6: It Took Losing an Election to Really Crystalize Ro Khanna’s Vision

Next Left

California Congressman Ro Khanna took on a Democratic incumbent in a 2016 primary because he said Democrats needed to fight harder for economic and social and racial justice, for peace and a new approach to foreign policy, for bold responses to the climate crisis and for a new economy that harnessed technological progress for human needs. It was a bold agenda, and voters embraced it, sending Khanna to Congress with a mandate to shake things up.

He has done so with a passion. Aligning with veteran members such as California Congresswoman Barbara Lee, he brought fresh energy to the fight to thwart militarism and advance diplomatic solutions to global conflicts. With Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, he led a successful move to get the Congress to signal its opposition to US support for Saudi Arabia’s assault on Yemen. Khanna also joined Sanders in high-profile efforts to get Amazon, Walmart and other corporations to pay living wages.

Khanna has challenged monopolies, urged tech corporations to invest in rural America and authored a groundbreaking Internet Bill of Rights. He frequently takes on President Trump, but vice chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus also objects when Democrats compromise on principles.

We spoke to him on Next Left about many of these fights, and about the influence that his Indian grandfather’s anti-colonial activism had on his politics.

SHOW NOTES

Progressives Are Starting to Define a New Realism for Our National-Security Strategy, The Nation, Katrina vanden Heuvel

Ro Khanna’s family narrative rivals that of Mike Honda, Mercury News, Scott Herhold

From Council Rock to Congress: Philly-born Ro Khanna is saving U.S. foreign policy from itself, Philadelphia Inquirer, Will Bunch

Ryan’s Republicans Are Abdicating Their Moral and Constitutional Duty on Yemen: Republicans just blocked Ro Khanna’s proposal to end all US military aid to the Saudi-led coalition that is attacking Yemen, The Nation, John Nichols

In Search of a Green New Foreign Policy, The Nation, Robert L. Borosage

Churchill’s policies contributed to 1943 Bengal famine – study, The Guardian, Michael Safi

Second Inaugural Address of Abraham Lincoln

“Masters of War,” Bob Dylan
This episode of Next Left was produced and edited by Sophia Steinert-Evoy. Our executive producers are Frank Reynolds, Erin O’Mara, and Katrina vanden Heuvel. Our theme song is “Deli Run,” by Ava Luna.