Vice President Kamala Harris’s Interview with CNN’s Dana Bash: A Deep Dive into Key Issues

Vice President Kamala Harris’s Encounter with CNN’s Dana Bash

On Thursday, Vice President Kamala Harris participated in an interview with Dana Bash of CNN, marking a significant moment in her emerging presidential campaign. This interview stands out as her first major unscripted interaction of the campaign season; however, it is not the first time Harris has engaged with Bash. The seasoned CNN political anchor has previously interviewed Harris on three different occasions over the past few years.

In their past meetings, Bash has established herself as a firm yet fair interviewer, skillfully balancing the need for in-depth responses from Harris while also holding her accountable on pressing issues. There were moments when she allowed the Vice President ample space to elaborate on her thoughts, but she also did not hesitate to press for clarity when Harris appeared to sidestep challenging topics.

One notable instance occurred in 2022 when Bash prompted Harris to respond to the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. This exchange led to Harris’s famously peculiar description of herself as “the daughter of a woman, and a granddaughter of a woman.” While discussing the implications of the ruling, Bash challenged Harris about the Biden administration’s strategy to safeguard abortion rights. In response, the Vice President hesitated to fully endorse the proposed measures Bash suggested, such as contesting certain state laws or considering executive actions.

Bash posed a poignant question, asking, “But what do you say to Democratic voters who argue, ‘Wait a minute, we worked really hard to elect a Democratic president and vice president, a Democratic-led House, a Democratic-led Senate. Do it now?’” Harris’s reply, “But do what now?” highlighted the complex dynamics at play within the party and the challenges they face in mobilizing support for decisive action.

In a separate interview conducted in 2021 at the White House, which was influenced by pandemic-related precautions, the atmosphere felt less confrontational. During this exchange, Bash inquired about the significance of Harris being the first Black and Indian person to hold the vice presidency, asking, “How is that bringing itself to bear in the White House?” As Harris articulated her views, she emphasized the necessity for Congress to take legislative action to impose restrictions on certain gun rights, to which Bash responded with a nod of agreement.