WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris opened a media blitz by the Democratic ticket on Sunday by appearing on the popular “Call Her Daddy” podcast about abortion, sexual abuse, and other issues that resonate with women, working in some digs at her GOP opponent along the way.
In the roughly 40-minute interview, taped last week, the Democratic presidential nominee spoke about the grit it takes to be a woman seeking public office, the toughness her mother instilled in her, and the importance of reproductive rights in this election.
The program is the most-listened-to podcast for women and has millions of fans tuning in for talk about relationships, sex, mental health, and women’s empowerment. The discussion with Harris was on the tame side for the show, with the vice president keeping her message focused, in part, on the value of ignoring those who have doubted her.
“I don’t hear no. I urge all the ‘Daddy Gang,’ don’t hear no, just don’t hear it,” she said. “I think it’s really important not to let other people define you.”
The interview was part of a broader media outreach effort by Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, as the Democrats seek to boost their support in the final 30 days of the campaign against Republicans Donald Trump and JD Vance.
Harris has faced criticism for not doing more media interviews. On the podcast, the Democratic nominee largely stuck to her usual messaging on abortion, stating that in her travels she’s seen that even those who strongly oppose abortion tell her they “are now seeing what’s happening and saying ‘Hmm, I didn’t intend for all this to happen’ ” when they observe health problems arising since Roe v. Wade was repealed.
Harris took aim at Trump, as she has in recent speeches, criticizing his integrity by saying, “this guy is full of lies” when he addresses abortion and other issues. She dismissed Vance’s comments about “childless cat ladies” as “mean, and mean-spirited.”
Trump has maintained that abortion policy should be left to the states and emphasized that doctors have a duty to provide emergency care to women whose lives are endangered. Vance has claimed that his remarks about childless women were misinterpreted and expressed a desire to support families.
There’s much more to come from Harris and Walz. Harris has taped an interview with CBS’ “60 Minutes” that will air on Monday night. She is also scheduled to appear on Howard Stern’s satellite radio show, ABC’s “The View,” and “The Late Show” with Stephen Colbert on CBS. Walz will make an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel’s ABC show on Monday.
In a “60 Minutes” excerpt released Sunday, Harris navigated a question about whether Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was “a real close ally,” stating, “The better question is: Do we have an important alliance between the American people and the Israeli people? And the answer to that question is yes.”
Walz, following verbal stumbles in his only vice presidential debate, used his debut campaign appearance on a Sunday news show to address criticism regarding his stance on abortion rights and to “own up” to past misstatements.
Walz’s Fox appearance also touched on Middle Eastern turmoil, with anchor Shannon Bream pressing him on whether Israel has a right to preemptively attack Iran’s nuclear and oil facilities in response to Tehran’s missile fire against Israel. Walz did not fully answer this during his recent debate with Vance.
Walz stated that “specific operations will be dealt with at the time” and spoke of ”consequences for what they do.” He defended a law he signed as governor to ensure abortion protections, saying it “puts the decision with the woman and her health care providers.”
Moreover, Trump has claimed he would not sign a national abortion ban into law. During the interview, Walz was asked whether he considered that “a flat-out lie.”
“Yes … of course,” Walz agreed. “I will own up when I misspeak. I will own up when I make a mistake.” He mentioned that he believes voters are more concerned about Vance’s inability to acknowledge that Trump lost the 2020 election to Biden and that there could be restrictions on infertility treatments, like the intrauterine insemination that his wife, Gwen, received.
“I think they’re probably far more concerned with that than my wife and I used IUI to have our child and that Donald Trump would restrict that,” Walz stated. “So I think folks know who I am.”
Bream noted that Trump has recently come out in support of fertility treatments, even as he has stated that abortion questions should be decided by states.
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