Kamala Harris to release '107 Days,' book about presidential campaign
The book, written by Harris and published by Simon & Schuster, gives "a candid and personal account" of her 2024 presidential campaign, which ended with Harris conceding to President Donald Trump on Nov. 6.
Harris, the first woman in American history to serve as vice president of the United States, represented the Democratic party in the 2024 presidential election after President Joe Biden dropped out of the race, giving her just 107 days to campaign.
Harris likened her book to "a journal" of that time in a video announcing the project on Instagram.
"Just over a year ago, I launched my campaign for president of the United States... 107 days, traveling the country, fighting for our future -- the shortest presidential campaign in modern history. It was intense, high-stakes and deeply personal, for me and for so many of you. Since leaving office, I've spent a lot of time reflecting on those days. Talking with my team, my family, my friends, and pulling my thoughts together. In essence, writing a journal that is this book, 107 Days," she began.
"With candor and reflection, I've written a behind-the-scenes account of that journey. I believe there's value in sharing what I saw, what I learned, and what I know it will take to move forward. In writing this book, one truth kept coming back to me: Sometimes, the fight takes a while, but I remain full of hope and I remain clear eyed," she continued. "I will never stop fighting to make our country reflect the very best of its ideals, always on behalf of the people."
She concluded the video by thanking viewers for "being in this fight with me."
News of Harris' book follows her announcement Wednesday that she will not run for governor of California in 2026, spurring speculation of another presidential run.
She said Wednesday that in lieu of running for governor, she will direct her energy toward "helping elect Democrats across the nation who will fight fearlessly."
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Los Angeles Times
20 minutes ago
- Los Angeles Times
Indian businesses in SoCal brace for 25% tariff hike: ‘More expensive to do business day by day'
A jar of pickled mango, a popular Indian condiment, costs $2.99 at Pioneer Cash & Carry in Artesia. But that price won't hold for long. The grocery store, nestled in the heart of Artesia's Little India, has to raise prices to keep up with its rising costs in light of President Trump's trade policy with India. Beginning Friday, there will be a 25% tariff on Indian goods. Because the two nations could not reach an agreement before Trump's deadline, the president signed an executive order Thursday night authorizing the tariffs for goods from India and several other countries to start in seven days. Several businesses that rely on imported Indian goods in the Los Angeles area told The Times they would have to raise prices to maintain operations with the steep tariff. Business owners expressed anxiety over not knowing what the next couple of weeks or months will look like for their bottom lines. Devraj Keray, the owner of Pioneer Cash & Carry, said some vendors already notified him that prices will go up 25% effective Monday. The business, which is one of the largest Indian grocery stores in California, will have to raise prices on imported Indian products. 'We'll have to pass that on to the consumer,' he said. 'There's not really any way around that.' The grocery store, which has two locations in Artesia, has been owned and operated by family since 1982. Keray said he anticipates customers will buy less, but they'll still need basic grocery items. 'People will cut back, so we'll feel a bit of a pinch,' he said. 'It's getting more and more expensive to do business day by day. It's not going to be easy for the smaller guys.' Artesia's Little India area is a cultural hub for the community, and it's one of the largest Indian enclaves in Southern California. Artesia City Councilmember Zeel Ahir said the strip of businesses along Pioneer Boulevard is the 'heart and soul' of the area for Indians. 'It provides a sense of warmth and a homely feeling to know that the goods that were available in India for some immigrants are available here as well,' said Ahir, who has lived in the area for all her life. India 'is our friend,' Trump said on his Truth Social platform announcing the taxes, but its tariffs on U.S. products 'are far too high.' Trump's announcement of a 25% tariff on Indian goods on Wednesday came after a universal baseline tariff of 10% on imports from all foreign countries has already been in place for months. Indian goods exports to the U.S. totaled more than $87 billion in 2024, according to the Office of the United States Trade Representative. The trade deficit with India was $45.7 billion last year, up more than 5% from 2023. Pharmaceuticals, jewelry, textiles, spices and food products are among the common imports. The Trump administration maintains that tariffs will 'strengthen the international economic position' of the United States and protect American workers. In addition to the 25% tariff on its products exported to the U.S., India is also facing an unspecified penalty for buying Russian oil. 'I don't care what India does with Russia,' Trump wrote in a Truth Social post on Thursday. 'They can take their dead economies down together, for all I care.' Negotiations between the two countries continue, but local businesses are still scrambling to cope with the change in operations. Beyond Artesia, which is in southeast Los Angeles County, the city of Los Angeles has several Indian grocery stores, apparel stores and other businesses that depend on Indian imports. Dalbir Singh Ghotra, the owner of Kavita Grocery in the Palms neighborhood, said the tariff would 'spell disaster for small businesses like us.' After running the grocery store for the past three decades and keeping doors open through tough economic periods, Ghotra said he's already seen sales drop recently as customers have tightened their belts amid growing economic uncertainty. Just down the road at Bollywood Styles, a clothing and accessory store, owner Sneh Prasad said recent sales have dipped to the lowest levels she's recorded in roughly 18 years, she said. With the vast majority of her inventory imported from India, Prasad is concerned about what lies ahead. 'Businesses have already become harder for mom-and-pop stores like us,' she said. 'If the import prices go up, I do not know how we will survive since sales may fall drastically.' Many business owners said they have already seen foot traffic and sales slow down this summer. Some believe the downturn could be because customers are afraid of possible immigration raids targeting businesses that attract primarily immigrant customers. 'Ninety-nine percent of our customer base is Asian, from the Indian subcontinent, and [some] are not sure if they would even be able to live here,' said Krutika Pranav, the manager at Highglow Jewelers in Artesia. 'All of that adds to the fear, and we've seen a tremendous slowdown because of that. The tariffs will make it even worse.' Prashant 'Peter' Patel, the president of the Indian American Business Assn. and Chamber, which is based in Florida but has ties to small businesses across the country, said Indian business leaders have a general sense of anxiety. He remains hopeful that the two countries' leaders will reach a resolution soon. 'This is the time for diplomacy and pragmatism,' he said. 'Our goal is not to politicize this issue, but to represent the voice of those working hard every day to grow businesses that serve, employ and uplift communities.' Others were not as optimistic. 'It's like a chess game, to see who makes the first move,' said Keray, the owner of Pioneer Cash & Carry. 'It's just a matter of how far it goes before the consumer is the one that becomes a victim of all this.'
The Hill
20 minutes ago
- The Hill
Senate leaving Russia sanctions power fully in Trump's hands
Republican senators are getting ready to leave Washington without advancing a major sanctions bill against Russia, giving President Trump sole discretion over whether to follow through on his threats against Russian President Vladimir Putin if he refuses to halt his war against Ukraine. Trump has given an Aug. 8 deadline for Putin to stop fighting or risk tariffs on countries that import Russian oil. As a preview, he announced 25 percent tariffs on India, a major importer of Russian energy. That's far below the 500 percent secondary tariff power Congress laid out in draft legislation. While Senate Ukraine hawks wanted to see their sanctions bill pass before the monthlong break, they ultimately left the decision entirely in Trump's hands, at least for the summer. 'I think he's going to be very careful about what he does,' Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) said when asked by The Hill if Trump can be trusted to impose costs on Putin. 'But I think he is clearly disappointed in Putin and I think he is now coming around to recognizing that many of us were right.' Democrats have expressed skepticism Trump will punish Putin, even as the president has shown increasing frustration with the Russian leader's refusal to accept a ceasefire. Trump said Friday he ordered nuclear submarines to the region in response to threats of nuclear weapons use from Dmitry Medvedev, the former Russian president, current deputy chair of the security council and frequent online provocateur. 'Words are very important, and can often lead to unintended consequences, I hope this will not be one of those instances,' Trump posted on his social media site Truth Social. Trump told reporters Thursday that his special envoy for peace missions, Steve Witkoff, is expected to travel to Russia following a visit to Israel on Friday. Trump described Russia's ongoing attacks against Ukraine as 'disgusting.' 'We have about eight days. … We're going to put sanctions,' he said. Even as Trump has shortened the deadline for Russia to get serious about peace talks, the president is hedging on the impact U.S. financial penalties will have on Putin's country. 'I don't know that sanctions bother him. You know? They know about sanctions. I know better than anybody about sanctions, and tariffs and everything else. I don't know if that has any effect. But we're going to do it.' While the U.S. has steadily ramped up sanctions on Russia throughout the war, the Senate bill would have marked a major economic escalation, seeking to isolate Moscow from trading partners that have kept its wartime economy afloat. 'Maintaining pressure on Russia economically, and going after its oil revenues in particular, remain crucial to containing and limiting Russia's current and future military and foreign policy options,' experts with the Center for Strategic and International Studies wrote in a report late last month. Steep tariffs on Russia's trading partners would also risk shocks to the global energy market and further strain on U.S. relations with major economies such as India, China and Brazil. Sen. James Risch (R-Idaho), chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said deciding which sanctions are imposed — if Russia passes Trump's deadline — 'are a work in progress,' speaking with The Hill on Friday. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), coauthor of the Russia sanctions bill with Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), said he would view it as a win if Trump imposed even a fifth of what the Senate was proposing. 'We propose in our bill 500 percent. If it's 250 percent, I could live with it. Even if it's 100 percent, possibly. But you ought to impose bone-crushing sanctions that will stop them from fueling Russia's war machine,' Blumenthal said. The Connecticut senator said even as he holds out hope for Trump to give Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) the green light to bring the sanctions bill to the floor, the bill has already moved U.S. policy. 'It has given credibility and momentum to the idea of sanctions so that now, even President Trump, who was seemingly Putin's best buddy, is giving him deadlines to stop the war or face sanctions,' he said. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, pointed to Trump's 25 percent tariffs on India as further evidence of this impact. Indian state oil refiners have already moved to pause imports of Russian oil, with the tariff set to go into effect Aug. 7. 'Clearly, India was paying attention to that. I think it's positive progress that the president is looking at ways in which he can put more pressure on Russia,' she said. Graham said Trump has 'adopted the theory of the case' — going after countries that purchase Russian oil and don't help Ukraine. 'He can do it through executive action, or with the bill,' he said. 'I think the bill, as you say, gives him leverage, and we're in good discussions, so stay tuned.' But some Republican senators pointed to a missed opportunity in adjourning before a vote on the Graham-Blumenthal bill. 'I don't think there are enough sanctions we can place on Russia. I think we should keep hammering them and make sure Ukraine's armed,' said Sen. Pete Ricketts (Neb.), the No. 2 Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Rounds told The Hill he believed the time is now to put the sanctions bill on the floor. Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.), chair of the Senate Foreign Relations subcommittee on Europe and Regional Security Cooperation, said he wanted a Senate vote on the sanctions package so the House could be ready to take it up when they come back in September. 'I think having that tool in your tool chest, ready to go, would be a good thing and keep the pressure on Russia,' he said. 'I think it gives [Trump] more leverage. You can always hold it ready to go, send it over to the House if needed and then to the president's desk. I think that's not a bad strategy.' Sen. John Curtis (R-Utah), also a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, agreed. 'I think that's why it's important for us to have this teed up and ready — it gives [Trump] an option, and the more options he has the better,' he said. Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee, told The Hill on Wednesday that Thune was 'absolutely aware' of his desire to vote on the Russia sanctions bill before the August recess. 'I certainly think it would be an excellent thing to do.' Thune's office told The Hill on Friday it had no scheduling announcements related to the Graham-Blumenthal bill.
The Hill
20 minutes ago
- The Hill
Senate deal on nominees elusive amid Democratic anger at Trump
President Trump, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (N.Y.) are making slow progress toward a deal to clear some of the Senate's backlog of executive branch nominees to allow weary senators to leave Washington for the four-week August recess. Walking off the darkened Senate floor at 10 pm Friday, Thune said negotiators 'floated' proposals 'back and forth all day' but added that the Democratic demands 'are probably not going to be something at this point we can meet.' 'No deal yet,' he said. The Senate is scheduled to reconvene at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday and will vote at 10 a.m. to limit debate on Andrew Puzder's nomination to serve as U.S. ambassador to the European Union. Democrats are under heavy pressure to oppose Trump in any way they can, including stymying his nominees, and their anger soared again on Friday after the president fired Erika McEntarfer, the commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, after the agency released a weaker-than-expected jobs report. Trump accused McEntarfer, a Biden appointee, of manipulating the jobs data for 'political purposes' but Schumer said the president was only 'shooting the messenger.' Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), the Democrats chief deputy whip, said called the firing 'absolutely insane' while Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) called it 'Soviet sh–.' Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) said he's willing to stick around steamy Washington for however many days it takes to grind through votes on Trump's nominees, showing little appetite for a deal to advance a bloc of Trump picks through unanimous consent or a voice vote. 'I know there's a lot of things being negotiated so I'm not going to comment on that,' he said when asked if he could support advancing a package of Trump nominees. 'I'm okay with sticking around to do work. It's unfortunate that we have a Republican Party right now that's off the rails and doing Donald Trump's bidding,' he said. Booker said Trump's decision to fire the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics because of a disappointing jobs report was 'very authoritarian, very 1984.' Senators are now expected to spend their weekend voting on Trump's nominees as Democrats have refused to allow any of them — even those tapped to fill subordinate positions at federal departments and agencies — to be confirmed by unanimous consent or voice votes. Senators on both sides of the aisle are eager to get home for the month-long break, having spent more time in Washington than usual since the start of the year. As of this week, members of the Senate have cast more votes during the first seven months of the year than the chamber had previously taken over 12 months in 32 of the past 36 years. But they will have to wait to return to their home states as leaders continue to wrestle over a deal on a nominations package and as Democrats are hearing demands from their party's base to drag out the confirmations of Trump's nominees for as long as possible. Democratic senators said they had little sense of whether Schumer was making any progress with Trump on a deal. 'Could be more votes tonight or could be more votes tomorrow but I don't really know,' Sen. Tim Kaine (R-Va.) said shortly after 8 pm. Some senators were told to 'keep their phones on' Friday night in case they were summoned back to for a late-night flurry of votes. Republicans ranged from pessimistic to optimistic when asked about the prosect of a deal on a package of nominees to spare them from having to return to the Capitol for a Saturday session. 'At this point, I think they're quite a ways apart,' Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) told The Hill upon emerging from a conference luncheon earlier in the day. 'We'll do our best to try to work through as many [nominations] as we can and kind of move from there,' Rounds said. 'We don't have a deal. We're going to continue to try to work on something, but we don't have a deal yet.' Sen. Tom Tillis (R-N.C.) told The Hill after 8 p.m. Friday that it appeared the White House and Schumer's team had made progress since lunchtime. The talks reached new stage on Friday as Schumer began negotiating directly with the White House on the contours of a package. Thune told reporters that he has put White House officials 'into conversation directly' with Schumer's team. 'That is how this is ultimately going to get resolved,' he said. The Republican leader said that 'a number of people' from the White House are talking with Schumer, who is under heavy pressure from his Democratic base to use every tool at his disposal to thwart Trump's agenda. Thune said a deal would be 'up to the discussions between the White House and Schumer and the Democrats.' He and other Republicans assert that Trump is being treated unfairly on the nominations front, noting that none of his choices have been confirmed via unanimous consent or a voice vote — breaking with past precedent. The Democratic tactics have forced Republicans to churn through time-consuming procedural votes and final confirmation votes on every single Trump nominee Democrats only allowed Secretary of State Marco Rubio to come directly to the floor for a final vote on the same day Trump took the oath of office. Rubio was confirmed by a vote of 99 to 0. 'This isn't normal. This is petty partisan politics at its worst,' Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) said on the floor earlier on Friday. 'Republicans are not backing down. We will continue to confirm President Trump's nominees. The easy way if we can. The hard way if we must.' Senate Republicans weekly policy luncheon on Tuesday was filled with discussions about changing the Senate's rules for confirming lower-level nominees — either by eliminating the need for procedural votes before the final confirmation votes, collapsing the mandatory debate time, or allowing nominees to move in groups. They would need to establish new rules by a simple-majority vote, a move that's considered so destructive to bipartisanship that it's referred to the 'nuclear option.' Under regular order, it would take 67 votes to change the Senate's rules. Senate Republicans are also talking about putting the Senate into an extended recess so that Trump could fill scores of open positions through recess appointments. But that would require mustering 50 Senate Republican votes, something that's not assured given that several Republican senators, including Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Tillis are reluctant to give up their constitutional role of providing 'advice and consent' on nominees. Entering into a multi-week recess would require passing an adjournment resolution through both the Senate and House, and Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) hasn't given any indication he plans to call House members back to Washington before September. Trump has called on the Senate to stay in session throughout August in order to approve his nominees, but the vast majority of senators are ready for a break. The Senate has been in session for 12 of the past 14 weeks and had its July Fourth recess chopped in half because of marathon negotiations over Trump's One Big, Beautiful Bill Act, which passed after senators slogged through a long series of amendment votes that went overnight and into the next day. While Senate leaders remain deadlocked over a nominations deal, they achieved a major bipartisan accomplishment Friday evening when they passed a package of appropriations bills to fund military construction, the Department of Veterans Affairs and Agriculture, and the legislative branch. The Senate voted 87 to 9 to pass the military construction, veterans affairs and agriculture appropriations 'mini-bus' and 81 to 15 to attach the legislative branch appropriations bill to the package.
