Staff Reports
In an ambitious but ultimately misguided attempt to connect with younger voters, Vice President Kamala Harris took a dive into the waters of pop culture by appearing on the popular podcast *Call Her Daddy*. Hosted by Alex Cooper, who has carved out a space for herself in the millennial and Gen Z podcasting scene, the episode was expected to create a buzz among a demographic that seems perpetually elusive for the Democratic Party. Instead, the performance turned into a spectacle of mediocrity that not even TikTok trends could rescue.
Just 16 hours after it hit YouTube, the episode limped to a mere 100,000 views—an abysmal figure given the podcast’s typically robust following. If the goal was to generate excitement, it failed spectacularly; with over 11,000 dislikes and a favorability rating that hovers around 31%, listeners made it clear they were not buying what Harris was selling. The comments section turned into a reality check, with many users lamenting the “word salad” style of Harris’s responses. Instead of insightful discourse, the audience was treated to the same recycled talking points that have become her hallmark.
NEW: Kamala Harris’ appearance on ‘Call Her Daddy’ turns into massive flop as the YouTube segment barely received 100k views in the first 16 hours with mostly negative reactions.
At the time of this post, the segment on YouTube has 4.9k likes and 11k dislikes, meaning it has a… pic.twitter.com/XyEbTCZJ45
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) October 7, 2024
The content of the interview, focused heavily on abortion rights, was a surefire way to alienate rather than engage undecided voters. Harris leaned into familiar complaints about the Supreme Court’s decisions and former President Donald Trump, offering no fresh perspectives or considerations. The framing of the conversation as a noble defense of women’s rights fell flat when it became clear that it was merely a rehash of Democratic platitudes without any substance. The desire to appear “progressive” was palpable but poorly executed, leaving many listeners feeling uninspired.
As viewers continued to express outrage in the comments, some pointed fingers at Cooper for what they perceived as a lack of journalistic integrity. Allowing Harris to control the narrative without challenge could cost Cooper her credibility, and it certainly didn’t do much for the podcast’s reputation. Comments reflected a sense of betrayal, with listeners lamenting that this was just another example of superficial pandering to the youth—an approach that has frustrated many in these circles. The pessimism was contagious, with some suggesting the podcast’s future was already in jeopardy following the episode.
Attempting to resonate with a younger audience, Harris engaged in some embarrassing “hip” references to TikTok and casual lingo. However, her efforts came off as tone-deaf and patronizing, drawing more eye-rolls than applause. Many listeners cringed at the well-meaning but misguided attempts to seem relatable, which only highlighted an increasingly apparent disconnect from the realities of young voters’ lives. The whole interview felt more like a poorly constructed campaign ad rather than an authentic discussion, and viewers were not impressed.
The spectacle proves that despite her lofty title, Harris has not found the magic formula to resonate with voters beyond her loyal base. As the election season inches closer, it’s clear that if the Harris-Walz campaign hopes to gain ground with the younger demographic, a serious reevaluation of strategy is in order.
