Vice President Kamala Harris stepped into a cultural minefield with an unaired interview on the online series “Subway Takes,” only to have it shelved for being too bizarre for public consumption, according to The New York Post.
For those unfamiliar, Harris recorded a segment for the popular web show hosted by Kareem Rahma in the summer of 2024, where guests typically share quirky opinions on everyday topics, but this one went so off the rails that both sides agreed to bury it.
The premise of “Subway Takes” is simple: guests offer hot takes on mundane issues, often sparking lively debate or laughs among viewers.
Harris, a prominent figure in Democratic politics, was expected to bring something relatable or at least coherent to the table. Instead, what unfolded was a masterclass in awkwardness that conservatives might see as emblematic of a disconnected progressive mindset.
Initially, Harris’s team pitched a safe topic—her stance against passengers removing shoes on airplanes, a pet peeve many could nod to.
But when the cameras rolled, she veered into uncharted territory with a peculiar claim that caught everyone off guard.
“Bacon is a spice,” Harris declared, as later reported by The New York Times from the unpublished footage. For a conservative audience, this isn’t just an odd culinary opinion; it’s a head-scratcher that feels like a metaphor for overcomplicating the obvious—bacon is bacon, not a seasoning. One wonders if this reflects a broader tendency to reinvent reality to fit a narrative.
Rahma, the host who is Muslim and abstains from pork, was visibly stunned by the comment, responding with a polite but baffled, “I don’t know.”
His reaction mirrors what many on the right might feel: a mix of confusion and a quiet plea for common sense. It’s a small moment, but it highlights the cultural disconnect that often fuels conservative critiques of elite rhetoric.
Rahma tried to steer the conversation back to safer ground by asking if beef or turkey could substitute for bacon, even pausing the interview to explain his dietary restrictions.
Harris, however, seemed unmoved, doubling down by calling bacon “pure flavor.” To a right-leaning viewer, this persistence feels less like conviction and more like a refusal to read the room—a trait often attributed to progressive leaders.
In an attempt to salvage the segment, Rahma nudged Harris toward the pre-planned airplane shoe topic, but she pivoted yet again after a quick chat with an adviser.
Suddenly, she was championing anchovies on pizza as her next hot take. For conservatives wary of over-engineered agendas, this flip-flop might symbolize a lack of grounding, jumping from one odd idea to another without a clear tether to reality.
The interview wrapped up on a strained note, with Rahma admitting to a forced laugh and saying, “Well, I’m 100 percent unsure on both of those.” It’s a line that could double as a conservative critique of Harris’s public persona—uncertain, unconvincing, and out of touch with the average person’s concerns.
Ultimately, both Harris and Rahma agreed the segment was unfit for public viewing, with Rahma later describing it as “really confusing and weird” in a TikTok discussion with Forbes reporter Steven Bertoni.
From a right-of-center perspective, this mutual decision raises eyebrows—why hide something unless it risks exposing a flaw in the carefully curated image of a political figure? It’s a fair question, even if asked with empathy for the human tendency to err.
The content was so offbeat that Rahma worried about the potential fallout, though specifics on his concerns remain tied to the interview’s impact rather than broader political events. Conservatives might argue this caution speaks volumes about the fragility of progressive branding—every misstep must be concealed lest it shatter the illusion of competence.
Harris’ office has remained silent on the matter, offering no immediate comment when pressed for a response. This silence could be interpreted by skeptics on the right as a tacit admission that the segment was a misfire, though fairness demands acknowledging that not every incident warrants a press release.
Looking at the broader picture, this unaired interview represents a missed chance for Harris to connect on a human level through a lighthearted platform like “Subway Takes.”
For conservatives critical of the left’s cultural tone, it’s another example of progressive leaders struggling to resonate outside their echo chambers, turning even a casual chat into an oddity. Still, one must concede that not every public figure excels in every format.