The Bulwark Podcast
Episode: Kamala Harris: This Is Our Country
Date: November 19, 2025
Host: Tim Miller
Guest: Kamala Harris (Former Vice President of the United States)
Location: Ryman Auditorium, Nashville
Overview
In this special live episode, Tim Miller interviews former Vice President Kamala Harris at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville during her book tour for "107 Days." The discussion traverses the chaotic events of recent American politics, Harris’s campaign, the challenges of her vice presidency, and the future of the Democratic Party. They dive candidly into the difficulties and emotions surrounding the tumultuous 107-day 2024 campaign after Joe Biden’s departure, respond to news of the day, and take questions from an energized Tennessee audience.
Key Discussion Points and Insights
1. Setting the Stage: The Book and the Moment
- Harris’s book, "107 Days," provides a unique, candid account from inside the Democratic campaign after President Biden exited the race.
- Tim Miller acknowledges both his personal sympathies toward Harris and the realities of the difficult hand she was dealt as the party’s sudden nominee.
- The live audience’s enthusiasm underscores the hunger for rationality and resistance amid continued political upheaval.
[00:30–03:48]
2. Reacting to the News of the Day
-
Trump, MBS, and Khashoggi’s Murder:
- Harris condemns Trump’s dismissive attitude toward the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, highlighting the President's pattern of prioritizing personal gain and foreign flattery over intelligence and American values.
"We are talking about an American president who chooses to overlook the significance and seriousness of that... motivated in so many ways and certainly on foreign policy, by flattery and favor." – Kamala Harris [04:48]
- Miller and Harris call it not only crazy, but “corrupt, callous, and incompetent.”
"It is not only crazy, it is corrupt. It is callous and incompetent all at the same time." – Kamala Harris [06:38]
-
Epstein Files and Marjorie Taylor Greene:
- Surprised by Greene’s support for releasing Epstein files and her criticism of Trump, Harris says:
"Her words are accurate and good for her for speaking those words." [08:00]
- Harris suggests Democrats should welcome wisdom “when it finally arrives”—even from unexpected sources.
"I don't think anyone should ever be criticized when wisdom finally arrives." [09:46]
- On the files, Harris is unequivocal:
"Release the files. He is the President of the United States... He has taken unilateral action without concern... So release the files." [10:49–11:46]
- On the DOJ under Biden-Harris: Harris upholds the principle of an independent justice system and rejects weaponizing the DOJ, contrasting with what she sees from Trump.
"[We] would never and nor should we ever consider taking that approach. It is a corruption of our whole ideal about the importance of rule of law..." [12:05]
3. The Emotional Fallout of 107 Days
- Harris opens up about the personal grief and responsibility of losing the 2024 election, comparing it to the loss of her mother.
"When I learned of the result of the election that night, I felt an emotion I have not felt since my mother died. I was grieving and grieving for a while... I knew what was going to happen." [16:52]
- She recounts how chaos overlapped: the violence of January 6, the California wildfires threatening her home, and the weight of duty in certifying the election amid national crisis.
- Emphasizes the need to process grief but ultimately to re-energize:
"We cannot, in this moment in time, afford to be with our covers over our heads saying, wake me up when it's over. That's not an option." [21:37]
4. Defining the Fight and the Democratic Vision
- What Democrats Are ‘For’:
- Harris lists affordable healthcare, childcare, the child tax credit, opposition to corporate landlords and price gouging, working people’s dignity, education, and future generations—all as core.
"We have to and we must and we will fight for affordable health care... fight against price gouging and going after corporate landlords... the dignity of working people." [23:36]
- Relationship to the Progressive ‘Left’:
- Harris insists the party has not abandoned working-class priorities, highlighting their record on taxes, health, and education, but acknowledges space for debate:
"There are fundamental issues that the Democrats stand for, which includes going against corporate greed, going against anyone who is breaking the law at the expense of working people." [26:17]
- Contrast to Republicans: Harris draws a stark line between the parties, asserting Republicans are yielding to corporate interests and hurting working families (eg. cutting SNAP during shutdown).
"What this administration is doing in terms of yielding to corporate interest on the backs of working people is almost criminal." [28:20]
5. Working Class Voters & Message Gaps
- Harris discusses Democrats’ slipping hold on the working class, attributing some losses to messaging and timing—particularly their legislative agenda.
"If we had done it differently, it would have been better, which is to order our priorities around doing the infrastructure bill and the CHIPS act, good work, but doing that after we first did the family piece..." [31:16]
6. The Vice Presidency: Limitation and Loyalty
-
Harris reflects on the inherent limitations of being VP—being a supporting player, not always able to speak or act freely—yet acting from a place of loyalty for institutional integrity.
"I believe, I think for the sake of the integrity of a relationship between a president and vice president, there has to be some confidence in those conversations..." [35:20]
-
Miller presses about whether Biden “trapped” her through loyalty, limiting her campaign independence:
"Why couldn't we have dealt with that during the 107 days?"
Harris credits multiple variables for the loss, including the compressed timeline, and accepts responsibility for not pushing Biden out earlier, but emphasizes the close, historic nature of the election.
"I talk about that in the book and my reflections on whether it was grace or recklessness even on my part to not talk him out of staying in the race." [38:35]- Ultimately, she chooses to focus forward rather than dwell:
"For the sake of my own well being and sanity, that's not where I'm focused at this point." [40:22]
7. The Menace of Misinformation and AI
- Harris warns of increasing threats posed by misinformation—now amplified by AI and tech.
- She laments the distrust not only between people and government, but among Americans themselves.
"One of the biggest challenges that we're facing as a democracy and a society right now is mis and disinformation." [41:01]
- Harris doubts Congress will keep pace with tech, suggesting that consumer power (via boycotts, parental action) will likely drive reform:
"I believe that the power base on this issue is with the people as the consumer... You start a boycott, I'm telling you, people will pay attention." [44:09]
8. Immigration and Fear
- On immigration raids and fear under Trump:
"First of all, it should not have to be said, but I will say it. Unless you are Native American. Or your ancestors were kidnapped and forced into slavery, your people are immigrants." [48:53]
- Harris decries fear in immigrant communities and reminds the crowd of the American immigrant legacy.
9. Levity and Memorable Moments
- Harris fielded a playful question about whether she almost called Trump a "motherfucker" on the debate stage, responding coyly:
"Some things speak for themselves." [51:06]
- Stresses the importance of humor and joy, even in hard times:
"We have to have humor. We have to find times to sing and dance and have joy... We cannot normalize a thing we are seeing right now." [51:14]
Audience Q&A Highlights
1. Organizing in the South & Gen Z
- Harris expresses faith that the South—and especially young organizers—will be key to Democratic renewal.
"I absolutely believe that the South is going to be part of what gets us through all of this. I really do." [52:30]
- She encourages building community, intergenerational conversation, and focusing on Gen Z's particular strengths and challenges.
"Focus on our younger voters because... there was an incredible turnout from younger people who understand they're not going to be waiting around for the rest of us to figure it out." [55:54]
2. Left-Wing Primary Challenges (E.g., Zoran in NY)
- Harris welcomes the energized primary campaigns and sees them as net positives for democracy:
"I think all of it is welcome because they are speaking to the people in their communities... that's a good thing." [57:02]
3. Government Reform and Efficiency
- On whether post-Trump America needs rebuilding or reinvention:
"Some people talk about rebuild, but I don't think of it that way because there's some stuff that happened even before that wasn't working. And we need to be honest about that."
- Harris calls for candor about inefficiencies, overhauling old systems, and openness to transformative progress, including using AI for better, faster government (e.g., in housing permits).
"Status quo... is quite dynamic and will fight against you every step of the way." [58:40–62:55]
4. Hope Amid Humanitarian Crisis and Loss
- To Ashley, a humanitarian worker suffering job insecurity:
"Thank you... America's strength... is the power that we demonstrate through diplomatic work, including humanitarian work... stand strong as the American people on our commitment to our principles." [63:57]
- Harris encourages collective resilience:
"This is our country. And we have the power. And we will take our power. We're not let anyone taking our power from us... We will not allow our spirit to be defeated by any election, any individual, any circumstance." [67:23]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On confronting Trump’s corruption:
"It is not only crazy, it is corrupt. It is callous and incompetent all at the same time." – Harris [06:38] -
On Marjorie Taylor Greene siding with Democrats (moment of unlikely unity):
"I don't think anyone should ever be criticized when wisdom finally arrives." – Harris [09:46] -
On the pain of 2024’s loss:
"I felt an emotion I have not felt since my mother died. I was grieving and grieving for a while…" – Harris [16:52] -
On voter engagement:
“We cannot, in this moment in time, afford to be with our covers over our heads saying, wake me up when it's over. That's not an option.” – Harris [21:37] -
On moving forward:
“For the sake of my own well being and sanity, that's not where I'm focused at this point.” – Harris [40:22] -
On the power of humor:
“We have to have humor. We have to find times to sing and dance and have joy... We cannot normalize a thing we are seeing right now.” – Harris [51:14] -
On Southern and Gen Z organizing:
"The South is going to be part of what gets us through all of this. I really do." [52:30] -
On hope in dark times:
"We will not allow our spirit to be defeated by any election, any individual, any circumstance. We are strong. We love our country." [67:23]
Timestamps for Key Segments
| Segment | Timestamp | |-----------------------------------------------|----------------| | Host intro & setting the stage | 00:30–03:48 | | Trump, MBS, and Khashoggi | 04:10–06:52 | | Marjorie Taylor Greene & Epstein files | 07:20–11:46 | | DOJ, rule of law, and fighting fire with fire | 11:46–13:22 | | Processing the weight of the 107 days | 15:19–22:32 | | The fight 'for something'—Democratic vision | 23:36–27:42 | | Working-class politics and strategy | 31:16–34:06 | | VP role, Biden, campaign limitations | 34:06–40:22 | | Misinformation, AI, and democracy | 41:01–46:48 | | Immigration, ICE raids, and American identity | 47:13–48:53 | | Memorable debate moment & humor | 49:57–51:14 | | Southern organizing and Gen Z | 52:24–56:39 | | Government reform and rebuilding | 58:36–62:55 | | Finding hope after job loss | 63:02–67:23 |
Closing Tone
The episode ends on a note of hope, resilience, and collective power. Harris calls for humor and joy, belief in American values, and an unflinching refusal to be demoralized or defeated after loss. The crowd’s responsiveness and Harris’s candor deliver both gravitas and a renewed sense of activist optimism for Democrats—especially in the South and among younger voters.