Democratic Convention Notebook: Crab mallets, snowplows, and union scabs

By JAMES MATHESON and EMILY CONDON

CHICAGO – The first Maryland delegation breakfast at the Democratic National Convention kicked off Monday morning with some gifts for the delegation: Fisher’s popcorn, Guinness coffee mugs and crab mallets.

Maryland Democratic Party Chairman Ken Ulman used an under-sized mallet in lieu of a gavel, officially calling the state delegation to order in blue crab style.

“Donald Trump is a Scab”

United Automobile Workers were spotted in t-shirts reading “Trump is a Scab.”

One convention attendee tucked the bright red shirt below his Ford fleece zip-up jacket. The Detroit automaker, along with General Motors and Stellantis, last year faced the first strike in history targeting all three automakers. In more recent news, the UAW last week filed federal labor charges against Donald Trump and Elon Musk after threatening workers in an X interview.

On Monday, 75 miles northwest of downtown Chicago, the UAW threatened a national strike after Stellantis pushed back its timeline on the reopening of the Belvidere Assembly Plant.

“This company made a commitment to autoworkers at Stellantis in our union contract, and we intend to enforce that contract to the full extent,” UAW President Shawn Fain said in a press release. “On behalf of autoworkers everywhere, we’re standing up against a company that wants to go back on its commitments and drive a race to the bottom at the expense of the American worker.”

Fain, along with six other union leaders, spoke on the first night of the convention. Fain also wore the “Trump is a Scab” shirt.

Walz is making his rounds

CNS staff were in attendance at both the Black and LGBTQ+ Caucus meetings at the McCormick Place Convention Center, where Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Walz, the governor of Minnesota, made surprise appearances in rapid succession. Both crowds welcomed the former teacher with spirited responses.

“We’ve got 78 days to make a generational difference, not in just this country, but in the world,” Walz said to the Black Caucus. “We understand something that we grew up hearing about: ‘towards a more perfect union.’ Strong and decent nations acknowledge their past, the good, the bad, the ugly that goes with it. We acknowledge it because it lets us chart the course for the future.”

Walz’s remarks to the LGBTQ+ Caucus were similar. He told attendees that human rights were not to be likened to piece of pie: “There’s enough for everybody.”

Snowplows are out!

It is pretty much standard procedure these days for cities to use large refuse trucks and similar bulky, heavy vehicles to block streets as part of security measures.

Well, Chicago is deploying its (kinda rusty) snowplow fleet to help block off some streets for the Democratic National Convention.

Yes, the trucks are out there with their plows attached – just a bit early for the city’s famous monster snowstorms.

Puttin’ some mustard on the message

An iconic Chicago hot dog establishment called The Wieners Circle has a special deal running this week: 3-inch hotdogs.

“Now serving Trump footlongs,” the establishment posted on the sign out front. “It’s 3 inches.”

The perfectly-sized hotdog is being sold for $3.50 at the Lincoln Park restaurant.

“It’s the best freakin’ hotdog you ever had, all 3 inches,” one employee said in a promotional video on Instagram.