How to Lose a Campaign in 107 Days
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No More Coconuts in the Coconut Tree
Kamala Harris and Tim Walz sat down with CNN’s Dana Bash for their first campaign interview, and it didn’t go well. While it wasn’t a complete disaster, it fell short of success.
Before diving into the ticket’s mostly unsuccessful performance with a few bright spots, it's crucial to address the problematic framing of the questions. While Bash’s questions were predictably adversarial, the real issue was their framing. Many questions, though reasonable, were skewed to echo Republican talking points, revealing a lack of journalistic objectivity.
And while Tim Walz’s presence offered a glimmer of positivity, he couldn’t offset the damage caused by Harris’s troubling stances. This CNN interview exemplifies the failure of Democrats to protect civil liberties, leaving a vacuum that Republicans exploit. Democrats then use these crises to fundraise and campaign, as seen with the ongoing reproductive rights issues. So while the questions were flawed, many of Harris’s answers were devastating on their own. here are some of the main topics of the interview and how I believe she might have better addressed these challenges.
Harris’s Day-One Promises Fall Flat
The question "What will you do on day one?" is a staple for any political candidate. With less than 70 days until the election, I expected Kamala Harris to have a clear, detailed answer. Instead, she fell back on her usual stump speech about creating an “opportunity economy,” offering little in the way of specifics. Her response was heavy on campaign rhetoric but light on concrete policy details. With the election so close, it's crucial for her to provide substantive answers in interviews like this one.
Was Bidenomics a Success?
While Harris handled the question and its right-wing framing relatively well, she could have gone further. Her reluctance to discuss the administration's achievements—likely due to fears of being labeled too leftist—was evident. Despite her rise in popularity from the hope of progressive stances projected onto her, she avoided discussing key initiatives like the IRS targeting Coca Cola and Biden’s national rent control proposals. Ignoring these topics seems tone-deaf and odd, especially given their popularity.
Kamala’s Wish-Washy Stance on Fracking
Addressing criticism of her 2020 anti-fracking stance, Harris has made it clear she has no intention of banning it. As vice president, she has not banned fracking and does not plan on banning fracking anytime soon in the future. This stance seems aimed at securing Pennsylvania, where fracking-related jobs are a major concern. However, promoting more fracking conflicts with her climate crisis concerns. A better approach would be to shift subsidies from fossil fuels to renewable energy. This strategy would allow for a gradual phase-out of fracking, preserve jobs, and foster sustainable employment in these communities.
KaMAGA Harris and the Border
Harris has yet to move away from Republican talking points on immigration, effectively becoming a Trump-lite figure on the issue. Her stance on the border is a dead end—it will win no one over and is fundamentally flawed policy. Instead of perpetuating the same rhetoric, she should challenge the hysteria stirred up by Trump, like the “Mass Deportation Now!” signs at the RNC. As the daughter of immigrants, Harris should reject this absurd game on the border crisis. She should outline the dire consequences of mass deportations: the dangers, economic devastation, and more. Additionally, she should counter Trump’s fear-mongering about drugs, pointing out that most drugs enter through regular ports of entry and are smuggled by American citizens. Harris should position herself as a defender of immigrants and a voice against the right-wing hysteria surrounding the border.
Republican Attacks & Placing One of Them in Her Cabinet
The best moment Kamala Harris had all night was when she was asked about Trump’s comments on her happening to “turn Black.” She dismissed it as the “same old playbook” from the right and swiftly moved on with a “next question, please.” That was a perfect response. However, her offer to appoint a Republican to her cabinet missed the mark. While intended to promote bipartisanship and “diversity of opinion,” it fails in a world where bipartisanship often means right-wing policies endorsed by Democrats. Moreover, “diversity of opinion” seems to favor the right while ignoring the left. It’s perplexing why she would openly advocate for including someone in her cabinet who supports stripping away the rights of the very people she seeks to court for votes.
Harris Stands Firm with Biden’s Stance on Gaza
Once again, Harris unequivocally defends Israel's right to self-defense and repeats the discredited claim of mass rapes by Hamas on October 7th. Despite her calls for a ceasefire, she stubbornly refuses to consider an arms embargo or halt funds to Israel—should she should be strongly insisting upon. It's baffling, especially given that Harris would gain massive levels of support in key states if she advocated for such measures. As leftist political Twitch streamer Hasan Piker put it, “We’re begging the Democratic Party to uphold the law,” referring to the Leahy Law that bans U.S. assistance to foreign forces committing gross human rights violations.
Time is running out for a ceasefire deal. Time is running out for the Palestinians. Time is running out for Kamala Harris to distance herself from Joe Biden’s very unpopular stance.
🫏 DNC 2024: The Good, the Bad, and the Overlooked
The four-day Democratic National Convention was packed with speeches and video highlights, leaving many with a sense of optimism. However, I came away feeling frustrated. If you haven’t yet, check out my top five takeaways from this year’s DNC and dive into my daily recaps for deeper insights and analysis.
💿 Chart-Toppers: Alligator Bites Never Heal x Doechii
ALL HAIL QUEEN DOECHII: 8.4/10
In her third mixtape and first full-length debut, she delivers a powerful showcase of her rapping prowess and distinctive personality. As a Doechii fan, Alligator Bites Never Heal is the project I’ve been waiting for from her, and a great introduction to her as an artist.
Since the release of Crazy, I've been captivated by Doechii’s rap-pop fusion—her unique rap delivery and melodic vocals. Alligator Bites Never Heal not only fulfills that promise but has also surpassed Latto’s Sugar Honey Iced Tea as my top rap album of the year. What resonates most about this album is her raw honesty—both with herself and her listeners—as she opens up about her humble beginnings and struggles with self-worth. The project is bursting with personality and musical versatility.
Alligator Bites Never Heal takes listeners on a gritty, emotional journey through the artist’s life, from the dark depths of struggle to the shining light of solace. It’s a bold and fearless sonic expedition that stands out as an immediate classic, deserving of every stream and then some.
🇧🇷 No More “Come to Brasil” :(
On Saturday, Brazil’s ban on Twitter (aka X) took effect. If you’re like me, your first thought was “oh no, how are celebrities going to know that they want them to ‘come to Brasil!’”? But while their absence will be felt, I must admit that I’m a bit jealous. Judge Alexandre de Moraes ordered the “immediate and complete suspension” of the app until Elon Musk complies with all court orders and pays existing fines. This clash between Musk and Judge de Moraes began in April when the judge ordered the suspension of numerous accounts accused of spreading disinformation. Musk has frequently championed “free speech as the bedrock of democracy,” using it as justification for not suspending these accounts and reinstating ones previously banned for harassment, amongst other things. Personally, I believe our lives might be better off without the platform. Since Musk's takeover, Twitter has devolved into a right-wing echo chamber, plagued by bot accounts, hateful rhetoric, and conspiracy theories. Maybe the U.S. should consider following suit and giving us a break from this right-wing pipeline.
👺 Behind the Mask
Wearing: Personal Parade bandana swim briefs. With autumn approaching, pool days are dwindling, so I’m savoring the last of the sun. I’m doing so in one of my new favorite swimsuits, featuring a cool bandana pattern and side ties that enhance the bandana aesthetic.
Listening: Cowboy Carter x Beyoncé. Although this album fell out of my rotation for a while, I’ve recently rediscovered it and have been streaming it nonstop. There’s just something about this album that speaks to the young Black boy in me that grew up in the suburbs of North Carolina.
Reading: If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio. Melodramatic. Suspenseful. An unconventional tale of love, friendship, betrayal, and rivalry. It’s an electrifying mystery and a beautiful homage to the stage. I’m diving back into it, and it feels even more captivating the second time around.
Doing: Cropping my t-shirts. I’m tall and lanky with a short torso, so finding shirts that fit properly is a challenge. If they’re the right length, they’re too tight on the shoulders; if they fit my shoulders, they’re way too long. Lately, I’ve been taking matters—and scissors—into my own hands to achieve the perfect fit.