The Bernie Betrayal: What promises Kamala Harris made to Sanders and failed to keep

In the days before the 2020 election, Kamala Harris appeared with Bernie Sanders for a virtual town hall, promising to work for his top agenda items, a critical part of his endorsement of the Biden-Harris campaign.

Harris spoke to Sanders and his supporters about the 'inequity, injustice, the immorality' behind the failure of the federal government to help workers with an agenda that would help them and their families and outlined her and Biden's policy promises. 

'Enough about talking about that guy, let's just move on to what we're actually going to get done,' Harris said, referring to her opponent then-President Donald Trump.

Instead she focused on praising Sanders, a proud self-described Democratic socialist,  in front of his supporters with just days before election day. 

'You're amazing,' Harris gushed, describing her former primary opponent as 'someone who has challenged every premise' of the existing federal system and exposing the flaws in the status quo.

Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) signal support for each other on the 2020 debate stage

'Look at that, with that mischievous grin, he knows what he's doing ... you decided to do it inside the system,' she said with a laugh.

She praised Sanders for challenging all Democrats on the debate stage in the 2020 Democratic primary.

'In front of all of the friends I want to thank you Bernie Sanders for what you have done, what you continue to do, and you really are a treasure,' she said warmly.

The vice president promised to fight for Sanders' agenda, including policies that would ensure cheaper housing, affordable health care, affordable child care, paid family leave, free college and a $15 an hour minimum wage.

Kamala Harris at a 2020 campaign event with Bernie Sanders

Bernie Sanders speaks at a rally in New York City

But those promises remain unkept, despite the Biden administration approving over $4 trillion in government spending.

The American Rescue Plan spent $2.1 trillion, the Inflation Reduction Act spent $750 billion, and the $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill.

But Harris' promises to Sanders remained unkept, even to this day.

Now that she is facing her own presidential campaign, Harris is making many of the same promises on the campaign trail.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (L) (D-NY) greets Sen. Bernie Sanders (R) (I-VT) outside Capitol Hill

President Joe Biden gestures with Senator Bernie Sanders, Independent from Vermont. 

'We fight for a future with affordable housing, affordable health care, affordable childcare, paid leave,' she said during an August rally in Pennsylvania. 

On Friday, Harris proposed federal price controls to prevent 'price gouging' by food producers, a common socialist proposal for reducing inflation. Harris also proposed a offering a $25,000 downpayment for first-time homeowners. 

Despite her failed promises, Sanders has not been discouraged from supporting his former rival for the Democratic presidential nomination.

In a conversation with the Boston Globe, Sanders said he hoped that Harris would win the presidential election, but warned her to focus her agenda on wealth 'inequalities.'  

'[Harris] needs to have an agenda that speaks to the crisis facing working families all over this country,' he said.