by Lucy Gilder
Democratic candidate Kamala Harris is set to appear on the liberal-leaning network MSNBC on Sunday in an interview with civil rights activist Al Sharpton, part of an extended media tour the vice-president has been on in recent weeks – after months of criticism accusing her of avoiding press questions.
BBC Verify has examined some of her claims made as part of this media blitz:
Is US unemployment at an historic low?
CLAIM: “We now have historic low unemployment in America.”
VERDICT: The current rate of unemployment is not at its lowest level in US history and it was lower at one point under Donald Trump.
Harris made this claim in an interview on CBS’s 60 Minutes programme.
The current jobless rate is 4.1%, relatively low but higher than the lowest point on record, which was 2.5% in 1953.
It is also higher than its lowest point under Trump, when it fell to 3.5%.
Is there an abortion ban in nearly all southern states?
CLAIM: “Every state in the south, except for Virginia, has an abortion ban.”
VERDICT: This claim needs more context as there are differences in abortion restrictions between these states.
Harris spoke about abortion during her appearance on Call Her Daddy – a podcast promoting open conversations about sex and relationships.
Thirteen US states have outlawed nearly all abortions, according to pro-choice research group the Guttmacher Institute. Some have narrow exceptions for cases of rape, incest or the health of the mother.
Most of these are southern states.
But in other southern states, like Florida, Georgia and South Carolina, abortions are only allowed in the first six weeks of pregnancy. And in North Carolina, abortions are banned after 12 weeks.
