Vice President Harris and media mogul Oprah Winfrey attended the event in Michigan and discussed a range of issues from immigration to the economy, reproductive rights and gun violence prevention.
The event, which took place on a set reminiscent of Winfrey's previous talk show, was attended by a crowd of 400 in person and those who participated virtually, including celebrities such as Ben Stiller, Jennifer Lopez, Bryan Cranston, Chris Rock, Tracee Ellis Ross, Julia Roberts and Meryl Streep.
The vice president and Winfrey discussed reproductive rights issues, including those of Hadley Duvall, a Kentucky woman who was raped and impregnated by her stepfather at age 12, and the family of Amber Thurman, a 28-year-old Georgia mother who died after failing to receive adequate care.
Duvall spoke at the Democratic National Convention and recently appeared in a campaign ad for Harris, talking about her own experience with reproductive freedom before Roe v. Wade was overturned. Thurman's death was reported earlier this week by ProPublica, which said it was “preventable” but that she was denied treatment because of the state's restrictive abortion laws.
“Unfortunately, this story is not the only story of what has happened since these bans were put into place,” Harris said. “State after state, including yours, are passing abortion bans that criminalize health care workers.”
Winfrey asked, “Even when her mother's life is at risk?”
“That's the question: Is she on the brink of death because you actually decide to give her help? Is that what we're saying? Literally, doctors and nurses have to say: She could be dying any second now, so you'd better treat her now, or it could be a life sentence in some cases.”
In a segment on gun violence prevention, Natalie, a survivor of the Georgia school shooting, described her experience when she was shot twice while in class. The Apalachee High School shooting happened earlier this month when 14-year-old student Colt Gray opened fire, killing four people.
“On the issue of gun violence, I think for too long some people have been pushing a completely false choice between you being for the Second Amendment or you want to take guns away from everyone. I'm for the Second Amendment, I'm for the assault weapons ban, I'm for universal background checks and I'm for red flag laws,” Harris said.
When Winfrey asked VP Harris about owning a gun (she has publicly stated that she does), she responded, “If someone breaks into my house, I will be shot. I should not have said that. My staff will deal with that later.”
Other voters and supporters also spoke on key issues, starting with one voter who asked about Harris' plan to fix immigration, referring to a failed border deal negotiated by a bipartisan group of senators that she said she would sign into law if it passed Congress, despite former President Trump's opposition.
Later, when a couple asked Harris about her plans to fix the economy, the vice president mocked her political opponents by pointing to plans to fight price gouging and help first-time homebuyers and small business entrepreneurs.
“We have a lot of entrepreneurs in this country with great ideas and incredible work ethics, but they don't always have access to capital. Not everyone was handed $400 million on a silver platter like my opponent was, and then went bankrupt six times,” Harris said, referring to Trump, who famously started a business with a $1 million loan from his father.
The event was also attended by representatives from grassroots organizations including Cat Ladies for Kamala, Train Enthusiasts for Harris-Waltz, Chefs for Kamala, Republicans for Harris, Swifties for Kamala, Black Women for Harris, White Men for Harris, Winning with Black Men, White Women for Harris and South Asians for Harris.
“This is America,” Harris said, “and this movement is vital as we remind each other that we have far more in common than what divides us.”
Shortly before Harris took the stage, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer took to the stage, followed by Harris campaign chair Jen O'Malley Dillon.
Additionally, celebrities who attended virtually praised the Vice President throughout the event.
“I've been a fan of Kamala's for a long time. I've written her checks for a long time, and I want to take my daughters to the White House to meet this black woman president,” Locke said. “I think she'll be a great president, and I'm ready to turn the next page. All the hate and negativity has to stop.”
Stiller also said he feels he's “shifted from being anti-Trump to being pro-Kamala” and that people are really starting to listen to her arguments.
He added, “My daughter's reproductive rights are extremely important.”
Roberts said she is a mother of two and will be voting for the first time in this election.
“I travel a lot abroad, and I want people to say, 'Oh, how is it over there?' instead of, 'Oh, you're an American,' you know? I want to get back to that,” the actress said.
Meanwhile, Ross rebuked Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) without naming him.
“As a 52-year-old childfree woman, I want to say to those who think a woman's worth is determined by the number of children she has. I mean, shout out to all the amazing mothers out there. But childfree women have mothered the world and elevated culture as aunts, godmothers, teachers, mentors, sisters and friends. You don't have to have babies to move humanity forward,” she said.
Vance is running for the Senate in 2021.lamented the then-Fox News personality.Tucker Carlson said he believes Democrats are pushing an “anti-family” agenda driven by “a bunch of childfree catwomen who are miserable about their lives and the choices they've made,” so “they want to make the rest of the country miserable, too.”
He referred to Harris at the time and has since said Democrats were deliberately misrepresenting his past statements.
“Hello, President Harris,” Streep said with a smile during the event.
“It's 47 days,” Harris said.
“I think you're going to win. I think you're going to win. But what if you win and he doesn't accept it? And I know the shenanigans will continue for a long time,” Streep said of Trump.
“Our lawyers are working, and it's so important that we all speak to our friends and neighbors about misinformation, and it's important that we defend the integrity of poll workers and those who work on Election Day,” Harris said. “We ask people to be aware of misinformation and disinformation, and not be afraid to vote.”
Trump has repeatedly alleged widespread fraud in the 2020 election. He has challenged the results, but courts have rejected his claims, citing a lack of proof and the Supreme Court.rejected various election challenges.
