Alex Cooper’s “Name Her Daddy” interview with Vice President Kamala Harris was not meant to “change your political affiliation,” the podcast host mentioned, however she believes she would have been remiss to not have a dialog about girls with the presidential candidate.
The podcaster opened Sunday’s episode with a disclosure about her choice to take a seat down with Harris — an interview that ignited a firestorm on social media amongst Cooper’s common listeners, a few of whom accused her of propagating speaking factors of the Democratic Celebration and its presidential nominee. Others have been important of Harris, who has eschewed hardball mainstream media interviews in favor of “pleasant” or “protected” interviews as a substitute.
Harris’ look on the podcast is a part of a variety of media appearances this week as she campaigns forward of the Nov. 5 normal election. Deliberate for this week are solo sit-downs with Howard Stern, Stephen Colbert and the panel of “The View.”
“Name Her Daddy” has amassed a large following, significantly with younger girls who’re drawn to Cooper’s takes on intercourse, relationship and relationships, however the podcast, which she co-created in 2018 with former co-host Sofia Franklyn, additionally tackles present occasions and options interviews with folks within the information and high-profile celebrities, equivalent to Hailey Bieber, Jane Fonda, Gwyneth Paltrow, Janelle Monáe and John Legend.
Cooper, 30, knew it was uncommon for her to interview the vice chairman and addressed that within the introduction of the episode, explaining that she had struggled for some time with the choice to get entangled.
“As you guys know, I don’t often talk about politics or have politicians on the present as a result of I would like ‘Name Her Daddy’ to be a spot that everybody feels comfy tuning in,” Cooper mentioned.
“However, on the finish of the day, I couldn’t see a world by which one of many important conversations on this election is girls and I’m not part of it,” she mentioned. “I’m so conscious I’ve a really combined viewers in relation to politics, so please hear me after I say [that] my aim at present is to not change your political affiliation. What I’m hoping is that you simply’re capable of take heed to a dialog that isn’t too totally different from those that we’re having right here each week.”
The Los Angeles-based podcast host mentioned she traveled to Washington, D.C., to conduct the face-to-face interview and was given 40 minutes with Harris. “No matter was off limits,” Cooper mentioned. She mentioned she ready totally different variations of the interview that touched on subjects together with the economic system, border management and fracking, however finally determined to remain in her wheelhouse.
“The dialog I do know I’m certified to have is the one surrounding girls’s our bodies and the way we’re handled and valued on this nation,” she mentioned.
Acknowledging that “this isn’t a one-sided dialog,” Cooper’s group additionally reached out to Harris’ opponent, former President Trump, to ask him on the present.
“If he additionally needs to have a significant, in-depth dialog about girls’s rights on this nation, then he’s welcome on ‘Name Her Daddy’ any time,” she mentioned.
Harris advised Cooper that she was feeling “nice and nervous” going into the ultimate stretch of campaigning and praised Cooper on the prime of the interview.
“You and also you listeners have actually bought this factor proper, which is without doubt one of the finest methods to speak with folks is to be actual and to speak concerning the issues that individuals actually care about. … Your voice and your present is absolutely about your listeners,” Harris mentioned. “And I feel particularly now, this a second within the nation and in life, the place folks actually need to know they’re seen and heard and that they’re a part of a neighborhood. That they’re not on the market alone and so I’m actually glad to be with you.”
The 2 additionally mentioned how Harris offers with doubt, assaults on her character, the overturning of Roe vs. Wade, sexual abuse within the U.S. and easy methods to make the nation safer for girls.
After the episode was uploaded, Cooper posted a separate “Get Prepared With Me” video on Instagram. In it, she took her 3.2 million followers behind the scenes earlier than and after the interview, together with her ideas alongside the best way.
“I’m going to be sincere, after I began ‘Name Her Daddy,’ I actually didn’t see it heading within the route the place I might be sitting down with the vice chairman of the USA. However, like, dream massive, children!” she mentioned.
“I’m nervous, excited. I do know I’m gonna do my finest and never everybody goes to be happy with what I say and do, however we’re retaining this ‘Name Her Daddy’ and that’s all I can do,” she mentioned. Then, after the sit-down, Cooper added: “I’ve by no means in my life felt like an interview glided by so quick. I knew I couldn’t hit each coverage, so I did what I knew would apply to the Daddy Gang and I talked about girls. I completely perceive everybody has totally different political views. I really feel actually good that the complete episode is about girls.”
Whereas a few of Cooper’s former followers mentioned they have been “disgusted” by the interview, swore off listening to her or introduced they might unfollow her, others got here to Cooper’s protection.
“These feedback are hilarious. You might be following a intercourse constructive professional girls’s rights podcast and count on her to help Trump,” one follower wrote within the video’s feedback part.
“A few of these feedback are sooooo wild to me,” one other mentioned. “Are you not remembering the ab0rtion episode or how she introduced on a gynecologist or how she consistently talks about reproductive justice & s*xual well being? She has BEEN doing this and I’m so glad she is.”
“LOVE THIS!!!!! and should you don’t….. this isn’t an airport. you don’t have to announce your departure,” wrote one other.
Cooper started “Name Her Daddy” underneath Barstool Sports activities, however in 2021 left the media firm for Spotify underneath a deal reportedly price $60 million. With Spotify, she expanded the podcast’s attain and burnished its fame, turning into a go-to platform for celebrities. In August, Cooper signed a multi-year take care of SiriusXM reportedly price $125 million.
The podcast, which boasts hundreds of thousands of listeners per episode, has a 4.1 star score on Spotify and ranks among the many platform’s prime 5 podcasts — probably the most listened to amongst girls. It reportedly averages 5 million weekly listeners.
Occasions workers author Alexandra Del Rosario contributed to this report.
