Rachel Maddow Reflects on Interview with Kamala Harris
MS NOW host Rachel Maddow shared her thoughts on Tuesday regarding an interview she conducted with former Vice President Kamala Harris last September, which revolved around Harris’s book about the 2024 Democratic nominee.
During a conversation with Jamie Harrison, the former Democratic National Committee Chairman, Maddow expressed her regret about not pressing Harris more during their discussion. She noted that Harris often comes across as more candid and forthright off-camera, a quality that somewhat emerged in her memoir, “107 Days.”
“In the interview, she played it safe. I wish I had interrupted and said, ‘Hold on, I read your book. I’ve spoken with you privately. Just be honest. Let’s get real,’” Maddow reflected about their time on MSNBC, now known as MS NOW.
“If you plan to run for president again, you can tidy things up later. But right now, let’s just lay it all out there. I know she’s capable of tackling tough questions head-on. I should have encouraged her to be more straightforward rather than sticking to a safer approach,” she added.
Maddow felt the interview was well-executed but ultimately conservative in tone. She confessed she left feeling that she could have pushed harder. She had questioned Harris about why she overlooked former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, especially regarding his sexuality.
In her book, Harris mentioned that Buttigieg would have made an excellent partner if he were a “straight, white male.”
During the interview, Maddow found it challenging to digest Harris’s comments and sought clarification.
In response, Harris stated, “That’s not what I said. I’m not saying he can’t run because he’s gay.” She elaborated, portraying the high stakes of the election, highlighting that it would be a Black woman leading the presidential race against a non-voting figure like Donald Trump. “I was saddened because the stakes were incredibly high, while recognizing it was a true gamble,” she said.
Harris’s memoir also voiced her concerns regarding Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, who she considered as a running mate. She described negative interactions, suggesting that Shapiro had overly involved himself in the vetting process.
In a response to Harris’s claims, Shapiro dismissed them, saying, “Did she write that in the book? That’s just total nonsense.” However, he later softened his criticism, saying it wasn’t fair to suggest she was just trying to sell books.
