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What Next - Kamala Harris & the Rise of Progressive Prosecutors

Slate News

Slate Podcasts

News Commentary, Politics, News

4.56K Ratings

🗓️ 23 January 2019

⏱️ 22 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

More and more reform-minded district attorneys are taking office as self-avowed progressive prosecutors. Why don’t some advocates think Kamala Harris deserves the label?

Guest: Lara Bazelon, associate professor at the University of San Francisco School of Law, contributing writer for Slate, and author of the book Rectify: The Power of Restorative Justice After Wrongful Conviction. Read her op-ed, “Kamala Harris Was Not a ‘Progressive Prosecutor,’” in the New York Times.

Tell us what you think by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or sending an email to whatnext@slate.com. Follow us on Instagram for updates on the show.

Podcast production by Mary Wilson and Jayson De Leon, with help from Danielle Hewitt. 


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

When Kamala Harris introduces herself, she's known to say the same thing again and again.

0:10.4

She talks about being a prosecutor.

0:12.1

And I got all excited and I said, well, I've decided to become a prosecutor.

0:15.8

I am a former prosecutor. I have led investigations.

0:19.4

And I have prosecuted all types of crime,

0:21.8

particular violent crimes. It's more than just a line on her resume. It's this vibe she has.

0:27.2

Earlier this year, when this video of her grilling Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh went a little viral,

0:32.7

she had this look on her face. Eyebrows arched, chin down, lips pursed.

0:38.7

Like, I know he's lying.

0:40.4

Are you certain you've not had a conversation with anyone at that law firm?

0:44.8

Caswood, Spinson.

0:46.6

I would like to know the person you're thinking of because what if there's...

0:50.4

I think you're thinking of someone and you don't want to tell us.

0:58.1

Yeah. What if there's a... I think you're thinking of someone and you don't want to tell us. Wow.

0:59.7

When they talked about the testimony on The Daily Show,

1:02.5

Trevor Noah lazered in on the senator from California.

1:06.0

Can you think of any laws that give the government the power to make decisions about the male body.

1:14.0

I'm not a, I'm not a thinking of any right now, Senator.

1:18.2

I'm a, I'm a, I'm a, God damn. Kamala Harris brings it, man.

1:23.4

For Kamala Harris, being a prosecutor means she's tough. I mean, she's the boss.

1:28.8

It can be a cordial way to say, thank you, next.

1:32.0

I only have a few seconds left, and I'll just ask you a direct question.

...

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