California Democrat Katie Porter is doing damage control after a series of viral videos showed her losing her temper — one with a reporter, another with her own staffer.
In one clip, Porter snapped at CBS California’s Julie Watts during a tense interview, calling her “argumentative” and threatening to walk out. In another, from 2021, Porter yelled at a staffer to “get out of my f---ing shot” while filming a virtual appearance with Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm.
After the clips spread online, Porter admitted she “could have handled things better.” On Inside California Politics, she said she’s known for being tough but wants to show more appreciation for her team. “I need to do a better job expressing appreciation for the amazing work my staff does,” she said.
Porter claims she apologized to the staffer she shouted at and says she’s learned from the incident. “I told her I was sorry, that I had lost my temper, that I had been frustrated in the moment,” she said.
Still, critics say the videos reveal a pattern of behavior that’s hard to ignore — especially from someone running to lead the nation’s largest state.
Porter insists she’s a “fighter” who won’t “sit in Sacramento quietly.” But as the clips continue to make the rounds online, many voters are asking the same question: if she can’t keep her cool on camera, how will she handle the pressure of running California?