Lever Time

When Kamala Harris first ran for president in 2019, she promised to deliver Medicare for All to the people — but that changed. Early in her campaign, she frequently referred to a 2017 bill she co-sponsored with Sen. Bernie Sanders that would have effectively abolished private health insurance. But when political winds didn’t look good, Harris changed course, and ultimately released her own, very different version of the bill, which sought to bolster and support private insurance companies by expanding their role in Medicare. It wouldn’t be the only time Harris bucked a campaign pledge for political gain. Today on Lever Time, senior podcast producer Arjun Singh looks at two defining moments in Harris’ career to understand how the presidential hopeful acts when forced to choose between the values she campaigned on and political gain.In her current campaign, Harris has tried to play it safe. She’s consistently pushed the Biden administration’s agenda while remaining vague on how she’d respond to key issues. One of those issues has been how to handle Israel’s invasion of Gaza, a disaster that Harris will likely inherit if she wins the presidency. If so, the Gaza crisis will present one of the first tests of what a President Harris would do in office, but even close observers are unsure what the vice president ultimately believes is the best course of action on the matter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In television commercials, at speeches, and on the campaign trail, Vice President Kamala Harris frequently boasts that she stood up to big banks as California's attorney general. But her sloganeering obscures a sometimes-ugly record. Today on Lever Time, Arjun Singh looks back at Harris' early years as a district attorney and then state attorney general to see what they show us about the president she may soon become.When Harris first ran for District Attorney of San Francisco in 2003 — a time when prosecutors rarely described themselves as “progressive” — she campaigned as a crime fighter with few qualms about putting criminals behind bars. Later, as California’s attorney general, Harris continued to lean on her role as a tough prosecutor, vowing to go after mortgage lenders who utilized abusive tactics to strong arm Californians. But when it came time to fight the banks, did Harris let them off easy? Harris’ actions in that moment have left some observers with a pressing question: What does Kamala Harris actually believe? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

David Sirota, a reporter tackling the intersection of politics and corporate influence, shares his insights from the Democratic National Convention. He reveals the fear among Democrats of a Trump resurgence and critiques the gap between their populist rhetoric and corporate sponsorship. Sirota discusses the challenges Vice President Kamala Harris faces in delivering worker-centric policies amidst corporate pressures. The conversation dives into the disconnect between activists' frustrations and the party's corporate ties, spotlighting the deep-rooted tensions within the political landscape.

Vice President Kamala Harris, the presumptive Democratic nominee, discusses her new economic policies, including a federal ban on grocery price gouging. The conversation delves into her evolving relationship with the media and the challenges of defining her political platform. Despite past commitments, her current policies raise questions about voter accountability and transparency. Addressing the anxieties surrounding her candidacy, the podcast explores how her strategies resonate with younger voters amid cultural dynamics, highlighting the need for substantial political dialogue.

Zack Beauchamp, a senior correspondent at Vox and author of 'The Reactionary Spirit,' dives deep into the roots of global right-wing nationalism. He highlights how American exceptionalism shapes these movements, revealing the antidemocratic ideologies that have spread across the world. The discussion touches on the cultural backlash against inclusion, rural resentment fueling political identities, and the contrasting responses to far-right threats in countries like France and Canada. Beauchamp emphasizes the critical need to understand these dynamics for the future of democracy.

Tim Walz, the rising Governor of Minnesota, has recently captured attention with his progressive accomplishments, including expanded healthcare access and education benefits. Joining him are Kamala Harris, the Vice President, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a bold advocate for change. They discuss the political climate in Minnesota, the implications of Walz's candidacy, and the troubling influence of dark money in politics. Joe Manchin adds insights on centrist challenges, making for a lively dialogue about the future of the Democratic Party.

Floods, heat waves, wildfires and other climate extremes are becoming a way of life for millions around the world — and tragically a way of death. After a historic, record-breaking flood in France killed her mother, a daughter wants to hold oil companies criminally responsible for her death, joining seven other plaintiffs in a lawsuit. Today on Lever Time, senior investigative reporter Lois Parshley examines a growing global movement of advocates and legal scholars trying to convince courts that fossil fuel companies should be charged with homicide after they knowingly caused climate change. Read the companion article to this episode exclusively on The Lever by clicking here.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

David Sirota discusses Democrats needing to show they are serious about fighting for working class in upcoming election, contrasting their approach with Trump's corporate populism. Emphasizes importance of aligning with populist economic agenda and presenting progressive legislation. Analyzes branding challenges of Republican and Democratic parties, as well as communication strategies of Biden and Harris.

David Sirota, Arjun Singh, and Tyler Austin Harper discuss the wild moments in American politics, GOP's full support for Trump, Democrats' internal struggles over Biden's nomination, and the implications of recent events on the election outcome. Will Democrats decide to lose the election or fight to win?

Should he stay or should he go? President Joe Biden’s decision to remain in the presidential race has consequences for hundreds of millions of people — and it has at least one Democratic National Committee member and convention delegate inquiring whether the party can force him off the ticket. But if Biden’s out, corporate lobbyists who’ve embedded themselves into the party could help select the new nominee. Today on Lever Time, Arjun Singh speaks withThe American Prospect’s Executive Editor David Dayen, Jacobin staff writer Branko Marcetic, and Sludge co-founder David Moore to unpack the divide fracturing the Democratic Party and look at how corporate power is woven into the fabric of the party’s convention, to be held in Chicago from August 19 to 22. Biden’s road to the 2024 presidential nomination has been anything but democratic. Team Biden crushed all attempts to have him prove his mettle against primary challengers. After his disastrous debate performance against Trump triggered a revolt within his own party, Biden didn’t hold a town hall to meet with the public — he hopped on the phone with his top donors. Now, those same donors could portend Biden’s downfall, with wealthy backers like George Clooney urging the president to step down, and others yanking their donations. Will the new alliance between a majority of Democratic voters and the party’s elite insiders all be on the same page regarding Biden’s potential replacement? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices