Maddow Reflects on Interview with Harris
During a recent podcast, host Rachel Maddow expressed her regret over not challenging former Vice President Kamala Harris more forcefully during a September interview about potential 2024 Democratic candidates.
Maddow spoke with former Democratic National Committee Chairman Jamie Harrison, noting that while she recognized Harris’s candid nature off-camera—something evident in Harris’s memoir, “107 Days”—the interview felt overly cautious. “I wish I would have just kind of pulled the — and said, like, stop, stop, stop, stop, stop,” Maddow reflected, emphasizing that she was aware of Harris’s true beliefs and wished the conversation had been more direct instead of safe.
She elaborated that there was potential for a deeper, more honest dialogue. “I know what she’s capable of in terms of cutting headlong into it,” Maddow stated, indicating a desire for more authenticity in her responses rather than the polished version presented.
Harris’s Evolving Views on Biden
Maddow found the overall interview acceptable but labeled it safe, indicating a missed opportunity for a more revealing discussion. After the interview, she admitted to feeling that she could have pushed harder for a more insightful conversation.
In the interview, Maddow also questioned Harris about her decision to pass over former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg due to concerns regarding his sexuality. Harris noted in her book that she believed Buttigieg “would have been an ideal partner” if he had been a “heterosexual white man.”
When Maddow prompted for clarification, Harris’s comments revealed a complex view on the situation. She stated, “What I’m saying is that in 107 days… it’s going to be a Black woman running for president of the United States. And it was clear that the vice presidential candidate was gay. It made me very sad because the stakes were so high.”
Controversy Surrounding Josh Shapiro
Harris also reflected on her interactions with Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, whom she considered as a potential running mate but reported mixed feelings about. She accused him of wanting to be involved in every decision, reminding him that “the vice president is not a co-president.”
In response to a comment from Shapiro regarding her book, he dismissed her claims as “complete and utter bulls—,” further complicating the narrative surrounding their dynamic.
