In a surprising turn of events, Katie Couric and Charlamagne Tha God had a rare moment of honesty about Vice President Kamala Harris, discussing something that’s been on a lot of people’s minds for a while now: authenticity—or rather, Harris’s struggle to show any.
On Couric’s podcast, Next Question, the veteran journalist asked Charlamagne if he thought Harris came across as “authentic” during his interview with her, and the exchange revealed more about the VP’s political image than she probably would have liked.
Couric, known for her bluntness, didn’t hold back. She essentially laid out that Harris often sounds like she’s reading from a script, relying on talking points and “taking a really long time to get to her point.” Couric even noted that Harris seems hesitant to answer questions directly, as though she’s afraid of anything that might come back to haunt her.
In typical fashion, Harris’s approach seems to be a lot of words, little substance, and a noticeable reluctance to lay out actual plans or stances on policy. Couric gave a prime example of what she’d like to hear from Harris: a straightforward response on the record-breaking immigration crisis under Biden’s administration, but alas, it’s always deflection over direction with this VP.
“I have to beg to differ with you on that point. I think that she takes a really long time to get to her point, and that she does rely on talking points too often. I think she’s gotten much better than she used to, but it’s almost as if she’s afraid to say something that will later come back to haunt her,” Couric said.
“She just doesn’t really articulate her true policy position, and she isn’t really directly answering the question a lot of times,” she continued. “That’s been my experience and my experience watching her. I just wish she would say, ‘This is our plan,’ or, ‘You’re right, a lot of illegal immigrants have come into this country during the Biden administration, but this is why, and this is what I want to do about it moving forward,’ you know?”
“I don’t find her explanation of policy that compelling compared to, say, someone like Bill Clinton or Barack Obama,” she added.
Charlamagne, for his part, tried to cover for Harris, calling her “disciplined.” His logic? Harris has remained so measured that, according to him, she’s the “authentic” product of an era where every word is carefully curated to avoid backlash. It’s a fascinating defense but one that falls a little flat when you consider Harris’s well-documented history of rambling non-answers and circular talking points. Couric clearly wasn’t convinced and continued pointing out Harris’s over-reliance on platitudes instead of plans—a fair critique, especially when voters want clarity on pressing issues.
Charlamagne even suggested that Harris’s careful phrasing is somehow a sign of political wisdom, saying that her “discipline” is what separates her from Donald Trump. According to him, Trump has the freedom to speak off-the-cuff because, in Charlamagne’s view, he should have been “disqualified” from office long ago.
But this “double standard” idea—the notion that Trump is allowed to speak freely while Harris is shackled by scrutiny—doesn’t exactly hold up. In fact, Trump’s success is largely rooted in his willingness to say what he actually thinks, regardless of political consequences. Harris, meanwhile, seems to embody the opposite, constantly dancing around issues in a way that leaves voters wondering what, if anything, she really believes.
Couric’s honest take is a reminder of something Americans on both sides of the aisle know well: authenticity matters. And while politicians from Bill Clinton to Barack Obama could connect with audiences through a mix of charm, clarity, and substance, Harris often comes across as unsure, over-rehearsed, and stuck in a loop of vague assurances.
Charlamagne on Harris: “Do I think she was being authentic? Yeah, I think she was being authentically who she is, which is a very disciplined, seasoned veteran politician.”
Katie Couric: “I have to beg to differ with you on that point.”@DailyCaller pic.twitter.com/72nNQ13zSB
— Jason Cohen 🇺🇸 (@JasonJournoDC) October 24, 2024
For voters gearing up for 2024, especially those on the fence, the contrast between Trump’s directness and Harris’s political cautiousness is likely to be more of a deciding factor than any pre-rehearsed talking points she can throw their way. Her inability to break from the script may be more than just a minor quirk; it could very well cost her and her party in November.
