The Story of Kamala Harris
12Digest
This podcast delves into the life and career of Kamala Harris, focusing on her unique background, her evolution as a prosecutor and politician, and her potential as a future president. The episode begins with an introduction to Susan Lee, a researcher and fact checker for The Daily, who emphasizes the importance of meticulous fact-checking in their work. The podcast then explores Harris's upbringing in Oakland, California, highlighting the influence of her activist parents and the multicultural environment she grew up in. Herndon discusses how her parents intentionally exposed her to both her Indian and Jamaican heritage, fostering a sense of self-confidence and belonging. The episode then examines Harris's decision to pursue a career as a prosecutor, a choice that was met with mixed reactions from her family and community. Herndon explores her rationale for entering law enforcement, emphasizing her belief in the importance of safety as a civil right and her desire to represent minority communities within the system. The podcast delves into Harris's early career as a prosecutor in San Francisco, highlighting her focus on delivering safety and accountability while also addressing root causes of crime. He discusses her "Back on Track" program, which aimed to help formerly incarcerated felons re-enter the workforce, and her controversial truancy initiative. The episode traces Harris's rise to national prominence, starting with her election to the US Senate in 2016. Herndon discusses her viral moments during Supreme Court confirmation hearings and her subsequent emergence as a potential 2020 presidential candidate. The podcast analyzes Harris's 2020 presidential campaign, highlighting the campaign's strategy to present her as a unifying figure who could appeal to a broad range of voters. He discusses the challenges she faced in navigating the Democratic primary, particularly the pressure to conform to progressive litmus tests. The episode examines Harris's transition to the vice presidency, emphasizing the shift in public perception towards her after her presidential campaign. He discusses the factors that led to her selection as Biden's running mate, including the growing importance of racial justice and the pressure to choose a black woman. The podcast explores Harris's evolution as vice president, highlighting her growing comfort with her identity and her emergence as a leading voice on issues like abortion rights. He discusses how her work on these issues has helped to solidify her position within the Democratic Party. The episode concludes with a discussion of Harris's nomination for president, emphasizing the challenges she faces in introducing herself to a broader audience. Herndon argues that her ideological fluidity, once seen as a weakness, could be an asset in the upcoming election.
Outlines
Kamala Harris: A Singular Story
This episode explores the life and career of Kamala Harris, examining her unique background, her evolution as a prosecutor and politician, and her potential as a future president. The episode begins with an introduction to Susan Lee, a researcher and fact checker for The Daily, who emphasizes the importance of meticulous fact-checking in their work.
Kamala Harris's Early Life and Influences
The podcast explores Harris's upbringing in Oakland, California, highlighting the influence of her activist parents and the multicultural environment she grew up in. Herndon discusses how her parents intentionally exposed her to both her Indian and Jamaican heritage, fostering a sense of self-confidence and belonging.
Kamala Harris's Decision to Become a Prosecutor
The episode examines Harris's decision to pursue a career as a prosecutor, a choice that was met with mixed reactions from her family and community. Herndon explores her rationale for entering law enforcement, emphasizing her belief in the importance of safety as a civil right and her desire to represent minority communities within the system.
Kamala Harris's Early Career as a Prosecutor
The podcast delves into Harris's early career as a prosecutor in San Francisco, highlighting her focus on delivering safety and accountability while also addressing root causes of crime. He discusses her "Back on Track" program, which aimed to help formerly incarcerated felons re-enter the workforce, and her controversial truancy initiative.
Kamala Harris's Rise to National Prominence and 2020 Presidential Campaign
The episode traces Harris's rise to national prominence, starting with her election to the US Senate in 2016. Herndon discusses her viral moments during Supreme Court confirmation hearings and her subsequent emergence as a potential 2020 presidential candidate. The podcast analyzes Harris's 2020 presidential campaign, highlighting the campaign's strategy to present her as a unifying figure who could appeal to a broad range of voters. He discusses the challenges she faced in navigating the Democratic primary, particularly the pressure to conform to progressive litmus tests.
Kamala Harris's Vice Presidency and Nomination for President
The episode examines Harris's transition to the vice presidency, emphasizing the shift in public perception towards her after her presidential campaign. He discusses the factors that led to her selection as Biden's running mate, including the growing importance of racial justice and the pressure to choose a black woman. The podcast explores Harris's evolution as vice president, highlighting her growing comfort with her identity and her emergence as a leading voice on issues like abortion rights. He discusses how her work on these issues has helped to solidify her position within the Democratic Party. The episode concludes with a discussion of Harris's nomination for president, emphasizing the challenges she faces in introducing herself to a broader audience. Herndon argues that her ideological fluidity, once seen as a weakness, could be an asset in the upcoming election.
Keywords
Kamala Harris
A prominent American politician who served as the 49th Vice President of the United States from 2021 to 2023 and is currently a candidate for the Democratic nomination for President of the United States.
Progressive Prosecutor
A prosecutor who prioritizes addressing the root causes of crime and seeks to reduce mass incarceration, often through alternative sentencing and diversion programs.
Truancy Initiative
A program aimed at reducing chronic absenteeism in schools, often involving parental accountability measures and community resources.
Identity Politics
A political approach that emphasizes the importance of group identity and representation, often focusing on issues of race, gender, and sexual orientation.
Electability
The perceived ability of a candidate to win an election, often based on factors such as their popularity, experience, and ability to appeal to a broad range of voters.
Litmus Test
A specific issue or policy that is used to determine a candidate's political stance or suitability for office.
Ideological Fluidity
The ability to hold and express a range of political views, often seen as a sign of flexibility and adaptability.
Q&A
How did Kamala Harris's upbringing in Oakland shape her political views?
Harris's upbringing in Oakland, with its multicultural environment and activist parents, instilled in her a strong sense of social justice and a belief in the importance of representation. Her parents' activism in the civil rights movement and their intentional efforts to expose her to both her Indian and Jamaican heritage fostered a sense of self-confidence and belonging, which she carried into her career.
Why did Kamala Harris choose to become a prosecutor, given her background and the often adversarial relationship between law enforcement and minority communities?
Harris believed that safety was a civil right and that minority communities deserved to be represented within the system. She saw a role for herself in bringing about change from within law enforcement, working to address the root causes of crime and ensure accountability while also promoting empathy and understanding.
What were some of the key challenges Kamala Harris faced during her 2020 presidential campaign?
Harris faced pressure to conform to progressive litmus tests, which sometimes conflicted with her own views and experiences as a prosecutor. She also struggled to articulate a consistent message about her identity and ideology, which led to some confusion among voters.
How has Kamala Harris's role as vice president shaped her political trajectory?
Harris's role as vice president has allowed her to solidify her position within the Democratic Party, particularly on issues like abortion rights. Her work on these issues has helped to build her reputation as a leader and advocate, making her a more formidable candidate for president.
What are the potential implications of Kamala Harris's ideological fluidity for her presidency, if she is elected?
Harris's ideological fluidity could be seen as an asset in a time of political polarization, allowing her to appeal to a broad range of voters. However, it also raises questions about her ability to articulate a clear and consistent vision for the country, particularly on issues where there is significant disagreement.
Show Notes
Over the next few days at the Democratic National Convention, Vice President Kamala Harris will accept her party’s nomination and reintroduce herself to American voters.
Astead W. Herndon, a national politics reporter and the host of the politics podcast “The Run-Up,” talks through key periods in Ms. Harris’s life that explain what she believes and the kind of president she might become.
Guest: Astead W. Herndon, a national politics reporter and the host of the politics podcast “The Run-Up” for The New York Times.
Background reading:
- A vice-presidential learning curve: How Ms. Harris picked her shots.
- Nearly 14 years ago, Ms. Harris’s opponent in the California attorney general’s race gave an answer at a debate that was frank — and fateful for the future Democratic presidential nominee.
For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.
Table of contents
United States
lol. the reason Biden won is because the Dems colluded to stop Bernie. don't act like "the democratic electorate" preferred a moderate