Quick Hit:

Vice President Kamala Harris sat down for a softball interview with MSNBC's Stephanie Ruhle, repeating vague talking points and failing to provide substantive answers on key issues like the economy and immigration.

Key Details:

• Harris recited familiar, vague talking points about her middle-class background, entrepreneurship, and lowering costs, but gave little detail on policy specifics.
• Ruhle failed to challenge Harris on dubious claims and allowed her to avoid giving direct answers on raising corporate taxes, fixing immigration, and housing.
• Harris reiterated her questionable claim of having worked at McDonald's in college but offered no clear evidence.

Diving Deeper:

Vice President Kamala Harris appeared on MSNBC Wednesday for her first solo network interview, speaking with longtime supporter Stephanie Ruhle. Instead of offering fresh insight or clarity on policy, Harris repeated familiar Democratic talking points without much substance. In typical fashion, the interview was filled with vague, feel-good language rather than clear explanations of her plans for addressing key issues like the economy, taxes, and immigration.

Throughout the interview, Harris emphasized her connection to the middle class, claiming once again that she "comes from the middle class" and understands the challenges Americans face. However, she failed to provide details on how her policies would truly address these issues. When Ruhle asked about the economic concerns of voters who don't feel represented by Harris’s proposals, the vice president responded with one of her characteristic non-answers, saying that Americans who are hardworking and have dreams and aspirations are part of her plan.

On corporate taxes, Harris offered little more than, "We’re gonna have to raise corporate taxes," without addressing how this could be achieved if Republicans take control of the Senate. Her responses on immigration were equally evasive, as she stated that the system "needs to be fixed" but provided no concrete solutions.

Ruhle made little effort to press Harris on these vague responses, instead nodding along and occasionally redirecting the conversation. At times, Harris's statements were riddled with questionable claims, including her assertion that top economists, including the CEO of Goldman Sachs, support her economic policies—claims that have been widely disputed. Harris also gave a convoluted answer about the housing crisis, using excessive language to describe how the government needs to "reduce red tape" and approach the issue "holistically."

One of the more curious moments in the interview came when Ruhle asked Harris about her past claim that she worked at McDonald's while in college, a story Harris first shared during her failed 2019 presidential campaign. While she reiterated the claim, Harris offered no further details to back it up, laughing and saying, "I did fries." Her story has faced scrutiny, especially after her own campaign appeared to walk back the claim last year.

In the end, the interview did little to shed light on Harris's policies or plans. Instead, it showcased the vice president’s ability to speak at length without saying much of substance.