Let’s dive into a story that’s making headlines and stirring up quite a bit of chatter. We’re talking about Vice President Kamala Harris and the ever-controversial topic of fracking. Politico recently found itself in the spotlight after altering a headline related to Harris’s stance on banning fracking.
Originally, Politico published an article titled, “Harris campaign pledges she won’t ban fracking after Trump accusation.” This headline came out on a Sunday, and it seemed to frame the situation as if President Trump was making baseless accusations against Harris. However, Harris had openly supported a fracking ban several times during the 2020 Democratic primaries. So, calling it a “Trump accusation” felt off to many readers.
Harris’s campaign later clarified that neither she nor the Biden administration intends to ban fracking. This clarification was probably an effort to counter the narrative President Trump was pushing at his rallies. Trump has been vocal about Harris’s changing stance, accusing her of flip-flopping on the issue and using it to criticize the current administration’s energy policies.
Politico is calling something Harris is on record and on video several times over saying she is in favor and will ban fracking, as a “Trump accusation.” pic.twitter.com/RwjxRfF4XX
— Stephen L. Miller (@redsteeze) July 29, 2024
In response to Trump’s comments, the Harris campaign told Politico that Trump’s claims about fracking bans were an attempt to shift focus away from his own policies, which they argued favor oil and gas executives over the middle class. They highlighted that the Biden-Harris administration had passed significant climate change legislation and achieved record domestic energy production.
Despite this, Trump didn’t hold back at his rallies, labeling Harris as the “ultra-liberal driving force behind every single Biden catastrophe.” He argued that her previous support for banning fracking would lead to higher energy costs for Americans, urging them to “bring back Trump” if they didn’t like the potential price hikes.
This is a bizarre framing — it’s not an accusation or allegation. She said it on record numerous times in 2019. The news is that she just recently changed her position publicly. https://t.co/io86ijdMa3 pic.twitter.com/BUlIcE1mtn
— Andy Kaczynski (@KFILE) July 29, 2024
Politico’s article later revised its headline to “Harris campaign pledges she won’t ban fracking.” The change was made to better reflect Harris’s evolving stance on the issue, according to a spokesperson from Politico. This adjustment drew criticism, particularly on social media. CNN’s Andy Kaczynski pointed out that Harris’s past support for a fracking ban wasn’t an accusation; it was a well-documented fact.
Harris’s stance on fracking has indeed shifted over time. In 2019, she publicly supported the Green New Deal, which included a ban on fracking. During a CNN town hall, she clearly stated, “There’s no question I’m in favor of banning fracking,” and discussed the significant health and safety impacts of fracking on communities. She even made a playful yet firm declaration on “The Tonight Show” with Jimmy Fallon, where she said she would “get rid of fracking once and for all.”
