US vice-president and Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris sat down for an interview on Wednesday evening with Fox News host Brett Baier.

The interview was combative, with Harris, towards the end, speaking over Baier as asked him to interview her “based on facts”, and called him out for playing clips that she said were not relevant to what they were discussing.

• Harris was asked about the Biden administration’s efforts to tackle a surge in illegal immigration at the southern border, and laid the blame on Republicans for failing to pass a border bill.

• Harris was asked to defend the administration’s early decision to reverse some of Republican rival Donald Trump’s restrictive policies, and to respond to a mother who testified in Congress about the loss of her child at the hands of an illegal immigrant. “I’m so sorry for her loss, but let’s talk about what is happening right now,” Harris said.

• Harris said Trump told Republicans to reject a bipartisan immigration bill because “he preferred to run on a problem instead of fixing a problem.” The interview was part of a direct appeal by Harris on Wednesday to Republican voters in this year’s US presidential election, as she highlighted Republican support for her campaign in a battleground county in Pennsylvania before appearing on conservative-leaning Fox News.

• Harris was asked in the Fox News interview about her recent comment that there was “not a thing” she would change about the actions of the Biden administration, responding: “let me be very clear, my presidency will not be a continuation of Joe Biden’s presidency,” but she did not elaborate. Earlier, in Bucks County, outside of Philadelphia, Harris emphasised Trump’s attempt to overturn his election loss four years ago, when he lost the White House to current President Joe Biden.

• Harris said Trump’s actions violated the US Constitution and, if given the chance, he will violate it again. “He refused to accept the will of the people and the results of a free and fair election. He sent a mob, an armed mob, to the United States Capitol, where they violently assaulted police officers, law enforcement officials and threatened the life of his own vice president,” Harris said.

• “No matter your party, no matter who you voted for last time, there is a place for you in this campaign,” Harris said.

• Harris was asked about the Middle East and the threat posed by Iran. She said she has worked with the heads of the military to do what America must always do, which is to allow Israel to have the resources to defend itself from attack, “including from Iran and Iran’s territist proxies in the region. And my commitment to that is unwaivering”. The screen showed a graphic listing “Iran oil revenue”.

• Harris talked over Baier, continuing her answer about the Middle East as he tried to press her. He stopped speaking. She said, “I would like that we have a conversation that is grounded in the facts”. “Yes ma’am,” he said.

• “Madam vice-president they’re rapping me very hard here, I hope you got to say what you wanted about President Trump,” Baier said. Harris said she has a lot more to say about Trump. She invited people to visit her website. Baier interrupted her again, she talked over him, listing the policies that would be found on her website.

The screen shows a graphic listing “Iran oil revenue”.

Harris is talking over Baier. He stops. She says, “I would like that we have a conversation that is grounded in the facts”.

“Yes ma’am,” he says.

“Madam vice-president they’re rapping me very hard here, I hope you got to say what you wanted about President Trump,” he says.

Harris says she has a lot more to say about Trump. She invites people to visit her website. Baier interrupts her, she talks over him, listing the policies that would be found on her website.

Harris is asked “when did you first notice that President Biden’s mental faculties appeared diminished”?”

She says Biden had the judgment and experience to do what he needs to do on behalf of the American people.

Baier presses her. “You met with him once a week for three years, you didn’t have any concerns?”

Harris said the people who knew Trump (not Biden) best, have said he is unfit to be president ever again.

They want a president who has a plan for the future, Harris continues.

Trump would give tax cuts to billionaires, she says.

Baier then plays a clips of Harris being asked how she is different about Biden, and her replying without saying she would do things differently.

Harris responds saying that she welcomes ideas, including from Republicans, on what to do differently when she is president.

She mentions her plans for first-time home buyers and small business owners.

Baier says “we’ve heard a lot about those plans in recent days”, and then asks Harris, referring to her campaign slogan, how she would turn the page.

Harris says that Trump’s rhetoric is based on who you would beat down. She says she would turn the page on rhetoric people “are frankly exhausted of, Brett”.

Bret Baier has asked Kamala Harris repeatedly about immigration.

You supported allowing immigrants in the country illegally to apply for drivers licences and to apply for free healthcare, he says. Do you still support those things?

The vice-president says it was five years ago that she said those things, and that what she supports is the law. Baier presses her and again, she says she and Tim Walz believe in supporting and enforcing the law.

Kamala Harris’s interview with the rightwing Fox News TV channel airs in just a few minutes.

In perhaps the most dramatic moment yet in a recent media blitz by the Democratic presidential nominee, her sit-down with chief political anchor, Bret Baier, is due to be broadcast at the top of the hour.

It comes as Democrats have increased their presence on Fox News in an outreach to undecided voters and Republicans whom they hope are souring on Donald Trump and ready to switch.

The appearance is the latest in a string of media interviews intended to boost her candidacy with less than three weeks to go until the presidential vote.

The broadcast comes just a few hours after Harris held a rally in Pennsylvania with more than 100 senior Republicans, including former members of Congress, where she warned that Trump was a threat to US democracy and should never again stand behind the seal of the president of the United States.

The man who was arrested on gun possession charges near a Donald Trump rally in California last Saturday has sued the sheriff who oversaw his apprehension, in federal court, according to a new report.

The man, Vem Miller of Las Vegas, accuses the sheriff whose deputies detained him, Riverside sheriff Chad Bianco, of knowingly defaming him by falsely saying he was a threat and may have even aspired to kill Trump, the Palm Springs Desert Sun newspaper reported.

Miller’s presence spurred significant safety concerns when he was arrested near the rally in Coachella Valley with guns in his truck, although he said he was a major supporter of the former US president and would never harm him.

The Desert Sun reported: “The lawsuit filed Tuesday in federal court alleges Bianco spread those lies in several media appearances he made touting the arrest because he wanted to falsely portray himself as a ‘heroic sheriff’ who had saved Trump from another assassination attempt.” The lawsuit also names the country and 10 sheriff’s deputies, the outlet reports.

Kamala Harris is really fired up and not pulling her punches on this stage in Pennsylvania this afternoon, alongside Republicans including former members of congress.

“I have sworn an oath to uphold the Constitution…and I have never wavered from upholding that oath. And this is a profound difference between Donald Trump and me. He who violated the oath…and…if given the chance will violate it again,” Harris said.

She then stated to loud cheers: “Donald Trump lost the 2020 election” but then he refused to accept the result.

Moments later she said that she believes Trump seeks “unchecked power” and she cited former chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, General Mark Milley, in as much as he “is saying no-one has ever been as dangerous to our country as Donald Trump.”

She added: “Anyone who tramples on our democratic values as Donald Trump has, anyone who has called for, quote, the termination of the Constitution of the United States as Donald Trump has must never again stand behind the seal of the President of the United States. Never again, never again.”