Marta Kauffman didn’t think twice about signing on as a co-host for Cooking for Kamala, a fundraiser for the vice president featuring an “intimate dinner” designed by celebrity chef Nancy Silverton. The evening, set for Sept. 14 in Los Angeles, includes an appearance by Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona.
“Nancy is my neighbor and I may have been the first person she asked to come,” the “Friends” and “Grace and Frankie” co-creator says. “She simply said, ‘Would you do this with me?’ and I immediately said, ‘Yes!’”
While Kauffman is optimistic that Harris will win the White House, she’s also staying cautious after having watched Hillary Clinton lose to Donald Trump in 2016.
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“I got complacent and thought, ‘You know, all the polls say it’s going to be Hillary,” Kauffman recalls. “And this is going to be a tight race. Now is when we have to start doing everything we can — sending postcards, knocking door-to-door, phone banking, whatever someone is able to do. If you can’t knock on doors, use the phone. There are plenty of ways to get involved and help make this happen and feel a part of this movement.”
I watched it alone. I was scared but then it was joyful and the texting began. She’s the better candidate. I think she proved it at the debate. She hit on areas that are extremely important. She got him on reproductive rights. I don’t know how there are women who believe Trump when he acts like he’s a moderate, but personally he hates women. He wants to be in a position of power over women, and he clearly refused to say that he would veto a national ban. He handpicked three Supreme Court justices who did exactly what he wanted them to do. And it only gets worse if you read Project 2025.
Parts of it, not all of it. It’s too long. I would just get so depressed. It would be worse than reading “The Goldfinch.” The thing that kept going through my mind was, “Oh, my God, they want to push us into ‘The Handmaid’s Tale.’” When I first read that book, I thought it was dystopian, but I never thought it would have a relationship to what was really going to be going on. It never occurred to me that it was a kind of prediction.
I was really scared after the first debate. I called my kids and said, “He just lost us the election.” I was terrified.
One of the huge differences, and this is national, but it does hit Hollywood, and that’s the union support. Donald Trump does not support unions. It’s why the UAW is supporting her. That’s something that’s incredibly important to us out here — writers, directors, producers, actors, teamsters — we’ve got them all, and people have to make a living wage. And another one is if Trump supports a national ban, where can women go to work safely? Right now, there are plenty of states that have very strict abortion laws. So how do we protect people with uteruses in those states?
Right now, I would absolutely not go to one of those states.
The truth is, if we get a few people to vote, if we get a few people to change their minds or think differently about the election, there’s a lot of us in Hollywood who can do that. We can have an effect, especially if you have a big name.
I thought, “Thank God.” I also think Jennifer Aniston speaking out opened a lot of eyes and minds.
I know it was hard for her to do, especially about the topic, not having children and being a “cat lady.” I know it wasn’t easy for her to share her struggle. She was really brave to do it, and I think it had an impact, especially on that piece of it.
Laughs That’s really funny.
We couldn’t get all of them to do it. Some of them like to stay out of politics.
Ross. He’s so passionate about the world. He’s the one who would get very involved. Monica, too.
Probably. I think Phoebe would get lost in some conspiracy theory.
I don’t think she’d vote for Trump but she’d believe in some crazy conspiracy theories.
We’re actually talking about it. We have a few things bubbling up.
I can’t… Okay, it’s about a former president in jail.
No! Laughs
In 2016, I had friends over. Once I saw the way things were turning out, I couldn’t watch anymore and sent them all home. I had to go to bed. I don’t know if I want to watch it with people this year. I haven’t decided.
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