Top Democrat Advocates for Liberals to Engage on X Despite Bluesky Shift

Representative Ro Khanna, a prominent figure among progressives in Silicon Valley, has called on liberals not to abandon Elon Musk's social media platform X. He encourages maintaining dialogue with those who hold differing viewpoints.

This message was conveyed on a recent edition of Politico's Power Play podcast. It comes as many users are moving from X to a newer social platform, Bluesky, which promotes itself as a liberal counterpart to X.

Bluesky's membership has reached over 21 million this month, a notable increase from 13 million in the previous period of October.

"Progressives shouldn't withdraw," Khanna emphasized while speaking to Politico. He underscored the importance of a robust exchange of ideas in shaping truth over time.

A self-described advocate of free speech, Khanna frequently engages on X. He advocates for Democrats to remain active on the platform, akin to how they appear on conservative media channels like Fox News to broaden their outreach.

Highlighting his enduring rapport with Musk, Khanna referenced his dialogues with the entrepreneur on X as a testament to potential agreement and understanding that can be cultivated online.

In a CNN feature, Khanna discussed the Government Efficiency Department (DOGE), a presidential directive involving Musk and billionaire Vivek Ramaswamy, meant to streamline government operations.

"Democrats on the House Armed Services Committee are willing to collaborate with @elonmusk and the DOGE initiative," Khanna posted on X, suggesting partnership opportunities.

Musk acknowledged this post with enthusiasm, retweeting it with a simple "Cool!"

On the Politico podcast, Khanna reaffirmed his willingness to work alongside Musk. This collaboration is notably in areas like defense spending where cost reduction is prioritized.

Khanna stated, "Working with dynamic figures like Musk or Ramaswamy could potentially alleviate defense contractor monopolies," reflecting his committee experiences.

Previously, Khanna praised Musk for his exceptional entrepreneurship but also critiqued some of his social media antics as provocative.

An advocate for digital advancement, Khanna introduced an Internet Bill of Rights in 2018 focused on digital privacy, although it remains pending in Congress. This illustrates his commitment to a balanced approach to technology regulation and ethics.