Kamala Harris: America Is At Breaking Point & I'm Deeply Concerned About The State Of The Country!

with Kamala Harris

Published October 30, 2025
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About This Episode

Kamala Harris discusses her upbringing in a civil-rights-oriented family, her legal career, and how those experiences shaped her commitment to justice and public service. She reflects in detail on serving as vice president, the 107‑day presidential campaign, internal tensions within the Biden White House, and her experiences debating Donald Trump. Harris also talks about media dynamics, disinformation, her regrets about not having more time to campaign, the emotional impact of losing the 2024 election, and how she is thinking about a potential future run for president.

Topics Covered

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Quick Takeaways

  • Harris grew up in a community deeply involved in the civil rights movement, which embedded service, justice, and dignity for others at the core of her identity and career choices.
  • She describes internal Biden staff dynamics in which her accomplishments were downplayed and attacks on her were left undefended, which she views as short‑sighted zero‑sum thinking.
  • On the day of her debate with Trump, Biden called her and shifted from encouragement to relaying negative comments about her, a moment she found deeply disappointing and self‑focused.
  • Harris believes Trump's communication strategy relies on outrageous claims and gaslighting that misdirect from substantive issues, and she stresses the challenge of countering that with fact‑based messaging.
  • She openly regrets not having more time than 107 days to run her presidential campaign, though she does not regret running and believes the campaign inspired many people to engage and run for office themselves.
  • Harris describes the emotional impact of losing the 2024 election as comparable only to the grief she felt when her mother died, because she believed she knew the harm that would follow for the country.
  • She argues that the current political moment is the result of decades‑long planning by conservative institutions and cannot be understood as just about one person in the Oval Office.
  • Harris emphasizes the importance of mentors and supporters who convince you you are special, as well as having a small trusted circle and a supportive partner to withstand public life.
  • She says she wants to demystify the presidency and campaign process with her book, and she is undecided about running again in 2028 but is weighing the potential impact against the toll on her family.

Podcast Notes

Opening and current emotional landscape

Mixed emotions about current times

Harris describes feeling both grateful and deeply troubled[2:43]
She says she feels blessed regarding her family and health but is extremely troubled, disappointed, and concerned about the state of the United States and the world.
Ongoing anxiety about what may come next[3:10]
Harris notes there is a state of anxiety among people who follow the news, with uncertainty about what will happen next.
Belief that things may get worse before they get better[3:16]
She often tells audiences during her book tour that it may get worse before it gets better and says recent events in different cities have reinforced that feeling.

Responsibility feelings after the election loss

Thinks about how different things could have been[4:15]
Harris says she knows the outcome of her presidential race led to what has happened and believes things would have been very different had she won.
Awareness of people living in fear[4:30]
She mentions people being impacted horribly, living in utter fear of being attacked or targeted with hate and misinformation.
Focus on staying present[5:02]
Harris says she tries not to dwell too much on what might have been because she prefers to stay centered on the present, for better or worse.

Early life, family background, and service ethic

Parents and civil rights environment

Mother's immigration and civil rights involvement[5:40]
Her mother arrived alone from India to the U.S. at 19 and became naturally aligned with the civil rights movement in Berkeley and Oakland, California.
Father's background and parents' relationship[5:47]
Her father was a national scholar in Jamaica; her parents met through the civil rights environment, fell in love, and then Harris and her sister were born.
Childhood messages about duty and importance[6:07]
She says every message growing up was that she and her sister were important and had a duty to figure out how they would participate in the fight for justice, freedom, and equality.

Service mentality in personal life and career choice

Service woven into her DNA[6:15]
The host notes that helping others seems woven into her DNA; Harris affirms that her career choices were always about people, not money.
Contrast between her and Doug's legal careers[6:49]
She says Doug went immediately into private practice, whereas she never wanted private practice and instead chose public roles focused on protecting people and giving them dignity.

Birth order, protection, and dignity

Eldest child and protector role[7:17]
From age two, her mother told her to take care of her younger sister; she shows a picture and describes herself as protecting her sister.
Seeing her mother treated without full dignity[7:35]
Harris recalls watching how her five‑foot‑tall brown mother with an accent was treated and learning the importance of ensuring all people's dignity is respected and protected.

Legal career, confronting human darkness, and coping

Rise through legal ranks and reform achievements

Career milestones and firsts[8:44]
From age 24 to 51 she rose from deputy district attorney to California attorney general, becoming the first woman and first Black person to hold both roles.
Policy reforms as Attorney General[8:18]
She led reforms including securing $25 billion in homeowner relief after the 2008 crisis, launching the Back on Track LA rehabilitation program, and making California the first state to mandate body cameras for justice agents.
Orientation toward problem solving[9:04]
Harris says one of her strengths and weaknesses is that she likes to solve problems, and once one is addressed she moves quickly to the next without stopping to celebrate.

Exposure to worst aspects of human behavior

Specialization in child sexual assault cases[9:31]
She specialized for a time in child sexual assault, which she describes as the most horrendous abuse and crime because it involves an adult abusing a child.
Cases where convictions were not possible[9:48]
She recalls cases where children were so young they could not testify; in one case with an elementary school girl she cried in the courthouse bathroom knowing the jury would not have enough to convict.
Broader prosecution experience[10:36]
Beyond child sexual assault, she has prosecuted homicide and fraud cases, regularly confronting the worst of human behavior.

Coping with stress, responsibility, and perfectionism

Daily exercise as a coping tool[11:08]
Harris says she works out every morning regardless of how little sleep she has had because it helps her mind, body, and soul.
High personal standards and perfectionism[12:02]
She holds herself to a very high standard and tends to be a perfectionist even though she knows she is far from perfect.
Reliving each day during the 107‑day campaign[12:18]
During the 107 days she ran for president, she says she stayed awake every night thinking about what more she could have done with that one day.

Fearlessness, growth, imposter feelings, and leadership lessons

Younger self versus current self

Fearlessness as a young prosecutor[13:10]
Harris describes 24‑year‑old herself as fearless, not hearing "no" and pushing past obstacles, illustrated by insisting a judge return to the bench on a Friday evening so a woman with young children would not stay in jail all weekend.
Continuity of not accepting "it can't be done"[13:07]
She says a through line of her life is refusing to rest easy with the idea that something is not possible without trying to show that it is possible.
Realism about not changing everyone[14:15]
Over time she has become better at accepting that she cannot change everyone and instead assesses situations for realistic potential.

Imposter feelings and humility

First experience of imposter feelings as DA[17:11]
After winning an upset race for district attorney, she recalls sitting in the office and thinking, "Oh my God, I'm now the elected D.A. of a major city."
Humility as a healthy component of leadership[17:57]
Harris suggests what is labeled imposter syndrome may partly be healthy humility and a serious understanding that positions of power are not about the individual but about service to others.
Realization that leaders are not superhuman[18:39]
She agrees that the higher one climbs, the more one sees that people in powerful rooms are not untouchable and that everyone has flaws.

Not limiting yourself by others' expectations

Advice against internalizing others' limitations[19:53]
Harris tells mentees not to limit themselves based on other people's limited ability to see who they are, emphasizing that those are others' limitations, not theirs.
Walking into rooms as the only one like you[20:11]
She notes many will often be the only person in a room who looks like them or has their experiences and urges them to walk in with chin up and shoulders back, remembering people who are proud of them.
Avoid assuming your value won't be recognized[21:03]
She cautions against entering rooms assuming your value will not be recognized and stresses balancing awareness of external limitations with not imposing additional ones on yourself.

Tools for confidence and communication in high‑stakes rooms

Drawing strength from mentors and supporters[23:00]
Harris says she often thinks of people like her first‑grade teacher Frances Wilson and her mother when she walks into important rooms, using memories of their support as a tool.
Being told you are special as a formative experience[24:06]
She believes most successful people had at least one person who convinced them they were special and says she may not have been particularly special but believed those people and acted accordingly.
Speaking with intention and logical structure[25:15]
On communication, she advises knowing conceptually what you intend to say, deconstructing complex issues in your mind, and speaking logically rather than rushing.
Importance of appearance and punctuality[26:36]
Harris says appearance sadly still matters; people note if you walk into a room on time and infer things about your character, and presentation can reflect self‑respect and respect for the setting.

Decision to run for president and role as vice president

First presidential campaign and its end

Launch and dropout of 2019 presidential race[27:46]
She launched her first presidential campaign in January 2019 and dropped out in December 2019 primarily because her campaign ran out of money.

Being asked to be Biden's running mate

Clandestine VP vetting and interview[29:05]
During COVID, she was driven to a mall, switched cars to avoid press, taken via a circuitous route to a house with closed shades, and interviewed as part of the VP vetting process.
Extensive vetting process[31:13]
She had a roughly nine‑hour interview with a lawyer reviewing her taxes, professional record, and other details, likening the experience to a virtual "colonoscopy."
Day she received the VP offer[29:35]
On the day Biden called to ask her to be his running mate, a parade of masked staff arrived with binders to brief her, and she handed each of them tomatoes from a box she planned to use for marinara.

Chemistry and responsibilities of the vice presidency

Chemistry as a key factor in VP selection[30:56]
Harris says by the time the final VP interview happens, vetting is done and the choice largely comes down to chemistry, trust, and shared reasons for doing the job.
Carter and Mondale's precedent for an empowered VP[32:52]
She credits President Jimmy Carter for expanding the vice president's responsibilities and giving Walter Mondale a West Wing office so succession would be smooth if needed.
Scope of vice presidential responsibilities[33:00]
As VP she met over 150 world leaders, negotiated important deals, spent extensive time in the Oval Office and Situation Room, and traveled the world on behalf of the American people.

Decision to run for president while in the Senate

Origin of the idea to run[33:15]
While in the Senate, a friend approached her at a restaurant and said she should run for president; it had not occurred to her before, unlike people who grow up seeing themselves as president.
Recognition of having the experience for the presidency[32:57]
By the time of the 107‑day campaign, her experience meeting leaders and working on major issues made her fully aware she had the knowledge to do the job effectively.

Internal White House dynamics and relationship with Biden

Perceptions of the vice president as a threat

Lore about chiefs of staff being told to watch the VP[34:18]
Harris cites lore that outgoing chiefs of staff tell incoming chiefs, regardless of party, that rule number one is "watch the vice president."
Need to prove loyalty after running against Biden[34:40]
Having run against Biden, she knew she would have to repeatedly prove her loyalty because it would not be assumed.

Frustration over lack of support and amplification

Attacks on the VP not being defended[35:38]
She says when she faced inaccurate, unfair attacks, significant resources under the president could have been used to defend the vice president but were not.
Achievements not being promoted[38:04]
Harris describes it as frustrating and painful that her accomplishments and leadership credibility were not being publicly highlighted.
Zero‑sum mindset within staff[37:08]
She believes some staff approached things as a zero‑sum game, thinking if she shone, Biden would be dimmed, which she calls short‑sighted and provincial given their shared fate.

Complex relationship with Biden

Affection mixed with disappointment and anger[38:59]
Harris says she has a great deal of affection for Biden and speaks with him, but there were times he greatly disappointed and angered her, which she candidly describes in her book.
Debate‑day phone call that upset her[39:58]
On the day of her debate with Trump, after intense debate camp and preparation, Biden called, initially encouraged her, then focused on a group in Pennsylvania saying bad things about her, which left her angry and disappointed.
Interpretation of that phone call[43:01]
She concluded his motivation in that conversation was all about himself and that the call was not about helping her performance despite the very high stakes.
Belief that Biden wanted her to win[43:25]
She believes he wanted her to win because she was the only one who could preserve his legacy, though she notes that reason is still fundamentally about him.

Debate prep, Trump's tactics, and gaslighting

Observations on Biden-Trump debate performance

Perception of Biden-Trump debate as a 'car crash'[45:21]
Harris watched the Biden-Trump debate from a hotel in Los Angeles and describes it as a car crash and a historic car crash, noting Biden appeared to struggle.
Sense that Biden did not want to debate[47:31]
She says from conversations and a call from debate camp she could tell something was off and believes he was talked into the debate and did not want to be there, which she argues affects performance in any competition.

Her own debate strategy against Trump

Decision to 'have fun' and appear relaxed[49:23]
At the start of her debate with Trump she wrote a smiley face on her pad to remind herself to have fun, saying the person having fun usually wins.
Belief in seeing the humor to survive heavy situations[50:21]
She argues that especially when dealing with heavy issues, one has to see the humor or risk being undone by the weight of it.
Handling the 'cats and dogs' rumor[51:43]
Her team informed her right before the debate about a false claim that Haitian immigrants in Ohio were eating pets; she found it ridiculous but anticipated Trump might use it since its promoter had flown with him.

Understanding misdirection and gaslighting

Outrageous claims as a distraction tactic[52:14]
Harris describes a method where outrageous things are said so that everyone focuses on them while more substantive failures, such as the lack of a plan to lower prices, go unexamined.
Labeling the behavior as gaslighting[54:22]
She uses the term gaslighting to describe Trump‑era tactics involving misrepresentation, lying, scapegoating, and distracting from what is really happening, such as blaming immigrants for Americans' problems.
Challenge of countering emotional narratives with facts[55:57]
Harris acknowledges it is difficult to stay ahead of disinformation with practical, fact‑based messaging because emotional, fear‑based claims are more memorable.

Media ecosystem, independent media, and the Joe Rogan decision

Role of independent media and podcasts

View of podcasting as a powerful information medium[1:02:16]
Harris says podcasting is a very powerful medium through which many people primarily get information and that it should be supported.
Questioning the responsibility of corporate media[58:10]
When asked how Democrats can win against emotional messaging, she says part of the question must be what responsibilities corporate‑owned media and social media companies have in the information ecosystem.

Decision not to appear on Joe Rogan during the campaign

Desire to do Rogan's show and internal resistance[1:02:56]
Harris states explicitly that she wanted to do Joe Rogan's show but there were "a lot of games" around scheduling, and many people advised her not to because they believed he supported Trump and it might not benefit her.
Comparison to doing Fox News[1:03:54]
She likens her approach to Rogan to her appearance on Fox News with Bret Baier: even if a platform has a bias, she wanted to give open‑minded listeners a chance to get to know her and hear her case.
Trade‑off between travel time and swing‑state campaigning[1:04:58]
Harris says the key question was whether spending hours traveling to Rogan's studio would be a better return on investment than using that time in swing states.
Regret about not doing the show[1:04:53]
She says she regrets that they did not do the Rogan interview and notes that pride about who travels to whom was not a factor; it was a calculation about votes and time.

Future presidential runs, motivation, and emotional toll

Weighing a potential 2028 presidential run

Current focus and reluctance to be transactional[1:08:10]
Harris says she is focused on her book tour and does not want to be present only because she is asking for a vote, referencing why she did not run for governor of California.
Case for running again: ability to make a difference[1:08:34]
She says the case for running again would be if she feels she can offer something as president that is uplifting and can help get the country on a correct trajectory.
Case against running: toll on family and personal cost[1:09:32]
The case against running includes how difficult running for president is, the toll it takes on family, and the exposure to being misunderstood and even hated by some.
Timing of decision about 2028[1:23:38]
She says she does not know when she will decide, but acknowledges that at some point, likely within the next year, a decision will be needed ahead of 2028 primaries.

Motivation for enduring political campaigns and office

Need for a purpose beyond ego and entitlement[1:10:15]
Harris insists that to endure both campaigns and the job itself, one must be clear about being there for something bigger than personal power, ego, or entitlement.
Exposure to hatred and misunderstanding[1:11:15]
She notes that public success inevitably places you in a position where some people will misunderstand or even hate you without knowing you, which she describes as an awful feeling.

Election night 2024, grief, and perceived consequences

Emotional experience of realizing she lost

Initial belief she would win and moment of realization[1:12:20]
She believed the day before that she would win, but when her campaign manager called saying they needed 200,000 votes they could not find, she entered a state of shock.
Intensity of grief compared to mother's death[1:12:58]
She repeats that she kept saying "my God" over and over and describes the emotion as similar only to the grief she felt when her mother died.
Focus on harm she believed would follow[1:13:10]
Harris says it was not about winning or losing personally, but about knowing what would happen to the country and people as a consequence of the election outcome.

Specific harms she believes are occurring under Trump

Examples of policy harm and priorities[1:15:26]
She points to Trump building a ballroom for rich friends while millions face losing health coverage, weaponization of the DOJ against political enemies, capitulation by institutions, and cuts to education, lunch programs, and services for special‑needs children.
Economic impact on working people[1:15:32]
Harris notes that tariffs and economic policies are harming working people, with higher grocery prices, higher inflation, and higher unemployment, contrary to Trump's promises to bring down prices on day one.

Long‑term conservative strategy and Democratic Party responsibility

Conservative planning beyond one individual

High‑velocity implementation of a decades‑long plan[1:16:09]
She argues that current events represent the swift implementation of a plan decades in the making, citing efforts like Project 2025, attacks on public education, gerrymandering, and court‑packing.
Need for historical perspective in strategy[1:16:18]
Harris says strategy for dealing with the moment must include understanding how we got here historically, as this is not just about one person in the Oval Office.

Democratic missteps and policy prioritization

Her own hindsight regret on policy sequencing[1:18:06]
She says that given another chance, she would first have pursued family policy-child tax credit extension, affordable childcare, paid family leave-before infrastructure and CHIPS, to address immediate needs.
Perception of Democrats and entrepreneurship[1:19:29]
Harris acknowledges there is a perception that the left is an enemy of entrepreneurship and says there is work to be done, including errors like not inviting Elon Musk to a White House event for EV manufacturers despite his contributions.

Generational politics, youth, and bold reforms

Argument for lowering voting age to 16

Gen Z's lived experience and concerns[1:20:19]
She notes Gen Z (roughly 13-27) have only known the climate crisis, missed school due to COVID, may graduate into low wages, and face climate anxiety that affects decisions about housing and having children.
Expectations of Gen Z's influence[1:21:21]
Gen Z is larger than boomers and expected to have 10-12 jobs in their lives; she believes they will significantly impact the country and world and are rightly impatient with traditional leadership.
Two main centers of political influence[1:22:39]
She states that in politics, groups that vote the most and people who write the biggest checks exert the most influence, and she wants to focus on strengthening voter participation.

Processing loss, support systems, and personal relationships

Impact of losing the election on her and Doug

Family initially not wanting her to run again[1:24:24]
Asked whether she would have said "never again" right after losing, she says her family probably would have said that, reflecting their experience of the toll.
Delayed processing of election night with Doug[1:31:07]
She reveals that writing the book prompted the first real conversation she and Doug had about election night, months after it happened.
Doug's hidden worries on election day[1:35:09]
She learned only later that Doug had campaigned in Michigan, then received a concerning call from a Democrat pundit in Fox's war room and went home to shower and pray without telling her.
Differences in their recollections of the evening[1:36:28]
She remembered giving a toast at the friends‑and‑family dinner; Doug denied it until photos showed she had, suggesting he was too preoccupied to register the moment.

Post‑campaign crash and possible depression

Trip to Hawaii as an 'oxygen mask'[1:38:54]
After cancelling an earlier vacation due to an emergency, her team arranged for her and Doug to use a rental house in Hawaii where they arrived feeling like zombies and began to process events.
Physical and emotional come‑down after campaigns[1:39:33]
She notes that after the intense adrenaline and fight‑or‑flight state of a campaign-win or lose-there is always a crash, akin to "gold medal depression" and phantom limb feelings of wanting to keep fighting.
Recognition of moving through grief stages[1:40:26]
Harris says she knew she was going through stages of grief and had difficulty accepting that there was nothing more she could do about the result.

Role of a supportive partner and core circle

Description of Doug as her rock[1:45:16]
She calls Doug her rock, describing him as self‑actualized, strong, loyal, hard‑working, humorous, encouraging, and honest.
Value of a small, trusted support network[1:45:16]
Harris advises ambitious people to intentionally cultivate a small circle of people who understand what they are going through, can laugh with them, and will both tease and support them when they stumble.

Mother's influence, love, loss, and acceptance

Mother's death and continued presence

Details of her mother's passing[1:41:28]
Her mother turned 70 in December and died in February from colon cancer, just two months into being 70.
Imagining her mother's reactions to current events[1:42:25]
Harris says she often thinks how her mother would react to current events and that she would be spending full time talking her mother down because her mother would want to "kill everybody" figuratively over injustices.

Anecdote showing mother's character and pride

Hospital conversation during AG campaign[1:43:08]
While caring for her mother in the hospital before her attorney general race, Harris told her that opponents said they would "kick my ass"; her mother turned, smiled, and said nothing, as if to say, "let them try."
Duality of love and grief[1:44:25]
Reflecting on loss, she notes that the things that are a great blessing also create great pain when lost, but she would never wish she had not loved to avoid grief.

Regrets, time, and purpose of the book

Regret about limited campaign time, not the decision to run

Would still run despite knowing the outcome[1:28:08]
She says she does not regret running and would likely still have run even knowing the outcome because the campaign inspired many people to run for office, go to law school, and become engaged.
Primary regret is lack of time[1:27:27]
Harris repeats that she regrets they did not have more than 107 days to run the campaign.

Maintaining spirit and the long arc of the fight

Encouraging people not to let their spirit be defeated[1:37:44]
She urges listeners not to let their spirit be defeated by the election loss, because that would mean the other side truly wins, and reminds them that sometimes the fight takes a while.

Purpose of writing '107 Days' and being more unfiltered

Desire to demystify the presidency and campaign process[1:28:48]
Harris says she has been in the "belly of the beast" and wants to lift the hood so journalists, students, and others can see how it runs and see themselves in their own power.
Willingness to say 'fuck it' and speak bluntly[1:28:12]
She acknowledges there is a "fuck it" energy in the book, noting she chose not to hold back on topics usually considered off‑limits, in order to be honest about what happened.

Lessons Learned

Actionable insights and wisdom you can apply to your business, career, and personal life.

1

Do not internalize other people's limited perceptions of you; walk into rooms with the awareness that you represent both your own potential and the pride of those who believed in you.

Reflection Questions:

  • Where in your life have you quietly accepted someone else's low expectations of you as your own ceiling?
  • How might you prepare yourself mentally before entering a high‑stakes room so you show up with 'chin up, shoulders back' rather than apologizing for your presence?
  • What is one concrete action you can take this week to advocate for your value in a setting where you tend to feel underestimated?
2

Pursue positions of power only when you are anchored in a purpose larger than ego, because public roles inevitably bring misunderstanding, attacks, and hard decisions that only a deeper 'why' can sustain.

Reflection Questions:

  • What is the deeper reason you are pursuing your current goals beyond status, money, or recognition?
  • In a moment when you feel criticized or misunderstood, how could reconnecting to your core purpose change the way you respond?
  • What is one high‑stakes ambition you have that you should either recommit to with a clear purpose or consciously step away from if the motive is mostly ego?
3

Humility and so‑called imposter feelings can be healthy if they reflect respect for the responsibility you've been given, but they should coexist with the realization that people in powerful positions are not superhuman.

Reflection Questions:

  • When you feel like an imposter, is it because you truly lack capability or because you deeply respect the consequences of your role?
  • How could seeing leaders as flawed, ordinary people shift the way you negotiate, present, or advocate in front of them?
  • What is one area where you can act with more confidence this month, knowing that no one above you has all the answers either?
4

In an environment saturated with outrage and disinformation, you have to train yourself to notice when attention is being hijacked by the absurd and deliberately redirect your focus to underlying realities and plans.

Reflection Questions:

  • What recent story or controversy captured your attention that, on reflection, may have distracted you from more substantive issues?
  • How can you build a simple personal routine for checking whether the information you consume is focusing on outcomes and plans rather than only on emotional claims?
  • What is one media source or habit you could change this week to reduce your susceptibility to gaslighting and misdirection?
5

Ambitious work requires a small, trusted circle-partners, friends, mentors-who understand the pressures you're under, tell you the truth, and help you stand back up when you fall.

Reflection Questions:

  • Who are the two or three people in your life today that you can be completely unfiltered with about your fears and failures?
  • How might your resilience change if you intentionally invested more time in those relationships instead of trying to 'go it alone'?
  • What is one specific step you can take this month to either deepen an existing supportive relationship or seek out a new mentor or peer to add to your inner circle?

Episode Summary - Notes by Drew

Kamala Harris: America Is At Breaking Point & I'm Deeply Concerned About The State Of The Country!
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