Shopping
Washington Post columnist slammed for reporting on Harris’ shopping list: ‘You should be embarrassed’
A columnist at the Washington Post is taking heat online after he posted Vice President Kamala Harris’ shopping list.
Journalist James Hohmann posted Harris’ purchases on X after she visited a spice shop known for its outspoken support of Democrats in Pittsburgh ahead of her debate with former President Donald Trump on Tuesday.
“Kamala Harris just went to Penzeys Spices and bought Creamy Peppercorn Dressing Base, Fox Point Seasoning, Trinidad Lemon-Garlic Marinade, Turkish Seasoning, and Tuscan Sunset Salt Free Italian Seasoning,” Hohmann posted on Saturday.
Social media users slammed the tweet and accused the Post staffer of being a “sellout.”
“Honest question. How do you look at yourself in a mirror and not feel massive amounts of shame?” one user posted.
“Are you tracking bowel movements too? This is embarrassing, and you should be embarrassed,” another user posted.
Others mocked his tweet and claimed it was a “parody” of real journalism.
“This is Pulitzer quality material. Congrats,” one user wrote.
Hohmann did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The barbeque sauce and spice shop has gained a reputation as a politically outspoken retailer, with an entire “About Republicans” disclaimer on its website.
“Going forward we would still be glad to have you as customers, but we’re done pretending the Republican Party’s embrace of cruelty, racism, Covid lies, climate change denial, and threats to democracy are anything other than the risks they legitimately are,” founder Bill Penzey wrote on the website.
“If you need us to pretend you are not creating the hurt you are creating in order for you to continue to be our customer, I’m sad to say you might be happier elsewhere.”
The retailer boasts 65 storefronts and an online store, making it the country’s largest independent spice company.
Its founder went viral soon after Donald Trump was elected president, when Penzey called Trump a racist in an email newsletter sent to a few thousand customers.
“The open embrace of racism by the Republican Party in this election is now unleashing a wave of ugliness unseen in this country for decades,” he wrote.
In a follow-up email, he told Trump supporters they “just voted for an openly racist candidate for the presidency of the United States of America.”
Fox News hosts criticized Harris’ choice for a spice shop pit stop.
“Vice President Harris is hunkering down in Pittsburgh as she pushes for unity while visiting a spice shop known for mocking Republicans,” anchor Will Cain said on Sunday.
“They chose the comfiest, coziest place she could conceivably go, where all of the owners and the staff are 100 percent libs who hate Trump,” co-host Pete Hegseth said.