Katie Porter, famous for grilling opponents, is criticized for demanding a reporter be more ‘pleasant’

(CNN) — Katie Porter became a national figure among Democrats for her sharp questioning of Trump administration figures, often holding a whiteboard , in House Oversight Committee hearings. The confrontations she sparked often went viral when she posted them online .

That made her recent demand that a local CBS reporter have a “pleasant, positive conversation” with her – and her threat to cut off their interview – all the more noteworthy.

Porter, now running for governor of California , is drawing blowback after threatening to walk out of an interview with CBS News Sacramento. A portion of the interview was posted online and widely shared, even as Porter’s campaign noted she ultimately spoke to the reporter for another 20 minutes.

“What do you say to the 40% of California voters