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Knowa De Baraso found himself going viral after a star showing at this year’s Democratic National Convention in Chicago, and it sparked a job offer right on the spot. Roland S. Martin, impressed with the young yet impressive political pundit, offered Knowa De Baraso a show on his network.
Knowa De Baraso, 12, emerged as a bright star amongst the big names at the Democratic National Convention, gamely taking on Mike Lindell, CEO of MyPillow, and challenging the businessman about his support of election fraud in the last election despite it being unfounded. The video of the exchange went viral, and landed the home-schooled commentator on the national stage.
Variety reports that after meeting with Roland S. Martin, the veteran broadcaster was so impressed with De Baraso that he offered him an opportunity to host a show on Martin’s Black Star Network.
From Variety:
“It’s not just his knowledge of the issues. It’s his energy,” Martin told Variety. In De Baraso, he sees a kindred spirit. Martin set his sights on a career in media and journalism as a 13-year-old when he first stepped into a communications-focused magnet program at Houston’s Jack Yates High School in the 1980s.
“It’s all about the desire and the urgency of the individual,” Martin said. “This kid’s got it. You have to nurture that and develop that. Those of us in African American media have to leverage our platform to create opportunities for the next generation.”
Another moment showcasing De Baraso’s political brilliance was an interview with Mark Austin of Sky News. De Baraso schooled his older counterpart on how people of his generation are accessing news regarding politics and how Vice President Kamala Harris is reaching the youth where it counts. That video can be viewed below.
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Photo: Knowa De Baraso / @KnowaWasTaken
P!nk recently took the stage at the Democratic National Convention with a surprise guest—her 13-year-old daughter, Willow. The duo performed a stripped-down version of her top 20 Billboard Hot 100 hit “What About Us.”
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On Aug. 27, P!nk gave fans a glimpse behind the scenes by sharing footage from her Summer Carnival Tour on social media.
The post included a candid moment before the Aug. 22 DNC performance, where P!nk offered her daughter some supportive advice: “Just do your thing. Whatever you don’t sing, I will.” With those words, the two stepped out to deliver a powerful duet.
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Their performance followed emotional speeches from parents and students addressing the tragic impact of gun violence in U.S. schools.
P!nk began the song with the lyrics, “We are searchlights, we can see in the dark,” setting the stage for Willow to join in with her verse: “We are billions of beautiful hearts, and you sold us down the river too far.” Accompanied by three backup singers and an acoustic guitar, the mother-daughter pair delivered a performance that stood out on a night filled with notable musical acts.
This isn’t the first time Willow has joined her mother on stage. In 2023, the duo performed “Cover Me in Sunshine” during the opening night of P!nk’s Summer Carnival Tour.
The “Raise Your Glass” singer has often expressed her pride in Willow’s talents, telling People, “She’s got a voice, man. She’s a little bird. She wants to do Broadway and then be a trauma surgeon. Yeah, she’s rad.”
The final night of the DNC also featured performances by The Chicks, Stevie Wonder, and John Legend. Vice President Kamala Harris closed the event by accepting the Democratic nomination for president.
Watch the candid moment between P!nk and daughter Willow below.
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D.L. Hughley delivered remarks on the final night of the Democratic National Convention and used the angle of humor to show his support for Vice President Kamala Harris. During his appearance, D.L. Hughley threw a few jabs in the direction of Donald Trump, much to the approval of the attendees.
D.L. Hughley, who formerly had strong critiques of Vice President Kamala Harris, leaned into his comedic talent and didn’t waste time while setting up his larger point with jokes. He then apologized to Vice President Harris for his past views of her.
“I don’t blame Donald Trump for not wanting to debate Kamala,” Hughley said early in his remarks. “I’ve been married to a Black woman for 40 years and I ain’t won one debate. I’m 0-93,000.”
With the audience in line with his phrasing and jokes, Hughley began chipping away at Trump and his supporters attempting to question Harris’ Blackness.
“I guarantee you this, Kamala has been Black a lot longer than Trump has been a Republican,” Hughley said, sparking uproarious laughter. And the Trump haymakers didn’t end there. Hughley made mention of Trump’s polling numbers, a subject he touts as a mark of superiority, and then tied in Trump’s infamous 1973 racial discrimination lawsuit for failing to offer housing to Black New York residents.
“If he keeps sliding in the polls the way he is, the only thing to keep Kamala out of the White House is if he buys it and refuses to rent it to her,” Hughley said.
The crowd erupted in laughter.
The full DNC speech from D.L. Highly can be viewed below, courtesy of PBS NewsHour.
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Photo: Getty
During a chilly week on the cusp of autumn (Aug. 19-22), history was made in Chicago, IL. On Thursday (Aug. 22), the final night of the 2024 Democratic National Convention, Vice President Kamala Harris officially became the first Black woman and first Indian-American to accept a major party presidential nomination.
Throughout the week, the Democratic party’s biggest and rising stars joined forces with a few members of Hollywood’s A-List to help Vice President Harris along her path to the Oval Office. Emmy winner Kerry Washington and SAG Award nominee Tony Goldwyn — who famously played ruthless fixer Olivia Pope and fictional U.S. President Fitzgerald Grant on Shonda Rhimes’ hit ABC political drama Scandal — were two notable actors who served as emcee, as were Tony winner Mindy Kaling, Emmy winner Kenan Thompson, comedian-actor Hughley, and Emmy nominee Eva Longoria. Of course, the star power wasn’t limited to entertainers, with a host of Democratic Party titans delivering rousing speeches, including former President Barack Obama, former President Bill Clinton, Michelle Obama, Hillary Clinton, Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, and Vice Presidential nominee Tim Walz.
Each night featured several musical performers that showcased the breadth of America’s musical history, from country and hip-hop to soul and Americana. On Monday night (Aug. 19), Grammy-nominated country star Mickey Guyton delivered a gorgeous rendition of her unity anthem “All American,” while Jason Isbell performed the moving “Something More Than Free,” the title track from his 2015 LP. Night two (Aug. 20) saw Patti LaBelle belt her way through “You Are My Friend” to soundtrack the in memoriam segment, and Common thrilled the packed arena with “Fortunate,” a cut from his recently released joint album with Pete Rock. For the convention’s third night (Aug. 21), Maren Morris performed “Better Than We Found It,” the great Stevie Wonder gave a lengthy speech before launching into a groovy rendition of his 1973 Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit “Higher Ground” (No. 4), and John Legend and Sheila E. joined forces for “Let’s Go Crazy” in tribute to Prince, who shares a home state with Walz in Minnesota. To close out the convention (Aug. 22), The Chicks opened the primetime portion with the National Anthem and P!nk wailed a heart-wrenching version of “What About Us” alongside her talented daughter, Willow Sage.
Led by Harris’ adoption of Charli XCX‘s brat aesthetic in the earliest moments of her presidential campaign, the 2024 election cycle has become incredibly intertwined with pop music. That trend continued at the DNC, with the campaign’s official anthem — Beyoncé and Kendrick Lamar‘s 2016 duet “Freedom”– blaring through the speakers what felt like every five minutes. Jon Batiste’s “Freedom” — a cut from 2021’s We Are, which made him the first Black artist in 14 years to win the album of the year Grammy — also played before and after every campaign ad aired as an interlude between speakers. From the delightfully zany roll call to the “surprise appearance” that never happened, the DNC was a large-scale demonstration of how music and pop celebrity can be wielded by politics that placate at best and pedal platitudes and paltry promises at worst.
Here are the five best moments of the 2024 Democratic National Convention.
Common Puts On For Chi-Town
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Vice President Kamala Harris closed out the four-day Democratic National Convention with a powerful display of leadership in a speech that was both biographical and emotionally driven. Sharing the story of her family’s humble beginnings, Vice President Kamala Harris accepted her party’s nomination for president and took the crowd through a journey of being raised in the Bay Area by her single mother and how she was motivated to succeed because of it.
Seizing on the momentum gained from the moment President Joe Biden decided to not seek reelection, Vice President Kamala Harris spoke with a command not unlike her time as senator and as Vice President, garnering applause at almost every stanza in her speech.
As she accepted the Democratic Party’s nomination to become its presidential candidate, Harris kept her message straightforward and pushed back against the negative attacks toward her and her running mate Gov. Tim Walz with class. Like several speakers before her, Harris spoke about the importance of a strong democracy, opportunity for all, and a devotion to the values that Americans of all walks of life hold dear.
Harkening back to her days as a prosecutor en route to becoming California’s Attorney General, Harris reminded attendees and viewers at home that her focus then and now was to fight against criminals, give voice to those who feel they have been wrong by the system, and to never waver in the face of those who look to skirt by the legal system.
In a portion of Harris’ speech, she referenced the attempted January 6 insurrection that took place at the site of the U.S. Capitol, placing the impetus squarely on her opponent, Donald Trump. She mentioned Trump by name at several intervals, at one point saying that he desires to be an autocrat in the same vein as North Korean leader, Kim Jong Un.
With more pressing matters in mind, Harris also made certain to hit back at critics regarding border security, foreign policy, and strengthening the military, which contrasts greatly with Trump’s messaging that she is an extreme Leftist hoping to insert Communist rule in America.
Harris also spoke of supporting Israel’s right to defend itself against Hamas, a moment in history that pundits and observers alike feel could end up being a stain on the Biden-Harris administration. It was artful in how she still positioned her talking points to call for peace in the region and called for an end to the conflict, most especially the hostage situation, but those words may not be enough to sway some of her harshest critics who stand on the side of Palestinians.
On X, formerly Twitter, reactions to Vice President Harris accepting the Democratic Party’s nomination for president and her speech were rapid as they were glowing. We’ve got the best of them below.
Here is the video of Vice President Kamala Harris’ speech by way of PBS NewsHour below.
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Photo: Getty
5. If only..
7. It didn’t happen, so….
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Source: Alex Wong / Getty
All day on Thursday, August 22 rumors were circulating that Beyoncé would be making some sort of appearance at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Yeah, that didn’t happen.
In fact, Bey was never even on the schedule. That’s according to her longtime publicist, Yvette Noel-Schure. Guess no one bothered to ask her if Bey was going to be there?
The Hollywood Reporter was the first to confirm that Beyoncé could be anywhere in the world, but it wasn’t going to be at the United Center on Thursday night. “Beyoncé was never scheduled to be there,” her rep told The Hollywood Reporter. “The report of a performance is untrue.”
And that’s that on that.
Vice President Kamala Harris did walk out to “Freedom” before delivering her speech where she accepted the DNC’s nomination for President of the United States, though. We’d still bet good money that Beyoncé, and Taylor Swift, are going to make a campaign appearance on Harris and Tim Walz sooner than later.
Until then, be sure you vote in November.
Oh, and it was TMZ that said Bey was going to be there. So it’s getting really ugly for them on these Internets.
10. Who that?
P!nk assembled her own powerful girl group at Thursday’s (Aug. 22) final night of the 2024 Democratic National Convention, joining daughter Willow Sage Hart, three backup singers and one acoustic guitar to perform an unplugged version of her top 20 Billboard Hot 100 hit “What About Us.” The septet hit the stage at Chicago’s United […]
The 2024 Democratic National Convention has had its fair share of flashy moments – from Lil Jon’s “Turn Down for What” cameo during roll call to Patti LaBelle’s gorgeous rendition of “You Are My Friend” — but the primetime show isn’t the only thing happening in Chicago this week (Aug. 19-22).
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In addition to the main event, which takes place in Chi-Town’s United Center arena, the morning and afternoons are filled with different council and caucus meetings that fire voters up, educate them on grassroots campaign strategies and break down the party’s 2024 platform. Billboard was able to sit in on Tuesday afternoon’s youth council meeting (Aug. 20), where Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Vice President Harris’ running mate, made an appearance to remind young voters of their power and responsibility for their own futures now that Dems are seemingly passing the baton along to a new generation.
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Before Walz took the podium, Texas Rep. Greg Casar addressed the room, and by the end of his remarks, nearly every delegate in the room was on their feet. “It is going to be your energy and your work that is necessary to deliver the transformational change that the vast majority of this country wants,” he proclaimed. “Too often we confuse the political center with the moral center!” Casar, who currently represents Texas’ 35th district and was formerly endorsed by the Democratic Socialists of America, was connecting — and he was connecting with the country’s newest and youngest voters.
Though he only joined Congress about two years ago, Casar has certainly made his progressive presence felt – from leading a nine-hour thirst strike in 2023 to urging President Biden not to recognize the coalition claiming victory in the 2024 Pakistani general election.
Billboard caught up with Rep. Casar after the youth council to talk about some key pieces of music legislation currently floating in Congress, his understanding of “brat summer,” and his love for Grupo Frontera and Peso Pluma.
What are your thoughts on the RAP Act? Can you commit to supporting it in the House?
I’m a supporter of the bill. Before being in Congress, I was on the Austin City Council and led on a lot of music issues in what is the live music capital of the world. I really came to understand during the pandemic that supporting both recording artists and live music is important not just for those industries and not just for music lovers but [also] for building community and joy, and making expensive cities worth living in in the first place, you know.
I think Leader Jeffries and Vice President Harris have embraced pop music, and hip-hop in particular, as part of their events, and as a part of their shared identity with so many of our communities. I hope that we can remind them of that as we prioritize bills like the RAP Act, because it’s not only a clear civil rights bill, but we [also] want people to be able to express themselves without being worried that it’s going to be used in a court case against them. I think that Speaker Jeffries and [Vice] President Harris would be supportive, not only because they understand the importance of hip-hop to American culture, but also because they’re civil rights-first elected officials.
In light of the DOJ suing Live Nation-Ticketmaster, where do you stand on the Fans First Act?
I’m trying to remember the details of Fans First versus all the different ideas on how to crack down on monopolies in the ticketing industry, [but] I’m just generally supportive of whatever it is that we can get done to make it easier to buy tickets, and for more of that money to actually get to the people that make the music and do the tour.
I find that people in places like Austin are actually increasingly happy to pay a decent cover if they know that it’s going to the artist then. So whatever it is that we can do to take on monopolies in the music industry I think is really important. It’s the same problem we have with meat; only four companies control nearly 90% of the meat in the country. The same issues we have in tech we have in music as well.
In that vein, what was the last concert you went to?
I always make sure that when I’m back home in Austin, I go see some shows. Last night, [I got to see] my friend Gina Chavez, who’s a Latin Grammy nominee, play live here. The weekend before that, we had Hot Summer Nights in Austin where a bunch of our clubs on Red River were opened up for free shows, so it was awesome to see a bunch of acts play there.
I just missed seeing Grupo Frontera in Austin because I was over here. I’m a big fan of Grupo Frontera and Peso Pluma. It’s just been awesome to see them really break out. Peso Pluma actually went to middle school in my district in San Antonio for a little while; he was between Mexico and San Antonio. A bigger arena show that I’ve been to recently was Burna Boy. For my birthday, we saw Chicano Batman. They played the 9:30 Club. People catch me at the $25 shows! Also, Thundercat! I’ve seen Thundercat twice in D.C.
What do you think of the Harris-Walz campaign’s embrace of pop music? Do you think it ever veers on the side of pandering, or do you think that they have their finger on their pulse in a smart and balanced way?
I think that you just got to have fun with it, man. If a politician likes that song, good for them! I think that the more we can be our real selves and realize that we’re just normal people, that’s gonna speak for itself. If I’m at your house, put on your playlist, don’t put on the playlist you think I’m going to like. Put on your stuff!
You get that feeling from this campaign? That they’re putting on their playlists?
I think they’re putting on what they like, and I would encourage them to really get relaxed with that. I think people are looking for authenticity.
How do you understand “brat summer?”
[Laughs.] I feel like its meaning has been contorted and twisted, you know? It started out [with] Charli XCX having a good time, then it turned into everybody having a good time. And now Kamala Harris might be president!
What is your personal song of the summer of 2024?
There’s this Karol G song, “Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido,” it’s a great one. I’ve been on some long drives this summer, and it’s one of the ones that I [replayed] a decent amount. It’s hot in Texas, like 105° today, so it’s a good “rolling down the windows” and “chilling on the lawn” song.
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Rep. Hakeem Jeffries often displays his deep knowledge of Hip-Hop music and culture during hearings and public speaking engagements. The New York native did so once more in Chicago during his speech at the DNC, aiming at Donald Trump and putting the presidential hopeful on notice.
Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, who serves as the House Minority leader, used his time onstage to voice not only his support for Vice President Kamala Harris and Gov. Tim Walz but also share with attendees and viewers around the world his thoughts about who Donald Trump is.
The theme of this year’s DNC has been consistent with Democratic Party figures and connected media figures speaking glowingly about the potential Harris-Walz administration while painting Trump as someone who would disrupt the balance and fairness of democracy.
In his speech, Jeffries likened Trump to a relationship that went sour with the ex-boyfriend taking the split especially hard.
“Trump tried to destroy our democracy by lying about the election and inciting a violent mob to attack the Capitol. Trump put three extreme justices on the Supreme Court who destroyed Roe v Wade. We broke up with you for a reason,” Jeffries is heard saying.
He added, “Donald Trump is like an old boyfriend who you broke up with, but he just won’t go away. He has spent the last four years spinning the block trying to get back into a relationship with the American people. Bro, we broke up with you for a reason.”
Something that has become custom for Jeffries is his penchant for reciting lyrics to well-known Hip-Hop songs, referencing Fat Joe and Remy Ma’s “All The Way Up” about the party’s support for Vice President Harris and the potential for the party to take back the House this fall. Republicans currently have a slim majority.
Rep. Hakeem Jeffries has served as a congressman for New York’s 8th Congressional District since 2013 and is the first Black person elected to lead a major party in Congress.
Check out the full speech below courtesy of PBS NewsHour below.
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Photo: Getty
Mindy Kaling, known best for her roles in The Office and The Mindy Project, brought her signature wit to the 2024 Democratic National Convention (DNC) on Aug. 21.
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Addressing the crowd at Chicago’s United Center, Kaling couldn’t resist throwing in a light-hearted jab at fellow Massachusetts native Ben Affleck, who is currently navigating a highly publicized divorce from Jennifer Lopez.
“I love you, Massachusetts!” Kaling shouted, drawing cheers from the crowd. “Everyone is always hating on us. But they just don’t get it. Go Sox! Go Jason Tatum! Ben Affleck, hang in there!”
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She then quipped, “Dunkin’ Donuts is the best coffee in the world!”—a playful nod to Affleck’s well-known love for the brand, where he serves as an official ambassador.
Kaling’s connection to Affleck goes beyond their shared Massachusetts roots.
Early in her career, she co-wrote and starred in the off-Broadway play Matt and Ben, a satirical take on how Affleck and Matt Damon wrote the Oscar-winning screenplay for Good Will Hunting.
The play, which she co-wrote with her college friend Brenda Withers, helped establish Kaling as a major comedic force in the entertainment industry.
The timing of Kaling’s remarks was particularly pointed, coming just one day after J.Lo filed for divorce from Affleck on Aug. 20. The divorce, which ended their two-year marriage, has been making headlines since the filing, with Lopez listing their separation date as April 26, 2024—just a few months before their wedding anniversary.
The Bennifer saga has been a rollercoaster for fans. The couple originally began dating in 2002 after meeting on the set of Gigli. Their relationship was a hot topic in the early 2000s, with their first engagement making headlines.
Though they called off their planned 2003 wedding and eventually broke up in 2004, they rekindled their relationship nearly two decades later. After tying the knot in Las Vegas in 2022, they celebrated their union with a grand ceremony in Georgia, surrounded by family and friends.
Kaling’s shoutout to Affleck was just one of the many highlights of the DNC’s third night—she also shared a light-hearted yet meaningful moment about her connection with Vice President Kamala Harris.
“I am an incredibly famous Gen Z actress who you might recognize from The Office, The Mindy Project, or as the woman who courageously outed Kamala Harris as Indian in an Instagram cooking video,” Kaling quipped.
Reflecting on their shared heritage, Kaling recalled, “We immediately hit it off. We talked about the love that we have for our moms, who had both passed away from cancer.” She continued, “Both of our mothers were immigrants from India who came to America and committed their lives to serving others.”
Kaling also couldn’t resist a bit of humor regarding Harris’s cooking abilities, adding, “But the thing I remember the most about the vice president is that Kamala Harris can cook. Guys, she was so much better than me. But she also knew that my family was watching, so as she gently corrected my sloppy dosa making, she was complimenting me every step of the way.”
The evening, themed “A Fight for Our Freedoms,” also featured performances by music stars like Maren Morris and Stevie Wonder. Morris took to the stage with her protest anthem “Better Than We Found It,” while Wonder delivered a powerful rendition of “Higher Ground.”
“This is a moment to tell your children where you were and what you did,” Wonder told the crowd. “When we stand between history’s pain and tomorrow’s promises we must choose courage over complacency.”
The DNC has seen a star-studded lineup as it gears up for Vice President Kamala Harris’s presidential nomination acceptance on Thursday night, with performances by artists like P!nk scheduled for the final night.
Watch Mindy Kaling’s speech at the DNC below.
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