Kamala Harris’s candid interview on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, where she discussed her views on the U.S. political system, her 2024 election loss, and her memoir 107 Days. The headline “Kamala’s Candid Confession Leaves Colbert Stunned” aligns with reports of her stating the American political system is “broken,” which Colbert described as “harrowing.” Below is the article based on the provided context and search results, tailored to the style of a news report and incorporating the dramatic tone of the headline.
Kamala Harris’s Candid Confession Leaves Colbert Stunned: ‘The System Is Broken’
New York, August 1, 2025 — Former Vice President Kamala Harris made a striking return to the public eye on Thursday, delivering a candid and emotional interview on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert that left the host visibly stunned. In her first major media appearance since losing the 2024 presidential election to Donald Trump, Harris declared the American political system “broken,” a statement that drew a collective gasp from the audience and prompted Colbert to call her admission “harrowing.”
Promoting her upcoming memoir, 107 Days, which chronicles her whirlwind 107-day presidential campaign after President Joe Biden’s withdrawal, Harris reflected on her decision to step back from public office. “I have spent my entire career in service of the people,” she told Colbert, referencing her roles as San Francisco district attorney, California attorney general, U.S. senator, and vice president. “But recently, I made the decision that, for now, I don’t want to go back into the system. I think it’s broken.”
Colbert, visibly taken aback, responded, “To hear you say that it’s broken, to hear you say that our systems aren’t strong enough, is harrowing.” Harris replied with conviction, “Well, but it’s also evident, isn’t it?” to applause from the studio audience. She elaborated, acknowledging the “many good people” in public service but expressing disillusionment with the system’s ability to defend fundamental democratic principles amid President Trump’s second term. “I always believed that, as fragile as our democracy is, our systems would be strong enough to defend our most fundamental principles. And I think right now, they’re not as strong as they need to be,” she said.
The interview, which aired on July 31, 2025, also touched on Harris’s reflections on the 2024 election. When Colbert asked if she wanted to say “I told you so” regarding her warnings about Trump’s policies—such as prosecuting political enemies, cutting Medicaid, and ignoring court orders—Harris admitted she had been “naive” about the extent of “capitulation” to Trump’s administration by institutions meant to safeguard democracy. “What I did not predict was the capitulation,” she said, her voice tinged with frustration.
Harris also shared lighter moments, revealing she avoided news coverage for months after the election, joking, “I’m just not into self-mutilation.” Instead, she turned to “lots of cooking shows” for solace. She teased a personal anecdote about her husband, former Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, “dropping the ball” on her 60th birthday in October 2024, just weeks before the election, but coyly directed viewers to her book for details.
The appearance came amid a turbulent backdrop for The Late Show, which CBS announced will end in May 2026 due to financial concerns. The cancellation followed controversy over a $16 million settlement between Paramount Global and Trump over a 60 Minutes interview with Harris during the 2024 campaign, which Trump alleged was manipulated. Colbert had publicly criticized the settlement as a “big fat bribe” to secure Trump’s approval for a corporate merger, adding a layer of poignancy to Harris’s choice of his show for her reentry into the public sphere.
Harris also addressed her decision not to run for California governor in 2026, dispelling speculation about a potential White House bid in 2028. “It’s not about saving myself for a different office,” she clarified, emphasizing her desire to travel the country as a private citizen, listening to Americans without the “transactional” motive of seeking votes. Yet, she reaffirmed her commitment to advocacy, stating, “I am always going to be part of the fight. That is not going to change.”
The interview sparked polarized reactions. Supporters, including outlets like The Los Angeles Times and Variety, praised Harris’s openness and emotional honesty, seeing it as a strategic move to reshape her influence outside elected office. Critics, however, were less kind. A Daily Mail review mocked the interview and her memoir, with some online commentators dismissing 107 Days as an attempt to recoup campaign debts, including a reported $165,000 payment to Beyoncé’s production company for an endorsement.
As Harris prepares for her book’s release, her candid confession on The Late Show signals she is far from retreating from public life. Whether her memoir and cross-country listening tour will pave the way for a political comeback remains uncertain, but her stark assessment of a “broken” system has reignited debate about the state of American democracy.