The David Pakman Show – BONUS: Behind the Scenes of Our Kamala Harris Interview
Date: November 22, 2025
Host: David Pakman
Guest/Producer: Pat
Episode Overview
This bonus episode offers a candid, behind-the-scenes look at David Pakman’s experience securing and conducting a rapid-fire interview with Kamala Harris during her weekend book event. Pakman and producer Pat share stories and insights about the logistical challenges, last-minute negotiations, protester disruptions, and chaotic scheduling that defined their efforts. The conversation delivers an honest, sometimes exasperated, and occasionally humorous account of “how the sausage is made” in political media.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Getting the Interview: The Opportunity and Offer Process
- Last-Minute Outreach: David was offered the Kamala Harris interview just days before her scheduled book event, which is a common occurrence in political media.
- Original Offer: The team first suggested David could join a “meet and greet” line for a quick photo op. He declined, seeking substantive content instead.
- David: “I think if there was a content opportunity, I would do it.” (02:19)
- Negotiation and Upgrade: Persistence led to a five-to-ten minute interview window—modeled after similar opportunities given to high-profile personalities.
- Pat: “That all sounds accurate to me. Absolutely.” (03:49)
2. Logistical Challenges & Time Pressures
- Tight Schedules: The event’s schedule was packed, promising the meet & greet would wrap up before the main event kick-off. They quickly realized things wouldn’t go as planned as the line grew.
- David: “We go in knowing it’s unlikely that’s exactly the way it's going to go.” (04:16)
- Producer’s Role: Pat managed technical logistics, legal clearances, and equipment—most notably, their use of a GoPro for filming.
- Constant Uncertainty: Extended delays, confusion over access, and security misidentifications created tension and the possibility the interview wouldn’t happen at all.
- David: “At that point I thought, this is just not going to happen.” (07:15)
3. Standing Their Ground: Securing the Interview
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Negotiation Pays Off: As the schedule slipped further, they were told to wait until after the event—but David, up against childcare constraints, insisted on the promised time slot.
- David: “We’ve been here for two hours...I was assured this would happen before the event.” (07:56)
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Quick Turnaround: This assertiveness worked, and within 45 seconds they were conducting the brief interview.
Pat: “That goes to show the power of negotiation...if you hadn’t pushed back, we wouldn’t have gotten that interview.” (08:40)
4. The Interview Experience
- Short and Sweet: The actual interview, as expected, was brief and couldn’t explore deep topics, especially since Harris was clearly fatigued after hours of posing for photos.
- David: “It was very obvious that she was exhausted…They’re overbooking her here.” (09:19)
- Sympathetic but Frustrated: Both David and Pat felt for Harris, but also noted the inefficiency and stress caused by overbooked, undersupported event logistics.
5. Event Delays & Security
- Long Delays for Attendees: After the interview, security checks led to a four-block-long line outside, pushing the event start back by nearly an hour.
- Pat: “Closer to 3 o’clock. They had to make an announcement saying that they were unable to get people through security fast enough.” (11:03)
- Scheduling Irony: There actually was enough time after the interview for a longer conversation, but the tightly-controlled, early arrival requirements for creators wasted hours for everyone involved.
- David: “There actually was plenty of time...We could have calmly done a full ten minutes instead of five.” (11:26)
6. Inside the Event: Protest Dynamics
- Frequent Disruptions: The event saw protesters stand and shout every 5–10 minutes, nearly all on the issue of Gaza and Harris’s past record as VP.
- Pat: “There were protesters every five, 10 minutes...They would stand up and yell something...By the time they started getting into what they wanted to say, everyone realized what was going on and they started booing.” (12:25)
- Tense Atmosphere: Security responded forcefully, and the repeated pattern put the audience on edge.
- Pat: “They were pretty rough with how they were escorting out the protesters…Security is going to have to drag your body over me.” (13:00)
- Effectiveness of Protest: Both hosts discuss whether protesting Harris, given her past role as VP, makes sense—questioning its efficacy.
- David: “Do I think it’s going to make any difference? No…I mean, she was the VP anyway. VPs don’t set policy.” (15:56)
- Pat: “I understand the issue that they’re protesting for. I just wonder if Kamala Harris is the right target.” (16:15)
7. Reflections on the Experience
- “How the Sausage is Made”: Both found value in seeing the process up close but noted the repeated logistical issues in these high-profile, security-heavy events.
- Pat: “Overall, excellent experience for me.” (16:37)
- Lessons Learned: David’s contacts confirmed that the chaos is par for the course on political book tours, due to limited staff, overbooking, tight security, and eager crowds.
- David: “What most people said was you're lucky you even got the interview.” (17:34)
- Structural Observations: Despite repeated problems at such events, organizers stick to similar chaotic strategies—leaving creators and guests at the mercy of rapidly changing plans.
- Pat: “If it was so predictable, then why do they continue to do it in this way?” (17:34)
Notable Quotes & Moments
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On negotiating for the interview:
“That goes to show the power of negotiation…if you hadn’t pushed back, we wouldn’t have gotten that interview.”
— Pat (08:40) -
Describing event delays and scheduling:
“There actually was plenty of time for her to take a beat...We could have calmly done a full 10 minutes instead of five.”
— David (11:26) -
On protester tactics and event disruptions:
“By the time they started getting into what they wanted to say, everyone realized what was going on and they started booing that person. So you couldn’t hear what they were saying over the booing.”
— Pat (12:50) -
On the role and power of protest:
“They get to use their speech, and then there are consequences to that speech, which in this case mean being carried out.”
— David (15:14) -
On whether Harris was an effective protest target:
“I understand the issue that they’re protesting for. I just wonder if Kamala Harris is the right target to go after because...Kamala Harris doesn’t rank very highly on my list.”
— Pat (16:15) -
On the overall nature of political event logistics:
“This is so common...It's a combination of limited staff on book tour, overbooking, security, law enforcement delays…You're lucky you even got the interview.”
— David’s contacts, paraphrased (17:26)
Timestamps for Key Segments
- 01:50 — The original interview offer and logistics
- 03:49 — Pat confirms the behind-the-scenes sequence
- 04:31 — Realizing delays and likely changes to plan
- 07:15 — Nearly denied entry due to confusion
- 07:56 — David stands his ground, interview is secured
- 09:19 — Discussing Harris’s clear exhaustion
- 11:03 — Event delays, four-block security line
- 12:25 — First mention of persistent protesters
- 15:14 — Responding to protest as free speech
- 16:37 — Reflections on experience and lessons
Tone & Language
The episode’s tone is conversational, candid, and reflective, blending humor and frustration. Both David and Pat offer personal anecdotes and honest critiques of political event logistics, sharing a wry look “behind the curtain” while maintaining empathy for all involved—Harris, protestors, and attendees alike.
Summary prepared for readers unfamiliar with the episode, focusing on content, insights, and notable moments.