side.

She was steadfast in her opposition to the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a trade deal that she has supported in the past. She spoke on raising the minimum wage, as well as shaking up the way political campaigns are financed. All of the aforementioned issues were touchstones of the Sanders campaign. “These aren’t just my fights. These are Bernie’s fights. These are America’s fights,” she said. Sanders was hopeful that the party’s platform will get pushed through a White House and Congress dominated by Democrats. He said: “Our job now is to see that platform implemented by a Democratically controlled Senate, a Democratically controlled House and a Hillary Clinton presidency – and I am going to do everything I can to make that happen.”

I am somewhat surprised that Bernie Sanders was not true to himself and his supporters. They are not happy that he is selling out!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 12, 2016

And indeed, the sea of Clinton supporters at the Portsmouth rally was punctuated by Sanders supporters who remained by his side, even as he embraced the candidate that they vehemently booed. According to a recent Reuters poll, Sanders supporters might not budge simply because Clinton increasingly absorbs his talking points. The poll found that only 40 percent of Sanders supporters signaled that they plan to back Clinton in November.

Donald Trump, Clinton’s counterpart on the Republican side, jumped on Tuesday’s endorsement as an opportunity to court disillusioned Sanders supporters. He tweeted before and after the rally, and released a statement on his website, saying: “Bernie’s endorsement becomes Exhibit A in our rigged system – the Democrat Party is disenfranchising its voters to benefit the select and privileged few.”

To all the Bernie voters who want to stop bad trade deals & global special interests, we welcome you with open arms. People first.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 12, 2016

Trump wasn’t the only opportunist after the endorsement. Gary Johnson and Jill Stein, both third party possibilities, criticized Sanders and called on his supporters to join their campaigns. But a unified party finally emerged on Tuesday, as Sanders and Clinton clasped hands and raised them in the sky in a show of unity. “I can’t help but reflect on how much more enjoyable this election will be now that we are on the same side,” Clinton said.

Alec Siegel

Alec Siegel is a staff writer at Law Street Media. When he’s not working at Law Street he’s either cooking a mediocre tofu dish or enjoying a run in the woods. His passions include: gooey chocolate chips, black coffee, mountains, the Animal Kingdom in general, and John Lennon. Baklava is his achilles heel. Contact Alec at ASiegel@LawStreetMedia.com.

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Yes, you read the title right.

On Monday’s episode of “The Daily Show” Trevor Noah sat down with Democratic National Conference (DNC) chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz to discuss the current presidential primary race from the Democratic side.

In between discussing the RNC’s Republican “clown car” and her party’s use of superdelegates, the conversation turned a little PG13 when Noah asked Wasserman Schultz if the DNC is conspiring to prevent Bernie Sanders (I-VT) from securing the nomination against Hillary Clinton. Noah asked,

A lot of people feel that Bernie Sanders … is being cockblocked by the DNC. Is there any merit to this?

The question comes after Wasserman Schultz has repeatedly faced scrutiny over the low number of debates the Democrats have had during this campaign cycle, and accusations that she’s acted more in the interest of Clinton due to biased favoritism.

Now my guess is, it isn’t very often that Wasserman Schultz finds herself being questioned on whether or not she’s “cockblocking” someone. That being said, she managed to handle the question pretty well firing back,

You know, as powerful as that makes me feel, I’m not doing a very good job of rigging the outcome or… “blocking” anyone from being able to get their message out.

She added,

The reality is that I have a job as national party chair that is one that requires a thick skin. It requires me to be able to absorb the body blows so our candidates can stay above the fray.

Watch the full clip below

Alexis Evans

Alexis Evans is an Assistant Editor at Law Street and a Buckeye State native. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and a minor in Business from Ohio University. Contact Alexis at aevans@LawStreetMedia.com.

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Primary season is upon us, and it seems you can’t scroll through your TV guide without passing a televised political debate. For political junkies, the primary debates are equivalent to Sunday Night Football, with fans watching eagerly for stand-out moments, which can be alternately career–defining, or campaign–destroying. It’s easy to feel saturated with the political back-and-forth, especially considering the GOP candidates will debate seven times in the first three months of 2016.

Amidst all the chaos of these events, however, there are some regulations the campaigns and candidates must follow. Each of the two major parties lay out a schedule and a list of restrictions–if you want to be their nominee, you have to play by their rules. Both the Republican and Democratic National Conventions forbid candidates from performing in sanctioned debates if they participate in an un-sanctioned debate. This means that the debates organized by the party are the only debates a candidate can participate in, if they want that media coverage.

When it comes to scheduling there are stark differences, however, between the parties. The DNC announced that it would organize a total of six debates from 2015-2016, down from 26 debates in the ’07-’08 election. The RNC also reduced the number of debates, from the 20 between 2011-2012 to twelve debates this season.

Debbie Wasserman-Schultz, the chair of the DNC, has received criticism for limiting the number of official debates, and for scheduling the debates for time slots with low viewership. Critics of Wasserman-Schultz see the debate schedule as support for Hillary Clinton, as Clinton is a more familiar candidate, while Bernie Sanders might benefit from more airtime to introduce himself to voters and put his message forward.

One loophole used by candidates on both sides is to join a “forum” or “town hall.” These events still involve candidates answering questions live on television, but are distinct from debates in that the candidates take turns, and don’t interact with or respond to each other. The Democrats and Republicans each have four forums scheduled.  As for other debates, MSNBC and The Union Leader newspaper are considering hosting a separate, unsanctioned debate, which could disqualify participants.

Thursday’s Republican debate is already drawing headlines for the candidate who won’t be there–none other than the chief headline-drawer himself, Donald Trump. Trump asked followers on Twitter whether he should attend the debate, and eventually his campaign stated he will refuse to participate due to his discontentment with Megyn Kelly’s position as moderator. A move like this might spell trouble for the RNC’s ability to control its already anti-establishment candidates. This does not, however, bar him from participating in other official debates.

Fox News representatives fired back at Trump’s refusal, poking fun at his decision to poll his millions of Twitter followers.

We learned from a secret back channel that the Ayatollah and Putin both intend to treat Donald Trump unfairly when they meet with him if he becomes president — a nefarious source tells us that Trump has his own secret plan to replace the Cabinet with his Twitter followers to see if he should even go to those meetings

Trump didn’t take too kindly to the barb:

The statement put out yesterday by @FoxNews was a disgrace to good broadcasting and journalism. Who would ever say something so nasty & dumb

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 27, 2016

Following this refusal, Ted Cruz, Trump’s biggest rival in the Iowa caucus, challenged Trump to a “mano a mano” debate between the two. This sort of event would be right in Cruz’s wheelhouse, as during his undergraduate years he shined on Princeton’s extemporaneous debate team. But such a debate would be against the RNC’s rules, and would forbid either candidate from participating in future RNC debates.

While leadership from each party has control over the sanctioned debates, we may see more town hall forums spring up throughout primary season. If rebukes like Trump’s become more common, the control of the parties might begin to slip away, leading to an even more unpredictable primary season.

Sean Simon

Sean Simon is an Editorial News Senior Fellow at Law Street, and a senior at The George Washington University, studying Communications and Psychology. In his spare time, he loves exploring D.C. restaurants, solving crossword puzzles, and watching sad foreign films. Contact Sean at SSimon@LawStreetMedia.com.

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