A Complex Legacy of a New Attorney General: Sarah Harris, the case of Californian A.D. Kavanaugh, and the candidate who beat Biden in 2020
She was criticized for how she championed tough truancy policies when she was the attorney general for California, which some said perpetuated inequities in the criminal justice system and disproportionately affected families of color. Harris regretted the “unintended consequences” of the law.
Harris announced in 2019 she would run for the White House, and while Harris notably pushed Biden on his previous record over desegregation and busing, that was the high point of her run. Most of her bid, in fact, was riddled with campaign hiccups and minimal momentum.
In the upcoming election, Harris faces the fundamental challenge of holding together the broad coalition that Biden won in 2020. The problem: They have very different views on some issues. The time as a prosecutor in the state of California is one aspect that is under scrutiny. The issue has a Democrat and a Republican in Pittsburgh saying what they think.
Her record as a prosecutor, district attorneys, and attorney general during the 1990s and 2000s is a clear reminder of her complex legacy on the criminal justice system.
It was 2018. A new senator, Harris was a relative newcomer. And yet, she made a splash when she grilled Brett Kavanaugh, Trump’s then-nominee for the Supreme Court.
“Can you think of any laws that give government the power to make decisions about the male body?” She asked about reproductive rights, pointedly.
While Trump called her “nasty” for how she questioned Kavanaugh, her line of questioning piqued Trump’s interest when she was freshly nominated by Biden to be his running mate in 2020, showing him and Republicans she was capable of going after them.
She entered the White House with a lot of problems. She had turnover in her staff, had low approval ratings early on, and she misstepped when she was asked why she hadn’t yet visited the border.
The attacks against Harris in particular have often come from many on the right, including Trump and his running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance. Trump advanced a birtherism conspiracy theory about Harris that falsely stated she was not qualified to run as vice president back in 2020. Trump also called Harris “crazy,” and often ridicules the way she laughs — yet another display of hyper-criticizing women’s voices.
Nina Jankowicz, who researches disinformation targeting women in politics and is the co-founder and CEO of the American Sunlight Project, said harmful narratives are “part of the criticism and abuse that women in public life frequently receive.”
Since Biden’s announcement on Sunday, the sexism and racist online harassment of Harris has only grown.
The world is a different place than fifteen years ago. The candidacy of Kamala Harris, the newest presumptive nominee for the Democratic party, seems less frenzied as she steps into the spotlight. Harris, of course, would represent even more “firsts” than Obama – if elected, she would be the first Asian American in the Oval Office, the first Black woman – heck, the first woman of any background. There are many people who support her and represent her identities, but not as many who have learned hard lessons from the Obama era.
Vice President Harris received enough votes to win the Democratic presidential nomination after President Biden dropped out, according to The Associated Press.
Harris is the only woman of color to be a major party presidential nominee, if she becomes the presumptive nominee when the DNC holds its virtual roll call on August 7.
How Black Can You Get What You Want: During The 2008 Democratic Primary Election Barack Obama Has Confirmed His Campaign for the Democratic Presidency
The left knows that having a black president would not cause anti-racism legislation. They learned that many people in the general public had no qualms about drawing distinctions between “good” Black people like Obama, and “bad” Black people, like…almost anyone else. They were reminded that Black is not a political ideology. They realized that the divisions within the party felt just as bad as those outside of it.
Travel back in time with me for a moment, won’t you? The year is 2008. Barack Obama has just received the Democratic nomination for president. The world is in shock. There is a possibility that a black man could win the most important position in the country. Many Americans never dreamed that this day would come, and regardless of how the election turns out, to them, Obama represents a new era – one defined by progress, change, and most of all, hope. When he is elected, that symbolism is magnified. People are cheering. The word “postracial” enters the national lexicon. Critics and skeptics are being drowned out by the jubilation of the crowd, even though there are realists as well.
What is biden’s stance on Israel? Plus, takeaway from his Oval Office speech on the Israeli Prime Minister’s decision to end his 2020 presidential bid
It’s possible that preteens don’t get enough sleep due to how they use their electronic devices. Scientists examined nearly 9,400 children for the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study, a long-term study of brain development and child health. Researchers asked the kids and their parents questions about how they used screens at night and how they slept. Then a follow-up was done a year later. Here’s how parents can help their kids have better quality sleep.
This year, the annual Tiny Desk Contest received nearly 7,000 entries. Even though there could only be one winner, there was no shortage of talent displayed. NPR Music’s Bobby Carter, who has produced Tiny Desks for some legendary hip-hop artists such as Mac Miller and Noname, breaks down some of his favorite entries. Carter talks about how hip-hop acts increased their submissions this year and how versatile they were.
The Israeli PM made his first address to the U.S. Congress since the October 7th attacks on Hamas. He called on the U.S. to stand with Israel, urged Congress to fast-track additional military aid and vowed that his country would do “whatever it must” to defeat Hamas. Protesters demonstrated outside the Capitol after dozens of Democratic lawmakers boycotted the speech. Netanyahu is scheduled to meet with Biden and Harris today as well as with Trump tomorrow. The Israeli prime minister’s visit comes at a crucial time in American politics, as Harris looks to strike a delicate balance on Israel ahead of the 2024 election.
President Biden made a rare Oval Office address last night to discuss his decision to end his bid for reelection. He plans for the next six months during his presidency. The stakes were too high for Biden to leave the presidential race. Here are four takeaways from his speech.
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