Annc: And now Rob on the Road, exploring Northern California.

Rob: This is exciting.

And I am thrilled to have our guest on today's program at Rob at Home.

Dan Morain has been a journalist covering Northern California and Southern California for about 40 years.

Now, Dan has a book which is international.

It is "“Kamala'’s Way"” and it is about the Vice President of the United States, Kamala Harris, of course from California.

It is so good to see you, Dan, joining us from your home in Davis.

Dan: Well, thanks a lot for... for inviting me on.

Rob: Yeah, I'm glad that you're here on Rob at Home.

And first of all, I have to just talk to you about the book.

Wow!

What a... what a huge get.

Dan: We sort of thought that the Biden Harris, uh, ticket was gonna win, but we weren't, obviously, we're not sure.

The goal was to, um, produce it before inauguration.

And, um, and so that meant I was on a really tight deadline.

Um, basically started it in September and finished it on November 3rd, election night.

Rob: Wow.

Dan: Handed in the final chapters and went downstairs and watched the returns.

Rob: My goodness, that is a fast turnaround.

And it seems like a natural fit that you were tapped to do this because of your extensive coverage of California.

Dan: Yeah.

Rob: Uh, particularly on the editorial side, uh, eight or nine years with the Sacramento Bee editorial page, um, which that in itself is huge, as well as 27 years with the Los Angeles Times.

But you were still based in northern California reporting, um, for the LA times, correct?

Dan: Yeah.

Yeah, much of that time I also worked in LA for the LA times.

And before that, the Herald... Herald Examiner in LA, and then based in San Francisco for the LA Times.

You know, it is the case that... that, um, it was really an intense, um, two... two months, September, October um, beginning of October, um, to produce it.

But, um, and I-- and although it's... the title is "“Kamala'’s Way: An American life"” it really is a California story.

And I mean, you know, Rob, you... you... you read the book and so many of the stories are, um, that... that I, uh, side or stories that I covered over the decades or that colleagues, friends of mine at the Times, or the Chronicle or Sacramento Bee or other papers covered over... over the decades, but that I was aware of or a part of covering.

So, it's... it... it really is, uh, a California story, you know, I'm a California journalist.

I, you know, I don't presume to know Washin-- the ways of Washington D.C.

I sort of know how Sacramento works.

Um, uh, and it's about a Californian, and Kamala Harris.

So, I view her as the transitional person.

She is, um, uh, she was born in a transitional time in California in 1964.

And think about what was going on in the 1960s and in, um, uh, Berkeley, where she grew up, uh, in Oakland.

Um, uh, you know, the start of the... the anti -war movement, the environmental movement the, um, uh, really, uh... uh, hotbed for, um, the Civil Rights Movement.

Um, uh, all that came together, plus all the great music that came out of the sixties in the Bay Area.

Um, but she's a transitional person in... in politics too.

Um, you know, the first woman... the first woman of color to be the San Francisco District Attorney, the first woman... first woman of color to be the California Attorney General.

Um, and... and so she's, you know, so that's what she is, but it's also, um, who she is, who she represents.

I mean, this is, um, a child of... of, uh, immigrant mom from India and dad from... from Jamaica.

It's to me, um, she's just a, she's a transitional person and in a state that is known for its transition.

And, um, so much of what happens in California spreads east.

And, um, and so I think that... that now that she's vice president so much of what she has, um-- well, the transition is... is... is... is really going national in a, uh, in a significant way.

She's going to be part of the national stage for at least the next four years.

She's certainly going to run for president.

Um, uh, when-— Rob: Do you think she will be?

Dan: Do I think she will be president?

You know, it's so hard to be president.

Um, uh, I think she could be...

Rob: It'’s also impossible to predict, as we have seen.

Dan: Yeah.

Yeah, I think she could be, um, you know, she didn't-- she ran for president obviously in 2019, that did not go well.

Um, uh, she pulled the-- Rob: But your book discusses about how she planned along the way, um, for the vice presidency, to be tapped for that.

Dan: Yeah, well, she wasn't running for second place.

Rob: No.

Dan: She was running to win.

Um, once she realized she wasn't gonna win, she... she pulled out, uh, when the nomination-- when she realized she wasn't going to get the nomination she... she pulled out, she pulled out early.

Um, and then, um, went about her work being a United States Senator.

And she was obviously positioned to be, uh, a... a vice presidential candidate, somebody who would be on anybody's short list.

Um, uh, and then, you know, the politics were such, um, uh, you know, Joe Biden had said that he was going to pick a woman so that...that narrowed the field by half.

And then... and then George Floyd died under the knee of a Minneapolis cop and... and that really changed politics.

And so, it became more, um, important, I think, that he choose a person of color, women of color and... and... and really, there were very few who... who, um, w-- who could have been the vice president.

Stacey Abrams is one certainly, from Georgia.

Susan Rice, um, who's... who's in the Biden administration, Biden-Harris administration.

And then of course, Congresswoman Karen Bass of Los Angeles.

But then Kamala Harris.

And she was the only one who had run statewide and won.

Uh, she was the only one who, uh, had run for the presidency and therefore had been vetted by you know, other candidates and candidate'’s opposition researchers, and certainly by journalists.

So, um, she became, she became sort of the logical choice at that point.

Rob: And she was a friend of the president's late son and... and that carries a lot of weight not just because they were friends-— Dan: Right.

Rob: But because of the character of Beau Biden.

Dan: Yeah.

Yeah.

Well, you're so right.

So... Joe Biden has referred to that... referred to that when he chose Kamala Harris, referred to her friendship, her, uh, you know, it started out they were both Attorneys General, he in Delaware, she in California.

Uh, they were on the same side in... in major litigation against the big banks.

Um, so that's where their alliance started and then it grew into a friendship.

They went on and... and I-- this is not in the book, but... but, um, but I know that they... they became very engaged in, uh... uh, after the... the awful massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School, um, uh, talking nationally about gun control.

That was, uh, obviously a huge, big issue to vice president, Vice President Biden.

Um, but Beau Biden and Kamala Harris made joint appearances talking about the need to do something about the prolifer-- proliferation of guns.

Um, uh, so yeah, they became friends.

And, uh, you know, Biden came out here and, uh, came out to California in 2016 when she was running, when Harris was running U .S.

Senate and... and, uh, made clear, uh, to the California Democratic Party in a speech there that I attended that, um, that he was supporting Harris for the U.S. Senate.

And he opened the speech by talking about Beau Biden'’s friendship with Kamala Harris and what that meant to him.

So, Beau Biden had been dead for, you know, about a year, less than a year then.

Um, so yeah, that mattered a lot.

She, you know, her relationship and his admiration for her, which is what Joe Biden has talked about.

Rob: Um, I want to ask you before we move on from... from the topic of the vice president.

Uh, did you ever think all along the way covering her all these years or seeing all the articles and reading things throughout the past couple of decades, did you ever think that she would be on such a large national platform?

Dan: Well, you know, having covered politics for all these years, I've seen a lot of, um, really impressive politicians come through California, come through Sacramento.

I've...

I've helped cover a presidential campaign or two along the way.

She, uh, is talented.

She, you know, she's ambitious.

Uh... uh, she's smart, she's tough.

Yeah, of course she-- you could... you could well see her rising.

You know, I-- I guess I was, um, naive and... and... and, um, you know, sort of blissfully ignorant but said, "“Yeah, sure.

I can write a book in two months.

Why not?

"” Rob: [laughs] I love that.

You know, you sent me lots of, uh, several articles from your... from your career.

And I noticed a through line in all of those articles, and they might not be in the headline, but they were definitely in the heart, the matter of the story and-- about mental healthcare and mental illness.

Dan: Mhm.

Rob: Clearly, I feel that's an important topic to you as a person.

And you shared with me that it is.

Dan: Mhm.

Rob: I would love to talk with you about that and the book that you really want to write.

Dan: Yeah.

Well, so when, you know, like I say, I was, you know, sort of blissfully retired and taking long dog walks and that sort of thing and seeing grandkids and hanging out with my wife who I haven't seen enough of in the last four years.

Um, and, but I was working on... on you know, sort of a personal, uh, memoir, but also, uh, a policy book, um, uh, when Kamala Harris fell onto my lap.

Um, and, uh, so my brother, when he was, uh, a few months shy of age 22, got in a terrible car accident.

Um, single car drove off a road going too fast-- I'm sure there's many 21 almost 22-year-old men do.

Um, and he... and he bashed his head.

Um, and so he had a really serious brain injury.

Um, my mother, who was a nurse, tried to take care of him at home, that didn't work.

And so, he went through a series of boarding homes.

This was in 1969.

Rob: And you were how old at the time?

Dan: I was 14.

So, I was-- Rob: 14, so your older brother.

Dan: His little brother.

Um, so he went to a series of boarding homes and, uh... uh, private nursing homes and none of it worked.

He could never, um, he was just too disabled to be able to function.

He would fall asleep with a cigarette and start a fire.

And one of the impacts of, uh, the kind of brain injury he had, which was smashing his frontal lobe, um, it was to lose impulse control.

So, he would say really inappropriate things at times.

And he was just a handful.

Big guy, 6-foot-2.

Um, uh, but, uh, and... and certainly not a violent guy at all, but... but he would, um, he would say inappropriate things and other residents who were less than mentally stable would take umbrage and punch him out and this sort of thing.

Anyway, it's a very tough time.

Um, and, uh... uh, so anyway, one thing led to another and... and my parents were able to place him, uh, at Napa State Hospital.

We grew up in San Mateo in Foster City.

Um, uh, placed him at Napa State Hospital and... and that was, uh... uh, not the greatest place but better than... than, uh, some of the places where he had-- where they had tried to place him before.

Um, and, uh, and he went to Camarillo State Hospital, uh, which is now Channel Island State College, or State University.

Um, and then back to Napa and he was there, uh, through 1992, 1991, uh, when, um, uh, so about 20 years.

Um, and all this time, uh-- my mother died in 1980.

This is probably more than you want to know, but anyways...

Rob: No, it'’s your story.

It'’s your story, I'’d love to hear it.

Dan: So, from 1980 through his death in... in 2000, um, I was his co-conservator with my father, and then my father got too old, and I was his conservator.

Um, so, which meant that I had to take, you know, I was the person to contact if he had a medical issue or, um, uh, you know, I was just, you know, I was his care.

I took care of him to the extent that I could, but it was really, um, uh, to make sure that he was safe, in a safe place, a safe, secure place.

So, anyway, my experience with... with that-- he died in, like I said, in 2000 of a seizure-- my experience with that I think helps-- gave me... give me, um, uh, some insight into the mental health care system.

Um, uh... You know, he was brain injured.

He wasn't schizophrenic, yet he was treated, uh, he was diagnosed as schizophrenic, uh, bad diagnosis, obviously.

Um-- Rob: You said a bad diagnosis.

Dan: Well, yeah, he wasn't schizophrenic.

He hadn'’t-—he wasn'’t schizophrenic before he had his accident and he, you know, he had a brain injury.

But... but the injury sort of mimicked, uh, mental illness and he was in state hospitals with, you know, clearly schizophrenic, you know, mentally ill people.

So-- Rob: And by the way, state hospitals, we know the situation of that today.

Dan: Mhm.

Rob: They're gone.

Dan: Well, they're... they're... they're gone for... for people who are, for the most part, for civil commitments.

And really now what they are is... is, um, well, they're not prisons, they're still hospitals, but they're for people who have been deemed, um, uh, you know, not guilty by reason of insanity or they can't stand on trial because... because they're too mentally ill. Um, so now-- Rob: And to navigate that process to get in... into somewhere like that is-- anyone who's dealt with... with trying to help someone who's struggling with mental illness-- it is incredibly difficult.

Dan: Yeah.

Rob: Incredibly difficult to get someone help.

Dan: Right.

Well, and... and so... so because I had this experience, I was able, you know, I felt that like I had, um, uh, you know, a degree of empathy for what families go through.

Um, you know, certainly I know what my, you know, I know much of what my parents went through.

Not all of it, cause I was a kid and then I was off at college and then I was off building a career and, and you know, so I was, you know, less, obviously less engaged than they were.

Um, but it's... it's just, uh... uh...

Anyway, so I think it's a huge issue.

It's a societal issue.

Uh, I think we see it, uh, under freeways or along freeways.

Um, you know, not everybody who is homeless is mentally ill, but... but certainly a large percentage of them are.

And, um, and you know, I just think as a society, we have abdicated our responsibility, our collective responsibility, to take care of these people who really cannot care for themselves.

I mean, you know, you think about, um, you... you... you think about what... what people, um, you know, what government should be doing.

It should be taking care of those who cannot take care of themselves.

Um, you know, you and I, or at least, you know, I mean, we... we don't need much government.

Um, uh, but... but there are people who... who... who clearly do.

You know, I do think Governor Newsom, Sacramento Mayor Steinberg, uh, care deeply about this issue and are trying to deal with it, but it... it's so complex and it's so costly.

Um, the laws are such that it is, um, uh, that... that make it even more complicated.

Anyway, so that was the project that I had embarked upon and it's the project that I, you know, want to return to once, um, once Kamala Harris is, um, uh, once my, you know, obligations related to Kamala Harris are lessened.

Rob: So, what do... what do you think, Dan, what is your goal of your next book?

What do you want it to do-— Dan: Well-— Rob: In regard to mental illness?

Dan: Yeah, you know, I mean, people have written about mental illness a lot.

Um, I don't know really that I can bring much more to it, you know, we'll... we'’ll see.

But I do think that there are stories that... that I've written over the decades, um, that... that illustrate aspects, uh, of it.

You know, one... one of the pieces I did was... was, uh... uh, about the nephew of former Congressman, former California Attorney General, Dan Lungren.

Um, there-- his parents, Nancy and Brian, uh, Lungren are great people in Sacramento.

Uh, they... they worked tirelessly to... to try to help, uh, improve the mental health care system.

Um, uh, you know, I just, I think that they have a really compelling story.

The parents of Laura Wilcox, Amanda and Nick Wilcox, um, uh, whose daughter, Laura, was tragically shot to death by a mentally ill guy who's now at Napa State Hospital.

Um, uh, you know, they... they turned their tragedy into... into, um, their cause, which was gun control.

Rob: And the Lungren'’s as well?

Dan: Uh, well, the Lungren'’s are focused on mental healthcare, um, uh, and, uh, um, you know...

So... so, you know, people turn their, um, their, uh, hardship and... and not everybody, but you know, some... some people it's just too much, too much to deal with.

Right?

It's really complicated to deal with... with people who's-- who are... who are not, um, uh, who have a mental disability, brain dysfunction.

Um, so some people just can't deal with it.

Um, but you know, I do find inspiration in... in what the Lungren'’s did and what... what, uh, the Wilcox's have done and... and others, other families.

People who... who, um, you know, gain ha-- ha-- have attained, no-- notoriety...

Rob: It sounds like you're on the course to do the same thing with what you went through as well.

And that is to take a serious life test and make it sort of a testimony, if you will.

And try to you... you said you don't know what could come out of the book, but yet I say, when you tell your story you set other people free by making them feel so less isolated and ultimately, yourself.

Dan: Mhm.

Yeah, well... well, you know, we'll see, we'll see.

Um, you know, there's no... there's no publisher for this one.

No one is knocking... knocking at my door for this one.

So, we'll... we'll see where it goes.

You know, it's not... it's not an overnight project.

Um, it's going to take more than two months.

So...

Rob: I'm very curious to ask you that-- you know, we talked about the through line of the articles that I read many dealing with mental health care.

And I'm curious that as you look back over the last four decades, what has been your through line?

What stories have been the most passionate to you where you felt like you really could pour a piece of you into it?

Dan: Well, you know, it's justice related issues, it's mental health care.

Um, and... and, you know, I did my share of... of... of pieces about, um, you know, politicians who... who maybe weren't living up to their... to their best selves.

Um, uh, but really the ones that... that I think, um, you know, the... the ones that I would, um, you know, um, hope my grandkids read are the ones related to, uh, justice or injustice and mental health care or lack thereof.

Those would be the ones.

Rob: You know, I have to ask you your thoughts on journalism today.

Um, or what masks as journalism.

Um, you know, news, entertainment, those words are very scary in my opinion, when blended together, um, because people can turn to any platform somewhere that will fill their own beliefs and that used to not be the case.

Dan: Yeah.

Rob: Um, and I'm curious your thoughts as an insider of what you feel the ramifications of that have been, and how in the world do we get back to all of network truth-telling.

Or was it ever there?

Dan: Yeah.

Rob: I know it is on PBS.

I know that.

Dan: Yeah.

Well, you know, it's funny we-- you know, we, uh, the one... the one newscast that we don't miss is... is, uh, is Judy Woodruff's.

Um, uh...

Rob: And I...

I'’d do the same here, and I would say that whether I worked for PBS or not.

PBS or KVIE.

Dan: I mean, it's, it's the one it's... it's the one, um, uh, that I feel is most balanced.

Um, and you know, not that I don't have, uh, political opinions.

I was an editorial page editor and an editorial writer.

So, of course I've got opinions.

Um, so yeah, I think the blurring of... of... of opinion in news is... is... is not a good thing.

I think that... that... that although I was an opinion writer for eight years or so, I was a news writer for more than 30.

And I...

I do think that that news stories matter more than opinion pieces.

You're right.

It's harder to get information.

Because it's harder to get information, people fill that vacuum and then it gets filled with... with... with partisanship.

And-- Rob: Is it because of finances?

Do you think that, that the reason that we're seeing so much change on... on the local level with journalism is because of the... the financial impact of the digital age?

Dan: Mhm.

Yeah, so much of it is finances.

Um, I mean, it's-- it all comes down to money.

I mean, the news business is a business.

Um, it can't survive without... without money.

I mean, uh, public broadcasting is great and, uh, you know, I'm a big fan and supporter of it.

Um, but I think the real, um, hard-edged investigative reporting, uh, you know, some of it comes from ProPublica.

Um, some of it comes from Reveal.

But... but... but, um, but it's the local reporters covering city hall who turn up the best stories.

But if they're not there, they're not turning up those stories.

So anyway, uh, yeah, I...

I...

I worry about this.

I worry about this.

Um, uh, you know, there are new models.

CalMatters, where I worked for the last two years, um, uh, is... is doing a very good job of covering-- of helping to cover Sacramento.

Um, certainly the Sac Bee still is covering Sacramento, uh, in a very serious way, the State Capitol and the LA Times, uh, the Chronicle.

So, so it's still getting covered.

I just, um, I wish there were... there were more.

Rob: What is your advice to these different outlets that you have listed.

What is your best advice?

Dan: Uh, you know, I mean, I'm, uh, you know, I'm going to...

So much of it has to do with, well, one, uh, one piece of advice is if you have a passion to tell stories and you're in high school or college, pursue that passion.

I mean, I do think that there will always be demand for storytellers for honest storytellers.

So, so I don't believe journalism is dying.

I do believe it... it's going through a big change.

Rob: Well, I'm honored and flattered that you took the time to be on our program today.

And Dan, thank you so much for all of your hard work over the past 40 years.

And I look forward to the next 40.

You mentioned you'’re retired but I don't think you're slowing down at all.

Dan: Yeah, no.

I got a few other things to do.

But anyway, thanks so much.

This has been-- Rob: And come back when you have the next book, okay?

Dan: All right.

This has been delightful.

Thank you so much for taking the time.

Rob: Thank you so much.

Dan Morain here, California journalist and author of "“Kamala'’s Way.

"” Great to see you.

Dan: All right.

See you now.

Rob: Take care.

Dan: Bye.

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