‘Turn the page on Trump’, Tim Walz says as Democrats put spotlight on January 6 riot
It’s time to “turn the page” on Donald Trump, Tim Walz said in a landmark speech setting his stall out against the Republicans.
Kamala Harris’s pick for vice president formally introduced himself to the Democratic faithful, and drawing on his time as a high school American football coach, he urged them to “leave it all out on the field” until election day.
“Our job is to get in the trenches and do the blocking and tackling,” he said, speaking on the third night of the Democratic National Convention.
“One inch at a time, one yard at a time, one phone call at a time, one door knock at a time, one $5 donation at a time.
“We’ve only got 76 days to go. That’s nothing. We’ll sleep when we’re dead. And we’re gonna leave it all on the field.”
Tim Walz Pic: AP
Earlier this week, Mr Walz was accused of lying about his wife using IVF to have their daughter, Hope.
He previously suggested he and Gwen Walz had undergone IVF to conceive their daughter, but Mrs Walz later said they used intrauterine insemination (IUI).
He took on the topic in his speech, saying: “We also protected reproductive freedom because, in Minnesota, we respect our neighbours and the personal choices they make.
“And even if we wouldn’t make the same choices for ourselves, we’ve got a golden rule – mind your own damn business.
“That includes IVF and fertility treatments. This is personal for Gwen and I. If you’ve never experienced the hell of infertility, I guarantee you know somebody who has.”
‘Don’t forget who saved democracy’
Over the course of the night, Democrats put the spotlight on January 6, with a video showing Mr Trump urge supporters to fight before they stormed the US Capitol to try to block Joe Biden’s 2020 victory.
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Pelosi savages Trump but does not name him
Nancy Pelosi, who was House speaker on that day, said: “Let us not forget who assaulted democracy on January 6 – he did.
“But let us not forget who saved democracy that day – we did.”
Never before had a president of the US “so brazenly assaulted the bedrock of our democracy”, she added, and “so gleefully embraced political violence, so wilfully betrayed his oath of office”.
She gave her thanks to outgoing president Joe Biden, before turning her attention to Ms Harris, who she said is ready to take the US to “new heights”.
Celebrity backing
Among the celebrities turning up – including performances from Stevie Wonder and John Legend – Oprah Winfrey became the latest to endorse Ms Harris and warn about Mr Trump.
She said there are “people who seek to first divide and then to conquer” and who would have others “believe that books are dangerous and assault rifles are safe”.
Read more: Sequel ‘usually worse’ as Obama rounds on Trump Could influencers swing election for Kamala Harris?
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‘No-nonsense’ address from Oprah
Quoting late congressman John Lewis, she added: “No matter what ship our ancestors arrived on, we are on the same boat now.”
“But he also knew the work is not done,” she added. “The work will never be done because freedom isn’t free.”
“Every now and then it requires standing up to life’s bullies,” she said.
‘Don’t count the lies’
Former president Bill Clinton added his voice to the convention’s theme of mocking Mr Trump, telling the audience “don’t count the lies – count the I’s” next time he speaks.
“He’s like one of those tenors opening up before he walks out on stage trying to get his lungs open by saying: Me, me, me, me.
“When Kamala Harris is president, every day will begin with you, you, you.”
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Trump is all me, me, me!, Kamala is you, you you!
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He also made fun of Mr Trump’s repeated references to fictional killer Hannibal Lector, joking he makes “endless tributes”.
Project 2025, a set of policy proposals some conservatives hope Mr Trump would adopt, also came under fire.
Comedian Kenan Thompson carried the large policy book on stage, telling the crowds: “Ever seen a document that can kill a small animal and democracy at the same time?
“Here it is.”
There are 161 people still missing in Texas in the aftermath of last weekend’s deadly flash floods, the state’s governor has said.
Speaking at a news conference on Tuesday, governor Gregg Abbot said the number of missing had risen markedly.
He said among the missing were five children and one counsellor from Camp Mystic – where at least 27 people were killed in the flash flooding.
At least 109 people are confirmed to have died in the floods, which took place on the 4 July weekend, but this figure has been steadily climbing ever since.
People comforted each other in Kerville. Pic: Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle via AP
The bulk of deaths, and the main search for additional bodies, have been concentrated in Kerr County and the city of Kerrville.
The area was transformed into a disaster zone when torrential rains struck the region early last Friday, unleashing deadly flooding along the Guadalupe River.
Travis County, Kendall County, Burnett County, Williamson County, and Tom Green County were also hit.
Mr Abbot said many of those who were unaccounted for were in the Texas Hill Country area, but had not registered at a camp or hotel, posing further challenges for authorities.
Camp Mystic
Mr Abbot planned to make another visit to Camp Mystic.
The century-old all-girls Christian summer camp was badly hit by the flash floods, with at least 27 campers and counsellors dying.
Hanna Lawrence, left, and Rebecca Lawrence, right. Pic: John Lawrence/AP
Lila Bonner (L) and Eloise Peck both died in the flash floods at Camp Mystic, Texas. Pic: Family handout
Chloe Childress. Pic: Debra Alexander Photography via AP
Some of the victims include Hanna and Rebecca Lawrence, both eight, Chloe Childress, 19, who was among the counsellors at Camp Mystic when the flood hit, and Eloise Peck and Lila Bonner, both nine.
There were scenes of devastation at the camp as the flood water receded.
Outside the cabins where the girls had slept, mud-splattered blankets and pillows were scattered.
Also in the debris were pink, purple and light blue luggage, decorated with stickers.
A view inside a cabin at Camp Mystic after the flooding. Pic: Ronaldo Schemidt/AFP via Getty Images
Camper’s belongings lie on the ground following flooding on the Guadalupe River, at Camp Mystic.
Pic: Reuters
‘Everything looked flooded and broken’
One of the campers, 10-year-old Lucy Kennedy, told Sky’s US partner network, NBC News, that she woke up to the sound of thunder at around midnight before the floods struck.
“I couldn’t go back to sleep,” she said. “I just had a feeling that something really bad was about to happen.”
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She said the girls at the camp were told to grab blankets, pillows and water bottles and line up single file as the floodwater rose, before getting airlifted to safety.
Wynne Kennedy, Lucy’s mother, added: “When I saw her, she was wrapped up in a blanket, had a teddy bear.
“We just held each other tight, and I held her all night.”
Their home in Kerrville was also destroyed by the flash floods.
Lucy Kennedy, 10 who was rescued from Camp Mystic, and her mother Wynne. Pic: NBC
Political row
Meanwhile, a political row has unfolded parallel to the recovery efforts, with some questioning whether local authorities sent out warnings and alerts early enough.
Similarly, Democrats have criticised Donald Trump over cuts his Elon Musk-launched Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has made to the National Weather Service – but it isn’t clear whether these actually made any difference.
Read more:
Sisters killed in Texas flooding found holding hands
Why did deadly Texas floods catch people by surprise?
Wall of water
The flash floods erupted before daybreak on Friday, after massive amounts of rainfall caused the Guadalupe River to rise by eight metres in less than an hour.
The wall of water overwhelmed cabins, tents and trails along the river’s edge.
Some survivors were found clinging to trees.
Some of the campers had to swim out of their cabin windows to get to safety, while others clung to rope to make it to higher ground.
The date for Sean “Diddy” Combs’s sentencing hearing has been confirmed.
Following his high-profile trial, the hip-hop mogul was found guilty of two counts of transportation for prostitution by jurors in Manhattan, New York, last week – but was cleared of sex-trafficking and racketeering conspiracy.
Defence lawyers argued Combs, who has been in prison in Brooklyn since his arrest in September last year, should be bailed ahead of sentencing given the not guilty verdicts for the more serious charges, but Judge Arun Subramanian denied this – citing, among other things, the rapper’s own admissions of previous violent behaviour.
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs in court after the verdict was delivered. Pic: Reuters/ Jane Rosenberg
The charges of sex-trafficking and racketeering conspiracy carried a potential life sentence. Combs still faces up to 20 years in prison for the prostitution-related offences, but is not expected to receive the maximum punishment.
After the verdict was delivered, the judge scheduled the sentencing hearing for 3 October. At a remote follow-up conference on Tuesday, with agreement from the defence and prosecution, the judge approved the date.
Combs joined the call but did not make any comment.
Any sentence will include credit for time already served – which will be just over a year by the time the hearing takes place.
During his trial, Combs was accused by prosecutors of abusing and coercing three alleged victims, including his former long-term partner, singer and model Cassie Ventura.
Jurors found the allegations did not amount to sex-trafficking or racketeering, or running a criminal enterprise – but they did find him guilty of transporting Cassie and another former girlfriend “Jane” for prostitution offences around the US, and paying male escorts to engage in sexual encounters.
Despite the guilty verdict on those charges, the 55-year-old’s team described it as “the victory of all victories”.
Read more:
How the trial unfolded
The rise and fall of Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs
In an interview over the weekend, defence lawyer Marc Agnifilo said Combs had received a standing ovation from fellow inmates when he returned to jail after being acquitted of the more serious charges.
“They all said, ‘We never get to see anyone who beats the government’,” he said.
Ahead of sentencing, Combs’s lawyers will file their recommendations by 19 September, with prosecutors likely to follow a week later.
Prosecutors previously said the rapper could face about four to five years in prison under federal sentencing guidelines, while the defence has suggested a two-year sentence.
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