MeidasTouch host Ben Meiselas spoke with Congressman Ro Khanna this week about growing concerns over conflicts of interest in Donald Trump’s cabinet picks. Drawing comparisons to past scrutiny of appointees, Khanna highlighted the stark contrast in media coverage, pointing out how corporate media appears to overlook the ethical implications of Trump’s choices.
Khanna specifically emphasized the importance of financial transparency for anyone serving in federal government roles, noting that members of Congress must disclose all assets, including those of their spouses, to avoid even the appearance of impropriety. “I don’t understand why the same rules wouldn’t apply to anyone in the federal government,” Khanna remarked.
The conversation turned to Trump’s reported consideration of figures like Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy for influential roles. Khanna underscored the need for financial disclosure, especially given concerns that Musk and others could use government positions to advance their business interests. He expressed openness to working with the administration on commonsense reforms but made it clear that any attempt to cut Social Security, Medicare, or the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau would face his staunch opposition.
Watch the full interview with Congressman Ro Khanna above ad-free exclusively for our Meidas+ Substack subscribers!
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Social Security Medicare, Medicaid and VA benefits are not their money!!!!
Trust funds aren't even in the budget. Not part of general funds.
But there are anout $3 TRILLION available to steal in the SS trust funds.
That’s why I bring it up! It’s insanity!
I saw that. That’s why I bring it up. Ro Khanna was one to agree with this fake agency and while Musk and Ramswampass, billionaires are spewing that nonsense. Republicans have been twisting the word “entitlement” for far too long and I’m tired of it. I’ll lose my house if my SSDI and Medicare is cut. I’m not going to lose everything I’ve worked for since I was 16 to these a**holes. I don’t think America will put up with any of this. They are pushing buttons that they do not want to push. I didn’t vote and this is unamerican what’s going on and even being disabled, I have no problem defending any of this tyranny.
You are absolutely right. Do you mean you didn't vote for the change? Or, you didn't vote in the last election? If the latter, I wish you had because we knew from the big-mouth that he was going to dip his uninvited hands into our rights. Of course, no matter what happens, Douchebag Trumpenstein will blame the Democrats. He likes to create chaos. It's his reason to exist.
Nothing is going to get cut maybe administration fees but that's it.
They better not. Imagine, billionaires saying how much you should get for social security. It’s sickening. I really wish this a-hole was in prison.
Did you really mean you didn't vote? Or was that a typo?
Thant was a typo. I meant to say I didn’t vote for this. I voted for Harris.
Whew! 😅 I thought so from the context. Thanks for clarifying. 💙🌊
I was typing fast…lol
I know we are entitled to get it. That’s why I said that republicans like twisting the word around to fit their narrative. I paid into it since I was 16.
Isn't Mush already receiving beaucoup government contracts? Don't we already have conflict of interest going on here?
I’m speaking to you Rep Ro Khanna…. We’ve been hearing different from you. These are billionaires taking money from ordinary Americans. Musk has never invented anything, he bought everything he owns.
Good luck with that! We are about to see the most significant high-stakes theft in American history.
Madness for a Democratic Congressman to pretend trump intends to be transparent in any of his future dealings when he hasn't been in the past. Particularly when he will not and his cabinet appointees are nothing but crooks, thieves, and robber barons. Is that the fight the Democrats can count on? Get real.
I'll have to listen again. I thought Khanna was saying the opposite.
I don't trust Ro Khanna. His district in Silicon Valley is full of tech billionaires and he's been part of fundraisers given by David Sacks - an admitted supporter of apartheid - in San Francisco. He was quoted today suggesting that since the fascist supported Canada's health care system in a book 20 years ago, the fascist might be willing to do that today with his "concepts" of health insurance plans.
Khanna is normalizing trump. And trump is anything but normal.
Yeah. Idk him, but, he sounds slimy a.f.
Not a fan of Ro. Talks a good talk but what we need is Congress people willing to stand up to Trump and Elon, etc. Not the democratic play nice crap that goes on here with them.
Musk has never run any government agency and dismantling depts. is insane!
I recently retired from a Medicare contractor and we have to do conflict of interest yearly and if we had any changes.
Love your columns … but I’m hard of hearing—can’t you provide captions to your interviews?
I wasn't sitting through all that (I hate video articles) so do what I did and just look at the transcript (next to the Share button at the bottom of the video).
The Trump administration is just going to use our country as their personal cash machine. Elon was celebrating today that he hit 400 billion...he's not going to be happy until he is just the first trillionaire !! He truly sucks!!
This dude is not impressing me at all! Is he a goper? Must be. He is slimy.
What was the purpose of this interview if you are not going to ask him why he is making these statements. If he is part of cutting earned programs, he can expect a rage perhaps never seen before in this nation.
I'm sorry, but Rep Khanna is being too cute by half when it comes to working with Musk. On the heels of proposed drastic cuts to VA Healthcare, $119 Billion, Khanna comes out with tweets and says he's willing to work with Musk on cuts to the military. REP KHANNA: THE CUTS TO THE MILITARY THAT MUSK WANTS TO MAKE ARE NOT ELIMINATING $1000 HAMMERS BUT ELIMINATING SERVICES AND STAFF FOR VETERANS.
Khanna then follows that craven post with a QT saying that, OH! I got so much engagement on that so I know I'm on the right track. Either Khanna is ignorant of the engagement manipulation algorithm on X to boost pro-Musk content, or he does know and he's being intentionally obtuse to mask his capitulation to the incoming regime.
If he is so intent on simply being "in the room where it happens" and would push back on bad cuts, he should have said something about not signing off on cuts to veterans' healthcare. He did not. So pardon me if I don't believe that he's gonna fold like a cheap suit, or roll over and allow devastating cuts to our safety nets with whispered milquetoast objections. If Khanna's capitulating now with conciliatory talk even before Trump takes office and starts destroying America, he's aiding and abetting and normalizing no matter how much he protests that he's not doing it.
Am I wrong and if so WHY?
Ro is about to row to the other side. We need to primary him.
Great conversation and informative
I love Ro Khanna. Keep him coming back to talk common sense into politics.
Fuck around and find out. It's happening now. Sharpen your pitchforks. Stand by and stand up. 🇨🇦 will lead the way way. America needs to wake up. They have had it for to long. We deserve much more. BS for both side won't fix it. Only true convictions and knowing what we deserve.
Fare wages, Healthcare, and fare application of OURTAX DOLLARS.
Possible Bird Flu Pandemic, High Whooping Cough Outbreak! Do you really want Anti Vax Brain Worm in charge? Or any of Trump's Cabinet Picks for any Position?
"Think of Donald Trump as one foot tall in diapers whenever you think of Donald Trump"
LIVE: Trump Cult Expert Reveals PSY-OPS that Swung Election | The Weekend Show
https://www.youtube.com/live/WcxjsWnHtk4?si=RLFRz1Q-rS5zivXi
In a nutshell:
"Psyops goes after experts, science, democratic institutions so to try to create psychological means to create uncertainty and distrust to ready people for authoritarian influence."
"Victims obey psyops to commit treason through ideology, money, or blackmail."
"Humans are emotional, social beings, so Information overload looks for authoritarian certainty to relieve stress. First of all, we have states, we have governors, I live in Massachusetts which has a gay governor."
"People will lay down only if they believe they have to lay down, and I'm saying, come on we're Americans, we grew up knowing what Russia was like, China was like, we don't want to be Russia, we don't want to be just put into prison like Navalny and murdered, or poisoned, or have a plane blow up, so let's get real and roll up our sleeves and say 'Not on my watch'."
"I want to give people hope and to say, "You are not alone." We're Americans, we believe in the constitution, we believe in human rights, we believe in the rule of law, and anyone who wants to take away the rule of law and just say 'screw it, I'm the king', should irk us enough to action."
"Learn how to regulate your emotional states. Understand breathing is the most powerful way to change your consciousness. If you're feeling anxious, long slow exhales will calm down your nervous system."
"You need to be human. Get hugs, get kisses, eat well, get 7 to 9 hours of sleep, most people are sleep deprived and it's one of the BITE Model criteria of brainwashing. If you are sleep deprived you are not thinking clearly."
"We need people who are going to support independent journalism by subscribing."
"Lets destigmatize being ex-cult. Intelligent people can be hacked, there is life after cult, normalize it and let's connect with people who are in MAGA world so there's an off-ramp, you can share their stories."
A technique Hassan shares with his clients is to have them "visualize the cult leader to be a foot tall in diapers, so they're looking down and they laugh. Think of Donald Trump as one foot tall in diapers whenever you think of Donald Trump. It's gonna have a very different emotional attachment."
What Elon Musk can do for me is pay my mortgage off. That way I can live semi-decently before they start stealing from us, pulling the rug from under us (financially) and start raising prices on everything. He's more than capable.
Holla at me Elon! 😉
Ben. Former Syrian dictator blown up in airplane on his way to Russia thinking Putin's his buddy. Wrong! his usefulness to Putin was gone. If Trump lost his election & escape to Russia, his buddy Putin would do the same thing to Trump, & MAGA. Putin wants America destroyed, includes nuclear threats to Trump, & the world. No-one needs friends like Putin. I hope Trump now stands up to Putin. Whatever Putin has on Trump is nothing compared to WW3. Trumps the most powerful man on earth 2025, act like it Trump. Putin mocks your wife showing her nude pix, & showing the world he mocks you. Tell America you must now support Biden's agenda, incorporated with your own ideas. Lower ego's. Congress fund Ukraine. MAGA drop your hatred. Elon step back, you'll get to Mars. Trump you can be " THE GREATEST PRESIDENT OF ALL TIMES", avoiding WW3. Control global dictators. Maybe this is your wake-up call becoming President Trump. You escaped Putin's planned NDE the former Syrian dictator couldn't. Someone with influence, send this to the powers whom can reach Trump.
Conflict of interests should also be important for the President!