Katie Couric, previous co-anchor of NBC’s “Today” show, has openly voiced her objections to Vice President Kamala Harris’s communication approach during campaign interviews. Couric expressed her exasperation with Harris’s frequent failure to provide straightforward and succinct responses, a tendency that she noted was a source of frustration for voters and media commentators alike.
During her commentary, Couric depicted this communication method as a significant disadvantage, recalling that numerous viewers were presumably thinking, “Answer the (expletive) question, please!” She contended that Harris’s inclination for ambiguous or elusive responses was particularly inappropriate in high-stakes campaign environments that demand clear communication.
On the November 14, 2024, episode of her podcast “Next Question with Katie Couric,” the former anchor discussed Harris’s performance, contrasting it with that of Hillary Clinton, who Couric believes demonstrated superior skill in managing tough and probing questions.
Couric noted that challenging questions often prompt politicians to refine their messaging and deliver powerful, clear statements. However, she pointed out that Harris often struggled when faced with what Couric termed as “weird, like, amorphous softballs”. Couric argued that these should have been more manageable but instead seemed to undermine Harris’s ability to convey a coherent message.
The seasoned journalist expressed specific concern about Harris’s appearance on ABC’s “The View”. The Vice President’s response of “nothing comes to mind” when questioned about what she would do differently than President Biden was described by Couric as “one of the most damaging things” during the campaign.
Jen Psaki, previous White House Press Secretary, offered some explanation for Harris’s communication difficulties, characterizing it as a “unique and painful summer” for the Biden administration. Psaki added that Harris faced a challenging task in navigating the political landscape during that period.
Couric’s critique was not limited to specific instances but also covered broader campaign tactics. She opined that Harris’s team seemed ill-prepared for standard interview questions, asserting that a presidential campaign should always have a ready “template” for addressing typical queries.
Additionally, Couric highlighted Harris’s temporary absence from media engagements. After Harris was selected as the Democratic nominee, she reportedly refrained from interviews for several weeks, a decision that attracted further attention from media pundits.