Editor’s Note: NBC Chicago offers a live feed of the evening and primetime speeches every Monday through Thursday in the player above and on the 24/7 streaming channel NBC 5 Chicago News.
The 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago is entering its third day and another round of big speeches is coming, this time including from vice presidential candidate Tim Walz, who is expected to officially accept his party’s nomination.
Walz, who already caused a stir during the convention with his enthusiastic reaction to the appearance of Vice President Kamala Harris on the first day of the meeting, will be accompanied by a number of other well-known speakers.
The third day of the convention follows an eventful evening on Tuesday that included speeches by former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama, both of whom received a standing ovation and thunderous applause from the audience.
Here’s a look at the schedule and full program of events for Wednesday:
What time does the DNC start?
While many events will take place throughout the day, the “main program” is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, a further shift from the originally planned start time of 6 p.m. Organizers said Tuesday that the start times had been changed to “ensure we stay on schedule.”
Organizers noted that schedule changes may occur after Monday’s event underwent “real-time adjustments” and some speeches and appearances had to be canceled to accommodate President Joe Biden’s highly anticipated speech following the delays.
On Tuesday, Obama’s speech was the last of the evening, and although the gavel was scheduled for 10:15 p.m., the speech lasted beyond 10:30 p.m.
The 2024 DNC in Chicago runs through Thursday, August 22, with speeches expected each evening.
Schedule, speakers for the DNC
The full list of speakers and schedule for Day 3 have not yet been released, but some of the keynote speeches are expected to be delivered by Walz, Speaker Emeritus Nany Pelosi, Governor Josh Shapiro, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, former President Bill Clinton and others.
Other speakers include Senator Chris Murphy, Senator Catherine Cortez Masto, Representative Hakeem Jeffries, U.S. Representative Bennie Thompson and more.
The list again includes several Republican speakers, including former White House staffer and National Security Officer for former President Donald Trump, Olivia Troye.
DNC Director Alex Hornbrook said Clinton wanted to “underscore the importance of this moment and this election, not just for our party, but for the future of our country.”
Walz will “introduce himself to the American people tonight on the convention stage,” Hornbrook said Wednesday, adding that the vice presidential candidate will “highlight the small-town values that have shaped his life and his commitment to preserving the freedoms we hold dear.”
According to the organizers, the theme for Wednesday is “A fight for our freedoms.”
How to follow the DNC
All four plenary sessions of the Democratic National Convention will be streamed live on NBC Chicago’s website and mobile app, as well as in the player above.
The speeches will also be available on the NBC 5 Chicago News 24/7 streaming channel.
Viewers can also look forward to expanded coverage on Telemundo Chicago and the Telemundo Chicago app.
Streaming times (all times Central):
Wednesday: 17:30-22:00
Thursday: 17:30-22:00
What are the main topics of the conference?
The convention’s theme is “For the People, For Our Future” and the focus will be on moving the country forward and building on the work of the Biden administration.
The daily topics are:
Monday – “For the people”
Tuesday – “A bold vision for America’s future”
Wednesday – “A fight for our freedoms”
Thursday – “For our future”
“Tonight’s theme, ‘Fighting for Our Freedoms,’ will showcase how Vice President Harris has dedicated her entire career to fighting for America’s freedoms and why she chose Governor Walz as her running mate, including his record as a champion of the rights of America’s working families and a staunch defender of our fundamental freedoms,” Hornbrook said.
