The Stephen A. Smith Show Interview Only: Representative Ro Khanna (D-CA), covering domestic policy, foreign affairs, bipartisan cooperation, and political leadership.
Jun 29, 2025
26:26
Stephen A. Smith is a New York Times Bestselling Author, Executive Producer, host of ESPN's First Take, and co-host of NBA Countdown.
Representative Ro Khanna (D-CA), covering domestic policy, foreign affairs, bipartisan cooperation, and political leadership. Here's a structured summary of the key topics and insights:
🇺🇸 Domestic Policy & California 🔹 National Guard Deployment in California
- Rep. Khanna criticizes President Trump’s decision to send 1,400 National Guardsmen and 1,700 Marines to Los Angeles.
- Emphasizes that local law enforcement is capable of handling unrest.
- Condemns violence and property destruction but calls the federal response an overreach.
🔹 Immigration & Sanctuary State Debate
- Supports deportation of violent undocumented individuals after due process.
- Advocates for a path to legalization for law-abiding, tax-paying undocumented workers.
- Cites Trump’s own past support for such a policy and urges bipartisan cooperation.
🌍 Foreign Policy & War Powers 🔹 Iran & Israel
- Khanna co-sponsored a War Powers Resolution with Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) to prevent unauthorized military escalation with Iran.
- Criticizes both Democratic and Republican administrations for unconstitutional military actions (e.g., Iraq, Libya, Yemen).
- Believes diplomacy—not bombing—is the path to preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
- Supports Obama’s JCPOA (Iran nuclear deal) and calls for its revival with stronger terms.
🔹 On Trusting Iran
- Acknowledges Iran’s hostile rhetoric but supports Reagan’s “trust but verify” approach.
- Emphasizes the effectiveness of international monitoring (IAEA) over military intervention.
🧠 Bipartisanship & Political Reform 🔹 Areas of Left-Right Agreement
- Money in Politics: Advocates banning super PACs and limiting billionaire influence.
- Prescription Drug Prices: Supports Trump’s executive order to lower drug costs; introduced bipartisan legislation.
- Endless Wars: Calls for reducing military spending and focusing on domestic priorities.
🔹 TikTok Ban
- Opposes banning TikTok; supports regulating it to ensure American ownership and data security.
- Emphasizes the economic impact on 1.5 million U.S. content creators.
🔹 Fantasy Sports Ban in California
- Strongly opposes proposed ban.
- Criticizes Democrats for alienating young men with such policies.
🗳️ Political Commentary 🔹 Zorin Mamdani’s Victory Over Andrew Cuomo
- Sees it as a sign that voters care most about cost of living and economic issues.
- Urges Democrats to focus on affordability, jobs, and AI-driven economic growth.
🔹 Socialism & Electability
- Acknowledges Mamdani’s socialist label and AOC endorsement.
- Encourages taking good ideas from all sides while rejecting extreme rhetoric.
- Advocates for a unifying, pragmatic approach to politics.
🧭 Leadership & Future Ambitions
- Khanna emphasizes the need for:
- Independent voices who call out both parties.
- Economic leadership in the AI era.
- National unity over partisanship.
- While not declaring any gubernatorial or presidential ambitions, he positions himself as a centrist reformer focused on practical solutions.