WASHINGTON (AP) — In today’s fragmented media environment, podcasts have become popular ways for politicians to reach voters. Kamala Harris recently conducted two interviews that were published this week. One was with Shannon Sharpe, a former NFL player who hosts “Club Shay Shay,” and the other was with Brené Brown, an academic whose podcast is called “Unlocking Us.”
The conversations covered much of the same topics as previous interviews, such as Harris’ plan to make elder care more affordable and her penchant for using Venn diagrams to explain complicated concepts.
But even a week before the election, there are still a few modern things to learn.
Harris warned black voters not to support Donald Trump
Sharpe asked Harris some pointed questions about how black voters, particularly men, appear to be drawn to their Republican opponent.
Harris responded by talking about how Trump spread lies about how Barack Obama, the first black president, was not born in the United States and how Haitian migrants in Ohio ate people’s pets.
Then she pivoted to a broader warning about how Trump sees the world.
“Don’t think you’re part of Donald Trump’s club. “You’re not,” Harris said. “He won’t think about you.” Do you think he’ll invite you to dinner?”
When Trump is with his “billionaire friends,” she doesn’t think about the needs of black men, such as better health care and educational opportunities.
“Should he be president of the United States? That is the question.”
Harris talks about “black jobs”
Trump caused a stir during his debate against President Joe Biden when he said migrants would take “black jobs.”
Harris waved off the comment while speaking to Sharpe, saying Trump was trying to make voters think, “It’s either you or them.”
“What do you define as a black job?” “Let me tell you what I define as a black job,” she said. “Vice President of the United States.”
“That’s good,” Sharpe replied. “I don’t know what the pay is, but it’s a good job.”
Harris laughed. “Well, you know, not everyone is Shannon Sharpe,” she said.
Harris talked about trying to stay fresh on the campaign trail
Sharpe’s interviews begin with a toast, but Harris cheerfully declined the alcohol.
“I’m actually not going to drink this because I might fall asleep,” she said, adding that she needed to be fresh for an appearance with Obama later in the day.
Harris said she still works out every morning, no matter how overdue she got up the night before, and that as she’s gotten older, she’s started eating breakfast.
“It’s usually a spinach omelette,” she said. “I like chicken apple sausage and some toast.”
Harris keeps an eye on the clock
Politicians are notorious for being overdue, especially presidents who are used to the world waiting for them.
But Harris said she puts a lot of emphasis on staying on schedule, so much so that others have made fun of her.
“It’s really important to me to be on time,” she told Brown. “Like I was recently teased by someone who has worked with a lot of elected leaders. And like I’ve never seen an elected leader who’s always on time. But I feel like I owe other people respect because I know their time is important.”
