‘Call Her Daddy’ podcast jumps into the political ring
Alex Cooper’s ultra-popular podcast, “Call Her Daddy,” usually features Hollywood celebrities, social media influencers or even therapists to discuss all things friendship, romance and mental health for millions of listeners each week.
This week, Cooper sat down with a not-so-typical guest: Vice President Harris.
“Call Her Daddy” is the top-listened-to podcast among women, according to Spotify, which struck an exclusive deal worth more than $60 million with Cooper in 2021. It’s the second-most-listened-to podcast overall behind Joe Rogan’s “The Joe Rogan Experience” last year and boasts “millions” of “Gen-Z and millennial listeners.”
Cooper’s listeners are mostly women and young voters, according to media research firm Edison Research. Edison confirmed a report that nearly 70 percent of “Call Her Daddy” listeners are women, while more than three-quarters are under the age of 35 and 93 percent of listeners are under age 45.
Nearly half (48 percent) of Cooper’s listening base are Democrats, while about 24 percent are Republicans and 20 percent identify as independent voters, the firm confirmed.
Cooper quickly rose to fame first at Barstool Sports with the 2018 launch of “Call Her Daddy,” before leaving the media company for her deal with Spotify. Last August, SiriusXM inked a multiyear deal, worth a reported $125 million, with the podcast star.
Harris is one of the few, if not the only, politicians to appear for an interview with Cooper, who has avoided politics — and politicians — throughout her podcast’s meteoric rise.
“As you guys know, I do not usually discuss politics or have politicians on this show, because I want ‘Call Her Daddy’ to be a place that everyone feels comfortable tuning in,” Cooper said during the episode’s introduction.
Even so, Cooper said she ultimately chose to invite the Democratic presidential nominee, along with former President Trump, given the focus on women’s rights in this election.
Cooper reportedly turned down interviews with Harris or President Biden earlier this year.
But after much deliberation, the 30-year-old host said she “couldn’t see a world in which one of the main conversations in this election is women and I’m not a part of it.”
“I am so aware I have a very mixed audience when it comes to politics, so please hear me when I say my goal today is not to change your political affiliation,” she added. “What I’m hoping is that you’re able to listen to a conversation that isn’t too different than the ones that we’re having here every week.”
The 45-minute episode, released Sunday night, largely focused on reproductive and women’s rights — issues Cooper has increasingly discussed following the Supreme Court’s reversal of Roe v. Wade.
When asked by Cooper why she chose to come on “Call Her Daddy” for a long-form interview, Harris said, “I think especially now, this is a moment in the country and in life where people really want to know they’re seen and heard, and, and that they’re part of a community, that they’re not out there alone.”
Political and media experts said Harris stands to benefit from an interview in front of Cooper’s audience, which is largely made up of two critical voting groups — women and young constituents.
“This podcast and other more niche media are a way for Vice President Harris to introduce herself as a person to people who may not know her,” said George Washington University School of Media and Public Affairs Director Peter Loge, who has worked on Democratic politics.
“She’s speaking to young women, saying ‘I understand where you’re coming from. I understand the challenges you’re facing, some of the concerns you have and the fears you have.’”
“You want to talk to people where they are. You want to be in the conversation with them,” Loge added, calling the podcast appearance “strategically smart.”
Harris recently faced criticism from some on the right for her infrequent sit-down interviews since replacing Biden atop the Democratic ticket. Harris is doing a media blitz this week and is expected to sit for multiple radio and television shows.
During her “Call Her Daddy” interview, Harris and Cooper shared stories about their mothers and values, including the shared idea of understanding one’s “power and autonomy” over their own life. This led to a broader discussion over securing the right to abortions, along with Harris’s work as a prosecutor in sexual assault cases.
Harris, who has made abortion rights one of her main policy priorities in the White House, went after Trump for appointing the Supreme Court justices who ultimately overturned Roe v. Wade and alleged the former president is “full of lies” when it comes to the issue.
In one viral moment, Harris ripped GOP criticism of her lack of biological children, declaring “this is not the 1950s anymore.”
She also called Republican vice presidential candidate Sen. JD Vance’s (Ohio) past remarks about “childless cat ladies” “mean and mean-spirited” when asked by Cooper about family dynamics.
Harris does not have any biological children but shares two stepchildren with second gentleman Doug Emhoff.
A day after the episode release, Voters of Tomorrow (VOT), a left-leaning organization focused on American youth voters, said Harris’s sit-down with Cooper showed “Daddy Gang” — the nickname for podcast fans — “how she’ll fight for women’s futures.”
“The reach that Alex Cooper has with young women in particular is huge. I think she’s really created a space for particularly young women to hear about the topics that they want to learn about and that they are interested in, but that kind of aren’t a part usually of mainstream conversations,” VOT spokesperson Jessica Siles told The Hill.
Various polls show Harris has consolidated support among the youth and female vote in recent weeks. Nationally, Harris holds a 3.4 percentage point lead over Trump, according to The Hill/Decision Desk HQ polling average.
“Even though Harris might align with these listeners already on the issues, this [episode] might be the last thing that they need to be motivated to then actually show up and vote and turn out for her, and kind of just further emphasizing the importance and the stakes of this election to that group that isn’t really always invested in outreach for,” Siles added.
Democratic strategist Kaivan Shroff further argued the “Call Her Daddy” podcast was fitting for the Harris campaign’s “branding,” which has largely appealed to the youth vote through online memes and other social media trends.
He contended this is part of a larger shift away from traditional media and how Cooper’s show could attract larger audiences than some cable news networks.
“I think it is not laying down the gauntlet kind of, but certainly, I think it reiterates her the campaign’s approach, which seems to be that they don’t feel that they are reliant on legacy media in this election in a certain way,” he said.
He noted the podcast’s unfiltered discussion of sexuality suggests Cooper’s audience is likely more “open” and comfortable discussing sensitive topics like abortion and mental health, even if listeners are not particularly politically charged on the issues.
The Trump campaign was quick to slam Harris for the interview, alleging the vice president is neglecting victims of Hurricane Helene in a series of posts Monday on social platform X.
Posting a side-by-side of the podcast with hurricane victims, the Trump War Room X account wrote, “LEFT: Kamala Harris recording an interview on the sex podcast “Call Her Daddy.” RIGHT: Hurricane victims pleading with their government to HELP after losing their loved ones, their homes, and their livelihoods. That tells you all you need to know about Kamala’s priorities.”
Harris toured hurricane-ravaged North Carolina and held a press conference with federal and state leaders Saturday, a day before her interview with Cooper was released.
Updated at 6:12 p.m.
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