Unshakeable. Woodruff and to denounce President Trump. Today we are a country divided and we have a president doing everything in his power to make it that way. At the time like this the oval office should be a command center. Woodruff tonight former secretary of state Hillary Clinton, former president barack obama and this years Vice President ial nominee Kamala Harris. Day three of the Democratic National convention. Woodruff again, im Judy Woodruff and welcome to our special pbs newshour live coverage of the Democratic National convention. Were now on night three of this virtual event. Tonight, we will hear from Hillary Clinton, the partys nominee four years ago. Well hear from former president barack obama and then we will hear from Kamala Harris, a historymaking Vice President ial nominee. Im here in our studio with political analyst amy walter and right around the corner our senior correspondence amna nawaz. Both socially distanced. And we have reported and guests across the country. For our part despite the virtual nature of this time and social distancing, we will continue to bring you the same depth of coverage and analysis during this historic election year. So lets turn first to our newshour reporters. Amna is here to help give us a sense what to expect tonight and some key moments to look out here. Amna. Hi judy. All the speakers tonight are making remarks under the theme of a more Perfect Union. Theres a lot of anticipation in particular around what senator Kamala Harris will say tonight. Shell be making history as the first woman of color nominated for Vice President by a Major Political party. Among the speakers were going to be hearing from tonight will be other history making women. Who are they . Among them nancy pelosi, the first woman to serve as speaker of the u. S. House of representatives. Former secretary of state Hillary Clinton as you mentioned who in 2016 became the first female president ial nominee by a Major Political party. Elizabeth warren former president ial candidate and also the first female senator from massachusetts. California senator Kamala Harris, of course, will be speaking later to accept that vn nominationnd theres also some men you might recognize. Among them tonights keynote from former president barack obama who of course also made history as this nions first black president. The convention officials are telling us that womens leadership will be a theme we hear a lot about tonight but theres also going to be remarks and segments built around some major policy issues so expect to hear speakers tonight talking much more about the economy, gun control, immigratio and Climate Change. Judy. Woodruff we look forward to hearing all of that and well be coming back to you amna throughout the night. In the meantime our Lisa Desjardins is again in wilmington, delaware where she will be in the room with Kamala Harris speech tonight so lisa, what are you learning about what we have to look forward to . Right. Well first of all we have some information about what harris is going to say. Staff members who work for harris work for that part of their campaign. She wants to convey an image of herself, tell her story in a way that all kinds of people see themselves in her. Shes bringing that to the white house. Shes 55 years old as many of our viewers note. She would be the youngest Vice President this century in the white house. Not that many, she will be the fourth and thats still a note in this campaign when running with 77 year old joe biden. Were going to hear from Kamala Harris are sort of those themes of immigration, the theme of justice. And we do have some exerts from her speech. One of them about this theme of inclusion. She is going to say that we may disagree on the details as a nation but we are united by the fundamental bereef that every human being is of infinite value. Another quick thing judy, youre going to see what it looks like inside the room. I will be one of a couple dozen reporters in there. We have some photos what it looks like. The scene is both familiar and strange. We understand there will be sort of those markers for each state yet no delegates for each state. And then a stage that will look reminiscent of a debate stage or brightly lit Convention Stage with one podium on it just for hairs. Woodruff kind of a Mini Convention but as you say of the thousands and houses of the people normally there. Lisa desjardins in wilmington where you thereby throughout this night and tomorrow night. Lisa thank you and i know were coming back to you several times tonight. To help make sense of this moment we will continue to thunder throughout the night and all this night with a wgbh range of analysts and special guests. Lets start with our court groom mark shields, New York Times columnist david brooks. Michael nutter of philadelphia, Chris Buskirk the editor of the american journal greatness and at the desk with me here amy walter with the cook political report. Its so good to see all of you to have you with us again on this third night. Amy lets talk first about how its gone so far. Is there a sense that the democrats are doing what they needed to do this week . It seems this last couple days is making people comfortable with joe biden, spruce him and get to the meat introduce him and get to the meat of the bones. Joe biden the most personal of that. But also speaking to a group of voters that since trump was elected have been moving toward the Democratic Party. The suburban voters and formerly product strong hold. We talk board of director that last night, like california and places around atlanta and dallas. Im speaking with a republican today who was talking, whose done a lot of focus groups with these suburban voters who said what they are looking for, the three words that come up consistently, normal, president ial, behavior. And that is what theyre looking for and it seems like the show that has been put on these last couple nights especially putting colin powell, the story of his friendship with john mccain, having leaders from both sides coming up and talking about the fact that we are going to get a president who will exhibit normal president ial behavior. Woodruff isnt it interesting that its that base. That its normal behavior that ey say theyre looking for. David brooks, what are you hearing from people and what are you been thinking tnight as we are at the Halfway Point about thto start the second half. Speaking of president ial behavior. Today donald trump praised he praised the hate monger and mark and Patricia Mcclusky the gn wielding are going to speak about the convention. Theres nothing normal about any of this. Donald trump is having a melt down in the face ofonvention. Thats the dynamic thats driving people like colin powell and other people to the Democratic Party. Its just mindboggling that were used to it now but its just insane, its insane what is happening to donald trump and the people around him. And so thats one dynamic year. The second dynamic is joe bidens desensey. What leads me is joe biden and the video about the biden family and what a good family they are. With just basic decency. Im opened with the profound question is when he becomes president will it calm the others or is america so roil and convul shift he will be swallowed up. I dont know. I just dont know what kind of society we are. Finally after last night i was reflecting a mel concollie thought melancholy, why did he have to speak last night. To me take some time out, do some penance. To me that left stain on the ght that what happened with epstein and what happened allegedly with clinton thats not minor stuff and not the stuff the party should be associated with. Thats a sad note but its a note that really left me last night. Woodruff mark, a lot packed into what davidust had to say. What about that and about where you think we are two nights in. Well, i first of all, judy, i think the first two nights have been about who joe biden is. Is to say is a man who runs for the presidency over his 32 years. And 32 years and three runs into it february 29, 2020 before he won a single primary and then he won 11 in the next four days. Even though he had been around for a long time, it was filling out the questions people had. Obviously devoted and selfless father, good husband, a great friend. Somebody who doesnt polarize or demonize those on the other side. Has been criticized by partisans from his own party, reaching across the aisle being personal friends with john mccain and so many other republicans. So thats, i think thats workable. But in the final analysis every president ial campaign is about the future. And voters have a right to know where a president wants to take the country. Not a 23 Point Program but two or three things that joe biden wants to do. I think that has to begin tonight with Kamala Harris. I think its joe bidens responsibility as well but its also the other speaker, to give a sense where joe biden really wants america to go and where he wants to lead america and what he wants to be doing. I think thats whats missing. Obviously talking to republicans its missing in Donald Trumps. There i no future agenda in donald trump. As david pointed out from issue to issue to topic to topic, the news cyle to news cycle every day in more bizarre fashion. There is no Republican Health plan. There never has been. There never has been as john boehner said in 25 years. So joe biden instead of limiting himself to 23 programs, 23 ideas, where the two or three has to emerge in the next two nights. We know who he is now we have to find out what he wants to do. Woodruff lets talk about that Chris Buskirk. Are you sensing a need to hear about the future from joe biden and in this campaign overall. A hundred percent. I think that really is going to be the essential theme that needs to be explained to anybody whose watching who hasnt already decided who they want to vote for. We know the Democratic Base is very excited to vote against donald trump. Almost for anybody and thats not a knock on joe biden. People dont like President Trump i get it. For those people who are persuadable and havent made up their mind yet, what is it in this for me, why does this person want to be president and what are they offering. I was struck by what amy said some of the polling about the desire for sort of a return to normalcy. And thats term that can mean a lot of things to a lot of peop but i think it just means its a reflection to the fact things arent normal in this country for a lot of reasons. And donald trump and joe biden being some of the oldest candidates are you reflective of that but not in the way people dont think of. We have millennials arent making enough money, they cant buy houses. Each generation seems to be making less money owning a smaller share of the National Wealth at any given age than the generation above them. Thats whats roiling underneath this and thats what needs to be answered by the political clan in general. Somehow that needs to be addressed to millennials and gen z will be voting in numbers this time. It will affect their lives for some time to come and will be on their minds either implicitly or explicitly when they decide. Michae Michael Nutter. Do you think the menial coming from this convention are touching on the things most people need to hear right now . I do, judy and again from we the people to Leadership Matters to a more Perfect Union. These themes are coming through. The word the roiling water has been mentioned a number of times. I think what joe biden and Kamala Harris are trying to do is calm those waters. You know, for the younger people i think as chris mentioned, they may not necessarily know exactly what normal has been for many of us on this panel. Theyve had an economic melt down in 2008. Were now in a pandemic and another economic meltdown and civil unrest. And so what is normal. And some sense of decency i think is the first part of what joe biden is going to bring. Im reminded i guess George Herbert walker bush he talked about the thousand points of live. His son talked about compassion of conservatism where conservative is compassion. Normal sane behavior that the president of the United States of america should not necessarily be the news each and every day. I remember, i mean there were certainly a few controversies in president Obamas Administration but one of them that really put people out is that he wore a tan suit to a press conference one day. You know, ill take that. I can deal with that. But not some of the insanity that goes on, as david mentioned. Its every day. Americans are tired of donald trump and the nonsense and the fear that goes on on a daily basis. Woodruff its a lot to consider as we start a night three of this convention. Im going to be coming back to all of you to continue this conversation as we prepare to watch the starof tonights Democratic Party story. But for now, when joe biden selected california senator Kamala Harris to be his running mate many viewed his historic pick as to the future of the Democratic Party. One that is younger and as weve been discussing more diverse. Hakim jeff ruiz is one of the youngest mechanics of the partys Leadership Team and he joins me now. Congressman jeffreys its good to have yo back with us. Thank yovery much. What is your sense. I think youre joining us from california. Tell us what youre hearing from people you talked to about this convention so far. Im in brooklyn new york. Woodruff im sorry, i was flinching the country. New york. Thats okay. Im looking forward to tonight as we talk about where we are and where we need to go to form a more important union. We certainly have come a long way in america. We still have a ways to go as it relates to ensuring prosperity and equality in every single zip code. But that is the objective of the Democratic Party. That is in the dna of joe biden and Kamala Harris. And im certainly looking forward to her remarks which will begin to set forth a vision for the future as it relates to a better america. Woodruff and you think that hasnt been done yet . Well i think it has been done in a variety of different ways. But as your panelists have indicated, the first two nights of the convention have really been dedicated to getting to know joe biden through his humanity i his decency and his authenticity. I think he couldnt have too better validaters in that record in former First Lady Michelle Obama and jill biden. Woodruff i want to turn you to an issue thats getting a great deal of attention right now both around the convention and outside and thats the Postal Service. It has to do with mailin voting, it has to do with the integrity of this election. As we know President Trump has been critical of mailin voting, talked a lot about fraud. In the last day or so the post master general has said hes not going to allow some of the cutbacks that there was, there were beginning to be in the Postal Service. Youve been very involved in this issue in the congress. Youve called for an investigation. Where does it stand right now . Well, the post master general took a modest but insufficient step in the right direction by backg away from the future changes that he was planning to make to america mine the ability to america mine the ability of the Postal Service to be there for the American People. The post office is as american as baseball, motherhood and apple pie. One of the few institutions that actually in the United States constitution. The first post master general of course was dr. Ben franklin one of the framers of the United States constitution thats how central it is and continues to be so to the American People. The fact donald trump would endeavor to undermind it so manically because he apparently does not want americans to have the opportunity to vote safely and by mail because he concludes that if they do so in large numbers, he will lose. That is shameful. Now the post master has agreed to come before the house of representatives on monday to answer questions as it relates to what has happened and how do we reverse theamages already been done to the Postal Services. And on saturday we will be back in washington to pass last that does reverse the damage that has been done designed to ensure that post office boxes are brought back t