Earth Needs a Prosecutor. Kamala Harris Is on the Case.

When it comes to campaign messaging, Kamala Harris’ past as a prosecutor has served as both a strength and a liability. As a first-term senator from California, her rigorous cross-examination during the confirmation hearings of several Trump appointees—including Attorney General Jeff Sessions, Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt—raised her profile and put her on the political map.

At the same time, during her 2020 bid for the Democratic nomination for president, criminal justice advocates criticized her prosecutorial past. Memes declaring “Kamala is a cop” circulated on social media and were picked up by bad-faith detractors who Harris saw as attempting to “distort” her record. Throughout her campaign, she struggled to reframe her résumé until, finally, she shut down operations in late 2019.

But all that changed last month, shortly after President Joe Biden dropped his reelection campaign and endorsed her as his heir apparent. At that point, the vice president wasted no time leaning into the “prosecutor” label she earned as a lawyer in the courtroom, district attorney, and California’s attorney general to position herself in opposition to the former president, GOP presidential candidate, and convicted felon Donald Trump, who last May was found guilty on 34 counts related to hush-money payments to porn actor Stormy Daniels.

“I took on perpetrators of all kinds—predators who abused women, fraudsters who ripped off consumers, cheaters who broke the rules for their own gain,” Harris told supporters in Wilmington, Delaware. “So, hear me when I say: I know Donald Trump’s type.”

His “type,” notably, included climate sellouts. And she, Harris argued, is the anti-Trump. She described that during her stint as district attorney, she created “one of the first environmental justice units in our nation” to prosecute polluters. “Donald Trump stood in Mar-a-Lago,” she continued, “and told Big Oil lobbyists he would do their bidding for a $1 billion campaign contribution.”

It was a noticeable shift in tone from just five years ago when Harris fought to stand out in a crowded Democratic primary. Of the more than 20 candidates vying to take on Trump in 2020, including Harris, most supported achieving net-zero carbon emissions, a carbon tax, and the newly introduced Green New Deal, a resolution to slash greenhouse gas emissions that has yet to pass in a divided Congress.

At the time, with no climate debate on the books, Harris joined Mother Jones, the Weather Channel, and Climate Desk for a series of conversations with 2020 Democratic presidential hopefuls that became part of a one-hour Weather Channel special, “2020: Race to Save the Planet.” She said that she planned to use the Department of Justice to prosecute “crime[s] against the environment” and go after fossil fuel polluters. “Let’s get them not only in the pocketbook,” Harris said at the time, “but let’s make sure there are severe and serious penalties for their behaviors.” (The Harris campaign did not respond to a request for comment about whether this is still part of her platform or what “serious penalties” meant, specifically.)

#KamalaHarris #GreenNewDeal #ClimateCrisis

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[Dr.Gehrig]

Amazing. I already loved her. This only elevates her further. I hope more people see this, especially more young people.

[peacelovejoy]

What a huge breathe of fresh air! I'm motivated again and it feels wonderful🇺🇸♥️🌊

[coratoraYT]

This was a wonderful interview. Thank you for posting it.

[Willow-jf]

Holy Jord, bless this strong woman and grant her the power of the earth in her cause to protect you, our home and mother to all. Kamala Harris for president to fight for the very land itself!

[elizabethdavis]

Thanks, Mother😊
You are a credit to your namesake.

[petersteen]

Can you imagine Republicans caring about seniors and kids' health outcomes? Praise for Kamala's pronunciation of 'irreparable.' I don't think orange man would even know its meaning

[DGRAHAM]

This woman understands what condition our planet is in and how it will continue to deteriorate if we don't do something about it now. She's understands what and who are the main causes that contribute to the cause. Her passion about climate control regulations you can hear it in her voice.

[juliedahl]

I’m glad she mentioned farmers. They’ve been treated so badly when rump was in office. We lost a lot of farms in every state. Bc of monopolies. Just wiped them out. I still see this happening. It’s sad. Years ago that’s what our parents lived on, & they lived to be 85, 95 yrs . old. Now it’s pesticides to ripen the food. Grown in chemical dirt. Bring back the small farms. It’s a good living.

[StrangeLoops]

Great interview, very happy to hear Climate Change is being taken so seriously by Kamala and forms a pillar of her policy platform.

[thesoundsmith]

It's a HUGE Ask. But if we can put her on the case, there's a chance we can keep the plant LIVABLE for our grandkids. Not pristine, we're WAY too late for THAT, but - not terrible. Sunscreen, but not oxygen masks.

[vanadyan]

We're not backing down. We're not going back. When we fight, we win. VOTE!

[johnclark]

We need her vision at this time in the world’s history rather than a climate denialist. Go Kamala.

[mysteryman]

How refreshing it is to listen to a candidate who's sincere with their responses. Unlike the other presidential candidate, Kamala is truly a breath of fresh air. If Trump were to agree to be interviewed by MJ on this topic, I suspect it would've lasted about 3 minutes. His 3 mins would be started with a denial the climate change is real and end with telling us how horrible Kamala & Tim are for America.

[MadiHunt-pqrs]

Wonderful interview, thank you for remaining meaningful and giving an opportunity for us to hear this woman in an extended conversation and not just a sound bite. Harris for President

[TheWayOfRespectAndKindness]

Please stand strong and hold fast. We have your back.

[daneverhart]

Not only do I love the concept of a president fighting directly the climate issues, but to hear an interview revolving around real issues and positive ambitions rather than negative political jabs. I hope above all that her voice here actually materializes dramatically and proves not to be just a political act to buy voters. I love ya Harris/Walz!

[mag]

Idk how anyone could think this woman is crooked. She so obviously genuine and wow I would love to have her as my president. She makes me want to get more involved in finding solutions for some of our nations problems. She needs to do more interviews.

[ferozalabonne]

I bow down to this brilliant caring noble and classy woman. Sent by the Almighty to save us! Amen!

[theresaalarid]

Protecting the environment means protecting all people.

[Kbarboza]

The amount of inspiration and hope I feel because of this woman is unbelievable.