The Chris Cuomo Project

Episode: Ro Khanna on How Democrats Can Win Without Becoming Trump

Date: December 18, 2025
Host: Chris Cuomo
Guest: Representative Ro Khanna

Episode Overview

This episode features an in-depth conversation between Chris Cuomo and Representative Ro Khanna, exploring strategies for the Democratic Party to achieve political success without adopting the combative, personality-driven tactics associated with Donald Trump. The discussion covers health care reform, the influence of money in politics, the current state of Democratic messaging, and key issues like economic populism, foreign policy, and identity politics. Khanna advocates for a vision-driven approach rooted in economic progress and decency, challenging the party to move beyond mere opposition to Trump.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Healthcare Reform & Subsidies

• Status of ACA Subsidies

  • Cuomo and Khanna discuss the looming expiration of healthcare subsidies and partisan brinksmanship in Congress.
  • Khanna: "It looks that way. I hope not because it's going to hurt a lot of people in my district and around the country." (02:26)
  • He expresses willingness to compromise for short-term solutions but questions why the House doesn’t put such a bill up for a vote.

• Republican Opposition & Lack of Alternatives

  • Khanna identifies a long-term Republican focus on dismantling the ACA without proposing viable alternatives.
  • Quote: "It's been an obsession of theirs...but they're not offering an alternative." (03:19)

• Medicare for All as a Solution

  • Khanna details the cost-saving potential of Medicare for All through reduced administrative overhead and price negotiation.
  • Quote: "Medicare is about 2% administrative fees and you've got 18% with private insurance...there would be a cost savings of about $450 billion a year." (04:07)

• Honesty in Health Care Messaging

  • Khanna credits Bernie Sanders for intellectual honesty about the tax implications of Medicare for All.
  • Quote: "Bernie is offering an intellectually honest plan...it's going to be free at point of care, but everyone's going to have to pay some tax." (05:22–06:10)

• Industry Power & Political Influence

  • Khanna acknowledges the health care industry's massive lobbying power, jobs concerns, and the political risks for Democrats.
  • Calls for policies to transition workers affected by industry change.
  • Quote: "There has to be a thought about if someone is currently working at UnitedHealthcare, where do they work and what do they do?" (06:58)

2. Money in Politics: PAC Contributions

• Democrats Taking More PAC Money

  • Cuomo reveals that Democrats now take more legal PAC money than Republicans.
  • Khanna, surprised, distinguishes between corporate PACs and unions.
  • Khanna: "I don't take any PAC money or allowance money, but...there's a huge difference between working class union supporting someone versus Pfizer supporting someone." (08:57)

• Union Decline & Economic Disconnection

  • Khanna laments the hollowing out of unions and its effects on workers’ allegiance to the Democratic Party.
  • Quote: "One of the biggest declines of workers too has been the hollowing out of unions." (09:57)

• The Temptation of Running Against Trump

  • Khanna cautions that running just on anti-Trump sentiment avoids confronting corporate interests.
  • Quote: "If you can just say, you know, he's totally inappropriate...maybe we win an election based on that. But is that going to actually change the life of someone who's getting screwed over because their health care costs are too high?" (09:57)

3. Democratic Messaging: Realness and Rabidity

• What Makes a "Real One" on the Left?

  • Cuomo presses Khanna: is extremism against Trump now required to be considered authentic on the left?
  • Cuomo: "Do you have to be absolutely violent in your speech about the president? Or you're not a real one?" (14:51)

• Khanna’s Critique of Personality-Driven Politics

  • Khanna asserts that Democrats must offer a forward-looking, substantive vision rather than existing in Trump’s “orbit.”
  • Quote: "Ironically, you're basically making him the center of the universe. You're in his orbit...Democrats need to say, no, we have a totally different vision." (14:51–15:32)

• Outrage as Currency on Social Media

  • Both discuss how social media incentivizes outrage and personal attacks.
  • Khanna: "There is no doubt that right now, if you want to go viral, you have to be the person who has the most outrage against Donald Trump." (20:27)

• The Value of Decency and Humility

  • Khanna emphasizes engaging with voters across political divides without demonization.
  • Quote: "I actually like a lot of people, even if they voted for Donald Trump. These are people I grew up with...I just have to do a better job making the case." (20:27–22:07)

4. Populism, Economic Focus, and Party Morale

• Making the Economic Case

  • Khanna identifies "good jobs and lower costs" as the heart of winning Democratic messaging.
  • Quote: "The affordability...they can't see themselves getting out of being behind bills for the next decade." (23:55)

• Staying True to Values Without Demonizing

  • Khanna argues that Democrats can retain strong stances on divisive issues while engaging with respect.
  • Quote: "A lot of it is how you approach the situation. Temperament... And I try to give people some grace and benefit of the doubt and I actually think that matters." (23:55–25:33)

5. Party Independence & Taking Stands

• Endorsing Political Outsiders

  • Khanna faces questions about supporting Tom Steyer over established Democratic colleagues for California governor.
  • Quote: "You need a disruptor...someone who's willing to take on PG&E and the utilities..." (27:39)

• Party Repercussions for Independent Moves

  • Khanna: "I’m the one who said that Chuck Schumer should step aside. So I've taken on folks...in politics is you just got to speak your mind...it's not the end of the world." (29:03)

6. Identity, Faith & Extremism

• Debating Extreme Islamism and Political Violence
  • Cuomo probes how politicians can distinguish between condemning terrorism and avoiding anti-Muslim bigotry.
  • Khanna insists on condemning religious extremism in all faiths whenever it combines with political power.
  • Quote: "When you have the combination of an extremism with political power, that is against every principle of democracy." (31:32)
  • Praises George W. Bush’s post-9/11 stance on inclusion and condemns bigotry.

7. Israel, Anti-Zionism & Jewish Voters

• Balancing Support for Israel and Criticism of Netanyahu
  • Khanna pledges support for Israel as a Jewish democratic state while advocating for a two-state solution and criticizing Israel’s current far-right government.
  • Khanna: "There's got to be room for someone who believes Israel has a secure right to exist...and is totally opposed to the policies of Netanyahu..." (39:34–41:41)
  • Attributes tension with Jewish American voters to heightened Democratic criticism of Israeli policy.

8. Foreign Policy Hot Spots – ACA Subsidies, Venezuela, and Non-Interventionism

• On ACA Subsidies

  • Khanna predicts subsidies may expire, calling it "horrific" for working-class Americans. (41:41)

• On Prospects of U.S. Military Action in Venezuela

  • Skeptical that a full-scale intervention will occur, points to fatigue with regime-change wars.
  • Highlights that domestic economic focus should be the priority. (42:09–43:57)
  • Quote: "...they don't want politicians spending all their time worrying about Madero. Like, I just, I don't think that's what the American people want." (43:57)

• Opportunity for Democrats

  • Khanna proposes Democrats refocus on the American working class, using Trump’s own betrayals and distractions as an opening for their message.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Khanna on Outrage-Driven Politics:
  "If you're the one memeing at him, if you're the one ridiculing him...you're going to get a bump in the polls, you're going to get more attention. Ironically, you're basically making him the center of the universe." (14:51)

• Cuomo on Voter Frustration:
  "What gets you noticed is not what gets you where you want to be. You tell President Trump f you, you're going to go viral...But is that going to get you elected?" (47:03)

• Khanna on Decency:
  "Someone said to me, we disagree with Ro Khanna on almost everything...but he doesn't hate our guts...I'll vote for him just for that. He likes us, even though he's wrong about everything. I said that's a low bar." (20:27)

• Khanna on Faith and Pluralism:
  "I think that the party, whether you're a Hindu, Jewish, Christian, should be more open talking about faith in our political life because most people in this country are people of faith." (31:32)

• Khanna on Taking Risks:
  “I think one thing that Democrats can learn about it is we don't have to always be so afraid of just taking a stand, taking a position. You like someone, go endorse them. It's not the end of the world.” (29:03)

• Khanna on Bipartisanship:
  "People often are surprised that I’m one of the more bipartisan members of Congress because I'm also one of the more progressive members...I don't get into Twitter wars." (25:33)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Timestamp | Topic | |---|---| | 02:01–03:57 | ACA: Partisan stalemate & consequences | | 04:07–06:10 | Medicare for All: costs, honesty, and political hurdles | | 08:18–09:57 | Party money: PACs, unions, and Democratic accountability | | 14:51–16:16 | Outrage-driven "realness" on the left; social media incentives | | 20:27–22:07 | Khanna’s approach to disagreeing with decency | | 23:55–25:33 | Economics as central campaign message | | 27:39–29:03 | Political endorsements & taking risks within the party | | 31:32–33:32 | Faith, pluralism, and condemning extremism | | 39:34–41:41 | Balancing criticism of Israel with support for its existence | | 41:41–43:57 | ACA subsidies, Venezuela, and voter priorities |

Takeaway

This episode offers a thoughtful blueprint for Democrats seeking to reclaim leadership not by mirroring Trump-era tactics, but by reviving a vision of economic opportunity, decency, and honest engagement. Khanna challenges his party to prioritize substantive policies over performative outrage, even at the risk of running against the prevailing social media tide.