Podcast Summary
The Run-Through with Vogue
Episode: Kamala Harris Is Ready For The Next Chapter
Date: September 23, 2025
Hosts: Chloe Malle and Taylor Antrim
Guest: Vice President Kamala Harris
Main Theme
In this episode, Vogue editors Chloe Malle and Taylor Antrim sit down with former Vice President Kamala Harris in New York City. The conversation centers around Harris’s new memoir, 107 Days, which chronicles her fast-paced 107-day presidential campaign following President Biden's withdrawal. The discussion weaves through themes of political turbulence, personal history, the significance of fashion, and Harris’s reflections on power, partnership, and America’s future.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. The Book: 107 Days and the 2024 Election
- Harris’s memoir details the compelling and chaotic period as she raced to secure the presidency after Biden’s exit.
- Both hosts describe the book as “fast-paced,” likening it to “an episode of 24” and highlight its intense, present-tense pacing.
“It counts down the days to the presidential election. And it's such a present-tense kind of book where you're really in the moment.” — Taylor Antrim (08:13)
- Harris underscores the historic and personal significance of the 2024 campaign and the need for her own perspective in the historical narrative.
2. Political Violence and Presidential Responsibility
- Harris addresses the assassination of Charlie Kirk, Trump’s attempted assassination, and ongoing political violence.
“He should not have been killed. A young man, young family. He had every right to live... And I do not stand in defense of his beliefs. But he should not have been killed.” — Kamala Harris (08:55)
- She calls for leaders, especially the sitting President, to “bring down the temperature” (10:45), and condemns the use of the presidential “bully pulpit” to incite, rather than calm.
3. Media, Censorship, and the Fourth Estate
- The hosts ask Harris about Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension following the political violence and express personal concerns about threats to the press.
- Harris warns against government overreach:
“The weight of the federal government… bearing down to silence the voice of a critic… How is this so different from Communist dictatorship?” — Kamala Harris (13:51)
4. Personal Reflections & Behind-the-Scenes Stories
- Harris recounts the restrictions on women’s fashion in her early career and the “DiFi tie” as a rare outlet for femininity.
“When I started trying cases, women could not wear pantsuits… It was men's suits that women would wear, essentially.” — Kamala Harris (04:28)
- A humorous aside: during the pivotal moment when Biden stepped down, Harris was making pancakes and futilely trying to locate her husband, Doug, who was “on a bike at SoulCycle in West Hollywood” (26:43).
- Harris discusses her family’s privacy and her challenge in choosing what to disclose in the memoir, with much of the book being a collaborative recollection with family and close friends.
5. Debates, Biden, and Narratives
- Harris is candid about her relationship with President Biden, addressing media narratives:
“I do love Joe Biden and I have a great deal of respect for him... It's not a tell-all book or a book about Joe Biden. It's fundamentally about one of the most interesting and historic elections.” — Kamala Harris (19:22)
- On debates, Harris asserts their civic value, even if they no longer shift public opinion dramatically:
“Maybe that’s not the point… We need to be transparent and require again that we have an independent media who will present a fair debate…” — Kamala Harris (17:41)
6. Marriage, Partnership, and Instincts
- The hosts delve into Harris’s dynamic with her husband, Doug Emhoff, highlighting both his grounding pragmatism and the relatable details of their relationship.
“He will genuinely always look at me and say, your instincts. I trust your instincts… I'm here for you whatever you choose to do.” — Kamala Harris (31:29)
- The couple’s “birthday fight” (33:00) and their shared decision fatigue about choosing shows to watch (35:05) add levity and intimacy to the discussion.
7. Fashion, Identity, and Power
- Harris discusses her style evolution, the symbolic and practical power of suits, and the intersection of fashion, gender, and social policy.
“The way we choose to present ourselves has implications.” — Chloe Malle (06:39)
- She plans on “mostly wearing suits” for her book tour, staying true to her long-held sartorial identity (35:31).
“I'm just gonna stick to who I am, you know?” — Kamala Harris (35:34)
8. The Road Ahead and the State of Hope
- Harris deflects speculation about a 2028 run, opting instead to stress the unpredictability of the future and the need to “lay the seeds for the future” without losing focus on the present (36:11).
- She reiterates her message of hope and resilience:
“…that light that people had inside of them during those 107 days, that's theirs. And it can't be extinguished by virtue of one election or any one person… see the light in each other. Right. Especially in these moments of darkness.” — Kamala Harris (21:57)
Memorable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)
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On political violence:
“We have a right as Americans to expect our elected leaders to bring down the temperature.” — Kamala Harris (10:45) -
On government censorship:
“How is this so different from Communist dictatorship?” — Kamala Harris (13:51) -
On debates’ relevance:
“I don’t think we should stop having those debates.” — Kamala Harris (17:41) -
On the media’s narrative:
“That's the parable... If you just see one piece, all of us... you're going to make huge and probably even false assumptions about what the whole is.” — Kamala Harris (19:29) -
On personal style in her legal career:
"When I started trying cases, women could not wear pantsuits... all the suits were basically tailored for men." — Kamala Harris (04:28) -
On marriage and support:
"Your instincts are always the best. You do what you feel is right. I’m here for you whatever you choose to do." — Kamala Harris (31:29) -
A moment of levity:
“[Doug] was on a bike at SoulCycle in West Hollywood.” — Kamala Harris (26:43) -
On hope post-election:
“That light… can’t be extinguished by virtue of one election or any one person who happens to be right now in office.” — Kamala Harris (21:57)
Timestamps for Key Segments
- 00:29 — Introduction to Kamala Harris and her new book
- 03:08 — Harris on mentors, leadership, and style in her early career
- 08:13 — Discussion of political violence, starting with Charlie Kirk
- 12:09 — Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension and challenges to the free press
- 14:26 — Harris’s personal call to Trump after the assassination attempt
- 17:15 — Reflections on debates in modern campaigns
- 19:22 — Addressing media narratives about her and President Biden
- 24:24 — Harris’s internal reflections during the critical 22-minute window before Biden’s resignation went public
- 26:43 — Doug “missing in action” at SoulCycle; family dynamics
- 33:00 — The birthday fight and the realities of marital stress
- 35:31 — What Harris is planning to wear for her book tour
- 36:11 — On the future and possible 2028 run: “I have no idea. At this moment, I'm really focused on right now.”
Tone and Atmosphere
- Candid and Intimate: Harris opens up about personal challenges and family life, offering relatable and often humorous anecdotes.
- Reflective and Urgent: The mood shifts when discussing political violence and democracy, with Harris urging unity, vigilance, and leadership.
- Fashion-forward: The hosts and Harris explore intersections between style and power, connecting fashion history with social progress.
Conclusion
This episode offers an insightful, multifaceted glimpse into Kamala Harris’s mind and character as captured in her memoir. Listeners are treated to both the dramatic intensity of historic political moments and the everyday realities of Harris’s life—her family, her style, and her fierce belief in democracy. The conversation, rich in personal stories and pivotal political lessons, is as much about the present as it is about the uncertain, hopeful future Harris continues to envision.
End of Summary