Commentary

Opinion: Kamala’s Gun and the Men in My Lyft Focus Groups

Kamala Harris started the week with a bang. “I have a Glock, and I’ve had it for some time,” she told Bill Whitaker on the Monday special edition of “60 Minutes.” I mean look at my background in law enforcement.” “Duh,” right? But it’s a point she needed to address. Kamala is a bad ass with a gun.

Published

1 year ago

October 22, 2024

Oakland Post

Vice President Kamala Harris on “60 Minutes.” Screenshot

By Emil Guillermo

Kamala Harris started the week with a bang.

“I have a Glock, and I’ve had it for some time,” she told Bill Whitaker on the Monday special edition of “60 Minutes.” I mean look at my background in law enforcement.”

“Duh,” right? But it’s a point she needed to address. Kamala is a bad ass with a gun.

Trump? He’s the big ass with a bag of burgers.

Voters need to know the things that separate the two candidates. Kamala is law and order. Trump is the lawbreaking felon with 34 convictions.

And that’s how Harris kicked off her media blitz that included “The View,” “Howard Stern,” “Call Me Daddy,” the Colbert late show, then ending up this week in Vegas for good reason.

She needs the guys.

Not the MAGA-prone White guys, but the men of color apparently blindsided by a woman who is simultaneously African American and Asian American, and who is powerful and savvy enough to make history as the 47th president of the United States.

Some Black men and Latinx men I talk to get overly macho when you ask them about voting. They blurt out the name “Trump” as if in self-defense.

So, again, Harris was happy to wave her gun to attract the guys.

“Have you ever fired it?” asked CBS’ Whittaker.

“Yes,” Harris laughed. “Of course, I have — at a shooting range.”

My Lyft Focus Groups

When I visited Nevada recently, the freedom loving women there will have to carry that battleground state.

I talked to Nevadans during my “Lyft ride focus groups,” (the only times I had a real captive audience). One Black male driver was so anti-Harris when I pointed out a previous passenger left a pro-Harris poster, he reached back, grabbed the sign, and ripped it to shreds.

He explained he wasn’t for anyone. He had no time for politics. He was just happy driving his Lyft and being left alone.

In fact, few really wanted to talk about politics. There was a real disenchantment with government and our leaders. They just didn’t want to engage. Not even for a five-star rating.

Most all the drivers were youngish, under 40, and concerned about the economy.

The Latinx drivers were more willing to talk.

“Voting for Trump?” I asked.

“Look at the price of gas, the price of anything,” they said.

I told them inflation is down to 2.5 percent. And that if Trump got in, he’s going to impose tariffs on Chinese goods, that companies will pass on to consumers. Nobel economists say Trump’s economic plan guarantees greater inflation.

No response. The guys were MAGA stuck.

On my last day, I got a driver, a Mexican immigrant named Enrique. To him there was no question. Who was he backing?

“Anyone but Trump,” he said. “I’m voting for her.”

The race is so close, it’s hard to figure what the national polls reflect. Harris is ahead by 2 percentage points, 49-47%, according to the latest Times/Sienna College poll. But that could reflect an abundance of California voters were Harris leads big. Or it could reflect an abundance of Florida voters, were Trump leads bigly. The Electoral College is what counts, and that’s where attracting men of color in swing states could make a real difference.

About the Author

Emil Guillermo is a journalist and commentator. Listen to his micro-talk show on www.patreon.com/emilamok.

Oakland Post

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Oakland Post: Week of March 18 – 24, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of March 18 – 24, 2026

Published

1 week ago

March 22, 2026

Oakland Post

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Advice

Financial Wellness and Mental Health: Managing Money Stress in College 

While everyone’s financial situation is unique, several common sources of stress have the potential to strain your financial health. These include financial and economic uncertainty, existing debts, unexpected expenses, and mental or physical health changes. Financial stress may differ from situation to situation, but understanding the factors contributing to yours may help you begin to craft a plan for your unique circumstances.

Published

2 weeks ago

March 17, 2026

Oakland Post

Sponsored by JPMorganChase

As a college student, managing financial responsibilities can be stressful.

If you’ve found yourself staying up late thinking about your finances or just feeling anxious overall about your financial future, you’re not alone. In one survey, 78% of college students who reported financial stress had negative impacts on their mental health, and 59% considered dropping out. While finances can impact overall stress, taking steps to manage your finances can support your mental, emotional and physical well-being.

When it comes to money, the sources of stress may look different for each student, but identifying the underlying causes and setting goals accordingly may help you feel more confident about your financial future.

Consider these strategies to help improve your financial wellness and reduce stress.

Understand what causes financial stress

2. Determine your financial priorities

Start by reflecting on your financial priorities. For students this often includes paying for school or paying off student loans, studying abroad, saving for spring break, building an emergency fund, paying down credit card debt or buying a car. Name the milestones that are most important to you, and plan accordingly.

3. Create a plan and stick to it

While setting actionable goals starts you on the journey to better financial health, it’s essential to craft a plan to follow through. Identifying and committing to a savings plan may give you a greater sense of control over your finances, which may help reduce your stress. Creating and sticking to a budget allows you to better track where your money is going so you may spend less and save more.

4. Pay down debt

Many students have some form of debt and want to make progress toward reducing their debt obligations. One option is the debt avalanche method, which focuses on paying off your debt with the highest interest rate first, then moving on to the debt with the next-highest interest rate. Another is the debt snowball method, which builds momentum by paying off your smallest debt balance, and then working your way up to the largest amounts.

5. Build your financial resilience

Some financial stress may be inevitable, but building financial resilience may allow you to overcome obstacles more easily. The more you learn about managing your money, for instance, the more prepared you’ll feel if the unexpected happens. Growing your emergency savings also may increase resilience since you’ll be more financially prepared to cover unexpected expenses or pay your living expenses.

6. Seek help and support

Many colleges have resources to help students experiencing financial stress, like financial literacy courses or funds that provide some assistance for students in need. Talk to your admissions counselor or advisor about your concerns, and they can direct you to sources of support. Your school’s counseling center can also be a great resource for mental health assistance if you’re struggling with financial stress.

The bottom line

Financial stress can affect college students’ health and wellbeing, but it doesn’t have to derail your dreams. Setting smart financial goals and developing simple plans to achieve them may help ease your stress. Revisit and adjust your plan as needed to ensure it continues to work for you, and seek additional support on campus as needed to help keep you on track.

 JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC