Kamala Harris's presidential campaign took a surprising turn when it was revealed during the popular podcast "Pod Save America" hosted by former Obama communications director Dan Pfeiffer, that the well-known YouTube show "Hot Ones" turned down their request for her to appear. Harris’s campaign staff, including senior advisor Stephanie Cutter and campaign manager Jen O'Malley Dillon discussed this development as part of their post-campaign analysis after her loss to Donald Trump.
"Hot Ones," hosted by Sean Evans, is celebrated for its unique format where celebrities answer questions and eat increasingly spicy chicken wings. Over the years, the show has featured high-profile guests including Ariana Grande, Gordon Ramsay, and Jennifer Lawrence, making it one of the most viewed talk shows on YouTube.
According to Cutter, the crew behind "Hot Ones" expressed their hesitance, stating they did not want to "delve too much" into political discussions. "Hot Ones, which is a great show, they didn’t want to do any politics, so they weren’t going to take us or [Trump]," she recounted during the podcast episode.
This refusal is particularly jarring considering how Trump has successfully leveraged appearances on non-traditional platforms, boosting his visibility among younger, internet-savvy audiences. Dillon pointed out Trump’s ability to tap cultural elements, nodding to his various appearances on podcasts like Joe Rogan's, where he reached millions of younger viewers.
Cutter elaborated on the campaign's challenges, confirming, "We reached out to multiple shows and got pushed back consistently. They didn't want to engage with political figures." Despite this, there appeared to be less reluctance to host Trump, which Cutter noted as part of their struggle. She implicitly pointed out the inconsistencies by stating: "I don’t think he had the same problem."
This analysis reveals the stark difference between Harris's approach compared to Trump’s, amid growing questioning about whether they adequately reached key demographics during her campaign. While Harris sought exposure through platforms like "Call Her Daddy" and "The Breakfast Club," she faced significant barriers with shows like "Hot Ones," which explicitly claimed to avoid political guests.
On the podcast, Pfeiffer expressed his disbelief about the fact Harris, the sitting Vice President of the United States, was deemed less favorable than Trump, especially after the latter’s controversial tenure. He noted, "It’s absurd to think it would be more politically problematic to have Kamala Harris on your podcast than Donald Trump, who has been historic for his divisive politics and legal issues."
Throughout the campaign, Harris's strategy appeared to miss the punch with potential live audiences. The decision to allow Trump to leverage cultural touchpoints more effectively raised eyebrows about Harris’s team’s overall engagement strategy.
While Harris did try to appear on non-traditional media, results did not match expectations. Her appearance on Alex Cooper's "Call Her Daddy" failed to garner the anticipated viewership, hardly crossing one million views. This pales compared to the 50 million views Trump amassed from his podcast episodes.
Even more intriguing was Harris's effort to secure time on Rogan's show. Her campaign reportedly tried to book the appearance when she was scheduled to be in Austin, Texas, for another event. Unfortunately, the timing was coincidentally aligned with Trump’s session when he recorded on the same day.
Reflecting on their miss, Cutter encapsulated their feelings by saying, "We knew we had support lined up, and we wanted to reach diverse audiences through engaging conversations. Watching Trump effortlessly glide onto platforms we aimed to connect with left us perplexed." This culminates the broader question of how candidates engage with the shifting dynamics of media consumption, especially among younger generations who favor authenticity and culture.
Despite the disappointment surrounding "Hot Ones," the insights from Harris's campaign strategists shed light on the complex nuances of political engagement today. With media strategies shifting rapidly, candid conversations and humor resonate widely, and both parties need to strike the right chords to capture increasingly elusive voter demographics.
