In a recent discussion on the podcast "At Our Table," MS NOW host Rachel Maddow revealed her thoughts on a previous interview with Kamala Harris. Maddow shared with Jaime Harrison, the former Democratic National Committee Chair, her perspective on the interactions with Harris, both on and off camera.
The interview in question took place in September, as Maddow spoke with Harris about her campaign memoir "107 Days." Maddow, looking back, felt that the televised conversation did not fully capture Harris's assertiveness and direct nature, traits that she observed during their off-air discussions. Maddow noted that while Harris exudes a sense of sharpness in private, her public persona during the interview seemed overly cautious.
Maddow expressed a particular frustration that, during the interview, she did not push Harris to abandon her guarded approach. "I wish I would have just kind of pulled the—and said, like, Stop, stop, stop, stop, stop. I read the book. I’ve talked to you off camera. I know what you really think about these things. Like, no, stop being so safe. Like, let's just, let’s get real," Maddow said during the podcast.
Reflecting on the interview's outcome, Maddow described it as adequate but felt it was missing the candor she had hoped for from Harris. She left with the impression that there was a missed opportunity to delve deeper into Harris's more unfiltered opinions.
During the interview, the topic of Pete Buttigieg's sexuality and its impact on his potential vice-presidential candidacy was broached. Harris's memoir touched upon her decision not to choose Buttigieg as her running mate, attributing it to the high-stakes nature of the election against Donald Trump and the challenges of running as a Black woman with a gay man on the ticket. When asked to clarify her position during the interview, Harris stated, "That's not what I said, that he couldn't be on the ticket because he is gay." She further explained the risks involved given the context of the election.
The memoir also discussed Harris's considerations of other potential running mates, including Democratic Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro. Harris wrote that Shapiro had asked her staff inappropriate questions and seemed to overstep the boundaries of the vice-presidential role. Shapiro has since publicly denied the accuracy of these claims, suggesting that Harris's motivations for the content in her book might be financial.
Overall, Maddow's reflections on the interview with Harris highlight the complexities of political discourse and the challenges that media personalities face when trying to elicit candid responses from public figures.
