Kamala Harris explains policy shifts and cabinet plans in first interview on CNN: ‘My values have not changed’ – Times of India

Vice President Kamala Harris, in a CNN exclusive interview with Dana Bash today, offered a detailed explanation for her evolving positions on fracking and immigration, emphasizing that her core values remain intact despite shifts in policy. The interview comes ahead of the US presidential election which is scheduled for November this year. Harris, alongside her running mate Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, spoke about her perspective on pressing issues and her vision for the future.
Values unchanged despite policy shifts
During the interview, Harris addressed questions about her policy reversals, particularly her stance on fracking.“I think the most important and most significant aspect of my policy perspective and decisions is my values have not changed.”
Reflecting on her previous position, Harris noted, “I have always believed – and I have worked on it – that the climate crisis is real, that it is an urgent matter to which we should apply metrics that include holding ourselves to deadlines around time.” She pointed to the Biden administration’s Inflation Reduction Act as evidence of her ongoing commitment to climate action, despite her earlier pledge to ban fracking.

Harris also discussed her evolving views on immigration, highlighting her record as California Attorney General, where she prosecuted gangs involved in cross-border trafficking. “My values have not changed,” she asserted, attributing her policy adjustments to the practical experiences gained during her tenure as vice president.
On her climate policy, Kamala said, “There’s no question I’m in favor of banning fracking, and starting with what we can do on Day 1 around public lands.”
Commitment to diverse leadership
Looking ahead, Harris expressed her intention to foster diverse perspectives within her administration. “I think it’s really important,” she said, discussing her willingness to include a Republican in her Cabinet if elected. “I have spent my career inviting a diversity of opinion… It would be to the benefit of the American public to have a member of my Cabinet who was a Republican.”
Response to Trump’s remarks
Harris also addressed recent comments from former President Donald Trump, who questioned her racial identity. Dismissing Trump’s remarks as “same old, tired playbook,” Harris remained focused on the issues at hand, saying, “Next question, please.”