The “Strange Charisma” of Kamala Harris
Digest
This podcast delves into the political landscape surrounding Kamala Harris, examining her rise to prominence, her identity, and her potential as a presidential candidate. The hosts begin by discussing Biden's surprise announcement of not seeking re-election and his simultaneous endorsement of Harris, suggesting it was a strategic move to capitalize on the momentum generated by the RNC's campaign against a ghost candidate. They then explore Harris's recent surge in popularity and her effectiveness as a surrogate for Biden, highlighting her ability to excite people and her potential to alter both political power and cultural conversation. The hosts delve into the duality of Kamala Harris, highlighting her political operator side, evident in her swift securing of endorsements, and her ability to inspire enthusiasm, as seen in the online memes and jokes about her. They reflect on their perceptions of Harris as a political figure in 2019 when she was running for president, discussing her jumble of signifiers, her campaign poster, and her ability to connect with the center of the Democratic Party. The hosts discuss Harris's presentation of herself, particularly her reluctance to fully embrace identity politics, connecting this to her early career as a prosecutor and her struggle to link her past to the galvanization needed for campaigning. They examine Harris's time as Vice President, highlighting reports of staff turnover and her reliance on a small circle of advisors, discussing the perception that Biden didn't fully trust her and the tension between them stemming from their 2019 debate. The hosts explore Harris's family background, emphasizing her biracial heritage and the influence of her mother's radical politics, discussing the tension within her family and the impact of her upbringing on her identity as a black American. They delve into the complexities of Harris's identity, particularly her biracial background and its implications for the race, comparing her to Barack Obama, highlighting their shared experience of having a black father who is not from America. The hosts discuss Harris's trip to Africa in 2023, highlighting the disappointment expressed by some about her performance, connecting this to the broader issue of Asian American identity and the lack of engagement with this aspect of Harris's heritage in political conversation. They discuss the comparison of Harris to Obama and its limitations, analyzing Harris's political strategy, suggesting that she lacks a clear ideological stance and relies more on tactics and her ability to connect with the zeitgeist. The hosts explore Harris's stance on abortion rights, suggesting that it will be a central issue in her campaign, discussing her ability to reanimate the importance of this issue and her use of emotive language to connect with voters. They compare Harris to Hillary Clinton, highlighting the differences in their political personas and the significance of turnout in the upcoming election, arguing that Harris's lack of a deeply rooted meaning in American politics could be an advantage in terms of voter engagement. The hosts discuss the challenges of covering Harris without inadvertently fueling racist and misogynistic thinking, acknowledging the loaded nature of certain criticisms directed at her and the need to present her biography in a balanced and nuanced way. They discuss the Kamala memes and the disparity in how they are interpreted by Republicans and Democrats, exploring the reasons behind this difference and the potential for these memes to backfire and become a source of amusement for a wider audience. The hosts discuss Harris's strange charisma and its potential to be a key factor in her campaign, comparing her to Trump, suggesting that she possesses a similar ability to captivate audiences and generate a desire for engagement. They discuss Harris's prosecutor persona and its potential risks in the campaign, acknowledging that she may need to lean into this role to effectively counter Trump, but it could also alienate progressive voters. The hosts discuss the ascendant narrative of Kamala Harris, suggesting that she can run against both Trump and Biden by positioning herself as a symbol of change and a new chapter for America, arguing that her utilitarian approach to governing could be an asset in the current political climate.
Outlines
Kamala Harris: A Political Analysis
This podcast explores the political landscape surrounding Kamala Harris, examining her rise to prominence, her identity, and her potential as a presidential candidate. The hosts discuss Biden's surprise announcement of not seeking re-election and his simultaneous endorsement of Harris, suggesting it was a strategic move to capitalize on the momentum generated by the RNC's campaign against a ghost candidate. They then explore Harris's recent surge in popularity and her effectiveness as a surrogate for Biden, highlighting her ability to excite people and her potential to alter both political power and cultural conversation.
Harris's Aura and the Democratic Party's Vision
The hosts explore the significance of the record-breaking fundraising for Harris's campaign, suggesting it reflects a desire for change and a bold vision for the Democratic Party. They discuss Harris's ability to excite people and her potential to alter both political power and cultural conversation.
Two Kamala Harrises: The Operator and the Locust of Enthusiasm
The hosts delve into the duality of Kamala Harris, highlighting her political operator side, evident in her swift securing of endorsements, and her ability to inspire enthusiasm, as seen in the online memes and jokes about her.
Harris's Political Figure in 2019 and Her Identity
The hosts reflect on their perceptions of Harris as a political figure in 2019 when she was running for president. They discuss her jumble of signifiers, her campaign poster, and her ability to connect with the center of the Democratic Party.
Harris's Presentation and Her Relationship to Identity Politics
The hosts discuss Harris's presentation of herself, particularly her reluctance to fully embrace identity politics. They connect this to her early career as a prosecutor and her struggle to link her past to the galvanization needed for campaigning.
Harris's Time as Vice President and Her Relationship with Biden
The hosts examine Harris's time as Vice President, highlighting reports of staff turnover and her reliance on a small circle of advisors. They discuss the perception that Biden didn't fully trust her and the tension between them stemming from their 2019 debate.
Harris's Family Background and Identity Construction
The hosts explore Harris's family background, emphasizing her biracial heritage and the influence of her mother's radical politics. They discuss the tension within her family and the impact of her upbringing on her identity as a black American.
Harris's Comparison to Obama and Her Political Strategy
The hosts discuss the comparison of Harris to Obama and its limitations. They analyze Harris's political strategy, suggesting that she lacks a clear ideological stance and relies more on tactics and her ability to connect with the zeitgeist.
Keywords
Kamala Harris
Kamala Harris is an American politician who served as the 49th Vice President of the United States from 2021 to 2023. She is the first woman, the first African American, and the first Asian American to hold the office. Harris previously served as the 32nd Attorney General of California from 2011 to 2017 and as a U.S. Senator from California from 2017 to 2021.
Joe Biden
Joe Biden is an American politician who served as the 46th President of the United States from 2021 to 2023. He previously served as the 47th Vice President of the United States from 2009 to 2017 under President Barack Obama. Biden is a member of the Democratic Party and has been a prominent figure in American politics for over four decades.
Donald Trump
Donald Trump is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who served as the 45th President of the United States from 2017 to 2021. He is a member of the Republican Party and has been a controversial figure throughout his career. Trump's presidency was marked by significant political and social divisions in the United States.
Democratic Party
The Democratic Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States. It is generally considered to be center-left on the political spectrum, advocating for social justice, economic equality, and environmental protection. The Democratic Party has a long history in the United States, dating back to the early 19th century.
Republican Party
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States. It is generally considered to be center-right on the political spectrum, advocating for limited government, free markets, and individual liberty. The Republican Party has been a major force in American politics since the mid-19th century.
Identity Politics
Identity politics is a political approach that focuses on the interests and experiences of particular social groups, such as racial, ethnic, gender, or sexual minorities. It often involves the mobilization of these groups to achieve political goals and challenge existing power structures.
Tough on Crime
"Tough on crime" is a political approach that emphasizes law enforcement and punishment as the primary means of addressing crime. It often involves increased police presence, harsher sentencing guidelines, and reduced emphasis on rehabilitation.
School Busing
School busing is a policy that involves transporting students to schools outside their neighborhoods to achieve racial integration. It was a controversial policy in the 1970s, with supporters arguing that it was necessary to address racial segregation in schools and opponents arguing that it was disruptive and ineffective.
Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)
Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) are institutions of higher education that were established for the education of African Americans. They have played a significant role in the history of African American education and have produced many prominent leaders in various fields.
Q&A
What were the hosts' initial reactions to Biden's announcement of not seeking re-election and his endorsement of Harris?
The hosts were surprised by the simultaneous announcement of Biden's decision not to seek re-election and his endorsement of Harris. They found the timing and the way the announcement was made to be unusual, with Biden sending a letter and then a tweet, and then appearing on a conference call while Harris spoke at the campaign headquarters.
How did the hosts analyze Biden's decision to endorse Harris?
The hosts suggested that Biden's decision to endorse Harris was a strategic move to capitalize on the momentum generated by the RNC's campaign against a ghost candidate. They argued that Biden understood that the RNC had already spent a lot of money campaigning against a candidate who was no longer a factor, and that endorsing Harris would allow him to redirect that momentum towards a viable candidate.
What are the two sides of Kamala Harris that the hosts discussed?
The hosts discussed two sides of Kamala Harris: the political operator and the locust of enthusiasm. The political operator side is evident in her swift securing of endorsements, while the locust of enthusiasm is seen in the online memes and jokes about her. They suggested that these two sides of her personality could be a key factor in her campaign.
How did the hosts compare Harris to Barack Obama?
The hosts compared Harris to Barack Obama, highlighting their shared experience of having a black father who is not from America. They suggested that this shared experience has influenced their construction of black American identity and their approach to politics.
What are the challenges of covering Harris without inadvertently fueling racist and misogynistic thinking?
The hosts discussed the challenges of covering Harris without inadvertently fueling racist and misogynistic thinking. They acknowledged the loaded nature of certain criticisms directed at her and the need to present her biography in a balanced and nuanced way. They also highlighted the importance of not being overly precious in conveying her biography and of recognizing that she is a complex and multifaceted individual.
What is the ascendant narrative of Kamala Harris?
The hosts suggested that the ascendant narrative of Kamala Harris is that she represents a new chapter for America, a move away from the gerontocracy that has dominated recent politics. They argued that her utilitarian approach to governing could be an asset in the current political climate and that she can effectively position herself as a bridge to a new generation of leaders.
Show Notes
The New Yorker staff writers and cultural critics Doreen St. Félix and Vinson Cunningham join Tyler Foggatt to discuss Kamala Harris’s sudden ascendence to the top of the Democratic ticket. How might her gender, race, and long political career from prosecutor to Vice-President shape the campaign ahead? “In a weird way, I think that she can run against both Trump and, implicitly, very subtly, against Biden, too,” Cunningham says. “I think her strongest way to code herself is: we're finally turning the page.”
This week’s reading:
- “Kamala Harris, the Candidate,” by Doreen St. Félix
- “A Mood of Optimism at Kamala Harris’s First Campaign Stop,” by Emily Witt
- “Who Should Kamala Harris Pick as Her Running Mate?,” by Amy Davidson Sorkin
To discover more podcasts from The New Yorker, visit newyorker.com/podcasts. To send feedback on this episode, write to themail@newyorker.com.
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