Katie Porter's "unhappy experience" in a viral interview has become the news cycle from hell.

The bipartisan pile-on following the widely-circulated clip of her contentious sit-down with a local CBS news affiliate was only hours old when a new video surfaced from POLITICO of the former House member berating a staffer in 2021 -- the two clips fueling long-simmering concerns about her temperament and judgment.

Together, they suddenly boiled over into the broader political zeitgeist, raising questions about just how durable Porter's lead in California's gubernatorial race really is.

"Is this a disaster? Yes," said Gale Kaufman, a veteran Democratic strategist based in Sacramento. "And the reason it's a disaster is because it amplifies what her reputation already is."

Porter's Democratic rivals, smelling blood in the water, quickly seized on the former congresswoman's wince-worthy television appearance. Antonio Villaraigosa took the unusual step of purchasing three-minute ads in the Sacramento market to run the entirety of Porter's tense exchange with CBS reporter Julie Watts. Stephen J. Cloobeck released a digital ad knocking Porter for past inflammatory comments. Xavier Becerra and Tony Thurmond highlighted their own, less-incendiary, responses to Watts' questions. And Betty Yee called on Porter to drop out.

"As the last viable female candidate in this race, it matters to me that California's first female governor be a trusted, respected leader we can all be proud of -- not a viral embarrassment," Yee said in a statement. "Women in politics are still held to higher standards, and Katie Porter has clearly failed that test."

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But there was also a chorus of detractors from her own party, including palpable schadenfreude from operatives who had worked on rival campaigns or heard Porter was difficult to work with -- or for.

"What people saw in that interview is a certain temperament," said Marisol Samayoa, a consultant who worked for Adam Schiff's Senate bid. "The way she handled herself on camera is an example of the type of leadership Californians don't want to see."

...

This week's bad headlines resonate so widely in part because they reinforced the criticisms that have shadowed Porter since she entered public life: that she can be undisciplined, thin-skinned in the face of criticism, and so abrasive or demanding that it damages vital relationships.

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Porter has long been dogged by allegations of mistreating staffers and endured an acrimonious breakup.

Below, a video showing her cursing out a staffer for having dared to intrude into "my shot." This video was almost certainly leaked by a disgruntled ex-staffer. If you recall, her ex-staffers were sending around video of her rage-quitting the softball interview and telling everyone that this is what they had to deal with their entire time working for this sour cow.

"Someone who used to work with Katie Porter sent me this clip from a train-wreck interview with her and said, 'Now imagine what she's like when there aren't cameras around,'" journalist Yashar Ali commented.

"You can see the unpleasant experiences so many Dem operatives and journalists have had with former Rep. / CA-GOV candidate Katie Porter (D) pouring out, now that video of her abusive personality has leaked out. Worst kept secret in politics," Jewish Insider's Josh Kraushaar wrote.

The Democrat-Antifa-Media Cult is now trying to take her out, for the same reason they took out Biden -- not because they have any ethical or moral objection to her, but because they see her as an election-loser and damaging to the Great Communist Cause.

Skip to 1:15. Before then, it's just Katie Porter reading a script about green energy and electric vehicles with corrupt self-dealing Biden Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm (or whatever her name is).

She keeps issuing the same canned statement every time she's caught abusing and bullying her staffers:
Then there was that time that Katie Porter dressed up as the ugliest, sloppiest, trashiest, rat-baggiest version of Batgirl in history, not just for Halloween, but to appear in Congress to vote on Trump's first impeachment, no less.

What the eff, dude. What the actual eff.

Is she literally insane? Does she think she's pulling this off? Does she think she looks... hot?

You may think "she's just showing her sense of humor," but no, she has proven again and again that she is a humorless angry wokescold, and she especially has no humor about herself.

She thinks she looks hot.

So I ask again: Is she literally insane?

The NY Post from 2019:

Democrat Rep. Katie Porter dressed up as Batgirl on the same day as the historic vote on President Trump's impeachment -- and critics accused her of "making a mockery" of Congress.

The California congresswoman donned the black superhero costume and mask for Halloween on Thursday -- sitting in the House of Representatives next to freshman Rep. Rashida Tlaib and other Democrats who were wearing regular DC garb.

The stunt was met with condemnation -- with critics accusing Porter, 45, of not taking her job seriously.

"Democrat Rep. Katie Porter is making a mockery of the House of Reps," tweeted Republican National Committee spokesman Steve Guest.

...

"This is how seriously these clowns are taking impeachment," the National Republican Congressional Committee tweeted on Thursday.

But Porter defended the stunt on Twitter, writing: "Taking my work in Congress seriously doesn't mean I take *myself* too seriously.

Oh yes you do.

GET OUT OF MY FUCKING SHOT!!!

Hello! How is your day going so far?

I woke up at... 6:20. AM, I mean. I feel like a f***in' farmer over here.

(I know, I know, farmers get up at 4:30 or 5. Close enough.)