Kamala Harris in Action

Friday Morning Open Thread

by Anne Laurie| August 22, 20256:46 am| 220 Comments

This post is in: Kamala Harris in Action, Open Threads, Proud to Be A Democrat

Warren: "That's Trump's approach — bend down to Trump, Trump will then tell everyone what reality is. That's what authoritarians do, but in a democracy we don't have to put up with it. We have our voices, we have our votes … 2026 could be pretty exciting — a chance to take back our democracy."

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— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) August 21, 2025 at 10:06 PM

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Elizabeth Warren: "The one thing I want to remind everyone is when Democrats get in power again — and we will — we've got to change the rules. We've got to change the rules on the impact of money in politics and we've got to pass the voting rights act again and make sure there is true protection."

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— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) August 21, 2025 at 9:56 PM

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Warren: "We can't live in a world anymore where we pretend that everybody is playing by the same set of rules … Republicans are determined to rig every rule they can, to break laws in order to seize power and to hang on to it. As Democrats, we have a responsibility to fight back & fight back hard"

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— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) August 21, 2025 at 9:54 PM

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BREAKING: California Gov. Gavin Newsom signs legislation setting a November election on the U.S. House map designed to boost Democrats.

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— The Associated Press (@apnews.com) August 21, 2025 at 7:24 PM

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Illinois is launching a first-of-its-kind legal hotline for LGBTQ+ individuals — Illinois Pride Connect.
As the only state in the nation that will provide free legal advice to protect the LGBTQ+ community, we'll help fight ignorance with information and cruelty with compassion.

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— Governor JB Pritzker (@govpritzker.illinois.gov) August 21, 2025 at 10:00 PM

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Harris to embark on tour to promote memoir about presidential campaign, via @amyBwang www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202…

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— P.J. Joshi (@pjoshidc.bsky.social) August 21, 2025 at 1:31 PM

… Harris announced last month that she will not run for California governor, keeping the door open for another possible presidential campaign in 2028. The tour could provide a test for whether audiences are eager to hear more from Harris — and whether she wants to jump back into a “system” that she describes as broken…

The tour is set to kick off in New York on Sept. 24, the day the book will be published, and continue on with most stops in large cities. Harris will also travel to two international cities — London and Toronto — and visit a handful of smaller cities including Durham, North Carolina. A few of the stops will be in states President Donald Trump won by large margins, including Texas, Alabama and Tennessee…

Tickets for the book tour will go on sale Friday, according to book publisher Simon & Schuster. Harris has billed “107 days” as a behind-the-scenes look at the whirlwind, 107-day presidential campaign she undertook after President Joe Biden stepped out of the race.

“It was intense, high stakes, and deeply personal — for me, and for so many of you. Since leaving office, I’ve spent a lot of time reflecting on those days … in essence, writing a journal that is this book,” Harris said in a video posted last month to her social media accounts.

MVP Kamala Harris’ book tour dates have been announced!
Buy the tickets here: www.ticketmaster.com/kamala-harri…

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— best of kamala harris (@archivekamala.bsky.social) August 21, 2025 at 11:30 AM

Friday Morning Open ThreadPost + Comments (220)

Excellent (Sometimes Heartbreaking) Watch: Kamala Harris Talks to Stephen

by Anne Laurie| August 1, 202512:29 pm| 212 Comments

This post is in: Excellent Links, Kamala Harris in Action

What we could’ve had…

If you can’t bear to watch the whole thing, I’d at least watch (or read the transcript at the YouTube site) starting at approximately the 23min mark:

“… Stephen, what I did not predict was the capitulation. I didn’t… People would roll over for this president. I didn’t see that coming… I — and perhaps it’s naive of me someone who has seen a lot that most people haven’t seen but I believed that on some level, you know, there are many — there should be many who consider themselves to be guardians of our system and our democracy who just capitulated… “

Excellent (Sometimes Heartbreaking) Watch: Kamala Harris Talks to StephenPost + Comments (212)

Open Thread: Kamala Harris Is Not Running for Governor

by Anne Laurie| July 30, 20253:56 pm| 159 Comments

This post is in: Kamala Harris in Action, Local Races, Open Threads, Proud to Be A Democrat

My statement on the California governor's race and the fight ahead.

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— Kamala Harris (@kamalaharris.com) July 30, 2025 at 3:04 PM

BREAKING: Kamala Harris announces her decision NOT to run for Governor of California.

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— Brian Tyler Cohen (@briantylercohen.bsky.social) July 30, 2025 at 3:09 PM

… A person close to Harris who spoke with her Wednesday said Harris looked forward to talking to Californians and people across the country about this moment, but as a private citizen. They insisted that Harris had a path to victory if she had run for governor.

“Stay tuned because she’s going to have other announcements and they’re not about 2028,” the person said.

“She still wants to be part of the national conversation and talk about Donald Trump and being in debates and forums in California is not going to allow her to do that,” the person added.

Harris’ decision keeps the race to be California’s next governor wide open. Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, who came up through San Francisco politics alongside Harris, is unable run for re-election due to term limits.

A number of Democrats have jumped into the race to succeed Newsom, including Lt. Gov Eleni Kounalakis; former Health and Human Services Secretary and state Attorney General Xavier Becerra; former Rep. Katie Porter; former state Senate President Toni Atkins, and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, among others.

The party is expected to hold onto the governorship in the heavily Democratic state, which Harris carried by 20 points in the last presidential race.

Kamala Harris won’t run for California governor.

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— Politico (@politico.com) July 30, 2025 at 3:05 PM

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Politico, however, hopes for a national food fight…

… Her decision re-opens the possibility of another presidential campaign by one of the Democratic Party’s most prominent figures. In her statement, however, she expressed misgivings with what she cast as the limitations of government…

Harris’ announcement upends the contest to succeed Gov. Gavin Newsom, which has been largely static as the field braced for a possible Harris candidacy. With near-universal name identification, strong approval ratings among Democrats and a national fundraising network, Harris would have begun the race as an imposing frontrunner.

But there were warning signs that Harris, though formidable, would face some challenges in a quest for the governor’s mansion. Party activists and some donors were lukewarm to her potential bid, still nursing a hangover from 2024 and reluctant to be reminded of her losing presidential campaign. And pressure was mounting for Harris to articulate a vision for governing a massive and complicated state where she has not lived full-time in nearly a decade…

Her lengthy deliberations — met with increasing impatience from Democratic activists and donors, not to mention the other declared candidates — led to a sense her decision was long overdue. But the relentless speculation belied the fact that a Harris gubernatorial bid had hardly been on anyone’s bingo card more than a year ago.

Until recently, Harris dwelled squarely in the realm of national politics — a sitting vice president who represented her country on the global stage and mostly visited her home state for low-key retreats from Washington.

Then came the extraordinary events of summer and fall 2024: President Joe Biden’s disastrous debate performance leading to him abandoning his reelection bid; Harris’ swift consolidation of party support to become the Democratic presidential nominee; and a warp-speed presidential campaign against Donald Trump that ended with her narrowly losing the popular vote and coming up short in all seven swing states.

After leaving office, Harris has maintained a discreet public profile, limiting any overtly political appearances to a handful of speeches. Behind the scenes, she was consulting with supporters and donors as she weighed the governorship, another White House bid or finding an unelected way to remain civically engaged.

I personally think the woman has given enough of her one life in service already, but I look forward to seeing what she decides should be her next step.

Open Thread: Kamala Harris Is *Not* Running for GovernorPost + Comments (159)

Friday Morning Open Thread: We Could’ve Had…

by Anne Laurie| June 6, 20255:54 am| 252 Comments

This post is in: Kamala Harris in Action, Open Threads

Kamala Harris received a random invitation for the Compton High School graduation by student board member MyShay Causey and she decided to show up. Our forever MVP is the coolest. pic.twitter.com/OtTt06WCf6

— Fabi ???? (@kamala_things) June 5, 2025

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Earlier this year, an enterprising high school senior named Myshay saw my husband eating at the restaurant where she worked. She wrote a note to me and shared it with him, telling me about her incredible work in her community and her dream to work in education policy.

We spoke… pic.twitter.com/0ie8tEStJQ

— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) June 6, 2025

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MVP Kamala Harris attended Compton High School’s graduation today ?? pic.twitter.com/3YuLDrp0Q9

— rese ! (@ATTYHARRIS) June 5, 2025

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Is Elon admitting there was election fraud and Kamala Harris actually won?

It looks like it. pic.twitter.com/QhU3RGdEo1

— Chris Wozney ???? (@ChrisWozney) June 5, 2025

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When you know America fucked up and they realize there's nothing they can do about it now pic.twitter.com/v3qXEdZfMU

— Protect Kamala Harris ? (@DisavowTrump20) June 5, 2025

Friday Morning Open Thread: We Could’ve Had…Post + Comments (252)

Deserved Plaudits Open Thread: Kamala Harris Received the NAACP Image Awards’ Chairman’s Prize

by Anne Laurie| February 24, 202511:00 am| 93 Comments

This post is in: Justice, Kamala Harris in Action, Open Threads, Proud to Be A Democrat

Vp Harris: "This chapter will be written not simply by whoever occupies the Oval Office nor by the wealthiest among us.

The American story will be written by you. Written by us, by we the people." pic.twitter.com/corRJHIH4o

— Winter’s Politics ?? (@WintersPolitics) February 23, 2025

Kamala Harris receives prestigious Chairman's prize at NAACP Image Awards https://t.co/QLiuDZhSvn

— The Associated Press (@AP) February 23, 2025

Former Vice President Kamala Harris stepped on the NAACP Image Awards stage Saturday night with a sobering message, calling the civil rights organization a pillar of the Black community and urging people to stay resilient and hold onto their faith during the tenure of President Donald Trump.

“While we have no illusions about what we are up against in this chapter in our American story, this chapter will be written not simply by whoever occupies the oval office nor by the wealthiest among us,” Harris said after receiving the NAACP’s Chairman’s Award. “The American story will be written by you. Written by us. By we the people.”…

In her first major public appearance since leaving office, Harris did not reference her election loss or Trump’s actions since entering the Oval Office, although Trump mocked her earlier in the day at the Conservative Political Action Conference.

Harris spoke about eternal vigilance, the price of liberty, staying alert, seeking the truth and America’s future.

“Some see the flames on our horizons, the rising waters in our cities, the shadows gathering over our democracy and ask ‘What do we do now?’” Harris said. “But we know exactly what to do, because we have done it before. And we will do it again. We use our power. We organize, mobilize. We educate. We advocate. Our power has never come from having an easy path.”

Other winners of the Chairman’s prize have included former President Barack Obama, the late Rep. John Lewis and the late actor Ruby Dee…

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Deserved Plaudits Open Thread: Kamala Harris Received the NAACP Image Awards’ Chairman’s PrizePost + Comments (93)

Friday Evening Open Thread: Pioneer49, LLC

by Anne Laurie| January 24, 20256:43 pm| 117 Comments

This post is in: Kamala Harris in Action, Open Threads, Proud to Be A Democrat

Great news! Kamala Harris has formed an LLC, Pioneer49, as an organization to help her in the next stage of her career. The naming convention follows President Obama’s Renegade44 he formed at the end of his presidency.
www.politico.com/news/2025/01…

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— David Darmofal (@daviddarmofal.bsky.social) January 23, 2025 at 5:30 PM

Per Politico, “Kamala Harris provides a big signal about her next move”:

… The former vice president established an LLC called Pioneer49 last month in her home state of California, according to her presidential campaign’s final financial disclosure that was filed last week and confirmed by a person familiar with the organization’s plans.

The disclosure form described the organization as an “entity to assist the former vice president” and is likely to help fuel Harris’ next political move.

“Pioneer” is Harris’ code name used by the Secret Service, and her LLC takes on the same naming convention used by former President Barack Obama in creating the organization Renegade44 when he left office. (Harris is the 49th vice president.)

Harris has kept any considerations about political future close to the vest, but she has told advisers and allies to keep her options open, POLITICO reported in November. There are essentially three options for Harris: run for governor of California in 2026, run for president again in 2028 or decline to run for office and be a leader of the party from the sidelines…

This may, of course, be nothing but a standard ‘front company’ for book deals and speaking tours — but I thought it was a nice little flicker of hope to start the weekend!

Friday Evening Open Thread: Pioneer49, LLCPost + Comments (117)

Wednesday Morning Open Thread: Still Putting in the Work

by Anne Laurie| November 27, 20248:35 am| 53 Comments

This post is in: Kamala Harris in Action, Open Threads, President Biden, Proud to Be A Democrat

Long-sought court ruling restores Oregon tribe's hunting and fishing rights https://t.co/DHbg9mPHCT

— The Associated Press (@AP) November 27, 2024

When I took office, the pandemic was raging and the economy was reeling.

From Day One, I was determined to not only deliver economic relief, but to grow the economy from the middle out and bottom up.

Over the last four years, that's exactly what we've done.

— President Biden (@POTUS) November 26, 2024

Israel approved a United States-brokered ceasefire agreement with Lebanon’s Hezbollah on Tuesday. U.S. President Joe Biden, speaking in Washington, called the agreement “good news." pic.twitter.com/YGR7Qf1eUb

— The Associated Press (@AP) November 26, 2024

Just finished watching the grassroots thank you call 🥹

My seven year old: “I am going to take Kamala’s advice to not give up. She’s a good influence. That’s why she should have been president.” pic.twitter.com/tQQsWfIkxe

— Qondi (@QondiNtini) November 26, 2024

The Senate has confirmed 15 Black judges to federal appellate courts, including 13 Black women, since 2021.

Before President Biden, only 8 Black women had served at this level. That’s real leadership, folks!!

— Jaime Harrison (@harrisonjaime) November 26, 2024

In President Biden’s time in office, he has appointed 61 black lifetime judges, more than any other US President and it’ll have a big impact on protecting Americans' civil rights in the long run. Joe always knew and understood the assignment.

— Ricky Davila (@TheRickyDavila) November 27, 2024

Wednesday Morning Open Thread: Still Putting in the WorkPost + Comments (53)

Jay on Friday Night Open Thread (Apr 3, 2026 @ 10:29pm)

Gretchen on Friday Night Open Thread (Apr 3, 2026 @ 10:26pm)

CaseyL on Friday Night Open Thread (Apr 3, 2026 @ 10:25pm)

Steve LaBonne on Friday Night Open Thread (Apr 3, 2026 @ 10:25pm)

mrmoshpotato on Friday Night Open Thread (Apr 3, 2026 @ 10:25pm)

… gradually, and then suddenly.

When do we start airlifting the women and children out of Texas?

Reality always gets a vote in the end.

Also, are you sure you want people to rate your comments?

You passed on an opportunity to be offended? What are you even doing here?

Sitting here in limbo waiting for the dice to roll

Yeah, with this crowd one never knows.

They love authoritarianism, but only when they get to be the authoritarians.

American history and black history cannot be separated.

Republicans choose power over democracy, every day.

Within six months Twitter will be fully self-driving.

Human rights are not a matter of opinion!

The Supreme Court cannot be allowed to become the ultimate, unaccountable arbiter of everything.

The words do not have to be perfect.

Some judge needs to shut this circus down soon.

Hot air and ill-informed banter

How stupid are these people?

Hell hath no fury like a farmer bankrupted.

The “burn-it-down” people are good with that until they become part of the kindling.

Seems like a complicated subject, have you tried yelling at it?

Perhaps you mistook them for somebody who gives a damn.

Let’s not be the monsters we hate.

So very ready.

It’s always darkest before the other shoe drops.