For politicians, scandal and controversy can be bad. But becoming the object of ridicule can be even more devastating. So if Kamala Harris happens to read these words, we'd advise her NOT to watch CNN's 7 am Christmas Day hour. What she'd find under the tree would be something worse than a lump of coal. It'd be a steaming pile of . . . ridicule.
It's almost 2026, so why not a horse race segment on 2028 presidential contenders? After former Biden aide Meghan Hays and Republican strategist Melik Abdul named their favorites, Abdul observed:
"Notably, who we're not talking about: Kamala Harris."
Host John Berman put it to Hays: "Why aren't we talking about her, Meghan?"
Abdul was manifestly amused to see Hays thusly put on the spot, and even Berman couldn't suppress a grin. Hays proceeded to engage in an extended bout of nervous laughter. She questioned whether Harris would run, and was dubious about the existence of a Harris base or her ability to raise money.
On second thought, perhaps Kamala should view the segment—and draw the appropriate conclusion from it. There are 23 universities in the California state system. Surely at least one of them must have an opening for a new president!
Note: Abdul said that the potential Dem candidates that Republicans should most fear are Newsom and Shapiro. Abdul praised Newsom as "stately." I'd call him slick. He peremptorily dismissed the chances of Wes Moore and JB Pritzker, saying of the former that "no one cares about the governor of Maryland," and that Pritzker's money "won't matter."
Earlier in the segment, Berman called attention to Ron DeSantis' twitter [X] feed in the last six months, pointing out that he's posting about sports, music, and offering "unplugged commentary." Berman suggested that either "this guy has no more Fs to give," or that he wants to show a more relatable side of himself in preparation for a potential '28 run.
Here's the transcript.
CNN News Central
12/25/25
7:33 am ETJOHN BERMAN: One curveball here, Meghan. I'm a little bit obsessed with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and his Twitter feed over the last six months. Because, look, he ran for president and did not do well, right? And I think a lot of people saw him as stiff, unapproachable, prickly.
So on social media the last several months, he's tweeting about music. He's tweeting about sports. He's offering sort of unplugged commentary. I don't know if you've had a chance to see it, But it's the kind of stuff that makes you think either this guy has no Fs left to give, or, he thinks I need to show a different side of myself if I'm going to have a future in politics.
. . . Melik, who do you think Republicans fear the most?
MELIK ABDUL: I think that Republicans, well, who they should fear the most, I would argue it's between Shapiro and Gavin Newsom.
You remember the Fox News debate between Gavin Newsom or Ron DeSantis? Gavin Newsom actually performed very well. And even though he's from California, he is very, he looks the part. He's very stately. And those types of things matter from an optics perspective. But also, Shapiro being from a battleground state. I think that that is something that we also have to watch. I don't think that Wes Moore, he's the governor of Maryland. No one cares about the governor of Maryland. I don't think Pritzker, he has a lot of money. It won't matter.
I think that the two standouts will be Gavin Newsom, and Shapiro.
And notably, who we're not talking about, Kamala Harris.
BERMAN: Why aren't we talking about her, Meghan? [Abdul chuckles.]
MEGHAN HAYS: [Nervous laughter] Uh, [Abdul laughs out loud] you know, it's interesting [more nervous laughter.]
I just am not sure [Abdul having a ball, continues to chuckle] she, I don't know that she's going to run. I know she talks about leaving the door open, but I think running, you have to have a base. You have to be able to raise a lot of money, and I think there's a lot of people in the race, and I'm not sure that that's a path she wants to take again.
But, you know, again, there's probably going to be 20, 25 candidates. So, the water is warm.
