Megan Rapinoe, the former U.S. women's national soccer team player, recently joined former Vice President Kamala Harris for an interview on the podcast "Why Are You Like This?" The discussion touched upon women's sports, perceived setbacks in equal rights, and Harris's political future.
During the interview, Rapinoe expressed concern about a "significant regression" in women's sports since the peak of her playing career, suggesting a connection between this trend and broader issues of equal rights. "I definitely think those two are tied," Rapinoe stated.
Harris, who recently concluded her 2024 presidential campaign following a loss to Donald Trump, also discussed her own experiences and motivations for entering politics. She described her parents taking her to "marches" as a child, which she associates with her later educational and political aspirations.
The conversation also delved into Harris's reflections on her identity as a woman in politics. When asked by Rapinoe to describe her experience, Harris used the phrase "the boy next door" as a point of comparison, which she then contrasted with the difficulty of finding an equivalent four-word phrase to describe women.
Rapinoe also questioned the current state of women's sports, lamenting what she perceives as a decline from a period of significant progress. She implied that limitations or changes in how men's and women's sports are structured are linked to a broader erosion of rights.
Harris touched on economic and political power, noting "a concentration of wealth and power among a few, to the exclusion of the most." When asked about her potential candidacy for the 2028 presidential nomination, Harris indicated that she has not yet made a decision.
The interview, characterized by its fawning tone towards Harris, also included moments where Harris discussed her post-vice presidency life and her perspective on societal power structures. The conversation highlighted Rapinoe's continued activism in areas related to women's rights and sports, alongside Harris's ongoing engagement in public discourse.