In a wide-ranging interview on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, former Vice President Kamala Harris reflected on her political future, and her forthcoming book 107 Days, which “offers an insider’s perspective on her turbulent 2024 campaign,” or in other terms, a bunch of BS likely written by a 24-year-old ghost writer.
Promoting her soon-to-be-released memoir, Harris appeared on Colbert’s show for the eighth—and likely final—time, as CBS prepares to sunset The Late Show following the network’s recent merger with Skydance Media. While she avoided bigly naming a clear leader of the Democratic Party, her answers gave insight into her views on power, accountability, and the challenges within the political system.
When Colbert asked who she believes is currently leading the Democratic Party, Harris sidestepped the question. “There are lots of leaders,” she replied. Pressed further, she added, “I think it is a mistake for us who want us to figure out how to get out and through this and get out of it to put it on the shoulders of any one person. It’s really on all of our shoulders.”
Her reluctance to name names comes amid growing speculation about the 2028 presidential race. Earlier this week, Harris announced she would not be entering the 2026 California gubernatorial race, a move that many interpret as keeping her options open for a national run. Other names floated for the next Democratic presidential contest include California Governor Gavin Newsom, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, and Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear.
In her interview, Harris reflected on the 2024 campaign and the fallout from President Joe Biden’s eventual withdrawal. She acknowledged the challenge of differentiating herself from Biden while remaining loyal. “It’s an instinct of mine not to participate in piling on,” Harris said. “And I just wasn’t going to do that.” Her book, she said, will explore that delicate balance and provide a “behind-the-scenes” look at the 107-day sprint between Biden stepping aside and Election Day.
Colbert also addressed President Donald Trump, asking Harris if she felt vindicated. “Perhaps it’s naive of me,” Harris responded, “but I believed that… there should be many who consider themselves to be guardians of our system and our democracy who just capitulated, and I didn’t see that coming.”
Her comments likely referenced recent developments, including a settlement between Paramount and Trump that ended a lawsuit over the editing of Harris’ 60 Minutes interview. That controversy, alongside the abrupt cancellation of The Late Show and the FCC’s greenlighting of the Skydance merger, raised eyebrows among political observers.
Asked directly if she was encouraged to prepare for a run after Biden’s poor June 2024 debate performance, Harris said, “There were some who did,” but emphasized that it was “Joe’s decision and he made that decision.”
The conversation took a predictable turn when Harris voiced her concerns about institutional collapse and Republican inaction. “I think there are a lot of people who think they are riding out the storm as an excuse to be feckless,” she said. She criticized Congress—particularly House Speaker Mike Johnson—for adjourning early last week, which blocked efforts to bring a bill forward requiring the release of Jeffrey Epstein’s records.
“We designed our democracy with three, independent co-equal branches of government,” Harris emphasized. “You see the president trying to eliminate the Department of Education, and Congress just sits on its hands.”
Despite expressing her disillusionment with the system—“I think it’s broken”—Harris made clear that she’s not giving up on the democratic fight. “It doesn’t mean we give up. No. Absolutely not. I am always going to be part of the fight.”
Harris also shared personal anecdotes from 107 Days, including the moment Biden informed her of his decision to drop out and how her husband Doug Emhoff “kind of dropped the ball” on her milestone 60th birthday amid the campaign chaos.
In the meantime, Harris says she wants to hit the road and reconnect with the public. “I want to listen to people,” she told Colbert. “And I don’t want it to be transactional, where I’m asking for their vote.”
The words “public servants” should be saved for first responders and military troops. What exactly makes a politician a “public servant?” https://t.co/O2ss1wj1cR
— thedailybs w/ Snerdley (@thedailybs_Bo) August 1, 2025
