Here's a glimpse behind the polished curtain of progressive politics as a leaked video reveals California gubernatorial hopeful Katie Porter in a less-than-flattering light.
A recently resurfaced recording from a 2021 virtual meeting captures Porter sharply rebuking a staff member while discussing climate policies with a high-ranking Biden administration official, as Breitbart reports.
The incident unfolded during an online conversation with then-Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, where Porter was promoting the administration’s electric vehicle and climate agenda.
In the video, obtained exclusively by Politico this week, a staffer interjected to correct Porter on a point about electric vehicles, prompting a fiery response.
“Get out of my fucking shot!” Porter snapped, her frustration boiling over as she addressed the staffer who had also briefly appeared in the background earlier in the recording, per the outlet.
“You also were in my shot before that. Stay out of my shot,” she added, doubling down on her irritation in a tone that raises eyebrows about her leadership approach. Well, if that’s her idea of teamwork, one might wonder how she plans to govern a state as complex as California.
Interestingly, the final edited version of this webinar, later published by the Department of Energy, conveniently omitted this heated exchange. It’s almost as if someone hoped the public would only see the polished, progressive champion, not the short-tempered boss.
This isn’t the first time Porter’s temperament has come under scrutiny, as past accusations during her congressional tenure paint her as a challenging, even harsh, supervisor. One can’t help but question if this is the kind of leadership Californians want steering their future.
Adding fuel to the fire, just a day before the 2021 video emerged, a day prior, another viral clip showed Porter threatening to walk out of an interview with a California CBS News reporter. That’s quite the doubleheader for someone vying to succeed Gov. Gavin Newsom in 2026.
During the same 2021 call with Granholm, Porter also vented about feeling sidelined by the Biden administration, despite her significant fundraising efforts for the president. “Never been there. Some of my colleagues (have been) three, four times,” she grumbled to Granholm about not visiting the White House, per Politico.
She even went as far as to claim, “I’m like the least in-connection with the White House member of Congress,” a statement Granholm quickly countered with, “That is not true.” It’s a curious moment -- does Porter genuinely feel disconnected, or is this just political theater to score sympathy points?
Granholm, for her part, declined to comment further to Politico on the matter, leaving the exchange to speak for itself. Meanwhile, the staffer involved, whose identity the outlet protected for privacy reasons, also chose not to weigh in.
Porter’s response to the resurfaced video attempted to frame the incident as a reflection of her high standards. One might argue that high standards are fine, but berating staff on a recorded call doesn’t exactly scream “inspirational leader.”
The timing of these revelations couldn’t be worse for Porter, who is already navigating criticism over unrelated domestic disputes and whispers of being an abusive boss during her time in Congress. While no one expects politicians to be perfect, these repeated glimpses of a prickly demeanor might give voters pause.
As the front-runner in the race to replace Gov. Newsom in 2026, Porter now faces intensified scrutiny over whether her leadership style matches the compassionate, inclusive image often projected by progressive politicians. It’s a fair question: Can someone who struggles to keep their cool in a meeting handle the pressures of governing a state with endless challenges? One thing is certain -- this video has opened a window into a side of Porter that’s far from the whiteboard-wielding, folksy persona many know, and it’s up to California voters to decide if they’re comfortable with what they see.
