A night of culinary delight for a cause
A dinner with a purpose
Marta Kauffman, the creative mind behind iconic shows like “Friends” and “Grace and Frankie,” didn’t hesitate when asked to co-host Cooking for Kamala, a fundraising event for the Vice President. The event, scheduled for September 14 in Los Angeles, promises an “intimate dinner” crafted by celebrity chef Nancy Silverton and features an appearance by Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona.
“Nancy is my neighbor, and I might have been the first person she asked to join,” Kauffman shares. “She simply said, ‘Would you do this with me?’ and I immediately said, ‘Yes!'”
A cautious optimism
While Kauffman is hopeful about Harris’s chances in the upcoming election, she remains cautious, haunted by the memory of Hillary Clinton’s unexpected loss in 2016. “I got complacent and thought, ‘You know, all the polls say it’s going to be Hillary,'” Kauffman recalls. “This is going to be a tight race. Now is the time to do 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 feel part of this movement.”
The debate night experience
Reflecting on the recent debate, Kauffman shares, “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.”
The chilling reality of Project 2025
When asked if she had read Project 2025, Kauffman admits, “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.”
The impact on Hollywood
Discussing the potential impact of the election on Hollywood, Kauffman highlights the importance of union support. “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?”
Hollywood’s influence on voting
Kauffman believes that Hollywood’s support for a candidate can indeed affect voting. “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.”
Taylor Swift’s endorsement
When asked about Taylor Swift’s Instagram post endorsing Harris, Kauffman responds, “I thought, ‘Thank God.’ I also think Jennifer Aniston speaking out opened a lot of eyes and minds.”
Jennifer Aniston’s brave stance
Aniston’s public criticism of GOP vice presidential candidate JD Vance for his “childless cat ladies” comments was a bold move. “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.”
The potential for a political sitcom
When asked about the possibility of creating a political sitcom, Kauffman teases, “We’re actually talking about it. We have a few things bubbling up.” Pressed for details, she jokes, “Okay, it’s about a former president in jail.” Then, with a laugh, she adds, “No!”
Election night plans
Reflecting on her plans for election night, Kauffman shares, “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.”
For more information on the event and to stay updated on the latest in cinema and TV series, visit Cooking for Kamala.