Sparks Fly As CNN Panel Debates Kamala Harris’ Lack Of Media Appearances

CNN’s Bakari Sellers engaged in a near-shouting match with members of a CNN panel on Thursday as they debated whether Vice President Kamala Harris appearing for sit-down interviews matters to voters.

Sellers went head-to-head with political commentator S.E. Cupp and Tricia McLaughlin, a former communications director for Vivek Ramaswamy, over whether voters are concerned about Harris’ lack of sit-down interviews since launching her presidential campaign. Harris has not sat down for a single interview since becoming the presumptive nominee on July 21, when President Joe Biden dropped out of the 2024 presidential race, and instead has spoken at rallies in front of friendly audiences.

Cupp said Republican nominee Donald Trump was able to “trap” Harris by taking questions from the media during his Thursday press conference at Mar-a-Lago. Sellers said Harris does not need to be interviewed by the media in order to appeal to voters.

“Don’t nobody care about us, about somebody taking questions,” Sellers said.

“No, I speak to swing state voters all the time. They have questions, they want answers … because when fans ask them Bakari, when friends ask them, when surrogates ask them, they’re not getting the real answer,” Cupp argued.

The panel argued on whether Harris would benefit from answering questions directly, with Sellers arguing that Harris’ campaign rallies are proof that she is gaining voters’ momentum without just being “online.” Cupp argued that Sellers would be demanding any other candidate to sit down for interviews.