Harris Does Media Interview Blitz

Oh, this one’s a doozy. CBS just gave us a masterclass in media editing with its handling of Vice President Kamala Harris’s latest interview on 60 Minutes. Now, it’s not unusual for TV networks to edit interviews for time, but in this case, CBS aired two different answers to the same question, depending on when you tuned in. On Sunday’s Face the Nation, they gave us a preview of Harris’s 60 Minutes sit-down, where she delivered a lengthy, meandering “word salad” about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s actions and U.S. influence in the region. Naturally, conservatives had a field day with it, mocking the vice president for her incoherent response.

But, lo and behold, come Monday night’s prime-time airing of the full interview, that verbose, rambling answer was nowhere to be found. Instead, Harris suddenly appeared much more focused, responding, “We are not going to stop pursuing what is necessary for the United States to be clear about where we stand on the need for this war to end.” It’s shorter, it’s sharper, and it’s a lot less likely to end up as a Trump campaign ad.

Why the switch, you ask? Great question. CBS hasn’t exactly been forthcoming with an explanation. Sure, networks edit interviews all the time, but airing two totally different answers to the same question raises more than a few eyebrows. It’s like they decided to do a little damage control on Harris’s behalf after seeing how poorly the initial clip went over. And if that’s the case, well, you can hardly blame the Trump campaign for calling foul.

Karoline Leavitt, the Trump campaign’s national press secretary, didn’t hold back, demanding that CBS release the full, unedited interview. “Why did 60 Minutes choose not to air Kamala’s full word salad, and what else did they choose not to air?” she asked. It’s a fair question. After all, if the first version of Harris’s answer was bad enough to be mocked all over social media, why not let viewers see it for themselves in its entirety? What’s CBS—or Harris—got to hide?

And really, this whole situation just adds fuel to the fire of media bias accusations. Harris struggled to explain why Netanyahu wasn’t exactly falling in line with the U.S. stance, and instead of letting the awkward answer play out for the American people to judge, CBS conveniently swapped it out for a cleaner take. It’s almost like they’re trying to protect the VP from herself, shielding her from criticism by editing out her less polished moments. Not that this kind of move is going to stop her critics—if anything, it just gives them more ammunition.

Now, CBS did at least post both clips on YouTube, probably hoping that would calm things down. But the damage is done. The edited-for-TV version and the more candid “word salad” version are out there for everyone to see, and the contrast is glaring. It makes you wonder how many other moments got scrubbed or polished before making it to air.

Kamala Harris’s media blitz continued Tuesday night with a cozy appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, where the vice president danced around the issue of what exactly she would do differently as president compared to her time serving under Joe Biden. With polls showing that voters are hungry for change in the 2024 election, Colbert asked her directly what “major changes” she’d bring if she found herself in the Oval Office. But instead of offering a clear vision, Harris leaned on the same vague messaging she’s used throughout her campaign.

“Well, I’m obviously not Joe Biden,” she quipped, which got a quick laugh from Colbert and cheers from the liberal-leaning audience. But beyond that, Harris didn’t offer much more substance. She avoided any mention of specific policy shifts or new initiatives that might distinguish her leadership from Biden’s, pivoting instead to a boilerplate statement about loving the American people and believing in the country’s potential. Her response was heavy on feel-good rhetoric but light on details—something that hasn’t gone unnoticed by critics.

Earlier that day on The View, she faced a similar question, and her answer was even less reassuring to those hoping for a break from the Biden administration’s policies. When asked if there was anything she would have done differently, Harris couldn’t name a single thing, saying, “There is not a thing that comes to mind.” That answer didn’t just miss the mark—it practically handed the Trump campaign a gift-wrapped soundbite to use in their ads.

Kamala has been getting hit left and right by the media for her interviews.

And, it’s not only from the Media. Biden has been undercutting her as well:

And then there’s this…what a mess.

As Harris attempts to convince voters that she represents a new direction, her own words keep tying her back to the administration she’s trying to separate from. And in a race where many are seeking a fresh face, offering more of the same might not be the winning message she hopes it will be.