As Kamala Harris and Donald Trump continue on the campaign trail, both presidential candidates have attempted to reach new audiences of potential voters. In recent months, both candidates have tapped into the expanding podcast industry, appearing on popular shows to speak on political issues and encourage the expanding base of podcast listeners to vote.
Recap: Harris’ Interview with Call Her Daddy
On October 6th, Alex Cooper, podcaster and co-creator of the Call Her Daddy podcast, released her interview with Vice President Harris. The Call Her Daddy podcast is Spotify’s second-largest podcast and attracts a predominantly female audience. Cooper, who interviewed Harris, stated that she had also reached out to Donald Trump for an interview.
To begin the Call Her Daddy interview, Cooper first inquired why the Vice President chose to sit down for an interview with her in the first place. Harris noted that Cooper had built up an impressive community where her listeners felt seen and heard as women. Harris then spoke about her time serving as a prosecutor and how that career choice stemmed from her desire to help those who were left vulnerable by abuse. She emphasized that her work has been about restoring survivors’ voices and honoring their right to justice.
The conversation then shifted to reproductive freedoms and voting. Harris emphasized that both are fundamental rights for women, asserting, “No one should take your power from you.” When questioned about how to make this country safer for women, Harris emphasized economic autonomy, stating her desire to “uplift the ability of women to have economic health and wellbeing.” Harris expressed that women in abusive relationships often cannot leave because they lack access to the financial means to support themselves.
On the topic of women’s health and freedom, Copper asked for Harris’s thoughts on a statement Trump had directed at the women attending his rally in Pennsylvania. Trump had stated, “You will be protected and I will be your protector.” This led Harris to argue that Trump’s statement was hypocritical, given that he previously ran on and delivered a promise to elect Supreme Court justices who would overturn Roe v. Wade and remove the national right to abortion. Cooper then spoke on her perspective on post-Roe America, sharing an experience where she spoke to a woman who had experienced extreme harassment for trying to seek an abortion. Harris and Cooper both condoned the government’s authority over women’s bodies, calling the overturning of Roe “outrageous.” Harris also pointed out that many clinics that provide abortion, which have since been shut down, also provided access to other health services like pap smears and breast cancer screenings. She argued that abortion bans have therefore limited access to healthcare in general.
Harris then spoke on the practical applications of these abortion bans, arguing that abortion exceptions “if the life of the mother is at risk” do not actually protect women because they imply that the mother is “almost dead before you decide to give her care”. Harris cited the case of Amber Thurman, who died after doctors were prohibited from performing a life-saving procedure due to state abortion bans.
Harris also shared her thoughts on Republican Vice Presidential nominee J.D. Vance’s comments about “childless cat ladies,” calling them “mean spirited” and saying that the “strength of a leader is about who you lift up.”
Harris wrapped up by addressing her plans to help young Americans. She shared that she wants to create tax incentives to build 3 million more housing units and provide $25,000 in down payment assistance for first-time home buyers. She also wants to give young parents a “$6,000 tax cut for the first year of their child’s life.” Harris then reiterated her commitment to relieving student loan debt and preventing medical debt from impacting credit scores. Finally, when asked why people should trust her, Kamala Harris stated that she “believes in the promise of America” and that leadership is about “investing in the people” to lift up the whole.
Recap: Trump’s Interview with This Past Weekend
On August 20th, comedian and podcaster Theo Von interviewed former president Trump on his podcast This Past Weekend. The comedian interviewed Trump at the former President’s country club in New Jersey and discussed a variety of topics such as healthcare and border security. Notable past guests on This Past Weekend include Mark Cuban, Bernie Sanders, and Tucker Carlson.
Theo Von began the interview by inquiring about Donald Trump’s sons, seeing as Barron Trump is a fan of the podcast. Trump spoke about all of his sons’ various ventures before the conversation shifted to Trump’s abstinence from substance use. Trump stated that he does not drink or do drugs because of his brother, Frank Trump Jr., who struggled with an addiction that eventually led to his death. Von and Trump bonded over their shared avoidance of substances, as Von had previously struggled with substance use himself but has been sober for two years.
The conversation then pivoted to a discussion of the opioid crisis. Trump shared his thoughts on allowing pharmaceutical companies to advertise on television and his plans to curtail opioid-related deaths. Trump stated that during his time in office, he formed committees to attempt to combat the opioid crisis. Trump also claimed that “the establishment” is trying to “sink” him, which he claimed is part of the reason why so many of his supporters continue to back him. Trump claimed that he had prepared an executive order that would have “forced hospitals and insurers to publish all their prices”, and blamed Biden and Harris for not continuing the order during their administration. Trump also accused democratic Senator and Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of keeping medical prices high and taking financial contributions from healthcare lobbyists.
Von then asked Trump if he ever considered having Robert F. Kennedy as a potential running mate, an idea which Trump shut down immediately. Trump shared that though he liked the guy, he firmly believes that the American electoral system is a two-party system, and Kennedy is a third-party candidate. Von and Trump also discussed Biden’s performance in the first presidential debate and Kamala Harris’ subsequent rise to Presidential nominee. Trump speculated that the Democratic leaders forced Biden out of the race, calling the debate “a good debate for me and a bad debate for him.” He then went on to label Harris the “worst Vice President in history.”
Discussing border security, Trump brought back the idea of his border wall, arguing that the wall “works” and provides a rest stop for border security agents. He then claimed that Harris wanted open borders and that other countries’ crime rates were lower because they are “sending all their criminals here.” In closing, Trump stated that he would seal the border and that the border was safest under his previous administration.
