Well, that makes an even dozen. Not that you would know it, but Kamala Harris has lost her 12th major staffer since last June. As each one departed, the network newscasts avoided saying any of their names, saving the Vice President from embarrassment.
Deputy Chief of Staff Michael Fuchs will stay in his position until Early May “to ensure a smooth transition,” according to the New York Post on Monday. His departure, like all the rest, went unnoticed by ABC, CBS and NBC.
These are not minor positions either. The list of those who have left Harris include Communications Director Ashley Etienne, Chief Spokesperson Symone Sanders and Director of Speechwriting Sarah Gouda, to name just a few.
Here is Fox News on Tuesday:
Here is a complete list of the dozen Harris staffers who have left or are about to leave:
- Rajun Kaur: Director of digital strategies
- Karly Satkowiak: Director of Advance
- Gabrielle DeFrancesch Deputy Director of Advance
- Ashley Etienne: Communications Director
- Symone Sanders Chief Spokesperson
- Peter Velz: Director of Press Operations
- Vince Evans: deputy Director of Public Engagement
- Kate Childs Graham: Speechwriting Director
- Sarah Gouda Deputy Director of Speechwriting
- Sabrina Singh Deputy Press Secretary
- Nancy McEldowney National security adviser
- Michael Fuchs Deputy Chief of Staff
As they exited, the number of times their names have been mentioned on the networks? ZERO.
It’s not as though there has been no controversy about these departures. As even CNN wrote in December, there is chaos and distrust coming out of the Vice President’s office:
Worn out by what they see as entrenched dysfunction and lack of focus, key West Wing aides have largely thrown up their hands at Vice President Kamala Harris and her staff -- deciding there simply isn't time to deal with them right now, especially at a moment when President Joe Biden faces quickly multiplying legislative and political concerns.
The exasperation runs both ways. Interviews with nearly three dozen former and current Harris aides, administration officials, Democratic operatives, donors and outside advisers -- who spoke extensively to CNN -- reveal a complex reality inside the White House.
In contrast, when former Vice President Mike Pence had a (rare) staffer leave, the networks offered certainly noticed. Olivia Troye was an adviser to Pence. She left in August of 2020. On the September 22, 2020 Today, Andrea Mitchell hyped, “Most recently she was an adviser to Vice President Pence. But after eight months on the Coronavirus Task Force, she said she had to speak out, calling it the hardest decision of her life.”
That segment was three minutes and 54 seconds. The same day’s NBC Nightly News featured her for two minutes and 36 seconds. The September 22 Evening News added another 38 seconds to the details of her departure. The September 18, 2020 Good Morning America contributed another 24 seconds. In total, this was seven minutes and 32 seconds in less than a week.
Twelve major staffers have now left the Vice President’s office amidst rumors of discontent and chaos. What, exactly, is going on in the VP’s office? Don’t look to ABC, CBS and NBC. They don’t seem to care.
