Former Adviser Reveals Controversial Decision Behind Harris Campaign
High viewership numbers for Trump's Rogan interview indicate missed opportunity to reach key voter demographic
November 14, 2024, 8:03 pm

Former Adviser Reveals Controversial Decision Behind Harris Campaign

كاملا هاريس

A senior Harris campaign official revealed that concerns about progressive backlash derailed plans for her appearance on Joe Rogan's show, highlighting a decision that's drawn criticism from Democrats following Donald Trump's victory.

Harris's campaign discussed an interview with Rogan, whose audience surpasses many TV networks, as Democrats sought to reach young Trump-leaning voters. Jennifer Palmieri, chief adviser to Harris's husband Doug Emhoff, told the Financial Times negotiations ended due to party concerns.

Palmieri, with White House and Hillary Clinton 2016 campaign experience, said Wednesday: "Strong opposition emerged from our progressive staff who opposed her participation, fearing negative reactions."

Trump's Rogan episode garnered 50 million YouTube views, while VP-elect J.D. Vance's interview reached 16 million. Harris's Democratic National Convention speech drew 29 million viewers, with her Fox News interview drawing under 8 million.

Rogan, a UFC commentator, enjoys broad youth appeal through long-form conversations covering combat arts, paranormal phenomena, sports, and politics. He endorsed Trump before the election and has faced controversy, notably when musicians including Joni Mitchell removed their work from Spotify over his COVID-19 vaccine skepticism.

Democratic Senator Bernie Sanders urged party members to appear on podcasts like Rogan's, telling CNN: "We must reach these alternative media platforms attracting millions of viewers."

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”