Kamala Harris Isn’t Playing It Safe

Published 2024-08-06
In picking Tim Walz as her running mate, Kamala Harris is after more than just Pennsylvania.


Mentioned:


“Is Tim Walz the Midwestern Dad Democrats Need? (www.nytimes.com/2024/08/02/opinion/ezra-klein-podc…) ” by The Ezra Klein Show


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This episode of “The Ezra Klein Show” was produced by our senior editor, Claire Gordon. Fact-checking by Kate Sinclair and Mary Marge Locker. Our senior engineer is Jeff Geld, with additional mixing by Aman Sahota. The show’s production team also includes Annie Galvin, Michelle Harris, Rollin Hu, Elias Isquith and Kristin Lin. Original music by Isaac Jones. Audience strategy by Kristina Samulewski and Shannon Busta. The executive producer of New York Times Opinion Audio is Annie-Rose Strasser. Special thanks to Sonia Herrero.

All Comments (21)
  • @zakbednar4939
    I haven't been this excited to vote in over a decade!
  • @mickael486
    She might not be playing it safe but she's playing it right with her heart Tim Walz is an amazing amazing VP pick 💙🇺🇸💙🇺🇸💙 We will still win PA 🏆
  • @chrisrecord5625
    I would conclude Harris is playing it smart, no brilliantly!!!
  • From Spain, I wish you all good luck against Trump. I think this was the best possible ticket so I'm sure it will go all right 👍
  • Ezra's interview with Tim Walz seemed more like a conversation than an interview. I loved it.
  • @markacohen1
    Listen to Klein's interview with Walz. Remarkable. Shapiro was the more calculated choice, Walz the more inspired choice. I admire Harris for making it though I am more worried than I was yesterday about winning (PA 19 EC votes). If Harris wins the Walz (and Shatz) program is the way forward for the Democrat Party: build more HOUSES in Blue cities, stuff like that. A real gamble but a wise one. Klein is generally right on most issues in a complex, slightly against the grain, listen to thorny truths we progressives may not want to hear. I took his program about Biden needing to step down in February to the Bank. It really changed my mind.
  • Like many folks in Minnesota I am a Scandinavian-American. So I don't see the relationship between Socialism and Capitalism as an either/or choice. I see it as an and/also option. The reason why Scandinavia has such a great economy and why their populations’ rate happiest in the sociological datum. Is because their Socialism compliments their Capitalism and their Capitalism supports their Socialism. American's should stop thinking of these two economic options as an either/or choice. When they could also be a very effective and/also option.💙
  • @MPR2
    I'm sooooooo EXCITED for this ticket! VP Harris is a BADASS! I knew she'd make the right choice! Now, #voteblue down the ballot to give them a super majority so they can GET SH*T DONE!! 💯💙🇺🇸
  • @Gallaphant
    A truly excellent choice. Of course, Trump and his cronies will level a landslide of lies about Walz, but I really want to see a VP debate between him and Vance. There will be blood on the floor and Walz will walk away with a smile on his face.
  • @user-se9ho2qw1n
    Walz is authentic. He is 3 dimensional in his thinking -- perhaps 4 -- He knows how to motivate people toward the positive. He represents one of the necessary pillars of democracy: high quality education for all. Harris represents the other necessary pillar of democracy: the same law and justice for all. Together they support each side of the coin we call Democracy. In the words of Leonard Cohen, "Democracy is coming to the U.S.A." "America, the cradle of the best, and of the worst" (L. Cohen). The people of U.S.A. have never had such a contrasting choice. If you want Democracy, vote for Harris and Walz. If you want "1984," vote for the 1 dimensional preditors -- the robber and the shape shifter.
  • @dahbean2874
    Shapiro was riskier than Walz. The safest choice was probably Beshear
  • @taram9866
    Respectfully, Ezra, I disagree. I have seen a lot of comments against Shapiro, which inspired me to check him out. His speech style is very bold and too loud to be a good running mate for Kamala. Walz is actually the safer choice, given the current issues around Roe and IVF. His background in education is a strong play due to Trump saying he will eliminate the department of education.
  • @GmaMom
    Love! Love! Love Tim Walz!!🇺🇸❤️❤️❤️🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🤗🤗🤗🤗
  • @kimn5687
    Walz vs Vance debate will be great if Vance will get off the couch. Lol
  • @conor2439
    "Kamala is going to win because Kamala is brat and the whole world is coconut pilled." "JD Vance is too online."
  • I would not have voted for Harris if she picked Shapiro. Her picking Walz signals to me that she will deflect from the overtly hawkish approach towards Israel that has defined the Biden administration.
  • Walz is a perfect pick. An earthy, veteran, heartlander is a great balance for a Kamala's laywer/attorney general background, as well as the MAGAT 'San Fran Lib' attack line.