WASHINGTON — Kamala Harris remained open to reparations for slavery and agreed with an accusation that Donald Trump helps fascism in a wide-ranging interview Tuesday with widespread radio host Charlamagne Tha God.
“This can be a margin-of-error race. It is tight. I am gonna win. I am gonna win, but it surely’s tight,” Harris instructed listeners on the high of an hour-long interview, three weeks earlier than Election Day because the Democratic nominee expands her outreach to Black voters, specifically, Black males.
Harris, who could be the primary Black feminine president if elected, has sharpened her pitch to African American voters – a important Democratic constituency – whereas polling suggests Trump has made slight inroads with Black male voters.
Listed below are 5 key moments from the interview in Detroit:
Harris says slavery reparations should be studied
Harris instructed Charlamagne that reparations for descendants of enslaved folks must be studied, however stopped in need of endorsing a reparations plan.
Signal-up for Your Vote: Textual content with the USA TODAY elections staff.
“On the purpose of reparations, it needs to be studied. There is not any query about that. And I have been very clear about that place,” mentioned Harris, who as a U.S. senator from California backed laws that will have created a federal fee to review slavery reparations.
Charlemagne alleges Trump’s imaginative and prescient is about ‘fascism’ – and Harris agrees
Harris agreed with Charlamagne when the radio present host mentioned Trump’s imaginative and prescient for the nation constitutes fascism.
Traditionally, fascism is a far-right, authoritarian political ideology usually related with Italian dictator Benito Mussolini, who rose to energy after World Struggle I and coined the time period in 1919 to explain his political motion.
The second got here when Harris framed the election as a race between two visions – one about shifting the nation ahead below her management or backwards with Trump.
“The opposite is about fascism. Why cannot we simply say it?” Charlamagne mentioned.
“Sure, we are able to say that,” Harris responded.
The Trump marketing campaign didn’t instantly reply to USA TODAY’s request for remark. Trump’s critics have lengthy accused him of echoing extremist rhetoric.
Extra:‘Hope he is OK’: Kamala Harris mocks Donald Trump’s odd conduct at city corridor
Harris pushes nationwide marijuana legalization
Harris reaffirmed her assist for legalizing the leisure use of marijuana nationally, a coverage proposal she rolled out this week whereas additionally pushing for Black entrepreneurs to have equal alternatives within the pot trade.
Harris introduced up the proposal as she pushed again at assaults that she prosecuted Black males for low-level marijuana expenses when she was San Francisco district legal professional. She mentioned she didn’t pursue incarceration for easy pot possession.
“My pledge is that as president, I’ll work on decriminalizing it as a result of I do know precisely how these legal guidelines have been used to disproportionately impression sure populations and particularly Black males,” Harris mentioned.
Harris says ‘disinformation’ has distorted document with Black neighborhood
Harris defended her document addressing points that largely impression Black voters, arguing “mis- and disinformation” has distorted the truth.
“That is simply not true,” Harris mentioned when requested about assertions she wouldn’t do something particularly for Black Individuals if elected. “One of many greatest challenges that I face is mis- and disinformation. And it is purposeful, as a result of it’s meant to persuade those that they by some means shouldn’t consider that the work that I’ve executed has occurred and has that means.”
Extra:What to find out about Kamala Harris’ interview with Fox Information this week
Harris cited her document preventing for funding for traditionally Black faculties and universities, well being care and Black maternal mortality. All through the interview, Harris talked up marketing campaign insurance policies proposals she mentioned will profit African Individuals. That features endorsing a $25,000 credit score for first-time house consumers in addition to loans totally forgivable as much as $20,000 to Black entrepreneurs. She has additionally backed reviving tax credit for households with younger youngsters.
“Ask Donald Trump what his plan is for Black America. Ask him,” Harris mentioned. “I am going to let you know what it’s. Have a look at Venture 2025.”
The 2025 Presidential Transition Venture, as it’s in any other case recognized, is a product of The Heritage Basis, a right-wing suppose tank. The roughly 900-page doc lays out a sweeping conservative plan and personnel methods for the nation’s govt department.
Harris likes Maya Rudolph’s ‘SNL’ caricature
Harris praised actress and comic Maya Rudolph’s impression of her on “Saturday Night time Reside” – a caricature that has turn out to be a weekend ritual through the 2024 marketing campaign season.
“Hasn’t Maya Rudolph been great?” Harris mentioned when Charlamagne requested the vice chairman whether or not it is truthful for ‘SNL’ to make enjoyable of her as showing scripted. “I’ve nothing however admiration for comedy, and I feel it is necessary to have the ability to snicker at your self and one another within the the spirit of, clearly, comedy and never belittling folks as my opponent does.”
Harris dismissed criticism that she sticks to speaking factors an excessive amount of.
“I might say,’ ‘You are welcome,” Harris mentioned. “The fact is that there are particular issues that should be repeated to make sure that I’ve everybody know what I stand for and the problems that I feel are at stake on this election.”
Attain Joey Garrison on X, previously Twitter, @joeygarrison.