Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna of California is pushing for major changes to address income inequality and corporate power in the U.S., pushing for policies like taxing billionaires, free public college and trade schools, and Medicare for All, among other things.
He says it’s time for a new economic direction that puts working and middle-class Americans first, not Wall Street.
In a recent interview on Democracy Now!, Khanna said, “We need to tax billionaires. We need to tax that wealth. We need to have Medicare for All. We need to have $10 a day child care. We need to stop Wall Street from buying single-family homes.”
A Push For Structural Economic Change
Khanna, who represents parts of Silicon Valley, pointed out that his district alone holds about a third of the entire U.S. stock market.
He argues that wealth concentration has gone too far and calls for what he describes as a “Marshall Plan for America’s economic development.”
“We need a living wage. We need free public college and free trade schools,” he said.
“It’s not just about mouthing the words affordability. It’s about changing an economic system that has accumulated wealth in the hands of a few and abandoned working and middle-class Americans across this country.”
Khanna also said the country needs an FDR-style progressive agenda and called his platform a form of “new economic patriotism.”
Fighting For Justice in the Epstein Case
Khanna has been at the forefront of efforts to force the Justice Department to release all documents related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
He co-authored the Epstein Files Transparency Act alongside Republican Rep. Thomas Massie.
Although the Department of Justice missed the Dec. 19 deadline to fully release the files, Khanna said public pressure is forcing some movement.
“Since then, for 24 hours they’ve been backpedaling,” he noted, referring to the DOJ’s decision to release previously redacted documents after criticism from survivors and members of Congress.
Among the missing files was a draft 60-count indictment against Epstein that was never pursued.
Khanna said, “They didn’t release some of the key documents,” adding that only 2.5 GB of an estimated 300 GB of Epstein-related documents have been made public so far.
Holding the Powerful Accountable
Khanna criticized the Justice Department for failing to release the names of influential men who may have been involved with Epstein.
“Who are the people who either abused these young girls or watched at parties as young girls, 14, 15, were paraded around naked and didn’t say anything?” he asked.
“That information is in the FBI files.”
The push for full transparency has received bipartisan support, with several Republican lawmakers joining Democrats to hold Attorney General Pam Bondi in contempt.
If the DOJ continues withholding documents, Khanna said options on the table include criminal referrals and impeachment.
Break in MAGA Loyalty
Khanna believes the Epstein files are exposing cracks in Donald Trump’s support among Republican voters.
“Donald Trump is finally losing his MAGA base,” he said.
“This is the one issue, the Epstein files, where the MAGA base disapproves overwhelmingly of Donald Trump.”
He added that many Republicans are now openly questioning Trump’s commitment to the working class and are considering a post-Trump future.
A Call For Humble Leadership
As the 2026 elections approach, Khanna said voters are tired of leaders focused on ego and personal gain. He pointed to former President Jimmy Carter as a model for public service.
“My belief is after Trump, we’re actually going to want leaders who put the people first, who maybe aren’t showmen, aren’t bombastic, aren’t all about themselves, but are listeners, more humility,” he said.
Khanna, who previously worked with Carter at the Carter Center, said the country should return to a style of leadership rooted in morality and public service.
IMAGE CREDIT: ”Ro Khanna” by Stephen McCarthy/Web Summit, via Flickr. Licensed under CC BY 2.0. Image adjusted for layout.