Did Kamala Harris waste $100K on a fake interview set?

In October 2020, during a surprise appearance on the Call Her Daddy podcast, Alex Cooper took the opportunity to criticize Vice President Kamala Harris regarding her campaign spending. Cooper pointed out that Harris's campaign had allocated $100,000 for a 'fake cardboard' set to conduct the podcast interview. This hefty expense raised eyebrows given the nature of the set, which Cooper described as not being particularly impressive or of high quality. Harris's campaign was said to have constructed this set in a 'random house,' and Cooper expressed her bewilderment at the amount spent compared to the set's perceived value. The backdrop of this critique is rooted in the broader scrutiny of Harris's presidential campaign, which faced considerable backlash for its exorbitant spending. Reports indicated that the Harris campaign, along with affiliated Political Action Committees (PACs) and the Democratic National Committee, collected approximately $2.3 billion in political contributions for the election cycle. Within this budget, a staggering $494 million was allocated solely to advertising, underscoring the financial tactics that defined the campaign. Despite the significant funds raised, the campaign encountered challenges, including losing key states like Nevada, which was historically a Democrat stronghold. Harris's defeat in Nevada played a crucial role in framing the narrative of her campaign as one that, despite its financial might, could not convert resources into electoral success. Notably, this loss was marked by Donald Trump's victory, making him the first Republican candidate to win the state since 2004. This dynamic has led to discussions about the efficacy of such spending strategies in relation to actual voter support, with critics arguing that high expenditures did not translate into a successful outcome. In the aftermath of her campaign, Harris's choice to appear on Cooper's podcast was part of her strategy to engage with younger audiences. Cooper's podcast has gained significant popularity, being one of the top-ranked podcasts in the US. Initially hesitant about engaging with political content, Cooper ultimately decided to have Harris on her show, stating her motivation stemmed from her identity as a woman and wanting to support another woman in a high-stakes political arena. However, the interview received a mix of reactions from viewers, many labeling it as a softball interview, implying that Cooper did not push Harris hard enough on pressing issues during their conversation. The Harris campaign sought to approach modern media landscapes, aiming to connect with a younger demographic, yet the podcast’s perceived superficial interaction raised eyebrows about the effectiveness of such appearances in conveying substantive campaign messages.