CNN political commentator Van Jones recently argued that Vice President Kamala Harris’s support for fracking is essential for countering Russian President Vladimir Putin. He pointed out that Harris has shifted her stance since her 2020 presidential campaign, where she advocated for a fracking ban.
In a candid chat with CNN’s Dana Bash, Harris emphasized that she now believes a transition to “clean energy” can coexist with fracking—a technique that facilitates natural gas extraction by fracturing shale rock.
Jones criticized Republicans for targeting Harris over her evolving view, suggesting that figures like former President Trump and Ohio Senate candidate JD Vance have also changed positions on various issues such as abortion. He claimed, “People do change in politics.”
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He stressed that Harris’s endorsement of fracking is crucial, especially during the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, as it bolsters U.S. efforts to deter threats from Putin, who has attempted to leverage European gas supplies against support for Ukraine.
Jones stated, “Kamala Harris needs fracking” as it serves as a geopolitical weapon against Russia. He highlighted that the U.S. has solidified its position as the largest natural gas exporter, partially due to fracking operations in Pennsylvania.
He also countered misinformation about Harris’s meetings, clarifying that she did not meet Putin just before the Ukraine war began, but instead spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Jones reflected on the silence surrounding fracking from Democrats during the Biden administration, attributing it to broader party alignment on energy strategy in response to Europe’s geopolitical climate. “Why was the entire Democratic Party quiet about fracking? Because that’s how we’re going to counter Putin,” he said.