My thoughts on the most consequential election of my lifetime.
I was raised on and worked in old school journalism for the vast majority of my career. It was an unspoken credo of my craft that expressing your opinion was for editorial writers, occasional commentators, and authors whose books presented and defended a particular point of view. I was an impartial observer, making an effort to present news and information “without fear or favor.”
Journalism has changed A LOT since I got my first job as a desk assistant (a glorified gofer) at ABC News. Opinion is de rigueur on cable news, and consumers can create their own media diet, which, as my friend Nicole said (and I’ve since co-opted), provides affirmation instead of information. This DIY style of news consumption — compounded by algorithmic feeding frenzies — has contributed mightily to the intense polarization we’re experiencing.
But the journalistic landscape is not the only thing that has changed dramatically. This election is different. And the reason it’s different can be summed up very simply: Donald Trump 2.0. In this version, the adult supervision has left the building. And White House appointments will be limited to election deniers only.
I have covered elections in some form or fashion since 1980, when I first got into broadcast news. That was the year Ronald Reagan defeated Jimmy Carter. Whether it was Reagan v. Mondale, George H.W. Bush v. Michael Dukakis, or Bill Clinton v. George H.W. Bush (you get the picture), they all had something in common. During these campaigns, there was decency, integrity, decorum, and a basic respect for our institutions and norms — like the willingness to concede and the peaceful transfer of power. Sure, campaigning could get tough, and at times, the gloves came off, but decency prevailed. I will never forget Senator John McCain interrupting a voter who said she couldn’t trust Barack Obama “because he was an Arab.” “No, ma’am,” he gently admonished her. “He’s a decent family man, a citizen that I happen to have disagreements with on fundamental issues, and that’s what this campaign’s all about.” John McCain was a true American hero. This is the same man Donald Trump called a loser at a campaign event in Ames, Iowa, in 2015. “He’s not a war hero. He was a war hero because he was captured. I like people who weren’t captured.” Meanwhile, if you want to see what civility looks like, watch these hilarious speeches by Barack Obama and Mitt Romney at the Al Smith dinner. This is what graciousness and humor looked like just twelve years ago.
Since Donald Trump’s descent down the escalator of Trump Tower announcing his candidacy in 2015, our politics have descended to new lows. The final week of this campaign was no exception. The Madison Square Garden rally was a dark, dystopian hate-fest; insulting Puerto Ricans was just the beginning. Even though the Trump campaign tried to disavow some of the material, someone approved the content. Let’s face it, “the fish stinks from the head.” And honestly, I don’t know what to say about his adoration of Arnold Palmer’s anatomy or simulating fellatio with a microphone — except, WTF? I guess he’s right: He could “stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody” without losing his supporters. At this point, it seems the country has become inured to his coarse and vulgar behavior as well as his lies.
There are friends of mine who admit that while Trump is a jerk (we’ll keep it clean), they prefer his policies. Despite our differences, I will continue to love my friends, just as I love the Katie Couric Media community whose opinions may differ from mine. But for me, reproductive rights are nonnegotiable — I believe in a woman’s right to choose to terminate a pregnancy and that the draconian measures taken by several states have paralyzed the medical community and jeopardized the lives of far too many. The work that the non-profit news organization ProPublica has done on this topic has been extraordinary. If you’re interested, you can read their series, “The Life of the Mother” here. It’s definitely worth your time. I fear the impact abortion restrictions will continue to have on our most vulnerable communities.
I also care deeply about reducing gun violence in this country, and I have been scarred by the many school shootings I’ve covered over the course of my career. I know the NRA is a staunch supporter of Donald Trump, and there will be no movement on the issue if he is elected. I have no interest in taking guns away from law-abiding citizens, but as the head of the first-ever White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention, I believe a Harris administration will continue to make gun safety a priority. I can’t stop thinking about the parents whose children went to school one morning and never came back. This madness has to end.
Also on my list of “what to worry about” I’d include climate change. Donald Trump has accepted over $14 million from the oil and gas industry — the most he’s ever raised — after asking for $1 billion in donations in return for gutting environmental regulations if elected. Sometimes, we fail to tackle problems that aren’t right in front of us. Climate change is real. It’s happening. And we need a President who accepts that and wants to do something about it. We owe it to our children and grandchildren.
And finally, I care deeply about the health of Americans. Since losing my husband Jay to colon cancer in 1998, my cancer advocacy work has been one of my highest priorities. I am obsessed with early detection and prevention. I have grown to respect and appreciate scientists and the important role they play in our lives. Two of my documentaries have focused on medical issues: Fed Up, which came out in 2014, focuses on the role that sugar has played in America’s obesity epidemic, and No Ordinary Campaign chronicles the tireless work of ALS patient Brian Wallach and his wife, Sandra Abrevaya. So imagine my concern when I heard Robert F. Kennedy, an avowed anti-vaccine activist, say in a tape obtained by CNN, “President Trump has promised me…control of the public health agencies, which are HHS and its sub-agencies, CDC, FDA, NIH, and a few others, and then also the USDA.” My alarm bells didn’t just go off…they haven’t stopped ringing.
There are so many other issues facing our country and the world — the widening conflict in the Middle East, a war that continues to rage in Ukraine, and the new axis of evil — China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. Donald Trump’s crush on Vladimir Putin makes me nervous, as does his hostility towards NATO. I’ve heard several people opine that “Kamala Harris simply doesn’t have the stature to deal with world leaders.” I don’t understand where that’s coming from — I’d much rather have her facing down some of our enemies than Donald Trump, who, at a NATO summit in 2017, famously pushed aside Montenegro’s Prime Minister so he could be front and center for a photo-op. And then there are the warnings from people who worked with him during his first administration, including General John Kelly, his former White House Chief of Staff and General Mark Milley, the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. General James Mattis made his feelings known when he resigned from his position as Secretary of Defense in 2018. There are simply too many accomplished, respected people who are deeply concerned about Trump’s desire for absolute power. And as Lord Acton, the English historian, said, “Absolute power corrupts absolutely.” The former President’s embrace of other autocratic leaders, like Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, is also cause for grave concern. What did Maya Angelou once say? “When someone shows you who they are, believe them.”
And finally — January 6. We cannot forget the terrible day when insurrectionists ransacked the Capitol while Trump waited more than three hours — 187 minutes — before taking any action to address what was happening. And what happened was largely caused by a president who sowed doubts about the validity of the election. Even Donald Trump’s Vice President Mike Pence, who refused to play along with his scheme to overthrow the election, has had enough. He’s made it clear he is not endorsing Trump this time around. President Biden was correct when he claimed that “In more than 60 cases, judges looked at the allegations that Trump was making and determined they were without any merit.” Despite this evidence to the contrary, about two-thirds of Republicans believe the 2020 election was stolen, fueled by the continued false claims of Donald Trump.
These are the reasons that I voted for Kamala Harris. This is my opinion and my opinion alone. This does not reflect the views of our team at Katie Couric Media. Our terrific writers and producers will continue to cover the news of the day and the stories we think are important for you to read and understand.
Whoever is elected to be the 47th president of the United States will face a world of problems and a deeply divided country in turmoil. Comprehensive immigration reform, something that has eluded presidents for decades, will need to be addressed — and not weaponized for political reasons. High prices at the grocery store and gas station that are squeezing too many families must be a top priority for our next president. Whatever happens, anger is likely to spillover at Thanksgiving gatherings and potentially onto our streets. My hope is that if Kamala Harris wins, she will make good on her promise to include people at the table who disagree with her and to see common ground on so many things that divide us. We need to lower the temperature and get to work for the sake of our nation. If we’re able to do these things, we will, God willing, be able to celebrate the 250th anniversary of our democracy in July of 2026.
