The American people were promised, by CNN, an interview of Vice President Kamala Harris- the first since she became the presumptive Democratic nominee. But the public received no such interview, hype notwithstanding. Instead, voters were treated to a melánge of talking point set pieces, the kind one normally sees at a debate. In essence, this was little more than a debate dress rehearsal.

Such is the coddling given by the media to Harris that a routine post-rollout interview is hyped as “a watershed moment” by Regime propagandist Dana Bash. We were all forewarned.

Off on the wrong foot: CNN's Dana Bash defines a normal campaign occurrence as a "watershed moment". pic.twitter.com/gOHFi6bFtS

— Jorge Bonilla (@BonillaJL) August 30, 2024

The “watershed” interview kicks off with the Day One question, and a Harris response devoid of anything specific until Bash prodded with the gentlest of follow-ups:

Dana Bash: "Thank you so much for sitting down with me and bringing the bus -- the bus tour is well underway here in Georgia. You have less time to make your case to voters than any candidate in modern American history. The voters are really eager to hear what your plans are. If… pic.twitter.com/rPFW0WRmNw

— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) August 30, 2024

What followed is an example of the talking point set pieces one normally sees at a debate- a question about voters who want to return to a pre-pandemic economy, and Harris’s response blaming the pandemic for the current economy:

Dana Bash: "You talked about, you call it the opportunity economy. You are well aware that right now many Americans are struggling. There's a crisis of affordability. One of your campaign themes is 'we're not going back', but I wonder what you say to voters who do want to go back… pic.twitter.com/QpaHSEGrBC

— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) August 30, 2024

Another mild followup led to this dodge on Bidenomics:

Dana Bash: "So, you maintain that Bidenomics is a success?"

Vice President Kamala Harris: "I maintain that, when we do the work of bringing down prescription medication for the American people, including capping the cost of the annual cost of prescription medication for seniors… pic.twitter.com/XRik6qMsYo

— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) August 30, 2024

Shortly thereafter, Walz gets asked about his misrepresentations of his military service. In listening to Walz’s response blaming bad grammar for his assertion that he carried “weapons of war” while “in war”, one is reminded of Celia Cruz and her classic “my English is not very good looking”. Walz never does provide a response on stolen valor, pivoting instead to abortion:

Walz ducks addressing stolen valor, pivots to abortion pic.twitter.com/Qbiyso4VKP

— Jorge Bonilla (@BonillaJL) August 30, 2024

Moving on to the portion of the program addressing Joe Biden, Harris expresses no regret of defending Biden’s ability to serve. Bash’s followup on incumbency enables another set piece you can expect to see at the debate- Harris throwing off her incumbency and positioning herself as a challenger running against the Trump Era:

Vice President Kamala Harris says she has zero regrets about defending Joe Biden's fitness for office, arguing he maintains "the judgment and disposition" to serve....

CNN's Dana Bash: "[Y]ou were a very staunch defender of President Biden's capacity to serve another four years.… pic.twitter.com/JX7t5XVzlA

— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) August 30, 2024

We arrive at the portion of the program wherein food is discussed, with Bash serving as straight person to Harris-Walz’s corny bit on white guys and spicy food::

YAY!! THEY GOT FOOD! pic.twitter.com/AqxzdiEPGf

— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) August 30, 2024

The interview closes out with “joy”. Mercifully.

These syrupy moments at the end of the Kamala Harris-Tim Walz interview are exactly what the liberal media want to see.

All 'vibes' and 'joy'. No actual substance. pic.twitter.com/QIPKN6VYEd

— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) August 30, 2024

Harris-Walz emerge from this debate rehearsal unscathed, unburdened from the prospect of having to face persistent follow-up questions and never having to worry about getting cut off mid-answer or getting “fact-checked in real time”, as is often the case with Republicans sitting down with Regime Media. 

To call this an interview is an egregious insult to interviews everywhere. The Regime should be pleased, given that its new figurehead emerged largely unscathed. But voters are probably coming away from this with more questions than answers.