Are Democrats Right to Unite Around Kamala Harris?

Published 2024-07-23
An open convention or a coronation aren’t the only two options.  


Mentioned:


“Democrats Have a Better Option Than Biden (www.nytimes.com/2024/02/16/opinion/ezra-klein-bide…) ” by The Ezra Klein Show


“What Is the Democratic Party For? (open.spotify.com/episode/1d6k0dXn8EueVP2HsIM00L?si…) ” by The Ezra Klein Show


Thoughts? Guest suggestions? Email us at [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) . You can find transcripts (posted midday) and more episodes of “The Ezra Klein Show” at nytimes.com/ezra-klein-podcast. Book recommendations from all our guests are listed at www.nytimes.com/article/ezra-klein-show-book-recs.…


This audio essay for “The Ezra Klein Show” was produced by Claire Gordon. Fact-checking by Michelle Harris, with Kate Sinclair, Mary Marge Locker and Kristin Lin. Our senior engineer is Jeff Geld. Our senior editor is Claire Gordon. The show’s production team also includes Annie Galvin, Rollin Hu, Elias Isquith and Aman Sahota. Original music by Isaac Jones. Audience strategy by Kristina Samulewski and Shannon Busta. The executive producer of New York Times Opinion Audio is Annie-Rose Strasser.

All Comments (21)
  • @Aeonicentity
    I'll save you some time and summarize, Ezra Klein goes from I've been advocating for an open convention to democracy wasn't really that important anyway in 30 minutes.
  • @TheCapn23
    An open convention would be entertaining and maybe good for the party. But to have one you need some challengers. Nobody is stepping up to challenge Harris. All of the best possible candidates are already backing Harris.
  • @kenchoat7351
    Absolutely disagree on the open convention. The story would be disunity...period.
  • Every politician is ambitious. Read Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare.
  • Biden's gesture was the gesture of a true statesman - full of courage and one that put the people over himself. My applauses to Joe Biden!
  • @jarrodf_
    The f is wrong with NYT. No position to lecture anyone on decision-making or competence
  • @bosmosis
    The Hulk Hogan rant at the Republican convention was, like faaaaar too many episodes of the past few years, pretty much straight out of Idiocracy.
  • @ricksflicks-
    Hahaha, sure Ezra. He definitely "willingly gave up" the campaign. He definitely wasn't strong armed, stripped of cash, and had the liberal corporate media turn on him. Yep, that announcement tweet that he would step down was certainly straight from ol Joe. Definitely not crafted and sent out by his handlers. Such a brave and selfless man! 😂
  • 240 million plus in largely small dollar donations says this is not a coronation
  • @fwily2580
    He was “sharp as a tack” a week ago. That’s what Kamala and all his minions told me. Why does a man who is as sharp as a tack quit the Democratic nomination?
  • @benm7270
    Not a fan of these "rant" videos. I can find editorials like this literally anywhere. I wish you'd focus on interviews.
  • @johnliu3317
    All right, now you got rid of Joe Biden, and Kamala Harris is the heir apparent. Biden should probably have dropped out earlier or even decided not to run for reelection in the first place. But here we are, and in fact, remember, when a sitting president is term limited or decides not to run for reelection, the sitting VP is the automatic favorite. That said, it would be very difficult to get rid of Harris, even if there was an open and fair primary process a year ago. So it is what is, whether she’s your favorite choice or not, you have to get behind her at this point, especially since it is Trump and Vance on the other side of the story, period. You should at least unite and win this election first, and then start bickering about policy points and next generation of leadership.
  • @crooker2
    Donald Trump should look inside himself and realize that his time on this earth is now borrowed. He needs to stop this madness and just enjoy the time he has left. Enjoy his grand kids. Trump, you shouldn't be here. Make the most of it.
  • It is amazing how so many clear-thinking people are unable to rationally review January 6, Trump, and the political landscape shaped by the way Biden and the Democrats have handled the presidency and the campaign.
  • @chrimony
    @4:17: You've got to be kidding me. They had to practically drag Joe off the stage in chains. Your very paper led the charge against him. You lie so easily.
  • @muay_khao
    The amount of Russian bots released over the last week is crazy.