CNN’s Dana Bash spoke with Vice President Kamala Harris yesterday, in Harris’ first formal interview as the Democratic Party presidential nominee. Harris’ decision to be accompanied by Minnesota Governor Tim Walz during the joint interview has been criticized, with the election only 10 weeks away. In response to questions as to why Harris chose a joint-interview, the Harris-Walz campaign claimed that joint interviews are common during presidential campaigns.
Harris’ spontaneous placement at the top of the Democratic Party ticket is historically unprecedented. She is the only nominee who has never won a Democratic Party primary. She has avoided a one-on-one interview, and has not held a press conference since her appointment as the de facto Democratic nominee after President Joe Biden dropped out of the 2024 presidential race.
Softball Joint Interview
Before the interview, CNN host Kasie Hunt said a “softball interview” with Bash would not address concerns voters have regarding Harris:
I don‘t think that doing softball interviews is going to put this to rest. But I think the decision that I‘m looking for from the Harris team is who are they choosing to sit down with? And is that going to be something where you come away feeling like she took the hard questions or if this snowball continues.
Former President Donald Trump made remarks about the interview at a campaign event in Potterville, Michigan, saying Bash was a “very friendly reporter.” Harris’ decision to hold her first interview with a “friendly” reporter contrasts with Trump’s behavior. Trump regularly participates in interviews with reporters who conduct what can be described as “hostile” interviews.
Harris’ 2020 Election Policies vs. 2024 Policy Positions
During the interview, Bash asked Harris to clarify her policy positions:
I want to get some clarity on where you stand on some key policy issues. Energy is a big one. In — when you were in Congress, you supported the Green New Deal. And in 2019 you said, quote, “There is no question I’m in favor of banning fracking.” Fracking, as you know, is a pretty big issue, particularly in your must-win state of Pennsylvania. Do you still want to ban fracking?
Harris responded:
No, and I made that clear on the debate stage in 2020, that I would not ban fracking. As vice president, I did not ban fracking. As president, I will not ban fracking.
Bash noted Harris’ policy position during the 2020 Democratic Party primary race:
In 2019, I believe in a town hall you said — you were asked, “Would you commit to implementing a federal ban on fracking on your first day in office?” and you said, “There’s no question I’m in favor of banning fracking. So yes.” So it changed in — in that campaign?
Harris avoided the question, saying her position has not changed:
In 2020 I made very clear where I stand. We are in 2024, and I have not changed that position, nor will I going forward. I kept my word, and I will keep my word.
Bash again asked Harris when her policy changed. “What made you change that position at the time?”
Harris continued dodging the question, stating the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 has accomplished many of the Democratic Party’s climate goals:
Well, let’s be clear. My values have not changed. I believe it is very important that we take seriously what we must do to guard against what is a clear crisis in terms of the climate. And to do that, we can do what we have accomplished thus far.
The Inflation Reduction Act, what we have done to invest by my calculation over t— probably a trillion dollars over the next ten years investing in a clean energy economy. What we’ve already done creating over 300,000 new clean energy jobs. That tells me from my experience as vice president we can do it without banning fracking. In fact, Dana — Dana, excuse me — I cast the tie-breaking vote that actually increased leases for fracking as vice president. So I’m very clear about where I stand.
Harris’ Border Policy
Bash also questioned Harris about her border-policy position changing, asking:
Just one other question about something that you said in 2019 when you first ran. There was a debate. You raised your hand when asked whether or not the border should be decriminalized. Do you still believe that?
Harris responded:
I believe there should be consequence[s]. We have laws that have to be followed and enforced that address and deal with people who cross our border illegally. And there should be consequence[s]. And let’s be clear, in this race, I’m the only person who has prosecuted transnational criminal organizations who traffic in guns, drugs, and human beings. I’m the only person in this race who actually served a border state as attorney general to enforce our laws. And I would enforce our laws as president going forward. I recognize the problem.
Bash then questioned her about the reasons her policy has changed so dramatically:
Generally speaking, how should voters look at some of the changes that you’ve made — that you explained some of here — in your policy? Is it because you have more experience now and you’ve learned more about the information? Is it because you’re running for president in a Democratic primary? And should they feel comfortable and confident that what you’re saying now is gonna be your policy moving forward?
Harris responded by insisting that her values have not changed:
Dana, I think the — the — the most important and most significant aspect of my policy perspective and decisions is my values have not changed. You mentioned the Green New Deal. I have always believed and I have worked on it, that the climate crisis is real, that it is an urgent matter to which we should apply metrics that include holding ourselves to deadlines around time.
We did that with the Inflation Reduction Act. We have set goals for the United States of America and by extension the globe around when we should meet certain standards for reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, as an example. That value has not changed. My value around what we need to do to secure our border, that value has not changed. I spent two terms as the attorney general of California prosecuting transnational criminal organizations, violations of American laws regarding the passage, illegal passage of guns, drugs, and human beings across our border. My values did not change.
So that is the reality of it, and four years of being vice president, I’ll tell you, one of the — the — the aspects to your point is traveling the country extensively. I mean, I’m here in Georgia, I think somebody told me 17 times since I’ve been vice president in Georgia alone. I believe it is important to build consensus, and it is important to — to — to find a common place of understanding of where we can actually solve problems.
Trump responded to the interview last night, stating on Truth Social:
I look so forward to Debating Comrade Comrade Kamala Harris and exposing her for the fraud she is. Harris has changed every one of her long held positions, on everything. America will never allow an Election WEAPONIZING MARXIST TO BE PRESIDENT OF THE U.S.
