Highlights from Kamala Harris' personal interview with '60 Minutes'.

Vice President Kamala Harris encountered challenging inquiries regarding the funding of her economic initiatives, the perceived sluggishness of Democrats in implementing border security, her approach to addressing Russia's actions in Ukraine, and other significant topics during a comprehensive interview on "60 Minutes" that aired on Monday.

This interview with CBS is part of a broader media campaign that also features Harris engaging with more sympathetic interviewers and targeted audiences. Her conversation with Alex Cooper, the host of the widely followed “Call Her Daddy” podcast, was released on Sunday. Following that, she is scheduled to appear on ABC’s “The View,” have a discussion with Howard Stern, and make an appearance on CBS’ “The Late Show” with Stephen Colbert. Additionally, on Thursday, she will take part in a town hall event with Univision.

With no further debates planned between Harris and former President Donald Trump, this series of interviews may offer the most promising chances for unexpected and newsworthy moments as the election approaches in the final four weeks.

Here are five key insights from Harris’ interview with “60 Minutes”:

Harris emphasizes the necessity for Congress to take action regarding border security.

Harris described migration as a “longstanding problem” when questioned about the Biden administration's immigration policies and declined to comment on whether officials should have implemented stricter measures earlier.

From the beginning, the Biden administration encountered unprecedented migration levels in the Western Hemisphere, significantly impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. Over the past three years, U.S. officials have dealt with surges of migrants at the southern border.

When asked why the administration did not take action sooner, Harris referenced an immigration bill introduced to Congress in early 2021 and criticized Republicans for derailing a recent bipartisan border proposal after Trump encouraged them to reject it.

CBS correspondent Bill Whitaker inquired, “However, there was a historic surge of undocumented immigrants crossing the border during the first three years of your administration. In fact, arrivals quadrupled compared to the last year of President Trump. Was it a mistake to relax immigration policies to that extent?”

Harris responded, “It’s a longstanding problem. Solutions are available, and from day one, we have been proposing solutions.”

When pressed about the record number of crossings and whether more decisive action should have been taken earlier, Harris did not provide a direct answer, instead highlighting recent measures that have led to a significant decrease in crossings and emphasizing the need for Congress to take action.

“We need Congress to act to truly resolve the issue,” she stated.

There will be no individual meeting with Putin.

Harris stated that she would not engage in bilateral discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding a resolution to the conflict in Ukraine.

“Ukraine must have a voice in determining its own future,” she emphasized.

She asserted that “there will be no successful resolution to the war without the involvement of Ukraine and adherence to the UN charter in defining what that success entails.”

The vice president refrained from commenting on whether she would endorse the expansion of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to include Ukraine, indicating that she would address that matter if and when it becomes relevant.

“Those are all matters we will consider if and when they arise. For now, our focus is on supporting Ukraine’s right to defend itself against Russia’s unprovoked aggression,” Harris remarked.

She suggested that if Trump were in office, “Putin would be in Kyiv right now,” alluding to the capital of Ukraine.

“He claims he can resolve it on day one. What does that mean? It’s about capitulation,” Harris stated.

Last month, Harris met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House, where she reaffirmed her steadfast support for Ukraine.

“As I have made clear in our six previous meetings and throughout Putin’s brutal aggression and war against Ukraine, my commitment to the Ukrainian people remains unwavering,” Harris declared. “I take pride in standing with Ukraine – I will continue to support Ukraine and work to ensure its victory in this war, achieving safety, security, and prosperity.”

Harris and Cheney's partnership is evident.

The interview included a segment featuring Harris alongside former Wyoming Representative Liz Cheney in Ripon, Wisconsin, which is recognized as the birthplace of the Republican Party. 

Cheney, who lost her primary election last year due to her involvement in the House investigation into the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol by Trump supporters, publicly endorsed Harris and participated in a rally in this pivotal swing state last week.

“I would have hoped that if someone had told me four years ago, ‘Our Constitution will be under threat, and it will be essential for the parties to unite in support of Vice President Harris, as she will uphold the rule of law’ — I would have responded, ‘That’s precisely what I will do,’” Cheney shared with CBS.

When asked if she had envisioned campaigning with Cheney four years prior, Harris replied with enthusiasm.

“That would be wonderful,” Harris said, prompting laughter from both her and Cheney.

“She’s incredibly diplomatic,” Cheney quipped.

Walz stated that Harris advised him to exercise greater caution in his choice of words.

Subsequently, the discussion included Harris' running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, who has encountered intense scrutiny regarding previous remarks that have been analyzed by both Republicans and the media since his selection as vice presidential candidate.

Walz admitted to having made inaccurate statements concerning his military background and his presence in Hong Kong during the Tiananmen Square protests. However, he characterized those instances as moments of “expressing emotion, telling a story, getting a date wrong,” rather than being “a pathological liar like Donald Trump.”

Nevertheless, Walz mentioned that Harris had advised him to be more judicious with his language.

“She said, ‘Tim, you know, you need to be a little more careful on how you say things,’ whatever it might be,” Walz recounted.

Harris criticizes Trump's choice to withdraw from the '60 Minutes' interview.

Trump withdrew from his scheduled “60 Minutes” interview after his campaign had previously agreed to it and arranged for a meeting at his Mar-a-Lago estate, CBS correspondent Scott Pelley reported on Monday night during the broadcast of the nation’s most-watched newsmagazine.

In October 2020, Trump participated in an interview with “60 Minutes” correspondent Lesley Stahl but abruptly terminated the discussion, seemingly in response to Stahl’s inquiries. Last week, while speaking to reporters in Wisconsin, Trump expressed a desire for an apology regarding that interview before he would consider another.

In recent weeks, the former president has primarily engaged with interviewers who are perceived as friendly, such as those from Fox News.

“If he is not going to provide your viewers with the opportunity for a meaningful and thoughtful dialogue, then they should just watch his rallies,” Harris remarked to Whitaker.

“You will hear discussions focused on him and his personal grievances, but you won’t hear anything directed at you, the audience. There will be no mention of how he plans to unite the country or seek common ground,” she added. “And, Bill, that is why I genuinely believe the American people are ready to move forward.”