As part of our “Women on Wednesdays” series, please join the Women & Politics Institute for a virtual conversation with WPI Executive Director Betsy Fischer Martin and former Los Angeles Times reporter and editorial page editor of The Sacramento Bee, Dan Morain, author of the new book, Kamala’s Way: An American Life, an “essential reading for all Americans curious about the woman standing by Joe Biden’s side.”

Former Los Angeles Times reporter Dan Morain will discuss his new biography of Kamala Harris, the first Black and South Asian female Vice President, which charts “how the daughter of two immigrants in segregated California became one of this country’s most effective power players.” Morain chronicles Harris’s early career from its beginnings in the Alameda County District Attorney’s office and through her years in the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office and the United States Senate. Moving beyond the media’s portrayal of a “tough, smart, quick-witted, and demanding” prosecutor, Morain’s work thoroughly introduces readers to the woman that we now call ‘Madam Vice President’, painting a vivid picture of her “values and priorities,” and analyzing the “missteps, risks, and bold moves” she’s made during her trailblazing career.

Dan Morain has covered California policy, politics, and justice-related issues for more than four decades, including twenty-seven years at theLos Angeles Times and eight at The Sacramento Bee, where he was editorial page editor. Morain is also a regular guest on KCRW, a NPR affiliate, including shows like Which Way, L.A.? among other programs. He received his bachelor’s degree in journalism from Humboldt State University.

Betsy Fischer Martin is an Emmy-winning journalist and former TV news executive. Currently, she is the Executive Director of the Women & Politics Institute at American University and a faculty member in the School of Public Affairs, where she teaches courses on campaigns and elections. During her earlier career in television news, she spent 23 years at NBC News serving as the longtime Executive Producer of Meet the Press with Tim Russert and as the Managing Editor of NBC News Political Programming.

A native of New Orleans, Fischer Martin did her undergraduate and graduate work at American University in Washington, DC. She is a cum laude graduate of their School of Public Affairs and earned a master’s degree in Broadcast Journalism from the AU School of Communication.

"Women on Wednesdays": Dan Morain - "Kamala's Way"