Watch Bernie Sanders, Gretchen Whitmer warm up for DNC speeches in unscripted outtakes
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
You are now subscribed
Your newsletter sign-up was successful
Ricky Kirshner, producer of the Democratic National Convention, promised before Monday's opening night that "anything can happen" because the virtual DNC "is not scripted." That was partly true. Some of Monday night's marquee speeches were prerecorded, as were the musical performances and tributes. But other speeches were broadcast live, and for some reason, the DNC shared some pre-broadcast footage over the satellite link.
All speakers have to warm up and prepare before they go live, and you can watch Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) fuss around with his wife, Jane, and his hair for two minutes in what appears to be a fancy woodshed. "Is that a terrible thing to have my hands showing?" Sanders asked. "Yes," said his wife. "Stand up straight, enunciate," Jane Sanders reminded her husband. "Stop it, enough," he protested in reply.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D-Mich.) warmed up for her speech with a line about "Shark Week," followed by a mouthed expletive. "I've heard about the hot mic," she half-joked.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
This, of course, is something you would never seen in a traditional party convention, for better or worse.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
