Ana Navarro to Serve as Celebrity Host During the Democratic National Convention

Ana Navarro is preparing for a special hosting assignment…

The 52-year-old Nicaraguan-American political strategist, commentator and The View co-host will be one of the celebrity hosts for this week’s Democratic National Convention as organizers take a page from the all-virtual event held in 2020.

Ana Navarro“I can’t tell you how much it means to me,” Navarro said in a video about being a host at the DNC. “I’m a little refugee girl who fled communism, who fled Nicaragua at the age of eight, found freedom, found opportunity, found a home in America, and for me to have the chance to stand on that stage and help my girl, Kamala, make history and become the Democratic nominee, it’s just such a mind-blowing moment.”

Navarro, who will serve as the celebrity host on Tuesday, is among a roster of A-listers that includes Tony Goldwyn (Monday), Mindy Kaling (Wednesday) and Kerry Washington (Thursday,) per a convention official.

Washington was part of the lineup of hosts in 2020, when an in-person event was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Stephanie Cutter and Ricky Kirshner, who produced that convention, have returned this year.

The convention also will borrow some elements from the virtual roll call of 2020, as some delegations went viral for their creativity in showcasing their states.

The roll call will take place on Tuesday, and it will be ceremonial, as Kamala Harris already has been confirmed as the Democratic nominee in a virtual delegate vote earlier this month.

Other celebrities expected at various events tied to the convention include John Legend, Octavia Spencer and Julia Louis-Dreyfus.

President Joe Biden is scheduled to speak on Monday evening, with an expected appearance by Harris.

Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff and Barack and Michelle Obama are expected on Tuesday.

Vice presidential nominee Tim Walz will give his acceptance speech on Wednesday.

Also expected to speak are Bill and Hillary Clinton. Harris’ acceptance speech will be the convention’s finale on Thursday.

Eva Longoria to Take Part in Presidential & Vice Presidential Inauguration Special “Celebrating America”

Eva Longoria is celebrating America in a special way…

The 45-year-old Mexican American actress and producer will introduce segments during the two-hour Joe Biden and Kamala Harris inauguration special that starts at 8:30 pm ET on January 20th.

Eva Longoria

While Tom Hanks will serve as the official host the program, Longoria and Kerry Washington will reprise their duties from last summer’s semi-virtual Democratic National Convention, which had the same producers.

The Celebrating America television special will air on ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, MSNBC and more next week.

Biden and Harris are scheduled to give remarks of their own during Celebrating America.

The finale for the five-day America United themed event in a deeply and violently divided nation, Celebrating America has already made public that Justin Timberlake will be busting a move or two onstage. Demi Lovato, Ant Clemons and that other Garden State superstar Jon Bon Jovi will be performing also.

More acts and big names are expected to be revealed by the Presidential Inaugural Committee in the next few days.

Along with the TV networks, Celebrating America will be seen on Amazon Prime Video, Microsoft Bing, NewsNOW from Fox, and AT&T DIRECTV and U-verse as well as the PIC’s social media feeds.

Prince Royce Joins Global Citizen & HeadCount’s ‘Just Vote’ Campaign

Prince Royce is getting out the vote…

The 31-year-old Dominican American bachata singer, who performed as part of this year’s Democratic National Convention, has joined Global Citizen and voter registration organization HeadCount’s Just Vote campaign.

Prince Royce

Prince Royce joins a roster of new additions that includes Bob Weir, Dave Matthews, Donna Karan, Dove Cameron, Gavin Rossdale, Kaia Gerber, Andrew “King Bach” Bachelor, Lenny Kravitz, Madison Beer, Meghan Trainor and Shawn Mendes.

The Just Vote campaign aims to engage young Americans to check their status, register and vote in the November 2020 general elections and beyond. The non-partisan campaign has the goal of engaging one million young voters and get 50,000 young people registered ahead of the 2020 elections.

The group joins previously announced participants Billie Eilish, Billy Porter, DJ Khaled, FINNEAS, Julianne Hough, Loren Gray, Nicky Jam, Quavo, Taylor Swift and Usher.

“We are at a pivotal moment in the campaign as we head towards the final stretch of voter registration,” said Hugh Evans, co-founder and CEO of Global Citizen. “Through this campaign, tens of thousands of young people have already checked their voter registration status, but we have to keep up the momentum. It’s more important than ever to engage young people in the political process, and with the support of these great artists, even more young people will get registered to vote.”

By checking their voter registration status, young people can unlock exclusive experiences, performances and memorabilia donated by artists and entertainers. Once they check their voting registration status, participants will have the opportunity to receive access to opportunities like a one-on-one video chat with Kravitz, an acoustic performance by Matthews, a virtual hangout with Trainor and more.

Prince Royce Performs Spanglish-Version of “Stand By Me” at the Democratic National Convention

Prince Royce is taking a stand

The 31-year-old Dominican American singer shared a message of unity while performing his bachata anthem “Stand By Me” during the third night of the Democratic National Convention on Wednesday, August 19.

Prince Royce

“We felt that ‘Stand By Me’ would go perfectly with the convention’s message of unity and singing in both Spanish and English was important,” said Prince Royce.

Prince Royce sang his 2010 bilingual hit from Miami, near the colorful Tito Puente St. filled with picturesque murals.

Mi gente, let’s stand by each other and don’t forget to vote this November,” he said at the end of his performance. “Together we can make a change.”

As the only Latin artist to perform during the four-day virtual event where Joe Biden was officially nominated as the Democratic candidate for the upcoming 2020 presidential election, Prince Royce says he was motivated to be part of convention and represent Latinos.

“All eyes are on the convention which for the first time is virtual and I was happy to be a part of it and represent the Latino community,” said Prince Royce.

At the end of his performance, Royce sent out a message of unity and issued a call to action. “Mi gente, let’s stand by each other and don’t forget to vote this November,” he said. “Together we can make a change.”

A record 32 million Latinos are projected to be eligible to vote in the 2020 presidential elections, according to the Pew Research Center, making Latinos now the largest minority group in the electorate.

“There is no excuse for not voting,” Royce says. “The future is in our hands.”

Eva Longoria to Speak on Opening Night of the Democratic National Convention

Eva Longoria is taking the national stage once again…

The 45-year-old Mexican American actress, former Desperate Housewives star and activist has been added to the lineup of speakers for this week’s Democratic National Convention.

Eva Longoria

Longoria, who gave a spirited speech at the 2016 Democratic National Convention, joins a lineup of new additions to the roster that includes three other Hollywood figures who’ve long been active in party politics: Tracee Ellis Ross, Kerry Washington and Julia Louis-Dreyfus.

Longoria, who also appeared at the 2012 DNC and later served on the Presidential Inaugural Committee, will appear on Monday. Ross will speak on Tuesday, Washington on Wednesday and Louis-Dreyfus on Thursday.

Monday’s lineup includes Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), former Ohio Gov. John Kasich and former First Lady Michelle Obama. The convention will run from 9:00 – 11:00 pm ET each night.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez will speak on Tuesday.

The convention also will feature performances from Leon Bridges, The Chicks, Common, Billie Eilish, Jennifer Hudson, John Legend, Billy Porter, Maggie Rogers, Prince Royce and Stephen Stills.

In addition to the lineup of speakers, Democrats plan to feature testimonials from everyday Americans who will appear from locations across the country.

Convention organizers also announced that the keynote address, traditionally delivered by one up-and-coming party figure, will instead feature 17 different speakers.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to Speak at Next Week’s Virtual Democratic National Convention

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is set to make a major splash…

The 30-year-old Puerto Rican politician and current the U.S. Representative for New York’s 14th congressional district will have a speaking slot at next week’s virtual Democratic National Convention, which, because of the coronavirus pandemic, will be almost entirely virtual from locations across the country.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

Ocasio-Cortez, the star of the progressive left, had yet to enter elective politics in the last cycle.

The first-time congresswoman will speak on Tuesday, August 18, on the same nice a virtual roll call of delegates will take place to formally nominate Joe Biden as the Democratic presidential nominee.

Catherine Cortez Masto will also take the national stage.

The 56-year-old half-Mexican American lawyer and politician, who has served as a United States senator from Nevada since 2017, will appear on Monday, August 17.

And, Michelle Lujan Grisham will speak at the convention.

The 60-year-old Mexican American politician, the current governor of New Mexico, will speak on Wednesday, August 19.

In 2018, Lujan Grisham became the first Democratic woman elected governor of New Mexico, as well as the first Democratic Hispanic elected state governor in U.S. history.

Other speakers include Barack and Michelle Obama, Bill and Hillary Clinton, and Bernie Sanders.

Some of the speakers are pre-recording their speeches. The New York Times reported that Michelle Obama was pre-taping her appearance, while a source said the Bill Clinton was doing the same.

The proceedings will take place from 9:00 -11:00 pm ET each evening, starting on Monday.

The lineup:

Monday

Bernie Sanders, Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn, Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS), Rep. Gwen Moore (D-WI), John Kasich, Sen. Doug Jones (D-AL), Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and former first lady Michelle Obama.

Tuesday

Former acting attorney general Sally Yates, Senator Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, former Secretary of State John Kerry, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DL), Bill Clinton, and Jill Biden. Also planned that evening are keynote address, with the speaker yet to be identified, and a virtual roll call of delegates to formally nominate Joe Biden.

Wednesday

Nancy Pelosi, Hillary Clinton, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers, New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris and Barack Obama.

Thursday

Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ), Newsom, Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, former South Bend, IN mayor Pete Buttigieg, Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Sen. Chris Coons (D-DL), Harris, the Biden family and Biden.

Democrats also announced nine speakers “from all walks of life,” designed to showcase everyday Americans at the convention.

Tom Perez to Appear on Politico’s New Streaming Series “Plug In with Playbook”

Tom Perez is getting Politico

The 58-year-old Dominican American politician, attorney and current chair of the Democratic National Committee (DNC), will appear on Politico’s new streaming series, which is tied to its popular Playbook newsletter and franchise.

Tom Perez

Politico’s Plug In with Playbook will be streamed at 9:00 AM ET each morning from the Democratic National Convention and the Republican National Convention.

The Democrats’ convention will begin on August 17,  and Republicans’ convention will launch a week later, on August 24.

Plans for the show will move forward even though both conventions will be virtual.

On Wednesday, Democrats announced that Joe Biden would no longer travel to Milwaukee to deliver his acceptance speech and instead would do so from his home state of Delaware.

Anna Palmer and Jake Sherman, co-authors of Playbook, will anchor the 45-minute show, with plans to interview politicians and party insiders.

In addition to Perez, guests for the DNC include convention CEO Joe Solmonese, Biden campaign senior adviser Symone Sanders, and Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA), who was the vice presidential nominee in 2016.

Kevin McLaughlin, executive director of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, is one of the guests so far during the week of the GOP convention.

Plug In with Playbook also will feature “deep-dive political segments and conversations with Politico journalists, as well as analysis of down-ballot races and a look at this cycle’s swing states. The show may continue at key moments during the campaign.

The show will be live-streamed on Politico’s conventions hub, with a link on Politico’s homepage.

Lovato Becomes Co-Owner of LA’s CAST Mental Health & Wellness Treatment Center

Demi Lovato is CASTing her support for teh treatment of mental health in a big way…

The 24-year-old part-Mexican American singer/actress, who has been quite vocal about her battle with health issues, has become a co-owner of the CAST Centers in Los Angeles, the same place where she received rehab help.

Demi Lovato

Lovato, who reveals the news in an interview for CBSSunday Morning to be broadcast September 11, was referred to the West Hollywood mental health and wellness treatment center for help with depression, bulimia and substance abuse back in 2011, after a rough period in her life.

The program worked, and she’s brought her rehab guru, Mike Bayer, the CEO of CAST, on tour with her this summer.

Why buy in? “I don’t know what it says, it just feels good,” Lovato tells Smith.

“How many 24-year-olds own their own treatment center?” says Lovato’s manager, Phil McIntyre. “But then to leverage her position in pop music to do so much good is just incredible.”

To say Lovato has come a long way since undergoing treatment at CAST would be an understatement. Indeed, CAST’s Bayer admits that when he first met the former Disney star-turned-household name, she was “very closed off.” She would also sleep a lot and express herself with one word-answers. “[She] didn’t care about anything,” Bayer said.

Lovato says she was far from a model patient. “Yeah, I was a nightmare,” she said. “I would say … the word that I want to say, but it’s so inappropriate that I can’t. And this will be on a Sunday morning, so I’m not going to say it!”

But eventually, she thrived at the facility, and now is healthy again and on tour with Nick Jonas. She also gave a moving speech this summer at the Democratic National Convention — part of her efforts to use her celebrity to help others living with mental illnesses.

“It sounds ridiculous but, like, I kind of made a pact with God,” Lovato tells CBS. “And I don’t even think you’re supposed to do that, but I was, like, I promised, ‘If you make me a singer one day, I’m going to use my voice for so much more than singing, and I’m going to help people with it.’”

Lovato credits taking responsibility for her actions, and learning how to function without “some sort of drug or with alcohol,” for getting her to this point today. “And because of that,” she said, “I’m now sitting here right now alive and more successful than I’ve ever been.”

Rodriguez Debuts “Our America” Short at Democratic National Convention

Robert Rodriguez is shining a spotlight on Our America.

The 48-year-old Mexican American director and El Rey Network founder took the stage last night at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia to debut his newest work — the short Our America.

Robert Rodriguez

The video, which clocks in at 1 minute and 54 seconds, stresses the nation’s multicultural roots and is part of the push to get out the vote among Latinos — his target audience on El Rey.

“I made this film you just saw because there has never been a more important time for building understanding among people, by telling our stories,” Rodriguez said onstage after the video. “I grew up in San Antonio Texas, a family of 10 kids, and it was there that I realized that storytelling amplifies our voice. To my fellow Latinos, that voice is our vote.”

He concluded, “It’s time to elect Hillary Clinton the next president of Our America.”

Longoria Slams Donald Trump During Spirited Democratic National Convention Speech

Eva Longoria is speaking out against Donald Trump

The Democratic National Convention kicked off on Monday in Philadelphia with a wide variety of speakers, including the 41-year-old Mexican American actress and former Desperate Housewives star.

Eva Longoria

Before introducing Senator Cory Booker, Longoria criticized Trump for his comments about Mexican immigrants, for mocking a New York Times reporter with a disability, and for making numerous sexist remarks throughout his campaign and career.

She subsequently referred to Hillary Clinton as “the most qualified presidential candidate ever,” and pointed out that even the convention alone was making history in terms of diversity.

Longoria also repeated a call to action that she has delivered on a number of occasions on behalf of Clinton: “She’s been fighting for us for decades and now it’s time we fight for her.”

Longoria joined several other celebrities at the DNC, which promised to be a star-studded four days.

Others in attendance included Demi Lovato, who talked about her own battle with mental illness, America Ferrera and Chloë Grace Moretz, all of whom campaigned for Clinton.

Here’s the full transcript of Longoria’s speech:

“Hello Philadelphia! Oh man, I am so honored to be here tonight, and I am proud to say I’m with her!

You know, like many of you, this election is very personal to me. I’m from a small town in South Texas and if you know your history, Texas used to be part of Mexico. Now, I’m 9th generation American. My family never crossed a border — the border crossed us. So when Donald Trump calls us criminals and rapists, he’s insulting American families. My father is not a criminal or rapist. In fact, he’s a United States veteran.

When Trump cruelly mocked a disabled reporter, he was also mocking my special needs sister Lisa, and many like her. When he said that a wife who works is a very dangerous thing, he not only insulted me — he insulted my mother, who worked as a special education teacher for 30 years, raised four children while being a wife!

You know, I believe in the candidate who believes in all of us, and that candidate is Hillary Clinton. Hillary has spent her whole life fighting for all Americans, from healthcare reform to equal pay for women to gun safety to protecting the economy. She is the most qualified presidential candidate ever! She’s been fighting for us for decades and now it’s time we fight for her.

Now I’m very proud to be part of that fight, and I’m very proud to be here to introduce my dear friend Cory Booker, but before I do, I want you to take a look at your convention, Philadelphia. A Latina from South Texas is introducing the first black senator from New Jersey on the week we’ll nominate our first woman candidate for president of the United States! Pretty great. So guess what, Donald? It turns out America is pretty great already. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Sen. Cory Booker.”