the dnc, which is taking place steps away at the united center. it's expected to start in just a few minutes. live coverage when it gets underway here on c-span. you can also watch on the c-span now free mobile video app, and online at c-span.org. ♪

things like fighting for climate, keeping reproductive access accessible, fighting for accessible education. there are policy priorities that kamala harris and tim walz can deliver in. even though they may be somewhat distant when it comes to age, when it comes to policy priorities, they align closely with young people. host: has kamala harris always aligned with those policy areas, where has she delivered in the past? guest: kamala harris, contrary to popular belief, has delivered across the board. it was her about that resulted in the passing of the act, the

most important climate history policy we have seen. this lowers carbon emissions to anything we've ever seen, even lower than the obama administration. not only that, they invested more in the climate crisis, and sharing generations like mine will have a habitable planet. showing leadership in that regard is just one portion of her resume as vice president. she also proceeded over the appointment of the first black supreme court justice, currently chairs the office of gun violence prevention, an issue that is near and dear to people like myself who have grown up in this gun violence epidemic. we go to school with fear is that we may be met with bullets when we are just trying to pursue our education. host: you are there in chicago as a superdelegate. how much our viewers watching on tv going to see young people at this dnc, who will appear this

week that is speaking to that youth vote? guest: first of all, there are many young delegates across the board. representatives from the high school that are here, colleges, young dems coming out in ensuring young people are not just represented on paper but in practice here at the convention. when it comes to this because that will be witnessing, people at the top of the ticket, kamala harris, tim walz who have align closely with the priorities of the youth. the people we are most excited to see are those at the top of the ticket. host: the biden administration supporting the war in gaza causing so much controversy on college campuses this past spring. when kamala harris speaks on thursday, does she need to address that issue specifically to help youth voters, college students understand where she stands on that?

guest: the simple answer is yes. many of my personal friends are those who were beaten by cops and arrested for simply exercising their first amendment rights. we strongly believe that vice president harris needs to make it clear where she stands on the issue. personally i would advise her to be firm on statement for conditional funding to israel. we are not saying we need to walk back from a decades long allied relationship with a country. we are seeing there needs to be a clear red line in the sand, when our allies violate international human rights, the right to life, we need to make a clear stand against that. the best way we can do that is by holding our fiscal power as the unipolar hegemon across the international community. host: do you see a difference

between joe biden and kamala harris on the war on gaza? guest: 100%. kamala harris represent something that is not beholden to the foreign policy establishment. this is a bipartisan foreign policy establishment. she is something new, not beholden to that david she has been showing than on the campaign trail. as soon as she announced, she was quick to sympathize with cap his protesters. i understand where you are coming from. i will meet you where you are at and we will figure out a way forward to make sure that your views are represented in government. that move was historic. not only that, she pick somebody like tim walz, somebody from minnesota, where the uncommitted vote is the strongest. she has a clear commitment to the voters. this is starkly different from the democratic party of the past. as a young organizer, i could not be more proud, and this is how you turn on the youth about. host: taking your phone calls.

phone lines as usual. democrats, (202) 748-8000. republicans, (202) 748-8001. independents, (202) 748-8002. he is joining us ahead of day one of the dnc from that location out there in chicago, live from chicago. i want to thank our partners for allowing us to set up in their building this week as we bring you guests from the democratic national committee should. there is the shot from that building, as we take a call from vincent, oklahoma, republican. good morning. caller: good morning. i don't feel much about building, watching the conventions, but i don't want harris to win. host: why don't you want harris to win? caller: i don't think it is time

for the first female president to be elected. host: what would you say to that? guest: i completely understand the concern. many people do feel like the process could have been more transparent in the shift from god into harris, but it will be clear that harris is truly the president for the people when she ends up winning in november. looking at the polls right now, she is beating donald trump across the board. she has a lead in key swing states like pennsylvania, michigan, wisconsin. even north carolina is coming into play. while i sympathize with vincent's concerns, i believe come november, we will see you bought kamala harris was selected to be the nominee as someone who can win the election, but also someone who has the support of the american people. host: what would you say to those who say you she was not picked by democrats?

which you have benefited from a traditional primary? guest: i firmly believe that if she was in a primary process, she would have been able to survive. the word "benefit," is tough to apply to these historic times. one is more important to focus on is the fact that there is a clear contrast between both tickets in this present election. we have one ticket where one man is more concerned about his ego there in the best interest of our country. someone who stayed on when he is clearly declining. on the other, president biden was going to check his own ego and say i did a great job serving for the past four years but the best thing i can do for this nation is pass the torch. i think that is the most democratic thing possible. checking your own ego and doing what is best for the american people. kamala harris has proven that she is a capable star on the national stage.

with a primary process or not, i believe she is more than capable, more than deserving to take up this democratic nomination. host: scott in ithaca, new york. caller: i'm actually registered as a democrat but i want to say, and the undereducated voting public right now, especially young people, it is abhorrent. the energy policies are inextricably tied to the economy. i want to make a quote that will shock you, sir. president obama said this september 6, 2012, at his inauguration in charlotte, north carolina. "when we develop 100 years supply of natural gas right beneath our feet. if we choose this path, we can cut our oil imports by 2020 and support more than 600,000 new jobs in natural gas alone. kamala harris was never elected to her position that she is

trying to get to right now like you just mentioned. she horribly lost in the primary process went she tried to run for president. she is going back and forth on drilling, not drilling. clearly, barack obama said it, we had 100 years of natural gas below our feet. we have to do geothermal, modular, nuclear. it is way beyond her intellectual capacity that she has never done the homework for. host: i get the sense you are a registered democrat -- guest: but i am -- caller: but i am leaning toward trump because of this issue with energy. host: we got your point. guest: i think there is an alternative view to look at the issue of energy. the issue of energy is one where there is extensive fossil fuel innovation. my hometown is fremont,

california, right in silicon valley. every day we are witnessing countless innovations within the field. it is important to not remain beholden to the norms of the past. we have to look to solar energy, wind power, other forms of renewables. that is when kamala harris has committed to. important not just look at her words but her record. she was the tie-breaking vote for the inflation reduction act, which ended up investing more money in climate than ever in history. i do understand where you are coming from. i would strongly urge you to vote democrat. there is a disparity here, one person is touting the policies of the past, somebody is touting the policies of the present. host: a question from one of our viewers. a portion of our viewers tweeting along throughout the program. michael thorton asking, but are

the young people actually going to vote? because often they do not. guest: 100%. college democrats of america is proud to boast over 200 50 chapters expanding 25 states including consequential swing states like michigan, wisconsin, arizona and more. we will be on the ground making sure that young people and vote. we are seeing 41 million potential gen z voters in this election cycle. we are working around the clock to make sure they turn out. to answer your question, yes, young people will get out and vote. host: from jean in new york, on an issue that impacts young people, does the gas to support the return of the military draft? guest: i personally do not, no. i personally think, as young people, we should have the capacity to determine our own

future pathway. i feel like the draft the holds us to a pathway that may not be ideal for every single american. host: sonya in new carlyle, ohio. caller: i want to know my we are not getting an opportunity to see everybody running in the campaigns? host: what do you mean? caller: why isn't jill stein or rfk junior being introduced in any of this? they are just completely being left out and i don't get it. host: you mean at the democratic national convention? caller: i don't mean at the convention. they are being left out of everything. they are not being considered for debates. a lot of what kennedy is raising is big issues that america really needs to talk about.

he is really talking about existential threats to our country and nobody is listening. host: completely agree. rfk junior has touched on a myriad of vital issues. he was one of the first to discuss the terrible impact that major corporations like blackrock are having on our real estate market, buying up houses, insuring the average american home buyer, somebody of my age, can only afford the dream of a boardinghouse. while i don't agree with jfk on a myriad of issues, he brings an important voice to the stage. i want to make it clear that within the race there are two candidates that have a clear lead, kamala harris and donald trump. right now rfk is pulling in the single digits. the amount of coverage you receive in the spotlight correlates to the current amount of support you have.

we have witnessed him have a sharp decline. that is a representation of how the american people feel. i think it is fair to focus on the two clear favorites within the election, and that is kamala harris and donald trump. host: in alabama, randy. four democrats. caller: no way in god's green earth that i would vote for kamala harris. host: you say that as a democrat? caller: as a democrat, lifelong, 60 years, but i will never vote for another one. host: who was the last democrat you voted for? caller: i didn't vote last time. no way i would vote for joe biden. this time i'll be voting for donald trump, the only one right now that is worth thinking about having. kamala harris' record is terrible in california, she ruined california.

we don't need her running the united states. y'all have a blessed day. guest: talking about her record, it's important to set a clear distinction between both of the candidates. we are witnessing one man who is a six-time failed businessman, bankrupted six times, convicted felon, impeached president twice, failed to conduct an insurrection on our democracy, the most foundational document of our country's history, the constitution. that record speaks volumes. it's important that we make a clear distinction. i understand there might be some concerns of kamala harris' past, but that pales in comparison to what we are up against. not only to preserve the democracy but the most foundational document of our country, it's important that we make this distinction, do all we can to support the democratic nominee.

host: how did you become a superdelegate? what was your path to college democrats? guest: for me, my involvement started when i was 16 during the 2020 primaries. seeing that convoluted field of so many capable candidates, i couldn't help but fall in love with the spear. i ended up choosing andrew yang as my candidate of choice, someone i credit to my start in politics. sadly she is no longer a democrat. i wish he would come back to the party. we would wish him back with open arms. but he proved to me that you don't need to be a senator, mayor, career politician to get involved in the severe. you just have to be a smart, normal guy with some good ideas, vision for our country. channeling that an injury of being a normal guy with the desire to be a difference.

i joined my local capture th san diego, been doing work locally, rose the ranks to the california college democrats, now the college democrats of america. i am proud to be a superdelegate, the youngest within the state of california. host: what does a superdelegate do? guest: we are kind of the tie-breaking vote when it comes to nominating the nominee. we are not beholden to a specific voting pattern. we are not pledged delegates where we have to vote in a way the district has. we are a class within the party that represents high-level democratic party officials who have extensive knowledge within internal party politics, granted a major essay in determining who the nominee is. host: do all vice president's of college democrats become superdelegates?

guest: yes, that's correct. both our president and vice president receive seats as dnc members. through that, we both received superdelegate. host: you touched on this with the war on gaza, you go to uc san diego. what was your experience in the spring amid those protests? guest: it was historic. uc san diego, we are a stem campus, it is not common to see major demonstrations. but i saw thousands of my fellow students took to the streets, take to the public and protest against what they deem to be global injustice. since we are witnessing such historic turnout, not just within my own campus but across campuses across the country, important to address these concerns. let's be clear, these protesters

are not some type of pro-hamas radical elected gop likes to claim. many are sympathetic college students simply standing for what they believe in, standing up for the recognition of the palestinian state, two state solution, unilateral cease-fire. the best way to put it is utterly historic. this is one of those moments where we witnessed the moral clarity of youth. college democrats of america are proud to stand with them. host: how did the administration at uc san diego handle those protests, do you think they handled it well? guest: i do not. there was a very heavy-handed approach where they pretty much brought in cops, simply steamrolled the entire operation. me and some of my friends were beaten. many more students were arrested

and permeated through campus. i think that is utterly unacceptable. college campuses need to prioritize the safety of their students. they shouldn't be weaponizing the police against them. the police should be there to protect them. they teach us all about civic disobedience and standing up for what we believe in. but when we actually take the streets, college administrations need to be there. they need to live up to the ideals and when we are out there making good travel and exercising a first amendment right, the right to assembly, they should be right there with us. they don't have to agree with us, but ensure that we are safe instead of standing against us. host: what do you mean students were paraded through campus? guest: in the sense that they were handcuffed and ran through this building, one of our food courts, a place where people go hang out, a place of joy within our campus.

it had a somber veil that day because we saw students in handcuffs being marched through there. countless pictures taken by local advocates for the cause that are currently on social media and on the internet. host: agatha on x would like to talk about reproductive rights and the youth vote. guest: i'm from california so i'm very lucky to live in a state that has codified reproductive rights in the constitution but that is a truly consequential issue. >> if you are a speaker, come back to the speakers table. we want to be able to see each other. we will get started soon. thank you. pretty, free palestine -- free, free palestine. ♪

we feel very comfortable and very hopeful for the future of reproductive rights within the country, even though we witnessed a long-standing precedent like roe v. wade being overturned. host: just a couple more minutes, plenty of callers still waiting to chat with you. this is david, independent in anderson south carolina. , good morning. caller: good morning, my question is this. i recently heard harris expressing shock and dismay and surprise of the cost of living

increase over the past administration where she has been a part of the administration. in my opinion, kamala harris is a typical politician who will do and say anything to get elected. host: did you want to respond? guest: of course. do you mind repeating what he said? he kind of cut out of it on my end. host: we have got other callers waiting as well and just a moment left. republican, good morning. caller: thank you for taking the call. my question is what kind of commander-in-chief is she going to be? is she going to have the will power and authority to actually do some things? i was raised as a child -- i'm

89 years old. i remember roosevelt. i didn't realize anybody else could be president at that time. but i don't think she could make the kinds of decisions that truman made it during the second world war. i don't think she has the gumption to do it. any questions about that? host: harris as commander-in-chief. guest: i think that kamala harris is more than capable. throughout her time as vice president she has toured the international community, meeting with leaders across the international sphere. with that experience she is more than capable. i also want to address, my mind blanked for a second, but i understand the common claim that kamala harris has been in that has for four years, why hasn't she delivered on the promises that she claimed that she would ?

i want to make it clear with the vice president's role is. the vice president is meant to assist the president. a large portion of my role is to be that second person, but not always be making the most consequential decisions. because of that, she hasn't been able to execute the agenda that she wants to in ways that are different from biden. while i think that harris has been an integral part of the biden administration, it's important to realize that she's not the one at the top of the ticket, so the way that she chooses to govern is going to be different than president biden but to be clear, president biden has been a successful president. we witnessed countless investments into our infrastructure. that has brought countless jobs to local voters. biden has been a successful president but kamala harris has much more capacity to make a difference in the role of president ban as vice president. host: this is bill out of north carolina, republican, good morning. caller: my question is how much do you actually know about kamala harris' background?

you are a californian. guest: i would say i know quite a bit. i grew up in her home state. she was a d.a. and later became our senator. i think she did a good job with juggling the perpetual dilemma of being a prosecutor. juggling being both tough on crime but also harboring a humanitarian touch. i think her approach was smart on crime. figuring out ways to reduce repeat offenders and she did that very effectively. she successfully launched a program aimed at reducing recidivism rates among youth of my age group, people 18 to 21. the fruits of that program were bountiful. she has a record of taking tough jobs and delivering. because of that, that is part of the reason why she was picked as vice president and part of the

reason why we are proud to champion her at the top of her ticket. host: attending the dnc this week as a superdelegate. he the national vice president of the college democrats of america and we appreciate your time this morning. hope you have a good week in the days to come. guest: you, too, thank you so much for having me. host: the author of the book citizen's guide to presidential nominations, competition for leadership. good morning. guest: good morning. host: as we know, kamala harris didn't face a traditional competition to become leader of the democratic party. what are the potential risks in your mind of skipping that nomination contest, what are the potential rewards for doing so? guest: i think the biggest risk

is that she doesn't have as much exposure with the democratic party constituencies. she is somewhat of a blank slate to a lot of people. that is both advantageous and there are some disadvantages there. in general, competitive primaries and caucuses, when you fight over nominations, party insiders generally don't like it because you are chewing up a lot of money or attacking each other. there is the potential for a factual divide which can hurt you in the fall. in general when you have these competitive primaries, it is a net win for the parties. you get more donors, more activists. even if they don't like them winning candidate, they tend to stay active. a lot of spillovers that are advantageous from a normal standpoint. that was all gone. you had an incumbent president, virtually no competition, very little media coverage of the democratic primaries, so kamala harris comes in with being

relatively unknown. the advantage to that is that she is acceptable to the various groups in the democratic party because people in a sense can project onto her, point to different parts of her record that vibe with their own views, and accept her. host: one of the point of conventions, after there is a competitive primary, is to bring the various factions of the party together to show a unified party moving forward. what is kamala harris' job this week since we skipped that process? guest: i think she will be presenting herself to the party. the people paying attention to the news about this mostly our partisans. there are not a whole lot of

independents who will pay attention. republicans will by and large ignore this. some will pay attention but sporadically so. this is her opportunity to define who she is to the democratic constituencies in a way that will show her vision for the future. it is an incredibly important moment for her campaign to not just continue to unify the democratic party but to continue this incredible momentum that she has had. if she can bring enough groups in with full energy, it will be very hard to stop the campaign going into the fall. host: the unconventional way that she got here, does the constitution say anything about primaries or how presidential candidates need to be selected? guest: no. in fact, there is no mention of nominations,