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Former VP Harris slams president in first major speech since Trump took office

MICHEL MARTIN, HOST:

Former Vice President Kamala Harris has gone public with a pointed critique of President Trump's first 100 days in office. As KQED's Scott Shafer reports, it comes as Harris is considering a run for governor of California.

SCOTT SHAFER, BYLINE: Harris spoke at a dinner last night marking the 20th anniversary of Emerge America, which helps elect Democratic women. It was her first major speech since leaving office in January, and the former vice president didn't mince words about the administration that followed hers and Joe Biden's.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

KAMALA HARRIS: Instead of an administration working to advance America's highest ideals, we are witnessing the wholesale abandonment of those ideals.

SHAFER: Harris said unless Congress and the courts stand up to Trump, the nation will face a constitutional crisis.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

HARRIS: They are counting on the notion that if they make some people afraid, it will have a chilling effect on others. But what they're overlooking - what they have overlooked - is that fear is not the only thing that's contagious. Courage is contagious.

(APPLAUSE)

SHAFER: She called on Americans to unite against attacks on judges and the courts while supporting due process and equal justice for everyone, including immigrants. Harris, who was a U.S. senator from California when Biden picked her to run for vice president, is mulling over a run for California governor next year when Governor Gavin Newsom's term ends. She made no mention of her own political future during the speech. The race has already attracted a slew of well-known Democrats, including former Congresswoman Katie Porter and former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, who says he's staying in the race no matter who gets in. Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis is hoping to become the state's first female governor, but would likely shift to another statewide office if Harris gets in.

For NPR News, I'm Scott Shafer in San Francisco.

(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC) Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.

NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record.

Scott Shafer

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SOMOS CONNECTICUT es una iniciativa de Connecticut Public, la emisora local de NPR y PBS del estado, que busca elevar nuestras historias latinas y expandir programación que alza y informa nuestras comunidades latinas locales. Visita CTPublic.org/latino para más reportajes y recursos. Para noticias, suscríbase a nuestro boletín informativo en ctpublic.org/newsletters.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.