Democrat Ro Khanna’s 2028 pitch: tax the rich, regulate tech | NPR's Newsmakers

August 13, 2026

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Congressman Ro Khanna, who represents the heart of Silicon Valley, is 49 years old and says he is "the nice guy" who "just want[s] a new social contract." But he warns that the younger generation of Democrats is angrier: "They want pitchforks and torches. They want your scalp." In this interview with NPR's Steve Inskeep, Khanna makes the case that the Democratic Party needs a more progressive nominee in 2028, one who offers a specific, transformative economic agenda rather than vague branding.

The case for a "next new deal"

Khanna's central argument is that the American economy is fundamentally broken for working-class communities, even as it generates enormous wealth in places like his district. He points out that one-third of the nation's wealth sits in his California district, while towns like Johnstown, Pennsylvania, and Warren, Ohio — places he visits — remain hollowed out after deindustrialization. His proposed solution is a "next new deal" modeled on Franklin Roosevelt's approach, but updated for the 21st century.

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What you'll learn

1 (00:02) **Ro Khanna Opens with a Warning** - The Congressman says he is the "nice guy" who wants a new social contract, but warns that younger generations want "pitchforks and torches."
2 (01:36) **Khanna on 2028 Ambitions and the Economy** - He confirms he is seriously considering a presidential run, driven by the economic divide between his wealthy Silicon Valley district and the deindustrialized communities he grew up in.
3 (03:44) **The "Next New Deal" Economic Vision** - Khanna outlines a sweeping industrial policy that goes beyond the Biden administration's efforts, targeting specific deindustrialized communities.
4 (05:20) **The Case for a Billionaire Wealth Tax** - Khanna argues for a tax on the 0.001% to raise $4 trillion over 10 years, funding free child care, free college, and Medicare expansion.
5 (08:30) **Progressive Candidates as a Test Case** - Khanna endorses Abdul El-Sayed in the Michigan governor's race but pushes back on the idea that one statewide race proves a national theory.
6 (11:53) **On Being Called a "Communist"** - Khanna dismisses the label as non-credible, arguing that voters care about what a candidate will do for them, not name-calling.
7 (16:05) **The Rightward Shift of Silicon Valley** - Khanna explains the rise of reactionary tech billionaires as a desire for no regulation on AI and crypto, combined with an arrogance of seeing themselves as demigods.

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Guests on this episode

Ro Khanna Steve Inskeep

Show Notes

Congressman Ro Khanna says America needs an “economic realignment.”

Fresh off a tour through his birthplace of Pennsylvania, Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., said he is “thinking seriously” about running for president in 2028 — a race he called a “breaking point in America” that could lead to a destructive revolution or a new economic order.

“If we don't do something dramatically different, we may break,” Khanna tells NPR’s Steve Inskeep in this episode of Newsmakers. “Have you met these folks in their 30s? They want pitchforks and torches. They want your scalps … politically.”

The California lawmaker — who acknowledged he sits around 2% in the Democratic presidential polls — does not have the name recognition of some other contenders, including his fellow Californians: former Vice President Kamala Harris and Gov. Gavin Newsom. He has, however, steadily raised his profile through years of action on issues ranging from the Epstein files to a wealth tax. And his possible bid for president comes as the Democratic Party’s center and left-wing candidates battle over ideological differences within the party.

Khanna said Democrats need to nominate a progressive who will usher in “America’s next New Deal” and shouldn’t fear being labeled “communists” by Republican opponents, including President Trump.

“We’ve been calling the guy a fascist for 10 years and he’s won two terms,” Khanna said. “Labels usually don’t matter in American politics.”

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