In the first episode of our weekly podcast, ‘It’s Not You, It’s The Media’, Suchitra Vijayan, Bhakti Shringarpure and Madhuri Sastry dissect the media’s coverage of Kamala Harris, focusing on the Democratic National Convention and the presidential debate. Coverage of Harris has focused on the portrayal of her as a youthful ‘brat’, excessive focus on aesthetics, and the lack of critical analysis in mainstream media. They explore the implications of her political identity, the gaslighting from the media, and the ongoing issues of racism in migration policies. The conversation culminates in a critique of the superficiality of political discourse and the need for accountability in journalism.

Key takeaways:

• The media’s coverage of Kamala Harris has been overwhelmingly positive, lacking critical analysis.
• The Democratic National Convention was more about aesthetics than substance.
• Harris’ image is crafted to appeal to youth culture, but it raises questions about authenticity and effectiveness with young voters.
• There is a significant shift in Harris’ political ideology towards conservatism since the 2020 Presidential Election.
• The media often gaslights the public, framing critiques as radicalism.
• The debate between Harris and Trump highlighted their similar right-wing stances, highlighting the acute similarities in the ideological policies between the Democrats and Republicans.
• Racism, migration, and foreign military policies are critical issues that are often overlooked in media narratives.
• The illusion of choice between Trump and Harris obscures deeper systemic issues.
• The burden of proof for political accountability has shifted away from candidates to the electorate with the effect of silencing any critique about the ruling class.
• The concept of joy in politics is being co-opted, losing its radical roots.