Shaye Callanan ‘26
News Editor
This past Tuesday, Congressman Ro Khanna came to speak to the Academic Internship Program class entitled Policy & Politics: Testing Checks and Balances, coordinated by the J.D. Power Center. This class is taught by two political professionals who both happen to be Holy Cross alumni, former congressman Timothy Bishop and political consultant Peter Flaherty. This class allows space for honest discussion about the tumultuous state of the political world today through the lens of two professors who value creating space for every opinion and fostering a middle ground of humanity.
Congressman Ro Khanna represents California’s 17th Congressional District. Joining the class on Zoom, he began with a short background about how his position as a Democratic leader is unique. His district has more billionaires than any other in the country, as it is located in the technological hub of Silicon Valley, CA. He started his talk with a summary of what he thinks is most important in political news right now, beginning with the potential budget-induced shutdown of the government on September 30th. He then explained his position on his effort to release the Epstein files. Khanna says he actually sees this as a rare issue where both sides of the political realm are coming together. Along with Republican Representative Thomas Massie, Khanna issued a press conference to amplify the voices of Epstein victims and demand transparency from the Trump Administration. He is working to issue a discharge petition in which the Congress itself could vote on the Epstein files release instead of the Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson, delegating what is voted upon. He argued this is a perfect instance of checks and balances in action, which is the title of the AIP class and the unique foundation of American democracy.
One student asked in which direction Khanna believes the Democratic party should go if it wants to reclaim majority power, and Khanna strongly emphasized the need for Democrats to refocus on economic independence and the success of blue-collar communities. He argued for a new approach to “American exceptionalism,” not one that meets other states with disrespect, but celebrates the historical obstacles America has overcome and has been made stronger for.
Another student asked about political polarization and ways to combat it in daily or academic settings, and in response, Representative Khanna warned students not to overpersonalize issues and instead focus on their convictions. Khanna ended with a statement on AI and its unavoidable presence in our schools. He believes AI literacy needs to be a national effort, beginning with children at a young age, as we need to learn how to use it as a tool rather than rely on it as a second brain.
Overall, Khanna was fully focused for the hour he spoke to us students despite his incredibly busy schedule, and the students and professors of the AIP class appreciated his attentiveness. He did an excellent job in giving insight into his top priorities in Congress now and his broader statements about the complex political world we are currently experiencing.
Featured image courtesy of Shaye Callanan ’26
Copy Edited by Gail Durkin ’26
Leave a Reply