S1E28: Kamala Harris and Indo-Americans’ stunning rise in US national life

The Straits Times Podcasts

We chat with Mayank Chhaya, Chicago-based veteran chronicler of the Indian diaspora, on Kamala Harris’s appeal and chances in the upcoming Nov 5 US presidential election.

Synopsis: Join The Straits Times' senior columnist Ravi Velloor, as he distils his experience from four decades of covering the continent.

In this episode, Ravi speaks with the veteran journalist, author and broadcaster Mayank Chhaya, a former staffer with India Post in California and India Abroad, New York, on the rise in US politics of Americans with Indian heritage, including presidential hopeful Kamala Harris and Nikki Haley, who challenged Donald Trump for the Republican nomination.

They discuss Ms Harris’s racial identity, her chances of victory, and whether America is heading toward being a post-race society.

Mr Chhaya also comments on prominent Indian-Americans in the business field, including the heads of Microsoft, Google, IBM and YouTube, and why Indians seem to be doing so well in many facets of American life.

Highlights (click/tap above):

1:30 Black, or Indian? ‘Harris has blended well’

6:50 Trump’s ‘just a bit younger’ than Kamala’s father

8:40 Could America see a ‘whitelash’?

10:40 A lengthening list: Usha Vance, Nikki Haley, Ro Khanna…

13:00 Judiciary, tech to pharma, “Indian Americans are everywhere”

16:00 Secret sauce behind Indian-Americans’ success

17:50 The Modi effect

Produced by: Ravi Velloor ([e-mail]) and Fa’izah Sani

Edited by: Fa’izah Sani

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