Vice President Kamala Harris lastly gave her first stay interview Thursday because the Democratic presidential nominee, albeit together with her beloved working mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. The budding presidential candidate outlined her 2025 agenda and touched on matters she had beforehand prevented.
The interview, carried out by CNN’s Dana Bash, instantly drew near-real-time criticism from her Republican opponent, Donald Trump.
Within the interview, Harris emphasised her pragmatism, balancing defending the legacy of the Biden-Harris administration together with her imaginative and prescient for the longer term. “I believe it’s vital to construct consensus and it’s vital to search out frequent floor the place we will really remedy issues,” Harris stated.
Let’s make clear one factor. Bash is not shy. This was not a softball interview the place the interviewer seemed to be attempting to journey up Vice President Harris.
However, guess what? It would not work.
Listed here are some highlights from the 27-minute interview:
1. Defending her altering coverage positions
Harris mentioned adjustments in her coverage stance because the 2019 presidential marketing campaign, through which she supported progressive insurance policies equivalent to Medicare for All and the Inexperienced New Deal. She clarified that whereas her stance on some points has modified, her core values stay the identical. “A very powerful and vital facet of my coverage views and selections is that my values haven’t modified,” Harris stated, emphasizing her perception within the actuality of the local weather disaster and the steps taken underneath the Inflation Discount Act.
On fracking, she confirmed her dedication to not ban fracking, referencing her pledge in the course of the 2020 vice presidential debate and her current decisive vote to extend fracking leasing. “As vice chairman, I solid the decisive vote that really elevated fracking leasing,” Harris stated.
Relating to immigration, she confused the significance of legislation enforcement in opposition to unlawful border crossings. “I believe there must be penalties,” she asserted, criticizing Trump for blocking bipartisan border safety efforts. “My values revolve round what we have to do to safe our border — that hasn’t modified.”
2. Responding to Trump’s assaults on her racial identification
Requested about Trump’s repeated false claims about her racial identification, Harris dismissed his feedback however didn’t interact immediately. “Standard, boring script,” she replied. “Subsequent query please.”
Sure, shut that bait ASAP.
3. Her “first day” agenda
Harris outlined her priorities for her first day as president, specializing in what she known as the “alternative financial system.” She emphasised her dedication to reducing prices for People, particularly in vital areas like groceries. “Costs, particularly on groceries, are nonetheless too excessive. The American individuals know that. I do know that,” she stated. “That’s why my agenda consists of what we have to do to deliver down grocery costs — for instance, coping with issues like worth gouging.”
Her plan additionally consists of increasing the kid tax credit score and offering a $25,000 tax credit score for first-time homebuyers to handle housing affordability points. Requested why the measures weren’t carried out throughout her vice-presidential time period, Harris defended the Biden administration’s report however acknowledged “there’s extra work to be accomplished.”
Harris additionally stood by her earlier feedback in help of Biden’s capability to be re-elected, regardless that he dropped out of the race in July amid rising stress inside his get together.
What would you assume? How is she? To us, she appears presidential, succesful and smart. Be completely different from one other particular person.
