Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign faced widespread criticism following revelations that it spent $100,000 to construct a makeshift set for a controversial pre-election interview with Alex Cooper, host of the “Call Her Daddy” podcast.
The expenditure, which many deemed extravagant, raised eyebrows, especially given the modest appearance of the set.
“My studio that is gorgeous in Los Angeles doesn’t even cost six figures, so I don’t know how cardboard walls could cost six figures,” Cooper quipped during a recent interview at the New York Times’ DealBook Summit.
“With love to them, it was gorgeous, but it wasn’t that nice.” The remark drew laughter from the audience and highlighted the growing skepticism over the campaign’s spending priorities.
The set was constructed in a “random house” in Washington, D.C., to mimic Cooper’s California-based studio.
However, Cooper described the replica as far from luxurious, joking, “It wasn’t like gorgeous marble, like no, that was not six figures.”
The $100,000 expenditure is just one example of what critics have called reckless spending by Harris’ campaign, which burned through significant portions of its reported $1 billion war chest in just over 100 days.

Reports revealed that the campaign spent a staggering $494 million on advertising, including $900,000 to display Harris’ face on the Las Vegas Sphere—an expense that gained attention but failed to sway voters in Nevada, where Harris ultimately lost to former President Donald Trump.
The “Call Her Daddy” interview, which aired on October 6, drew additional backlash from Cooper’s loyal fanbase, the “Daddy Gang.”
Many fans criticized her for hosting Harris and for not pressing the vice president on pressing issues such as illegal immigration and the Biden-Harris administration’s handling of Hurricane Helene’s aftermath.
Instead, the 40-minute episode focused on Harris’ criticism of Trump for appointing Supreme Court justices who overturned Roe v. Wade and her reflections on her career as a prosecutor.
Cooper defended her decision to host Harris, explaining that she felt a responsibility to her predominantly female audience to engage with the vice president ahead of a contentious presidential election.
She noted that Harris’ campaign had initiated contact to organize the interview, and she ultimately deemed the opportunity “totally worth it,” despite anticipating the backlash.
“I knew the criticism would be short-lived,” Cooper said. “For me, it was a no-brainer to have that conversation.” She also revealed that she had extended an invitation to Trump to appear on her podcast, but he declined.

The Harris interview amassed 933,000 views, a respectable number but a far cry from the massive audience drawn by Trump’s appearance on Joe Rogan’s podcast just weeks later.
Trump’s nearly three-hour interview on “The Joe Rogan Experience” garnered over 52 million views on YouTube, showcasing the stark contrast in public interest.
Rogan, who has one of the most popular podcasts in the world, later disclosed that Harris’ team had initially reached out about a potential appearance on his show.
However, negotiations fell apart when Harris refused to travel to Rogan’s Austin, Texas, studio and insisted on a strict one-hour time limit for the interview.
Despite the mixed reception, Cooper’s “Call Her Daddy” podcast remains a powerhouse. It was the second-best-performing podcast on Spotify last year, trailing only Rogan’s show, and continues to dominate the charts among female listeners.
Cooper, known for her candid discussions about sex and advice for women, ventured into new territory by hosting a political figure, a move that underscored the podcast’s cultural relevance and reach.
The fallout from the Harris interview and the campaign’s spending habits has prompted broader conversations about accountability and the effectiveness of political campaigns.

Critics argue that the exorbitant expenditures, such as the $100,000 set and the Las Vegas Sphere advertisement, highlight a disconnect between the campaign’s priorities and the concerns of everyday voters.
“When you’re spending that kind of money, you have to ask yourself: What is the return on investment?” one political analyst remarked. “In this case, the numbers speak for themselves. The campaign’s spending didn’t translate into votes.”
As the 2024 presidential election approaches, the scrutiny surrounding Harris’ campaign serves as a cautionary tale for candidates and their teams.
Voters are increasingly attuned to how campaigns allocate their resources, and missteps can have lasting repercussions.
Meanwhile, Cooper remains unfazed by the controversy, focusing on her podcast’s success and her unique ability to spark conversations that resonate with her audience.
Reflecting on the experience, she emphasized the importance of authenticity and staying true to her vision for “Call Her Daddy.”
“At the end of the day, my job is to create content that connects with people,” Cooper said. “Sometimes that means taking risks, and I’m okay with that.”
While the Harris interview may have divided her fanbase, it also highlighted the ever-evolving landscape of media and politics, where unlikely platforms and personalities can influence public discourse in unexpected ways.
For better or worse, the episode stands as a testament to the power of podcasts in shaping conversations and engaging audiences in the digital age.
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