The Harris Interview (Coming Thursday)

Until now, Kamala Harris has handled the *press interview issue* perfectly. Let me explain why her decision to delay a sit-down interview for as long as possible (until this Thursday night) was such a brilliant strategy. I’ll also share some things I think she should say and do in the upcoming interview to be broadcast live on CNN:

1. WHY INTERRUPT MOMENTUM? — Since she became the presumptive Democratic nominee just five weeks ago, Harris has been riding a steady stream of upward momentum. Her personal popularity and approval ratings have swung almost 10 points. Call it a massive reversal. Remember, she began her campaign trailing Trump by 5 points. As of today. she is now tied or slightly ahead in all the major polls. Given these positive recent developments, why would the Harris campaign take any risks that might change her positive trajectory? Ipso facto, waiting to do a sit down was smart.

2. “MEET THE PRESS” IS DEAD — The old standards of press relations and media messaging have been shattered. The days of appearing on Sunday morning political talk shows such as Meet the Press and Face the Nation are dead. Even big interviews broadcast in primetime, such as appearing CBS’ 60 Minutes and doing extended sit downs talking one-on-one to ABC’s Barbara Walters have become both infrequent and inconsequential. That era of journalism (sadly, some say) is over. Traditionalists may not approve of current media trends and radical changes in modern politics, but these are the realities of a new age of journalism. So, Harris must be looking at this landscape and saying to herself — why play by the outdated media rules of 1992? This is another smart move.

3. NO, WAPO AND NYT, YOU ARE NOT ENTITLED TO ANYTHING — Mainstream media have long postured themselves as bastions of entitlement. Although arrogant, the give and take has worked. The Washington Post, New York Times, CBS, NBC, ABC and other highly-respected icons of national news serve as de facto gatekeepers of information. With that trust comes immense responsibility. For the most part, this corporatized media arrangement — though imperfect –– has served the public good. However, increasing percentages of the American public aren’t relying on these traditional sources for news anymore, and even those who do follow the big mainstream outlets are criticizing much of the focus and content. This essentially makes them far less essential as campaign conduits. You pissed off the editorial board of The New York Times? So fucking what? Years ago, presidents were tethered to the nightly news on the Big Three and powerful newspapers in big cities. Now, the information pipeline is far more stratified, and even chaotic. A single tweet may get more attention than a headline in The Wall Street Journal. The Harris campaign clearly understands this. And frankly, the Trump campaign understands this, also. Trump has been the single most destructive force on prying away American attachment to reality, and now the Harris campaign must deal with this new reality.

4. NO, SHE’S NOT AFRAID (OR STUPID) — Trump and his MAGA morons have been calling Harris both stupid and afraid. They’ve hurled repeated charges that Harris is incapable of doing a serious sit-down interview on the issues. Good. This is terrific for Democrats. Set the bar low (this is a really dumb tactic almost certain to backfire–but Trump is so vile and ignorant, he continues digging his own political grave). Actually, we’ll soon see about Harris appearing “afraid” and “dumb.” Let’s get this straight: Harris has been underestimated all of her life (in every position) and she’s done pretty well for herself, I’d say. Yeah, keep underestimating her. Delaying the interview sets up Trump like a imbecilic feeble frack of frustration, who can’t keep from rambling incoherently most of the time–whether it’s campaign stops or tweets. The more he lowers public expectations on Harris and her upcoming interview, the lower the bar becomes for her to exceed it. Now, it becomes an easier jump. My guess is, Harris will do fine. She doesn’t have to dazzle anyone. Simply talking like a normal person, stating her clear policy positions, and acting human (something Trump is totally incapable of) will go a long way towards winning undecideds. Again, delaying the interview sets this scenario up perfectly.

Here’s Trump’s idiocy on display.  Please, keep it up!

5. INTERVIEWS AREN’T HELPFUL, BUT THEY CAN BE HURTFUL — Most political interviews are quickly forgotten once they’re done. The vast majority are uneventful. Many sit downs don’t do much to help a candidate, but then a slip up or controversy can sure backfire and be harmful. The last truly “helpful” political interview in a presidential campaign was probably a generation ago, way back in 1992, when Bill and Hillary Clinton appeared jointly on 60 Minutes. Clinton looked to be finished politically due to a string of extramarital affairs that had come out. Actually, it was Hillary Clinton who saved her husband’s campaign (and made his two-term presidency possible) when she brilliantly deflected tough questions with lyrics from country icon Tammy Wynette, and then deadpanned, “if you don’t like him, don’t vote for him.” Since then, I can’t think of an interview that gave any candidate a serious boost in popularity or made a difference. However, it’s a certainty that the Trump campaign (and its repugnant allies in right-wing media) will watch Harris and dissect every word out of her mouth, twist and mangle the intent, and completely distort reality. Let’s be clear about the real reason interviews aren’t looked upon favorably in political circles. All an interview does in the modern age of cynical politics, attack media, and warped super-PAC ad buys is give ammunition to the opposition. Harris understands this. So, why give them any ammunition?

6. THE CNN QUESTION — Harris was smart to pick CNN for the interview. CNN and their political coverage certainly leans toward the Harris candidacy on the broader spectrum (actually, it just has more hosts who are pro-Harris–the general reporting is pretty much down the middle). It’s not nearly as partisan as MSNBC, or other outlets on the left. CNN is clearly mainstream enough to get the message across to the widest possible audience–and let’s keep in mind that other than FOX News (24/7) which has disgraced themselves lacking any credibility, this is the only real mainstream option for Harris to roll out her platform. Let’s also be clear that she’s patterning her media appearances after none other than Trump and his highly-partisan selectivity as to who he elected to talk to, who hasn’t sat down with the WaPo or NYT in a decade, let alone CNN (which he boycotts entirely). Apparently, showing Trump spewing his own gibberish and lies and quoting his own tweets gets classified as “fake news” in looney land. Trump only appears on safe sycophantic media outlets, and often right-wing fringe news sources, certain to echo his vile outrage and lies. I don’t want to see Harris go this far (and she should talk to hostile news outlets). But this first major sit down should be with a trustworthy team of journalists who has earned the right to conduct this interview.

7. DANCING WITH THE WALZ — Critics are already clawing into Harris with charges she can’t do the interview alone. Shudderzzzzz! In the prearrangement, she insisted that her VP nominee accompanying her in the sit-down (it’s unclear if they will be side-by-side — I haven’t seen the details). I view this as a brilliant strategy. First, she dictates the terms. She’s doing the interview. She makes the rules. Good for her. This shows some real media savvy, and a leadership quality that she won’t be pushed around. Gov. Tim Walz’s inclusion in the interview only carries an upside. Once again, America gets to meet a “regular” guy who is certainly capable of swinging a few votes (can you imagine Trump’s VP Vance swinging any votes in a similar situation?). The more we see Walz in front of cameras, the better it is for Harris. This is no reflection or deflection on Harris’ skills or positions. It’s simply an extension of Democratic appeal into the swing and undecided electorate.

8. HOW WILL SHE HANDLE TOUGH QUESTIONS? — Most analysts believe Harris is vulnerable on three major issues….inflation, immigration, and crime. She certainly carries some negative Biden baggage (though much of that is a burden because Biden has been such a poor communicator during much of his presidency–incapable to “selling” his agenda). Harris should attack these issues head on, just like she did in her massively popular DNC acceptance speech. She even handled the sticky Israel-Palestine issue perfectly in that delivery. Now in a sit down, Harris can elaborate in greater detail on her agenda for 2025 and beyond. Throwing cold water on Trump, the assassin who killed the bipartisan immigration deal is not only deserved and accurate, it’s also a winning strategy. She can also (correctly) point out lots of encouraging recent data on the economy and crime–favorable to Democrats. I don’t expect these issues to be winners for Harris in the fall given the depth of misinformation which have prevailed about the causes of inflation (largely the aftereffects of the COVID shutdown). But dampening that spear of vulnerability helps her in the long run. Harris has nothing to apologize for.

9. THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAILS — Fact: Most voters aren’t concerned with policy details. The deeper a candidate dives into specifics, the more difficult it is to swim back to the surface. As a political scientist who prefers substance over style, this “shallow” omnipresence is both disturbing and depressing. The sizzle is more important than the steak. Trump understands this better than anyone. He’s never demonstrated any grasp of issues or policy, yet he’s attracting the support of nearly half the country based solely on a cult of personality. Accordingly, there’s nothing wrong with taking a page straight out of the Trump playbook and totally focusing on making people feel better about voting for Harris. Sure, tell voters all the policy details can be found at a website with every major issue covered — and give the website to viewers. But don’t let Trump and the super-PAC scum take Harris’ explanations out of contest on video. Stay on message, be positive, appeal to voters wanting a NORMAL leader with NORMAL human feelings, and NORMAL governance, as opposed to chaos. We aren’t voting for data, nor history, no policy positions. We’re mostly voting based on a like and approval of the person versus a dislike and disapproval of the opposing candidate.

10. DON’T TRY TO PLEASE EVERYONE — Some voters and their votes are simply not worth pursuing. At least one-third of the country won’t vote for Harris under any circumstances. So, Harris needs to just flat out say — fuck ’em. Okay, maybe say this in other more subtle ways. Borrow the famous Hillary Clinton ’92 line, “if you don’t like him, don’t vote for him.” Americans want a leader who knows where they stand and will try and deliver on results once they’re elected. Quit being nice to the other side, who won’t give Harris any credit and will constantly malign her character and record (and worse–will resort to despicable personal attacks). These scumbags are not worth addressing, nor reaching out to. Stay on message, provide a clear sense of priorities, and in stark contrast to Trump show some humility that reveals a willingness to learn from mistakes. Most Americans will want Harris to succeed if and when she’s elected. Do whatever it takes to get middle America on her side (which means, disregarding MAGA Trumpism).