Katie Porter once branded herself as the progressive firebrand with a whiteboard and a plan—a single mom who would go toe-to-toe with CEOs, call out corporate greed, and make Washington sweat. But as it turns out, the firebrand might be burning a bit too hot—especially for the people who have to work with her.
In the latest and perhaps most damaging addition to a growing list of self-inflicted wounds, Porter was caught on video berating a staffer with a profanity-laced outburst during what should have been a run-of-the-mill video call with former Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm. Politico released the clip, and while it may only last a few seconds, its implications linger far longer. Porter, mid-sentence discussing the deadly cost of delaying transportation electrification, suddenly snaps: “Get out of my f***ing shot!” She then continues her scolding even as the staffer tries to help her with on-topic information.
The footage is bad optics, yes—but in isolation, it might be dismissed as a high-stress moment during a high-stakes meeting. The problem for Porter is that this moment isn’t isolated at all. It’s the latest entry in what increasingly looks like a pattern of erratic, controlling, and even abusive behavior.
Exclusive from @melmason on Katie Porter, who berates a staffer and tells her to “get out of my fucking shot!” while recording a video with the Biden administration.
The video + story — scooped by @politico👇🏼https://t.co/WENFsRlkwC pic.twitter.com/47dQ3n6nWJ
— Christopher Cadelago (@ccadelago) October 8, 2025
Just days earlier, Porter made headlines again—this time for shutting down a CBS reporter who dared ask how she planned to appeal to the 40% of Californians who voted for Donald Trump in 2024. Porter refused to engage, stating bluntly that the questions weren’t “on the list” and that she didn’t need those voters to win. The body language was defensive, the tone dismissive, and the takeaway clear: criticism is not welcome in the Porter campaign.
Add to that resurfaced allegations from her divorce proceedings, including the now-infamous “mashed potato” incident and reports that she barred her then-husband from having a cell phone because he was “too f***ing dumb to operate it,” and a portrait begins to emerge—not of a principled crusader, but of someone whose private behavior stands in sharp contrast to her public persona.
The sum of these controversies may be more damaging than any one of them alone. As Chris Cillizza aptly noted, the real problem is that these incidents reflect a pattern. One that seems to confirm a growing narrative: Katie Porter demands accountability—from everyone but herself.
It’s telling that even in her carefully worded response to Politico, Porter didn’t deny the incident. Instead, she leaned on the trope of “high standards” and claimed she’s “sought to be more intentional” in showing gratitude to her staff. It's the kind of vague, corporate-sounding statement that would have once earned her trademark disdain in a House hearing. Now, it's her defense.
Porter’s political future now hinges on how many more of these incidents surface—and how much patience the public has left. Her pivot to the governor’s race after losing to Adam Schiff in the Senate primary was already viewed as ambitious, perhaps even presumptuous. But if these revelations continue to build, ambition may give way to implosion.