CNN's chief political correspondent, Dana Bash, has responded to the criticism surrounding her recent interview with Vice President Kamala Harris, asserting that the backlash from both the left and the right indicates she struck the right balance. In a conversation with The Daily Beast, Bash acknowledged the mixed reactions to the primetime sit-down, ranging from dissatisfaction with her opening line to the perception of not asking enough follow-up questions. Despite the pushback, Bash remains confident that her interview accomplished its objective of shedding light on Harris' positions and approach.

Reflecting on the response, Bash stated, "The fact that nobody in their entrenched camps was happy makes me think that I probably was in just about the right place." She acknowledged the countless things she could have done differently but emphasized that her role was not to grill Harris but to gain an understanding of her perspectives and goals. Bash addressed the criticism from both ends of the political spectrum, with the right wing feeling she was too soft on Harris and the left wing believing she was too tough or utilized Trump's talking points. She highlighted that the questions asked were pertinent regardless of whether Trump had also posed them.

The interview drew significant viewership, with 6.3 million people tuning in, making it CNN's highest-rated 9 p.m. hour since the June 27 presidential debate moderated by Bash. As she promotes her new book, "America's Deadliest Election: The Cautionary Tale of the Most Violent Election in American History," co-authored with David Fisher, Bash delved into the issues of sexism faced by female news anchors in the industry.

Bash defended her decision not to press Harris further after the vice president declined to respond to Trump's attacks on her racial identity, stating that Harris' avoidance conveyed a significant message in itself. Bash regarded Harris' handling of such attacks as a window into her leadership style, suggesting that it demonstrated her ability to defuse and counter such challenges.

In discussing the broader state of female anchors, Bash expressed her admiration for Norah O'Donnell and claimed that O'Donnell had faced sexism in her career, working harder than her counterparts at NBC and ABC. Bash asserted that women in news often have to work ten times harder than men to prove themselves, a sentiment echoed by the achievements of anchors like Katie Couric, Jane Pauley, and herself. While progress has been made in terms of aging onscreen, Bash acknowledged that women still face challenges, but she celebrated the sisterhood that has developed among women in the news industry.

As Bash declined to address Megyn Kelly's recent attacks on her CNN colleague Kaitlan Collins, she labeled it as "clickbait" and swiftly moved on.

In her book, Bash explores the story of Henry Warmoth, focusing on the love and hate he evoked, drawing parallels to the strong emotions surrounding former President Donald Trump. When questioned about whether Trump posed a threat to democracy, Bash pointed to the events of January 6, 2021, and the months leading up to it, emphasizing that the prevention of a peaceful transfer of power was a manifestation of the threat to democratic processes.

Dana Bash's interview with Kamala Harris may have triggered criticism from both ends of the political spectrum, but it has undoubtedly sparked discussion and shed light on the vice president's views and approach. As the conversation around equality for women in news continues, Bash remains committed to her work and the hope of achieving true gender parity.