January 24, 2024 • 40 mins
In this special episode of Next Question, Katie sat down for a rare one-on-one interview in DC with Vice President Kamala Harris in her ceremonial office at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building. And there was a lot to talk about.
2024 is here at last, and it’s a monumentally important election year–one that looks more likely every day to be another Biden-Trump re-match. The political news has been heavily skewed toward the Republican side of the race, given the drama of selecting their nominee. Less has been heard from the incumbent administration.
But the campaign is heating up for the Democrats too. From abortion rights to the crisis in Israel and Gaza, shifting voter coalitions and where Biden-Harris need to really make their message sing, such as with Gen Z, this wide ranging conversation gets to the heart of what’s at stake this election year, and what the Biden-Harris administration is doing to make their case to voters.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:04):
Hi everyone, I'm Kitty Kuric, and this is next question.
It's hard to believe, but the twenty twenty four election
is less than a year away. What's even harder to believe,
As Yogi Bear would say, it's deja vu all over again. Yep,
(00:25):
that's right, Biden versus Trump. We've been hearing a lot
about the Republican side of the campaign with the Iowa
caucuses and the New Hampshire primary and now Super Tuesday
is just over a month away, but we haven't been
hearing as much from the current administration. That's why I
(00:45):
was thrilled to jump on a train, brave the elements,
and head to the Eisenhower Executive Office Building to sit
down with Vice President Kamala Harris. By the way, these
interviews can be very strong. She's an incredibly busy person,
so they only gave me thirty minutes, and I had
(01:06):
a lot to cover, abortion, immigration, Israel, Gaza, the administration's
historically low approval ratings despite their many accomplishments, Trump voters
and some crucial voting blocks that don't necessarily think the
second time's a charm. First of all, thank you so
much for being here for agreeing to have this conversation.
(01:30):
I'm very excited to talk to you about everything you're doing.
Before we sat down, we both had a little something
we needed to clear up. Why did I think you
were much taller? I recently learned you're only five too.
Speaker 2 (01:44):
Is that absolutely incorrect? Okay? I am five four and
a quarter. Okay, four and a half and with heels,
which I always around five seven and a half. Thank
you very much.
Speaker 1 (01:53):
Okay, Wikipedia, you're wrong, and we need to go on.
Speaker 2 (01:56):
I've said this to my team, like what, I don't
know where it came from.
Speaker 1 (02:00):
I was five to when I was twelve, they say
I'm five to one on my Wikipedia page by three
and three quarters right and shrinking.
Speaker 2 (02:09):
It's like, literally they just want to just make us
smaller in every way.
Speaker 1 (02:13):
I know, but I but I was excited because I'm short,
and I was like, oh, kamalo.
Speaker 2 (02:17):
No, I am not. I am not just trying to
take two and a half inches off my you know. Correct.
Speaker 1 (02:24):
Yes, we started with a topic that's proving to be
a powerful driver for democrats. I know that Vice President
harrisher embarking on a Reproductive Freedom's tour to highlight the
harm caused by abortion bands and restrictive laws following the
(02:45):
overturning of Roe v.
Speaker 2 (02:46):
Wade.
Speaker 1 (02:47):
This is an issue that has resonated so much with
Democratic voters and I'm curious, what is your goal as
you travel around the country.
Speaker 2 (02:57):
Well, my my goal, my ultimate goal is that we
will build up the support to build and get a
Congress that will pass a bill to restore the protections
of Roe into law, and President Joe Biden will sign it.
But then let's take a step back. So I'm starting
(03:20):
the We're naming the Fight for Our Reproductive Freedom's Tour,
and it'll begin on January twenty second, which is the
fifty first anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision. And Katie,
you know I mean you, and I'm going to speak
for you. I think I could immaccurate most of our
adult or our conscious lives right when we were able
(03:41):
to be aware of what is happening in the world.
Roe v. Wade was the law of the land.
Speaker 1 (03:46):
Row pass when I was in tenth grade.
Speaker 2 (03:49):
So it was the law of the land for almost
the entirety of our adult lives. And you know, I'll
speak for myself now. You know I always pro choice
pro CHOI whenever there was a moment where we had
to speak about the protecting role, would let us protect Row.
But honestly, I pretty much, I think most of us
pretty much, we were pretty certain it would always be here.
(04:12):
And look what happened. The highest court in our land
took a constitutional right that had been recognized from the
people of America, from the women of America. And the
day that that decision came down, the world in so
(04:33):
many ways in terms of a lived experience for the
women of America changed in a drastic way. After the
Dobs decision, which undid Row, came down, states around our
country proposed and passed laws that would punish women, criminalize
health care providers, ban abortion in some cases, even in
(04:57):
the situation of rape or incess. As you know, I
spent a lot of my career as a prosecutor, and
one of the reasons I became a prosecutor of started
to share the story more. My best friend in high school,
when we were in high school, I learned was being
molested by her stepfather. And when I learned that, I said, well,
(05:18):
you have to come and stay with us. I called
my mother. My mother said, of course, she has to
come stay with us, and she did, and so I
decided I wanted to do the work that was about
protecting women and children from violence. And the majority of
my career as a prosecutor was focused on crimes against
women and children. So bringing that back to the point
(05:39):
of no exception even for rape or ancest So these
extremist so called leaders are basically saying to a survivor
of a crime of violence to their body, a violation
of their body, saying to these survivors, and you don't
have the authority or right to make a decision about
(05:59):
what happens to your body next. That's immoral. That's immoral.
And what I have seen traveling our country listening to
women who have been directly affected because of these laws
is the stories of women having miscarriages in toilets. Katie,
(06:20):
There's a woman in Texas who I've spent some time with.
She and he her husband. She wanted to become pregnant,
she wanted to have children, but her pregnancy then she
was having a miscarriage. She went to the emergency room,
she was denied care because the hospital workers were so
(06:42):
afraid that they might get sued or be committing something
against the law that they would not give her care.
It was only when she went back because she had
developed sepsis that they gave her care. Women around our
country are experiencing a profound harm because of these laws
(07:07):
as a result of that Supreme Court decision, and many
of the stories are untold. Many of these cases are
women who are silently suffering. And the other layer of
this Katie that really should be addressed and understood is
how these extremists are framing the discussion in a way
(07:30):
that really is about judging women as though they've done
something wrong, something they should be embarrassed about. And as
we know, when people are already going through a moment
in their life where they need support, not judgment, and
(07:51):
where they then feel because of this environment that they've
done something wrong, they're going to silence, they suffer, and
they're going to fill alone, which is very disempowering. And
so when I travel our country listening to these stories,
hearing these women and thinking about this issue and how
(08:13):
it is taking place in terms of the effect in
real time, I feel compelled to travel as I've been,
to organize folks and talk with folks about why we
all should stand for these basic freedoms, the right of
an individual to make decisions about their own body.
Speaker 1 (08:37):
Pragmatically speaking Man and Vice President. The composition of the
Supreme Court is unlikely to change anytime soon, it seems.
So what can you realistically do? You were talking about
electing people to Congress and passing a law of federal
(08:57):
law protecting a woman's right to choose in the interim,
are there any other things that can be done to
prevent these women from suffering the way they have been,
and particularly in very restrictive states like Texas, Idaho, and Tennessee.
Speaker 2 (09:18):
Well, I'll start with what our administration is working on,
which includes fighting for an informing states about the responsibility
to administer emergency care, the duty to administer emergency care,
and so that is part of what we are doing.
There is a law that the acronym is m Tala,
(09:39):
but it basically says people cannot be denied emergency care.
There is the work that we are doing to protect
access to contraception, which is a real issue here. There's
work I've been doing, for example, to convene university presidents
who of course have as the vast major already of
(10:00):
their student population. People who are in the height of
their reprotective years, to ensure that they are doing what
they can to protect medical records, to protect privacy, to
make allowances if, for example, a student has an unwanted
pregnancy and can't receive medical care in their state needs
(10:21):
to leave, which means miss time from class, to make
sure that that student is not punished because they had
to leave the state even though they would have preferred
to stay where they were. So this is some of
the work. The other work is around just talking with
people about the realities of it all, for example, pointing
(10:42):
out that I think we all agree that one does
not have to abandon their faith or deeply held beliefs
to agree that the government should not be telling her
what to do with her body. If she chooses, she
will consult with her priests or rabbi, her past or
you mom, but it should not be the government telling
(11:03):
her what to do. So there are many layers to
the work that I think needs to be done, including
reminding the individuals who are going through this right now,
the women who are going through it right now, that
they're not alone, and that we hear them and we
see them, we do not judge them. And we want
them to have the support that they so rightly need.
Speaker 1 (11:26):
I also think there's a lot of disinformation about late
term abortions, absolutely, and I think a lot of misconceptions
about that as well, that women are having abortions, you know,
before their baby, you know, right before the baby is born,
and these horror stories about that. How can you educate
(11:51):
the public that even rowe had restrictions on the third trimester.
Speaker 2 (11:57):
Well not only that, but let's just remember that before
the Dodds decision, this was not an issue that was
being debated about whether women were doing these things that
people are now describing as.
Speaker 1 (12:13):
Possible or partial birth abords.
Speaker 2 (12:15):
And I just think that it is meant to distract
from the realities which is this and it's really basic
and fundamental. On one level, this is about taking freedoms away,
the freedom to make decision about your own body. This
is a question also of trust. I trust women. President
(12:38):
Joe Biden trusts women to be able to know what
is in their own best interest and then make good decisions.
And by the way, and women trust us to know
we're going to protect and fight for their freedoms. But fundamentally,
that is the issue and I think there are many
(12:58):
people who want to distract from that fundamental foundational issue,
and I take it to a foundational issue in terms
of this is one of the main principles upon which
our country was founded.
Speaker 1 (13:12):
Do you think that this will motivate voters in November,
because I know it's shown that primarily referendum are REFERENDU
that's a plural of referendum, right is what are what
motivate people to go and vote? And so how can
you I mean, I'm assuming that you're trying to encourage
(13:36):
people who feel strongly about this issue to go to
the polls come November.
Speaker 2 (13:41):
Because they can make a difference. Literally, this issue will
be ultimately determined about whether women have this freedom or
not because of elections, because of what will result from elections,
which is elected leaders passing a lot to reinstate the
(14:01):
protections of freedom at the state level. Well, but ultimately
it's going to take the federal level because what we
see is state by state, you see different laws that
have been unleashed after the Dobbs decision. So we want
to go back to the law of the land being
a row. And I think that elections matter, Katie on
(14:23):
this issue in particular elections, they.
Speaker 1 (14:26):
Matter after the break Immigration the second most important topic
for voters after the economy. If you want to get
smarter every morning with a breakdown of the news and
fascinating takes on health and wellness and pop culture, sign
(14:50):
up for our daily newsletter, Wake Upcall by going to
Katiecuric dot com. I want to talk to you a
little bit about immigration because I think just about everyone
(15:10):
and you have said as well, agrees that the immigration
system is broken and we need comprehensive immigration reform. Early on,
I know you were tasked with understanding the root causes
of the immigration crisis, but you are not in charge
of the border, which I think is important to point out.
Having said that, fourteen House Democrats joined Republicans in denouncing
(15:34):
the Biden administrations so called open border policies, calling it
quote a national security and public safety crisis. And as
you know, I'm sure you've talked to them. So many
big city mayor's Democrats are saying this is an untenable
situation in cities across the country. Sixty eight percent of
(15:54):
Americans disapprove the way the Biden administration has handled the border.
So how do you address that have you done enough?
Speaker 2 (16:04):
There's no question our immigration system is broken and it
needs to be fixed, and as with any problem, then
leaders will participate, true leaders in the solution. So I'm
going to take you back to about three years ago,
(16:25):
and it was I think the day after our inauguration
when we came in, Joe Biden as president, me as
Vice president. The first bill that we offered was a
bill to fix the immigration system.
Speaker 1 (16:39):
And that's when you controlled both houses.
Speaker 2 (16:42):
And Congress did not take it up. And I will
tell you that this is, first of all, not a
new issue, but sadly it has become so deeply partisan
and the subject of then political gamesmanship, when in fact
the solution are at hand, and we offered a solution
(17:02):
early on and invited bipartisan work. Let's work on it
to fix this. And in fact, we have right now
a proposal for fourteen billion dollars so that we can
put more resources to address this very situation. And we
hope and and are really trying to compel in particularly
(17:26):
some of the Republicans in Congress to participate in the solution.
But sadly, you know, we want to fix it, they
want to run on it. They want a political issue
to run on in November.
Speaker 1 (17:38):
Well it's working, honestly, Well.
Speaker 2 (17:40):
I don't I think that. Listen again, I start, I
go back to where I started. The situation is such
that the system has broken and it needs to be fixed,
and we have offered a solution, and real leaders ought
to lead on this, meaning not play politics with it,
but work with us.
Speaker 1 (17:58):
I think Senates the problem. Republicans I know are trying to.
Speaker 2 (18:01):
Do that right. The challenge is going to be on
the House side.
Speaker 1 (18:04):
Exactly, and they have linked legislation fixing the immigration crisis
to military aid to Ukraine and Israel, and military aid
those two allies desperately need. Is this immigration bill as
it currently stands, something that you all can support in
order to release that aid money.
Speaker 2 (18:26):
So it's a work in progress. So by the time
your listeners listen to this conversation, I don't know what
situation or status it will be in. But let me
just say this. We ought to be able to do
everything we are the United States, and that means fixed
problems such as what we need to do to address
the immigration system, and we must stand by our allies,
(18:49):
and that includes giving aid to Ukraine, which has been
the subject of a violation of one of the oldest
and most important rules in norms, which is the importance
of protecting sovereignty and territorial integrity in the face of
Russia's unprovoked aggression and attempt to use forced to change
borders the first war in seventy years in Europe, and
(19:15):
the United States must stand by our ally Ukraine on principle,
much less to stand strong about what is American leadership
to uphold international rules and norms. And by the way,
I've now met with over one hundred and fifty world
leaders katie presidents, prime ministers, chancellors, and kings, many of
(19:38):
them now multiple times they look to us to be
a leader on so many of these issues. I've been
in the Oval Office with the President, with President Biden
when he will get calls from world leaders asking for
perspective and advice or support. So when we talk about
the United States Congress on an issue like Ukraine or Israel,
(20:01):
we should be able to do all of these things
and not put conditions on one in exchange for the other.
Speaker 1 (20:08):
Let's turn to Israel, because it's been more than three
months after the horrific attacks of October seventh, people are
seeing graphic images of devastation and thousands of civilian casualties
in Gos. I'm sure you're seeing them too, Yes, i am.
Many people in your party, especially young people, have called
(20:30):
for a cease fire for months now, and I'm wondering
if you could articulate for us why you believe that
is not a good idea if you do believe that.
Speaker 2 (20:41):
So let's start with October seventh. On October seventh, we
saw a terrorist organization Hamas commit an act of sheer
brutality and terrorism when they attacked and slaughtered over twelve
(21:03):
hundred people, innocent people, many of them young people attending
a concert. Women were raped horrendously, So not at all,
it is all. Rape is always horrendous, obviously, but.
Speaker 1 (21:16):
The barbarism of the crimes.
Speaker 2 (21:20):
Rape is a tool of war, all right. And so
I will start this conversation by saying, and Israel has
a right to defend itself, we would, and how it
does so matters. We've been very clear that far too
many Palestinians, innocent Palestinian civilians, have been killed, and that
(21:44):
Israel must do more to protect innocent civilians. We've been
very clear humanitarian aid must flow from day one. I
will tell you one of my areas of priority included
let's think about the day after, because we must stay
focused on an eventual to a state solution.
Speaker 1 (22:02):
Well, having said that, I want to tell you something
which I'm sure you're well aware of that bb Net
Yahoo Prime Minister net who recently said he rejected US
calls to scale back Israel's military action in the Gaza
Strip or to support a Palestinian state after the war.
He even said that Israel quote must have security control
(22:25):
over the entire territory west of the Jordan River, which
includes Gaza. So given those positions, how can you possibly
come together? How can the US and Israel come together
to solve this? And should aid to Israel be conditional?
Speaker 2 (22:43):
So I'll start with the principles that we are applying
to this discussion, which we have been very clear with
the Israeli government about one as it relates to the
day after. There should be no reoccupation of Gaza. There
should be no changing of the territorial boundaries of Gasa
that the Palestinians are entitled to in equal measure with
(23:08):
Israelis security and prosperity.
Speaker 1 (23:12):
Doesn't sound like the Leonette now who agrees with that.
Speaker 2 (23:16):
We're the United States of America. I'm telling you our position,
and we take our role in this discussion very seriously.
There may be disagreements. That doesn't mean we're going to
change our mind about the principles that are important to
be applied to this process in terms of what a
day after should look like, and those principles remain consistent.
(23:41):
We believe very strongly. I believe very strongly Palestinians are
entitled to dignity and self determination. We believe there must
be a two state solution for the sake of the
stability in the region. We believe very strongly, as a
first principle, Israel must be secure that Hamas and it
(24:02):
must not be in a position to commit terrorist acts
against innocent people or the people of Israel in particular.
Speaker 1 (24:10):
So should AID that and Vice President be conditional. If
the Prime Minister of Israel is stating this, should that
AID not come if there's not that kind of flexibility
that you're seeking.
Speaker 2 (24:26):
We are right now in a position of negotiating with
Congress to follow through on a commitment we made for AID,
and we are taking it one day at a time
in terms of what is happening in the region and
how we are addressing the issue. But that's where we
are right now.
Speaker 1 (24:42):
So I don't feel like you really answered my question.
Speaker 2 (24:45):
Well do you?
Speaker 1 (24:46):
But do you think it should be conditional? I know
you're carrying out.
Speaker 2 (24:49):
That's about our position right now?
Speaker 1 (24:51):
Not right now? Yeah, okay, I'm want to turn to
the accomplishments of the Biden administration. Good an infrastructure Bill,
finally the Chips Act, the Safer Communities Act addressing gun violence,
to name three legislative accomplishments. Low unemployment, millions of jobs created,
(25:13):
inflation down, the stock market up. You don't hear that
much from reporters, do you, in a form of a question?
And yet and yet you and President's Biden's approval ratings
are at historic lows. The President at thirty eight, you
at thirty seven. Why do you think that is given
(25:35):
what I just outlined.
Speaker 2 (25:37):
Well, first of all, if I listened to polls, I
would have never run for my first office, or probably
my second or third for that matter. So I only
put so much stock in polls.
Speaker 1 (25:48):
But it must be discouraging.
Speaker 2 (25:50):
Well, no, here's the thing we have to we have
to earn the reelect. That is, without any question, the
right to be in a democracy. You got to earn
the reelect and so our job. You are correct, a.
We have historic accomplishments in terms of the economy, but
(26:11):
we've done to move forward. It's science, technology and investment
in the American workforce, growing the American workforce, rising wages,
bringing down prices. Historic work has happened, no question. It
is incumbent on us to let people know who brung
it to them. Frankly, because here's the thing, Katie, when
(26:32):
if you do want to look at polling, let's also
look at the fact that it tells us that if
you ask people how they feel about the fact that
we finally kept the cost of insulin for seniors at
thirty five dollars a month, hugely popular. If you ask people,
how do you feel about the fact that seniors too long,
(26:53):
too many had to determine whether they could fill their
prescriptions or fill the refrigerator. And now we have allowed
medical care to negotiate drug prices finally, which means we're
capping the annual cost of prescriptions for seniors at two
thousand dollars. They're not going to pay more than two
thousand dollars a year for their prescription drugs. Very very
popular if you ask students with debt, with students people
(27:18):
have graduated with debt or even haven't graduated, who have
caught debt from college or secondary school.
Speaker 1 (27:23):
And he just announced today additional debt relief for.
Speaker 2 (27:27):
We have now erased the debt of over three and
a half million people. Very popular if you look at
what we are doing that is right now active projects
in all fifty states. They are about upgrading roads and bridges,
repairing streets, and airports. Usually popular. And I you know,
(27:50):
if you drive down most streets in America, you'll somewhere
or another see some construction site or a crane up
that you can probably point to the Biden Harris administration
and to know that that work is starting to happen
because we finally got the infrastructure work done. Previous administration
kept talking about infrastructure. We actually made it happen. So
(28:11):
you're right, we have a lot of accomplishments, and I
think what the American people want most in their leaders
is that we actually get things done. And we have
done it, we haven't taken adequate credit for it. Frankly,
and we got to do a better job of getting
the word out about what we have accomplished and who
did it.
Speaker 1 (28:32):
When we come back, Kamala Harris has a tall order
making sure Latino, Black, and young voters stay in the fold.
Speaker 2 (28:40):
They have now met with over fifteen thousand students gen Z, who,
by the way, I think is a terrific generation.
Speaker 1 (28:47):
I know you love gen Z. You said it on
the view.
Speaker 2 (28:50):
Do you love gen Z?
Speaker 3 (28:51):
I really do?
Speaker 1 (29:07):
You do very well among young voters, among people of color,
both black voters and Latino voters. President Biden isn't doing
as well. In twenty twenty, he won young people by
more than twenty points, but now he's tied with Donald Trump.
And I'm curious you've been I think I think people
(29:29):
believe you're a good messenger to bring some of those
voters back into the fold to support Joe Biden and
not just Kamala Harris. How are you going to do that?
Speaker 2 (29:39):
Well? Part of it is getting the heck out of DC,
which I've been doing. Fact, after the Dobs decision came down,
I decided to get on the road ahead of the
midterms and going to purple red and blue states in
almost equal measure, talking with folks and listening to folks.
(30:00):
And I started then last fall college tour, where I
have now met with over fifteen thousand students gen Z, who,
by the way, I think is a terrific generation.
Speaker 1 (30:12):
I know you love gen Z. You said it on
the view.
Speaker 2 (30:15):
Do you love gen Z? I really do, because they
it's a lived experience for them. They've only known the
climate crisis. Most of them have endured active shooter drills
between kindergarten and twelfth grade. They during the height of
their reproductive years, saw the court take away an essential
right for them. And so traveling the country makes a
(30:37):
difference to one listen, but to remind people that they
are being seen and that what they do matters, including
that they vote. And so I'm going to keep doing that.
Speaker 1 (30:48):
Are you worried that they're not going to turn out?
I mean, that is so key to your reelection.
Speaker 2 (30:54):
Well, like I've said many times, because it is a
mantra for me during election time, they're two ways to run,
either without an opponent or scared. You got to earn
it and you got to get out there and you
got to do the work. And I'm prepared to do it.
Speaker 1 (31:08):
You know, I wasn't going to ask you a question
about Joe Biden's age, because, after all, Donald Trump is
just three years younger, and some people seem fixated on
Joe Biden's age. But I wanted to ask.
Speaker 2 (31:23):
You it's because they have nothing to run on, Katie.
Speaker 1 (31:28):
Well, immigration now they're running on.
Speaker 2 (31:30):
Too, which they could actually participate in fixing, right, and
so no, but really yeah, you know, so yeah, you're right.
They're running on immigration because they like having the problem,
so they can they can have an issue. But how
in fact we have offered them the ability to solve
it and they don't want to participate in that, right
in the solution.
Speaker 1 (31:51):
Right about immigration, but having you know, the age thing.
Voters are concerned. I mean, according to almost poll that
is an issue. And I was curious to get your
take on this. Four years ago, I think it was
a rally in Detroit, then Canada. Biden was at a
rally with you, Corey Booker and Gretchen Widmer, and I
(32:15):
looked up what he said. He said, Look, Joe Biden says,
look a lot, doesn't He says, Look, I view myself
as a bridge, not as anything else. There's an entire
generation of leaders you saw stand behind me. They are
the future of the country. And I wondered when you
heard that if you thought that was a four year
(32:38):
bridge or an eight year bridge.
Speaker 2 (32:42):
I want to get to the heart of what I
think you're raising, which you've said is his age. So
let's talk about that. I spend a lot of time
with Joe Biden, be it in the Oval office or
the situation room, and I can tell you this is
someone who is tireless in terms of working on behalf
(33:03):
of the American people. To your point of knowing Joe Biden,
he comes from a background and a place in his
heart and soul where he cares so deeply about working people,
about families. We talk about his empathy because he actually
is concerned about the suffering of other people and works
to alleviate that suffering. He is bold, and it is
(33:28):
because of all of that that we have been able
to pass transformational work, bipartisan work. When we've been able
to do it, a large part of it is because
Joe Biden, and I've watched him, sits in that Oval
office with the leaders on the two sides and helps
people figure out that compromise is actually a good thing.
(33:50):
Solutions are a good thing. I have been in the
Oval Office when heads of state from around the world,
in particular, our allies call up Joe Biden and ask
for his advice and he gives it. It is Joe
Biden who is, without any question and leaders around the
world would admit it, the one who was able to
bring together NATO to support Ukraine. So this whole issue
(34:13):
that they are raising about his age is again because
they've got nothing to run on. And I just think
that we've got to get beyond this because I think
ultimately what the American people deserve is that their leaders
perform by way of solutions and uplifting the condition of
(34:35):
their lives.
Speaker 1 (34:35):
I'm glad you used that word perform because I was
listening to something Hillary Clinton said recently about performative politics. Yeah,
it's a right, and that now people who are doing
the hard work of the nation's business are not performing,
(34:57):
and I thought that was such an interesting things.
Speaker 2 (35:00):
Is performing right, right?
Speaker 1 (35:02):
Right? Perform Yeah, are not performative exactly, And I thought
that was such an insightful observation because people doing the work,
let's face it, are not that entertaining, but in the.
Speaker 2 (35:16):
True sense of the word perform in terms of are
you actually doing anything. Joe Biden's getting a whole lot
of stuff done. First Chips and Science Act. We're going
to be investing in the future of technology, competing on
a global level. We have created over eight hundred and
fifty new manufacturing jobs. We're bringing manufacturing back to America.
(35:37):
What we have done in terms of fighting for things, well,
you know, this is again where it'd be nice to
have a little bit more bipartisan support to extend the
child tax credit. In our first year, by pushing it through,
we reduced tow poverty by over fifty percent. That's the
kind of performing I think people want.
Speaker 1 (35:53):
But how are you going to get that messaging out?
Speaker 2 (35:56):
You know?
Speaker 1 (35:57):
Yeah, I know, but this alone, as much as I
would like to say the entire country listens to this
or watches this, it feels like that somehow that is
not getting through. That's what a lot of people for
I know you, and I know people like David Axelrodter like,
let's get going people.
Speaker 2 (36:17):
Yeah, I appreciate that. I appreciate where he's coming from
in terms of we all know what's at stake, Right,
we all know what's at stake on the other side
of this split screen, because let's be clear about it.
We talked about a lot of issues today, you and I,
most of which are not binary, like it's not one
thing or the other. These are complex issues November of
(36:40):
twenty twenty four binary. And on the other side, you've
got someone who has said that if he were back
in office, he would weaponize the Department of Justice, someone
who has openly applauded insurrectionists as patriots, someone who has
(37:02):
said that they will go after their political enemies and
applauds dictators, indicating that he would be one. So let's
be really clear about what's at stake. And then, yes,
of course there is then a desire that let's get
(37:27):
out there because we can't lose this democracy. We can't.
And I agree with that passion. I am motivated by
the same passion.
Speaker 1 (37:42):
I don't want your staff to kill me. I asked
one more question.
Speaker 2 (37:45):
A lot of witnesses if they do.
Speaker 1 (37:48):
They ask one more question, Steane, Okay, all right, I'm
as as a.
Speaker 2 (37:54):
Prosecutor if I said they're witnesses, as.
Speaker 1 (37:57):
A former prosecutor and a former general I'm sure you're
familiar with these ninety one criminal indictments Donald Trump is
currently facing or somewhat familiar, And I'm curious, why do
you think so many of his supporters are willing to
turn a blind eye to those indictments and support him regardless.
Speaker 2 (38:22):
Well, let's see if they do in November.
Speaker 1 (38:24):
Do you think minds will be changed as these court
cases proceed.
Speaker 2 (38:29):
I think that the majority of Americans who are going
to make the decision about the outcome of the election
want a leader who is competent and not someone who
invites and creates chaos. I think they are going to
vote for a leader who respects and protects the rule
of law, not someone who breaks it. I think they
(38:53):
want someone who actually understands that the real strength of
a leader is not on who you beat down, but
based on who you lift up.
Speaker 1 (39:02):
Does it blow your mind that people don't Some people
don't agree with that though, that They're like, we love
this guy, it doesn't matter.
Speaker 2 (39:10):
I don't judge that. I don't judge that. I am
just telling you I know what is at stake, and
we are going to spend every day reminding the American
people of what we have accomplished and what will be
the impact of the selection, And it will be profound,
(39:33):
and it will be in many ways existential.
Speaker 1 (39:37):
I believe, Madam Vice President, Thank you so so much.
Speaker 2 (39:41):
Good to be with you.
Speaker 1 (39:42):
Thanks for listening everyone. If you have a question for me,
a subject you want us to cover, or you want
to share your thoughts about how you navigate this crazy
world reach out. You can leave a short message at
(40:03):
six h nine five one two five five five, or
you can send me a DM on Instagram. I would
love to hear from you. Next Question is a production
of iHeartMedia and Katie Kuric Media. The executive producers are Me,
Katie Kuric, and Courtney Ltz. Our supervising producer is Ryan Martz,
and our producers are Adriana Fazzio and Meredith Barnes. Julian
(40:27):
Weller composed our theme music. For more information about today's episode,
or to sign up for my newsletter wake Up Call,
go to the description in the podcast app, or visit
us at Katiecuric dot com. You can also find me
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(40:51):
wherever you listen to your favorite shows.
Hi everyone, I'm Kitty Kuric, and this is next question.
It's hard to believe, but the twenty twenty four election
is less than a year away. What's even harder to believe,
As Yogi Bear would say, it's deja vu all over again. Yep,
(00:25):
that's right, Biden versus Trump. We've been hearing a lot
about the Republican side of the campaign with the Iowa
caucuses and the New Hampshire primary and now Super Tuesday
is just over a month away, but we haven't been
hearing as much from the current administration. That's why I
(00:45):
was thrilled to jump on a train, brave the elements,
and head to the Eisenhower Executive Office Building to sit
down with Vice President Kamala Harris. By the way, these
interviews can be very strong. She's an incredibly busy person,
so they only gave me thirty minutes, and I had
(01:06):
a lot to cover, abortion, immigration, Israel, Gaza, the administration's
historically low approval ratings despite their many accomplishments, Trump voters
and some crucial voting blocks that don't necessarily think the
second time's a charm. First of all, thank you so
much for being here for agreeing to have this conversation.
(01:30):
I'm very excited to talk to you about everything you're doing.
Before we sat down, we both had a little something
we needed to clear up. Why did I think you
were much taller? I recently learned you're only five too.
Speaker 2 (01:44):
Is that absolutely incorrect? Okay? I am five four and
a quarter. Okay, four and a half and with heels,
which I always around five seven and a half. Thank
you very much.
Speaker 1 (01:53):
Okay, Wikipedia, you're wrong, and we need to go on.
Speaker 2 (01:56):
I've said this to my team, like what, I don't
know where it came from.
Speaker 1 (02:00):
I was five to when I was twelve, they say
I'm five to one on my Wikipedia page by three
and three quarters right and shrinking.
Speaker 2 (02:09):
It's like, literally they just want to just make us
smaller in every way.
Speaker 1 (02:13):
I know, but I but I was excited because I'm short,
and I was like, oh, kamalo.
Speaker 2 (02:17):
No, I am not. I am not just trying to
take two and a half inches off my you know. Correct.
Speaker 1 (02:24):
Yes, we started with a topic that's proving to be
a powerful driver for democrats. I know that Vice President
harrisher embarking on a Reproductive Freedom's tour to highlight the
harm caused by abortion bands and restrictive laws following the
(02:45):
overturning of Roe v.
Speaker 2 (02:46):
Wade.
Speaker 1 (02:47):
This is an issue that has resonated so much with
Democratic voters and I'm curious, what is your goal as
you travel around the country.
Speaker 2 (02:57):
Well, my my goal, my ultimate goal is that we
will build up the support to build and get a
Congress that will pass a bill to restore the protections
of Roe into law, and President Joe Biden will sign it.
But then let's take a step back. So I'm starting
(03:20):
the We're naming the Fight for Our Reproductive Freedom's Tour,
and it'll begin on January twenty second, which is the
fifty first anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision. And Katie,
you know I mean you, and I'm going to speak
for you. I think I could immaccurate most of our
adult or our conscious lives right when we were able
(03:41):
to be aware of what is happening in the world.
Roe v. Wade was the law of the land.
Speaker 1 (03:46):
Row pass when I was in tenth grade.
Speaker 2 (03:49):
So it was the law of the land for almost
the entirety of our adult lives. And you know, I'll
speak for myself now. You know I always pro choice
pro CHOI whenever there was a moment where we had
to speak about the protecting role, would let us protect Row.
But honestly, I pretty much, I think most of us
pretty much, we were pretty certain it would always be here.
(04:12):
And look what happened. The highest court in our land
took a constitutional right that had been recognized from the
people of America, from the women of America. And the
day that that decision came down, the world in so
(04:33):
many ways in terms of a lived experience for the
women of America changed in a drastic way. After the
Dobs decision, which undid Row, came down, states around our
country proposed and passed laws that would punish women, criminalize
health care providers, ban abortion in some cases, even in
(04:57):
the situation of rape or incess. As you know, I
spent a lot of my career as a prosecutor, and
one of the reasons I became a prosecutor of started
to share the story more. My best friend in high school,
when we were in high school, I learned was being
molested by her stepfather. And when I learned that, I said, well,
(05:18):
you have to come and stay with us. I called
my mother. My mother said, of course, she has to
come stay with us, and she did, and so I
decided I wanted to do the work that was about
protecting women and children from violence. And the majority of
my career as a prosecutor was focused on crimes against
women and children. So bringing that back to the point
(05:39):
of no exception even for rape or ancest So these
extremist so called leaders are basically saying to a survivor
of a crime of violence to their body, a violation
of their body, saying to these survivors, and you don't
have the authority or right to make a decision about
(05:59):
what happens to your body next. That's immoral. That's immoral.
And what I have seen traveling our country listening to
women who have been directly affected because of these laws
is the stories of women having miscarriages in toilets. Katie,
(06:20):
There's a woman in Texas who I've spent some time with.
She and he her husband. She wanted to become pregnant,
she wanted to have children, but her pregnancy then she
was having a miscarriage. She went to the emergency room,
she was denied care because the hospital workers were so
(06:42):
afraid that they might get sued or be committing something
against the law that they would not give her care.
It was only when she went back because she had
developed sepsis that they gave her care. Women around our
country are experiencing a profound harm because of these laws
(07:07):
as a result of that Supreme Court decision, and many
of the stories are untold. Many of these cases are
women who are silently suffering. And the other layer of
this Katie that really should be addressed and understood is
how these extremists are framing the discussion in a way
(07:30):
that really is about judging women as though they've done
something wrong, something they should be embarrassed about. And as
we know, when people are already going through a moment
in their life where they need support, not judgment, and
(07:51):
where they then feel because of this environment that they've
done something wrong, they're going to silence, they suffer, and
they're going to fill alone, which is very disempowering. And
so when I travel our country listening to these stories,
hearing these women and thinking about this issue and how
(08:13):
it is taking place in terms of the effect in
real time, I feel compelled to travel as I've been,
to organize folks and talk with folks about why we
all should stand for these basic freedoms, the right of
an individual to make decisions about their own body.
Speaker 1 (08:37):
Pragmatically speaking Man and Vice President. The composition of the
Supreme Court is unlikely to change anytime soon, it seems.
So what can you realistically do? You were talking about
electing people to Congress and passing a law of federal
(08:57):
law protecting a woman's right to choose in the interim,
are there any other things that can be done to
prevent these women from suffering the way they have been,
and particularly in very restrictive states like Texas, Idaho, and Tennessee.
Speaker 2 (09:18):
Well, I'll start with what our administration is working on,
which includes fighting for an informing states about the responsibility
to administer emergency care, the duty to administer emergency care,
and so that is part of what we are doing.
There is a law that the acronym is m Tala,
(09:39):
but it basically says people cannot be denied emergency care.
There is the work that we are doing to protect
access to contraception, which is a real issue here. There's
work I've been doing, for example, to convene university presidents
who of course have as the vast major already of
(10:00):
their student population. People who are in the height of
their reprotective years, to ensure that they are doing what
they can to protect medical records, to protect privacy, to
make allowances if, for example, a student has an unwanted
pregnancy and can't receive medical care in their state needs
(10:21):
to leave, which means miss time from class, to make
sure that that student is not punished because they had
to leave the state even though they would have preferred
to stay where they were. So this is some of
the work. The other work is around just talking with
people about the realities of it all, for example, pointing
(10:42):
out that I think we all agree that one does
not have to abandon their faith or deeply held beliefs
to agree that the government should not be telling her
what to do with her body. If she chooses, she
will consult with her priests or rabbi, her past or
you mom, but it should not be the government telling
(11:03):
her what to do. So there are many layers to
the work that I think needs to be done, including
reminding the individuals who are going through this right now,
the women who are going through it right now, that
they're not alone, and that we hear them and we
see them, we do not judge them. And we want
them to have the support that they so rightly need.
Speaker 1 (11:26):
I also think there's a lot of disinformation about late
term abortions, absolutely, and I think a lot of misconceptions
about that as well, that women are having abortions, you know,
before their baby, you know, right before the baby is born,
and these horror stories about that. How can you educate
(11:51):
the public that even rowe had restrictions on the third trimester.
Speaker 2 (11:57):
Well not only that, but let's just remember that before
the Dodds decision, this was not an issue that was
being debated about whether women were doing these things that
people are now describing as.
Speaker 1 (12:13):
Possible or partial birth abords.
Speaker 2 (12:15):
And I just think that it is meant to distract
from the realities which is this and it's really basic
and fundamental. On one level, this is about taking freedoms away,
the freedom to make decision about your own body. This
is a question also of trust. I trust women. President
(12:38):
Joe Biden trusts women to be able to know what
is in their own best interest and then make good decisions.
And by the way, and women trust us to know
we're going to protect and fight for their freedoms. But fundamentally,
that is the issue and I think there are many
(12:58):
people who want to distract from that fundamental foundational issue,
and I take it to a foundational issue in terms
of this is one of the main principles upon which
our country was founded.
Speaker 1 (13:12):
Do you think that this will motivate voters in November,
because I know it's shown that primarily referendum are REFERENDU
that's a plural of referendum, right is what are what
motivate people to go and vote? And so how can
you I mean, I'm assuming that you're trying to encourage
(13:36):
people who feel strongly about this issue to go to
the polls come November.
Speaker 2 (13:41):
Because they can make a difference. Literally, this issue will
be ultimately determined about whether women have this freedom or
not because of elections, because of what will result from elections,
which is elected leaders passing a lot to reinstate the
(14:01):
protections of freedom at the state level. Well, but ultimately
it's going to take the federal level because what we
see is state by state, you see different laws that
have been unleashed after the Dobbs decision. So we want
to go back to the law of the land being
a row. And I think that elections matter, Katie on
(14:23):
this issue in particular elections, they.
Speaker 1 (14:26):
Matter after the break Immigration the second most important topic
for voters after the economy. If you want to get
smarter every morning with a breakdown of the news and
fascinating takes on health and wellness and pop culture, sign
(14:50):
up for our daily newsletter, Wake Upcall by going to
Katiecuric dot com. I want to talk to you a
little bit about immigration because I think just about everyone
(15:10):
and you have said as well, agrees that the immigration
system is broken and we need comprehensive immigration reform. Early on,
I know you were tasked with understanding the root causes
of the immigration crisis, but you are not in charge
of the border, which I think is important to point out.
Having said that, fourteen House Democrats joined Republicans in denouncing
(15:34):
the Biden administrations so called open border policies, calling it
quote a national security and public safety crisis. And as
you know, I'm sure you've talked to them. So many
big city mayor's Democrats are saying this is an untenable
situation in cities across the country. Sixty eight percent of
(15:54):
Americans disapprove the way the Biden administration has handled the border.
So how do you address that have you done enough?
Speaker 2 (16:04):
There's no question our immigration system is broken and it
needs to be fixed, and as with any problem, then
leaders will participate, true leaders in the solution. So I'm
going to take you back to about three years ago,
(16:25):
and it was I think the day after our inauguration
when we came in, Joe Biden as president, me as
Vice president. The first bill that we offered was a
bill to fix the immigration system.
Speaker 1 (16:39):
And that's when you controlled both houses.
Speaker 2 (16:42):
And Congress did not take it up. And I will
tell you that this is, first of all, not a
new issue, but sadly it has become so deeply partisan
and the subject of then political gamesmanship, when in fact
the solution are at hand, and we offered a solution
(17:02):
early on and invited bipartisan work. Let's work on it
to fix this. And in fact, we have right now
a proposal for fourteen billion dollars so that we can
put more resources to address this very situation. And we
hope and and are really trying to compel in particularly
(17:26):
some of the Republicans in Congress to participate in the solution.
But sadly, you know, we want to fix it, they
want to run on it. They want a political issue
to run on in November.
Speaker 1 (17:38):
Well it's working, honestly, Well.
Speaker 2 (17:40):
I don't I think that. Listen again, I start, I
go back to where I started. The situation is such
that the system has broken and it needs to be fixed,
and we have offered a solution, and real leaders ought
to lead on this, meaning not play politics with it,
but work with us.
Speaker 1 (17:58):
I think Senates the problem. Republicans I know are trying to.
Speaker 2 (18:01):
Do that right. The challenge is going to be on
the House side.
Speaker 1 (18:04):
Exactly, and they have linked legislation fixing the immigration crisis
to military aid to Ukraine and Israel, and military aid
those two allies desperately need. Is this immigration bill as
it currently stands, something that you all can support in
order to release that aid money.
Speaker 2 (18:26):
So it's a work in progress. So by the time
your listeners listen to this conversation, I don't know what
situation or status it will be in. But let me
just say this. We ought to be able to do
everything we are the United States, and that means fixed
problems such as what we need to do to address
the immigration system, and we must stand by our allies,
(18:49):
and that includes giving aid to Ukraine, which has been
the subject of a violation of one of the oldest
and most important rules in norms, which is the importance
of protecting sovereignty and territorial integrity in the face of
Russia's unprovoked aggression and attempt to use forced to change
borders the first war in seventy years in Europe, and
(19:15):
the United States must stand by our ally Ukraine on principle,
much less to stand strong about what is American leadership
to uphold international rules and norms. And by the way,
I've now met with over one hundred and fifty world
leaders katie presidents, prime ministers, chancellors, and kings, many of
(19:38):
them now multiple times they look to us to be
a leader on so many of these issues. I've been
in the Oval Office with the President, with President Biden
when he will get calls from world leaders asking for
perspective and advice or support. So when we talk about
the United States Congress on an issue like Ukraine or Israel,
(20:01):
we should be able to do all of these things
and not put conditions on one in exchange for the other.
Speaker 1 (20:08):
Let's turn to Israel, because it's been more than three
months after the horrific attacks of October seventh, people are
seeing graphic images of devastation and thousands of civilian casualties
in Gos. I'm sure you're seeing them too, Yes, i am.
Many people in your party, especially young people, have called
(20:30):
for a cease fire for months now, and I'm wondering
if you could articulate for us why you believe that
is not a good idea if you do believe that.
Speaker 2 (20:41):
So let's start with October seventh. On October seventh, we
saw a terrorist organization Hamas commit an act of sheer
brutality and terrorism when they attacked and slaughtered over twelve
(21:03):
hundred people, innocent people, many of them young people attending
a concert. Women were raped horrendously, So not at all,
it is all. Rape is always horrendous, obviously, but.
Speaker 1 (21:16):
The barbarism of the crimes.
Speaker 2 (21:20):
Rape is a tool of war, all right. And so
I will start this conversation by saying, and Israel has
a right to defend itself, we would, and how it
does so matters. We've been very clear that far too
many Palestinians, innocent Palestinian civilians, have been killed, and that
(21:44):
Israel must do more to protect innocent civilians. We've been
very clear humanitarian aid must flow from day one. I
will tell you one of my areas of priority included
let's think about the day after, because we must stay
focused on an eventual to a state solution.
Speaker 1 (22:02):
Well, having said that, I want to tell you something
which I'm sure you're well aware of that bb Net
Yahoo Prime Minister net who recently said he rejected US
calls to scale back Israel's military action in the Gaza
Strip or to support a Palestinian state after the war.
He even said that Israel quote must have security control
(22:25):
over the entire territory west of the Jordan River, which
includes Gaza. So given those positions, how can you possibly
come together? How can the US and Israel come together
to solve this? And should aid to Israel be conditional?
Speaker 2 (22:43):
So I'll start with the principles that we are applying
to this discussion, which we have been very clear with
the Israeli government about one as it relates to the
day after. There should be no reoccupation of Gaza. There
should be no changing of the territorial boundaries of Gasa
that the Palestinians are entitled to in equal measure with
(23:08):
Israelis security and prosperity.
Speaker 1 (23:12):
Doesn't sound like the Leonette now who agrees with that.
Speaker 2 (23:16):
We're the United States of America. I'm telling you our position,
and we take our role in this discussion very seriously.
There may be disagreements. That doesn't mean we're going to
change our mind about the principles that are important to
be applied to this process in terms of what a
day after should look like, and those principles remain consistent.
(23:41):
We believe very strongly. I believe very strongly Palestinians are
entitled to dignity and self determination. We believe there must
be a two state solution for the sake of the
stability in the region. We believe very strongly, as a
first principle, Israel must be secure that Hamas and it
(24:02):
must not be in a position to commit terrorist acts
against innocent people or the people of Israel in particular.
Speaker 1 (24:10):
So should AID that and Vice President be conditional. If
the Prime Minister of Israel is stating this, should that
AID not come if there's not that kind of flexibility
that you're seeking.
Speaker 2 (24:26):
We are right now in a position of negotiating with
Congress to follow through on a commitment we made for AID,
and we are taking it one day at a time
in terms of what is happening in the region and
how we are addressing the issue. But that's where we
are right now.
Speaker 1 (24:42):
So I don't feel like you really answered my question.
Speaker 2 (24:45):
Well do you?
Speaker 1 (24:46):
But do you think it should be conditional? I know
you're carrying out.
Speaker 2 (24:49):
That's about our position right now?
Speaker 1 (24:51):
Not right now? Yeah, okay, I'm want to turn to
the accomplishments of the Biden administration. Good an infrastructure Bill,
finally the Chips Act, the Safer Communities Act addressing gun violence,
to name three legislative accomplishments. Low unemployment, millions of jobs created,
(25:13):
inflation down, the stock market up. You don't hear that
much from reporters, do you, in a form of a question?
And yet and yet you and President's Biden's approval ratings
are at historic lows. The President at thirty eight, you
at thirty seven. Why do you think that is given
(25:35):
what I just outlined.
Speaker 2 (25:37):
Well, first of all, if I listened to polls, I
would have never run for my first office, or probably
my second or third for that matter. So I only
put so much stock in polls.
Speaker 1 (25:48):
But it must be discouraging.
Speaker 2 (25:50):
Well, no, here's the thing we have to we have
to earn the reelect. That is, without any question, the
right to be in a democracy. You got to earn
the reelect and so our job. You are correct, a.
We have historic accomplishments in terms of the economy, but
(26:11):
we've done to move forward. It's science, technology and investment
in the American workforce, growing the American workforce, rising wages,
bringing down prices. Historic work has happened, no question. It
is incumbent on us to let people know who brung
it to them. Frankly, because here's the thing, Katie, when
(26:32):
if you do want to look at polling, let's also
look at the fact that it tells us that if
you ask people how they feel about the fact that
we finally kept the cost of insulin for seniors at
thirty five dollars a month, hugely popular. If you ask people,
how do you feel about the fact that seniors too long,
(26:53):
too many had to determine whether they could fill their
prescriptions or fill the refrigerator. And now we have allowed
medical care to negotiate drug prices finally, which means we're
capping the annual cost of prescriptions for seniors at two
thousand dollars. They're not going to pay more than two
thousand dollars a year for their prescription drugs. Very very
popular if you ask students with debt, with students people
(27:18):
have graduated with debt or even haven't graduated, who have
caught debt from college or secondary school.
Speaker 1 (27:23):
And he just announced today additional debt relief for.
Speaker 2 (27:27):
We have now erased the debt of over three and
a half million people. Very popular if you look at
what we are doing that is right now active projects
in all fifty states. They are about upgrading roads and bridges,
repairing streets, and airports. Usually popular. And I you know,
(27:50):
if you drive down most streets in America, you'll somewhere
or another see some construction site or a crane up
that you can probably point to the Biden Harris administration
and to know that that work is starting to happen
because we finally got the infrastructure work done. Previous administration
kept talking about infrastructure. We actually made it happen. So
(28:11):
you're right, we have a lot of accomplishments, and I
think what the American people want most in their leaders
is that we actually get things done. And we have
done it, we haven't taken adequate credit for it. Frankly,
and we got to do a better job of getting
the word out about what we have accomplished and who
did it.
Speaker 1 (28:32):
When we come back, Kamala Harris has a tall order
making sure Latino, Black, and young voters stay in the fold.
Speaker 2 (28:40):
They have now met with over fifteen thousand students gen Z, who,
by the way, I think is a terrific generation.
Speaker 1 (28:47):
I know you love gen Z. You said it on
the view.
Speaker 2 (28:50):
Do you love gen Z?
Speaker 3 (28:51):
I really do?
Speaker 1 (29:07):
You do very well among young voters, among people of color,
both black voters and Latino voters. President Biden isn't doing
as well. In twenty twenty, he won young people by
more than twenty points, but now he's tied with Donald Trump.
And I'm curious you've been I think I think people
(29:29):
believe you're a good messenger to bring some of those
voters back into the fold to support Joe Biden and
not just Kamala Harris. How are you going to do that?
Speaker 2 (29:39):
Well? Part of it is getting the heck out of DC,
which I've been doing. Fact, after the Dobs decision came down,
I decided to get on the road ahead of the
midterms and going to purple red and blue states in
almost equal measure, talking with folks and listening to folks.
(30:00):
And I started then last fall college tour, where I
have now met with over fifteen thousand students gen Z, who,
by the way, I think is a terrific generation.
Speaker 1 (30:12):
I know you love gen Z. You said it on
the view.
Speaker 2 (30:15):
Do you love gen Z? I really do, because they
it's a lived experience for them. They've only known the
climate crisis. Most of them have endured active shooter drills
between kindergarten and twelfth grade. They during the height of
their reproductive years, saw the court take away an essential
right for them. And so traveling the country makes a
(30:37):
difference to one listen, but to remind people that they
are being seen and that what they do matters, including
that they vote. And so I'm going to keep doing that.
Speaker 1 (30:48):
Are you worried that they're not going to turn out?
I mean, that is so key to your reelection.
Speaker 2 (30:54):
Well, like I've said many times, because it is a
mantra for me during election time, they're two ways to run,
either without an opponent or scared. You got to earn
it and you got to get out there and you
got to do the work. And I'm prepared to do it.
Speaker 1 (31:08):
You know, I wasn't going to ask you a question
about Joe Biden's age, because, after all, Donald Trump is
just three years younger, and some people seem fixated on
Joe Biden's age. But I wanted to ask.
Speaker 2 (31:23):
You it's because they have nothing to run on, Katie.
Speaker 1 (31:28):
Well, immigration now they're running on.
Speaker 2 (31:30):
Too, which they could actually participate in fixing, right, and
so no, but really yeah, you know, so yeah, you're right.
They're running on immigration because they like having the problem,
so they can they can have an issue. But how
in fact we have offered them the ability to solve
it and they don't want to participate in that, right
in the solution.
Speaker 1 (31:51):
Right about immigration, but having you know, the age thing.
Voters are concerned. I mean, according to almost poll that
is an issue. And I was curious to get your
take on this. Four years ago, I think it was
a rally in Detroit, then Canada. Biden was at a
rally with you, Corey Booker and Gretchen Widmer, and I
(32:15):
looked up what he said. He said, Look, Joe Biden says,
look a lot, doesn't He says, Look, I view myself
as a bridge, not as anything else. There's an entire
generation of leaders you saw stand behind me. They are
the future of the country. And I wondered when you
heard that if you thought that was a four year
(32:38):
bridge or an eight year bridge.
Speaker 2 (32:42):
I want to get to the heart of what I
think you're raising, which you've said is his age. So
let's talk about that. I spend a lot of time
with Joe Biden, be it in the Oval office or
the situation room, and I can tell you this is
someone who is tireless in terms of working on behalf
(33:03):
of the American people. To your point of knowing Joe Biden,
he comes from a background and a place in his
heart and soul where he cares so deeply about working people,
about families. We talk about his empathy because he actually
is concerned about the suffering of other people and works
to alleviate that suffering. He is bold, and it is
(33:28):
because of all of that that we have been able
to pass transformational work, bipartisan work. When we've been able
to do it, a large part of it is because
Joe Biden, and I've watched him, sits in that Oval
office with the leaders on the two sides and helps
people figure out that compromise is actually a good thing.
(33:50):
Solutions are a good thing. I have been in the
Oval Office when heads of state from around the world,
in particular, our allies call up Joe Biden and ask
for his advice and he gives it. It is Joe
Biden who is, without any question and leaders around the
world would admit it, the one who was able to
bring together NATO to support Ukraine. So this whole issue
(34:13):
that they are raising about his age is again because
they've got nothing to run on. And I just think
that we've got to get beyond this because I think
ultimately what the American people deserve is that their leaders
perform by way of solutions and uplifting the condition of
(34:35):
their lives.
Speaker 1 (34:35):
I'm glad you used that word perform because I was
listening to something Hillary Clinton said recently about performative politics. Yeah,
it's a right, and that now people who are doing
the hard work of the nation's business are not performing,
(34:57):
and I thought that was such an interesting things.
Speaker 2 (35:00):
Is performing right, right?
Speaker 1 (35:02):
Right? Perform Yeah, are not performative exactly, And I thought
that was such an insightful observation because people doing the work,
let's face it, are not that entertaining, but in the.
Speaker 2 (35:16):
True sense of the word perform in terms of are
you actually doing anything. Joe Biden's getting a whole lot
of stuff done. First Chips and Science Act. We're going
to be investing in the future of technology, competing on
a global level. We have created over eight hundred and
fifty new manufacturing jobs. We're bringing manufacturing back to America.
(35:37):
What we have done in terms of fighting for things, well,
you know, this is again where it'd be nice to
have a little bit more bipartisan support to extend the
child tax credit. In our first year, by pushing it through,
we reduced tow poverty by over fifty percent. That's the
kind of performing I think people want.
Speaker 1 (35:53):
But how are you going to get that messaging out?
Speaker 2 (35:56):
You know?
Speaker 1 (35:57):
Yeah, I know, but this alone, as much as I
would like to say the entire country listens to this
or watches this, it feels like that somehow that is
not getting through. That's what a lot of people for
I know you, and I know people like David Axelrodter like,
let's get going people.
Speaker 2 (36:17):
Yeah, I appreciate that. I appreciate where he's coming from
in terms of we all know what's at stake, Right,
we all know what's at stake on the other side
of this split screen, because let's be clear about it.
We talked about a lot of issues today, you and I,
most of which are not binary, like it's not one
thing or the other. These are complex issues November of
(36:40):
twenty twenty four binary. And on the other side, you've
got someone who has said that if he were back
in office, he would weaponize the Department of Justice, someone
who has openly applauded insurrectionists as patriots, someone who has
(37:02):
said that they will go after their political enemies and
applauds dictators, indicating that he would be one. So let's
be really clear about what's at stake. And then, yes,
of course there is then a desire that let's get
(37:27):
out there because we can't lose this democracy. We can't.
And I agree with that passion. I am motivated by
the same passion.
Speaker 1 (37:42):
I don't want your staff to kill me. I asked
one more question.
Speaker 2 (37:45):
A lot of witnesses if they do.
Speaker 1 (37:48):
They ask one more question, Steane, Okay, all right, I'm
as as a.
Speaker 2 (37:54):
Prosecutor if I said they're witnesses, as.
Speaker 1 (37:57):
A former prosecutor and a former general I'm sure you're
familiar with these ninety one criminal indictments Donald Trump is
currently facing or somewhat familiar, And I'm curious, why do
you think so many of his supporters are willing to
turn a blind eye to those indictments and support him regardless.
Speaker 2 (38:22):
Well, let's see if they do in November.
Speaker 1 (38:24):
Do you think minds will be changed as these court
cases proceed.
Speaker 2 (38:29):
I think that the majority of Americans who are going
to make the decision about the outcome of the election
want a leader who is competent and not someone who
invites and creates chaos. I think they are going to
vote for a leader who respects and protects the rule
of law, not someone who breaks it. I think they
(38:53):
want someone who actually understands that the real strength of
a leader is not on who you beat down, but
based on who you lift up.
Speaker 1 (39:02):
Does it blow your mind that people don't Some people
don't agree with that though, that They're like, we love
this guy, it doesn't matter.
Speaker 2 (39:10):
I don't judge that. I don't judge that. I am
just telling you I know what is at stake, and
we are going to spend every day reminding the American
people of what we have accomplished and what will be
the impact of the selection, And it will be profound,
(39:33):
and it will be in many ways existential.
Speaker 1 (39:37):
I believe, Madam Vice President, Thank you so so much.
Speaker 2 (39:41):
Good to be with you.
Speaker 1 (39:42):
Thanks for listening everyone. If you have a question for me,
a subject you want us to cover, or you want
to share your thoughts about how you navigate this crazy
world reach out. You can leave a short message at
(40:03):
six h nine five one two five five five, or
you can send me a DM on Instagram. I would
love to hear from you. Next Question is a production
of iHeartMedia and Katie Kuric Media. The executive producers are Me,
Katie Kuric, and Courtney Ltz. Our supervising producer is Ryan Martz,
and our producers are Adriana Fazzio and Meredith Barnes. Julian
(40:27):
Weller composed our theme music. For more information about today's episode,
or to sign up for my newsletter wake Up Call,
go to the description in the podcast app, or visit
us at Katiecuric dot com. You can also find me
on Instagram and all my social media channels. For more
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(40:51):
wherever you listen to your favorite shows.
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